dying for Halloween die cuts

via halloween_guy

I've decided this year that we will become Halloween people. Try as I might to diminish it - Christmas and Thanksgiving are stressful. There is too much traveling, too much spending, too much stuff you HAVE to do. Halloween doesn't seem to have all those trappings and family obligations. It also takes place during the best time of year. Plus (hello?) there is nothing better than toddler costumes and free candy. 

What's also fun about Halloween is that we get to begin from scratch. There are no inherited decorations or knickknacks that one feels obligated to bring out very year. We get to pick out our own stuff. So the first thing I started looking for are old school Halloween die cuts (also called "cut outs" or super awesome teacher bulletin board art). Yes, I'm talking about those old school double-sided posters. Corny? No doubt. Expensive? Surprisingly so for used cardboard. Worth it? Totally. Because we are Halloween people and we do Halloween right.

via Halloween Cats

via riptheskull

via space24retro

via shabbyshopgirls

via Jenna Valentine

mr printables

The site Mr Printables is filled with paper fun- free printables for kids of all ages. I am including some of my favorites- bird finger  puppets, a peg people world, polaroid style flash cards and simple notecards. The site is filled with instructions and suggestions- but it most importantly a gateway to imaginative play!

All images: mrprintables

folding dresses

These dresses created from folded vintage maps at Restoration Hardware Baby & Child are quite something. That something is out of my price range, but it is also a combination of two great design elements in a nursery- vintage clothing + maps.
Looking at the finished product makes me think that if you grabbed some beautifully colored maps and tapped into your own creativity (plus had a glue gun handy for the inevitable cheating that would have to occur)- maybe you could come up with something pretty close....

All images: Restoration Hardware Baby & Child

paper zoo

On the blog Handmade Charlotte there is a fantastic tutorial for making paint chip animals. The tutorial has printable templates (which is a huge bonus) and even tips for storage, but what I like most is that this is a DIY kid craft that can be altered in so many ways and still work.
You can use the template or design your own zoo of creatures. The paint chips have great color and weight, but this could be done with heavier scrapbook paper as well. You could leave your animals as they are or add drawn smiles, polka dots and hairy backs.

It is one of those crafts that could appeal to 2-year-olds and 10-year-olds alike (even 37-year-olds....).  Whether you use your animals as decorations or action figures, this is a winner of a project!

Images: handmadecharlotte

poppies for presents

The site ellinee.com not only has links to the design studio's shop and Pinterest boards, it also has their blog which happens to contain the most incredible DIY paper flowers.
I am already thinking forward to fall (while still enjoying the summer, of course) and want to have a dozen of these paper poppies on hand to use for gift wrapping. The tutorial provided includes the link to the PDF of the perfectly watercolored petals- all you need to do is grab scissors, a glue gun and read the surprisingly simple step-by-step instructions (complete with photos!!).

All Images and tutorial: ellinee.com

10 cards

SugarBeetPress

I have a box filled with my kids' birthday cards and while I am not 100% sure why I keep every single one, I do know that I am always especially appreciative of the unique selections. I know when they are older they will enjoy going through them and I imagine the cards will hopefully inspire some great art projects down the road!
Here are 10 unique cards from Etsy- if you have a little person's birthday on the horizon, you may want to consider one....

 belleandboo

 UnderTheStairsStudios

 EllaLeachDesigns

 twotonepress

 pixieland

 gumo

 ArtistInLaLaLand

pistachiopress

  littlebeehive

Thursday, paper garlands, and etsy

Image courtesy of concretehoney

Paper garlands are an inexpensive way to make a party more festive or a room more memorable. They also make a sweet and different (plus easy to mail!) birthday gift.
There is no shortage of designs and colors in the vast array of snipped, stitched, drawn, or folded paper garlands found on etsy.
These are just some of the patterns I fell for while clicking over the selection.....

DomesticStoriesShop

kategrenier

3GIRLSandaGOAT

alittlesweetness

1PixiePlace

AnthropoloCheap

jellybeanstudio

robinandrose

LaMiaCasa

allweneedisorigami

cupcake555

petitprojects

simplynesting

holiday cards- take two

At week's end , I will have to decide what to do with my holiday cards. The cards of the non-photo variety can be used for decorations if I am particularly fond of the design or colors.
With just a circle punch or two, they could be turned into a wreath.....
but, with the same punch, patience, and the ability to follow directions- you could wind up with some intricate ornaments for next year's tree.

Images courtesy of scoutiegirl (1,3), bhg.com, marthastewart

Jointed Paper Dolls

Little Eliza Jointed Movable Paper Doll via inkingcap

I recently heard a suggestion for decoration in a little girl's room - framing some jointed paper dolls in various poses. The idea was interesting to me , though I would be sad to see these movable pieces frozen forever.....maybe finding a way to display them tucked into a ribbon board would be the best of both worlds.

Mermaid Art Paper Doll via thefiligree

Mr.Rabbit courtesy of minifanfan

A is for Acorn jointed paper doll via ribonita

miniature moveable paper dolls via hollandsworth

Little Red Riding Hood Articulated Paper Doll signed by artist, Jo James via 44thStreetFabric I love the entire "Peter and the Wolf" puppet theatre on paper available on PDF from sarahjanestudios- some jointed paperdolls performance art!

PDF- Peter and the Wolf Puppet Theater via sarahjanestudios