About Postcards, Part II

An early start today because of a new job that gets me up and out as the sun rises. The world is so different at seven in the morning ... I like it.

These are three postcards I picked out because of the messages written on them. Click on the photos to enlarge.

My heart is a little broken over that last one, a line of which reads: "By the way, _save this_ card for me and later I'll keep it for a memory." The cadence is lovely, as is the sentiment. Beautiful things sometimes make me inexplicably sad.


P.S. You'll notice these postcards are in plastic box frames ... I'm beginning to hang them in my cupboard.

About Postcards, Part I

I picked out these postcards from a thrift shop earlier today. I'm really digging the different fonts and the fact that postcards have a standard format, often complete with stern instructions: This space for address only and Place stamp here. Even if Mr. Original and I don't get a chance to go on a trip this summer, I'll send these to my friends, perhaps with one-sentence messages. The fronts include images of Niagara Falls; Bar Harbor, ME; Coney Island, NY; Skyline Drive, VA; the Mayflower Motel in Detroit, MI {maybe my favorite}; and wind formations in caverns in West Liberty, OH. A summer of travel, eh?

Label-Maker

Have you ever been to Paperdealer? No? Oh ... you really should go. There are all kinds of color combinations and fonts to look at on vintage labels, plus some pretty funny, though clearly thoughtful, advertising gimmicks.

I know it's the plainest of them all, but the Blue Goose label is definitely my favorite. It's so striking, and such a great example of effective branding. Which is your favorite?

Oh, O-Check!

This morning, I'm making some flat cards for sweet little notes to friends {I'll show you soon} ... and feeling so inspired by O-Check's stationery line. As in, I-don't-have-words-I'm-that-verklempt-with-these-paper-products inspired.

{Discovered via simplesong}

Small Scale Design

Forever a fan of leaving tiny surprise notes, I love how Small Square Design has turned the adored manila pouch {didn't your school nurse give you one when you lost a tooth?} into a miniature work of art.

Hunting & Gathering

Oh, I've hit a jackpot of sorts. I just discovered the shop, Bird Nests and Paper, and am delighted with everything they sell. I've picked four of my favorites to share with you.

Vintage receipt paper would be great for a little note to a friend, perhaps listing all the qualities that make her a great friend.

I'll take a pack of red-bordered labels any day! These are vintage Dennison and are gummed, which is just so old-school and charming. They're dainty for office supplies, aren't they?

I've never canned {my cupboard kitchen definitely isn't large enough!}, but if I did, these contents labels would look adorable on the line-up of Mason jars.

These German Victorian die-cut butterflies are so ornate and colorful, and would be a bold alternative to a more muted {but also exquisiste} garland, like the one I found here.

NumeriChic

One of my most favorite Flickr photos yet
{it's my desktop image as we speak!}

inspires me to see these in a whole new way

{Top image found via {frolic!}, right here}

Genie Lamp

Two things I'm really, really, really wishing for at this moment:

Sharilyn's Paper Sampler

and Little Bits pack


Maybe, one day, when I click on them, I won't see 'Sold Out' ... my paper-hungry fingers are crossed.

Need a Tissue?

Check out this fabulous scalloped edge tissue paper I picked up yesterday. I didn't even know I needed it until I saw it. How sweet would it look, peeking out the top of a kraft paper bag? Why haven't I seen anything like it before, and why aren't we always using scalloped edge tissue paper? I snapped it up from Home Goods, but it's made by a company called Blueink Studios. Follow the link to check out their other color combinations.

Sneak Peek #2

Fortunately, Michael's is having a 25% off sale

on all Martha Stewart crafting supplies ...

The library pockets and window pockets are perfect
for tucking in to the love letter book.

More photos to follow as soon as I've finished.

A Hint of Pattern

My parents were in town this weekend, as were Mr. Original's parents. The parents met for the first time. It was exciting and nerve-wracking all at once. Now, it's quiet ... painfully quiet. I am alone in my cupboard, slurping my second cup of coffee, and wishing I knew where to begin today, and how.

The fabric above is a batik my parents bought for me some months ago in Curacao. It's actually Indonesian. And so gorgeous, I don't know if I can bear to turn it into anything else {because that would involve taking a scissors to it}. For now, I'll just unfold and refold it, and maybe trace the designs with my fingertips.

We'll chat about the bottom photo very soon, but first, I think I need to slurp a bit more.

26

For my birthday yesterday, Mr. Original and I went to my favorite junk shop about twenty miles north of town to scout around for old treasures. I walked away with a few old cigar boxes {from the 1920s and 30s!}, thinking they would be good containers for future love note kits ... but, I might love them too much to part with them! I do not smoke, and I don't like cigarette or cigar advertisements, but something about the ornate designs and bold graphics on these boxes completely charms me.

A Cupid Kit

I attended another bridal shower this weekend {for a lovely girl I'm friendly with, but not very close to}, and decided I'd go the rebellious route and not buy anything off of the registry {this was more of a financial decision than anything else}. Instead, I put together a love note kit for the bride, using stationery I've collected and bits I made especially for her. I'm pretty tickled by the concept of making kits for various things, so it was a lot of fun having an excuse to work on one.

First, I stamped glassine envelopes according to their ingredients.

Next, I filled them with their contents. The Love Dust was made using a heart hole punch and a pink envelope {envelopes are a bit thicker than plain paper, and I didn't want these hearts to be flimsy}. I closed and sealed each mini envelope using an appropriate sticker.

I made small, square cards out of a heavy-weight cardstock and rounded the corners for a more polished look, using another punch designed specifically for that purpose.

An envelope of sealing stickers was crucial.

Being a lover of hang-tags, I thought it perfect to include that option.

With a rosy ribbon, I bundled up a few of my favorite blank cards, all sweetly colored, and secured paper flowers to the knot.

Everything was packaged in a mint-green window box I already owned {though I'm pretty sure Martha Stewart has some in Michael's craft stores}. I included a cheeky list of instructions for the bride in a larger glassine envelope, and wrapped the kit in the paper I showed you over here. I think it was a hit! I even made a few extra envelopes of ingredients for a potential future last-minute shower gift.

Money out of my {very thin} wallet: $0.