//Hello!//

I have quite a few posts to catch up on but first of all I would like to share with you a small photo diary of my recent trip to Spain, Majorca.

This is a very special place as I spent a lot of my childhood Summers there with my family so it was great to pay a visit to the island after 7 years and be able to have a week of walks along the beach and drinking sangria (and of course coffee!).

Here are a few of my favourite images:

Take off from London. See all the settled snow......

Sun set. It was amazing to see what was above all of those snow clouds!

A few beach shots......

The best sangria packed with lots of fruit (and wine!)

I have always loved the coffees in Spain.......

 

The view from our balcony......

 Got to love palm trees.....

A few night beach shots:

(photography by Stuart Vale)

Going home and take off.......

More posts to follow soon.

Sx

Hand Drawn Maps

// Hello! //

The latest project I am working on (which I shall reveal in a post soon) has required me to make a hand drawn map. I have researched some examples and here are my favourites:

www.bigcitybride.com

www.tartworkshop.blogspot.com

www.etsy.com

Creating a hand drawn map adds a personal touch to an invitation pack. I am currently in the middle of making over 100 wedding invitations and have a created my own hand drawn map of the location accompanied with hotel information. Here is the drawing I have created which shall be applied to the invitation accordingly:

The manor is situated in the countryside surrounded by several farms so I emphasised this by adding a typical field grid.

I also added farm animals and cottages due to the location and this is also a good indicator for guests who are travelling to the location. However, I felt this was not suitable and amended the drawing by taking these elements out. I left my hand written description as the key indicator.

This is the final.........

A further post will follow shortly which shall feature the entire project. 

Thanks for reading!

Sx

Make your own Pom Poms!

//Hello!//

Making decorations for parties and other special occasions is something I really enjoy doing whether it be banners, bunting, table placements and photo boards. I have recently discovered my love for making tissue paper pom poms. This is an extremely effective way to decorate any room. I personally made several of these for my engagement party last year. Here are some examples:

www.downtownian.com

Mix and match similar tones of you have a particular theme you wish to create. As my partner proposed to me in Hawaii, I wanted to create a (non tacky!) Hawaiian theme. To do this I took the colours from my Hawaiian lei which was yellow, red, white and pink. I bought large mix of tissue papers with these colours and mixed them together while also creating solid tones. Here are some more ideas:

www.google.com

Buy some paper lanterns and mix textures. 

www.etsy.com

Or add some fairy lights for a whimsical feel.

www.mylusciouslife.com

Or use bold and clashing brights.

www.honestlywtf.com

Or perhaps make something completely different!

Whilst I extended the pom poms from the ceiling at different heights, sizes and tones, I also made smaller versions for the table centre pieces. The structure of the pom poms are very light and they sit nicely as a centre piece.

How to make them..........

Making tissue pom poms is incredibly easy. Here is an easy step by step guide:

 www.thebusybudgetingmama.com

1// Gather at least 10 sheets of tissue paper. The fuller you wish to have the pom pom, the more sheets you will need. Lay them flat and make sure that the sides meet equally. Start folding the tissue like if you were making a fan. Keep the folding tight.

Tip: If you want to mix colours within the pom pom, mix the tissue paper sheets before you fold in the order you chose. I wanted to create a pastel effect in some of my pom poms so the colours I chose were not overly vibrant.

Tip: To make different sizes, reduce the tissue paper size before you fold. The smaller the pom pom the less tissue sheets you need. 

2// In stage 2 (as pictured above) you should now have a thick, long strip of tissue paper. In order to be able to hang the pom pom add a clear string if you want to achieve a floating effect or maybe ribbon for a prettier feel. Tie the string/ ribbon at the centre of the tissue paper strip. Then create a centre fold so it does not fall out of place. This fold will also help the next stage of making the pom poms.

Tip: If you want to create a rougher edge (which I did with mine) do not cut the ends of the strip. As shown in picture 2 above, the ends have been rounded off which gives a petal effect.

3// Now that you have secured the string/ribbon, fan out the strip (as shown in picture 3 above). Layer by layer pull and fan out the tissue paper to create the circular pom pom shape. To keep the pom pom even, make sure you fan the same amount of on each side keeping in mind they need to meet in the middle. 

Here is a quick one I made earlier.......

Rather than curving the edges, I left them straight to gain a more layered look. I like how the layers are similar to those in a rose.

Thanks for reading!

S x

Creative Spaces

//Hello!//

Whilst I love to draw, I also have passion for interior design. I have been looking at some new decor schemes for the home (check out my Pinterest board 'Home Sweet Home'), mainly looking for a spaces that are fresh and clean with pops of colour. Here is what I have found today.....

www.entermyattic.blogspot.co.uk

I just love the mix of neon brights and subtle pastels. They really compliment each other when used on a plain 'canvas'. This could be a plain white wall, sofa or even a dining table.

Great ways to have a bright and creative organised space.....

www.madebygirl.blogspot.com

www.mackenziehoran.com

www.bellemaison23.com

Mint is one of my favourite colours and really does work wonders in the home throughout small and large spaces. This simple tone works well on walls as well as being highlighted in cute accessories.I just love the mix of bold geometric prints, particularly on these cushions below.

www.houseofturquoise.com

These cushions below demonstrate that patterns can be mixed! The vibrant floral watercolour design is accompanied by a magenta Chinese illustrated pillow as well as with a geometric print. I strongly recommend visiting the Designer's Guild website to view a stunning mix of fabrics and wallpapers. Take a look at www.designersguild.com.

www.allthingsgirlyandbeautiful.tumblr.com

Chevron is everywhere at the moment, here are some great ideas how to incorporate it into your home....

www.owensolivia.blogspot.co.uk

Chevron walls are best achieved when using light colours such as white (always as the base colour) and light grey or maybe pastel colours such as a rose or lilac. Pastel greens and blues are also very popular. If you are to apply this scheme to your wall, I advise a template is made. Here is an example:

 

Take a look at www.thecraftingchicks.com for more tips.

A chevron pinboard can easily be made. You can buy fabric by the metre and cover a cork board.

www.annetheadventurer.com

Chevron floors........

www.housebeautiful.com

Chevron accessories.....

www.eurostylelighting.com

www.beddingenvy.com

www.caitlinwilsondesign.blogspot.co.uk


www.urbanoutfitters.com

Illuminated lettering is also a growing trend, here are some great examples:

www.abeachylife.com

www.demfab.com

www.houxx.com

www.wanelo.com

Thank you for reading, I hope you give some of these ideas a try. 

Remember you can follow me on twitter and Pinterest!

S x

Hand Made Wedding Invitations

/// Hello! ///

Whilst most if you may be outside building snowmen and making snow angels, I on the other hand am not made for the snow and tend to stay in doors with a snuggly blanket and a cup of tea!

As promised, today's post is all about the final finishes on wedding invitations and I am excited to share with you the final outcomes of my personal projects. In my last post I highlighted how to get the inspiration needed to build mood boards and how to mix and match ideas. 

The board below (which was highlighted in the previous week) shows a mixture of ideas around a grey/silver and white colour scheme. 

After presenting the boards, here is the final outcome from mix and matching ideas above:

The invite was the size of a standard sized envelope and was double sided. The glitter swirl paper is definitely a favourite of mine as it is a classic design with a hint of gloss and glitter. Each invite was hand crafted to the extent where each individual invite was measured and hand cut using a scalpel. The same process was repeated for the swirl paper and the body of font and mounting card. The majority of the invites were to be posted to guests therefore the design of the invite was quite tough and will withstand any bending that may occur in the post. 

The bows were also hand made. They were measured, cut, folded and glued to create a traditional tight bow. This was on one side of the invite as you can see above so it was positioned neatly above the name and date.

The RSVP cards were printed onto plain white card, each being 180gsm. This was also double sided and mounted and again suitable for posting. (Tip: Most invites require an RSVP card, it is important to ask your guests if they have any dietary requirements, particularly for guests who have allergies).

Here are some images of the invites:

Here are some images of the menus:

There were 10 menus in total that followed the same design as the wedding invitations. As mentioned in my previous post, it is important that the invitations reflect the tone of the wedding. It is also just as important to keep the theme consistent. These menus were double sided and were placed in a low pin holder in the centre of the circular table. 

Again these menus were all hand made and hand crafted. Having hand made invitations and menus really can add that personal touch.

Here are some further examples of wedding invitations I have designed:

The initials above are of the couple and it is hand painted using silver leaf paint.

This design focussed on the invitations stating various information. This wedding was abroad so the usual standard information about a wedding day was not the only focus. Hotel information, maps and directions and area information was also included. Several pages were created and were bonded together with a ribbon. This would then sit in a protective sleeve.

Thanks for reading and remember to follow me:

Twitter @ Slovestodraw

Pinterest @ Stephanie Prior

S x