DIY glitter tree tutorial

Yep, I'm obsessed with decorating for Christmas. And thanks to last week's project, I had some extra gold glitter paper just sitting around so I figured I'd make something with it! You can make this with any thick paper you have (you know, in case you're not in love with glitter) and they literally take like 5 minutes. Maybe 10 if you cut really slowly.

1. Grab your paper and your scissors

2. Draw out a Christmas tree (excuse the wonkiness. This is what happens when you try to draw while looking through a camera.)

3-4. Cut out the first tree, trace it onto the second piece of paper, and then cut that out so you have two identical Christmas tree shapes (or if you're feeling fancy, you could do this whole tutorial with present shapes)

5. On one tree, cut from the top down about an inch. On the second tree, cut from the bottom up- stopping just a little more than an inch from the top.

6. Slide them together and adjust so they stand upright

7. Go have a cookie, pat yourself on the back for being so incredibly talented, and begin planning your future crafting empire. Or just eat the cookie.

DIY Glitter Fringe Christmas Tree

Have I mentioned how much I love Christmas? I'm kind of a fanatic. (J and I even got married 5 days before Christmas because I love the season so much!) The air feels more crisp, people are in cheery good moods, smells of evergreen, cinnamon, and sugar cookies linger in the air, everything is all lit up and pretty- it's just magical. So of course, when it comes to decorating I go all out. I cannot wait for the year we get to decorate a front yard!

All that said, a few weeks back a friend and I went to a crafting event at Anthropologie and made these all white fringe trees for their window displays. While they were pretty, I thought they'd be even more textural and interesting with some glitter and newsprint. (I mean, what isn't better with glitter? Wait, scratch that. I've seen a lot of things where glitter just makes it tacky. This is not one of those times. Or maybe it is, but I still like it haha)

gather materials (tape, scissors, glitter star, white paper, newspaper strips, glitter paper strips, strips of paper towels)

tape two pieces of paper together to make a square  (or use a large piece of paper)

roll paper into a cone shape and cut the bottom straight across so it can stand upright

using your scissors, fringe the strips of paper (fringe scissors make this go faster but I don't own them.)

starting at the bottom, tape the fringe around the cone. you'll want to alternate between the different fringes for textural interest.

keep taping all the way to the top

and to finish, top with a glittery star! (I just made one from some leftover gold glitter paper I had)

Custom Watercolor Paintings

For a while now, I've felt an urge to go back to my painting roots. I'm constantly surrounded by such beauty out here in Colorado and more often than not I'd catch my mind dreaming about various color combinations, compositions, and arrangements. My sketchbooks were filling up with ideas and sketches of paintings I wanted to create, but thanks to our already art filled walls and a lack of places to put anything else, those ideas stayed locked in my sketchbooks waiting on me to get my act together and start painting again. After a long talk with J. about how much I missed just painting for the sake of bringing joy to people's lives, he encouraged me to start it up again. Normally I would be terrified of starting something new (I'll be the first to admit to having anxieties about the unknown) but with this I felt a comfort and an excitement. It's as though deep down I knew this is something I really needed to do.

So that is EXACTLY what I'm doing now. I'll still be creating invitations and stationery (I still love doing it) but now I'm also offering custom watercolor paintings as well. When I started my company almost 4 years ago, my main mission statement was to bring one of a kind artwork to people and to keep it as reasonable as possible so people could actually afford it. For most of us, wandering into a gallery and buying what we like, just isn't realistic. With this new endeavor, I'm going to continue doing just that. If you've read my "Paintings" page on the site, you already know that I believe everyone should own at least one piece of original artwork. Artwork you love that instantly brings a smile to your face. And not just any piece of art, but one of a kind art that no one else has. And that is exactly what I create with my paintings. Completely custom, affordable pieces of art that you’ll want to hang up and show off.

It doesn't matter if it's a flower, an herb from your garden, a place, your favorite shoes- I want to create artwork that you'll cherish forever. (Okay, full disclosure- I'm not awesome at painting everything. Faces completely allude me. So rest assured if you happen to really want something that I just don't think I'll do a good job at, I promise I will tell you and we can come up with something I can rock, or I'll direct you to an artist who can help create what I can't.)

So how about it? You all in?

(Speaking of being in- because you all are amazing and have been so supportive of my work if you mention this post and order before 2013, you'll get 10% off any painting order you place. If you'd like to give it as a gift, I can also send a gift card your way.)

craving: Tissue Calendar for 2013

via russel and hazel

I love physical, paper calendars. Every year I buy the same 6" pocket planner and every year I don't know what I'd do with out it. (It has month and day views so I can see everything at a glance and then the details.) When I stumbled across this on One Kings Lane, I immediately thought it was great. Maybe because it's I'm one of those people that writes things on my to do list just to cross them off (take shower anyone?) but I can't help but imagine how awesome it would be to rip off the previous day and begin anew.

craving: mosser moss (and a special happy birthday)

via mosser

For someone who kills almost every plant she buys (my basil plant is going on one month! Go ahead and put that in the "W" column for me) this little moss ball is right up my alley.

Also, I want to take a second and wish my wonderful dad a happy birthday! So, Happy Birthday! I hope it's a fantastic one. I love you so much!

Craving: tea carafe (and votes)

anna blattert water carafe via post fossil

I have had this beautiful, glass carafe on my desktop for what feels like weeks- always meaning to share it and then getting side tracked. Well today is it's lucky day! I'm finally posting about it. Right off the back, it's beautiful colors pulled me in. Bright, but not over powering- unique, but still familiar. Then I noticed the basket thingy at the top and was intrigued. As someone who cuts up fruit and such to throw in water, it seemed perfect. No more fishing out soggy fruit slices, dried on tea leaves, or whatever else you enjoy soaking in your water! Of course, then I saw that it was around $300. Beautiful yes, but I have to be honest here. I'm kind of a klutz. I am constantly running into furniture that has been there for.ever. and drop things like it's my job. This would probably be in pieces within the first few weeks of me owning it. Add that to the fact that I could just wrap some herbs/fruit/whatever in cheesecloth and have roughly the same taste, and I just don't think I can justify the $300.

Of course if you are in the market for a $300 water carafe, I'd have to recommend this one on looks alone.

Also, please do not forget that voting is still going on for Martha Stewart's American Made Award!

I'm been absolutely blown away by y'alls support and cannot say thank you enough. If you have a moment (and haven't voted today) I'd love for you to click over, cast your vote, and then kindly bug your friends to do the same. Thank you!! You can follow this link to vote: http://americanmade.marthastewart.com/profiles/courtney-khail-3000

good design: tile work by Paola Navone

Paola Navone designed space via vosgesparis

that floor is simply stunning.

good design: merve kahraman

designed by merge kahraman for the hybrid collection

I've officially fallen down the rabbit hole. This is quirky, fun, and yet still a little traditional. I keep reading that it would be perfect for a little girl's room, but let's be honest-you don't have to be young to love this one.

craving: rocket cups

via shapeways

I might not drink coffee, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't want these rocket espresso cups. I'd probably just hold other things in them- like salt. Or earrings.

Craving: Turkish Towels

via bath style

The dry faster, they're thinner, and they come in beautiful colors. What's not to love about these?

If by chance you know what actually IS not to love about them, let me know because I seriously want these. (The kind of serious where I'll actually buy them unless I'm warned otherwise.)

Craving: Torre and Tagus Retro Flip Clock

via amazon

Isn't this clock awesome?! I love that it flips.