We've Moved!

Hello! The time has finally come for a new beginning.

Since 2009 I have been blogging here on Traditionally Modern Designs, however over the past few months I have been going through the process of starting my new project/side business, {Sweet + Crafty}. I will be focusing on the things I am most passionate about: weddings + events, crafts, DIY projects, print design, interior design, and baking/dessert tables. It will not always be limited to this, but those will be the main focus. This is an outlet for me to share the things that inspire me and in turn I hope to inspire you. There will be a mix between all the gems I come across while browsing through websites/blogs and magazines, as well as projects that I work on myself.

If you previously followed my posts here on Traditionally Modern Designs, then I hope you will join me on this new journey with {Sweet and Crafty}. I will be re-posting some of my favorites from the past if I felt they were particularly interesting and worth sharing. For those of you who are just starting with me, then welcome!

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at info@sweetandcrafty.com and I look forward to hearing from you :)

Kanga Room Systems

These prefab sheds and studios are so amazing! What a perfect solution for those who do not have an extra room in their house to make an office or guest room. I hope to have something like this one day - a great way to separate work and living space. Check out {Kanga Room Systems} to learn more about all they have to offer ~ found via {Apartment Therapy}.

Pinterest has kept me busy!

I have hardly been blogging lately and it has been breaking my heart. A few months ago I discovered {Pinterest} and have been hooked! Rather than blogging about the awesome things I find out there, I have been "pinning" them like crazy! In a short period of time, I have created 50+ boards and over 1600 pins!

If you have not heard of Pinterest, it is essentially a place catalog and share visual bookmarks. Rather than keeping a list of URLs to cool things you want to refer back to, taking screenshots or saving images to your desktop, Pinterest allows you to not only save of the images, but it also keeps the link to the original site from which you found it should you need to refer back as needed. The best part is the ability to categorize and organize the pins into different "boards" that are labeled (ie. For the Home or Wedding Ideas). You can connect with your friends who are using Pinterest and that has been the most fun, learning so much about someone from seeing the things they love! If you have not already done so, sign up and start pinning!

If you are interested in seeing the things I love, check out my boards {here}.

The coolest part has been seeing how many things people have actually pinned straight off of my blog! Check that out {here}.

Pin·terest (pĭn'trĭst): n. a social catalog to collect and share things you love

Pin·board (pĭn·bôrd): n. a visual collection of things you love

Pin (pĭn): n. an item you post to a pinboard

Re·Pin (rē·pĭn): v. to post another person's pin to your own pinboard

Dinara's Baby Shower Invites!

As I prepare for several upcoming event dessert tables, two of them being baby showers, I have been doing a ton of fun research to get ideas. I came across this baby shower invitation for {Dinara} on {Oh So Beautiful Paper}. Love the cute clothesline concept and the fact that these were mailed out in pink boxes with a chocolate bar inside! Oh and of course...letterpress!

Repurposing Old Fence Boards

I am all about this blog that I recently started following, {House*Tweaked}, so you will probably be seeing a few more posts of some true gems I found there.
Here are two really awesome ones to start with.

There are two things that I love about the author of this blog, Dana, and her husband (Handy Hubby) besides how amazing their projects turned out. One is that the old fence boards they used have family history behind them, which was important to them - they were able to get them from Dana's husbands grandmother's farm. Another thing is that these projects show how well the couple works together to tag-team projects. In her words: "I come up with some random, off-the-wall idea…Handy Hubby breaks out the power tools and brings it to life…I add a dose of personality and creativity to the final product. Really, that’s usually how things work over here. And in the end, we are left with this meaningful, heartfelt piece to view day in and day out. It’s a good life, I tell ya."

Here is the beautiful {love headboard} and the awesome {barn door}.

~ Cupcake Liner Pom Poms ~

This awesome idea comes from {Kara's Party Ideas}. I love cupcakes, which makes me love these even more! Check out the full tutorial {here} What a great idea for vintage décor, while being fun and creative!

Found via {Sweet Tooth: Desserts Meet Design}

XOXO Workshop!

Today, while checking out my one of my favorite blogs, {Sweet Tooth: Dessert Meets Design}, I came across the XOXO Workshop photoshoot. This gorgeous and beautifully coordinated event was set up as a collaborative project with several vendors for {Emily Steffen} photography workshop. I love it all - it is a perfect balance of rustic and contemporary. My favorite part is the hanging Xs and Os and photos from the old wooden ladder. It all ties together so wonderfully from invitations to décor and desserts!

Soap Flakes!

This is incredible! I have always been pretty anti bar soap. I don’t like how slippery they get, how multiple people handle the same bar, and mostly I just really dont like soap dishes that collect water and suds that just looks messy!

Liquid soap contains a lot of water and bar soap is much more concentrated, giving it the ecological upper hand. Not only is it more concentrated, but it eliminates the need for additional plastic bottles by being wrapped in a simple paper. There is also a benefit for storing ~ bar soap can stack much easier than bottles of soap.

This invention solves all of issues that I have with bar soap that prevent me from using it. The handle on this {soap dispenser} pushes the grater back and creates tiny flakes that dissolve easily in water.

via {Apartment Therapy}

Shipping Container Retreat!

My dream one day is to have a really cool home office that is detached from the main house and is in a beautiful backyard. I saw this idea posted a while back on {Dwell.com} and then later on {Apartment Therapy}. I love it! This specific shipping container was turned into a backyard retreat/guest house - so cool! Texas architect, Jim Poteet, was able to find an empty steel shipping container and transform it into this wonderful room for visitors! Measuring 8ft x 40ft, a portion of it was kept as a garden shed and the rest was the living space. Floor to ceiling glass doors and windows, heating and air conditioning, a green roof, bamboo flooring and wall covering were all added, as well as small sink, shower, and a composting toilet. The whole structure was placed on a base made from recycled telephone poles.

Cupcake Topping Bar via {Green Wedding Shoes}

One of my favorite blogs, {Green Wedding Shoes}, posted an awesome idea! A cupcake topping bar! I have seen ice cream/frozen yogurt bars and cupcakes have become such a hit lately that I think this is a great twist on that to make it unique. Nicely done {Enjoy Cupcakes}! Check out all of their impressive 129 flavors!

Penelope's Bedroom Makeover!

I fell in love with this bedroom makeover when I came across it on {IS*LY} today. The part of this that inspired me was the way they were able to find ways to cut cost by picking up some great deals and doing some DIY along the way. In total this cost $300. Not bad if you ask me!

DIY Bottle Cap Tray

I thought this was a pretty sweet idea from {Apartment Therapy} of something to do with a collection of bottle caps - either paint them or keep the branding from your beverage of choice. This is a perfect project that can start with a cool tray picked up from a swap meet, thrift store or if you have an old one lying around that needs some sprucing up.

PS: I love these colors :)

Book of Cards & Gift Wrap Idea!

Here are a couple cute ideas from {Design Editor}. A cool idea of creating a book of cards received at a birthday or shower that makes for a wonderful keepsake and a great way to wrap the gift that is both stylish and functional.

Pencil Tip Carvings!

This is one of the most incredible art forms I have seen. I received this in one of those awesome e-mail forwards that mothers love sending daily :) After doing some research, I found that the artist's name is Dalton Ghetti. Check out his work {here}. This work is sharp! (pun totally intended) and he does this all without a magnifying glass. Born in Brazil, 49 year old Ghetti says he has been carving since he was a schoolboy - things ranging from stones, large piece of wood, soap, broom hands - until he found this niche.

Shabby Chic Flag Banners!

These whole fabric and paper flag banner things have become such a trend lately - I figured it was time to finally do a post on them. Here are some of my faves. I love this shabby chic style that can be customized for any event :) I am just wondering...is it overdone? Is it a trend that will die out?

Dunk Mug - Genius!

This has got to be one of the most creative and functional designs I have seen in a while! Several people I know would LOVE to have one of these! No more juggling a mug and a plate :) This would make a great gift item.

Pistachio Press

Check out these beautiful letterpress invitations by {Pistachio Press}. Pistachio Press was officially launched during the summer of 2007, and informally since 2003 when Rachel Hetzel, a native of upstate New York, drove to Ohio to buy her first letterpress. Since then, she has accumulated several hundreds pounds of type and three more presses. It is her printmaking background that has helped drive her passion for paper and ink. She now prints fine stationary, social invitations, and limited edition prints. Pistachio Press is an environmentally conscious studio, using rubber-based inks and biodegradable citrus-based solvents for cleaning. She prints on 100% tree-free cotton papers or recycled papers that are 30% post-consumer waste.

~ Heavy Metal Letterpress ~

Last month, {Miguel Castro's} beautiful letterpress baby shower invitation design made it on {Oh So Beautiful Paper}, one of my favorite blogs! I am so proud of all the amazing work he has been producing and even more proud to see him published there! I love the added touch of stitching the two pages together at the top. Check out more of his work at {Heavy Metal Letterpress}and be prepared to be very impressed!

While looking around on {Oh So Beautiful Paper}, I came across this wonderful {letterpress book} that I have ordered and can't wait to look through it!

Los Olivos Wedding

Those who know me well, know that I LOVE the color grey :) Black, white and grey make up much of my wardrobe and as far as home decorating goes, I tend to stick to neutrals for the most part. When I read that this bride's favorite color was grey, it explained why I fell in love with the decor of {this wedding} and the choice of colors used. It was a perfect mix of elegant contemporary and rustic vintage. From the the incredibly unique chandelier, lace table runners and fabric/ribbon covered candle holders to the place setting numbers and menus. My favorite part of all was the fact that the bridesmaid dresses were not only each different, but they were actually all white! It is usually considered a huge fashion faux pas to wear white as a guest to a wedding let alone those standing up with the bride and groom! I thought it was an absolutely beautiful decision and turned out looking amazing with all the different styles and textures of each dress. Thank you {Style Me Pretty} for always featuring such amazing events that are truly masterpieces.

3-Ring Circus Baby Shower

I have definitely seen a lot of beautiful and creative baby shower ideas, but this one is just something else! Such a fun theme, so creative, and well done...down to every small detail! The concept of a {3-Ring Circus} with this adorable couple expecting a baby is too perfect :)

Hidden Compartment in Wall Behind TV

Ok, so...{this} is pretty much GENIUS! Not much more I can say :) There is even additional storage space and access to cables from the other side of the wall, that when closed, is not an obvious closet! Well done.

Laid Back Cottage

One of my favorite sites, {Apartment Therapy} featured a house tour of Michael Jon Watt's Michigan cottage. It is a total of 818 square feet with a full basement. Here is what he has done with it in the two years he has lived there. {Click here} to learn more about resources and details about each room.

Beadboard, Chair Railing, and Moulding

I have always been really drawn to the look of beadboard and chair railing in homes. Lately I have been seeing a lot more homes with moulding added to walls and ceilings, creating beautiful framed sections. Here are some of my favorite styles...

I'm Back!!!

It has been FAR TOO LONG since I have been able to sit down and get to blogging! I have missed it so much! My little brother graduated college, we went on a family vacation, I went to a destination wedding in Cancun, moved to a new apartment, been busy at work...it's been nuts! But I am back now and ready to share a ton :)

Being that I just moved, I have been thinking a lot about decorating and furniture. One of my main challenges over the past few weeks has been figuring out the seating in my living room/dining room area. I only have enough room really for one main couch and a chair, so I have been trying to come up with some other ideas. I seem to be drawn to the idea of cute floor cushions or putting cushions in front of the fireplace. Today I came across these awesome retro {bean bag chairs} on Etsy and had to share! LOVE them!

Thanks for your patience!

Hey all! I am moving to a new apartment this week and was on vacation prior to that. So sorry for the lack of postings. I will be back up and running soon! Thanks :)