It's been a little over two weeks since the Mister and I got hitched. Have we gotten a chance to sit back in wedded bliss to stare longingly into each other's eyes and contemplate the union of our souls? Not a chance. Aside from assuming a new last name, a host of other remarkable changes have occurred. I got a new job and, well, a new lease on life. The Mister and I have finally received the gift of living on the same schedule, a luxury that has evaded us for the better half of two years. I got to travel last weekend for another opportunity AND I got a new computer which may not seem like a big deal, but if you could see the archaic jumbo jet in my office, you would know why this matters. All of these updates, just to tell you why I simply haven't gotten around to showing you our handmade wedding invites. As most of you know, the Mister and I wanted to put the love into our big event from start to finish. Plus, we were on a budget which means we do it ourselves. I found the inspiration for a hand-lettered invitation on Pinterest from HI + LO. I'm no artist, but I love to doodle with letters and so, took on the task of hand-drawing an invitation. Just once. The Mister took care of getting it into Illustrator and creating a file for print. I did the invitation and RSVP. The information card was an afterthought that we quickly made on the computer.  Hand-lettered wedding invitation  Hand-lettered wedding RSVP card We also found the template and stock paper for our invites from Envelopments, a really great company that allows you to mix and match paper products. They have options for DIY'ers and those who want to have it all done for them. We chose the Cecily & Nelson invitation template which provided us with the orange and blue paper behind the invitation and RSVP card (we glued it ourselves. CORRECTION: the Mister glued.) We got the envelopes from there as well. The beauty of Envelopments is that it did the thinking for us when it came to packaging which was a monumental relief to us. They also work with local dealers and I can't say enough about Jackie Corbett, the lovely owner and event planner for Signature Events Studios. She helped us with all of our needs and the delivery straight to our home was prompt. For the rest of the packaging details, we tried to create unity between our wedding invites and save-the-dates, so we utilized the same decorative paper to cut strips for the outer envelope (another job for the Mister) and used the same customized stamp for the return address. To keep with the natural elements, we used twine (which you can find at the hardware store or Michael's) to tie the RSVP card and envelope together. I also scored some sweet vintage-looking stamps at the post office featuring old scientists. Bonus! Hope you like them as much as we did!
The creative process for our wedding (which is in eleven days, by the way) has been an organic process. In the beginning, I found projects that I liked and intended to complete. As the planning continued, I found that I had to consider practicality and how each project would fit into the venue where we would be married. I made room for impromptu inspiration and factored in the ease of projects that interested me. I also had to consider the Mister's propensity to drive behind sketchy buildings in search of wood and pallets to scoop up without permission. Yes, this lovely pallet was found behind an old building and quickly stuffed into the back of our jeep. We brought it home and used it as a partition for a while, blocking the neighbors view of our makeshift breakfast nook beneath our carport. Somewhere along the way I stumbled onto this project and asked the Mister to help create a template for our DIY heart pallet. This is where he shines, with a computer in one hand and a hammer in the other. After measuring the pallet and scaling it onto his computer, he created sheets that were taped onto the pallet indicating where each nail should go. After hammering each nail into place, the Mister then removed the sheets of paper to reveal the completed heart. He reinforced each nail with a couple good strikes of his trusty hammer and boom! DIY heart pallet was almost complete. I took care of wrapping the twine around the nails in a random pattern. I simply tied the twine around the very bottom nail and began stretching and wrapping it around each nail in a way that created the heart that you see above. I did it while chatting on the phone with a friend. The distraction of a conversation is just enough to get my brain to turn its focus to something else. Otherwise, my inner critic gets to criticizing about whether it will turn out perfect or not.
Although I love the finished product as is, I intend to use this pallet as a frame to honor the loved ones who we've lost. I have mini-clothespins that will clip pictures of our loved ones onto the heart strings and display them at the wedding. You'll see more hearts in our other DIY projects. It wasn't the intended theme, it just turned out that way.
Below is a pdf download that will print out a heart for most standard size pallets for those of you who would like to try this at home. You don't have to get married to have an awesome heart pallet display. This is great for displaying pictures at home or for decoration.
You will also need:
1 wooden pallet
1 hammer
1 box of 1-3/8 inch nails (find at your local hardware store)
1 roll of bakers twine or jute twine (also at local hardware store)
Mother's Day is coming up this Sunday and I'm going to be working most of the day. Drats! In a perfect world, I would have prepared a beautiful brunch for my mother (a.k.a. Mama Rizz), a labor of love that culminated in loads of happy, full bellies. Quiche, tarts, biscuits and fruit salads galore! But, alas, I am unable to do that. Sigh. Instead, I decided to make a culinary herb planter, something small enough to live in the compact area outside her cute little condo on the lake. I picked up a simple window box from Lowe's and dug a couple cans of spray paint from my shed. It's amazing what a little paint can do to brighten up just about anything. After the paint dried on my window box, I used some dirt from our compost to plant the herbs. It cost me less than $15. Not too shabby, right? Since my mother already had plenty of basil, I opted for a few different and interesting varieties. I love being able to walk outside and pluck herbs straight out of my garden. It's a simple luxury. One that's easy and accessible for any living space. We're headed to have dinner with Mama Rizz tonight with the herb planter in tow. I hope it brings her a bit of happiness every time she steps out to take a few snips. Plus, it's handmade with love and those gifts are the best kind, no?
Do you have any plans for Mother's Day? Any crafts you've been working on? I'd love to hear about them. Holler!
I made a list of goals at the beginning of this year of thirty-one things I wanted accomplish during my 31st year. Number eighteen on the list was "Handmade birthday wishes for my besties" After a few tragic oversights, I set a goal to do better this year by creating handmade sentiments for my dear friends. Handmade gifts always warm my heart because I know that someone put time, effort and loving thoughts into creating them. This is one my most recent creations for an old friend. She said it made her heart smile. Mission accomplished.
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.  Rosemary Apple Butter via Roost Blog 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.  Photos by Christina Richards Fringe GarlandsWe'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 HoldersI 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 BoutonniereYes, 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!
 Garland Christmas Card via Rifle Paper Co. 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.  Our dining nook
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