Make Your Mark

I know I am a total nerd, but I seriously love Sharpies. I use them all the time and have an obscene amount. I get so excited when I see that they've come out with new colors. Remember when they used to be just black, blue, red and green? Well, those days are long gone. They now come in an array of colors and sizes. Something cool I saw on their website is that you can personalize the pens (note: I don't frequent their site, it was my first visit - I'm not that dorky). I actually think it would be a cute wedding favor. I mean, they are useful after all.... I know I'd rather have that than a keychain or a book of matches. Okay maybe I am that dorky! :)

My own personal candy store

Oh my goodness! Jamie just send me an email with a link to this posting about a store in San Francisco, the Ribbonerie, that may just be my own personal heaven. I don't know what I would do if I was let loose in this ribbon-lovers paradise. I've been wanting to make a trip to SF to see Jackie and Crystal and visiting this store would surely be an added bonus.

Wrap Star

source

As most people who know me are aware, I love wrapping gifts. I love the paper, the ribbons, everything! (Well, everything but a gift bag - b.o.r.i.n.g!) It's all about the presentation. It's so much better to get a beautifully wrapped present, than a one packaged with little effort, regardless what's inside. I also curse those who throw away perfectly good ribbons and bows after they open something. I'm always the first to ask, "are you going to use that?" if I see a chance some might be discarded. It's so simple (not to mention economical) to reuse items that have been gifted upon you. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy browsing for and buying lovely paper and and ribbon - I just use the old and the new! Unexpected wrapping is a favorite of mine. Pretty boxes in non-traditional colors and patterns are sure to stand out among the red, green and gold under the Christmas tree. The ideas below are surely more chic than boring 'ol brown paper packages tied up with string....

monogram

candy cane

black and white

confetti

button wrap

Japanese paper

embellishments

yarn and string

tinsel stars

berries

Welcome Little Ones!

Lately it seems as if everyone is having babies! In the past 2 months, 3 of my good friends have had babies - all little girls. Below are some baby-related crafts I've made....

I made these invitations for a friend's baby shower. Her nursery colors are sherbet, so I wanted to do the invites in similar hues, only a little brighter. Since the invites had a lot of wording, I thought it would be best to do them on 5x7 flat paper, as opposed to a fold-over card. I got the cards, scalloped cards and envelopes at one of the best places on Earth, Paper Source. I also got the cute little baby foot stamp there. I had most of the patterned paper at home in my massive collection.

I enclosed information for a game on a small piece of card stock, backed with coordinating paper in a different pattern than the invitation

I thought the footie stamp on the key tags made for a cute accent.

I made this card originally as a general "congratulations" card, but it can totally be used as a baby congrats card, that's more simplistic and modern and not super-cutesy.

(sorry about the quality of the photo)

And just a couple more baby-themed cards. I think both work for a boy or girl