Wedding Guestbook
We are planning to have a photo guest book at our wedding where guests can take a Polaroid and write a message for us. I found this scrapbook at Dick Blick and decided it needed a little something extra. I scanned my original pencil drawing into the computer and digitally colored it as you can see here. Then, I printed it out and put it into the album. The whole process only took a couple of hours and I was happy with how it came out.
Here is the original.
Printed and put in album.
Whole package.
I was hoping to have time to paint a wedding portrait for us, but with the wedding only weeks away, that might not happen.
Printer’s Trays as Wall Storage
I recently picked up a type case at a flea market for only a few dollars. Covered in spider webs and chipped up, it’s a bit rough-looking to say the least but that’s the way cheap finds usually work.
Originally, this tray and ones like it would have housed the various letters and symbols a printer would need to load into a printing press to create a newspaper, book or poster. The slots are varied sizes reflecting the space different letters would have taken up. There are still places where old-fashioned methods of printing like these are used, but for the most part, type cases are much more readily found being used as display cases or serving other decorative functions.
Image from Librarienne's Flickr Feed
As for my own type case, I haven’t quite decided how I’m going to use it. Right now it’s home to some small tchotchkes but little else. I’m hoping I’ll get inspired by some of these other cases to make mine into something special, but at the moment I think I like it just as it is.
- Boxwood Cottage: This is one massive tray! It does provide a great home for all kinds of small items that might otherwise end up in a drawer.
- The Design Tabloid: This ReCreate design is pretty cool. I would never have thought to make the tray into a storage cabinet. There are so many different ways this could be used around the house.
- Dolorix: My old rock collection is gathering dust in the closet. Perhaps it could get a new life on the wall with the help of a tray like this one?
- BluebirdHeaven: With a few adaptations, this Etsy seller made this tray into an awesome storage solution for jewelry.
- Hilde C.: Ah, to have a sewing room. I can see how this would be a great place to store small stuff so it’s right out where you can see it.
- Jill Ruth: Another cute way to use a tray in a sewing room.
- Mondo Cherry: This printer’s tray has a fun use: storing Legos! Totally cute.
- Please Note: I would love to own half the cute stuff being displayed in this tray.
- ReCreate: While most trays seem to be filled with random items, this project demonstrates that they’re great for showcasing a unified collection as well.
- Rosenatti: A nice piece of glass could turn this coffee table into something special.
- Vintiquities: I have to say, the trays look great painted white. A contrasting color on the back would also be a great addition.
Awesome Attic Spaces
Lately I’ve been enamored with attic spaces, perhaps because so many of the Chicago homes I’ve looked at on real estate sites have had unfinished attics. All that untapped space would make the perfect office, extra bedroom or, if you have little ones, playroom. Sure, the ceilings in the spaces are low, but I think it makes it a bit more cozy than anything else. Of course, I’m pretty short so that might skew my view; the sharply angled space would be no doubt be head-bump alley for my much taller finance. Though I suppose that’s part of the draw for me. A cozy space that no one else would want to use, far from kitchen and television noise– there couldn’t be anything more ideal for a space to write, sew or work on other projects.
Image from McKayVB
Yet turning a musty old attic into a livable space doesn’t appear to be the easiest thing in the world to do. First, it’s dark up there! Most attics, at least in Chicago, only have one small window so skylights or additional windows would be in order– something that I would never want to attempt to do on my own (I’ll give most DIY a go, but not projects that involve cutting holes in outer walls or roofs.)
Secondly, most attics have pretty restrictive access, either through a pull-down ladder or a really tiny, narrow staircase. Neither of these scenarios bode well for getting drywall or larger furniture up there. As they say, where there’s a will there’s a way and I’d have a heck of a will to get that attic finished so perhaps it wouldn’t be as bad as I’m imaging it.
For now, my dream attic space is still just that– a dream. Until we’re ready to invest in a home and some serious renovation I’ll have to live out my attic space fantasies through the homes of others, like these drool-worthy examples.
- House to Home UK: Could this little room be any more perfect? Light, bright and oh, so cozy.
- Interior Design Ideas: I would not have thought to put a bathroom in an attic but this is fabulous. Forget about the office, I’ll work from the tub.
- Country Living Magazine: Love the antiques and the exposed beams. Hardly feels like an attic at all.
- Elle Decor: This is a feature on a Divine Design redo. It is so incredibly amazing. I know I would never be able to copy something like this, but it’s a dream attic!
- The Decorista: The built ins in this office cannot be beat.
- Emily Ann Interiors: I’m not a huge fan of the frou-frou lamps, but I like the blue and the wall gallery.
- Country Living Magazine: That round window is to die for.
- My Little Apartment: I’m pretty sure this is a barn, but I don’t care. Still a perfect, dreamy attic space. Can’t you just imagine it on a sunny day, sipping lemonade and reading a book?
- Memi the Rainbow: This is the only one that looks like a real, lived-in office. Still just lovely, despite the clutter.
Wedding Ring Photo Shoot
I got bored and decided to take some shots of our rings. They’re very photogenic.
On a flower
My rings on a fern!
Manly ring on a fern.
On the ring pillow from my parent's wedding. Dang shiny ring shows the camera (and me) in a reflection. Ugh.
On a succulent.
On bottles.
In some moss.
Gettin' mossy.
Can’t wait until I get to wear mine all the time!
Handmade Save the Dates
Since we couldn’t afford to have someone make all of our wedding stationery we decided to do it ourselves. Rather, I asked my graphic designer husband-to-be to do it, and somehow got roped into doing it myself.
I started with a hand-drawn version on paper done in pencil and Prismacolor marker then scanned that version into the computer. Using Gimp (I can’t afford any fancy Photoshop), I filled in the color and cleaned up any lines that needed it. It took an obscenely long amount of time and in all honesty it probably would have been easier to draw it on the computer in the first place. However, I’m not sure that it would have kept its hand-drawn charm that way. This is the final result:
Since we’re doing a bit of a woodland theme, we went with green envelopes and I made a pretty mushroom seal with some clip art.
All in all, I think it turned out pretty cute. Now I just have to tackle making the invitations!
Bedroom Revamp
Sometimes you don’t have to completely redecorate a room for it to feel fresh and clean again. It can be enough to simply clean things out, get rid of clutter and freshen up. I was starting to feel pretty frustrated with our bedroom because it just started to seem kinda, well, gross. It wasn’t a restful or relaxing place like a bedroom should be. So, I decided to give it a simple makeover instead of redoing the whole thing.
The first thing I did was to go from having one wall painted to painting the entire room this soft gray color. It not only makes it look more pulled together, it covered up all the scuffs, scrapes and holes in the wall which was a nice change.
Next, I took down the old dowdy, wrong color curtains and hung a simple new set from Ikea. I raised the height of the curtain rod to really highlight just how nice and high our ceilings are. If you’ve got it, flaunt it, right? The cat will not let me take photos without her in them. I think she knows the sound of the camera.
We had some shelves over the bed but I took those down and opted for two frames instead. I’m still looking for something to put in the new frame. I’ll get there.
Next, I rearranged the dresser and used this tray to help it seem less cluttered and more pulled together. I also moved my jewelry to this wall where it’s still accessible but not so out in the open.
And finally, I got rid of the massive boxy, black TV I have had since high school and replaced it with a streamlined flat screen version. It’s white! I love white gadgets. It was a bit of a splurge, but sometimes you just can’t look at eyesores for another minute without losing your mind.
A few more shots.
Christmas Spirit
Just thought I’d share a few photos to incite the holiday spirit.
Tubbies posing under the tree, after the presents were removed so she would stop trying to eat the wrapping paper.
Cookie Bonanza!
Yummy mint cookies.
Whoopie pies
Tree topper at Macy's.
The lovely tree in the Walnut Room.
The cats, all Christmased up.
Close-up of our tree.
Distance shot.
Robot Christmas Tree
It seems that I have a thing for little robot Christmas ornaments and I’ve amassed quite a collection. So, what better way to show them off than by putting them on their own special tree?
I found this silver, retro-looking tree at a local garden center and couldn’t resist picking it up. It makes the perfect home for all my robots!
I filled out the tree with some little vintagey bulbs from Martha Stewart. They help give it some more color and cuteness.
I seem to get more robot ornaments every year, so perhaps this will have to be a Christmas tradition.
Handmade Christmas Cards
I’ve been making my own Christmas cards instead of opting for a store-bought version for the past four or five years now. While I know my designs and my cards aren’t as refined or polished as those you can get in a store, I think they effectively capture the spirit of the season. I enjoy making them and it helps me to feel more Christmasy and I hope that those who receive them enjoy them as well.
This year I only sent out a few cards so I stuck with a couple central designs. The theme this year? Elves. Here they are:
The chubby elf who cannot get enough cookies and candy.
This elf is a playa.
The nerdy elf.
Here are a few selections from years past.
Paper Snowflakes
It has become a tradition in our home to cut out and hang paper snowflakes every year. This is usually done while watching a holiday movie, or in this year’s case, Fantastic Mr. Fox. While our snowflakes were never awful in years past, this year we really came up with some pretty designs– perhaps due to me actually looking up how to properly cut paper snowflakes online.
Here are some shots from this year’s festivities.
The snowflakes before hanging.
The cat ate this one almost immediately after we hung it up.
Snowflakes galore!
You can see just how dirty and gross our old windows are in this shot.
