19 August 2014

Dylan's Candy Bar

Yesterday, I gave you a little tease about a happy place I recently visited. It's located in Manhattan's Upper East Side with a few more branches across the US. 

It's called Dylan's Candy Bar!

Candy, color, and cuteness are three words I can use to sum up this store. 

Sweets in every shade and size possible.

Empty canisters that customers can use to fill with candy. I think these make a sweet souvenir or gift for friends that relay the message, "I thought of you on my trip to New York".

Merchandise for those who can't have candy.

And these adorable pillows for a child's bedroom which can be taken on a road trip.

I like to look for my name in the personalized candy section. Can you find yours? 

A bit of candy nostalgia in one corner of the store.

It brings the older generation back to their days as boys and girls. 

There are many other sweets for sale like fudge and chocolate-dipped fruit.

There's a cafe on the top floor for a midday snack and a room for party rentals.

What's not to love about a photo booth (with props, too)?

This larger than life gumball machine makes anyone (young and young at heart) a giddy kid at a candy store! 

If you can, please stop by tomorrow for a candy craft idea.

18 August 2014

Candy Heaven

How was your weekend folks? Mine was both relaxing (sleeping in and dining out), productive (crossing out a handful of items off my "To Do" list), and staying connected (chatting on the phone with my parents, my mom-in-law and a cousin who live far, far away). 

Just a little peek at what's in store on the blog this week:


Any guesses? Let's see if you're correct when you stop by tomorrow. Have a great day!

11 August 2014

Block Printing Basics

Hello friends! Have you ever tried making your own rubber stamps? It's a fun craft and today, I'll show you how.

I learned it at the Brooklyn Brainery where they offer multi-disciplinary topics from crafting to cooking and presentation skills to walking tours of New York City. They promise accessible education at affordable prices.

This is their classroom in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

I had signed up for a stamp making class, otherwise known as block printing. Our teacher was the lovely Jessica Lee Kaufman.

All the materials were provided. This includes a wooden work station, EZ carve (pink rubber printing block), and carving tools.

The carving tool, when unscrewed, opens to reveal an assortment of tips.

Here are the basic rules of block printing: 
  • Carve away from you (because the carving tips are sharp)
  • Shallow dives (use a light hand when carving; the image Jessica gives is a bird gently touching the ocean surface when it takes a drink)
  • Fingers behind tool (because again, the tips are sharp) 


We first learned how to attach a tip on the carving tool and screw on to tighten (a quick tip: "righty tighty" or turn right to tighten and "lefty loosey" or turn left to loosen). Then we tried our hand at carving by making lines using different tips.

Once we got the hang of it, we were on our way to making our own rubber stamps. I based my design on the flowers from this greeting card. I first made a sketch on paper.

Then I transferred the design to the EZ carve. I flipped the paper (the drawing is now face to face with the EZ carve) and I forcefully shaded the back of the paper with a pencil.

See, the image is now on the EZ carve!

Then I carved the rubber around and inside the design so that in the end, the flowers appear to be raised. Notice that these are very shallow cuts on the surface.

Now it's time to test the stamp. They provided these screen printing inks.

I chose black ink and placed half a spoonful onto a masonite surface. Then I spread the paint using a brayer

Use the brayer in both directions to get an even coat of paint. If you hear the brayer making a zipper sound, the paint should be ready. 

Apply the paint-filled brayer onto the stamp. Make sure to spread this on top of the design with pressure and in different directions.

Test the rubber stamp by flipping it onto a piece of scrap paper. Add some weight with the palm of your hands.

Here's what it looks like. 

I'll use it to add a personal touch to blank stationery and blah packages. TADA!

Here are some of my classmates. I think they'll agree, we were pretty pleased with the block prints each of us made!

06 August 2014

Lavender on my Stationery

Yesterday, I told you about my day trip to a farm called Pleasant Valley Lavender.

I'm head-over-heels in love with the lavender bouquet that I got to pick myself.

And because I know their life is quick, I'm preserving their beauty through photographs. 

I also like to use them as a muse to dress up some blah stationery.

First a little sketch on the card stock...

And on the envelope flap.

Then some watercolor.

A memory of a summer day at the lavender farm that I can share with my friends. I can even add some dried lavender buds inside the envelopes for a hint of fragrance. TADA!

05 August 2014

Pleasant Valley Lavender

I think lavender is one of the best scents in the world! Its joyful fragrance, vibrant color, and relaxing benefits have a special place in my heart. 

I have this crazy fantasy of running through a field of lavender. But because Provence isn't just around the corner, I found a place closer to where I live.

A tree lined road leads to Pleasant Valley Lavender

It's a lavender farm in New Jersey where the kind owner and her daughter gave us a tour of the property.

I was weak at the knees when I saw the lavender blooms!

Here they are up close.

Part of the fun was getting to pick, snip, and create my own bundle.

The field is just steps away from the family's home.  

A homey touch for all visiting guests: lavender lemonade. Refreshing and relaxing.

And slices of lavender pound cake!

Lavender-themed gifts for sale.

I especially liked the soap, room sprays, and pendants (buds pressed between glass).

Here is the bunch that I collected. 

A lovely arrangement that I wish I could have all year round.

I just had to make this watercolor, another souvenir from my first trip to a lavender field. TADA!

Tomorrow, another craft inspired by this trip.