Oh Sweet Papery how I love thee...

I love Sweet Papery on Etsy! This is the design for our Save the Date stamp.

Also, I ordered a version of this stamp for my parents to say "Thank You!" My mother has wanted one forever and I thought this was cute and original.

More purchases will be made I'm sure. ;)

Adorable Wedding Guest Book

I found this on Freckled Nest. I love this idea. The Guestbook combines some of the couples Engagement & Bridal photos, along with cute quotes from their blog. Keep Freckled Nest in mind for your wedding. :)

Magnetic Chalkboard Mirror

How adorable is this? I would love to try this project with my boyfriend. Found on Design* Sponge.

Materials:

-Vintage (or new, depending on your desire) frame or mirror
-Thin piece of steel
-Primer
-Chalkboard Paint
-Spray adhesive
-Spray or regular paint for the frame

1. The mirror was disassembled and the mirror and backing board were saved

2. The mirror that was in the original frame was used as a template in order to draw the shape needed for the sheet metal, Easyboard, and spacing/backing cardboard. All items were cut out of the original stock. The sheet metal was cut with aviation snips, the Eashboard and cardboard were cut out with a carpet knife.

**if you’re not experienced or uncomfortable with cutting metal, please pick up a sheet of metal and have it cut to size at your local hardware store, or hire an affordable handyman on craigslist to do the cutting for you**

**alternatively: if you’d rather not deal with metal and don’t plan on hanging heavy items on the board, you can simply paint or spray the original frame/mirror with chalkboard paint and skip this step.**

3. The sheet metal was adhered to the Easyboard using the spray adhesive. A coating was applied to both surfaces in order to get a good lamination and then a large piece of plywood with cinderblocks were put on it in order to press them together for several hours.

4. The sheet metal surface was re-cleaned and then sprayed with a couple of coats of primer.

5. The sheet metal was then sprayed with the chalkboard paint.

6. The frame was cleaned and sprayed with the spray paint using numerous coats in order to get a complete coverage.

7. After the paint was dried, the frame was sprayed with clear coat in order to obtain a shiny, clean, hard surface for the frame.

8. After the frame dried completely the assembly took place first installing the metallic laminated chalkboard, then a cardboard spacer, and then the original backing was re-installed using the original screws and staples.

Valentines Day Idea #2 : Surprises at Work

Surprises (from Oh Happy Day)

"The most important thing for me on Valentines Day is coming up with some sort of surprise. It doesn't need to be expensive just cool and thoughtful. Last year I tied a large red balloon to a box and made the string so long that Paul could see it from his second story office. I called him and told him to look outside--and all his coworkers gathered around the window to watch while he went down to get the box. I filled the box with all of his favorite things."

Suggestions

CGGI Suggests ... The Best project.

Miss Jane Suggests ...
Elnett hairspray by L'Oreal. "It holds hair in place with absolutely no stickiness, creates a matte look, and sprays a nice even cloud."

Weddings can be fun and relaxed

I found this story on A Cup of Jo and Smitten.

When middle-school sweethearts KC and Sara decided to get married, they wanted to express their love and creativity. For their save-the-date, this couple photographed themselves lying on grass, printed their wedding date on the suitcase, and sent out the photo as postcards. Next, the couple attached a funny personal photo to street signs leading the way to the ceremony. "We then attached a bunch of white balloons to each sign," says Sara, "so that it looks like I’m holding them." The wedding programs were made into fans for the outdoor ceremony. The favors were jars of peach salsa. The couple printed their silhouettes onto craft paper, which were attached to each jar with twine.

5 Home Habits That Save $$$ from Apartment Therapy

Cooking at Home: To save the most, cut back on ordering in or going out to eat. For tips on home cooking, recipes, and advice, check out our sister site, the Kitchn. Just to get you started, we're linking to a few of their ideas for cooking at home on a budget:
• Recipes for Vegetarians (and Vegans Too)
• More With Less: Frugal and Budget Cooking
• Cupboard Challenges (working with what you've got)
• Cheap Wines for Tough Times
• Could You Eat on $25 a Week?

Repurposing and Reusing: Before you buy something new, try "shopping" within your own home. Look for items that could have a second life as something else. For instance, Rachel transformed this tea tray into a magnetic board for her kitchen. For a few repurposing ideas from AT, see these posts:
• 20 Ways to Reuse from AT:Chicago
• House Tour: Rachel's Repurposed Mid-Century Place
• Recycline: 10 Best Ways to Reuse an Empty Plastic Bottle
• 10 Upcycled Uses for Old Things
• Creative Reuse: Best of 2008

Cleaning and Organizing: A chaotic, messy apartment is loaded with spending traps. You're more likely to overspend when you can't find something, you have no clean laundry, or you just feel depressed about your home. Before you throw any cash at the problem, start with a clean slate. You'll probably find that what you really need is less, not more. A few starting points from AT:
• Cleaning & Organizing Tip: Start with the Bedroom
• 4 Steps for a Successful Closet Cleanse: S.H.E.D.
• Tips, Tricks, and Tools: AT Cleans it All
• Can Cleaning Your House Change Your Mood?
• Clip File: 8 Great Cleaning How-To's

Thrifting and Scavenging: You know those people who always have a story to tell about how they scored an Eames chair on Craigslist for $20 or a set of antique silver at a garage sale for pocket change? You could be that person; it just takes a little effort and training. Begin your education in thrifting by reading these posts:
• How To: Restore Thrift Store Furniture
• How To: Collect Quality Furniture When You Don't Have Much Money
• Flea Market Shopping with Eddie Ross
• Craigslist Buying and Selling Etiquette
• Clip File: 10 Thrifty Tips

Sewing: We learned the basics of sewing in our Girl Scout Troop, and those skills have paid off much more than the training we used to earn our horseback riding or campfire badges. With our very basic abilities, we've made everything from bedspreads to curtains to pillowcases, saving lots of money in the process. Our advice to learning a new craft is to start small and work your way up. Here are a few basic how-to's to begin:
• How To: Sew An Envelope Pillowcase
• How To: Make a Simple Bed Skirt
• How To: Sew Lined Curtains
• How To: Make Your Own Cloth Napkins
• How To: Luxe Faux Fur Throw