The Violet Hours

Time for Map Crafts

I'm so attracted to maps, both for the actual use (navigation) and for their design and craft aesthetic. Obviously I'm not alone in this, as maps have been decoupaged on everything from coasters to lampshades. But these crafts, like this amazing map dress by Elisabeth Lecourt, are taking maps to new destinations...sorry, it had to be said!

This looks crazy hard I know, but I think the artist just covered this cardboard deer head in maps. Love. Found via Babble.

 

This could be a very cool abstract embroidered design, but it's actually the Paris Metro system. By Needle & Compass on Etsy.

 

I love the link between transportation and navigation with this folded paper map boat by d. Sharp Journal.

 

A travel scrapbook made with map pages? Yes. Found via Scrapbook.com.

 

Ok, so I'm ending with the decoupaged map chair found via Pins for Your Home because I just love it.

Time for Jar Lid Crafts

I save every jar, every lid, every bottle cap...my husband is about to go insane! But if ever there is a post to prove that my obsessive hoarding of trash has a point, it's this one. Here are 6 lovely, clever ways to upcycle jar lids.

This fringe technique that Design*Sponge is showing is what makes these lids looks so smooth and perfect. Love.

I love people that embroider the unexpected, like these lovely jar lids that I found on Pinterest.

 

What I love about this amazing owl craft found via Recycled Aw Blog is that the lid isn't painted, covered, or disguised in any way.

 

Are you serious? You can bake a tart in jar lids? I would probably never do it, but that's just amazing. Found via Fat Girl Trapped in a Skinny Body.

 

I've seen a gazillion jar lights, but never have I seen a light with just the lid. Found via Pinterest.

 

How cute is this printable jar-lid matching game from Smashed Peas & Carrots?

Time for Spring Break Staycation Crafts

I just started contributing to a very cool, newish parenting website called Mom.me, where you can explore crafts, behavior advice, recipes...basically everything under the sun that comes along with the parenting gig. They asked me to come up with some fun Spring Break staycation crafts. I tried to make each project something that would be just that: a project; not something that would only take 5 minutes. So here are a handful of the ideas. You can see the whole gallery here at Mom.me.

Snap Happy ABCs sends kids on a scavenger hunt with a camera, looking to find something from every letter of the alphabet to photograph. Upload the photos to picmonkey.com to add text then bind it with zip ties in paper-covered cereal box sides.

Growing up, my sister and I had a self-cleaning Lego mat like this Road Mat. You just push all of the toys into the center, then pull the drawstring and there you go! Clean-up is done-zo! My 2-year old son Oliver cannot believe how lucky he is that this is Mommy's "work".

The play value in this cardboard castle is huge. Let your kids spend the week constructing, and they'll play with it endlessly!

I don't think there's anything more satisfying than putting together a terrarium. Send the kids out in the backyard to gather moss, sticks, and rocks, then arrange them on top of soil in an upcycled plastic snack container (the one I used was from Target's addictive trail mix).

In most homes with young kids, you can find a handful of popsicle sticks. Just add some velcro dots to the ends and watch the kids come up with a gazillion ways to play with them. I call this, Popsicle Stickies. It's good, I know.

Check out the rest of the craft ideas on Mom.me! My second story with them will go live on April 4th; I'll be sure to remind you when it's up. (And follow them on Pinterest...they have good taste, I swear!)

Time to Plan a First Birthday Party

It's totally mind-numbing that my daugher is turning 1 in a month. I guess we as parents all have that feeling that the days are long, but the years fly by. So on top of the emotions that surround this milestone, it's time to plan a party. Fortunately, I just did this story for the March issue of Parents magazine (on stands now)!

One certainty of becoming a parent is the enormous amount of photographs that you take of your baby—from the first sneeze to the first time he stares at a toy. Riveting material. Here's an easy decor solution: use your baby's precious face to decorate the party! Find the how-to's on Parents.com. {Edit note: baby-in-hat garland is my little Sommer Alice!}

 

I don't know about you, but I have the hardest time throwing away baby food jars. Here are 3 cool ways to resuse them—favors, vases, and votive holders—for your baby's first birthday party.

 

Running 72 errands and buying 34 different craft materials is the last thing you want to do when DIYing your baby's first birthday party. I have such a crush on the crepe paper from Cartefini.com that I designed an entire party using that solo material!

 

The handprint is such an icon of babyhood. Make a stamp of your baby's hand and use it to decorate napkins. Click here to learn which ink pads are best for napkins. Plus you can watch a video too!

(Gorgeous photos by Tara Donne and genius styling by Martha Bernabe)

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 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.

Time for Pretend Play

The one room I wish I had in my Brooklyn apartment is a playroom (I can say this because I already have a craft room). I would love to trick out a space with so much creative play, Oliver and Sommer's brains would hurt from excess imagination. 

Harry is one lucky kid with a mom that would would put this hardware store together for him for Christmas. By Kate's Creative Space, Harry's Hardware Gas & Auto covers all the pieces a hardware store needs. Seriously, just go to her blog to check out the details of this adorable tableau.

The potential with this DIY dollhouse from the Land of Nod blog, Honest to Nod, is huge. I love everything going on here from the colorful clouds, to the train-track walkway, to the bright wallpaper choices. Just darling.

My friend Jocelyn Worrall made this cardboard kitchen for Parents magazine a few years ago, and it's still one of my faves. The oven dials are made from Play-doh lids. Enough said.

These are genius, free printables from Kitschy Digitals that would go perfectly in the cardboard kitchen.

See what I mean? Now I'm really ready for my...I mean their...playroom.

Time for Hot Air Balloon Crafts

I saw this hot air balloon craft by Curly Birds on B-Kids, and it inspired me to look for more!

 
I love the idea of upcycling light bulbs or drink bottles into hot air balloons. These artful creations are by Souther Salazar. Found via What Possessed Me.

I love this paper folding technique and it works so well for this hot air balloon mobile. Made by Brown Accents.

Time for Oliver's Nursery

Here is the ultimate intersection of work and life...Oliver's nursery in the June issue of Parents magazine! Take a look and visit Parents.com for more photos and craft instructions. (Caravan Crib from Kalon Studios, Mountain Wallpaper from Fine Little Day, El Shelves from CB2, Blue Nesting Tables from Areaware)

His curtains may be my favorite thing in the room. The fabric is from Ikea and I made the straps with belt material, overall buckles, and buttons.

I can't focus on much else besides Oliver in this pic! The drawer pulls are vintage wooden yoyos and the mobile is made out of paper punched circles and an embroidery hoop. (Flash Cards from 3 Potato 4)

His rug is by Flor...they actually sell a kit where you cut the squares to form a bear skin rug. Check out the video of me and Michael (with Oliver as spectator) "cutting the rug!" (Settee from Urban Outfitters, Green side table from West Elm, Elephant lamp and mushrooms from Acorn)

I turned a trashed school chair into a smiley monkey for when he gets a little bigger. You can download the templates for the chair here.

I bravely tackled making my own version of this yarn light fixture. It was a process to say the least, but I love it!

 
My mom and her friends from the Cast-On Cottage in Atlanta (a knitting and needlepoint store) knitted this awesome pennant for us. (Owl Pouch from Giddy Giddy)

These pillows from Vintage Jane (on Etsy) sit on the little settee next to Oliver's crib. I call them "his friends." He smiles at them when I dry him off after bathtime. (Get this...they are only $22!!)

Photographs by the amazing Heather Weston. Check out her 52 Families project!