Start your crafting engines

Today its all about crafting. Along with helping my lovely cousin pull together ideas and making things for her upcoming wedding, I decided to plan a small get together for my family for a gender reveal of the baby. The husband and I are finding out next week {!} if the baby will be a little man or little lady and thought it would be fun to get our close family members in on the guessing action. I'm making little paper flower broaches and bow ties for them to pick which team they are on...I have a feeling its a boy, the husband is still undecided. Its always fun to make a guess, but come next week we will finally know - assuming our little one isn't super shy. So off to the craft store I go for a few supplies, I mean, a girl can never have to much paper.

images via you are my fave, the brides cafe, martha stewart

Frances and Francis

I have always had a thing for paper flowers...I have fond memories of being surrounded by crepe paper as a kid trying my hardest to get it to turn into something that resemble a flower, but these florals from Frances & Francis simply blew me away. Personally handcrafted from London based designer Helen Frances, each bloom has a look of their own and will last forever unlike those beautiful buds we cherish only to toss after a few days. These are perfect for weddings, parties or even a tabletop or two around the home. Do check out Helen's online shop as well for her whole line of blooms both for display and to wear.

images via frances & francis

Create: Hand painted paper flowers

I've been working on these paper flowers off and on again for what seems forever and figured what better time to share then now since I pretty much have to ooze creativity when making them. The goal is to have a large art piece with a gradient of these babies but since they are all hand painted, hand cut and hand twisted, its taken quite a bit of time. I've always wanted to create something delicate yet 3D and am really happy with how it is turning out. Now if only there were more room and a bit more time in the day to get it finished. What can I say, I've got big dreams.

And in case you were wondering I am using white crepe paper and a mixture of acrylic paints to make the custom hues. To form the petals cut strips into shape and twist around floral wire. Piece by piece they slowly take on a flower look, you just have to be a bit patient...some of my flowers have almost 20 individual petals!

images by our designed life

Creative challenge: No.1

Easter crafts, daffodils

I've been trying to get all my Easter goodies together, yesterday's craft sort of fell through so I'm trying round two today...paper artichokes are proving to be a little more difficult then I thought. But these adorable daffodils from Martha Stewart's craft department are a great way to bring in a little color and tasty morsels to your Easter decor. They seem pretty simple, perhaps I should make up a bouquet for our hostess. Are you making anything fun for the holiday?

photo via martha stewart 

Hand made

Boy the weekends sure seem to go by fast don't they? After realizing last week I had yet to stop by the SF flower mart, the husband decided to take me on Saturday, I don't know if it was the rain or the day but it was a bit of a bummer. Don't get me wrong, I love scouring through buckets of buckets for the perfect blooms, but the options were just a bit sad. So I made my own, flowers that is. I've got grand plans for these, but with many many hours in my future before its done {each petal is hand painted!}, I thought I would share a quick look. What do you think? Now, to find a big enough vessel for my giant blossoming branches I picked up....

photo by our designed life

Photo of the day, My little valentine

My little valentine

044/365

Happy love day friends.  Uli got a lovely little paper flowered and lace collar thanks to my Mom, and she loves it.

A pom to make you smile

How fun are these little guys from Party Poms? Made with recycled content tissue paper, these are perfect for parties, small get together's, heck, they are just perfect for hanging around the house to brighten up a day!  I have been seeing small and large versions of these guys all over the place, and they are just so much fun.  Perhaps now that February is over, I should take down the heart garland... maybe the husband wont mind if I replace it with this. Maybe.

All photos via Party Poms