The Violet Hours

Time for a Glittered Oscar Party

I used to throw Oscar parties...back in the day when I saw movies. Sigh. My day will come again, I know it, and I'll be ready, with glitter in hand. Check out these sparkly, glittery ideas for a DIY Oscar Party that shines!

One of the best parts of Oscar parties is the guessing slash voting. Learn how to make these very mod Oscar ballot envelopes at Studio DIY. (Though I'd recommend using a glittered paper or craft foam like this, but that's just me. It'll cut your work/mess in half.) You can download any of these amazing Oscar 2013 ballots.

 

I can't even stand how gorgeous these glittered ombre champagne bottles are. These are definite keepers. Found via 100 Layer Cake.

 

You'll need to serve some glittered bites to go with your glittered champagne bottles and flutes. Check out these gems from The Purl Bee.

 

No need to stock up on cheesy Oscar decorations from Party City. Instead, fill clear glass vases with glittered stars. Understated and elegant. These are from Pottery Barn, believe it or not. Maybe you can just raid your Christmas decorations for something similar.

Time for Patchwork Inspiration

I can't even describe the visceral feeling that I get when I see these amazing aerial photographs by Normann Szkop of tulip fields in Holland. Those colors! I'm obviously not the first nor the last to think of gorgeous patchwork quilts when looking at these squares of bright hues. But then it made me wonder if patchwork has a place off the bed and into other design-y places in the home. I think I've discovered the answer to be yes. {Photo via This is Colossal.}

Patchwork walls are a dime-a-dozen, but this one from Decor8 grabbed me because of the mix of paper genres, so to speak—scrapbook paper, posters, book pages. I think if you try to control it too much you get trapped into a corner of color, style, or shape. But when you fully let go and let it be as random as possible, you can't mess it up.

 

I'm crazy about this patchwork tiled floor from an old issue of Budget Living that I found on Pinterest. Individually, I would never pick most of those tile patterns, but once they are all put together, they form such a soft, cool patchwork effect.

 

Fabric is obviously the logical material to use for patchwork. These lovely cushions spotted on Chic & Posh are a great surprise when you pull the red chair out from the table.

I'm feeling the patchwork itch. It's a perfect motif for kids since it's so free form. Where will it end up in my book?

Time for Teacup Crafts

I always come across lovely, single teacups at flea markets and almost buy them. I think it's time I shell out the cash to make some of these amazing projects.

I don't know if these are pincushions or just little soft, teacup sculptures. And honestly, I don't care. I love them. Found via Susan Anderson's pinterest page. (Follow her if you don't!)

 

I think these are genius—bracelets made out of teacups. For the delicate wearer. You can buy them on Stay Gold Mary Rose's Etsy store.

 

You don't need any electrical skills to craft these precious teacup lights from Ideas Mag.

 

Use mis-matched teacups to store jewelry in your dresser drawer. It's almost too pretty to hide! Via Martha Stewart.

 

I always love the scene in Willy Wonka when he takes the daffodil and drinks from the center like it's a teacup. Then he takes a bite out oit. I think kids will love doing that with these edible teacups from the Disney Family website.

 

Another edible teacup, these look like they're made from marshmallows, Lifesavers, and nonpareils. Via Tip Junkie.

Time to Plan a Dinner Party Around the Dishware

A rather unusual blog post title today, but bare with me. I think I'm on to something. I saw these gorgeous trays from Feinedinge on Pinterest today, and it made me think—how cool would it be to have a dinner party where every place was set with one of these trays, full of bowls of delicious bites? How gorgeous would that be? And then I thought that €220 was a little steep for one place setting, so what are other alternatives? (I would have posted photos of my collections but I'm currently in Atlanta, visiting family.)

Divided cafeteria trays are totally underrated. They are great for a kitschy dinner party or even a little craft party where all supplies are served on the tray. You can buy these gems on Moxie Thrift's Etsy store.

Have you ever seen these amazing buffet plates from the 60s? Some call them luncheon plates. I have 2 sets of them where the little cup fits right in the plate, next to the ashtray. Yes, you heard right. Sign of the times. What should I serve in the ashtray at my party? For sale here.

Time for the Love of Clotheslines

{photo via}

What is it about clothelines that feel so romantic, ephemeral, and dreamy? I totally grew up with a dryer and living in Park Slope, Brooklyn, I can't exactly string my clothes up to the adjacent building. But I crave those sweet little wooden pins, the cotton rope, the gauzy cotton flowing in the breeze...

I love the mix of 2D and 3D clothing on this line to decorate a girl's bedroom. Found via Studio Tout Petit.

A clothesline comes in handy when you need to erect a tent. Via P-olaroids.

Clotheslines work as perfect inspiration boards because they are so changeable. Found via Pinterest.

I love everything about this little artistic collage of stitching, fabric, embroidery hoops, and a clothesline. By Stephanie Kelly Clark, via Hiving Out.

 

Ordinary Parent featured this super adorable way to mark your child's month-age.

Give me a wooden ladder, a chalkboard, tags, a rusted metal urn and a clothesline and you had me at hello. Via Style Me Pretty.

 

Time for Last-Minute Valentines

Ok, it's February 13th and you know what that means. Procrastination must turn to action—now! Valentine's Day is just minutes away and it's time to get resourceful and use what you have. You're at work with no craft supplies you say? Fear not—these last-minute Valentines can all be made from "borrowed" office supplies from your desk drawer.

Grab some Post-it notes and after your love falls asleep, arrange them in a heart-shape on the wall of your bedroom or living room. If you really want points, write all the reasons you love him on the the backs. It's okay if you don't have a gorgeous array of colors like these from The House that Lars Built. See below...the effect is still totally presh.

Post-it note heart from Desire to Inspire.

 

This is a Blik wall decal, but can easily be replicated with Post-it notes! Via Brooklyn Bride.

 

You probably don't have heart stickers laying among your legal pads, but just grab a marker and draw a heart or write I LOVE YOU on some Avery mailing labels. Easy peasy. These cute stickers are from Inspire Lovely on Etsy.

 

Ok, no Post-it notes or plain labels on hand? Tacks, cardboard, and binder clips make cute little frames for your kids' artwork. Via Martha Stewart.

You're welcome.

Time for Spirograph Crafts

As I'm working on my craft book, I'm trying to summon craft ideas from my youth and give them a modern spin (no pun intended; read on). I came across these spirograph gift tags on Pinterest today (via Nadel & Gabel) and spiraled down a little memory lane trip. I am clearly not the first person to have found the spirograph images inspiring and super modern!

These lovely pillows are a mix between spirographs, doilies, and sunflowers. Via The Design Files.

 

An entire wedding decor was inspired by the spirograph. Check out this post on Design*Sponge to see how they didn't miss a single detail.

 

This hand-stitched bag makes my head spin. Via Pinterest.

 

Spirograph flower notecards. Of course! For sale at Mimosa Cards on Etsy.

 

I love everything going on in this photo. I want those plates, and if you speak Dutch, will you tell me where I can buy them? Via Style Cookie.

 

A perfect marriage of two awesome 80's crafts...spirographs and shrinky dinks! Via Clean & Scentsible.

Time for Clever Business Cards

{Ed Ruscha business card featured on Flavor Wire.}

The topic of business cards keeps coming up in my life these these days, and yet practically, they seem so antiquated. I mean, I can bump my phone to another and exchange contact info, so why spend the time and money to craft or print a little card that possibly ends up creased at the bottom of your purse?

Well, when you see a good business card, it makes a lasting impression, and it can really identify your brand in a big, creative way. Plus, no one would dare throw it away. If you dismiss business cards as an analog, dated form of social networking, think again.

If you're of the crafty sort, study this photo within an inch of your life. These are business cards that The Proper Pinwheel collected at Alt Summit. I'll need to start planning mine now for the summer event in NYC.

 

Peal back the painters tape to reveal the contact info for a stand-out paint service company.

 

An interior designer should only have fabric business cards like Francesca Pasini's.

 

Dilly Dally is a toy store. 'Nuff said.

Time for Paper-Cup Animal Crafts

This post makes me want to write a whole book on crafts to do with paper cups. As I was stumbling upon these, I started searching for crafts that I swore had to exist and they didn't! But the overwhelming amount of genius paper-cup animal crafts was staggering. Who knew?

I can't even contain my dropped-jaw expression for these artful paper cup animals by Gautam Datta. You also have to see how he crafted Hindu divinities from paper and cups. Amazing.

I found these on Pinterest, but there's no source from where they came. Sad. Because they are beyond the beyond. The winking bunny sends me.

Yes, this last one from Handmade Charlotte has a Christmas slant, but how smart is it to cut up straws to make antlers on a reindeer cup? Love. Love. Love.

 

Time for Unusual Planters

I think February is usually the month when I say "I'm done with winter. Gimme green. Now." Thank goodness I married a guy with a green thumb, or else I'd really be hungry for plant life. There are so many clever ways to incorporate plants into your decor these days.

This gorgeous light fixture/planter blows my mind. Via Design Vagabond.

I have 2 jean jackets in my closet that I can't seem to part with. I kind of love the idea of using the pockets for a planter. Via Small Home Love.

Did you know you could turn an old lightbulb into a planter? How enlightening! You can use your trusty glue gun to add three small dots to the base to make it stand on end. Via 1 800 Recycling.

I do love my old typewriter, I do, but it just sits on a shelf under my desk and takes up space. How cool is this planter idea? And by the way, have you seen the digital magazine, Covet Garden? It's gorge.

Check out more cool planter ideas here. Clearly it's where my mind goes in February.