Paper dresses

Talking about a demanding fashionista! 

This four year old has the most incredible wardrobe AND you won't even believe how it's created! 

Taking apart the arts and craft box, Mayhem's style is composed of paper and tape. The four-year became tired of her regular clothes and worked with mom to create absolute masterpieces. The stunning dresses are inspired from Disney movies, trips to the Aquarium, the Red Carpet, and more. The final products are unique, personal, and pint-sized. 

Huffington Post writes about the dress-up progression between mother and daughter. The journey has been going on for the past 9 months, with little sign of slowing down. 

The story is a beautiful and refreshing one. I love hearing of imagination explorations and Mayhem is especially charming. I hope she will always be an exemplary and creative spirit...I also hope that more children will have the resources and encouragement to create and explore. 

I think I might be more excited to see Mayhem's Academy Award creations than the Red Carpet itself!

Follow the Instagram Account: 2sisters_angie

Follow the blog: Fashion By Mayhem

(via: 2sisters_Angie)

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fabulous gallery walls

I adore these interior walls filled with eclectic photos, pictures, and prints. What a fun and personal way to decorate your space! What are some pieces that you'd share on your "wall of inspiration"?

Happy Friday, toodles!

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topiaries

Fresh and ready for spring! Are the flowers about to bloom where you are? I can't wait for the spring green to be on the landscape palette.

Topiaries can be great interior decorations, especially as we freshen up our homes for spring.

Find a cute pot that is suitable for your interior space. Stuff with styrofoam and cover with moss.

Once the base is secured, use sticks (the height can vary) as support and turn the top of the stick into a microphone like shape by purchasing a green styrofoam which tends to absorb more water, letting the topiary last longer. 

Once the shape is made, cut fresh greens (boxwoods tend to be the most popular) and arrange as an all green display or add a pop of color with ribbons or berries; your choice. 

You can also find pre-made topiary stands, especially this time of the year. 

Happy crafting and happy spring! 

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knitting needles

Are you a fan of knitting? I had a brief encounter with the finger-ific craft in high school. While I was taking Spanish Conversations our teacher instructed the class to buy knitting supplies because working on a knitting project would "help our language skills". I was completely unconvinced that could be possible, but her reasoning proved truthful! We would spend a portion of class each week working on our knitting projects while speaking in Spanish with the rest of our class. Even though it was often just petty chatter, it provided us with much needed practice on how to be more comfortable with the language. We focused our attention on our knitting needles and it enabled us to naturally improve our language and comprehension skills over time. Not only did I feel more confident in Spanish, I learned to enjoy knitting. 

I haven't picked up my knitting needles in a long time...but I think these pictures will get me in the mood again!

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engraved pencils

Being back-to-school time, I always have fun exploring the different office supplies necessary (or not...) for starting a new year. 

I load up on pens, highlighters, notebooks, index cards, and folders. 

One item that I want to add to my list is this collection of adorable pencils from the Design Darling Boutique. 

Don't you love them??

Order HERE. 

Here are some other cute engravings I have come across:

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Interior color blocking

Bring the fashion trend of the moment to your home!

If you are hesitant to make too big of a statement, I have a Do It Yourself project just for you. Create your own color blocking work of art. Buy a canvas board and painting supplies, you chose the size and the colors (the bolder the better). Spend an afternoon with your painting clothes on and find your inner artist! I would recommend painting your colors in horizontal strips, separate with tape to ensure straight lines. 

Hang up in a room to add a pop of color for a short-term interior inspiration or long-term decorating staple. 

Easter Eggs

Happy Easter Weekend to all of my fabulous Twirling Clare fans!

I am enjoying a lovely break at home with my family this weekend. The weather is beautiful in Cincinnati and I am catching up on a lot of work...as well as making some time for myself on this special weekend. 

We are celebrating my brother Paul's 16th birthday this evening and I smell a chocolate cake in the kitchen. Tomorrow, we are going to mass and having a nice brunch with the family before I pack up and head back to school to finish out the rest of the semester. 

What are your plans for the weekend?

I am sharing a collection of images and "how tos" on egg decorating. We always used to dye easter eggs the night before Easter. We would experiment with different ways to dye them and make ours as unique as we could. Check out some of these neat designs I found via Martha Stewart:

Glittered Easter Eggs

Give little egg hunters a leg up with eggs that lend a shot of rowdy neon to a holiday otherwise characterized by polite pastels.

Easter Eggs with Overlapping Dot Designs

Three overlapping dots stenciled onto eggs beget a batch of new hues. The design pays homage to CMYK printing, which combines cyan, magenta, yellow, and "key" black to yield a spectrum.

Square-Patterned Eggs

Bright colors and geometric designs make modern-looking eggs, like these square-patterned ones.

Chocolate Eggs

These Easter eggs are filled with a delicious surprise -- dark chocolate.

Check out the slide show from Martha Stewart HERE

Wrapping the Presents!

via: katespadetmblr

via: The Simply Luxurious Life

Gift wrapping ideas from Martha Stewart!

Here are my favorites:

Candy Wrapping Paper

Dress packages in candy stripes for a sweet presentation. Use double-sided tape to secure the end of a length of ribbon to the bottom of a wrapped package. Wind around box, spacing stripes evenly; thread a tag through the free end of the ribbon. Finish by affixing ribbon underneath the box with double-sided tape. Repeat with ribbons in different widths or colors.

Tower of Boxes

Several boxes are stacked and tied up in two giant ribbons. Each box is wrapped first in colored tissue paper, then frosted over with a sheet of glassine, available by the sheet or roll from archival-supply houses.

Flower Pot Gift Wrap

These crepe-paper wraps, inspired by amaryllis petals, can dress up the pots of any plants you give as presents.

Color-Coded Wrapping Paper

Assign each family member a different color paper, and you won't even need gift tags. This is a fun way for everyone to identify his or her presents.

Brightly Striped Gift Wrap

Bright stripes revive even your lamest wrap attempt much better than a sad pile of scissor-curled ribbon. Use fluorescent artist's tape or plastic lacing (that stuff you braided into key chains during recess as a kid). Colors really sizzle when they're contrasted against paper in a rich, muted shade, like brown or mustard, or a more organic texture, such as a marbled pattern (top right). Tiny cards with matching envelopes make nice gift tags, or you can multipurpose some mini sticky notes for a neat postmodern touch.

Have you entered my holiday SweatyBands giveaway?? Winner will be announced Christmas Day!