friday creative

today's friday creative is a very fun idea that i've seen in a few cute stores and magazines. and now i've added it to my studio! it's been perfect for storage and inspiration, a little suitcase display...

my little suitcase is currently housing all of my favorite summer photos so far, some of my favorite props, a few pieces of different collections and few things i'm pondering. i'm just loving it!

supplies:

-suitcase

-assorted clips & clothespins

-photos & memorabilia

how to:

-just arrange photos and clip to suitcase liner.

-ta-da!

happy friday!

xo, carly

friday creative: kids photo crafts #4

today is our last kids photo craft and we are ending with a cute little photo album that you can start right now and finish as the summer goes on. here's our summer "suitcase" to collect memories... supplies:
-small box with lid
-a few sheets of cardstock
-acrylic paint
-paint brush
-ribbon
-gluestick

how to:
-paint your box & lid as desired and set aside to dry.
-while your box is drying, cut your cardstock in a length to fit your box and fold in an accordion to fit. make as many accordions as you'd like and adhere together.
-next adhere ribbon to the front of the box lid starting on the inside of the lid, going up the front, leaving a loop for a handle and coming back down & inside. if desired, punch holes through the side and placing brads through.
-adhere your accordion to the inside of the lid and inside of the bottom.
-decorate with photos and memorabilia!
-and ta-da!

happy friday!
xo, carly

dog days of summer

while the hubs and i are busy working on putting the finishing touches on the our online shop (yay!), this is how ellie is spending her days...napping in the sun! i actually interrupted her nap with my picture taking. a dog's life looks rough right?

hope you get to soak up some sunshine too!

xo, carly

good morning!

remember how i shared my summer peach photo with you and i said i was making crisp? well i've been obsessed with peach crisp ever since! we've been eating it for breakfast at my house all based on a wonderful recipe from smitten kitchen (if you haven't read her blog, it's fabulous!). the crisp is so easy and so yummy with a little yogurt on the side!hope you're morning is starting off as sweet as mine!

xo, carly

sneak peek

here is a little sneak peek for miss diane and her wonderful family. i was honored to join them for her parents' 50th anniversary party and i was truly touched by all the love & joy i witnessed. thank you bergquist & koranda families! you are lovely!

xo, carly

friday creative: kids photo crafts #3

today's project is a super cute bulletin board idea from miss martha and you know i can't resist a bulletin board! (remember last september when we did a whole month?) i think bulletin boards are just a great way to display photos especially for kids, because you can change them out so easily. and today's doesn't even require tacks! check out the rubber band cork board...

supplies:

-cork board square

-acrylic paint

-paint brush

-large rubber bands

-photos & memorabilia

how to:

-paint cork board as desired and set aside to dry.

-stretch large rubber bands over cork, making sure bands go over & under each other. this might be a good part to do with an adult helper, depending on the age of your kiddos.

-add photos and other fun stuff!

happy friday!

xo, carly

friday creative: kids photo crafts #2

this week we are making hand-painted clipboard photo frames. they are great for kids rooms because they can easily change out the photos themselves and making them is super fun! and painting can keep your kiddos happy for hours! my official "testers" kate and sam actually each had 2 versions of their clipboards. they painted, let dry and painted over the first designs for their final versions. and didn't they turn out awesome? supplies:

-clipboard

-acrylic paint

-paint brushes

-fine sandpaper

-painters tape (optional)

-heavy gauge wire (optional)

how to:

-lightly sand clipboard and then clean off with a damp cloth. this will help paint adhere to the surface and might be a good task for adult helpers.

-if desired, tape off metal clip with painters tape. and if you really want to get tricky, place a piece of heavy gauge wire through the clip and bend in half to keep clip open and make clipboard easier to paint. both tasks are great for adult helpers.

-paint clipboard as desired and just have fun!!!

-when done painting, set aside to dry completely.

-hang where desired and add photo!

for something a little different, try spraying a clipboard with chalkboard paint, decorating with chalk and adding a photo! great for younger kiddos (once an adult helper has painted it) and also makes a super gift!happy friday!

xo, carly

staying cool

are you starting to wonder why i'm sharing all these random summer photos? well we've been so busy around my house this summer, getting our product line ready, going to shows, starting our online store (coming very, very soon!)...well we feel so busy that taking photos of some of our favorite summer things helps slow it down. it's fun and at the end of the summer, i'll have documented everything with fun little snapshots. maybe i'll make a little book, remember i'm a scrapbooker...

so hope you're finding ways to stay cool and slow things down this summer, like sweet sodas & fun straws!

xo, carly

popsicles & sunshine

i hope your long weekend is ending with, or perhaps your week is just beginning with...

popsicles & sunshine.

xo, carly

friday creative: kids photo crafts #1

today is the return of friday creative and the first of a month of kids photo crafts! today we are making flower photo holders. my official "testers" kate & sam tried it with me earlier this week and we had a pretty super time! hopefully you and your kiddos will think it's super fun too!
supplies:

-wooden dowels

-small wooden clothespins

-acrylic paint

-strong liquid adhesive (i recommend Quick Grip)

-glue stick

-scissors

-fun patterned papers

-circle punches (optional)

how to:

-paint dowels and set aside to dry.

-start crafting your flowers! my sweet project testers, kate & sam, made super cute flowers from hand cut petals, grouping circles and cupcake liners. get creative and use a good glue stick to hold them all together!

-when dowels are dry, adhere clothespins to the end. apply a bit of pressure to each dowel/clothespin to get a good bond. this is a good part for an adult to help with, especially if using a strong, smelly glue like Quick Grip.

-adhere flowers to front of dowel (on the same end as clothespin) with top of dowel right at edge of flower (so that when you have a photo in your photo holder, the flower won't obscure too much). again this is a good part for an adult to help with.

-place your flowers in a fun jar or vase and add photos!

happy friday!

xo, carly

p.s. adorable flower photo holders by kate & sam (and one by their mama tammy t)!