Easter Treats

It's Easter on Sunday and I thought it would be fun to do some crafting for this special day.

Easter is a time of joy and what better way to celebrate than with candy! 

I'm turning these blah brown paper bags into TADA!

I cut the bags into smaller sheets and fashioned them into little paper bags, using all-purpose glue to seal the edges.

Then I painted on a pastel-colored bunny. I added a pompom for its cotton tail.

Paint the bunny in different shades and play around with the pompoms.

Here's another version: bags that are thinner and resemble bill envelopes.

Paint on Easter greetings and fill each one with treats.

A fun surprise for kids and adults, alike. TADA!

Here's to an eggs-cellent weekend!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered!

Hello and thanks for stopping by today!

Yesterday, I told you about the Garance Dore' and Anna Rifle Bond collaboration.

Garance made the chic illustrations and Rifle Paper Co. produced the line making for a sexy yet sentimental collection. 

Let me show you the things I took home from the event.

A tank top freebie!

Specially made tattoos by Tattly.

I purchased this Rifle Paper Co. print of one of my favorite cities.

 I had Anna sign it {she was so sweet!}.

Her signature in silver ink.

A beautiful print deserves a frame to match.

I got to meet Garance, too!

I picked out this greeting card of a mysterious lady in a cape.

A personal note from Garance {swoon!}.

And I framed it as well. TADA!

Fabulous Stationery: Garance Dore' Paper

Happy Monday! A few weeks back, I was able to attend an intimate launch of a new stationery line. Let me tell you, this is not a paid post. It's just a pinch-me moment I have to share because I got to meet two very inspiring women.

They are Garance Dore' and Anna Rifle Bond.

If you are a big fan of stationery, you might have heard of Anna. She owns Rifle Paper Company together with her husband Nathan. And it is her brilliant mind and creative hands that have produced these:

Prints of cities, people and mundane objects.

The cutest greeting cards.

And now phone cases! All in her signature gouache illustrations. 

Now, if you love fashion, you know Garance. She's a blogger and photographer with a passion for fashion. 

She's also a very talented illustrator. Wouldn't this be a great cover for a greeting card?

Indeed! And thus the Garance Dore' Paper line was born in collaboration with Rifle Paper Company.

I love this write-up of a dream coming true.

The launch was a pop-up shop in New York City.

With a series of fun activities -- letter-writing, calligraphy, tattoos, food!

Inside, a beautiful boutique set-up.

Featuring Garance Dore' Paper in her favorite colors: pink, yellow, silver, gold and black.

There was also a talk with Anna and Garance where they discussed their creative process, how they each started in their fields, and how it was like to work on this line. 

If you'd like, you can watch it here.

Oh, there was free coffee.

And snacks like doughnuts and macarons, too!

Judging from the long line at the register, I'd say this is one successful collaboration.

Tomorrow, I'll show you the goodies I bought. Take care!

Painting Tulips

How do you turn a blah home into a TADA! home?

Just add flowers! They instantly add color and life to any room, don't you agree?

The sad part is they wilt and die. So we're back to blah.

I make these tulips last by turning them into a muse for an afternoon of watercolor. And now, I've got art for my blank wall. TADA!

And here's how I turned a blah piece of cardboard into TADA!: paint on a tulip and let it dry. Just like that, it's a bookmark waiting for the spring and summer novels on my reading list.

Have a colorful Tuesday!

Spring Awakening

Slowly, I am feeling spring's arrival. "Slowly" being the operative word. It's still very cold on most days and my winter outfits are still on rotation.

But it's almost seven in the evening and the sun is still out.

And look! The barren trees are beginning to blossom. A very exciting prospect!

While there is nary a flower in the neighbor's lawn or backyard, I found a truckload at Macy's:

This year's Macy's Flower Show.

This arrangement is TADA!

The same one from a different angle.

I truly loved being surrounded with flowers that I don't see everyday like these...

This is part of the store display -- not exactly the real variety but TADA! just the same.

And look at this lady in red!

Decked in scarlet blossoms, front and back.

I hope these photos brightened your day. Tomorrow, my version of flower preservation.

Painted Beads

Happy Wednesday! I'm in a necklace-making mode this week.

Today, I'm adding color to these wooden beads.

I've chosen pink and silver from my paint stash.

Here are the beads after several coats of paint.

Once dry, string them on a chain, leather cording or ribbon.

The lonely silver bead is a bit of a rebel. There's always a naughty one in the family, right?

I wasn't expecting the paint to add some texture to the beads. But I'm slowly appreciating the crackle finish.  

The beads that were blah are now TADA!

Have a great week...see you on Monday!