Stickyfingers JULY 4th Special!

Feel the heat? July 4th is right around the corner and I've scoured the web to bring you my top three favorite DIY craft projects, patriotically speaking of course. What better way to beat the heat than to go make something? Hope you and your family have a Fab 4th!

From the Queen of Crafty, Martha Stewart offers a step-by-step to make this festive tabletop.

All hands and feet on deck to make this cute flag from Serendipity. What a great way to remember just how little they were.

July 4th isn't complete without ice cream! Whip up a batch of these ice cream cupcakes courtesy of Taste of Home

Dog Days of Summer

Great news for Fire Hydrant Press! The furry, charitable, little division of InkSpot Workshop. I was contacted by City Dog Magazine last month to send in some stationery samples and right now I'm all smiles because we're in the Summer issue!! Page 14 to be exact - our first press mentions ever! Looks like I'll have to start a journal. To read the magazine online, click here. Thank you City Dog Magazine!

iCANDY - 42nd Edition

WOW! What a week I'm having! I'm ready for my weekend getaway back down to the Florida Panhandle. Summer is here and already super crazy. I'm so busy I don't know whether to laugh or cry, so instead I will just get lost in these pictures. Aren't they soothing? Enjoy!

1. Tranquility Soap - Bubble Tub, Toronto $6.00

2. Sea Flower Bobby Pin - Crave Station, Nashville $6.00

3. Tranquil - Reverie Studio, Los Angeles $18.00

4. Poster - SF Girl By Bay, San Francisco $25.00

5. Blancheur Printaniere - Marco Lagrenouille, France $25.00

6. Travel Zen Garden - Aimee's Armoire, Vermont $5.95

Stickyfingers

Hello and welcome to this week's issue of Stickyfingers. Here are my top 3 picks to keep you inspired and crafty this week. Hope you can set aside some leisure time (what's that?) and get your fingers sticky!

Sharpen your cutting skills and make some Paper Lanterns by Paper Source


Wondering what to do with your child's art? How about making an Art Gallery? Thank You Sarah Jane!

In order to get crafty you need a terrific work space. How about this super useful Craft Desk from Jannypie Crafts? It's really easy too.

Update

Please forgive me for neglecting my poor blog this week. But first, how do you like my new design? Thank goodness for my web designer, who jumped in and made me a whole new blog template when my original template crashed. Since we were changing the look a bit, I thought it was time to give my blog a name and how apropos is "The Spotter"?

My desk is literally swamped with InkSpot Workshop and Fire Hydrant Press orders, plus a whole "To Do" list for my day job, and we are going out of town every weekend for the next 4 weeks so I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Guess I'll just have to take a deep breath and pray that I will get through this.

Ok, now on to some really great news, I'm proud to announce yet another contribution to Last Chance For Animals. I will now keep a running tally of donations made, right here on my blog's sidebar. As most of you know, a portion of all Fire Hydrant Press sales are donated to LCA. I passionately support the work of this non-profit organization and hope our little contributions help to save ALL animals!

The Bright Side Project

I first heard of The Bright Side Project on Daily Candy and immediately wanted to become part of it. Back in February, 2 friends decided to do something to bring sunshine into the lives of many, due to the doom and gloom happening in society right now. They created The Bright Side Project, where something is given away every day and each month has a different theme. There is a winner every Sunday!! Plus they give away TONS of amazing loot so jump on over there. The Bright Side Project's motto is "remember life is {still} beautiful and there is goodness in the world.

I saw Print and Pattern was coming up as the theme for June and jumped right in. Click here and leave a comment to win a set of my Zoo Crew Personalized note card sets.

iCANDY - 41st Edition

What's up with all the vegetables you ask? I started Weight Watchers online a few weeks ago, in order to get rid of these pesky 15 post baby pounds (ok, poor excuse since my son is 3). I've never been on a diet before so it's been interesting to say the least. It's amazing how many vegetables you can eat without risking all of your precious daily Points, so now they have become my best friends. The only problem is they don't keep you full very long do they?
Enjoy and remember what mom always told you... EAT YOUR VEGGIES!

1. Green Veggie Recipe Cards - Dingbat Press, Idaho $20.00
2. Asparagus T - Ahpeele, NC $32.00
3. Cauliflower Necklace - Shay Aaron, Israel $15.00
4. Beet Letterpress Cards - Yee Haw, TN $16.00
5. Trio of Veggies Print - Leaf Print Studio, CA $30.00
6. Edamame Pillows - Eon Creative, CA $18.00

Sneak Peak

New Site

New Stuff

www.inkspotworkshop.com

Debut Summer 2009

STAY TUNED!

How SWEET?

Look at this pleasantly delicious surprise that came in the mail! Who does stuff like this? Well, actually, Lori's Place, that's who. I recently introduced you to her super fun Luau Cookies on iCANDY. She was so flattered by this gesture that she sent me one of her cookie sampler boxes.

OK, I thought her decorated cookies looked amazing, but now I got to actually taste these gems and I'm HOOKED! They arrived in just about the cutest packaging I've ever seen from a baker, each cookie individually wrapped with a little bow. These would make great hostess gifts for anyone.

Looks like I picked the wrong week to start Weight Watchers:) My personal favorite is the Chocolate Lovers Delight. It's like fudge and a cookie all rolled into one delight. Thank you Lori!

Stickyfingers

Happy Sunday! As you get ready to plan your week, here are 3 useful DIY projects I stumbled upon while surfing clever blogs. One requires the use of safety goggles, but that's ok, nothing ventured, nothing gained:) Enjoy and please..... go make something!

Got celery? How about trying your hand at stamped gift wrap and tags? Creature Comforts gives you this fun the step-by-step.

Get your goggles, and I don't mean beer ones:) New mommy Nicole, of my favorite read Making It Lovely, shows you how to make this super stylish hanging divider.

The perfect finishing touch to any party is a fabric garland banner. Kathleen, over at Twig & Thistle has mastered this project and has the most fabulous tutorial right here.

iCANDY - 40th Edition

Warm weather always makes me think Ice Cream! and only Sherbet will quench your thirst on those super hot days. I remember when I was a kid, Baskin Robins was a weekly destination for us. I went through a huge Daiquiri Ice phase, just couldn't get enough. Boy, I sure could go for that now, only please include the RUM:)

Guess what? Baskin Robins brought back my old flavor friend. In honor of this memorable occasion, I'm dedicating this week's iCANDY entirely to sherbet. Enjoy and get some Daiquiri Ice on me.

1. Alphabet Print - Penny People, Toronto $15.00
2. Summer's Romance - New Fashioned Whispers, Vancouver $34.00
3. Jacqueline Coasters - Jessica Gonacha, Atlanta $14.00
4. Circles Sunrise Soap - Sun Basil Garden, Delaware $12.00
5. Blossoms Headband - Be Gurple, Australia $25.00
6. Colorful Bowl - Studio TTO, Turkey $15.00

A Day At The Beach!

As you make your beach plans this summer, be appreciative of elbow room where ever you may land. Oh, and make sure you rethink any summer vacation to Haeundae Beach in Busan, South Korea. Can you believe these pictures? First of many questions that come to mind.... where do you take a pit stop? Thanks mom for sending me this:)