Stamps & Valentine Printables

Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner, it's time for me to work on some hand-crafted cards for my Honey and my 3Cs. I enjoy making cards and have been a stamper for a long time but I find myself tending towards cards made with paper punches or other pre-made artwork because they're faster. Still, it would be nice to sit down and take the time to stamp out some cute cards. And it would be super fun to use some of the adorable stamps from Paper Source. (for Valentine's Day and beyond...)

But if you find yourself pressed for time, here's a nice sampling of free Valentine printables conveniently gathered in one place on How About Orange and another collection of sweet printables from Eat Drink Chic.

p.s. I love this stamp too!

Cerise & Black Little Bloom Earrings

A new little set of hair pins has blossomed in my Shop. Introducing the Cerise and Black Little Bloom Earrings...

Overwhelmingly Precious

Photo by my husband

As I sit here at my computer, I confess that I'm feeling rather overwhelmed. I see numerous piles of papers that I need to file away. I see jewelry projects covering this surface and taking over that space. I'm also thinking about the many things I need to seriously sit down and try to figure out...like how do I feed my children healthy and tasty food when I have a modest budget and their appetites are anything but modest? (I'm mean these boys can eat and they're not teenagers, not even close. For example, I bought a bag of apples on Sunday and it was gone in less than 24 hours. Yes, I'm very happy that their go-to snacks are apples but it does present a problem of how to provide enough apples when there isn't an orchard in our backyard.) And what about all of those fun projects that we're supposed to be doing as a homeschool family? We did a couple of little experiments with static electricity today but come on, we're not exactly carving Mt. Rushmore into a sweet potato. And now my youngest C is scratching a game of tic tac toe onto his arm with a rogue skewer from our science kit. And did I mention that the skin on my face has decided to freak out a bit and create some new topographical features for me? Eek! What a day.

And yet, I know these days of little ones swirling around me and Legos and puzzle pieces crunching under foot and pile upon pile of carefully colored drawings are fleeting. I have to pause and appreciate what my day has held. Like when my 3Cs told me that I'm so pretty that they want to faint. (Isn't a son's love for his mama just the best?) And when my middle C laid down on his back and pedaled his feet (also fondly referred to as potatoes) in the air to ask if he could go on a bike ride. And when my littlest C gave me the tiniest foam duck that he had decorated with little square stickers as a gift. And when my oldest C admitted that working on writing a paragraph wasn't so bad. Ahh... these are the days of my life...overwhelmingly precious.

Bright & Bold

After my last post of colorfulness, I'm continuing the trend with some splashes of bright color. I have a china cabinet that I really want to paint but I can't decide if I should do a neutral like gray or white or something that stands out like the turquoise below. Which way would you go?

Simon Whitmore for Ideal Home via Bright Bazaar

Justina Blakeney's colorful wheel is actually a wooden carving board that she painted for a really fun and affordable accessory. For more pics and instructions, go here. What a fun little DIY project!

Justina Blakeney via Bright Bazaar

I was drawn to this lovely bedroom for its bold wardrobe. And the fact that it's a tad cluttered is something I can relate to. Anybody else?

Adore Magazine

Here's to a bright and cheery week!

Hearts & Flowers...It Must Be Time for Valentine's Day

I've just added a number of Hair pin sets to my Shop, just in time for Valentine's Day.

For purple and lavender lovers, I have a set for you...

Purple & Lavender Heart & Flower Hair Pins

And for those who love pink, I have a set for you...

Pink Bow Comb, Pink Heart Pin and Pink Flower Pin

And for those of you who would appreciate an alternative to traditional Valentine's Day colors, I have a set for you...

Turquoise & Graphite Heart Bobby Pins

If you would like a set in different colors or different combinations, please email me at thestripedstraw@gmail.com. Or to see more hair pin sets, please visit my Shop.

Snow and Graphite

Can you believe it's Friday?! We woke up to a dusting of snow this morning. I woke up several times last night and thought I heard rain but I had no idea it was snowing. My allergies also kicked in before I went to sleep so I'm feeling like a human barometer who sneezes with the change in weather. Anyway, I was busy yesterday working on this custom order necklace...

My customer liked the Graphite Flower Ring and wanted it as a necklace. If you would like to place a custom order, please send me a message via Etsy's conversation button (the icon is an envelope) at my Shop. I'd love to work on something lovely and unique for you.

Charcoal Blossom Ring 2.0

This latest in my blossom rings is reminiscent of a desert bloom like a succulent. I love it's delicate looking petals. Each time I create a blossom, it turns out a little bit different, which keeps it interesting for me. This one is similar to the Golden Days Blossom Ring that is on the banner for my Shop, which was a popular ring. I do hope you enjoy it!

Introducing the Charcoal Blossom Ring...

For more blossom rings and a lot more, visit my shop here.