Happy New Year!

Two thousand eleven is all wrapped up! And since I love gift wrapping, and confetti=New Year's, I thought I'd share this super and simple confetti gift wrap idea from Monica at 3@12. Here's to 2012!

Putting Your Books to Work

Why I'm obsessed with book-lover weddings I don't know. Maybe because it seems like such a simple theme with so many possible directions to go. Some city libraries would be stunning receptions sites, and old Dewey Decimal system drawers and cards could be used in a variety of ways. And that odd and never-finished paperback book that you bought for 50 cents? Turn it into a bouquet of flowers! My daughter and I saw a similar book arrangement to the one above on a wedding blog and she said, "let's do that!". So I did. These books will sit on a side table with the wedding programs coming out of the drawer. And one of those books is... Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus! I crack myself up!

Book Lover Wedding Accoutrements

For book lovers that want to bring their favorite diversion into their wedding I've got a few ideas. I have printed this couple's damask theme onto vellum with a shimmery lavender background. A couple eyelets and ribbon and museum putty to adhere it to the books and their table numbers are ready to go! Another table number option is to use pages from old books to cover a piece of cover weight paper (folded sandwich board style) and add the table number in ribbon of the color theme. I wish I had some lightweight wooden numbers in my workroom because I think they could be painted black and glued to the book page background.

And let's not forget the desert bar or the cocktail bar or any other table that might need a little explanation or instruction. In the lower photo I glued some book pages onto an easel back and printed on a piece of vellum "Let them eat cake" and used silk ribbon to hold the vellum onto the pages.

I've got some lovely bookmark escort cards to share next that will go so nicely with any of these ideas. Oh, there are so many book lover options out there!

Valentine Recycle

Do you hate to throw away bags? And sometimes even recycling a sweet, cute, rad, crazy, whatever bag is just not right and so you try to reuse it. Right? Me too. Paper Source has really fun bags and so I hang on to them but today I decided it was time to reuse them... again! Their bold stripes in red, silver, mossy green and an aqua blue were fabulous at Christmastime and now are working out just great for Valentine's Day. Some silk ribbon, silver cord, heart-shaped hole punches and even a cardboard cozy from Starbucks all helped to make it festive. Yep, that cardboard heart cut out is from Starbucks, and the handle of a larger PS shopping bag was fashioned into a heart as well.

As you can see, Paper Source has their rules for recycling printed right on the bag! Be a sweetheart and reuse!

My New Favorite

It's a brooch, it's a pin, it's a belt accessory. I've already worn it a couple different ways and I'm thinking up other options. Could it be added to a hat? Cowboy or otherwise? Just maybe!

Upcycle Madness! Denim Pennants!

I have not lost my mind. But I am in a recycle/up-cycle/re-purpose/renew kind of mode. It started a few weeks ago when I decided I should go through my closet and toss some dust-collecting clothing items into a give-away bag. I ran across a couple pair of jeans that have really gotten to that frustrating point. You know. They are great when you put them on right out of the dryer, but sit in them for an hour and the tush area is saggy? Baggy? Just what I need!

But denim is precious somehow. I couldn't part with the jeans, I had to recycle them. So here goes. Denim wedding pennants. I think this will be a great prop for wedding photos, a fun bridal shower gift, a cute wedding ring carrier for a ring-bearer (tie those wedding bands on the ribbons!), and something fun to decorate the newlywed's home.

I'm working on another one with red glittered "Love" and I think it's gonna be too cute too!