art journals now in the shop.

a quick note to let you know there are two different art journal kits now available in my shop.

Spring 2012 Art Journal Kit

Blue Flowers Art Journal Kit

Daisy Decals: a review and giveaway

Several weeks ago, Kati of Daisy Decals contacted me about reviewing one of their super cute decals and hosting a giveaway for some of them. They have an etsy shop full of retro and vintage-inspired decals - from vintage typewriters to the old-school Nintendo controllers to Polaroid cameras. The decals are shown on computer devices (laptop, ipad, etc) but can be put anywhere - windows, mirrors, notebooks. I was excited to try one out :)

I picked this vintage camera (My parents had one similar to this while we were growing up. I love it :)). It arrived quickly in the mail in a lovely little glassine bag with very clear instructions. 

Having never worked with decals before, I was delighted at how incredibly easy it was to peel the backing and apply it to my laptop.

The clear plastic part peeled off easily and voila! A fun vintage-inspired camera decal for my laptop. I thought the whole vintage and camera thing was fitting for my love of vintage and documenting life thru a camera :)

So, would I recommend these Daisy Decals? Absolutely. I thought of several pros and one con:

Pros: An overall great-feeling high-quality product - the decal is super sturdy and not at all cheap feeling. Fast shipping, nice packaging (I always love to look at packaging), clear instructions, great customer service (emails, asking questions).

Cons: There were no instructions on how to remove the decal. I emailed Kati and she quickly replied with instructions on how to remove (use a hairdryer to warm up the vinyl and peel off!). I have NOT tried to remove the decal at this point and do not plan to for quite some time, so I cannot accurately review that process. I personally have little to no reservations about it coming off well.

* I received this product for free for review. My opinions are completely my own thoughts. I reviewed it honestly with both pros and cons listed.

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GIVEAWAY :)

Kati has graciously offered to give away a decal of winner's choice from their shop to two readers. Yay! :)

To enter: Go look around the shop, Daisy Decals, and leave a comment about which decal(s) you like best. Be sure to leave your email address in the comment so I can contact you if you win. One decal per winner. International entries are welcome.

For extra chances to win:

+ Blog, FB or tweet about the giveaway (with a link to the giveaway). Leave a separate comment for each way you spread the word (leave one comment if you blog about it, leave another comment if you FB about it, leave yet another comment if you tweet about it :)).

+ "Favorite" DaisyDecals etsy shop and leave a comment telling you did so :)

Giveaway will run through Tuesday, April 3 and I will announce the winners sometime that day :)

DIY :: Paper Flower Wheels

Several weeks ago, a few pictures from a baby shower popped up in my newsfeed on facebook. I noticed these paper flower wheel (paper fans? paper wheels? paper pinwheels? paper flowers?) things the host used as decorations - SO cute (I've also seen them in super tiny format as a scrapbook embellishment).

I decided to try making a few and, after failing miserably the first couple tries, I got it ;) These cuties are so fun and you can use them as decorations for a party, or maybe hang a couple from the ceiling to create a gorgeous (and ever-changing!) collage.

Supplies: 

+ paper (at least 8.5"x11" - I also used 12"x12")

+ scoring tool (or dull side of a table knife) and metal ruler

+ rolling adhesive

+ glue dots

+ buttons (I always thread my buttons to make them look sewn on, much more of a finished look)

To start, I cut 2 strips from an 8.5"x11" sheet of vintage graph paper. The strips were 3"x11". I then scored both of them (with my handy-dandy ladybug score thing-a-ma-jig and metal ruler) every half inch. If you don't have a scoring blade, you could use the dull side of a table knife. 

I folded up the strips accordion style. I then adhered the two strips by overlapping the two short ends half an inch (1/2") and using rolling adhesive. So I had one long 21.5" strip (two 11" strips, overlapped 1/2" to attach together).

Next, I adhered together the other two short ends 1/2" (same method as the other side), to make a circle.

This next part was (very) tricky for me. I had to gently work the edges of one side together (like trying to make it into a cone), while the other side of edges stays put and becomes the outer edges of the wheel. This part takes a minute to do (at least it did for me ;)). The picture below makes it look a lot easier than it was ;)

Next, I stuck a glue dot down in the middle - this held all of the edges together and helped keep them from coming out of the wheel shape. I attached another glue dot to the top and then placed a (already sewn) button on top. This gives it a finished look (and covers up the middle).

Voila! A super cute, super fun decoration that you can make from found papers, scrapbooking papers or vintage papers. And they don't take long to make :)

coming soon: spring art journals

Finishing up putting together a few Spring Art Journals for the shop. So excited about these cute little journals. The journals will have 22 pages, including papers from BasicGrey, decorative wax paper, blue vellum, a transparency, a large shipping tag, graph paper, die cut papers, envelopes, embellished cardstock, and more. These little journals are 4"x6" and will be perfect to document the spring season :) Also included will be coordinating washi tape samples, ribbons, buttons, tags and other embellishments.

I will be listing these in the shop by the end of this week :) To keep up with when they will be listed, follow The Creative Place Facebook Page - I now update shop details there :) I will also try to post here once they are live in the shop. 

To see a few examples of other seasonal journals I have created and sold in the shop, go here, here, or here.

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April is almost here! Are you interested in advertising your blog or business on my sidebar for the month of April? Go here for more details and feel free to email me at: thecreativeplace (at) gmail (dot) com :)

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a baby shower for a sweet friend

A couple weeks ago, I had the honor of helping host a baby shower for a sweet friend who is about to have her third baby :) It was a sweet time of hanging out, eating, opening gifts, writing prayers and encouraging notes and praying for this new little one and their family.

The new-mama-to-be loves birds, so we had a bird theme throughout. One of my other sweet friends, and also a host, came up with all of these gorgeous ideas to incorporate birds and bird-related things into the shower- bird ornaments, birdhouses, bird's nest cupcakes, a birdcage with papier-mâché birds inside. Colors included robin's egg blue, red and burlap.

For table centerpieces, we used tree branches (weighted with rocks in a decorated hurricane glass) and put blank cards tied with ribbon among them and had guests write down an encouraging note or thought for the family. Two birdhouses flanked the hurricane glass on each table.

The new-mama-to-be and her hubby know the gender of the baby, but have chosen to keep it a surprise until baby is born. Another sweet friend made these cute little bird flags and each guest chose which gender they think baby will be (I think baby is a boy :) We'll see!). We also had 4.25"x5.5" prayer cards--blank cards for guests to write prayers for the baby and family on - I think they plan on making them into a book, or putting them in a baby book.

The shower was in the morning, so we had a brunch-y meal - complete with fruit and yogurt parfaits, mini quiches, breakfast casserole, veggies and dip and bird's nest cupcakes (!!!).

Orange juice was served in mason jars, and water was also available (to be poured into mason jars). There is just something fun about drinking from a mason jar! :)

Fabulous (and delicious) cupcakes with a bird nest on top - another sweet friend (and host) made these with regular cupcakes, chocolate frosting, toasted coconut and Hershey's chocolate eggs on top. Mmmm they were yummy!

It was such a fun time! So glad to have this sweet lady as a friend and excited for her and her family as they welcome their new child very soon :)

working on: custom wedding guestbook

I had the honor and privilege to create my first custom guestbook for a bride's upcoming wedding :) Even more fun is that she is all the way from France - so this little book will be making the trek across the Atlantic soon. 

The bride-to-be and her fiancée really liked this journal I had created, so I wanted to create something along those lines. She sent me a sample of fabric with their wedding colors - I went from that and used all sorts of grays, pinks and white linen cardstock papers. I also included some sheets of vellum and silver crinkle paper. Each page has a blank white sheet adhered - space for guests to write a note or doodle for the bride and groom.

I incorporated the punches (from punching each page) into a confetti window, then added some of the fabric on top. For the cover sheet I used gray linen cardstock and printed their names, a heart and the date (isn't her name beautiful?!). I then adhered gray polka dot washi tape, a strip cut from the fabric, and three vintage buttons. There is a piece of heavy chipboard in the front (behind the confetti window and gray cardstock) and the back for added durability.

I am loving how it turned out. I am so glad I could help with their special day and hope this sweet little book will be something they can look through and cherish long after the wedding :) Thank you Nathanaëlle and Charles for letting me put together your wedding book :)

Spring and Easter DIY Roundup

I love Spring. I love all of the beautiful freshness. The beautiful colors. New life. I love celebrating Easter - and what it means to me as a follower of Jesus Christ :) I love simple and cute spring DIY projects. So for today, a roundup of some fun little DIY projects to celebrate this beautiful season- these are sure to make you smile :) Enjoy :)

1. Easter Egg Hunt Bags by The Purl Bee

2. No Sew Easter Egg Candy Pouches by Rebecca Cooper

3. Grocery Bag Easter Basket by Ellinee

4. Paint Chip Easter Egg Garland by Modern Parents, Messy Kids

5. Upcycled Easter Egg Bunting by Anne Weil of flax & twine, via Poppytalk

6. Yarn Eggs by Simply Modern Mom, via ModPodge Rocks

7. Easter Egg Banner by Creations by Kara

8. Spring Baby Grass Wreath by Patti of PS It's in the Details, via The Creative Place

9. Jute Wrapped Eggs by My Blessed Life

10. Vintage Paper Bunting Flags by The Sweetest Occasion

11. Painted Mason Jar Vase by Decor Chick