The Violet Hours

Time for Confetti

{via I Spy with my Salad Eyes}

If you don't love confetti, you don't have a soul. Ok, maybe it's a mess to clean up, but even the cheesiest of metallic confetti has a glittery, sparkly, ephemeral impact. Check out these surprising ways to use it....

Put a packet of confetti in your wedding invitation. I'm beyond in love with this one that I found on Pinterest!

 

How awesome are these tube confetti throwers from Oh Happy Day? Love love love...

 

I still love the confetti gift wrap that I blogged about two years ago!

 

Love the look but hate the mess? Try a stamped table runner (you can use a pencil eraser, a wine cork, or a sliced carrot) that gives the illusions of confetti like this one from Love Luxe.

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 Typewriters

Do kids today even know what a typewriter is? Will the nostalgia of typewriter fonts keep them alive? There does seem to be a fascination with them in the design world, as proven by these ideas...

British artist Keira Rathbone uses typewriters to create amazing images. Take that, MacBook pro! Found via One Cool Thing a Day.

Even though it's become rather common, I love the idea of a typewriter guest book at a wedding. Found via Project Wedding.

I'm in love with these dinner plates that are embossed with typewriter strikers. For sale on Inaeent's Etsy store.

Time for Moustaches

I love that a facial hair style has made a comeback everywhere but the actual face. 

I love the colors and design of Smitten Sticks, perfect for photo booths, party favors, or general sleuthing.

A lolly pop in cognito! From Dandee Designs.

I love this stack ring by Kristy Lin. Dress him up with a necktie, or disguise him with a moustache. Found via Poppytalk.

Moustache chalkboard napkin rings...naturally! Found via Modern Dose.

Test out the moustache of your choice with these mugs. Found on Tickle Kitten. 

Love the Western/bandit feel of these moustache handkerchiefs. Found via Poppytalk.

Time for Things to Do With Wooden Crates

The wooden crate is a flea market staple. Next time you see a tower of them, you may be more inspired.

At my wedding, we used a vintage wooden crate as a "flip book" of old photos of me and Michael. It had a playful flea market feel.

Put some casters on the bottom and turn them into rolling toy storage. Found via Minor Details.

Crates work so well as shelves. If only they were all styled this beautifully. Found via Emmas Design Blogg.

Isn't a wooden crate full of colorful old wallpaper charming? Found via Decor8.

Dog bowl holder—so clever. Found via Apartment Therapy.

With imperfect slats on the bottom, wooden crates make great planters, as seen here on Diggin Food.

Time for DIY Rock Placecard Tutorial

Since I started The Violet Hours, my most linked-to post has been the air-dry-clay rock placecards that I made for my wedding. After many requests for a tutorial, here it is!

What you’ll need: white air dry clay, a sponge, cooking oil, small letter stamps, paper towel, q-tip, glossy varnish, sponge brush, parchment paper, rapidograph pen

1. Form clay into an organic rock shape, about 3" long x 2" wide x 1" tall. Smooth with wet sponge and let dry for ten minutes.
2. Dip your finger in olive oil and smear across the surface of the clay. Stamp letters into the clay to spell names (the oil allows for a clean release). Blot oil off with a paper towel, and smooth any dings or divots with a wet q-tip.
3. Let rocks dry completely on parchment paper, which may take a few days due to density of the clay.
4. Using a sponge brush, coat dry rocks with varnish just over the name. This will dry in less than an hour.
5. Using a rapidograph ink pen (the tip is very fine and almost functions like a syringe dispensing ink), fill in the letters with dark ink.
6. Let ink dry and coat entire rock surface with a final coat of varnish.

Time for Handkerchiefs

Hankies are plentiful at all flea markets, and when I actually have the patience, I'll go through the stacks to find dainty ones, unusual ones, colorful ones. Here are some good ones and some good ideas of what to do with them...

Not only is the packaging adorable, but the hankies by Harrington & Squires are letterpress-printed with the words BOOHOO, SNEEZE AND ATSHOO. Found via Tea for Joy.

 

Just when I think I've seen all the table numbers ideas, I stumble upon a new one, like these number-printed hankies wrapped around a bottle. Via Design Sponge; made by sian keegan.

 

Framed in simple square frames, handkerchiefs make great wall art. Found via Poppytalk.

I'm lovin' these lovely hankie hanging vases, complete with a how-to. Found via Once Wed. 

Bird & Banner made these awesome handkerchief cards. They are each hand-printed with sayings, and come with a stitched to/from tag. I'd be thrilled to get this in the mail. You?

Time for Brimfield

   

 

Sunday is our one year wedding anniversary, and my husband and I are spending the weekend in the best way we know how...we are going to the Brimfield Antique Show in Massachusetts! Seriously, nothing can make me happier...new home, spring weather, baby on the way—I plan to score big time! My friend Katie Brown calls it the Field of Dreams; you have to go to understand why!

Photos via Apartment Therapy.

Time for Boutonnieres

It's one of my favorite words, ever since I learned it heard it from my sister before her 11th grade prom. And I happen to love a teeny creative lapel bouquets (floral or not). If you want to think beyond the carnation and baby's breath for your wedding (or prom!), take a look...

How much do you love these Coney Island inspired bouts by Drinking Stars? Found via Ruffled.

 

 

Congrats to Design Mom who had her sweet baby June on Mother's Day! These adorable fabric boutonnieres were made for her baby shower.

I also love the word bespoke, and I heart Fritts Rosenow Bespoke Boutonnieres found via Ruby Press.  

 

I adore this totally simple stick, leaf, and lace one made by Maya Made. 

My handsome husband putting on his bundle of nature boutonniere by Saipua. Photo by Heather Weston.

 

100 Layer Cake featured these two amazing designers: Dried flowers by Twigs and Honey, and felt poof flowers by Emerson Made. (Handsome dude not included.)