DIY: Hair Ties

I have been seeing fold over elastic hair ties EVERYWHERE!  I love the look, but the price - ugh, not so much.  At a salon near my house, they were selling for $3 a piece.  So I thought, hmm...am I really going to pay $3 for a piece of elastic.  Ah...no!  So one of my spring break projects was to make my own fold over elastic hair ties.

First step - purchase elastic.  I bought 10 yards via elastic by the yard on etsy.  Super easy and crazy cheap!  Plus I got to choose colors that matched my wardrobe.  Step two - elastic arrives in the mail, I measured, tied the ends, and voila - instant hair tie!  Amazingly easy and much, much cheaper than the salon alternative.

image/myphotos

Guest Book 101

To guest book, or not to guest book...that is the question. I'm trying to figure out what to do exactly for our wedding guestbook. I haven't written off the traditional "book," where people sign and write cute and clever messages. But...in the interest of inspiration, I'm seeking other creative ideas. So I ask, what would you do for a guest book?

In the mean time, I'm enjoying these ideas...

Pass a note to the bride a groom

Type a note to the bride and groom

Guests find their birthday and sign their name

"Send" a postcard to the bride and groom

photos via myeventdesign

Chalkboard Pots

Now this is a summer project I can handle...DIY chalkboard pots. I think the chalkboard would add a welcome *pizazz* to my herb garden, what do you think?

After cruising chalkboard images, I'm officially inspired! Now all I need is chalkboard paint!

image1/apartment.therapy

image2/julieannart

image3/bsquaredesign

image3/doityourself

Letterpress App

I just spotted this over at Design Mom, a letterpress app for ipad (yet another reason why I'd love to own an ipad!). I'm a huge fan of letterpress, every few months I scour etsy looking for great letterpress cards to stock up on, in addition to the fact that our wedding invitations are letterpress too!

I find that I am constantly amazed at technology, and how these amazing crafts can be harnessed and turned into online applications for the novice eager to DIY! An intro to the art of letterpress for the beginner like myself (without the costly expense of the press) = very cool!

via designmom

images via lettermpress

Let Us Eat Cake

In case it's started off as one of those weeks and you had forgotten...

via etsy-sweetdee

A is for Awesome

Love these Alphabet prints by Paul Thurlby. Rumor has it, they'll be available once the entire alphabet collection is finished - thus far, he's through "T for Trapeze." Any creative suggestions for the remaining letters? In the mean time, check out his work blog for updates, or view the completed letters on flickr.

image/flickr
via simplesong

Papillon

Who said mobiles are just for babies? I love this butterfly mobile, the butterflies are crafted from vintage French magazines and record jackets suspended by silvery thread. How lovely to be working at your desk and spy a flock of butterflies in your window.

image/etsy (royalbuffet)

Eggs & Carrots

Look at this clever use idea for Easter eggs. Attach green paper to your brown eggs for a creative take on a traditional Easter basket.

image/marthastewart

Jewelry at Play

I remember as a kid incessantly asking my mom to borrow her jewelry. My sisters and I would take turns wearing her wedding ring, prancing around her bedroom (as long as we didn't leave her sight, of course).
I discovered these these crayon rings via Merry Mishap, and cannot get enough of the idea! Aren't these perfect for your little one who likes to mimic your accessories. Not only do they get the pleasure of sporting the jewelry, a child could put it to creative use as well! Put a few of these crayon rings on their fingers and you're good to go!


found via merrymishap
image/timothyliles

Honey Will You Set The Table?

A little inspiration for your Thanksgiving table...

Scrapbookin'

I'm loving the latest gallery pages from the Scarlet Lime summer kits. I am obsessed with taking pictures, and while I consider myself to be a scrapbook enthusiast - morphing my snapshots into scrapbook album pages is typically a whole day event - requiring time boxed out on my calendar.

The aftermath of a successful scrapbooking day usually results in my apartment looking like an aggressive tornado of colored paper, glue sticks, buttons, and ribbon tore through. I've definitely got my eye on that August kit, I need to take advantage of school being out for summer and be productive in preserving my memories!

images/scarletlime

Clip It

Today my students and I went on a class field trip, as an extension to our social studies curriculum. As a means to stay organized, I had all my field trip info, class list, and emergency contacts easily accessible on my handy-dandy clipboard...just in case. While our school clipboards are plentiful and definitely get the job done, it got me thinking that such a useful tool could use a little pizazz...

A Ha! My new spring break project is now going to be jazzing up one of my generic brown clipboards! Suddenly inspired, I began thinking of ways I could add a little individuality to an item I use so frequently in the classroom. And since my inspiration was running low, I turned to etsy, and searched my item of choice. Voila! Creative clipboards at your service. I especially love this one by vintagescraps! image/etsy

Cheep Cheep

I think I have an addiction to holiday arts and crafts. I was on a green St. Patrick's kick and now I am captivated by all things Easter. How cute are these? Honestly I can't even imagine trying to model this project in a classroom...but for those of you with patient, responsible children, might be a fun activity to try at home!

image/marthastewart