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2014 Gift Guide: For the Paper and Design Enthusiast
One of my favorite posts from last year’s gift guide featured ideas for aspiring designers and calligraphers. For our final holiday gift guide this year, I’m sharing some ideas for anyone who just loves great design. I realize that probably applies to anyone reading this post right now – so whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for someone else or just want to forward this post to your significant other – here are a few gift ideas!
1. Handpainted Globe by One Canoe Two for Anthropologie
2. Midori brass ruler (also available here)
3. City of Industry Correspondence Pin Set
4. Notepads from your favorite stationer – I’m a big fan of this The Social Type notepad (in hologram foil!)
6. + 7. I love giving custom return address stamps as gifts! I’m particularly partial to these designs from Sycamore Street Press and Ladyfingers Letterpress
8. Leather card case (for carrying beautiful business cards!)
9. Three Potato Four Letters and Notes Box
10. Art is always a wonderful gift! You can find tons of ideas in the OSBP archives here, but right now I’m really loving the black and white Linda & Harriett prints and Minted Foil-Pressed Art – and big bonus: they both come framed!
11. With Lavender and Lace Pressed Flower iPhone Case
12. These Antiquaria Stamp Sets are great for personalizing envelopes or making your own personalized note cards
13. + 14. Stationery – because obviously! I’m a big fan of the stationery sets from Rifle Paper Co., including the Violet Floral Social Stationery Set (shown) and Monarch everyday letter writing sheets, and this Letterquette set from Moglea
15. Notebooks from your favorite stationer –I’m a big fan of the foil stamped notebooks from Sugar Paper (shown) and the city notebooks and notepads from Blackbird Letterpress
16. You really can’t go wrong with anything from the genius Emily McDowell – from her hilarious tote bags to mugs and notepads!
DIY Tutorial: Leather and Paint Pen Napkin Rings (and a Giveaway!)
I love the idea of incorporating unusual materials into a party, from acrylic cocktail signs to clay save the dates and everything in between. I was super excited when Sakura of America asked me to come up with a fun project featuring their Pen-touch paint markers. I expect you’ll be seeing these markers in many future tutorials (they can seriously write on anything), but today I’m sharing the first project – DIY leather napkin rings perfect for a dinner party any time of year!
Sakura recently added a color line to the existing collection of white and metallic Pen-touch paint markers. We combined jewel tones – green and blue – with white and copper for a beautiful seasonal color palette. Carolyn from Matine kindly let me raid her leather scraps, including the most gorgeous navy and gold leather – but you can also find leather in your local craft store. I love love love the combination of the copper Pen-touch markers with the navy leather! Sakura’s Pen-touch markers are completely opaque, so you can write on dark surfaces (anything from paper to wood to leather) and the lettering will still be visible. We wanted a short, fun phrase to write on our napkin rings, so Michele from Meant to Be Calligraphy lettered the phrase “yum!” in our color palette.
Supplies
Sakura Pen-touch Paint Markers
Leather
Ruler
Rotary Cutter + Cutting Mat
Awl (not shown)
Twine + Scissors
Step 1: First you’ll need to cut your leather into strips (mine were approximately 6″ wide and 1.5″ tall) using your rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat.
Step 2: Write your desired phrase in the middle of the strip. You could also write a name instead of a phrase to transform these napkin rings into place cards!
Step 3: Using an awl, punch a hole on either end of the strip big enough to thread twine through (approximately 1/8″ in diameter).
Step 4: Thread twine along the back of the leather strip and through both holes. Tighten as desired and tie closed. Done!
Michele and I had so much fun with this project! I’ve always struggled with using paint markers in the past – the paint wouldn’t flow evenly, causing the paint to pool or splatter in places – but Sakura’s Pen-touch markers write so smoothly! They didn’t ask me to say that, it’s just the truth. I’m also a big fan of the fact that Sakura offers their markers in different weights, from extra fine (great for hand lettering!) to medium (for large scale projects). I’m hoping Sakura develops a chalk marker next!
Sakura is also kindly offering a giveaway to one lucky OSBP reader! One lucky reader will win a Pen-touch package including a 3 pack of Metallic Markers in Extra Fine Point and a 7 pack of Color Markers in Fine Point. To enter, just leave a comment below letting us know what you’d do with your Pen-touch markers! You’ll have until midnight EST on Wednesday, December 17 to enter before we pick a winner at random!*
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED – Congratulations to the winner, commenter #6: Tiffany!
Calligraphy: Meant to Be Calligraphy
Leather: Matine
Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper
This post is sponsored by Sakura of America. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that help make Oh So Beautiful Paper possible!
*Limited to U.S. and Canadian readers only. Limit one entry per person. Please do not leave your email or web address in the body of the comment, only in the allotted boxes. $40 approximate total retail value. Winners will be contacted via email after comments close.
2014 Gift Guide: For the Cocktail Enthusiast
Next up in our holiday gift guide – a few selections for your favorite cocktail enthusiast from our resident cocktail expert!
1. Make your bar cart beautiful with these copper bar tools: Koriko Copper-Plated Hawthorne Strainer, Copper Jigger, and Copper Shaker
2. Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails (with 500+ recipes)
3. Coco Strainer – essential for making syrups, infusions, and liqueurs at home!
4. + 11. For an adventurous cocktail enthusiast, consider a make-your-own kit! We like this Hella Bitter Make Your Own Bitters Kit and this Homemade Gin Kit
5. + 6. Hard-to-find specialty mixers like Tomr’s Tonic and Gum Syrup make wonderful gifts. We also shared some of our favorite syrups in last year’s gift guide.
7. AHeirloom Wood Cocktail Muddler – the perfect blend of modern design and functionality.
8. Scrappy’s Bitters Gift Set – a great starter kit with some really fantastic flavors (I’m partial to the lavender bitters).
10. Vintage Glassware (Okay, so we’re a bit biased, but vintage glassware really is best! Read all about selecting the right cocktail glasses here.)
And of course if you’re looking to gift someone with a favorite bottle of something, check out our How to Stock a Home Bar post for spirit and liqueur recommendations right here!
2014 Gift Guide: For An Energetic Toddler
When it comes to gift guides, I like to stick to what I know. Last year, we shared some ideas for a not-yet-walking almost toddler, but this year we have a full blown toddler (almost preschooler!) on our hands! So in case you’re looking for a gift for the energetic toddler in your life, here are a few ideas!
1. Sophie loves anything that moves and the faster the better. My First Scooter is at the top of our list!
2. Sophie always wants to help with any project that requires a screwdriver or hammer. I think this Wood Toolbox would be a big hit! Land of Nod also has a really wonderful selection of colorful wood toys that are as beautiful to look at as they are fun to play with. I’m also a big fan of this rainbow Cascading Marble Drop and this Rainbow Stacker!
3. Magna Tiles (Solid Colors Set) – Sophie plays with Magna Tiles at daycare and loooooves them!
4. + 5. Strathmore Watercolor Paper and Washable Watercolors – Painting and drawing are probably two of Sophie’s favorite activities. I buy big pads of thick watercolor paper and let Sophie create her masterpieces using washable acrylic and watercolor paints (or markers and crayons depending on her mood).
6. Toy Camera
7. Reading is still pretty high on our list of favorite activities – and you can never have too many books! A few favorites: Do Not Open This Book by Adam Lerhaupt, Sleepyheads by Sandra Howatt, and Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
8. Pretend & Play Doctor Set – Yay for pretend play!
p.s. I also really love Joni’s gift guide inspired by her 4 year-old daughter. I have a feeling this is the direction we’ll be heading over the next couple of years!
Check back tomorrow for some gift ideas for your favorite cocktail enthusiast!