FONT FRIDAY: ISSUE 17

Hello fontabulous font lovers! This week I have a FREEBIE for you! Well, not me personally {boo, I know} but I have found a fantastic free font.  For our newbie font lovers, did you know that sometimes those fabulous fonts you want have free versions?  For example, this week's font by Ossi Gustaffson, SKETCHETIK has a free version in the light form.   I found it via FONT SQUIRREL, but the download is over on MY FONTS.  

But see the little note? Sometimes they have sales, but sometimes they have versions that are free so you can test out the font.  I always scroll down and check all the prices on MyFonts, just to make sure.  I like to play with my fonts a little, before I commit...maybe someday I'll just be able to buy what strikes my fancy.

Have I told you how much I love free fonts?  Well, free stuff in general? I heard of KITSCHY DIGITALS from over on  PUGLY PIXEL and had to try them out.  This blackboard background came from their freebie download.  LOVE.

Don't forget to see my friends! I'm behind on my blog reads so I'll be doing the rounds this weekend for sure!

ALEXANDRA  {THE AERIALIST PRESS}

 ALISON {ALISON OWEN DESIGN}

JEN {BLUSH PRINTABLES}

STEPH {BUBBLEROCK}

SOFIA {BRANCOPRATA}

VICKI {VICKI.DESIGNER}

CATHERINE {DESIGN EDITOR}

CHELSEA {FOURTH AND FOLDED}

ALLIE {HONEY BEE INVITES}

LAUREN {LAUREN ELISE CRAFTED}

JENNA + ELIZABETH {LITTLE BIT HEART}

LAUREN {PALM PAPERS}

KERRY {SUPER SWOON}

WENDY{WESWEN DESIGN}

FOLLOW #FONTFRIDAY on Twitter!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

I was so excited when I signed up to participate in POTTER AND BUTLER's  Christmas in July & Handmade Gift Exchange.  This was the most fun ever.  Personally, I love giving gifts, and it is my favorite part about Christmas.  All that looking and searching for the perfect little gift just makes me giddy. I wanted to share a little peek of what I sent my exchange partner Chelsea of RIBBON REVELRY.  Just a little mini party pack...

We were meant to be partners, because she sent me the most perfect little band of fabulousness in the SAME COLOR! Isn't that funny?! Little things like that always get me. But I LOVE the headband, what a perfect pop of color!  Thank you Chelsea!

Making something for someone you have never met is such a crazy feeling.  I got butterflies about whether she would like it or not. I couldn't stop smiling and probably weirded out the lovely lady behind the counter at the post office. A big THANK YOU to Emily over at Potter and Butler, for organizing such a lovely arrangement.  If you must know, I am paralyzingly shy deep down and usually force myself to be social...well, at least at first, then you can't shut me up.  I have a second gift to give...and I can't seem to get up the courage to give it.  It's my random act of kindness gift.  I still have a few more days in July...and I know exactly who I am giving it to. 

BETTER THAN BUNTING?

Hello all! Just a quick little post to say...did you see it?  My latest DIY for THE SWEETEST OCCASION is a bunting tablecloth and I am so excited about it...CRAZY excited.  It was so fun and I need MORE.  I  have been searching for a pretty little linen tablecloth to make a silver version. But go HERE and see how it's done...super easy, I promise.

WHAT TIME IS IT?

I will admit, sometimes I am lost with my first born.  For example, while hearing for the seventieth time, what time is it?  I realize...ooohhhh, I'm supposed to teach you how to read a clock. Big time mommy duh.  Which is also not the word to say out loud to yourself, because if you say it enough, your short people will gleefully chime in, also.

But, after coming to the realization that I need to teach time, I went looking for a printable.  Just a simple one...yet all I could find were terribly hideous versions.  Really? Why is it when you make something for kids or about them it has to look like bad kids' handwriting.  All the preschool forms came home like that.  Um, my kid isn't going to read it...can I get a decent font? or at least a plain one? Don't even get me started on the clip art.  Anyhoo, I was reminded of the lack of graphic designers in the school system as I cruised the "educational" blogs and printables for teachers. I finally became so disappointed, that I made my own.  Which took like 5 mins total, and I probably could have done from the start, instead of spending all that time looking.  Oh well.  I give you a very plain, simple, no comic sans in sight, printable clock in two colors.

Print on cardstock, trim the edges off around the clock, cut out the hands, punch a hole in the ends and attach to the clock with a brad.  Voila.

Oh, and I just made a little coloring page version, for those little ones who love to color!

Downloads:
PRINTIE A {YELLOW}
PRINTIE B {ORANGE}
COLORING PAGE

Enjoy! xo

3 THINGS TUESDAY: #3 LOVE VS. DESIGN

I love these modern gift tags from LOVE VS. DESIGN. The colors are bold, the pattern is hot, and it's on kraft paper.background...what's not to love about this design?  Design wins...'cause I LOVE it.

3 THINGS TUESDAY: #2 HIGH 5 PIE

So, I've been dying to try HIGH 5 PIE here in Seattle.  My brother is a pie guy, go figure.  We were saving our visit so we could bring him there for his birthday, which might have been last month, but regardless, we took him there yesterday.  Aside from being the hippest little bakery, I so wish I brought my camera, they make the BEST coconut cream pie...EVER. It was a massive slice and dear heavens it was yummy and it did not last long.  I must admit, pretty darn good pie is being baked over there. If you are in the Seattle area, definitely a must see. 

**oh and BTW they have a HAPPY HOUR from 3-5PM during the week...half price pie goodness...so that means I can eat twice as much, right?

3 THINGS TUESDAY: #1 FOR THE KOOL KIDS

Sometimes the designs that come out for kids really blow me away with amazingness...These screen printed goodies from SASS & PERIL are just so darn cute.  I LOVE the lion, well all of them, really, but the LION...well, he is tops.

FONT FRIDAY: ISSUE 16

It's FONT FRIDAY!!! Hello and HAPPY Friday! For today's edition, I bring you vintage coolness.  One of the children's books my MIL has, from when the hubby, was little is "A Very, Very Special Day"  (I didn't get the author name when I snapped the photos.)  SO, I'm in love with it and I have been on a search the last few months to find a font that is similar to this; that I could enhance with dots and swirls.  At this point, I have a few runners-up...SKITCH, PERLA and PEACH SUNDRESS...but I think it will be a mostly handrawn endevor. Any suggestions?  I'm looking for a font pretty close to this, so I don't have to modify everything. Isn't it fabulous?  The colors?  The little doodles?  LOVE. SWOON. If it were available somewhere, I would totally buy it. It couldn't be too hard to sketch it myself right? Especially, if I just had a few words...

Go see my FONT FRIENDS and have yourself a fabulous summer weekend!

ALEXANDRA  {THE AERIALIST PRESS}

 ALISON {ALISON OWEN DESIGN}

JEN {BLUSH PRINTABLES}

STEPH {BUBBLEROCK}

SOFIA {BRANCOPRATA}

VICKI {VICKI.DESIGNER}

CATHERINE {DESIGN EDITOR}

CHELSEA {FOURTH AND FOLDED}

ALLIE {HONEY BEE INVITES}

LAUREN {LAUREN ELISE CRAFTED}

JENNA + ELIZABETH {LITTLE BIT HEART}

LAUREN {PALM PAPERS}

KERRY {SUPER SWOON}

WENDY{WESWEN DESIGN}

FOLLOW #FONTFRIDAY on Twitter!

TOO COOL FOR TULLE?

I thought I was...until I made this fringe garland out of tulle.

Just a little bit of AWESOME.  I think I might love these...go see my DIY over on THE SWEETEST OCCASION.

ILLUSTRATED GARLANDS BY KAYE BLEGVAD

AMAZING garland I happened upon with illustrated feathers and birds by KAYE BLEGVAD.

3 THINGS TUESDAY: #3 PETIT COLLAGE FABRIC GALLERY CORNERS

Final find today...FABRIC DECALS that hold up art work.

Made for kids, but I know when I order these I will steal some for myself. PETIT COLLAGE has so many other cute REUSABLE decals (letters and growth charts, anyone?) and fab little prints in their shop, too.

Bright and cheery.  LOVE.

3 THINGS TUESDAY- #2 ELLO THERE...PRETTY LITTLE MAP

As I mentioned on FONT FRIDAY, maps are cool.  Case and point:

I might have a paper crush on the whole range of invites from the talented duo that make up ELLO THERE. Simple and AWESOME.

3 THINGS TUESDAY: #1 RAINBOW CONFETTI GARLAND

One of my favorite garlands ever...the confetti garland from Kristina Marie.  How fun is the rainbow one? Did you know you get those gorgeous little spools with your garland now, too?  WOO HOO!

VINTAGE NAUTICAL PARTY

My pal Bina is hosting a sip-N-see and she's got my brain on nautical.  As I glanced through my images this morning, I though I'd share a little inspiration.

SOURCES: {clockwise} NAUTICAL CARDS / VINTAGE MODEL / WHALE PRINT / VINTAGE NAPKINS / VINTAGE ROMPER / AHOY PRINT / ANCHOR / CUPCAKE / VINTAGE CARD / VINTAGE SUITCASE

Bina's shindig has a bit more edge, so keep your eyes peeled for that one later this week.

FONT FRIDAY: ISSUE 15

Happy Font Friday! Summer breeds thoughts of travel and road trips...and while we will be camping out in our own backyard, there is no reason we can't make a little adventure of it.  I've had this font on my wish list for a while...CARTOGRAPHER by HIPOPOTAM.  It makes me want to grab a calligraphy pen and start drawing.



These are the perfect little letters for a tiny adventure or an awesome BBQ.  I love hand-drawn fonts simply because they offer the beauty of the imperfect letter, but still save me the time and effort it would take to create an invite. I want to use these in a number of things running through my head, H + H would get a real kick if we made a summer adventure book. The squirrel's wheel is turning...which is surprising before coffee...

and the bestest part...(yes, I know it's not a word but it's how I feel) The numbers and punctuation are mega-cool.

Now go, visit my BESTEST pals and have a fabulous FONT FRIDAY adventure of your own!

ALEXANDRA  {THE AERIALIST PRESS}

 ALISON {ALISON OWEN DESIGN}

JEN {BLUSH PRINTABLES}

STEPH {BUBBLEROCK}

SOFIA {BRANCOPRATA}

VICKI {VICKI.DESIGNER}

CATHERINE {DESIGN EDITOR}

CHELSEA {FOURTH AND FOLDED}

ALLIE {HONEY BEE INVITES}

LAUREN {LAUREN ELISE CRAFTED}

JENNA + ELIZABETH {LITTLE BIT HEART}

LAUREN {PALM PAPERS}

KERRY {SUPER SWOON}

WENDY{WESWEN DESIGN}

FOLLOW #FONTFRIDAY on Twitter!

3 THINGS TUESDAY: #3 HOUSE 8810

For our final thing today, a fun shop to browse is HOUSE 8810.  Since, I am finally in the decorating stage (the fun part) of the house, I want this lamp for the boy's room.

There is a collection of fun vintage style tablecloths that are too adorable.  You know I am always on the lookout for cute cowboy stuff, I have to live it up before the boys outgrow it. These matching party bags are perfect for carrying little person treasures around. 

3 THINGS TUESDAY- #2 PENNANT STICKERS

I love flags.  I love craft paper.  I LOVE Olive Manna...who has added lots of NEW goodies to the shop.  Including these little craft paper pennant stickers.

Go NOW... peruse.

3 THINGS TUESDAY- SOS I NEED THIS...COATT MORSE CODE JEWELRY

I am having fun today, maybe the long weekend has me giddy with creativity.  I just always have little bitty posts that never belong really, so I was thinking that I will just do three separate posts throughout today.  First up for our first 3 Things Tuesday...

The idea of having words on a necklace that no one else can read is sweet simplicity. Secret Code for AWESOME.

COATT Jewelry by Rebecca Coagan Scharlatt (which is going to be at Urban Craft Uprising this weekend in Seattle) spells out sixteen different words for you like SWELL, LOVE ME DO and MOM. I want to get three, one for each of my guys...and maybe an SOS one because I am outnumbered...kidding...

FONT FRIDAY: ISSUE 14

Happy, Happy, Happy July!  July has always been when it REALLY starts to feel like summer...Today, I bring you another font I fell in love with and hunted down. I found this site for the magazine I AM MODERN while looking for cool modern (aka not lame or Disney related) night lights for the boys.  Guess which part I love the most...yep, the retro script font.  I swear, sometimes I am surprisingly mysterious, but others,  it's like I have it embossed on my forehead.  I can't hide the stuff I truly love, why would I want to?

SOURCE: I AM MODERN

Ok, so it's a SUDTIPOS and by King Ale himself,  so in all actuality it didn't take me that long.  But honestly, Alejandro Paul and Jessica Hische are the only designers that have that certain savoir faire that I immediately get a "hint" and go see their collections to find them.  Usually, I just open a window with the font I am trying to find, and another window with a font website, pop the phrase/word in the text preview and scroll by type of font.   This one was a breeze, because I searched by SUDTIPOS.  Took me a total of 2 mins.  I was quite pleased with myself.   So here it is. MOUSSE SCRIPT, isn't it pretty?

I have a question for my font pals out there...What is an alternate cut?  I clicked the tab at MyFonts.com and this pops up... GLENGARY NF.  So, I get that they are both based on a vintage handdrawn font from Stephanson Blake in 1932, but how does that work?  GLENGARY is insanely cheap, and it doesn't seem fair to MOUSSE...Can one of you explain this to me? Is this typical of revival fonts?

I hope everyone has a fantastic Fourth! Have Fun! Since today is pretty much shot for productivity at work, go check out my font friends to see what lovelies they have rounded up.

ALEXANDRA  {THE AERIALIST PRESS}

 ALISON {ALISON OWEN DESIGN}

JEN {BLUSH PRINTABLES}

STEPH {BUBBLEROCK}

SOFIA {BRANCOPRATA}

VICKI {CURLY WILLOW DIY}

CATHERINE {DESIGN EDITOR}

CHELSEA {FOURTH AND FOLDED}

ALLIE {HONEY BEE INVITES}

LAUREN {LAUREN ELISE CRAFTED}

JENNA + ELIZABETH {LITTLE BIT HEART}

LAUREN {PALM PAPERS}

KERRY {SUPER SWOON}

WENDY{WESWEN DESIGN}

FOLLOW #FONTFRIDAY on Twitter!