inspired by : sam dubeau.

I’ve always had a little obsession for flag cake toppers. Make the flags super tiny with an “adorable factor” and I’m sold. So it’s no wonder I fell so in love with these crafty cuties by Sam Dubeau. Sam’s design page is full of crafting inspiration including these stamped exclaim cards & these celebrate cards (oh yes! streamers & confetti bananza!). Simple supplies, with uber creative results.

photo cred: {scarlet o’neill via sam dubeau}

Advertisement

DIY quilted escort cards.

I’ve been dying to get some fun DIY projects up on the blog and I couldn’t think of a better day to start than the most mushy day of the year!

Happy Valentine’s Day friends!

This first official DIY was certainly inspired by today’s LOVEfest! Adam and I are working hard to dine “in” more often – i.e. making more meals at home. Second goal? Less meals at the coffee table and more meals at a set table….gasp! With that comes the desire to style up our dinner tabletop with the prettiest of place settings to keep those creative juices flowing and to liven up the drab dinner plate.

I wanted to create a fun escort card that could go along with my dream Valentine’s Day tabletop. The classic heart shape felt like a “must” but I wanted it to have a unique twist with fun texture. These little “quilted” escort cards are a total cinch and are perfect for a valentine’s day party or dinner surprise for your sweetheart! Or change up the colors and shape cutout and use it for any party or event!

Here’s what you’ll need:

scissors, craft cutting board or x-acto knife (optional, but will create the the straightest lines), firm cardstock for escort card, colorful sheets of paper (i used 3 various pink/red shades for this project), glue runner, fun washi tape, pen

The Steps:

Step 1: Cut firm cardstock into escort card shape (3 1/2 x 5″) and score line down center of card for easier fold. (You can eliminate this step and save time by buying precut escort cards from a craft supply store).

Step 2: After folding escort card down center, cut out half heart shape from center of card with scissors. *Tip: save the heart cutout and use as template so that other hearts are about the same size.

Step 3. Cut a square out of pink paper. You want to make sure the square is large enough to “fill” the inside of the heart.

Step 4: Cut straight lines into the square making sure NOT to cut all the way through but leaving a little uncut edge. This is where I used the cutting board to ensure that each line was the same width and was super straight.

Step 5: Cut out strips of paper using other sheets of colorful paper. You can make these strips at the width of your choosing. In this case I cut the red ones at 1/4″ and the coral ones at 1/8″. Also, make sure that the strips are at least 1/2 inch longer than your square in Step 4.

Step 6: Start weaving the red strip of paper through precut square to create quilt affect. Tip: be sure to “push” each strip tight against the square with your finger tip. You don’t want there to be any holes and you want the lines as straight as possible. Repeat the weaving process using color strips alternating between red and coral color.

Step: 7: Use glue runner to glue around edge of precut heart on underside of escort card.

Step 8: Lay quilted paper facedown against glue to fill heart space. Using colorful washi tape secure edges of quilted square on underside of escort card to ensure paper won’t come undone.

Step 9: Write name of guest on escort card and place on tabletop.

Extra fun and very green Step: Use leftover heart cutouts to top dessert.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Muah! xoxo!

photo cred: {jenn elliott blake}

sneak peek: lions, tigers & bears.

lions, tigers and bears & cute party details oh my!

back in august i had the total pleasure of designing and hosting my sister sarah’s baby shower along with my mom and little sis coli. it was such a thrill to be back home in colorado, but to also have the opportunity to share in one of the most exciting times in my sister’s life was such a gift. i’m so proud of all her accomplishments, but i think i’m most proud to see her step into motherhood…she’s gonna be amazing at it! and her baby bump??! too darn adorable.

here’s a little sneak peek of the details from her zoo animal themed baby shower….more to come later this week!

photo cred: {jenn elliott blake}

defined: menu.

men·u /ˈmenyo͞o/

noun. the food available or to be served in a restaurant or at a meal OR that extra special touch that often gets forgotten or missed.

photo cred: 1 {martha stewart weddings} 2 {mike larson & alchemy fine events via style me pretty} 3 {unscene inc. via martha stewart weddings} 4 {ps paper} 5 {tyler branch photo} 6 {paper and thread studio & gabriel ryan photography}

inspired board # 7 : around the world.

photo cred: {map bunting via etsy} {wall mural via urban outfitters} {jo metson globe interiors via design sponge} {invitation suite by nothing but bonfires} {map pinwheels via etsy} {map wrapped favors via martha stewart weddings} {escort card display by enjoy events co.} {love globe via forget me knot weddings} {teak globe via hilda grahmat}

bow tie wednesday / 09.

tabletop bow ties.

photo cred: {black via enjoy events co. & sitting in a tree} {yellow via martha stewart weddings} {polka dot via hot polka dot}

drumroll please…

scout. vintage rental company is here!

After many long weeks, countless sleepless nights, an extensive and super fun photo shoot (minus the two gals who tried to get us kicked out of discovery park), multiple trips to fleas, antique shops and corner yard sales my dream vintage rental company is finally here! Last week, with an incredible amount of love, support and encouragement from friends & family, I launched my second business: scout. vintage rental company. scout. is now sister to bow tie & bustle and they are planning to take Seattle by storm : )

scout. was derived from the belief that vintage details offer a certain “something, something” to our lives and each unique piece has a story of its own to tell. My intention is to provide local photographers, event designers/planners, stylists, couples and individuals a seamless way to incorporate vintage details, props and decor into their special events and photo shoots. I’ve wanted to share my love of antiques and vintage pieces with the event and design world for sometime now, and I am so thrilled to finally open my doors. scout. was a TOTAL labor of love and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for my boutique rental company.

Sooooooo what are you waiting for?! Check out scout. here! Oh, and thank you to everyone for your generous comments and words of encouragement since scout’s launch last week. I’ve most certainly felt the love!

photo cred: {mo hines photography and my personal inventory pictures}

sunday dreaming / 16.

dreaming of…

DIY vintage.

photo cred: 1 {country living via apartment therapy} 2 {design sponge} 3 {creature comforts  via apartment therapy}