New Office Adornments!

I have been a lucky happy gal with a few amazing things hitting my mailbox recently!

Mostly, I would like to say a big thank you for the goodies I am enjoying!

Just look at this oh so cute calendar from Sugar the Golden Retriever!  I smile each time I look up from my computer and see your adorable balancing nose there.  Thank you!!

I also was the lucky winner of not one, but two orignial posters from MJ over at Wander Wander Discover

Isn't her husband talented?  I am so inspired when I see them starting my day!  Thank you very much!!

I mean just look at the colors and detail!

This one is still hands down my favorite! 

Says lots about how we are treating our planet on daily basis and it really resonates with the tree-hugger side of me!

How cool is that earth and the brush strokes!!

You can see more Right Brain Terrain work here... fun to check out all the posters!

And there you have it.  Lazy start to the week for me. 

I do have some exciting progress to share with you about Confetti (quilt), the breakfast bar in the house is spackled, primed and ready for real color -- it's bold... and I am ready to post the first materials list for our totally cool Sew-a-thon! 

Plus, I even have a valentines origami tutorial this week -- I know.. thrilling, chilling, shilling and grilling!!

Hope your Monday is rocking your socks!

STYLE.PLAY.WORK.SHOP. -- Round III

This is the second month I am participating in this fun photo adventure hosted by Compai and the design blog Minted Condition! 

It's called STYLE.PLAY.WORK.SHOP. and is designed to be a fun experiment in styling a still life with household objects.  In Round III, we were asked to use the following objects:

Wrapped Gift, Something Spherical, Calendar, Cookie

My assistant was handy as usual!

"Hey maw?  Whatcha doin'?  Can I be in the photo?  That cookie looks good.  Can I lick your milk glass when you are done?"

I did end up adding a plate and glass of milk to this set of objects for a more full story.

I had fun playing with the lighting and how it can change the mood of the photo.

I think it started to look like a mini scene of a child leaving milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve.

I definetly had fun playing around.  I didn't do much for rearranging the objects, but I think I will challenge myself with that for the next one.

I have also started to notice that I have an orientation to brightly colored things.

Please check out the other participants in this flickr group here and also if this has you smiling ear to ear and you would like to join in, then please head here to find out about what objects we will be presented with in the next round!!

Homemade Advent Calendar

We are entering that time of year where I have to keep a few things as surprises from you -- since certain lovelies read here often enough to catch things.  Like gifts I'm working.

Over the weekend I put together an advent calendar for Mr. Happy.  I can give you a bit about how I put it together, but as far as what goodies are behind the doors... we will all find out together, since even I don't know what hides behind each door.

I started with these supplies:

• mini cupcake pan
• a dozen of these pretty double sided gift tags (found on sale!)
• wrapping paper
• sharpie marker
• tape
• white glue
• ribbon
• candy and small toys
• imagination

These are the double sided tags.  The square shape and size are the perfect size to cover the opening to a mini cupcake hole.  I used 12 of these cut in half to give me the 24 doors for the calendar. 

As a more personal touch I wrote little somethings on the inside of each door.  You could use seasonal jokes, words from seasonal songs, seasonal words, tiny tic-tac-toe boards, anything really. 

(use that imagination here)



This is the part where I have to skip showing a few steps as to not spoil the surprises...

I took the mini cupcake pan and stuffed all the little cubbies with mini chocolates and toys.  Honestly you can use anything here... as long as it fits in the mini spot.

Then I used jolly wrapping paper to cover the whole pan (the treats are already in the pan -- and yes that is my assistants paw in the picture!).

I then made an X cut with a small pair of scissors across the opening of each of the little cups to make it easier to get the treat out once you open the door. (not pictured; since the treats peak out a little then)

Next step is to feel around for the cup opening and do your best to center the tags over the opening.  I attached the doors with a clear piece of tape on the left for the door hinge and a small drop or two of glue to hold the door shut.  This also prevents someone from opening a door before the date.

I went with a fun random pattern of tags.  Once the doors were on I used the sharpie marker to put the numbers 1-24 randomly on a door.  Now you can really see how I have no idea what treat ended up behind each door. 

I used ribbon to make a bow which doubled as a hanger -- since this went on the wall right outside the kitchen.

 

Here it is all ready to for December to roll around!

I'm not sure who's more excited about starting to open doors -- me or Mr. Happy.