Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Tutorial Tuesday: DIY Gemstone Cocktail Ring

I've been loving earthy cocktails rings. Really loving. On a tight budget, you can make adorably chunky ones all by yourself!
 Supplies Needed:
--Ring Kit from craft supply store
--Stone/Gem/Anything!
--E-6000 Industrial Strength Glue
It's super easy and so fun! Plus you can customize it to be meaningful. I chose Rose Quartz because it draws love to the wearer. You can do turquoise for protection, onyx for strength, or amazonite for luck!

If you make one, send me pictures!

♥ Shannon

Monday, April 23, 2012

Happy Monday

I hope you had an amazing weekend. I really do. I just stumbled upon this sensational interior stylist Hans Blomquist. Love everything.
I am seriously trying to figure out how to put that pallet swing on my balcony...

Have a lovely day!

♥ Shannon

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Earth Day Round-Up

It's Earth Day, loves, which is a special reminder to be thoughtful about how we live on this earth. Here are a few pretty things to get you started.

1. Go green with plants! Plants are amazing for our health and happiness. I'm in love with this easy-to-care-for succulent wall
2. Support artists! How adorable is this Terrarium Print from Small Talk Studio??
3. Buy handmade. This wall art is made from re-purposed wood--LOVE.
4. Not quite vegan yet? That's okay--no one will know the difference with cupcakes and pastries! These rosewater cupcakes are gorgeous and delightful. Check out 25 more recipes here!
5. I beg of you, buy cruelty free products. Our beagle, Walden, was tested on for 5 years; Beagles are chosen for testing because they are the sweetest dogs. Don't turn your cheek--puppies are abused and mutilated. Don't support companies that would let that happen.

Each small step makes a huge difference! What step will you take?

If nothing else, just go outside for a little bit and enjoy the gifts our amazing planet has to give.

♥ Shannon

Friday, April 20, 2012

Why I Love Bloggers

This post is a long time coming.

I first discovered the world of what I refer to as "Indie Girl Bloggers" through Elsie of A Beautiful Mess. I probably sat there that first day and went back to read every single post she had written (which, in 2008, was still quite a bit!). At that point, I had just spent six years in the military, so uncovering this world of creativity and loveliness kind of changed my life. I enrolled in her Tell Your Story art journal e-course she hosted with Rachel of Smile and Wave and my life--seriously--was never the same!
Bloggers change lives. This is a community of creativity and inspiration; from craft projects to recipes to decor to fashion, bloggers reach out to others and touch them. I love that about bloggers.

Another thing I love? I just had the opportunity to meet Elsie and tell her these things--and she was just as wonderful and sweet (and really freakin' adorable) in person. Bloggers are real people who voluntarily share the best parts of themselves.

One of my earliest posts was of a narwhal I purchased from Katie of Skunkboy Creatures. She then blew my mind when she contacted me and asked if she could use the images for her blog.
This is a world where the people who inspire you actually reach out and interact with you. They respond to your e-mails or your tweets (sometimes they retweet them!), they follow you on instagram and like your photos. As an actor, I would never even hope to hear from Natalie Portman, but the blogging community maintains a genuine closeness that I find so enriching.
Images courtesy of pinksuedeshoe
And probably my favorite thing about the blogging community is that it is a place to meet like-minded people. Erika from pinksuedeshoe reached out to me early in my blogging adventure. Her blog kills me with its love and craftiness. She is such an inspiring mother, wife, crafter, blogger, and person. We had the chance to meet in person a few weeks ago and it was the best lunch date.

Like, ever.

I had so much fun talking about blogs, which really have become quite a passion for me, with someone who got it. Plus I got to squeal over her thrifted dress and ModCloth locket designed by Elsie (I have been properly lusting over it ever since...).
At the end of our lunch date, I asked if it would be okay if I got some Instax photos--and she whipped out her own Instax. Then we instagrammed. It was the first time I didn't have to apologize for holding up activities to photograph them--it was just obvious that that's part of the activity.

Bloggers bring inspiration and beauty into my life; I am so very thankful I found my way into this amazing community of people. Thank you so much to everyone who supports my own little blog--your comments and support mean more to me than I can say. I love interacting with you.

And thank you so much to the "Indie Girl Bloggers" out there posting content and making the world brighter with every post.

♥ Shannon

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

DIY Mash-Up

Remember my cute crafty strand from The Style Social Blogger Series? I was feeling torn because I love it, but it was time to take it down to start putting up art work in my work space. Then I decided to take a leaf out of Elsie's book--her Spring Art Journal, to be precise.
Original images from DesignLoveFest and A Beautiful Mess
I loved Elsie's technique for filling in a notebook with media and adding personal notes and thoughts later. If you haven't read her post yet, I highly recommend it. It's delightfully creative and inspirational as usual.
I used the cute postcards, film strips, and trinkets from Bri's event to decorate the pages of my lovely Rifle Paper Co. notebook...
...and took it with me to add notes, doodles, and song lyrics from Sucré and The Honey Trees...
...or just inspirational thoughts. I love that the pages are filled with pretty things that inspire me, so I can tuck it in my purse and write in it anytime. It's a little easier than travel art journaling.

I can't think of many things that are better than a mash-up of ideas from two of my favorite bloggers, you know what I mean?

♥ Shannon

Monday, April 16, 2012

Happy Monday

Hello loves! I can't wait to share what I've been up to, but in the meantime, here are a few things that make me so happy.


This video is so so perfect for creative types. Just promise me you'll watch it, okay?
Also, Creature Comforts made these fantastic arrow brushes for photoshop. Get them here. Ez can do no wrong!

Happy Monday!

♥ Shannon

Sunday, April 15, 2012

April Showers Bring May Flowers

In California when it rains, people don't know what to do.

I actually love a bit of rain, except I tried to cross the street the other day to go to dance class and it was so flooded, which made me realize I need some rain boots.

One thing led to another and...

I need all of these things!! Eeep!!!

♥ Shannon

Saturday, April 14, 2012

What I Wore: Dainty June

This morning I went to the local farmer's market with my sister. I am so in love with local organic produce. In addition to fresh veggies, today I also picked up some local Sage Honey. It makes me more than happy when I can find organic foods from local farms--good and good for you!
Outfit details: Dress: Dainty June via Emerging Thoughts; Cropped T-shirt: International Concepts; Boots: Xhileration; Clutch: Urban Expressions; Headband & Jewelry: Forever21; Beaded Bracelet: Handmade

I had the added benefit of the stylings of my sister, who is so very clever when it comes to accessories, fabric combinations, and silhouette creations. Fun!

♥ Shannon

Monday, April 2, 2012

Easter Printables

Eeep! These free printables from Mooo are just killing me. The raccoon! The deer! I adore.
Check out their site for two other themes--12 pages of printables total!

Oh, and thanks for playing along for April Fool's yesterday. Most of you guessed it--I do not have a Harry Potter tattoo.

Or do I?

♥ Shannon

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Happy April Fool's Day!

I love (harmless) practical jokes. Too much, actually--I always spoil them by giggling. I thought I'd celebrate today by having a little fun, and taking the opportunity to tell you a few silly things about me.
So here's what's going to happen. I'm going to tell you 5 things about me. 4 will be true. See if you can guess which one is the trick!

1. I am a huge nerd. I love science fiction, fantasy, magic, outer space, legends, mythology, and otherworldly things.

2. I don't get crushes on celebrities. I get crushes on the characters they play. 

3. I'm convinced that my cat, Artemis, and I sort of have an ET and Elliot relationship where if she gets sick I get sick, etc. This is why I don't get drunk.

4. I have a Harry Potter tattoo on my lower back (got it after the above picture was taken--go Gryffindor!).

5. I cried when Matt was playing Oregon Trail and "Artemis drowned during the river crossing".

Happy April Fool's Day!

♥ Shannon

PS: Would love to hear your favorite pranks! 

PPS: The results: Okay, look, I cried when Artemis fake drowned on the fake Oregon Trail! I'm not proud of it!!!

No Harry Potter tattoo. Kristin will verify.

Thanks for playing everyone!! 
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