The Violet Hours

Time for a Flower Party

My dear friend Jill's daughter turned one last week, so she asked for some advice on how to decorate. So as a gift to her and Lila, I got my craft on to help celebrate this little cutie!

 

For the invitations, I made these colorful felt flowers, attaching a paper leaf with the party details. Just fringe a 2 x 12 inch piece of felt, place a pompom at one end, and roll while gluing. I then wrapped a thin piece of green felt around the base.

 

 
 

The flower garden centerpiece for the buffet table was wired felt flowers, "planted" in vintage wood berry baskets (I bought these at the Brimfield Antique Show). I then attached some butterflies to the flower stems to add a little more whimsy.

I made two different headpieces for Lila because I wasn't sure which one she'd like better. She had no problem with the purple flower wreath, but keeping the tied party hat on her head was a little difficult. For this flower, I folded the long felt strip in half and snipped about 1/4" from each end. I glued it folded over, creating the little looped flower.

 

The cupcakes were super easy: I made sugar cookies with a flower cookie cutter, piped on colored icing, and placed a mini-M&M in the center. To add some greenery, I piped green leaves onto solid white cupcakes that were placed around the flowers.

 

Jill didn't want her 4-year old son to feel left out, so I made him this special big brother pin that he wore proudly (for a few minutes).

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 Renegade Craft Fair Round Up

Even though it was a hundred degrees, with a hundred percent humidity and a threat of tornado, I made it to the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn yesterday. After passing many a silk-screened onesie booth, here were some of my fave finds...

There is something so precious about these little book charms by The Black Spot Books. 

I have always been a fan of The Small Object, so it was fun to see her whimsical products in person. 

 

If it's embroidered these days, I love it, which is why I was so drawn to the sweet products of Coral & Tusk.

Time for Cool Wall Arrangements

I started obsessively scanning The Style Files today; you may see many links coming from that blog. It's that good! Here are some cool ways to arrange your walls...

 

 

 

 

Have a lovely weekend!

Time for Japanese Goodness

I think I need to go on a shopping expedition to Japan. Here are three reasons why...

1. The sweetest craft supplies I've simply ever seen! Found via Eat Drink Chic. 

 

 

 

2. Plate, utensils, and chopsticks, all in one. Found via Spoon & Tamago.

 

3. Beautiful, aged housewares from Five From the Ground. Found via Handmade Charlotte.

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 Seashells

I am finally back from the beach...it was a kid-filled week of sand, sun, and seashells.

I always collect shells, but never actually do anything with them. Here are some good seashell crafts...ones that I could actually live with!

These easy-to-find shells make great butterfly wings. Found via The Long Thread.

What a gorgeous reminder of a beach week! Shell candles from Country Living.

Turn shells into a garland and I'm in love! Both images found at Completely Coastal. 

If you find a lot of beach loot that doesn't exactly match, this is a great solution. Found via The Crafts Dept. 

Poppytalk found these very cool French illustrations, teaching shell crafts.