This is my humble collection of attempting to live a life full of lovely things. A blog highlighting crafty projects, inspiration, and all things delicate & detailed. To learn more click here.
February 2, 2012 
Looking for this year's DIY round-up and they all happen to be love letters, with a few arrows thrown in.
Need more inspiration? I have last year's crafty Valentine round-up posts here and here.
Image Sources: 1 DIY by Amy Moss for Once Wed // 2 DIY by CAKE for One Charming Party // 3 DIY by Lovely Indeed for Sweetest Occasion // 4 Two Shades of Pink (via eighteen25) 5 The Dating Divas (via Sweetest Occasion) //
January 30, 2012 Happy Monday! A pretty valentine and a quasi-tutorial for you.
Apparently I just can't get enough of this made up holiday. The creative fireworks go off at random intervals, and for whatever reason the lastest displays involve a musical twist. Original instructions and template from Martha Stewart.
Supplies & Tools // Two kinds of paper, chipboard (for cutting on), printed template, xacto knife, scissors, and tape.
The process was less tedious than I expected and took under 2 hours. TIP: Spray adhesive can be your best friend or your worst enemy, use with caution. Sadly, I butchered one area of the heart but thankfully it's not that noticable.
I might just frame it. The perfect valentine if you are looking for sweet & sentimental gift on the inexpensive side.
Also, I found a few other templates including carved initials, a pop-up card, and squirrel love.
AND my goal is to do a full week of posts this week. YAY ME!
January 25, 2012 
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.
December 15, 2011 My favorite {and only} gift so far this year has been this incredible advent calendar...
My sweet and talented friend, Annie, designed and crafted this amazing paper + envelope advent calendar. Full of songs, quotes, verses, and even tiny candles for each week! I've never had a calendar to open and I LOVE it. I look forward to each day and the sweet note to open. Now I'm truly inspired to create one next year for gifts.
There are many amazing advent calendars around the web, have you found a favorite?
November 23, 2011 
Please please ENJOY your holiday and relax and eat and appreciate all things. See you Monday!
Image Source: Rifle Paper Co
Inspiration, holiday, illustration, paper, stationery, thanksgiving November 16, 2011 Planning and hosting my first baby shower next month!
These sweet baby blues went into the mail today. I can't wait to finalize the party details for this luxe baby boy shower. Right now my head is overflowing with the possiblities of cuteness that will abound soon!
Hope you are also having a great Wednesday!
October 12, 2011 Happy Wednesday!
Below are images of a little flower installation I was able make recently (by little, I mean 6' wide). The flowers are made from household items like paper bags, tissue paper, and pretty wrapping paper. This installation is one of two I've created for donation items at silent auction fundraisers. Only when it's for a good cause am I able to pour many many hours into something so lovely but has little relevance to work projects. Paper flowers are SO much fun to make. I'm hoping it ends up in a pretty princess room somewhere!
June 29, 2011 An amazingly pretty invitation suite to share with you. Remember these Save the Date's? The bride has such a sweet feminine style—and I think her invitations turned out beautifully.
They were a lot of fun to work on (and of course it doesn't hurt when the results are super great). The lovely calligraphy was done by the talented Rachel Carl & Co. I love weddings in small doses, how about you?
May 30, 2011 
So excited to offer you this awesome Memorial Day Giveaway! As you know from my Christmas card, I'm a huge fan of the talent and skill that is Night Owl Paper Goods. Today they have graciously agreed to give away a free journal (or item of equal value) to one lucky reader!
Started in 2004 by a team of two, this little business has grown into a brand widely recognized on the web and among all stationery gurus. With a passion for fine craftsmanship, detail and the environment, they're totally devoted to creating handmade letterpress cards and eco-chic wooden goodies in a style they like to call "modern yet folksy." Which describes their look to a T.
Both Alan and Jennifer illustrated the entire line of greeting cards, journals, jotters and gifts by intermixing their critter and pattern design styles. Recently they launched a whole bunch of new products, to follow up their new wedding line, and stuffed critters.
And, if you love the idea of wood for an upcoming project, they even offer custom printing. My biggest rave of them though—is honestly their customer service. My order had a small hiccup, and they went over and above to smooth everything out.
Sounds like a great way to start out the week to me! Thanks so much to Night Owl Paper Goods for making this giveaway possible!
::::::::::::::::::::::::: how to enter :::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: LEAVE A COMMENT ::
// Tell me about your favoriet Night Owl Paper Goods product
:: 3 BONUS ENTRIES ::
1 // Follow me and NOPG and tweet about the giveaway (please tag @joy_ever_after).
2 // Become a fan of me and NOPG
3 // Blog about the giveaway
Then leave a comment with the link for each of the above.
Giveaway ends Monday, June 6 at 12 noon, cst
// Winner announced Tuesday afternoon //
May 25, 2011 A fun little project to share with you today!
Remember when this amazing calendar journal that was posted on Design*Sponge? Well I've always loved the idea, and recently needed a bridal shower gift.
Because I wanted to cater it slightly to the couple, I chose to make the index cards resemble library checkout cards and replaced the vintage postcard for book cover postcards (from Anthropologie). The couple loves reading, so this was perfect! Another kicker—the bridal shower was hosted/attended by our book club group!
What do you think? Do you like the small change?
