Bedroom Makeover: Art from Minted

The walls are freshly painted but I still have a couple larger projects to complete before I can finish my bedroom makeover project. Even so, I can't help but get excited about adding some new art to the space! I have a few pieces already that I'd like to incorporate, but I'd love to add a new piece or two of framed art.

Minted is a great online resource for art. There are so many lovely, limited edition prints to choose from. Even better, each print is available in multiple sizes and with different frame options so it's really easy to find the perfect piece. I think an abstract print would look great in my new bedroom, but I'm torn between graphic and high contrast or soft and painterly. Here are a few of my favorites of each.


1. July Study 5 by Amelia Allen
2. Dash by Katie Craig
3. Waiting by Amelia Allen
4. Inked by Deborah Velasquez
5. Peonies in Vase by Kelli Hall
6. Out to Sea by Carolyn MacClaren
7. Mist Rises Over the Water by Renee Anne
8. Below Ravello by Kelli Hall

What do you think? Which one should I choose?

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Minted. All opinions expressed are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that keep Vitamini Handmade going!

Aether Cone: Music To Your Ears (& Eyes)

As a creative professional who works from home there are a few things in my studio that I rely on to help me to stay focused as I work through my daily to-do lists. Right after coffee, music is a saving grace. Scoring, folding, and packaging a big stack of greeting cards can get monotonous, but not when I’m singing along with the Beach Boys. So when the people from Aether reached out to see if I’d be interested in trying out their new innovative music player I responded with a big fat, “um, YES!”



First off, it’s beautiful. It comes in black + copper or white + silver and honestly looks great just sitting on a table. Second, it’s a really cool interface. It works with Rdio, so there’s a ton of programing to choose from: music, radio shows, podcasts. You can talk to it to make a request, control it from an app on your phone, or simply spin the dial and let it select something similar or different, based on your previous listening history. It does the thinking for you! Everything works wirelessly, so you can take it anywhere as long as it’s charged up and connected to a wireless network. Neat, right? It’s a long way from my iphone-on-a-speaker-dock that I was rocking before. I actually had to walk up to it to change the song. Psh.



I’m really enjoying the Aether Cone as a new fixture in my studio. The sound quality is very good, song choice is right at my fingertips, and it looks like a million bucks. You can read more about it on their website.

Disclosure: Aether sent me a cone for review. All opinions, words, and images are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that keep Vitamini Handmade going!

DIY Spooky Plant Pick

 
I love Halloween, so any excuse to create another craft project is good by me! I partnered up with Mod Podge to make a Halloween project with a few of their supplies. These fun plant decorations can are made with just a few materials and can help spookify your favorite houseplants. Plus they're glow-in-the-dark!

Here's what you'll need:

• Mod Melts in Green
• Mod Podge Silicone Mat
• Mod Podge Glow in the Dark
• Hot glue gun
• Cardstock in yellow and black
• Single ply crepe paper (or tissue paper) in orange
• Stapler
• Double sided tape or gluestick
• Striped paper straw
• Scissors

Punch (or trace and cut) 2 1/2" diameter circles from the yellow and black cardstock. Cut notches out of the black circle to make an irregular, spiky edge. Glue the two circles together.


Cut a 3.5" x 18" piece of crepe. Accordion fold and staple in the center. Add double-sided tape to the edges and fan out.



Glue the paper circles to the fan. Hot glue the straw to the back of the fan.



Now for the fun part! Heat up the Mod Melt in the hot glue gun. Write "eek" in script directly onto the silicone mat. Nothing sticks to this mat so it'll be easy to pop off the words once they're cool! It might take a little practice (it did for me!) but it'll get easier once you get the hang of it.

Once the word is cool, carefully pull it up from the mat. To get a nice, thick coat of glow-in-the-dark goodness, brush the glow Mod Podge over the letters, or do like I did and dip the whole thing into the jar. Let dry on the mat and then glue to the center of the circles.


Add the pick to a spooky-looking plant for a nice Halloween gift! Wouldn't these make the cutest party favors? I used a Christmas cactus, but there are all kinds of other creepy-looking plants that would be great with this pick: venus fly traps, spiky succulents, spider plants, something cabbage-y (an ode to Little Shop of Horrors). The plant container is another opportunity to bring in the Halloween theme. I added black washi tape stripes to a plain white metal bucket, but the opportunities are endless!



Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of a paid campaign with Mod Podge and Blueprint Social. I was compensated for this post, but all ideas and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that keep Vitamini Handmade going! 

If you're looking for more craft ideas from Plaid check out these projects: DIY Faux Sugar Skulls with Collage Clay by Mod Podge, 3 DIY Cell Phone Cases with Decoden by Mod Podge, Plaid Blog - Introducing Mod Podge Modeling Clay, Plaid Decoden Pinterest Board


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Book Review: The Plant Recipe Book

As a landscape designer with no yard space to speak of, small container gardens are the only way I can get my plant design fix at home. They're easy to switch-out with the seasons and can add a splash of color, texture, and life to a small front porch or tabletop. Naturally, I was thrilled when Artisan sent me a copy of The Plant Recipe Book: 100 Living Arrangements for Any Home in Any Season to check out.



San Francisco garden designer and author Baylor Chapman provides detailed instructions for how to create these beautiful arrangements yourself.  Each "recipe" comes with descriptive text about the featured plants (size, scientific name, recommended cultivars), container and materials list, detailed steps outlining how to assemble the arrangement, and care instructions.



Succulents, air plants, ferns, carnivorous plants, mushrooms, and orchids; there's something for everyone. The horticulturalist in me loves that the scientific names for all of the plants are provided and there is information about soil and amendments. The designer in me loves the unique compositions and the beautiful photographs.



I'm feeling inspired to start making some new arrangements in unconventional containers. I really need to get my hands on some water lettuce!



This is just a small sampling of the projects in this book. It's a great source of plant-y inspiration and would also make a wonderful gift. Check it out on Amazon.

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of The Plant Recipe Book for review. All opinions, words, and images are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that keep Vitamini Handmade going!