ruffled heart valentine diy

It's the pretty little things that get me. So I made a mini ruffled valentine.

Supplies // 1. Safety pin back, 2. Circle punch (1" shown), 3. Dull pencil, 4. Paper of your choice, chipboard or heavey cardstock

Tools // Scissors, Hot glue gun

Step 1: Punch out plenty of paper circles.

Step 2: Draw and cut out a heart from the chipboard.

Step 3: Using a dull pencil, scrunch the paper circles around the tip of the pencil.

Step 4: Once you have all the circles crinkled, start gluing to the chipboard heart. Start with the outside edge and go around the whole outside.

Step 5: Once you've bordered the heart, continue to fill in the center with glue and paper circles until the whole heart is covered in ruffles.

Step 6: Glue the pin back onto the reverse side of the chipboard heart.

Finish it up with a bit of flattering packaging and now you have a sweet accessory that will surely make someone smitten.

notable: adam hayes

Handlettering. And a lovely palette.

Featured Artist: Adam Hayes (via Design Work Life)

lovely bundle {sweet heart}

Simple and sweet. Have a lovely weekend, friends!

Image Sources: 1 Chelsea Victoria (via Pinterest) // 2 Natalie Hunfalvay (via Hello Naomi) // 3 Morgan Hill Designs // 4 All Cut Up // 5 Natalie Hunfalvay (via Pinterest) //

mason jar sewing kit

Happy Wednesday (evening)...today was a small whirlwind it feels.

Now there are plenty of these on Pinterest, so I'm not claiming to be original (idea originated from Ms. Martha I do believe). But when I saw this at Anthropologie for a whopping $40-ish—I saw a challenge. And nothing on the web had a good source list, so today I give you one.

TIPS // Use wide mouth mason jars. A must because after glueing the pin cushion the lids don't fit well. Also, I bought these pin containers which don't fit. I followed the steps in the tutorial by Momstastic for the pin cushion lid. Use glue sparingly. Use glue sparingly. The last tip is to make multiple kits, because you'll have surplus supplies. I made 6 kits and used them as Christmas gifts for my crafty friends.

Now I have pretty shelf candy that is quasi functional. Actually, I even used some items for last weekend's craft. See! Great to grab for quick use.

::: Sewing Kit Total $13.99 (+ tax) :::

SOURCE & PRICE LIST //

Mason Jars $1.57 ($10 for $9.44, Walmart)
Embroidery Scissors $3.99 (Fabric Store)
White Tape Measure $1.47 (Walmart)
Wood Spools $.66 (6 for $1.99, Hobby Lobby)
Thimbles $1.33 (10 for $7.99, Amazon)
Safety Pins $.50 (Pack for $2.99, Hobby Lobby)
Stick Pins $.83 (Pack for $4.99, Hobby Lobby)
Pin Containers $1.65 (Walgreens)
Sewing Needles $.23 (Pack for $1.37, Walmart)
Felt $.04 (1 sheet  for $.25, Hobby Lobby)
Sewing Thread $.72 (2 for $4.29, Walmart)
Buttons $1.00 (Various)
Pin Cushion Top (had on hand)

notable: my happy place

I think the contagious feelings of Valentine's Day are beginning to infect me. ♥

Featured Artist: Lisa Barbero

layered earring diy

FINALLY I'm back to posting (so sorry for stalling). I hope you enjoy the DIY jewelry I threw together this weekend!

Supplies // Felt colors of your choice, fish hook earrings, and small metal loops.

Tools // Needle & thread, scissors, needle nose pliers, and paper for pattern (optional).

First, cut out the shapes you want from paper to use as a pattern before cutting the felt.

Next, cut out the felt in different colors and sizes.

Here we have the most complicated step, tying the metal loop to the layered felt.

Lastly you attach the fish hooks to the metal loops. Super simple! Now I have a few accessories to dress up a casual outfit. Please let me know if you have any questions and be sure to let me know if you make a pair of your own!

best of 2011

Below are my (and reader) favorite blog moments from last year. How fun to look through a journal of my projects!

Obviously the launch of my professional website is probably the biggest highlight—and gives me the most excitment for things to come in 2012.

A super fun styling gig was the Bridal Expo with Tie That Binds.

A personal growth project experimenting with color theory in prop styling.

Still falling in love with these images from our 3rd Anniversary Photo Shoot.

Bright colors abound everywhere in April's Easter Brunch.

Another fun styling project was working on a Catering Display for another wedding expo.

And on the home front we accomplished a (somewhat minor) bathroom renovation.

The most popular DIY was the outdoor pallet table we made for our summer patio.

Can't get over how fun this birthday surprise invitation turned out!

Lastly, the amazing Advent Calendar I recieved has been wildly popular with readers and has now inspired my craft partner and I to come up with more collaborations...to be announced at a later date.

So there you have it! A recap of 2011 highlights on Joy Ever After. Thanks so much to all of you for stopping by and inspiring me to keep posting. Looking forward to sharing all the great things in the upcoming year!

welcome 2012!

A new year is here! So hard to believe and even harder to get back into routine after the holidays. Struggling from my end anyway. Looking back and looking forward, wanting to be in a place of motovation + strategy to tackle new goals for the year. Also looking at how I want to move forward with my blog and my business, and coping with all the recent transitions of life. Did I mention my high school best friend is having a baby ANY DAY and I am squirming with excitement to meet this little miracle?

All that to say is I appreciate you patience, and would love any input that helped you determine a balance of blog and workload. Or great ways to kick of a new year of creativity?

Image Source: Invitation Consultants (via Pinterest)

a merry christmas to you

No matter how hard I just can not keep up with life (+ blog). Are the holidays always like this?! Homemade gifts this year felt so much more intensive than expected...cue internal voice that says it will not be this chaos next year.

And so I leave you with this lovely desktop wallpaper that makes me so happy. Time for more traveling, then celebration and relaxing. I promise I will recover and discontinue the neglect. Perhaps I shouldn't commit to posting next week? We will see (chances are slim).

And now I bid you all the love and happiness possible, as you celebrate this blessed season of Christmas. Enjoy all the food, frenzy, and festivties that you possibly can!

Free Desktop Wallpaper by Eva Juliet, available for download here.

notable: psalm 31 download

As mentioned, here is your free download from the recent Advent Calendar post. Thanks so much to Annie for graciously sharing her artwork with us!

I hope your holiday week is not too crazy—I feel like I can hardly keep up (and I'm sure I have less going on than most people!). Off to finish wrapping gifts and Christmas baking!