Prints + Color

As I sit here with my snoring heater Memphis, I am contemplating a shoot that I am working on design + styling. I am using some of my favorite local vendors to add to the mix and capture it to bring it to the public eye and our readers, and just like a wedding, it has me excited, stressed at moments, unsure, and feeling genius all at once. 

 Over the last couple of years weddings and showers have had the same color palette that has now by 2014 become almost expected. While being forever pretty the pastel + metallic wedding mesh has officially become....meh. 

 This wedding season I'm hoping to focus in color. Our world is full of color and to simply only chose blush and mint (which of course were my colors) peach, cream, champagne and silver & gold. I really miss the rest of the rainbow. I've sent over some floral ideas to my favorite florist, Bethany at My Splendid Sentiments to help my rustic table pop. I don't want to share too much as I'm working on everything from backdrop elements to favor hugging napkin design. 2014 is definetly the shifting year in design, you will still see a lot of pastel +metallic weddings, but expect to see some color + prints and patterns and some different ideas coming to the table. 2014 is going to be a bold year. Congrats to all the 2014 brides, which happens to include a very dear friend if mine  who is lucky to have family ( as I did) that just happen to have event and design talent. Can't wait to share her day after the styled shoot is finished. Now I can get ready to focus on making some room for some organizational skills in the very long process it's been to makeover our bedroom! Stay tuned! 

Personalize the impersonal.

Okay so today I'm blogging on how to make my personally favorite present, a gift card...... personal!
A lot of people seem to think that they are impersonal, but since I'm not rolling in cash I can't just shop whenever I'd like. Getting a gift card gives me an experience that I can't often afford myself, I'm a crafter and sale finder. I find a lot of random designer stuff on sale because I just refuse to pay full price for most things. So gift cards are as good as gold to me. While they come on a cardboard thingy and there are actual gift card boxes you can use....making the packaging is alot more special.
This tutorial is actually a gift for my moms Mother's Day present. I hope she doesn't read this before she opens it!
First you are going to need your supplies to get started. Any smaller envelope will do, I actually reused the leftover RSVP envelopes we had from our wedding.
SUPPLY LIST
Envelope
Craft paper
Die cutters
Jute twine or bakers twine
Beads and fish wire (optional for added decor)
Ink pad

* First, you are going to want to select which craft paper to use. I used two different ones to create contrast of the two shapes.
* I took my assorted markers and made little polka dots on the envelope face that matches the colors of the craft paper chosen.
* I then used the die cutters to easy cut the shapes that I wanted for the envelope cover.
* Apply glue generously to larger cutout and place where you'd like on the envelope face. Let dry for a few seconds, then apply the second, smaller cutout if you wish. Let dry.
* Use your gift card to crest a template for craft paper that will match the die cuts on the front. Make sure it's larger than the gift card, but small enough to insert smoothly into your envelope. Now lick n seal it!

* Now that your at the back of the envelope anyways, it's time to make a fingerprint heart! Pick your favorite finger (I picked my thumb because it is the strongest and most useful, just like my mommy). For me, this personalized my crafting the most, after all my fingerprints only exist because of my parents.
* First press your thumb into the ink pad and use some test paper first to see how much control you have of your print transfer. Now do the same on the sealed part of your envelope, once pointing your finger left, then re ink your finger and repeat by slightly over lapping the previous print with this time your finger pointed to the right. Now you have a heart shape with your finger.

* Now cut your choice of wire or twine. I cut mine about a foot and a half in length to give myself room for error. This method works for ribbon wrapping for presents as well.

* Lay your twine vertically and place your envelope face down on top of it with your twine underneath in the middle. Bring each side of your twine across the envelope and when they meet in the middle, change direction and cross the twine over and being to pull horizontally. This will give you that crossed look in the back.

* While holding the twine in place, flip the envelope face up. Tie a knot to secure , not too tight cause you will start to rip and pull the edges of your envelope. Now you can insert any charms or bears that you want to add and tie that fish wire at an area of twine close to the base of your knot.

*Now finish it off my tying a bow. Trim any excess left of twine.
* Your done! Now you have an amazing personalized gift card.

1.5

So I know 1 1/2 anniversary doesn't really count. But I thought I'd post considering a year and a half ago today at this time, I had just finished my wedding ceremony and was taking portrait photos with my amazing photographer Leila Brewster.
My husband is sleeping beside me right now. I'm prepping myself for spinal surgery this summer and I just took a spill and busted my knee right as he was on his way out the door to have an awesome day skating with the guys on a rare weekday off for him. After I cried for 45 minutes (while begging him to go have fun, I'm fine as my makeup is literally dripping all over me)
He rubs my back, waits for me to calm down then helps prob up my pillows for my back and tapes my knee up as only a skater would know how and iced it even though it made me scream. He stayed home with me and ordered me my favorite pizza. I'm such a dud. But I married a stud....mostly. Happy 1.5 honey. Even though you snore now.
And happy birthday to my little sis. You crazy bubs.

What is the dandy fox?

So the idea for the dandy fox came about around after the time I got married. Well, when I had a wedding should I say. I am a hairstylist and makeup artist by trade so my natural gravitation towards everything pretty is uncontrollable. I spend most of my time working as a full time hairstylist and makeup artist from a kids cut to a photo shoot.
Recently, life has asked me to slow down. I suffer from several degenerative spinal disorders that are usually found in an 80 year olds back. not a 20-something year olds. So while I'm spending all my off time off my feet, I've had quite the downtime to obsess over food, art, weddings, babies, diy and how to pull all these wonderful things off whilst being broke.
I spent a year of my life planning such a huge day. From putting together my handmade invitation suites to mixing paint to get just the right shade of mint for my handmade bouquets, I fell in love with the world of love and art and how blogging has allowed is to share every bit of us that is those things. I am by no means calling myself a fashionista or an artist or anything for that matter. Just a stylist who lives in a little beach town that needs to get a few things off my chest and into a piece of paper. Er.....post I mean. I'm hoping to document thing things that I love about my own life and the little things that I find exciting and interesting. I hope you enjoy this as much as I hope to.