Stickyfingers - Necklace Edition

Happy Sunday!
Ready to make something? I've been in the mood for some fun and funky necklaces lately. Here are 3 cuties for you to choose from. Heck, make all 3!
Enjoy.

Got scraps? How about turning them into this cute necklace? Click here to learn how from MyCakies blog.

Even the most basic crocheter can handle this easy pattern from Crochet Me.
So lovely!

All this cold weather got your kid's driving you nuts in the house? Put them to work and have some fun with this Bread Clay Beads tutorial from the Queen.

Bright Idea!

How ingenious is this?
I go through over 10 ink cartridges a month at $20 a pop.
Box Lightbox you are so bright!!
To purchase your very own chic chandelier, or other super mod light fixtures
all made from cartridges, click here
What else could we make with ink empties?

iCANDY Foodzie Edition

Happy Friday everyone! This week it's all about FOOD! If you're a foodie like me and especially love hand crafted artisan foods (as if there were any other kind?) this iCANDY is just for you.

I first introduced you to a few foodie sites here. They are like Etsy, only completely dedicated to artisan foods of all types. I'm having a blast finding gluten free goodies for my hubby, so many choices. Here are a few yummy finds for Valentine's Day.
Happy EATING.

1. Valentine's Day Caramels - Have It Sweet, CA $12.00
2. Valentine's Petit Fours - Three Tarts, NY $33.00
3. Sugar Cookies - Elsylee Galetes Artesanals, FL $5.50
4. Vanilla Rose Marshmallows - Whimsy & Spice, NY $6.25
5. Razzle Heart Cookies - D'Lischka, CA $10.00
6. Love Raspberry Dark Chocolate Truffles - Hedonist Artisan Chocolates, NY $20.00

A Little Encouragement Please

Oh how I love Twitter! How else would I have known that my local Atlanta "artsy" friend Jessica Gonacha Swift, just launched this cute and clever Ocean Rodeo collection? Click here to read the launch on her blog.

I'm crazy for the vibrant colors, those little submarines and ....gosh darn it that sun on the beach! It's really just TOO MUCH! Yes folks, Jessica is an illustrator, meaning she actually dreams up this stuff, draws it out and thanks to Steve Jobs, makes it into stuff we can all enjoy.

Myself? I am a "wannabe" graphic design artist, stuck inside a medical sales rep's body:) Lord knows I've tried to draw, but it's just not one of my gifts. I can play with color schemes and do wonders with graphics, even manipulate a few shapes into my own graphics, but draw? I'll just leave that to Jess.

I've even commissioned her to design the graphics I use in my Notes For Baby-To-Be. She whipped these up especially for me and I just love them (so do my customers!).

One afternoon at my house, we were having a creative jam session of sorts and I suggested she start a new line, designed for people just like me, those who can't draw even a stick figure! Heck, I'd be happy to pay for whimsical, colorful and original clip art to use, wouldn't you?

The next week Shadow Juniper was launched. This was supposed to be a place where Jessica would offer digital files for sale. Everything from clip art to patterned paper. In fact I purchased her Circles pattern and came up with these and these.

However, as you can see she has forgotten about this little shop. OK, I know she has been extremely busy since she IS a "real" illustrator for crying out loud:) but today I ask you to

HELP SEND JESSICA A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT!

Let her know you want/NEED her to stock up her shop so you can start making some incredible things with her designs. Click the "contact seller" button in her Shadow Juniper shop and send her a message via Etsy.

Ahead Of Their Time

Mad TV predicted the launch of the iPad, years ago!!

I {heart} FONTS

I'm CUCKoo for fonts! A bona fide font junkie. I love everything they do to make our daily surroundings, just a bit more interesting. I love how they evoke certain emotions and can really make or break an advertisement, logo, website, poster or even an event invitation. I can't even drive down the street without looking at a new restaurant or store sign and playing a game of "guess that font" with myself. Perhaps worse than texting while driving?

I'll never forget the first time I realized I had better get myself checked into FONT REHAB. A few years ago I went to the Yellow Daisy Festival, here at Atlanta's Stone Mountain Park. I couldn't take my eyes of the event logo (pictured above) which was plastered all over the festival. Don't you just love that combination of yellow + pink, plain + flirty fonts? I became a woman on a mission and did everything I could do to find that font, even emailed their ad agency (no luck). Then while scouring my favorite place for free fonts Dafont.com, SWEET JESUS! I FOUND IT, click here. I've incorporated that font proudly into my line like here and here. I still love it, but am on a constant search for my next favorite.

Each week I look forward to seeing my Font Shop Newsletter sitting in my inbox. How great is this? An entire website and blog dedicated to, what else? FONTS! It's like a bar that's open 24 hours for a drunk like me. Today I'd like to share with you some of my new font favorites, actually worth spending a little $$ for. Oh, and how do I manage all several hundreds of my fonts? How can I do a side-by-side lineup/comparison when I'm drumming up a design? All font junkies need FontViewer, and it's FREE.

Top 10 New Font Favorites

1. Louisiana
2. Acanthus Open
3. Bisque
4. Lubalin Graph
5. Estilo
6. Verveine
7. Liza Pro
8. Borjomi Decor
9. Absolutely Fabulous
10. Ventura

The Poppies

Yay!
I made it to the finals for PoppyTalk's
The Poppies Awards
for the paper category
THANK YOU!

Click here to cast your vote for
InkSpot Workshop as your favorite for handmade paper goods.
Wish Me Luck!

Most Adorable Kid's Party

Let the search begin! Did you or someone you know throw the absolute, most adorable kid's party this past year? If so, click on over to The Creative Hostess and learn how to enter this most incredible contest. You'll love the list of judges and fabulous prizes.

Yours truly:)

No party is complete without these!

Perfect for the DIY party planner

Winners! Winners! Winners!

Thanks to my trusty Board of Directors for InkSpot Workshop, we have selected our
lucky winners for the FREE LUNCH giveaway.
We asked "what do you plan to do differently in 2010?"
drum roll please...

The English Pea - "Just Do It"
Sweet Love Shop - "educate, focus on small business,
read something other than kid's book"
Sun Basil Garden - "smile more"

Each of these lucky winners will receive an
InkSpot Workshop Desktop Calendar
+
$25.00 Gift Certificate to use here.
(please contact me asap for instructions)

Thank you everyone for playing. Stay tuned as we're cookin' up quite a few
FREE LUNCHES
for 2010!

Stickyfingers

Happy Sunday! It's time to roll up your sleeves and get some Stickyfingers. With all this rain today in Atlanta, I too will be tackling some of my own DIY projects around this house. Here are 3 fun projects I found while surfing, hope you enjoy. I always aspire to inspire....so go and make something!!

There is nothing sweeter (or cuter) than Moon Pie Party Favors, whatever the occasion. Once Wed shows us a detailed, step-by-step tutorial here.

Did you get engaged over the holidays? Thinking about a DIY wedding? How about adding these gorgeous Paper Confetti Holders to your list? Style Me Pretty shows us how, right here.

How about making a quilt in 1 day? One of my favorite Twitter peeps and fabric designer Michelle of Cicada Studios, shows you how over at Cicada Daydream, click here.

iCANDY - Valentine's Edition

This heart warming collection is sure to bring a smile to your face {or heart}
Why do we wait for Valentine's Day to celebrate red/pink + hearts?

Check out other ways to spread the love at InkSpot Workshop

PEACE LOVE GIRLFRIENDS
PERSONALIZED VALENTINE's KEEPSAKE COLLECTION
PERSONALIZED SWEETHEART CARDS
CUPCAKE LOVE

1.) Love Journals - Mooshchen, Australia $35.00
2.) Mini Conversation Heart Cookies - Sugar and Flour, WI $20.00
3.) Tiny Piece Of My Heart Card - Slim Arts, CA $1.00
4.) Have A Heart Wallet - Get Felt Up, OH $20.00
5.) I Love You Magnets - Lily Pottery, SC $15.00
6.) Felted Wool Bowls - The Fuzzy Monkey, TX $18.00

Come Join Us On FACEBOOK!

Come be a fan of InkSpot Workshop on FACEBOOK
It's such a great way to stay connected, share ideas, meet new peeps and have some FUN!
Hurry...we're waiting for you

Stickyfingers - Valentine's Edition

Happy Sunday everyone!
I'm in full blown Valentine's mode as I sit here this morning filling orders for these cuties. Being surrounded by so much pink and hearts has gotten me in the mood for Cupid. I've scoured the web and found 3 super easy and super cute projects, just for you.
As always, I aspire to inspire so go and MAKE SOMETHING!

Have a kid's party coming up? How about some Lollipop Favors? BHG shows you how, right here

This little project really takes the cake in terms of cuteness! Thank you Roots and Wings, for showing us how to make these Love Letter Felt Envelopes, right here.

It wouldn't be a "real" edition of Stickyfingers if I didn't include at least 1 tutorial from Queen Martha, right? How about these Lace Votive Holders? They are so gorgeous they can be used anytime you need a little romance, not just Valentine's Day.

Kickin' It Off

It's a New Year and I'm feeling a bit restless. Time to do some inner tweaking, challenge myself, learn new things, seek better results and all that jazz. I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions, but I do like the idea of making a few changes.

Here is my 2010 lineup so far ...

Seek ways to improve my blog
Take better pictures for both blog and website
Get physical in order to improve waist size and creativity

What all 3 of these changes have in common is an even better InkSpot Workshop and blog (The Spotter). It is because of you, my supportive customers and readers that I seek to improve. You deserve the BEST!

I'd like to kick off this new year with a little
FREE LUNCH!
I'm feeling generous because
InkSpot Workshop was up 52% in sales for 2009
THANK YOU!

I'm looking for 3 (yes I said 3) lucky winners this time.
I'm serving up a heapin' helpin' of
InkSpot Workshop 2010 Desktop Calendar
PLUS
$25.00 Gift Certificate
to use at www.inkspotworkshop.com

How? Simply leave a comment here with the answer to this question...

What's your biggest change going to be for 2010 and why?

On Monday, January 25th I will choose 3 lucky winners!

*Bonus Points*

spread the word!
If any of your friends enter this contest as a result of your great word spreading,
make sure they mention your name in their post.

Good Luck!

Photo Credit: Andrea Mazzini

iCANDY- 65th edition

This week's iCANDY is all about tapping into your creative side. There are so many DIY kits, tutorials and patterns to be found on Etsy, you will never have a dull moment staying inside this winter. Here are a few of my favorite little craft projects I would love to tackle.

Don't forget to tune in each Sunday, when I feature 3 different tutorials here on Stickyfingers.

1. Owl Softies Pattern - Retro Mama, WI $8.00
2. Bulletin Board PDF Calendar - Talk O Town, Lethbridge $5.00
3. Sugar Plum Bag Tutorial - Knit Art By Grace, VA $15.50
4. Japanese Screen Seed Bracelet Tutorial - Hannah Rachel, NM $10.00
5. Herb Garden Kit - Honey Spot Studios, SC $60.00
6. Fingerless Mitts Pattern - G Knits, CA $15.00

Heart Warming!

Stop by and see the new Valentine's Day collection.
Surely something for your sweetie!
Click here to visit

Great Destination Wedding Idea

Where were all these uber chic wedding blogs 5 years ago when I had my destination wedding? Seriously, the web is just crawling with unique ideas for your wedding plans. Thanks to one of my Twitter peeps, I discovered the JL Designs blog today, where the author/event planner Carissa, shares her very own wedding. Click here for the full post.

My favorite part of this terribly romantic and gorgeous wedding was how they placed Malibu, CA postcards everywhere so their guests could fill them out with advice. The intent is to have these postcards sent to the couple over the course of the first year of their marriage. This way they will get little surprise reminders of their special day in the mailbox. How cute is that?

We got married in St. John and had everyone sign a lovely coffee table book from the famous Caribbean photographer Steve Simonsen. I still love to flip through the book and remember that special time.

What are some memorable and unique twists to a traditional wedding "guest book" book you have seen?

Magical Thinking

Thank you Brooke of Inchmark for this heart warming idea for keeping the memorable things your kids say all in one place. Just this morning my {soon to be 4 year old} son said to me..."Mommy, I don't want to go back to sleep, my tummy's eye's are awake." Starting my jar today!

Stickyfingers

Happy Sunday! All this cold weather = lots of time spent indoors. Why not liven up your day by making something extra special? Here are 3 tutorials that should help make the most of a long winter day. I aspire to inspire so go and MAKE something!

Never really thought of doing your own book binding before? Me either, until I discovered this tutorial from Cottage-Industrialist. The possibilities are endless.

Crocheting is super simple and you can complete projects in no time. It's also a portable craft, so you can do it just about anywhere. I love all the beautiful hand dyed yarns and free online patterns available today, so I found this easy tutorial for you to finally learn the basics of crocheting. Thanks Lion Yarns.

If you are still intimidated by sewing and crocheting, try your fingers at this fun and easy no sew fringe fleece scarf. click here for instructions, compliments of Make and Takes.

KaChow!

Sneak Peek!

My son thinks he is Lightning McQueen and any mother to a 3-5 year old little boy can feel my pain! My very-soon-to-be 4 year old insisted upon a "Lightning Party". Who am I to refuse my sweetie? Quite a design challenge, although I must say I am pleased with what my tired brain pulled together ( so was Lightning Jr.)

Click here to see what we did during his Thomas The Train Phase.

Stay tuned to see the party in action!