melon head

Etsy has clearly been on my mind recently! Shopping there of course, but now I'm delving back into selling a little bit.

So I whipped up a couple listings and did a little "soft open" of my shop last week. Currently there are only two items but I'm planning on doing more invites soon. If there's something you'd really love to see let me know!

One of the two items available is this fun fruit themed party invite above! Who doesn't love a good pineapple to start the party? I've had such a great time making little party paper freebies in the past that I wanted to do something new to coincide with my shop's opening.

Without further ado I present to you: MINI WATERMELON BUNTING!

(download here, for the impatient)

Seriously, the possibilities are endless for these tiny babies. I just hung them on my wall, but you could make a cake topper or wrap little gifts in it! Or just wrap your entire self int them and live a watermelon-y life.

Making them is super duper easy too, and if it's coming from me (my craft is.... sub par?) it must be true.

What you'll need:

• The printable file from yours truly
• An exacto knife or scissors 
• Twine or string in whatever color your heart desires
• Glue! I used Tacky Glue and it worked like a charm.

What you'll do:

1. Cut out the little watermelon diamonds!
2. Fold on the dotted line - if your paper is a little stiff like mine was you can try making a veeeery light score with your exacto knife. That way your paper won't tear!
3. Outline one of the triangles with glue. Make sure to get the glue in the crease! I applied it slightly away from the outer edges so that it didn't squish out in the next step.
4. Place the open diamond where you'd like it to be underneath the twine and squish it together! 
5. REPEAT!!!

 Now you have fun party invitations and fun party decorations... all you need is some cake and you're set!

sleepyhead

I wonder what this little fella is dreaming about? Probably a nice slice of St. Andre (my favorite cheese) on a cracker, right? That's what I normally dream about. 

Now that it is officially spring I've started thinking about (a) brunch and (b) more brunch. And since we're on the topic of brunch I'm going to go ahead and remind you that I still have these super awesome invitations and stickers to download from last year - perfect for anybunny's (see what I did there) fancy brunch party!

Speaking of those little freebies, wayfair.com actually featured them on their VERY IMPRESSIVE list of Easter downloadables. Somebody needs to use every single thing on that list and have the MOST IMPRESSIVE Easter party ever. Do it, and send me photos.

I'm such a sucker for a fancy badge.

stuck on you

It's been about a year since I whipped up those Easter downloadables, and with Valentines/Galentines/Anna Howard Shaw Day very very fast approaching I figured it was time to do another little set of freebies!

You like birds? You like cats? You like LAHV? We'll you're in luck, these stickers celebrate all three of 'em. I used one to fancy up a little baked good gift, but you could use them to seal envelopes for LAHV LETTERS or something! The world is your oyster. 

You can download the file for freeeeeee here, and if you want to be really fancy you can buy Avery's #22807 Round Labels, for which I formatted this file to print perfectly on. 

AND, finally, if you'd like to put these stickers on your blog I only ask that you link back to this post and mention my name. If you post a picture of these stickers in action on instagram you can totally tag me in the picture, I'll give you ALL THE LIKES.

here they all are! lil' babiesssss

over easy

Sigh! This is the first year in quite a long time that I won't be celebrating brunch season (friends brucnh is well documented) with all my buddies. I look forward to it every year thanks to the sheer amount of food, friends and mimosas... AND PARTY POTATOES. I know, you don't know what party potatoes are. I forgive you, you truly don't know what you're missing.

But now I'm in another state! So instead of sit around and bemoan my lack of party potatoes (and the buddies that go along with them) I  decided to make a fun brunch invitation that anyone can use! For free! I know, I am truly the kindest of people. It's not like I love drawing rabbits, no sir. They are not the cutest rodent lagomorph known to man, not at all. 

AND, if you're having a brunch with children (of any age) invited, I also made a fun little sticker sheet! You can get full page sticker paper at Office Max or Staples or online and cut them out with an exacto knife. 

So go! Invite your friends to a brunch and make sure someone brings deviled eggs.

Download the invitation here / Download the sticker sheet here

inspire/invite

I'm really starting to get into stationery, folks. A few wedding invites under my belt and now I want to do it all. It allows for hand drawn type and fun colors and cute things. So yesterday I decided I was going to challenge myself by making a small trend board for a theoretical party and then create an invite to go along with it.

It was so much fun. SO MUCH FUN, this is the kind of thing that I think is fun. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!

Just kidding! Nothing is wrong with me, I just like drawing fun fall harvest party things. And hey - if you're planning on hosting a harvest party you're in luck, because this baby has a nice big empty box for you to fill in the details via photoshop/word/mspaint/a pen.

Download the hi-res file here here (sorry for anyone who encountered a broken link! I fixed it. -Emma From the Future) for all your pumpkiny party needs! And then invite me to the party so I can try that roasted veggie pizza!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

full moon

Okay children of the VHS era. (and beyond, I suppose), how many of you had a movie that you always put on when you stayed home sick from school? Like chicken noodle soup and a couch full of blankets, it's something comforting that you know you can count on when you feel like crap.

The NeverEnding Story was definitely my sick movie. My mom probably realized that it had the great combo of being long for a children's movie, excitement, fun creatures, and a pretty princess. What else do you need?! That's all I could think about when the Silver Screen Society asked me if I'd do a piece based on the movie for this month's series. Sorry Atreyu & Artax, I know you guys are the tops but the Childlike Empress is totally my jam. I mean, just look at this shot from her set. THAT DRESS. I die.

I also sized this piece so you can print it out and use it as a BOOKMARK. OOOOH, AHHH! Just in case, you know, you want to go out and read the book version. Download the hi-res bookmark file here.

Since it's Friday and maybe you need some tunes to jam out to, here are a couple songs I listened to in order to get into the Moonchild state of mind.

clogs - cocodrillo

the dirty projectors + björk - on and ever onward

pattern pals #6: abstract

Maybe you've noticed, but Katie and I haven't posted a new pattern pals in awhile. We went on a little hiatus, but I'm happy to say WE HAVE RETURNED. On the same day as the new Kanye album comes out - coincidence? Yes, but let's pretend that it's not.

This time around for a theme we unwittingly gave ourselves a challenge: abstract! I am always admiring the simple shapes and texture patterns that textile artists create. But it turns out that is easier admired than done. I played around with about five million variations of patterns before I settled on this one. They kinda look like fancy bon bons, don't they? Katie's is a great compliment to it, like freshly cut grass.

As per usual, here are some free wallpapers: iphone / ipad / tile for desktop

And! It's also available as an iphone case over on my very dusty and unused Society6 page!

Next up: the corresponding dream outfit. This one is an early summer, window shopping, iced coffee celebration of the fact that it hasn't rained for TWO DAYS here in Minnesota. That's right, we dumped the snow and almost instantly fell into a rainy spell. Portlandians, I don't know how you do it. 

bag / shirt / skirt / sandals / bracelet / hat

fruits of your labor

I definitely had to do a double take when I stumbled across Emma Magazine. Guys. The tagline is "if Martha was a twenty-something". I KNOW, I know, how did this magazine with my name just happen to be made for me? Some things are just meant to be, especially because after I e-mailed the ladies over at the magazine we quickly agreed that I should do an illustration for an upcoming issue.

So if you like tasty beverages of an alcoholic nature then you absolutely MUST check out the March issue! You'll be able to check out my illustrated sangria recipe and there's a link to download and print your own little hang tag, a perfect way to present someone with a bottle of wine at a party. There's also adorable fashion, delicious salad recipes and a farmer's market roundup! GO READ!!

pattern pals #3: tropical

That's right friends, it's time for another themed pattern! This week it's going to be around 30 degrees in Minnesota - AKA TROPICAL. Seriously guys, I've been wearing a VARIETY of coats... instead of just the one that is the warmest. It's a miracle, maybe spring really is coming early this year.

To celebrate, Katie and I are dreaming of travel plans and tropical climates. I have a very specific scenario in mind for this pattern: me sitting by a pool that is scattered with fragrant, massive flowers and plants with a tropical drink in hand. That comes through, right?

You know the deal, here come the freebies: repeating tile / iphone wallpaper / ipad wallpaper

I'm also tossing around the idea of including a dream outfit inspired by each pattern from now on.. what do you guys think? This one obviously had to be a beach-worthy outfit...

bag / swimsuit / tunic / sunglasses / sandals

now someone stop me from online swimsuit shopping....

pattern pals #2: vday

I have a new pattern for PATTERN PALS! Katie and I decided it would be too much fun to pass on a v-day themed pattern. Mine is of the French variety, avec les macarons et les... hand drawn type. And you know what patterns means right? FREEEEEBIEEESSSSS:

iphone wallpaper / ipad wallpaper / seamless tile

This time around I'm also going to point you towards my brand new (very tentative, I have to admit I don't know exactly what I'm doing here) Society6 shop! That's right, you can buy an iphone case or a greeting card WITH THIS VERY PATTERN ON IT! Say whaaaa...

 

Check out Katie's pattern - she's givin' ya TWO for the price of ONE!

supply & demand

Hello, bloggie! Did you have a nice Thanksgiving? I certainly did - although at 18 attendees this year our numbers were down ever-so-slightly. That's right: usually the "Tritsgiving" (as I like to call it) tops off somewhere in the 20s. Even so, it was delicious and full of plenty of merry-making.

Things are getting festive and holiday-y now, so before I descend down that path (party planning, cookie baking, present buying, etc) I wanted to post one little non-Christmasy thing. I've been working on this pattern as part of a self-initiated challenge to make more patterns. There was a hot second where I was going to create a pattern for a fabric and then make bandanas from the fabric, but that might be best left for next year.

But that doesn't mean we can't use this fun lil' guy inspired by my love of cute office supplies! NO SIREE. Here, some links to get you started:

ipad wallpaper / iphone wallpaper / seamless tile 1 / seamless tile 2

Feel free to offer these up on your blog but (of coures) only if you link back here! And please, let me know so I can stop by and say thanks!!

lather rinse repeat

I completed work for a deadline early on Thursday and decided to practice something new. I learned a little bit about repeating patterns in school, but never pursued them too much after graduating. Well, now I know a little more, thanks to a combination these two tutorials. And now YOU have a new desktop or iphone wallpaper! WOO!

repeating tile

iphone wallpaper: big version / small version

Feel free to offer these babies up for download on your blog, but please make sure to link back to this post.