Wedding | Flip Book.

They say the first year is paper (whoever "they" is), and that is delightfully open-ended.  I stumbled across FlipClips.com in a Martha Stewart back in the spring, and knew it was the perfect gift for my sister's and brother-in-law's first anniversary back on August 25.  

I took their four minute wedding trailer by Owen Video and split it into eight 30-second segments (since that's the largest size FlipClips can work with!), uploaded them to their website, and boom, eight little flipbooks arrived a few weeks later.  

Here's why I love 'em: they can relive the highlights of their wedding day in pocket-sized bites, even when separated from a computer!

Here's my terrible demo of the book (try not to judge my flipping ability!):

If I had the technological know-how to edit the trailer down further so they only had to deal with one or two books, I probably would have (8 is kinda overwhelming for a coffee table!), but I also couldn't bear to cut out any portion of the trailer, so here we are :)

xo. di.

*images property of Diane Crary; video images captured by Owen Video
*I received no compensation for this post - just sharing a fun product I loved!

Gifts | Projecteo.

Projecteo: it's a miniature projector for your instagram pictures!  And it's as easy as anything to order: just connect your instagram account, pick the pictures you want on your wheel, and give them your moola!

I bought my first one for my sister's birthday earlier this month, of pictures from our time at Disney back in January, running our first half marathon together.

I love the idea that it can just be a trinket that sits on your coffee table, and whenever you want to flip through the pics, just aim it at a wall and turn on the light.  Voila, vacation memories!  Your instagram account come to life.

Now my one issue with Projecteo: I think the light inside needs to be a little stronger to make for better focus as you get farther away from a wall.  It still makes for an adorable gift (a perfect stocking stuffer perhaps, early Christmas shoppers!), but it's not going to replace full-size projectors any time soon.  

xo. di.

*images property of Diane Crary

Gift | The 30th Birthday.

I am one day shy of my half-birthday today, meaning I have 6 months and 1 day until I am 30 years old (the horror!).  The first of my childhood friends hit that very adult-feeling milestone a few weeks ago, and though we don't exchange birthday presents regularly, I wanted to come up with a little something to mark the occasion. 

I searched through Pinterest for good 30th birthday ideas, and there were quite a few, but I was looking for something a little more understated, but intimate, so she could reflect on what it means to be 3 decades old!  Was I over-thinking it?  Yea, sure.  Nothing new there.  I kept coming back to the idea that 30 is a reflective age, meaning it's natural for us to assess our lives and say where have I been?  where am I at?  where am I going?  So here's where that led me:     

{a little sappy, but that's kinda the point!}

{light a sparkler for each piece of your life: past, present, future}

Have you come across any brilliant birthday ideas?  I would love to hear more!  

xo. di.

*images property of Diane Crary

Where We've Been.

A few months ago, I got this idea for a U.S.A. travel challenge: visit each of the 50 states in turn, and while there, buy a t-shirt with the state's name on it, take a picture wearing the shirt in said state, amass an awesome 50-picture collage of our adventure.  

Now do I need 50 more t-shirts?  Of course not, but I say it's a small price to pay to fully embrace this great nation of ours.  I don't plan to put a time limit on it, at least not yet, as I think a lot of the fun of the final product (beyond the memories of course) will be seeing us through the years.  

I came across the above print from This Paper Shop (a lovely little online stationery store) this week, and it gave me the motivation to accept in writing the challenge I had dreamed up back in the spring: it's on!  Lucky C, he gets to go along for the ride ;)

Have you ever done something similar?  Or thought about it?  Tell me!

xo. di.

*image via This Paper Shop

Engagement Gift Guide.

1 Mrs. Lilien's Cocktail Swatchbook / 2 Croc Cocktail Shaker / 3 Mint Infused Simple Syrup / 4 Polka Dot Paper Straws 

5 Happy Hour Simple Syrup / 6 Rifle Paper Co Coasters / 7 Kate Spade His & Hers Glasses

This round-up includes my favorite gifts to give (and some of which I have also been honored to receive)!  It's all about the cocktails for this part of the celebration :) Do you have any go-to gifts for the newly-engaged? 

xo. di.

*images as linked above

{holiday} diy gifts.

who still needs some last minute gift ideas of the diy variety?  bueller?  bueller?  hey, at least i'm not trying to do a gift guide this late in the game!  

so here's 3 diy presents you can still pull together before christmas:

{1}

christmas in a jar

i found this recipe about a year ago on pinterest (via dandee) and saved it for this christmas.  i gave it as hostess gifts and little extras.  i even kept one for myself and have been using it almost every evening for christmasy scents in the apartment.  i purchased all the spices on either amazon.com, nuts.com or myspicesage.com.  instead of using labels, i printed the instructions on kraft paper and then used a circle punch to make little tags which i tied around the jars with baker's twine and voila! gift!  

{2}

guinness reindeer

i gave these to my dad last year for christmas (along with some garrett's popcorn, as you can see in the photo!).  you can find all the supplies at a michael's or similar, and from there all you need is a hot glue gun and some twists in a pipe cleaner!

{3}

paperwhite bulbs

this was last year's diy gift to friends and hostesses (see more here).  

plants and bulbs are always well-received!

hope this post gets the creative juices flowing for all my lovely procrastinators out there :)

xo. di.

*images property of Diane Crary

a wedding gift.

i know just yesterday i said i'd spread out the wedding talk, and i will, but i'm antsy to share what c and i gave the happy couple cause i'm kinda in love with it: a custom piece of art from alexander & co. that looks like this:

working with alexander & co. on this was seamless, quick, easy and kinda perfect.  i found them through a run of the mill "unique wedding gifts" google search (seriously!) and when an image for a "grand hotel" poster came up - which also happens to be in northern michigan - i immediately clicked through to see more.

you provide the names, location, and date.  they do the rest.  mine arrived in a little over a week (!), but i think the norm is more like 2-3.
  

{wedding catalog}

their children's artwork is just as adorable.

{children's catalog}

i am just so happy with the final product.  definitely recommend for a different, personal wedding present. 

xo. di.

*images of tracy & andy's gift property of diane crary; all other images as noted above

p.s. my shabby apple giveaway ends tonight at 5 p.m. - have you entered yet?!

besotted.

i am such a fan of besotted brand.  i found miss b.'s labor of love through her blog first, where she often discussed the process of making her business a reality, which made me a fan before she was even open for business!  her attention to detail and love of good packaging had me immediately, so when the business launched its own website a few months ago, i had to make a purchase.  i made the diy stationery kit and skull & bones hand stamp my own. 

now that christmas is over, i can share why i needed that skull & bones stamp.  a little embossing project created these for c:

cute and creepy at once, no?  perfect for c ;)

xo. di.

*images by diane crary

paperwhite.

a last minute little gift idea for you guys today.  i put together these paperwhite bulb packages right after thanksgiving so i'd have them ready as needed.  they're perfect hostess gifts or just a little something extra.  i purchased both the bags and the bulbs through amazon marketplace, but you can find bulbs at most any florist this time of year, and similar bags at craft stores.    

{freshly planted}

{3 weeks in, about to bloom}

they are so easy to grow, so you can feel good gifting it to pretty much anyone. 

xo. di.

*images by me

holiday guide: the wrapping

leading up to that most special of days - christmas, of course! - i thought i'd share ideas i find for gifts, wrapping, decorations, and all of the little details involved in making a wonderful holiday season. 

so i  learned quickly this year that the wrapping is a great way to keep my pledge to support independent and handmade artists.  there are many special paper good supply stores on etsy and independent websites, some of which you'll find below.  

"six inch ribbon curls, honey."

"that's impossible."

"SIX.  inches."

-elf

 {l: scrapbits on etsy, r: rue magazine extras}

{l: paloma's nest r: petits details on etsy}

 {handmade paper tags on packages via design*sponge}

 {old brooches on packages via design*sponge}

 {add a teeny bit of greenery via design*sponge}

{a hint of glitter via knot and bow on etsy}

{a white (and cream) christmas from grey likes weddings via style me pretty}

this year i decided to go with simple brown kraft paper, and then use twine, glittery ribbon, and handmade gift tags to dress them up.  i admit to not being done with the wrapping yet (there's still time!), but here's my work-in-progress:

{my 2010 wrapping supplies}

{a finished package for c}

diane's favorite online 

paper goods/wrapping supply stores

olive manna

knot & bow

caramelos

petits details

in haus press

the twinery

primele

the creative place

brown paper packages tied up with string: these are a few of my favorite things. . .
 
xo. di.

*all images not identified above are from my personal collection

return to tiffany.

my obsession with ms. audrey hepburn aside, i don't find myself to be a huge tiffany & co girl these days (although that scene in sweet home alabama where patrick dempsey tells reese witherspoon to "pick one?"  yea, still jealous).  yet every year, without fail, they win me over with their holiday ad campaign.  i always find myself ripping them out of magazines, saving them with my christmas decorations, and this year?  well, posting them on my blog of course!

 

falling snow.  an adorable family.  and robin's egg blue.  i melt.  

xo. di.

*images via tiffany & co's facebook

holiday guide: etsy finds and faves

leading up to that most special of days - christmas, of course! - i thought i'd share ideas i find for gifts, wrapping, decorations, and all of the little details involved in making a wonderful holiday season. 

you didn't think i'd go through this whole holiday guide without an etsy-only gift list, did you?!  here's an assortment of favorites:

 {clockwise from top left}:

Empire State Building graphic illustration by LCYblog, $15

Chanel Bottle print by clare owen drawing, $12

3 Mini Fashion prints by Brooklit, $16

So Many Birds pillow by Olive, $20

 {clockwise from top left}:

Honey Bee Necklace by shop something blue, $44

Mini Rosebud pins by heart of light, $11

Steampunk Owl by birdzNbeez, $24

Forget Me Knot Bow Tie Ring by paupers bounty, $12

{clockwise from top left}:

 Pride & Prejudice quote mug by Brookish, $16

How Do You Like Them Apples apple pie in a jar by all jarred up, $7

Linen Knitted Lace spring scarf by knitfrekkles, $160

Return Address Stamp with custom calligraphy by Primele, $59

 

xo. di.

*images as linked above