DIY Birthday Scrapbook

For my husband's 30th birthday I planned a super fun birthday party with our close friends and family at our favorite local mexican restaurant. I wanted to give my husband something really special to remember the party, so with the help of the party guests, I created a personalized 30th birthday scrapbook. I think this is a great way to capture all of the fun of the party while giving guests a way to express their well wishes for the guest of honor.

Supplies:

Scrapbook

Stickers

Washi Tape

Fuji Instax Mini Camera (or other instant camera)

Film

Markers

Pens

Colored Paper

Scrapbooking in action at my husband's 30th birthday party!

Here are some highlights from the final product (I think it turned out great!)...

Meet Quill and Fox

As some of you may know, I am super obsessed with pretty illustrated paper goods (see this post). I mean who doesn't love getting a great card in the mail?! I save every single card I get in the mail and stash them in a box because I think one day when I am old and have a lot of time on my hands I will look back and re-read all of them. A couple of days ago I stumbled on Quill and Fox's amazing Etsy shop. I love all of their illustrations, especially the Easter Egg Hunt Invitation. Here are some of my favorites...

I have seen some great ideas for keeping cards (like this) on Pinterest. Do you do anything special with cards you get?

Blog Feature on Katelyn Brooke Designs

Today is a good day! I am soaking up spring and I am really excited because my new blog design is being featured on the blog over at Katelyn Brooke Designs. I want to personally thank Kate for reaching out to me to feature my new design in her regular Design Inspiration post!

Fellow bloggers, make sure to check out her Tips for Better Blogging too! Thanks again Kate! 

Happy 30th Birthday to my Husband!

Today is my husband's 30th birthday! We had a wonderful party for him last night at a local Mexican place and it was a blast! Here are some of my favorite shots of the party...

We made an awesome scrapbook that I LOVE! I love the idea so much I think it deserves it's own post, so stay tuned!

What I'm Reading: The Selby Is in Your Place

I don't know about you, but I love getting a "sneak peek" in to complete stranger's homes! This appeals to me because I want to know what their kitchen looks like, are they minimalists or maximalists, do they have a yard, what kind of art is on the walls, etc. I am not about "keeping up with the Jones'", but I am interested in seeing what kind of collections people have and what they consider to be a cozy place to live. So needless to say this book makes me really happy, I got it for Christmas and have been poring over it ever since. I love this book, because the spaces photographed in this book are not straight out of Elle Decor or Country Living magazine, rather they are interesting people with interesting collections and living spaces. The Selby in Your Place is a collection of photographs, drawings, and personal statements by photographer Todd Selby, who started photographing people in their homes for his side project TheSelby.com in 2008. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in popular culture, photography, art, or design. It is one of those books you can open again and again and notice something new every time.  

Want to Sponsor Me in April?

We are going great places here on Scarlet Begonia blog and I want you to be a part of it! I am enjoying the Spring weather here in Ohio and planning lots of great posts. If you are interested in sponsoring in April check out the all of your options here.  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at scarletbegoniavintage@gmail.com. I can't wait to work with you!

The Happiest 5k on Earth

Ok sooooo I am not a runner, but my husband and I signed up for this little piece of awesomeness a couple of weeks ago! Running a 5k is on my list of things to do before I turn 30 and this race happens to be in Chicago the weekend before my 30th birthday, so I thought "why not?" I have been going to Crossfit since January and we usually do short runs for a warm up, but I have never been able to run more than a mile without stopping. My goal is to actually run the whole race. The weather has been gorgeous recently and the forecast looks great, so I plan on hitting the pavement a couple of times this week. Do any of you run? What are your tips for beginners? Oh... and I will definitely post "after" pictures too!

DIY Vintage Teacup Candles

Today I am going to show you how to make vintage teacup candles. I love this project because it is super easy and does not require a lot of time. Plus, it is fun to thrift for the perfect teacups and glasses! These little candles also make great gifts or party favors. 

Step 1: Gather Supplies

Vintage Teacups and Glasses

Wax

Wicks

Pot or Double Boiler

Glass Pitcher

Skewers

Rape

Scissors

Step 2: Measure and cut wick two inches above teacup or glass.

Step 3: Tape two skewers together and use them to position wick in center of teacup or glass.

Step 4: Melt wax in glass container or double boiler over hot (not boiling) water.

Step 5: Pour melted wax in to desired teacup or glass and allow to set.

Step 6: Trim wick when wax is set. Do not burn candles for at least twenty four hours.

I want to thank my friend Sondra for helping me to take the photographs for this project. Make sure to check out her website here. Have a great day!

March Sponsorship Spotlight

Meet Nicole

Hello Scarlet Begonia readers! I'm Nicole of Knit, Nicole, Knit! I'm twenty three years young, and I call Windsor, Ontario home until the end of this month, then move out of the city, slow things down and move to the county. I am a knitter, blogger, girlfriend to my awesome boyfriend, dog-owner, bad movie watcher and TV show cancel-er (seriously, nearly every show I like gets canceled. not sure if that means I have bad taste or something else...) among other things.
My favourite thing about spring, especially this year, is planting a garden. My family had a vegetable garden when I was growing up, and I loved nothing more than taking a huge tomato, warm from the summer sun, and eating it whole, like an apple minus the core. This year, my boyfriend and I will be starting a garden at our new home.

Etsy/Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest

Meet Chloe

Hello! My name is Chloe and I am a Lazy Explorer. I dream of traveling to far away places, as I drink tea with my handsome boyfriend Dominick. Dominick and I are a team and we are usually found together. My blog is full of photos of our adventures, outfits, and some DIY projects here and there. I hope you will join me on my road trip through life.

Favorite thing about spring:
I love the in between seasons! Winter and summer are just too extreme for me. The first bike ride of the year is my favorite thing about spring. I just got a new bike for Christmas so this year's bike ride is going to be super special!

Twitter/Pinterest/Tumblr

Meet Sandi

Hi, I'm Sandi! I'm a designer by days, and blogger, Etsy seller and overall crafty chick by nights. My blog, AdaLou is my creative outlet for inspiration, where you'll find a bit of everything plus some everyday life as a mom. I hope you'll stop by to say hello!

Favorite thing about spring:

I love the warmer weather spring brings cause this means more walks to the park and enjoying time outdoors in our yard and garden.

Blog/Etsy/Twitter

COUPON : ADALOUBLOG
15% OFF either of my etsy shops (benandi or adalou) with coupon code

Meet Sam

Hi folks! My name is Sam, I'm a 22 year old vintage shop owner, stylist & blogger. I'm originally from a state shaped like a mitten but now live in the beautiful state of Montana! I love fashion & mountains.. strange combination, I know! I collect vintage treasures & sell them on RoseVintage! I also have a blog where I love to write about what inspires me! It's called Threadesque, which means a lifestyle inspired by fashion.

My favorite thing about spring: My Birthday is April 30th so Spring has always been a favorite of mine! I love the smell of springtime, it's so fresh & natural (especially in the mountains)!  One of the most beautiful/inspiring things to me is watching a plant grow from a seed, I find it incredibly mesmerizing! Speaking of which, I bought a few galvanized buckets last year at the vintage market & I'm going to start a little mobile herb garden!

Blog/Etsy/Facebook/Twitter

Exclusive coupon code for Scarlet Begonia readers- SPRING20

Thank you so much to all of my fabulous sponsors this month. It has been a pleasure working with you all!

Obsessions: Wooden Platforms

This is one trend that I am loving, although I am not sure I can pull it off...but I am going to risk it anyway!  My husband thinks platforms look ridiculous, but I don't care. I think they looks super chic and retro. The lovely bloggers below sure do know how to style super chunky wood shoes...I am in love.

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These are some of my current favorites...

Clockwise: 1, 2, 3, 4

I love the super tall Jeffrey Campbell's or Messeca's...which pair do you think I should buy??