pinterest love.

{caramel topped shortbread}

amazingly i haven't been spending as much time as i was on pinterest. that's not really saying much though because i still get on it every opportunity i have. these are some of my favorites.

{i have a weakness for shoes}

{cute diy idea}

{festive cards}

{♡}

creative gift-giving.

this holiday season i don't have too much money to spend on my family & friends unfortunately. but lucky for me i am able to make a lot of the gifts i give which i think is better than spending loads of cash because it gives a personal touch that you wouldn't get otherwise.

{merry christmas! love kermit & miss piggy}

while my brother was in alabama, he collected quite a few bottle caps off the ground. he sent them home hoping i would do something with them for him. well i never really got around to it so i thought a christmas present would be the best thing to do with them.

i took a plain black photo album with a smooth cover from wal-mart and hot glued the bottle caps on in rows. i glued a little foam piece to the inside of the bottle caps to have a sort of platform to glue to the photo album so i didn't have piles of glue around the base of the caps.

for a personal touch i added one of his missionary badges in the center. afterall, this will be used for his many pictures from the mish.

turned out pretty cool right? i think he'll like it.

happy holidays everyone!

celebrate.

i LOVE birthdays. not just my birthday, but really anyone's. i love that there is a special day to celebrate specific people for no specific reason (other than the obvious of course). mostly i just like to celebrate.

saturday was this beautiful girl's birthday--the big 19!

katie is my best friend kamrie's little sister and i have basically adopted her as my own. she is beyond gorgeous and very talented. check out her sweeeeet tumblr here.

celebrating also gives me one more reason to get crafty! thanks to pinterest i get unlimited inspiration and here is what got me inspired:

aren't they pretty? i fell in love. how cute would they be for a little girls birthday (or a big girl...why not)? mine didn't turn out as festive as these, but next time i go to the craft store i will make sure to pick up some fun patterns & glitter paper to make the next ones just as fun.

how about you try making your own? the person who receives it will be thrilled!

what you need:

cardstock or pretty heavy scrapbook paper

this template (thanks to the wonderful blog Oh Happy Day)

pencil

tape

stapler

exacto knife

hole punch

scissors

any embellishments you want to make it awesome:

{i.e. strands of sequins, fabric ruffles, ribbons, crepe paper or tissue paper (for homemade pom poms and ruffles), glitter}

*i enlarged the template a little bit to make it fit for an adult head but it should be fine for little kiddies heads depending on how big (or high) you want them.

i used Oh Happy Day's instructions for the basic party hat right here and then embellished as i pleased. here are the instructions in case you don't want to go to her blog which i most definitely recommend checking out.

step 1: download pdf template. print & cut out template. trace template onto heavy paper.

step 2: cut out traced party hat.

step 3: put tab into slot.

step 4: punch a hole in each side for ties.

step 5: push ribbons through each hole and tie a knot to hold it.

step 6: embellish.

cutest sisters around.

i think it turned out pretty dang cute, and she of course wore it very well.