Category: Loves

Paper Crafts

I love the internet. Each and every time I open my feed reader I feel amazed by (and in awe of!) the multitude of artists who share their work on the internet and inspire the masses. (See my shared items for a small sampling of the joy that awaits me each day.)

Quilters, knitters, designers, scrap-bookers, illustrators, sculptors, chefs, artists, photographers — there are so many talented people sharing themselves and their creative endeavors on their blogs. Isn’t the internet such an amazing place? I love it here.

In the same vein, I feel amazed by the numerous high quality free downloads on the internet. Gift tags, paper dolls, coloring pages. The generosity of talented artists and designers sharing their work with us, giving us such a special gift, makes me smile. Especially at this stage in our lives when I cannot afford to buy and support all the artists I follow online. (Someday!) In the meantime, I have bits and pieces of their works here in my home and it fills my heart with joy.

Some fun paper craft downloads we’re enjoying:

+ Build Your Own Cupcake (from Volume Twenty Five) – shown above!
+ Typographic Gift Tags (from Eat Drink Chic)
+ ‘Keep Calm and Carol On’ Printable (from Craftily Ever After)
+ Birdie Ornaments (via Creature Comforts) – hanging on our tree!
+ West Elm DIY Downloads (via How About Orange)
+ Dace Paper Dolls By Dallas Shaw (via Creature Comforts) – shown below!

Statistically Improbable

… and almost too good to be true!

I love it when my very favorite bloggers/artists host giveaways and I WIN! (Can you believe it?!)

Case in point:

Giveaway #1


Beautiful barn cards from Lori Joy Smith, an artist living on Prince Edward Island (being a longtime Lucy Maud Montgomery fan, imagine my joy at receiving a package from Charlottetown!). I’ve loved Lori’s work for years and have been following her blog since before she had her two daughters and was living with her husband in Vancouver. I adore these barn face cards (barns have feelings too!) that she sent me! Instead of using them for their intended purpose and mailing them off to friends, I’m planning on keeping at least a few to frame and hang in Miss Leyba’s room. (Warning: It will be a while as MISS LEYBA DOESN’T EVEN HAVE A ROOM OF HER OWN YET but I promise to post pictures when it happens!)

You can view all her barn face posts and more on her blog and purchase these cards in her shop. Head over there; she’s inspiring and delightful.

And did you read her note to me?! SWOON!

Giveaway #2

Brenda, artist and craftster extraordinaire, also known as the stealth Secret Agent Josephine, sent us a fun cocktail book that I can finally really explore now that I’m no longer breastfeeding (one week ago, today!) and a cd with famous regee artists singing Disney songs (Miss Leyba loves it). My favorite? Circle of Life by Matisyahu. (Oh, yes, the famous Orthodox Jewish Reggae artist! Hysterical!) Miss Leyba’s favorite part of the package? Bug’s artwork that wrapped our gifts! Miss Leyba cut it up, taped it back together, added stickers and played with it for days. (Thank you!)

You should know that this isn’t our first package from Brenda. She’s so awesome she lent us homemade banners to use at Miss Leyba’s first birthday party in 2009 (pictures of the banners at our house here and from two weeks earlier in her house for her daughter’s birthday party). She rocks!

Giveaway #3

Last but not least we won a hand screen printed Seasonal Summer Tote illustrated by Claudia Pearson via Brooklyn’s enormouschampion. I’ve been admiring Claudia Pearson’s artwork over the past few seasons. I love her seasonal dish cloths and have been meaning to order some (I still need to!). Ah, the delight in winning this bag! It’s beautiful. You can buy this bag and other prints, bags, towels, and coloring books at her etsy shop. Head on over!

Many thanks to Lori, Brenda and Claudia! Thank you for sending us such wonderful gifts and for having beautiful, inspirational blogs, all of which I so enjoy reading. I greatly admire you and what a thrill for me to have gotten mail from you.

Thank you!

(Not just statistically speaking) I am such a lucky girl.

Updated to add: Look who’s over at Claudia’s blog! Miss Leyba is a rock star.

Latest beverage addiction

I recently discovered IZZE sparkling juices created right here in Boulder, Colorado.

I had my first IZZE experience several weeks ago while we were at a restaurant celebrating happy hour with friends. The grapefruit IZZE and vodka $3.50 beverage special caught my eye on the menu. As a hard-core grapefruit lover, I couldn’t resist trying it out. Yet another drink later, I was thoroughly obsessed.

Know that I usually drink just tea and water, with a glass of smart water here and there. Things have changed.

We now have different flavors of IZZE on hand at all times at home. We’ve discovered that I am in fact allergic to the pomegranate one (not a complete surprise as I’ve reacted sporadically in the past to pomegranates). I prefer the grapefruit variety to the other flavors that I’ve tried. We’ve also developed a soft spot for IZZE spiked with rum (like the vodka version, it’s delicious!). IZZE has become my special treat at the end of the day. I am so addicted. Go try it!