love door hanger ...

i just wanted to share another fun project i made using the love release from lifestyle crafts.

i used felt, and cut out a scalloped heart and embroidered love on one side.  then i added batting cotton to the inside and used turquoise to stitch up the heart.    i just love the color combination!

i'm getting really excited for valentine's day!  how about you!?  are you working on any fun projects for valentine's day?

love day sale ...

in honor of st. valentine's day coming up, my armelle jewelry shop will be having a 15% off the entire shop sale from now until friday, february 4th at midnight!  just enter the code LOVE15 at checkout.

this would be a great chance to get your loved one a little something, something for valentines day!

{*also,  if you blog about armelle jewelry and the sale, i will give you a checkout code to receive 25% off your entire order!  just email me a link to your post and i will send you the code.}

claw necklace ...

this horn / claw necklace is still one of my favorite pieces i've made yet!  and, it really looks smashing on!

and, thanks jen, of made by girl for listing it as one of her favorite pieces of jewelry this week!

wood business cards ...

i think if there were a "best business card award," at the alt summit conference, the winner hands down would be my friend danyelle from dandee.  and, that says a lot because i was given some amazing cards last week.

she had these wood business cards made up for alt by rob from bullfrog laserworks.  
cool, huh?

{photos via dandee}

storing food ...

so, what is your preferred method for storing your leftovers?

i have recently made the switch to glass, and there is no going back.

to learn more about storing food, and my favorite food storing containers, check out my new post on the zupas blog, here.

*update: many of you asked where to find these glass storage containers.  i just found the same ones at crate and barrel.

{photo by me}

new charm necklaces ...

i just listed a few new simple charm necklaces to the armelle jewelry shop!

just in time for valentine's day!

{acorn charm necklace, $29}

{pine cone charm necklace, $29}

{tiny snowflake charm necklace, $28}

altitude design summit recap ...

{image via alt design summit 2011's photostream on flickr}

the alt summit conference really was a blast!  i am so glad i went!

it really was like heading off to summer camp with all your favorite friends.  i couldn't believe how nice everyone was and i was able to meet so many fun people and catch up with old friends as well!

i started off the first day by getting a fun lunch box full of goodies from sponsors.

{image via alt design summit 2011's photostream on flickr}

then, i headed over to a calligraphy class taught by melissa.  i'm the nerd taking notes ...

{image via alt design summit 2011's photostream on flickr}

let's just say, i really need to practice.  let's hope i improve, because calligraphy is so cool!

next, i headed over to a panel called, taking a leap into full-time creative work.  mainly, i just wanted to meet sweet chelsea from frolic.  we've corresponded a lot over the years and finally got a chance to meet in person!

their panel was great!  and, i love that they all took a leap and are making a living by doing what they love.

they brought up a great point and asked the question, "what do you obsess about in your spare time?"  because usually that is what you are passionate about, and what you are truly interested in.

{image via alt design summit 2011's photostream on flickr}

after, we broke out for lunch with seth and mondo from project runway.  to be honest, i don't have cable, so i didn't really know who they are, but mondo really seemed like a genuine nice guy.

{my friend jane and i at lunch, pics stolen from jane}

{image via alt design summit 2011's photostream on flickr}

after lunch, i was able to help my friend susan with her sewing and design camp class.  everyone got to make some darling striped pillows, and ipod leather cover, a freezer stencil, or learn to crochet.

then in the afternoon i went to a panel called, events and social media.  there were some great bloggers/events planners on the panel. {ashley meaders, brittany egbert, jordan ferney, victoria hudgins}

{image via alt design summit 2011's photostream on flickr}

jordan from oh happy day talked about her six tips to take your party to the next level.  they all had some really great input and their events are really inspirational.

that evening was a dinner at lambs grill.

{images via alt design summit 2011's photostream on flickr}

at dinner i was able to meet a super talented trio of mom, daughter, and daughter-in-law, bev, emily, and christine.  

day two started off with the round table discussions.  

my table was to help answer questions on setting up an etsy shop and selling at handmade markets.

{images via alt design summit 2011's photostream on flickr}

after the round tables i went to a panel with heather from dooce about the art of the pitch.
it was very interesting to see the whole advertising on blogs world from the perspective of a blogger, and of an advertiser.

{images via alt design summit 2011's photostream on flickr}

after lunch i headed to the up and coming blogs panel with amy turn sharp, danni hong, joslyn taylor, liz stanley, melanie blodgett.  it was fun to see what blogs people are looking at.  liz from say yes to hoboken listed all the up and coming blogs on her blog, here.

then it was off to the closing keynote speaker, tina eisenburg from swiss miss.  she did an amazing job, and was full of a lot of helpful information for bloggers.

the mini parties friday night were a hit.  especially the kate spade party, hosted by the girls with glasses, brooke white and summer bellessa.

{image via alt design summit 2011's photostream on flickr}

{image via alt design summit 2011's photostream on flickr}

{image via alt design summit 2011's photostream on flickr}

{image via alt design summit 2011's photostream on flickr}

they really knew what we bloggers like!  a lot of color, fun, free gifts, cupcakes, and photobooths!

speaking of the photo booth.  they were a blast...  see for yourself..  {all photobooth pictures by, angela and ithyle}

{ top row: melanie, me, danni, bottom row: viv, marta, and jane}

see more pictures from the photo booth here.

and, a few more pictures from the party... because really i haven't posted enought yet, right?

{melanie, me + 30 week baby bump, marta, jane, danni}

{brooke white, me}

{jane and moi}

 {caitlin, kirsten, amanda, me, alisa}

such great times!

i met also met a lot of other great bloggers that i've been wanting to meet for a long time.  it is so nice to see some faces with their names!

i feel like i got a lot out of the conference, and hope to continue on with my blog with some great information!

can't wait until next year!  ...

airplane party inspiration ...

my little ezra's 4th birthday is coming up right around the same time our new little baby boy is due.
i have been trying to get ahead and ready for his party in advance, because i anticipate that it will be a bit of a crazy time.  he has been so excited for his party, and asking me about when his birthday is everyday the past few months, so i still want to try to pull off a fun little party for him even though things will be a bit crazy with the new baby.

we ventured off to our local airplane air force museum a few weeks ago, to play and to look for a little inspiration.

we loved this blue and yellow airplane.  i saw it, and was sold on the color scheme.  i always like to have a color scheme when planning parties, because i feel like it is so much easier to get all the accessories together that way.

i also love the old school / vintage air force logos on all the vintage airplanes.  i am definitely going to be incorporating it into some of the party decorations.

and, of course these two had a blast running around wild...

armelle jewelry + pretty interiors ...

i had so much fun at alt last week, and i am hoping to have a full report later today or tomorrow.

i just wanted to share a fun design pairing of some of my armelle jewelry and pretty interiors by amanda of re-cycled consign and design {if you are ever in cedar city, utah, be sure to check it the store in person}  i got to meet amanda at alt this past week, and she is just an example of the amazing people i met there.

here are a few of the armelle jewelry pieces she posted with pretty interiors.  check out the rest here.

how fun is that?  i love seeing my jewelry in a new way with these interiors.
long amour necklace
lucky you necklace
leona earrings

signing off ...

i'm signing off for the week to attend and speak at alt!

i am seriously excited to meet so many amazing people and learn a lot!  it will be loads of fun!

hope to have a full report next week!

have a great weekend!

{photo by marta}

panko bread crumbs ...

i love to cook with panko japanese bread crumbs!

my favorite is to oven "fry" fish or chicken, to get that nice crisp fried taste, but without the deep frying.

today i am sharing a great recipe for panko crusted tilapia over on my zupas blog post.

click here.

do you use panko?

a love banner ...

my next project i did for the lifestyle crafts design team using the items from the love release was this "love" banner. {inspired by this bethany lowe one}

i'll be honest, i was skeptical about the whole die cutting machine since i am not a scrapbooker at all, but i have found a lot of ways to use it,  like with this banner.

i used the nesting heart dies for the banner, card board from a cheerio box, vintage music sheets, modge podge, glitter, chip board letters, tinsel, a hot glue gun, and red glittery pipe cleaners.

i just used the modge podge glue to glue on the music sheet hearts to the cardboard ones i made with the die cuts.  then glued on the rest.

this was a great little project, and a banner that i have been wanting to make for valentine's day for a while.