Personalized Bat Mitzvah Collage

Recently I worked on another personalized Bat Mitzvah collage (for an event coming up in a few weeks) similar to the one posted here. It's a very special keepsake that measures 32x40", made up of personalized photos and memorabilia. Its displayed at the Bat Mitzvah celebration for guests to enjoy and preserved in a large custom made shadow box. The theme for this celebration is different shades of purple with a splash of zebra print. It's always so fun to make these keepsakes, they tell a big story and there's so much to look at, you'll never get bored! Also, this type of collage can be made for ANY occasion! The sky's the limit! xo

A few close-ups...

Photos taken by; Wahkuna

Tutorial; How to create zebra striped wooden letters

For today's post, I wanted to share an easy tutorial for creating your own zebra striped wooden letter accents. The wooden letters & paint can be purchased at your local craft store. I recently made these particular letters to use as a personalized embellishment for a project that I will share on here soon, but in the mean time, I invite you to try this technique for yourself, it's really cool, fairly simple and doesn't take very long.

Step #1- Paint wooden letters white (use 2-3 coats to ensure full coverage).

Step #2- Draw in stripes with pencil (lightly, but make sure the lines are visible to use as a guide).

Step #3- Fill-in stripes with a black paint using a very thin brush for detail (only one coat is necessary).

***Please allow paint to dry completely in between coats.

Enjoy!
xo

Memory Books & Journals

 Smash book Image

Yesterday I received my newest issue of Creating Keepsakes for October 2011, and there is a whole section in the back dedicated to Memory Books for Everyday Scrapbooking. In this section they feature Smash Journals and other sketch/composition book type memory keeping. I love this style, it's unconventional and full of character. To me, it's the new alternative to traditional scrapbooking. Looking at these books, filled with pictures, ephemera and memorabilia is so interesting and exciting. It's almost like every time you look at the pages, there's something new to see- like looking at it for the first time. It's busy, but fun and that's what I love about it!!

Kim's Book Image

Here is the perfect example of this unconventional creativity that I love so much! There's so many places for your eye to wander, and it keeps you coming back for more! All of the layering and color is so exciting! These types of books remind me of the inspiration journals I used to create while studying Fashion in college. The content within the pages tell a story and are inspiring all at the same time!

I definitely think that creating an unconventional memory book is something we should all try at some point. As usual with crafting, there's NO rules and NO right way to do it, which is the beauty of it all! I dare you to try it- you won't be sorry!

A diamond in the rough...

 Living in a bustling city like New York definitely has it's pros, like the fact that you can always order-in no matter how late (or early) it is. The nearest "Bodega" or (corner store as we call it), is never further than your nearest corner, for all of those household emergencies, at any hour. But most importantly the best shopping & inspiration you'll find around. I love to wonder the streets of NYC in search of a new gem, a place that is bursting with culture and history. A place like Tinsel Trading Company! This store is one of THEE places to visit for vintage trims, treasures and notions! It's unbelievable and the story behind it is even better. Check out the book dedicated to the finds from this lovely place and if you're ever in the area (37th St. between 5th & 6th ave.) stop in for endless inspiration and lots of new possibilities! It's a crafter's oasis!

I've heard that this shop is one of Martha Stewart's favorite places...and I can totally understand why. I'm so very thankful that my job is literally down the street and around the corner. If I'm in the mood for an inspiring lunch break, I just walk on over and I'm in paradise! :-)

(Images; vintage spools of thread-www.suchprettythings.typepad.com; outside image of shop-www.knityoursocksoff.blogspot.com; flowers-www.colettepatterns.com; book-french general  )