The  Mister and I  made our nuptials all sorts of official when we mailed our save-the-dates to our beloved family and friends on Monday.  Seven months from now, we're tying the knot directly across the street from our current home in a vintage inspired wedding. Our concept blends a rustic feel with vintage inspired ideas mixed with a little K+P personality. 

We plan on pouring the love into our big day with handmade projects and personal touches. Our save-the-dates mark our first handmade DIY attempt and we couldn't be happier with the results. The Mister did the graphic design which was inspired by these engagement announcements I found on Pinterest. The idea was so simple and personal and right up our alley. 

On the back, we incorporated an image from a vintage postcard I stumbled upon while shopping at one of my favorite antiques spots. It was too fitting to pass up.  Then, we got to stamping! 

I found a simple heart punch and pretty envelopes at my local Paper Source and got creative with some antique lace I found at a local antiques store.  The idea was to add a simple and tactile detail to the envelope. Of course, this "simple" detail led to another creative element, the envelope liners. 

Gluing the lace to the back of the envelope left an unsightly piece of fabric for everyone to see once the envelope is opened and I just couldn't bear having such a pretty detail lessened by an unsightly inside.  So...we (I) decided to make envelope liners from some decorative paper I had in my office. 

This turned out to be the most labor intensive part of the project, but also one of  my favorites. The paper was so dynamic and colorful and it really added some color and interest. Totally worth it. Now. 

I decided to use a custom stamp for our return address and found this stamp set via one of my favorite DIY brides and blogger, Chelsea Costa, of Lovely Indeed.  The Mister assembled the letters after losing the microscopic letters several times. Apparently, tweezers and big hands don't mix well.  

While on the hunt for my stamp set, I lazily wandered into the Martha Stewart section of the Staples and found these lovely Kraft Labels which I decorated and addressed by hand. 

It was so fulfilling to see these come together and I love how the creative process evolves in unexpected ways. We were really pleased with our handmade efforts and I think our loved ones are too, at least that's what their text messages say.  I'm looking forward to sharing the rest of the planning process with you here. I'll be posting as I finish each project. Stay tuned! 

Our wedding is nearly nine months away and I am in full-on planning mode.  The venue is rented, photographer is a lock, caterer has been called and rental estimates are in. What's been weighing on my mind, though, is not the large to-do's but the little details that create the heart and soul of our wedding, the stuff that gives each wedding its own personality. Besides being on a budget, DIY projects allow us to express our personality and create an intimate, personal experience for us and the people we love. Here are some of my favorites. These five were chosen based on the likelihood that I would complete them by the Big Day. 

Boho Bunting
I've been looking for a way to honor the people who will be with us in spirit on our wedding day and this delicate and thoughtful bunting seems the perfect way to display our loved ones lost. I love the vintage lace and precious pictures. Although there will probably be some other garland/bunting type decor, this special DIY will be a personal labor of love. 

Mason Jar Favors
It's no secret that I love to cook and what better way to show some love than to make a little something for my guests.  I'm thinking some sort of apple butter or maple pumpkin butter will be perfectly appropriate for our fall wedding. Plus, any opportunity to use a mini-mason jar and burlap details is a winner in my book.  I've got a few coffee sacks looking for a job. 

Fringe Garlands
We're getting married under a tree  and these fringe garlands or maybe their fabric counterpart (I've got a garbage bag full of vintage tulle that needs a home) look like a sweet and colorful detail to the ceremony. A friend of mine gave me the sturdiest branch that she foraged from her neighborhood and I'm ready to make a fun, fringey curtain for your viewing pleasure. Head over to Oh Happy Day! for the skinny on these easy-to-make garlands. 

Lace Doilie Votive Holders
I think I was reading a Martha Stewart Living magazine when I found this project and then I found the beautiful example above via Pinterest and I was hooked. I've been collecting various mercury glass candleholders and want a variety of pretty lighting scattered about. This seems to fit with our rustic vintage backyard style. I also like this idea for a table runner although it might have to be one or the other lest we have Attack of the Doilies. 

Burlap Boutonniere
Yes, I will have flowers at my wedding but I am determined to have handcrafted pieces for the groomsmen rather than traditional floral boutonnieres. I hate that flowers are so temporary. I love that these pieces will last and I  just love the burlap detail and vintage buttons on display here. Find the full and very informative tutorial here. 

So....what do you think? Are these projects manageable? Do you like the ideas? If you were to name a style for our wedding based on these projects, what would you call it? Tell me, tell me, tell me! 

I'm looking forward to making lasting memories during these next few months while I craft with some of my favorite ladies.  How neat is it to see all the little details come together and know that it was all made with love.  After all, isn't that what the Big Happy Day is all about? 

Happy Wednesday!

Merry Christmas! I popped out of bed around 5:30 this morning, buzzing with excitement, just like I do every Christmas morning. I can't help it, it's just what I do. I love the feeling of Christmas- a cozy home, comfy pajamas, loved ones and coffee meant for slow, meaningful consumption brewing on the stove. I also love the act of giving gifts. It's almost more exciting to me than opening them.  I'm dying to wake the Mister but  I promised I wouldn't wake him until at least 8:00, which is clearly a most generous gesture on my part. 

 In the meantime, I'd like to give you a little something.  It's a compilation of soulful tunes from my previous DANCE! posts which post every Friday for your dancing pleasure.  I collected some of my favorites and made a mix over at 8Tracks just for you. I like to think of it as soul food for your ears. Enjoy! 

                                                                     
                                                          Below Image: Up poster by Marcus at Poster-Inspired on Etsy 

Just four more days until Christmas and I am scrambling like a madwoman. Planning time was a bit scarce for me this year and it's gonna be a tight squeeze to bake some more cookies, wrap the presents and finish Christmas shopping (yes, I'm one of "those" people).  C'est la vie. I'll do better next year I s'pose. 

Can I tell you a secret? This post was actually supposed to feature my DIY doormat but alas, my doormat turned out to be a grave disappointment. Not so much a disappointment, but something I'll leave undocumented. My future children never need to know that Mommy botched a few craft projects here and there. Instead I'll share with you a lovely (old) video from Tiger in a Jar  and some of my favorite DIY posts from around the blog world. If you're at work, this will be the perfect holiday inspired time waste. Cheers! 


The DIY doormat project I botched. It's super easy and cheap. I just got the spacing all wrong for my design. Le sigh. 

These last minute DIY gift ideas.

Stuff to do and stuff to print here. 

I love how the above video takes simple toys and makes them into something special. See how Sweet Paul glitterfies some toys to make ornaments here. Easy, breezy. Boom!

Tomorrow I bake cookies in hopes of returning the sweet gesture that has made it a leggings and elastic waistband kind of week for me. Fig and walnut cookies, maybe and orange yogurt cake and some other goodies for the neighbors. I figured it's better to be a cheery holiday spazz with a capacity for giving than an incensed holiday shopper with no parking lot manners. 

What are you doing these last few days of Christmas? Are you a crazy person too or are you the Christmas zen Buddha?  

You must be thinking, ""Wow, Keia, you sure are crafty with all these DIY projects you've been posting." If I wasn't an honest person, I'd probably take all the credit and say,  "I know, aren't I amazing?"  

The truth is, Creative Loafing came over to the house to take some pictures and well, you know how it is when you're expecting company.  All of the projects that were merely ideas floating in the back  of my mind suddenly became "must-do's/HAVE-TO-DO's" before the paper came over.  I did them all within a week.  Procrastination and fear working in my favor. I love it when that happens. 

The real story of the string garden began about six months ago when I saw this DIY project posted on Design Sponge. I was all "this is the neatest thing ever!" and "I'm going to make it right NOW!" I bought a lovely orchid and two other potted souls of nature only to let them die a slow death in my carport amongst tools and bags of peat soil and sheet moss.  It became a running joke in the house. If there was something that needed to be done, the Mister would sarcastically huff, "Yeah, she's on it, just like she was on that string garden of hers."  

Then, last week, we found out Creative Loafing was coming for a visit and the Mister bet me a dollar I wouldn't get it done.  I may have done it the exact same day as the photo shoot, but I've got a happy kitchen and one whole dollar to show for it. 

The other, most wonderful thing about waiting six months to make my string garden is that it helped me realize the perfect place to hang the plants.  I was originally going to hang the plants elsewhere but the perfect spot came to mind right above the kitchen sink where there was plenty of  space and light thanks to the window that overlooks our backyard and vegetable garden. They seem happy there, don't you think? 

 If you'd like to make your own Japanese String Garden, head on over Design Sponge for the full tutorial.  If you happen to make one, please share your photos and stories. Email them to me at Keia[at]the-sunnysideup[dot]com or post a link to your blog in the comments below. Happy Homemaking! 

Last Christmas I discovered chalkboard paint. A friend of mine  brought some to me during a particularly low time in my life. I used it then to smear positive sayings and inspirational quotes all over my walls while I revamped my home for brighter days. 

Lately, though, I've been focused on nurturing my creativity and a  burgeoning desire to nest.  I've also been obsessing over navajo prints.
 I recently bought a vintage sweater with a navajo-inspired pattern, my favorite pair of sunglasses bear a similar look. 

Then, of course,  I got the idea to smatter my obsession all over my walls. The beauty of chalkboard paint is that I can entertain my whims because I never have to commit.  I could chalk obscenities all over my walls, write a love letter, let my friends ' children doodle, it doesn't matter. It all wipes off to a blank canvas in no time. Genius!  

I printed out a few patterns from items I found online and then got to doodling. I'm not the best at drawing, but I can swing repetitive, geometric patterns while my Pandora blares in the background.  Take a look... 

Pardon the change in lighting for the following pictures. I had to take the last few photos at a different time of day.

So, it's my Mister's 31st birthday today and I was super excited to give him his handmade gift that I'd been working on in secret for the last week.  I found this darling idea for a garland on one of my go-to blogs, Creature Comforts who was subsequently inspired by Lovely Indeed, another favorite of mine.  

The garland boasts the Mister's favorite motivational saying of the moment which is "Don't Talk About It, Be About It", which I have shortened  to "Be About It." The condensing of the phrase seems to have worked in my favor because at random times during the day, I'll hear the Mister yell out "Be About It!" or if it is directed at me,  "Be About It, Baby!" coupled with some strange man-dance and shake move that I have yet to understand.  It's part Fred Flinstone and part Gangsta. 

The project turned out to be fairly simple and the materials were fairly inexpensive. I bought stencils from the craft store, traced the letters for the phrase and cut them out on sturdy paper. 

I did my best not to give away the finished product, but it's kind of hard not to let on when your working with glitter.  My poor cats  now twinkle and I still shimmer in the right light. 

I took special care to touch up any areas that needed a little extra glitter love. This seemed the most tedious part, but the finished product was well worth it. It was a rather grey day so the glitter is not as shiny as I would like it in the final photo, but it didn't matter. The Mister absolutely loved his gift. 

I secretly nailed the wall when he left the house yesterday and hung the garland in the wee hours of the morning while he was sleeping. Yay for surprises and handmade birthday gifts!