valentines

Color Inspiration: Scarlet and White

in ,

you and me via here, heart doodles via me, vintage photo via here

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope you all are surrounded by love and warmth today. And maybe some glitter or sequins for good measure.

And for your enjoyment, here is a conversation between my sister and myself this morning:

Sister:"I'm sorry to call so early because I'm sure you're doing something uuber pookie like making heart-shaped pancakes."

Me: "Waffles."

Sister: "What?"

Me: "I'm making heart-shaped waffles."

Sister: "Of course you are."

Oh I love her. Have a great day everyone!

From the Studio: DIY Watercolor Valentine's

in , ,

Every year I make my own Valentine's. Something about the glue and the glitter and the paint transports me back to the days of elementary school where every one makes a "Valentine Box" and gives EVERY single person in their class a card. (I know some people may think that it's annoying to have to give everyone a card, but I remember seeing how happy and surprised some kids were to get cards and it always made me smile.) And to be honest, unlike a lot of people, I love Valentine's Day. Not the whole "I have to buy you chocolates and a cheap card or else I don't love you" mentality sometimes adopted, but the idea that for one whole day you get to go overboard in showing how much you care about someone. Or someone's. My family is really big on Valentine's Day. Like wake up to a Valentine's Day celebration complete with presents before school kind of big. What can I say, we're saps when it comes to love. Anyhow, back to the point. Given that I make Valentine's every year, I thought I would show you all a creative (and really simple) way to make some for yourself. (I taught this trick to my Alt classes as a test run and it went really well so hopefully it does for you too!)

Step One: Get all of your stuff together. You'll need paper (I wanted an A2 sized card so my paper is 8.5"x5.5" but you can use whatever size you have) a watercolor brush, watercolor paint, a bone folder (or credit card. No reason to buy something you don't absolutely need) masking fluid and an old small paintbrush that you don't care if it gets ruined because it will. If you'd like to feel fancy, feel free to place some glittery hearts around- you know, for the mood.

Step Two: Using your bone folder, fold your paper in half and crease the edges. I did a vertical fold, but horizontal would work well too.

Step Three: Using the brush you're going to ruin, paint a design on your paper using masking fluid. It doesn't need to be super thick, but you'll want to make sure the fluid makes a complete solid layer wherever you place it. I did X's and O's because my parents used to play tic tac toe over the phone when they were dating long distance and I always associate that with love and therefore Valentine's Day.

Step Four: After it has FULLY dried-test with the back of your hand never the front because it will leave oil behind and water and oil don't mix- combine a dime sized amount of watercolor paint with clean water and use that to paint over the entire design.

Step Five: Once the paint is completely dry, take a regular white eraser (or any eraser, I just like that you don't have to worry about color transferring with a white one) gently erase away the masking fluid. It should start acting a lot like rubber cement does when you rub that away. After the entire card is erased clean of masking fluid, dust off any left over residue.

Step Six: Step back and take a moment to admire your handiwork.

See? Super easy. And if you'd like, add some glitter, write a message inside and mail it off to a deserving loved one. I'd suggest in a pretty red or pink envelope because that makes it even more awesome to receive.

All photos copyright of courtney khail stationery and design. Feel free to re-post, but please give credit and be sure to link back to this post.

Studio Sneak Peek: Valentine's Day

in ,

all photos via courtney khail

I kind of take a holiday for Valentine's Day (which should explain why I'm just now posting this at 10p.) Unlike most people who simply exchange gifts, maybe go out to dinner, etc. I get really into it. Like, wake up, answer emails and then immediately start baking 4 dozen heart shaped lemon sugar cookies kind of into it. (For the record, I gave 2 dozen away and have 1 dozen wrapped up for the rest of the week. As for the other dozen... I'm going to say Cupid stole them. Better than saying that I think we may have polished off 12 cookies in 5ish hours...especially since I was trying on bathing suits about an hour ago. Nothing says lay off the cookies like a bikini.) Anyways, back to the point.

Once I baked (a completely normal amount of cookies for two people) I headed over to the farmer's market (where everyone and their mother apparently decided they wanted to learn to cook and or buy flowers today) and did our grocery shopping. I really should have planned better and not gone shopping on Valentine's Day, but what can I say- I'm a creature of habit and I like Monday morning shopping. After dodging the 50+ men in line to buy roses (and then this one guy who bought this massive multicolored rose sunset looking arrangement thing,) I finally made my way to the beef counter and picked up a few bone in short ribs for dinner tonight (and by picked up, I mean I had to beg the man to cut 4 fresh bone in short ribs since they were out.  "Valentine's Day" and/or "sick husband" may or may not have slipped out, but I'm going to go ahead and say he only cut them because he didn't want to deal with the woman who wanted EXACTLY 1/2lb of ground chuck who was behind me. Either way, I left with my beef in hand.) And despite the crowds and a few barely missed accidents in the parking lot (if someone is honking, please do not keep backing up before you look and see if they are trying to stop you from hitting them) I did get to wish a sweet older woman in an awesome red hat and my cashier (who's family is all back in her home country) a Happy Valentine's Day and that in itself was worth it.

(Like my long story? Yep. Still not done.)

Once I got home I banished J. to the office (telling him he couldn't come out until everything was finished) and then I started making this (and oh dear Lord was it amazing) and a pot de creme for two (pronounced po de krehm in case anyone is wondering...) and then started on the decorations. Now this is where I kind of get out of hand. As in, I tend to go over board in some people's opinions. Somewhere between hanging 25-30 glittery hearts (that I hand glittered) and sprinkling the table with foam hearts I realized they may be right. (And then I snapped out of it and told myself this was completely normal. Yep.... Completely normal.)

Want to see what I mean? Well then today is your lucky day.

(I was inspired by these sparkly heart from ban.do and the glitter aisle at Michaels.)

First, I made a ton of different sized hearts, covered them in Mod Podge and then drowned them in red glitter. Using some hot glue and clear thread, I then hung them (all nimbly bimbly... name that movie) from the ceiling. When I felt fancy, I made strands of 3 sparkly hearts. (I felt fancy approximately 3 times.) Because I got hooked on the glitter, I decided to use some leftover watercolor scraps I had around and drew little glittery hearts on those as well before attaching those to the ceiling as well.

Then came the table. I put down a small white runner that I normally use on our bar (because I was too lazy to iron my white table cloth but needed something white) and then sprinkled red and white foam hearts up and down that. (And then sprinkled on a hand full silver metallic circles and some red metallic "love" and "heart" confetti because I had it and figured I should use it. That was also my reasoning on wrapping the silverware in that garland. Well, that and I wanted to add more red since I was using white napkins and white plates.) Over all of that, I placed a few curled slips of paper that had things I loved about J. written on them. I finished it all off with two crate and barrel glass candle holders and a bottle of Boom! Boom! wine. (Which I am not afraid to admit that I bought simply because I thought the label and the name rocked.)

And this, my friends, is why people think I go over the top. I'll let you all be the judge.

Wishing you a romantic weekend

in

via partyperfect

Valentine's Day is just around the corner so for me these past few days have been spent finishing up J's present, planning our dinner (I'm a "dress up, stay in, and have a romantic dinner for two by the fire" type of girl when it comes to Valentine's Day) and making (incredibly unnecessary but incredibly awesome) decorations. Therefore, it makes sense that this week's links are love related. Hope you enjoy!

Not a lover of Valentine's Day? Check out the Love Stinks channel on Pandora. Even if you love love, I promise it's worth it. I've been rocking out to it for the past 2 days. Some songs to look forward to? Ain't No Sunshine and Jessie's Girl. (You can thank me later.)

Given it's the holiday of all things love, I had to include a wedding. Please scroll down and take a look at this couple's ceremony site (8 down.) Isn't that the most perfect tree ever? (wedding seemed pretty awesome as well!)

Valentine's Day or not, I would love to lounge around in this. (via design crush)

Want to get yourself a Valentine's Day gift? If you have $100K burning a hole in your pocket, you should get this. (And then call me so we can be best friends and fly around the lake.)

We all know that Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world, but not all of us can just jet set there for the weekend. The next best thing? Eating like you're there.

And while we're talking about food and Paris (completely un-Valentine's Day related, but Jordan and her family just moved to Paris so I'm tying it in anyways)...we'll be in San Francisco this summer so I definitely bookmarked her suggestions on where to eat.

And of course I couldn't end this roundup without some dessert. What an amazingly luxe alternative to the everyday cupcake.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Valentines Wedding-another take

in

After I published my last post I started thinking about what if someone didn't want a high glam wedding? What if they wanted more of a down to earth rustic feel? Well ladies, here's another take.

I still love the bridesmaid dresses by twobirds, and definitely think the cookie favors would still work, but what about these changes?

sweet strung heart lights
via designcrush

maybe small clusters of these flowers in antique cans or mason jars
via saipua

and still have a lot of candles, but make them votives not tapers
via flickr

and one of my favorite things to do-use colored envelopes to send the invitations
via calligraphy by janice

and I can't find a picture of it, but as a different take on the guest book, have antique valentines strung on the walls for guests to write messages to the newly weds.

So there you go! new take on a valentines wedding!


Valentines Wedding

in

Since Valentines Day falls on a Saturday this year, I've been thinking a lot about how you could have a valentines day wedding, without being too cutesy or cliche. I think it would be best to stick to deep reds, and the classic staples of black and white.

V. classic, v. timeless- with just the smallest touch of modern to bring it up to date.

This is what I'm envisioning:

A beautiful strapless lace dress for the bride

via twobirds
How awesome are these dresses??!! One dress and 10 ways to wear it. This is one you can truthfully say you picked so they can wear it again.
I think I might buy one just because. What a great travel dress.

via dc newlyweds
lots of candles around the room

via jcrew
classic tuxes for the men
via M.Polss
lots of champagne

via fete
a beautiful entrance
via flickr
cute heart shaped cookies for favors
via j. echols
and don't forget lots and lots of red roses.

oh and just a few more things to envision:
a black and white dance floor and because I love music so much, an amazing jazz band performing Fly Me to the Moon, My Funny Valentine, and The Way You Look Tonight.

Now, back to the real world. Have a great night y'all!