I know this is a Christmas post on Sweet Paul's blog, but this inspires me to make feather ornaments and hang them up all year round. How beautiful are they? I better invest in clear ornaments at Michaels before they are all out for the season! Doing a little bit of research there is a whole online catalog of feathers. Who knew?! They also sell feather ornament balls for around $3.00 a piece. If I remember correctly Anthropologie had feather ornaments for around $12 this year.

via {Sweet Paul}

Creative Gift Wrapping and Tags

Besides the fun of actually giving gifts, I absolutely love creatively wrapping gifts. Whether it be pretty paper, big fabric ribbons or something a little more creative. I actually enjoy wrapping gifts. Which is why my Dad probably hefts the burden onto me every year. He always conveniently knows when I seem to be wrapping my gifts like he is listening for the sound of cutting paper and tearing tape. Then he conveniently asks hey while you are at it would you mind doing these as well. Like I said its a good thing I enjoy it.

Anyways I searched the web for some fun ideas and cute tags to add to your Christmas wrapping job. Maybe something a little bit different than the curly ribbon and stick on tags. Country Living has a few really fun ideas with instruction included on their website. Jump below for other accessories I found on the web. And happy wrapping!

Letterpress Nordic Ski Sweater Tag

Confetti Garland

Inkpress Holiday Gift Tag

Assorted Paper Flowers

Gold Letterpress Buckle with Ribbon

Red Letterpress Buckle with Ribbon

Naughty or Nice Tags

Merry Christmas Hang Tags

Pretty Office Supplies

I have a huge weakness for pretty office/paper supplies. So when I saw some of Girl of All Work's stuff on my recent visit to Paper Source I made a mental note to check out their online shop. That was probably a pretty dangerous move as I love everything in the store....of course. Now if only I could get my office to expense it for me. I mean it does inspire me!

I would love to give or receive a mixed cd with these pretty cd labels and envelopes.

Who can resist patterned fabric magnets!

I'm a serial offender at dog earring my pages. It is something my mom used to get on me about all the time. But I just can't seem to hold onto the random receipt or scrap paper for a bookmark. Enter the Magnetic Origami pretty bookmarks! They fold over and snap in place on your page to hold your spot. And they come in all kinds of fun and pretty patterns! I never have to listen to my mom nag at me again about ruining pages in books!

I love page flags and use them way too much when reading magazines or to mark ideas. These patterned page flags are so pretty and inspirational!

Simple + Pretty Inspiration

I've always loved the blog simple + pretty but I just recently checked out their Flickr stream. So much beautiful stationary, packaging, and letterpress! I could just barely contain myself! I think I'm definitely going to have to add to the NEED list beautiful string and custom labels. They can spice up any plain package or envelope!

Check out more photographs and inspiration at Simple + Pretty's Flickr Stream as well as their blog.

Modern Quilts

Quilting is something that for some reason has never really appealed to me.  That is until I stumbled across these beautiful modern quilts on Flickr.  It makes me want to go out and buy a bunch of funky fabrics and start sewing.  Even though I don't know how to.  Definitely adding it to learn in this lifetime list. 

Twinkle in White

Twinkle Applique

Spring Quilt

Log Cabin Quilting

Love Beads

Paletas Quilt

Doll Quilt

Numbers Quilt

Pin-Hole Camera Day

Tomorrow is World Pinhole Camera Day.  So download your free paper camera with instructions and have some fun!

{via HOW}

Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

Stephanie Barnes over at 3191 Miles Apart uses natural dyes for her easter eggs every year.  She has experimented with things like red cabbage, spinach, beets, onion skins to get various vibrant and natural colors.  I absolutely love the results and the shades are so much more interesting and varying than the colors out of the food coloring bottles.  It makes me want to experiment with my own fruits and veggies this Easter.  Read about her process here.

{via Creature Comforts}

Word Book

I am in love with this book that Party Perfect made for her son to learn his words.  It would be the perfect gift for my nephew, Ethan, and my second nephew on the way (in a few weeks!).  I was thinking it could also be a cool idea to do a book of all their extended family members.  That way even though we all live across the U.S., we can still be familiar.

Valentines Day: Not Just for Hallmark

dayataglance

It is just about that time of year again.  The holiday that is both loved and despised by many.  Valentines Day.

I honestly really like Valentines Day.  There I said it.  But not for the consumer hallmark reasons.  Being a fan of celebrating holidays in general, I just love a holiday that gives you an excuse to show people what they mean to you.  To give cute little trinkets or do something nice for a loved one or even a friend.  

I can't really get behind the idea of an extravagant night out though.  To me it is more about doing thoughtful little touches and just doing something you don't normally do during the year.  Whether it is having a picnic on the floor, making smores with a candle or building a fort to cuddle under.  Showing someone they are special is what it is really about.  Besides I am more of a tulip girl than roses girl. (This comment was an obvious hint to a certain someone :) )

So I thought I would compile a helpful list of ideas for Valentines Day.  So maybe if you couldn't get behind the hallmark holiday before, you can get behind the inexpensive and thoughtful side of Valentines Day.

Little Brown Pen was able to celebrate Valentines Day for under $20 in 2001 when her and her husband were broke and just starting out.

Design Sponge creates a Valentines kit that you can bring anywhere to celebrate your love

Joanna Goddard over at Smitten has a few cute ideas of how to slow down and just enjoy each other's company.

Even Cleveland has adorable and delicious caterpillar pancakes to make for breakfast.

Frolic suggests a few romantic comedies if you want to stay in for the night.

Creature Comforts offers free printable valentine tea bag wrappers 

Bunnehmunches created a jar full of cut out "I Love You More Than" quotes for her boyfriend's birthday but I think this would be a great Valentines Gift.

Twig and Thistle has templates for Do It Yourself brownie bags and pie boxes for the special one in your life with a sweet tooth.

Inchmark has instructions on how to create little valentines matchboxes filled with candy.  Great for passing out to friends.

Color Me Katie built a tent with her boyfriend in their living room.  They then drank hot chocolate and watched movies.  While this wasn't for Valentines Day I love this idea for a night in.

Do it yourself Wine Bottle Candle Holders

I was going through Design Sponge's DIY archives earlier today and stumbled upon a project to make these great Wine Bottle Candle Holders.  By cutting a wine bottle in half you create both a candle holder from the top and a vase from the bottom.  So genius!  

I love the idea of making several of these at different heights and clustering them on the table for a dinner party.  And a great excuse to polish off a few bottles of wine as well!  

The main investment you would need to create these candle holders is a glass cutting kit, which they offer two different websites to purchase them from.  Once you have that and some sandpaper you are on your way to a cheap and chic way to decorate for a party or romantic evening!

Visit Design Sponge's website for all the instructions and details.

Yulia Brodskaya

Yulia Brodskaya creates beautiful words and pictures with curled paper.  I can't even imagine the time and skill that goes into these pieces.  Visit her website to see even more.