Earth Day: DIY Wrapping Paper

Happy Earth Day! Today is a day reserved for appreciating what Mother Earth has given us. Beauty is all around and the resources nature has provided has greatly influenced our daily lives. Recycling is a practical process that greatly helps reduce waste and turns it into something more useful. The average person will use around seven trees in resources in their lifetimes. Imagine how many trees we could save if we recycled more. It's no surprise paper comes from trees. One way to recycle paper is by reusing it. If you're like me, you'll have a pile of magazines collecting dust. So today we are going to do a DIY packaging utilizing recycled magazines.

Materials Needed:
Unwanted Magazines
Double-sided Tape 
Scissors
Twine (different colors)
Lace Ribbon

STEP 1:
Browse through the magazines and selects pages you are drawn to. Rip them out of the magazine and tear off the parts you don't need. Make sure to cut out enough to cover your package. These will be your scraps in making the wrapping paper.

STEP 2:
Rearrange the images and tape them together using the double-sided tape.

STEP 3:
Measure the box and the wrapping paper. Use scissors(or x-acto knife) to cut wrapping paper to size. Then wrap the box.

STEP 4:
Wrap the twine around the box. Tie a knot in desired area on front of the package. Take your lace ribbon and wrap it around the package on top of the twine.

And that's it. It's as simple as that! You're helping the environment and saving money at the same time. Try making some today and do your part in preserving our Earth for a better tomorrow. You'll be thankful you did twenty years from now. The Earth will be cleaner and more refreshing. Making these creative wrapping papers will also give you a chance to be person-specific. Everyone has different taste. Creating a unique wrapping paper geared toward a person has never been so accessible. Combine this with different accessories for optimal packages. Now there's no excuse for having two of the same gift wrapping ideas!

Tangerine Tango

Hello everyone! Since color is everywhere and it inspires our daily lives I wanted to go into a little more detail about one certain color. It may not be your favorite or maybe it is. I won't judge, but it is the color of 2012. The color I'm talking about is PANTONE 17-1463 or Tangerine Tango, a bright shade of red-orange. This color was chosen because it's supposed to represent a brighter future of what's to come. Orange is a secondary color. This means it's a combination of two primary colors, these being red and yellow. Red is a color associated with love and hate. It's a strong, dramatic color. On the other hand, yellow is associated with happiness and sunshine. It's a bright, futuristic color. So by combining these two colors and their characteristics we get the perfect color that describes our future. Orange is a bright, bold color. Warm up to it and give it a chance. This color will definitely colorize your life and make you happier thus healthier!

1. Dipped Spice Cellar Set Leif

2. Waxed Canvas Ipad Sleeves Teich

3. Orange Tied Bow tie Steve&Co.

4. Small Knit Color Cozy Mug Leif

5. Scissor by ANYTHING Charles&Marie

6. Retro POP Handset  Charles&Marie

7. Byo Reusable Coffee Cup Leif

Babycakes

It's no secret that I love food. The thing is I can't cook or bake. I mean, I try baking at times and sometimes I may get lucky and produce some edible treats. But it's not consistent and too much work and kind of time consuming. Luckily there's Babycakes. Their products give baking-challenged people like me a chance to create deliciously simple pastries and be creative at the same time. The best thing about these are that they're small in portion size hence the name Babycakes. This gives you the excuse to eat two or three...or maybe all of them, secretly that is. Along with a vast array of pastries the machines themselves come in a variety of colors to brighten up your kitchen and match your personality. Here are some of my favorites.

photo via Babycakes

My favorite of all these has to be the Mini Pie Pop Maker. I love all pies, sweet and savory. This machine does it all. Pies are usually hard to cut and come out a little messy. This machine solves this problem by creating bite-sized pops that are single serve with no mess. The best part is that it's on a stick. That instantly makes it more fun to eat and enjoy.

photo via Babycakes

photo via Babycakes

Cupcakes are always a plus. I mean who doesn't love cupcakes? At times they are difficult to eat so I try to take bigger bites making me look like I'm starving. Not a pretty sight. Mini cupcakes are perfect for smaller mouths, like me or children. You can use these for any occasions from sleepovers to parties. Guests can get involved and decorate their own cakes to their own desires.

photo via Babycakes

photo via Babycakes

I don't know why food is way more exciting on a stick. Mini waffles on a stick is no exception. My favorite meal of the day is breakfast. I could eat it all day. This Mini Waffle Maker is perfect for my obsession. It lets me eat breakfast any time of the day. Pair these warm waffles with some ice cream and I'm a happy camper.

photo via Babycakes

photo via Babycakes

Cake pops have been a big deal for a while now. The only thing is that they are ridiculously expensive. Babycakes are not only easy to operate, but they are price-friendly. Take this Flip-over Cake Pop Maker for a mere $40. You could easily spend up to $5 on a single cake pop depending on where you go and what you get. This machine allows to to make a dozen pops at a time and you can decorate to your heart's desire. Wrap them up and they are good to go.

photo via Babycakes

photo via Babycakes

Along with regular pies, whoopie pies are also tasty. They're like two cupcake tops sandwiching a cream filling. No need to eat only the top of the cupcake and force someone else to eat the bottom. These also make great ice cream pies. Throw some ice cream in between two pies and stick them in the freezer. You'll have yummy ice cream pies in no time.

photo via Babycakes

photo via Babycakes

So whether you're baking challenged or just want to have this for special or everyday occasions, try some of these out. They're fun to make, easy to clean and sure won't disappoint your cravings. Think of all the possible creations you could make. With these, you'll look like a baking pro in no time. You can buy all these machines and more on the Babycakes website. Along with these amazing machines and their accessories the site has tips and recipes to guide you to perfection!

Shay Aaron: Miniature Food

Who doesn't love food? I mean food is the whole basis of our lives. Some people eat to live, but I like to think I live to eat. Sad but true. I wouldn't consider myself a Foodie but I really do like food a little too much. Food art has been around for awhile from paintings to installations to toys. Remember those miniature erasers that came in various forms and objects, particularly food? Shay Aaron's miniature sculptures reminded me of just that. These amazingly detailed pieces are made on a very small 1:12 scale. They are precise in detail and pretty realistic. I'm drooling just looking at some of the images below. They leave me speechless.

photo via Shay Aaron

Look at these close-ups of the sculptures. You can clearly see the scale photographed next to the fingers. If the fingers weren't there, I would be easily fooled into thinking these were real foods about to be photographed for an ad or something. These sculptures portray every detail and likeness of the items themselves. They are miniature but they do not lack any charm or characteristics of the real thing. They capture the color and texture combination just right enough to trick your mind.

photo via Shay Aaron

photo via Shay Aaron

photo via Shay Aaron

Here's a cake photographed next to a penny. Take out a penny and imagine the size of this sculpture. Just incredible isn't it? The texture in the cake is just unbelievable. It looks like a fun sized candy bar sliced up into pieces.

photo via Shay Aaron

This gingerbread house has to be one of my favorites. I always loved making gingerbread houses as a kid. This just brings me back to my childhood and a happier time. Along with the astonishing details and accuracy, these sculptures bring a sense of whimsical. They are miniature which makes them fun. Just looking at these as a collection brings me joy. Who couldn't use a little pick-me-up in their daily lives? These could brighten any day no matter the situation. So check out the rest of Shay Aaron's fancy food sculptures and don't be fooled by their look, they are NOT edible!

photo via Shay Aaron

Plant Your Personality.

Hello again! I'm still in Jersey and the weather has been heating up to a Spring breeze. I actually went on a boat ride which was pretty exciting. We had a picnic on a little deserted island with shallow waters and flying ducks. The scenery was beautiful. It was full of plant life and the great outdoors. I was just taking in the sights and looking at all the houses and their properties. Kind of creepy but a great way to see how others are decorating and maintaining their gardens. In my mind I have always had my own idea of how plants should be planted and what they should be planted in. Sad to say I'm not really into gardening so cheap pots usually work for me. But if I were really looking into designing a garden I would definitely check and compare different options. There are more varieties of pots than I have seen in my local stores. Rethink your pot and find out which one best fits your personality.

Porcelain: Traditional/Sophisticated
Porcelain planters are tough and sturdy, yet look delicate and elegant. They are classic and chic. White porcelain planters are nothing to look over. Being a neutral color, it draws attention to it but doesn't take away from the main focal point which are the plants. Even with a more designed planter, it draws attention to it yet doesn't overshadow what's in the planter itself.

photo via Farrah Sit

photo via Tokyo Craft Studios

Wood: Quiet/Conscientious
I love wood design. Anything involving wood always attract my eye. Wood itself started as a part of nature. Reusing it and putting it back in nature is a surreal process. They're subtle and easy to overlook since trees are pretty much everywhere. They blend into nature and this can create a sense of calmness. It's a smart idea that creates a strong design point while being eco-friendly.

photo via Andrew's Reclaimed

photo via Karolin Felix Dream

Cement: Assertive/Outspoken
Cement planters are no joke. I personally have one of these and they are amazing. They blend well with big cement floors and a full garden. They also work well as a stand alone piece. They're bold and lively, yet strong at the same time. The best part is that they don't need much attention in cleaning.

photo via RotdCreations

photo via Roughfusion

Other Material: Creative/Independent
Let's not lie, anything can be turned into a planter. With the use of a little imagination planters could be anything you could think of, big or small. It just depends on what one can dream up and bring to reality. If you're really trying to think out of the box and stray away from the normal planter, try re-envisioning what a planter is to you. How do you want your plants to look like and how do you want them displayed. Being a creative type, it's up to you how you want to style your planter!

photo via toHOLD

photo via PetitBeast

photo via PetitBeast

Grijs Blog

Hi again everyone! Have you missed me? Sorry for not updating but I've been enjoying my time far too much here in Jersey. The weather and scenery have been way too beautiful to just stay indoors. I'm just trying to enjoy the cooler weather before heading back to Cali. But today I wanted to tell you about one of my favorite photography blogs. It's not really a photography blog to say, but the pictures utilized in the blog are clean, simple and artistic. I've read many blogs and have seen many pictures and photographic styles. Grijs has to be the blog with the most impressive photographs. They put a spin on an ordinary photo with isolated objects and good composition. This creates light airy photos that are beyond stunning.

photo via Grijs

It's officially Spring so green is definitely in. When photographing plants of any kind one would just point and shoot to wherever the plant is. No one would actually think to move or remove the plant to photograph it's simple beauty. Plants themselves don't last forever, so the best way to preserve them is through pictures. Cleaning them and setting them up captures their charm and delicacy in a photo that will last a lifetime.

photo via Grijs

photo via Grijs

photo via Grijs

I personally like to isolate my subject and photograph them by themselves. This helps create a neater, more elegant picture without all the clutter that can become distracting. This simple and clean approach is dwindling as technology blooms. With all the filters and effects one can incorporate into a picture, one can easily turn a delicate photo into a cheesy overload. They will blindly forget the beauty of simplicity.

photo via Grijs

photo via Grijs

I've always love the concept of white on white photography. Grijs does this justice along with their centralized composition. This creates a powerful focal point that draws attention to it. It's kind of in your face, yet it does it in such a subtle way, you have no choice but to love it. Check out Grijs's blog for more amazing photographs that will calm you down and bring you back to a simpler time.

photo via Grijs

Wooden Fork Package

Hello everyone! Sorry for being M.I.A. for some time. It's been pretty hectic here in NJ. But it's Thursday and you know what that means...DIY Thursday! There are millions of ways one can wrap a gift. With that said, no two gifts should look exactly the same. Everyone is different and wrapping their gift to match their personality is smart and pretty easy to accomplish. This can be done using various wrapping papers and accessories. Today we are going to create a wooden fork package. Here are the tools you will need:

Kraft wrapping paper
Double-sided tape
Wrapping paper of desired graphic/pattern
Double-sided tag
Wooden fork (not pictured)
Scissor
Twine

STEP 1:
Take the kraft paper and wrap the gift the way you normally would.

STEP 2:

Wrap a smaller sheet of graphic/pattern paper lengthwise around the package. Make sure to keep sheet centered on the package.

 

STEP 3: 

Wrap your package with the twine. Tie a knot in the center. Leave about 8 inches at each loose end.

 

STEP 4:

Tie the wooden fork and tag to the front of the package and you are done! Mix graphics and patterns with different accessories for maximum possibilities. Now there are no excuses for having 2 of the same gift wrapping ideas!