Thoughts of Springtime

Today, another transformation for a lowly notepad:

 This one's made from recycled paper.

 Decorate with lavender flowers using paint or markers.

Then add a touch of decoupage with a butterfly

cut-out from an old magazine and Mod Podge.

It secretly covers the label, too.

 Now a plain old pad {that will contain this year's 

"To Do" lists} has all the touches of spring and 

new beginnings.

Isn't that blah to TADA!?

More Flower Fun

All this week, I've been having a blast with my watercolors.

It all began with this plain notebook with a craft paper cover.

 The notebook was part of a set I found at Muji.

And then, images from this paper shop

only provided the right design inspiration.

A few lines... 

...and a whole lot of flowers turned my

notebook from blah to TADA!

A Note-worthy Bouquet

Well, hello there!

Today, another way to spruce up a plain notebook 

and turn it from blah to TADA!

Sketch flowers gathered from Liberty of London prints. 

Then paint with watercolor.

A bouquet you'll have all year round.

Drafts, doodles, drawings...fill it with whatever

makes you smile. And use colored pens

for an extra dose of TADA!

Floral Notes

Happy new week everyone! I hope you had a restful weekend. Mine started with a cold, followed by allergies {extremely blah}, but I'm better now, ready for some crafting.

There's a lovely stationery shop called Rifle Paper Co. and I'm smitten by all their paper goods and storybook artwork. Here are a few samples:

The artist and shop owner is the talented Anna Bond. You can read more about her here and here.

It's this set of notebooks that serves as inspiration for my blah to TADA! make-overs this week. Let's begin, shall we?

blah: kraft paper-covered notebooks

that I found at Muji

There are three notebooks in each pack.

I drew my design freehand. 

Then tinted with watercolor.

TADA!: A new notebook for plans and

dreams for the new year.

More ideas tomorrow!

Birthday Calendars

Don't you love it when someone remembers your birthday? And in the same light, do you feel a little guilt when you've forgotten someone else's? Oh so blah.

Here's a TADA! solution -- birthday calendars found on Etsy:

1/2/3

All you need to do is write the person's name on the specific date {maybe include wedding anniversaries of your favorite couples as well}, take a look at the calendar everyday, and you'll never miss a birthday!

Here are two more that can be used in the office or classroom:

1/2

Pretty neat ideas that you can buy or DIY.

Have an awesome weekend!

Write, Erase, Repeat

We're still on the subject of calendars and look what I found in Etsy! Calendars for the wall that can be used every month and even every year.

1/2/3

No. 1 and No.2 are adhered to an empty wall and entries are added with an ink pen. When a new month arrives, just erase and reuse the calendar all over again. No. 3 is similar with a more old fashioned twist: it's a chalk board.

The following ride on the same idea but are geared towards smaller spaces:

1/2/3

The end of the year doesn't make these calendars extinct. They can be used many times over and the use of paper is totally eliminated. I think that's blah to TADA! 

One Sentence Journals

How do you keep a memory of your days? Do you have journal entries or take daily photos and post them on Instagram? I discovered these notebooks at the shops and I'm falling in love with the routine required:

1/2/3

These are memory books that record five years of one's life. All you have to do is write the year and one line that defines that day: a plan {ex. I'm seriously considering going to culinary school}, a wish {ex. I claim good health for Auntie Em}, or a quote {ex. "Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, their lies your vocation." - Aristotle}

For busy moms, "Mom's one line a day" to jot down your child's milestones like taking a first step, losing a tooth or saying "I love you, Mama" for the first time.

If you're more of an artist, why not a visual journal where you draw "one sketch a day"?

These books are tiny {smaller than a paperback} so you can take it everywhere. And every year, it's a thoughtful way to keep tabs of what you've achieved.