enJOY it

introducing stamps.

April 19, 2012

>>> CLICK TO SKIP THE READING & HEAD STRAIGHT TO THE SHOP! <<<

Man alive, I love it when a dream comes out of nowhere, seeps into your brain, knocks you off your feet and then dances off waving it's arms around. I am always quite blindsided but very appreciative.

I ordered a THIS arrow stamp last week because I knew I would use it all the time in my Project Life album. I can already see it everywhere… on journaling cards in addition to the text. On photos, pointing at Paul. On photos, pointing at anything really. So I designed it and printed it because I knew it would fill a NEED in my life craft projects.

Then I shared photos, and there was a bit of interest and questions of "where can I get that?" on Instagram. And the wheels started turning. Just a little bit – enough to make me stop and think. But I pushed it to the back of my mind. I mean really. I had filled the end of April with a lot of stuff already! The top secret project! And summer minibooks! And re-running the blog workshop! And The Blog! I have to blog! And also! Where were you, turning wheels in February? And then in March? I could have used you then!

But last week, on Tuesday night, I couldn't sleep thinking about the stamps. (Well that, and the rainstorm that I was fairly certain was going to drown my 18 basil plants.)

So I woke up Wednesday morning and got to work. (First I had to decipher all the thoughts I had emailed to myself late Tuesday night – it was a hot mess). Then I sent some emails about wholesale rubber stamp pricing. I practiced packaging and figured out how much shipping would set me back. I played with my pricing and ran and re-ran the numbers. I made notes and cut up paper.

When I realized this plan could actually work, I got serious : WHAT DO I WANT FROM MY STAMPS?

Well first, I want them mounted on wood. I have always had trouble with unmounted stamps because I don't like to take the time to mount them to something. I never know how to properly store them. I love the designs, but for me and my projects, they tend to go unused. So these were going to have wooden blocks attached. The downside is they are more expensive that way – for me to produce and for you to buy. But man, the quality is just great and you can't beat the fact that they are ready to go.

And second, I want simple. Simple, simple, simple. The arrow was already prototyped and totally rad, so it was a big yes. Which meant I needed a few more designs that complimented the arrow and were just as versatile. I wanted these to be stamps that would work with paper projects. (Hello, Project Life.) But also stamps that would be just as fantastic on the back of an envelope or at the top of note.

"You're my favorite" is one of my favorite expressions ever, so that had to be a stamp.

And "you are here" was a good partner to that and seemed like a good thing to stick on just about anything.

The next one is TODAY IS and I actually love it the most. And here's why : it's a fill in. Stick the date in there (it fits a date stamp perfectly). Or stick a word in there – adjective, noun, whatever. Use your handwriting. I love the look of handwriting with block font. It's my favorite. And guess what, there's a stamp for that.

And then, after I ordered those three new samples I realized that what my crafting life really needs is a "that's what she said" stamp. I shouted it out to Paul and he agreed wholeheartedly (and with much more enthusiasm than he'd put forth for the others). Obviously, "that's what she said" carries the joke-factor, but it's also pretty rad for jotting down actual quotes. Of course, if I had a SHE said, I had to have a HE said. So TA-DA, two more stamps were born. (They're faternal twins.)

So in sum : I have created a small collection of wood mounted stamps. They are fantastically crafted (in the USA!) and super fun and easy to use.

I've listed them all here.

You can pay via paypal and I'll ship worldwide. I will only stock them for a few months. Why, you ask? Because I don't think this is a practical shop to run for years and years. Too much back and forth, too much re-ordering, too difficult to stockpile and to keep it real, too little profit for the amount of work it takes to run, package and ship. So if you're interested, grab them. They will absolutely not sell out (and I'll warn you before the shop closes) but they will not always be available.

And thank you, thank you. For supporting my creative adventures and listening to my rambling. I am feeling good today and so excited about this launch.
40 loaves / cardamom rolls.

April 18, 2012

Bread no. 39 : cardamom rolls (from this bread recipe).

Adjustments : cut the sugar in half. Replaced more than half the white flour with wheat flour which wasn't so much a healthy decision as a necessary one; we ran out of white.

Notes : DUDES. So close to the end of this bread baking adventure. I have 100 thoughts on this, but I'll save them for the wrap-up post. I made these because Paul wanted cardamom bread and he wasn't here when I made it last time. Used a different recipe and decided to turn this dough into little crescent rolls for something different. To make them, I just rolled out the dough and used a pizza cutter to create small triangle shapes. I rolled them (big end to small point) and baked for about 12 minutes.

Review : LOVE the little roll shapes. So easy to eat and a great breakfast. Thanks to my sugar cut-back and wheat flour addition they were a little … nutritious tasting. Next time, I would either cut the sugar by less OR add some wheat flour. Not so much of both. Loved the sliced almond addition though. That's a keeper.
his & hers.

April 18, 2012

The beginning of March, while Paul and I were traveling, I started taking photos of our drinks while we were out and Instagramming them with the title "his & hers." (Or "hers & his" when my drink was on the left.) The habit stuck and now I have collected quite a fun series.

ps : another favorite instagram collage & a book of instagram photos.
tips for fun “everyday” photos.

April 17, 2012

I tend to take way more photos around my house than when I am out and about. I think it's because at my place, I'm in control of the situation and don't feel silly shooting the same thing multiple times. At home, no one (except Paul) stares at me like I'm a crazy person. I want to get better at taking out of the house shots. I would love to carry my camera with me more often and feel more comfortable grabbing photos, but in the meantime, I've gotten decent at taking these "everyday" photos – the ones from my normal life.

I thought it would be fun to share tips this week because many of you may be documenting a week in your life with Ali Edwards next week. (I plan on it for sure!) And usually that means lots and lots of pictures. Taking interesting everyday photos is not about manipulating the subject and setting things up for the perfect shot, but instead about using a few different techniques to elevate your "normal."

Get on the right level. Shooting something (or someone) head on (instead of above or below) can make for an interesting shot. It shows the subject at it's proper size and shape in relation to the background. For all three of the photos above, I crouched down a bit so I was looking straight at the subject and on it's level.

Focus on details. I love excuses like "week in the life" to take photos of all the details in my house. Book spines, framed photos, inside drawers, inside the fridge… etc. And what about all the photos you never think to grab? Like what an incoming call looks like?

Use the timer. It's no secret I love the self timer to capture "action" shots. My camera has a timer option where it waits 10 seconds and then fires off as many shots as I tell it to in rapid succession. Usually I go for about four or five shots and then I am able to look through them and see what one works the best. Sometimes this is the photo with motion, sometimes it's not. This is generally a unique angle and absolutely my favorite way to capture images when it's just me at home.

Shoot from above. Everything, it seems, looks interesting when shot from directly above. I absolutely abuse this angle, but it's my favorite for getting details and best light. I use this for my meal photos, drink photos, product photos, workspace photos, everything. Most often, I lift the camera above my head to get the shot. Pay attention to your light source. If it's right above you, you'll get an awkward shadow from the camera. This works best when the light is natural and coming from the side.

Cut from the frame. Let your subject or subjects spill out of the frame. Surely there is a proper reason for this and I know photos like this have a special name. I love the interest that a cropped image creates and the idea that there is more to the shot happening just outside the borders.

Don't give up on reflection shots. They get a bum wrap – I know. Digital cameras and phones make it much too easy to take 500 self portraits in the bathroom mirror with your camera. I have 100s of them would not have thought to include them in this tip post. BUT then, when I was looking for photo examples, I found the three above in my iPhoto. They were images that didn't really get a second thought when I was taking them. But now, months later, I love them. Certainly not for how flattering the are, but for how they set the scene. They place me in my surroundings. And while I was living by myself for seven months I didn't get much of that. I love those three for being a spin on the "normal" reflection shot.

Use "natural" light. Every photo guide seems to recommend turning off the flash and I am no different. Let the light shine in. No flash will result in more natural colors and photos with greater depth. All of the photos in this post are taken without a flash and most are with decent sunlight which generally results in the "best" lit shots. But the four above are non-flash photos where the light source was particularly interesting – evening shots lit with just lamplight for a warm look, candle light and shadows from filtered sunlight. Turn off the flash and play with lighting options for different looks and photos.

Get the big picture. I am so guilty of just taking the detail shots. But probably, years from now, when we've moved seven times, I'll be so glad to have the BIG shots that show full rooms with people in them. Above are two favorites.

Photos above were taken in the few months with my Canon Digital Rebel XSi. I shoot usually with the lens that came with the camera though on occasion I use this 50mm f/1.8 lens.
i love paper.

April 16, 2012

playing with paper today and getting ready for week in the life.
from the weekend.

April 16, 2012

Weekends are quickly becoming my favorite thing. I know that's strange – who doesn't love weekends? But before this year – I didn't. I was either working (retail never sleeps) or Paul was (medical interns never sleep). And then Paul was deployed and weekends always made me sad because everywhere I went it seemed to be "family time." I relished the weeks where the Internet was busy and my work kept me occupied.

But now – for a short time (after his GMO tour, Paul will start residency and never sleep) – we have weekends together. And it's awesome.

This past one was wonderful. We collected our first basil harvest* and made pesto. We caught up with Sons of Anarchy and finished season 4 – WOW – what a show. We watched comedian Jim Gaffigan's Mr. Universe stand up special (totally worth the five bucks) and I laughed until I cried.

Saturday morning, I drove to LA and ran in the She Runs LA 10k with my running partner veronica. (It was an 80s themed race and though we had talked about what we were going to wear, we were still surprised to realize we had dressed as twins.) It was my first 10k and my goal was to come in at under an hour. I was happy to hit 55 minutes, but my feet were pretty mad about it. Turns out my super minimalist shoes are a bit too minimal for long runs without training… I need much more practice, clearly. Either way though – I love races. I always forget how satisfying it is to finish and my love for running is re-hyped all over again.

And then Saturday evening, Paul and I met up with Amanda and Nate Driver to take some photos. Amanda got in touch with me right after Paul got home and wanted to gift us a photo shoot in honor of Paul's return. I was excited, of course, and we decided to take them around our second anniversary (which is next week). We took a bunch downstairs in our house (!!) and then around our neighborhood. I was able to get a peek at a few as they were shooting – and OH MY – I am thrilled – at one point I may have jumped up and down clapping. Cannot wait to see the finished results and share here. Cannot believe how much Paul and I have grown up since our engagement shoot in July 2009.

And then Sunday was a lay around, catch up on work (the blog never sleeps), grocery shop, farmer's market, make a pizza & harvest* mint for mojitos day. No complaints here.

I am ready to hit the ground running this week. The BLOG 2.0 class is open for registration again! The stamp pop-up shop launches this week! It's going to be so rad. I have lots of posts in my brain to get ready for the blog as well… when life gets busy, the blog gets busy. Excitement central around here. Let's roll.

*I love calling trimming my patio herb garden "harvesting".
project life : week 15.

April 15, 2012

Week 15 and obviously, I am still enjoying this project.

(click to enlarge & the images above will be [somewhat] clearer)

Super colorful week! Most exciting thing was the 10K I ran in LA yesterday – it got it's own insert made out of a cropped down Design E page protector. One of my favorite parts about Project Life is that I now have a place for all the stuff. I stuck the race-bib and Easter Sunday church bulletin (folded in a pocket) in there this week. Both are things that I would have wanted to keep, but would not have had a real place for prior to this year.

Really though, this week, there is not much to say… so I'll just share the photos. 🙂

Hope you're having a fantastic weekend.

supplies / Paper Source circle label, Martha Stewart and Avery labels, American Crafts patterned paper, Hambly decorative transparency, TableTop Made "I like you" postcard, Banana Fish Studio decorative folded tabs, "this" and "you are here" stamps are coming to my pop-up shop this week, Design A page protectors & Design E (which are available in this variety pack), Clementine core kit, Bebas quote font. I use a Fiskars corner rounder (it's not amazing, but it's lasted the longest of any corner rounder I've ever had). I am using a Zig Millennium 0.1 pen and Recollections glossy marker throughout this album.

Confused by Project Life? Start here. Have a question about how I am tackling this project each week? Check here. See all my Project Life posts here.
i love april.

April 13, 2012

josie maran body & face sunscreen (newly discovered natural sunscreen), essie Ole Caliente polish (with this as a non-toxic base and top coat), SMASH date stamp, anthropologie painted mugs, blowfish nordie flats, tarte lights, camera, lashes! non-toxic mascara (this stuff is fantastic), david's tea alpine punch & forever nuts, OXO tea kettle.

Super random round-up, I know. But these are my favorites so far this month.
around here.

April 12, 2012

The garden is flourishing – especially now with a little gnome to watch over it (Thanks, Lauren!). I replaced the bulletin board by my desk with a magnet board from Paper Miniskirt and I love it. Papers have been ordered and summer minibook production will be starting soon. I am always working on that crazy Project Life album. I'm dreaming about crunching the numbers for a rubber stamp pop-up shop. (Want to know a secret? The number crunching part is one of my favorite parts of new ventures – now THAT is my business major at work.) My clipboard organization method is really working for me.

And words cannot express how much I love that my morning routine involves two people again.
40 loaves / english muffins.

April 11, 2012

Bread no. 38 : english muffins.

Adjustments : mixed the sugar in with the water and yeast to get the yeast to bubble faster and halved the recipe.

Notes : I am so close to the finish line of this project and it's going to be so nice when it's complete. Paul recently talked to a friend at work about my job and the blog came up. When asked what the blog is about (I know, I cringe just thinking about it), Paul mentioned the bread project and said I was having trouble coming up with the last few recipes. "English muffins!" suggested the friend and ta-da – English muffins were made!

Review : I am so pleased with how these turned out. They are different than store-bought and don't have quite as many "craters" on the inside, but still, so good. Almost biscuit like, but better. The recipe called for these to be cooked on a griddle over the stove and I used our grill pan. That was a fun experiment and something I'd like to try again for sure. And if you need suggestions for what to put on your English muffins, we loved honey for something sweet and egg salad (for those post-Easter hard boiled eggs).