Style Lush

Fingerprint Charm

By Blythe

I have been quietly scoping out mothers' necklaces since my son was born. I would really like something subtle, high quality, and personal. It has to look OK as a single charm, since my son is most likely going to be an only child. Also, I'm really picky about jewelry. 

Did I mention my kid turned five a couple of weeks ago? Yeah. Really picky.

I have finally found a charm that I love. Send a fingerprint and this artist will create a sterling silver engraving with a name and birth date on the back.

Fingerprint Charm by Chris Parry

Chris's Etsy shop is full of clever items, including pretty fingerprint rings, personalized bar code cuff links, and engraved guitar picks. Love.

{photo credit: Chris Parry on Etsy}

Reminder Rug

By Leah

Every time my husband leaves the house, he pats all his pockets while chanting to himself, "Keys, phone, wallet. Keys, phone, wallet."

He so needs this doormat.

Just $18 at Urban Outfitters.

Or with a $10 rug, a can of spraypaint, and some alphabet stencils, I (he) (you?) could even make (y)our own.

{Image: Damn Good Doormats on Zibbet}

Valentine's Day for pre-schoolers

by Christina

I am so super excited about Valentine's Day for my 4 year-old, it's kind of silly. I was in the valentine section of Target this past week and was wondering -- do they make the tiny cards like they used to? I didn't see any. I looked around and really didn't see anything I'd love to send to school with him for his party that wasn't candy as he goes to a  lame candy-free school. Then I remembered something I'd pinned ages ago! I know the day is a good three weeks out but since these will be cut and sewn by hand, I figured I should share them with you now.

I mean, couldn't you just die? These images are from pinterest via Katie Did- I am so glad I found this, I can't wait to send him to school with these.

Chic Ring Holders

By Leah

I don't take my rings off very often, but now that I'm the owner of a brand new fancy bread machine (hooray, technology! you make me a better domestician), I need somewhere to put my jewelry that's safe and routine (so I don't forget where I put stuff) and also cuter than an upcycled lid from a old pickle jar.

I bought myself this little sweetie from Bed, Bath and Beyond (they had a display of about ten different animals at the cash registers) and I love how it looks perched behind the kitchen sink:

Here are some other pretty options:

Lotus bowl from dgordon on Etsy

Skultuna brass for only $122 (OMG, NO, but it is beautiful)

Handcarved oak cat from Boxnmor on Etsy

Vintage-looking circus-style animals from Luggage and Leather (I can't pick a favorite)

Tree branch from good ol' CB2

 

Yarn Graffiti

By Lauren

One of the things I'd promised myself I'd do in 2011 was learn to knit. In the grand tradition of Better Late than Never, I've just this month signed up for a beginners' class at a local yarn shop.

Did you know, though, that knitting has gone . . . guerilla? David and I saw "knitting graffiti" or "yarn bombing" for the first time last summer when we took a weekend trip to New York City. It was a knitted bike, chained to a sign under the Brooklyn Bridge, and I was enchanted.

Charming "graffiti" that didn't damage the underlying surface? Lovely! "Oh, yeah," my always-more-in-the-know-than-me husband explained, "that's totally A Thing."

And it is! In fact, there's a new documentary coming out about it, and while I imagine it won't be playing at my local multiplex, I'm definitely going to have to track it down. You can read more about it here.

Have you seen any "yarn bombing" where you live? What do you think about it?

{Image credit: AldenandChase.com.}

Let's Look to January and Think About Birthday Cards

By Jennie

Right now it's probably safe to say most of us are wrapped up in the holidays and it's a wee bit overwhelming to think about January before Christmas, but it's about this time I start thinking about being better about acknowledging the birthdays of those I love in the new year. 

I recently saw this make-your-own-bunting-birthday-card tutorial over at How About Orange, and it's a great way to make a bunch of cards at one time so you can send them out as the year unfolds to everyone you really care about. 

{Photo from How About Orange}

In fact, I think I'll buy a bunch of these cards (I already have a corner rounder on hand, but you can pick one of those up, too), and a "happy birthday" stamp and I'll be nearly ready.

So, who wants to join me for a card making party one day soon?

Paper Word Garlands

By A'Dell

I made these super simple paper word garlands a few days ago, and hung them in my entryway. They're phrases from my favorite Christmas carols, but you could use any phrases and make them for any occasion. I love them and they make me ridiculously happy.

I gathered this idea from Katie Did and I made them almost exactly the same way: freehand cut the letters, tape them to baker's twine, hang. My letters range from four to six inches high and I tried to use only two or three colors/patterns to keep things from getting too busy.

I thought cutting the letters would be far more of a challenge than it actually was and I was surprised at how simple it turned out to be. Once I accepted that the letters would be irregular and some would look better than others, I flew through the task and promised myself no do-overs. Katie made far more garlands than I had patience for at the time (seriously, go look at how amazing hers are) and I might make more, but I am pretty happy with the four I've got. 

All crafted out for this year? (I don't blame you, I'm tired just thinking about all the things I have to do this week.) These word garlands would be so much fun for almost any other event or party. They're cheap, simple to make, and bring a whole lot of custom impact without busting a budget.

Paint Chip Gift Tags for Any Occasion

By Leah

My family has always been mega into wrapping gifts (often the presentation is better than the present), so growing up we always had a huge selection of paper, boxes, bags, bows, tissue paper, and gift tags to fuel our creativity. (My dad has made bows out of tape from a busted VHS cassette; my mom likes wrapping clothes in carboard tubes.)

Since moving out on my own, I've never had the space or funds to get a real wrapping station together, and although I usually manage to pull it all off, more or less, the one thing I never have on hand for Christmas is cute tags to put on the gifts. I of course only realize this at the last minute (albeit the last minute every year) and end up making tags out of scrap paper or, in a pinch, writing directly on the wrapping with Sharpie. My parents must be so disappointed.

Here's a cute idea for DIY gift tags that takes a little prep but not much, and the result is really sweet:

Liz at Say Yes to Hoboken turned these free paint chip cards into tree ornaments, but I think they'd be darling as gift tags (for any occasion, actually, depending on the shapes you cut out and the colors you pick). If you're setting the table for a big meal, paint chips could also be transformed into nice little place cards. And they're free free free!

Matchbox Advent Calendar

By Elisabeth

I am coming to realize I have a fondness for advent calendars. After re-purposing my Thankful Tree two weeks ago, I attended my last moms meeting of the semester and we made matchbox advent calendars.

Aren't they divine? They are so easy to make, too. All we used were empty matchboxes, scrapbook paper, two-sided tape, ribbon, and stickers for the numbers. We were also given a list of ideas for doing something festive each day of the month. Today was a low activity day (in my eyes), so I picked "making hot chocolate." Exciting for them, totally doable for me.

There are plenty of tutorials for all sorts of matchbook calendar ideas online if you're interested!

And don't think it's too late to try something like this. I started putting these boxes in the number SIX pocket of my wall calendar and both my boys didn't bat an eye!

{photo credit: justagirlblog.com}

Holiday Crafting: Finger Knitting

By Megan

I decided to try finger knitting recently, after eavesdropping on a Twitter conversation about how easy! and fun! it is. A quick internet search led me to this tutorial, by Gussy Sews. The tutorial promises that this is a skill you can master in ten minutes, and I am here to tell you that this is 100% true. I have learned to knit and crochet in the past, resulting in many poorly constructed, and unfinished scarves.

No more!

The tutorial is for making a necklace or garland, but I took it one step further and made looped infinity scarves. Yes, I made multiple scarves, as each one takes less than thirty minutes, and the procedure is ridiculously easy. Look!

Truth be told, I made the necklace, too.

The necklace takes about five minutes from start to finish.

This fits all of my craft criteria: it's easy, inexpensive, and doesn't require a lot of tools that I may never use again. All you need is a skein of yarn in any color your little heart desires.

In case you haven't guessed, I'm packaging these and giving them as gifts this year. Trust me, no one will be expecting handmade gifts from this girl.

{Photo credits: me}