A Few Favorites: Crafty Supplies

What are some crafting supplies that you cannot live without?  You know, the ones that you always reach for when you're making that last minute gift?  Here are a few that I am always digging for in my craft supplies.

1. Ribbon: I love ribbon.  You can use it for absolutely everything.  I even save the ribbon off of paper shopping bags.  This particular ribbon comes from the Anastasia Marie Shop on Etsy.  She is actually the older sister of a friend of mine!  If you haven't checked out her shop, I definitely recommend that you stop by.  She has such awesome crafty goodies!
2. Fold-over Elastic (FOE): I've only made one purchase of FOE and I bought a bunch at the same time.  You know those cute little hair bands that you see at Anthro (3 for $12)?  Well, I got enough to make a dozen headbands plus a gazillion little hair bands.....for less than that.  Can't be beat, right?
3. Clothespins: particularly those with glitter.  Because glitter makes everything better right?  Remember the autumn garland that I showed you?  Having clothespins in my crafty bins came handy with a last minute project.  But now I'm wishing I had glitter-ified them!
4. Gift tags: Can't you see it?  You're running out the door for a birthday with your quickly-put-together gift and realize there's no tag!  Well guess what? PROBLEM. SOLVED.
5. Decorative Embroidery Hoop: I have a bunch of little pretties all embroidered up and ready to be given as gifts.  But just when I need them the most, I realize that I don't have any embroidery hoops except for the cheap plastic ones.  It would be super handy to have a pretty one like this on hand.
6. Baker's Twine: ahh.  This really doesn't need a description.  Everyone knows all the different things you can do with baker's twine, right?  Wrap gifts and embroidery hoops, make Christmas trees.....the options are endless.
7. Washi Tape: I saw a giveaway a little bit ago for 72 rolls of washi.  My first thought was "What would I do with 72 rolls of washi?!?!?!?"  Haha.  My next thought?  "What WOULDN'T I do with 72 rolls of washi?"  You can literally put washi on anything.  ANYTHING.  Your phone, your keyboard, your door, cards, gifts, pictures, puppies (ok. maybe no puppies).  The sky is the limit.  (#washibombinganyone?)
8. Thread Scissors: for all those embroidery and sewing projects.  And everything is better vintage right?

|| ribbon || elastic || clothespins || gift tags || embroidery hoop || baker's twine || washi tape || scissors ||

A Few Favorites: Sugar Scrub

top: // 1 // 2 // 3 //

middle: // 1 // 2 //

bottom: // 1 // 2 // 3 //

"It's that time of year..."

You know, the time where your hands dry out and get all cracked if you don't pay attention to them?

Well, I guess that's not technically the next line of the song.  But sometimes, I feel like it should be;)

But don't worry!  Sugar scrub is here to help!  *Insert dramatic superhero music here*

With everything from pumpkin spice or chai tea, to fresh grapefruit and "French Country Morning", there is a scent of sugar scrubs for everyone!!!  Each of these shops has tons more scents of sugar scrub, plus soaps and other products.  So go explore!

~Kelsey

A Few Favorites: "Alternative" Christmas Trees

The other day my sisters were talking about Christmas trees.  Our house has a vaulted ceiling, so we always end up with a pretty large tree.  Like, 16 feet large.  For some of us, this is just tradition that we expect every year.  We know for a fact that we will always push the Christmas tree over to our open, second-story loft to decorate the top.  For others, this is a nightmare (cue said 16 foot tree [ornaments, lights, water, and all] crashing on the floor above us in the middle of the night.  Yep, nightmare).  One of my sisters stated that she is going to have a nice 6-footer every year when she has her own house.  To everyone's shock, I said that "I'm not going to have a Christmas tree."  Then I clarified by saying, "I'm going to have like 30 of them!!!"  I love this trend of "alternative" Christmas trees.  If you want to change it up and make your tree out of a ladder instead of having to slog through the mud to cut one down in the pouring rain (hint hint, Washingtonians), you can go right ahead.  Or if you're like me and just want Christmas trees everywhere, there are so many different options!  And since we only have 24 more days until Christmas (eek!), I thought I'd share 24 Christmas tree ideas with you!

// bead board // beads // book shelves // books // chalk board //

cardboard // framed ornaments // distressed wood // double-sided ladder // driftwood and perler beads

// driftwood and ornaments // geometric // washi // lights and balls //

metallic mobile // driftwood and poms // ladder // ornament mobile // pallets

// paper and washi // sequins // sticks and cotton // wood and clothespins // wool and washi

 

Have you made any alternative Christmas trees?  I saw one on Pinterest that I really want to make, made of white cupcake liners.  Hmm.......couldn't find the link.  But you can find the picture on my Christmas Tree board.

 

~Kelsey

 

A Few Favorites: Cozy Fall Night

Don't you just love those cozy fall nights?  Rain pounding on the roof, a warm drink in hand, and wrapped up all snug?  These would make the perfect late November evening curled up on the couch.  Can't you already smell that hazelnut coffee candle???

|| acorn locket || leaf necklace || cozy scarf || pumpkin soap || hazelnut coffee candle || chunky blanket || mugs || coffee cozy ||

 

~Kelsey

A few of my favorite things

 

 

On Monday I showed you my version of See Kate Sew's Sweet Scallops Tote.  Today I'll show you my favorite way to use this type of bag.  It's perfect for packing a few items for a change of clothes, using as a full-on purse, or carrying a bunch of craft supplies that need organization *cough cough: stamps*.

1. Sweet Scallops Tote: well, duh.  I like it.  And I fully believe everyone should make one;)
2. My favorite sunglasses, purchased on sale at Ann Taylor.  I'm a big, perfectly round sunglasses kinda gal.  These are the smallest ones I've had in a while, but I love them.
3. Fold-over elastic headbands.  Swoon.  Last year, I bought a bunch of FOE from Elastic By The Yard on Etsy.  My package came super fast, and I'm pleased with the quality!
4. TOMS, yay or nay?  I love the look, but I'm not willing to pay the full price for a pair.  Solution? Rite Aid.  Believe it or not, these shoes were only $10!  I'm not usually a fan of hte knock-off brands, but these ones are different.  They're really comfortable, and have lasted well for how much I wear them!
5. Vintage sheet goodness, mmm mmmmm.  This pouch from Sand and Starfish pairs just perfectly with the vintage florals on this tote.
6. Speaking of vintage....antique jewelry is one of my favorite things ever.  Ok, well it's up there with ruffles and puppies and nutella.  But still.  This particular one belonged to my gramma and was passed down to me and my sister.  In this particular necklace, I love how each of the three layers is a different type of chain.  And I love how the pearl is a perfect accent, and yet not too gaudy.

What are some things you are loving these days?

~Kelsey

The Sweet Scallops Tote

Hello!  Here I am for one last (semi-large) project for the summer.  I don't know about you, but nothing inspires me to create like summer coming to an end does.  I quickly realize how little time I have left to finish up my projects, so I get right to work!  Some of you may have seen the sneak-peek of this tote on Instagram (fancythatnotion).  Unfortunately, it was a sad one.  The kind where your thread runs out one inch away from being done with a 12-hour project.  At 10:30 at night.  But you know what?  It was "totes" worth it.  *couldn't help myself*  This is another bag pattern from See Kate Sew that has been sitting on my Pinterest board for a while.  I raided my fabric stash once more and came up with this combination.

 

 

The pattern and instructions were written so well and all of the sewing was very simple.  This would be the perfect project for a beginner!  Those scallops take a while to cut and sew, but the finished product is worth the time.

 

Kate pays so much attention to detail (You should check out her ruffles series going on right now!).  The top-stitching gives the body of the bag a clean, finished look.

 

 

 

The possibilities of combinations are endless!  You can base off of one color-theme, do an ombre look, or whatever you fancy!!!  The two blue fabrics were vintage sheets and pillow cases.  Pink polka dots and the purple flowers were my gramma's fabrics, and the top two were purses!  This is such a great fabric-stash buster!!!

 

The inside of the bag is my favorite vintage sheet.........again.  I used it for my envelope clutch here as well.

I hope you are enjoying the last few days of summer!  If you are looking to learn to sew, Kate has a bunch of great tutorials, and this project would be a perfect one to start off on!!!  Have a lovely Monday, friends!!!

~Kelsey

 

 

Favorites: Mug Love

My church collects random mugs to be used by those of us who spend a lot of time there.

This one is my all-time favorite.