Looking forward to Fall

I know it's not Fall quite yet but once school starts, I can't help thinking that it might as well be. I want to buy all new folders, packages of pencils, and sweaters in whatever autumn colors are my current favorite. This is usually a mistake in Las Vegas because it's still 109.

When we, at Paperdolls, think of fall crafts, we think of wreaths. Lauren and I have made several lately and we wanted to show you a few of them. We've been using felt, fabric, or yarn wrapped forms with silk flowers, ribbons, buttons etc. Anyway, take a look, and let us know what you think about them. Or just tell us what your favorite thing is about Fall.

B.I.Y. is the new D.I.Y.

Are you on the bandwagon? Come on, you know you want to. What does B.I.Y. mean, you might ask? It means: buy-it-yourself. Do you all remember that old Rice Krispies commercial where the housewife made a plate of Rice Krispy Treats for her adoring family? She bars herself in the kitchen for an hour, throws flour around everywhere, messes up her hair; the works. Then she calmly mixes up the super-easy recipe on the box and sits down and does her nails, or takes a bubble bath or something. I might not be remembering it exactly right but you get the point.

Well, my friends, that woman can be you. All you have to do is buy some lovely hand-made, one-of-a–kind piece of art or craft item (I know of a great Etsy shop I can recommend), pay for it and have it sent to you in the comfort of your home.

When it arrives, safe and sound with heartfelt thanks from the artist(s), sprinkle a couple buttons around, a few pieces of string or twine, and maybe some glue for good measure and then present it to your special someone. Everyone will be so impressed and all the work is done for you. Great idea, right? It’ll be our little secret.

More Is More

Ok, so I've been all over the place with what I've been working on these past few days but there has been a common theme; more is more - no minimalism for me! Everything is several colors, with buttons, patterned paper, felt, paper flowers, you name it. As long as it's cute, it goes.

My mother bought some cheap wooden stakes at Home Depot and I drilled some holes in them, painted them, glued some cute patterned paper to them and connected them with wire and little wooden spools that I painted in the same colors. Then I took some paper flowers and buttons etc., and glued them to the bottom to make an adorable little hanging decoration.

I might add some words or something but haven't decided yet.

I also made this frame. I painted a wooden frame, added some patterned fabric that Lauren had left over from one of her projects, added some felt and plastic buttons. I could have stopped there but I wanted something more. So I added some ric-rac; always a good call.

You can go too far and you do need to know when to say when. However, when you've started something and you're just not quite satisfied with it and consider just giving up, just remember: more is more!