LOVE IS IN THE AIR (BALLOON)

On Saturday, after a long week at this conference, I came home to a delightful surprise! My dear hubby had filled our entire bedroom with balloons (my favorite)! Needless to say we spent the whole weekend batting them around the house.
Turns out balloons get everywhere . . . . 

 . . .  in the living room . . . 

 . . . in the bureau . . . 

 . . .  in the bathroom . . .  (ha!)

. . .  in the kitchen . . . 

 . . . even in the closets!I hope you had a wonderful weekend full of love (and silliness).  

LAST MINUTE VALENTINE CARDS

Are you a bit of a Valentine's Day procrastinator? Never fear! I have rounded up a couple of inspirational ideas that you can print, create or craft in a flash. Plus you will get bonus points for avoiding the Hallmark aisle!

Insanely adorable free printable valentine postcards by You Are My Fave

Awesomely geometric heart card (with free template) from the fabulous Mini Eco

Bold typographic free printable valentines from Ann-Marie Loves

Calligraphed cuteness from the Etsy shop JustaBirdPrintables ($5 download, print yourself)

Pretty patterned mini card free printables from A Pair of Pears


What are your plans for Valentine's Day? I have a couple tricks up my sleeve to surprise the hubby, but on the whole we are keeping it low key. I hope you have a weekend full of love and happiness; I will see you back here next week!

IDEAS FOR THE LAST MINUTE VALENTINE

With Valentine's Day on a Tuesday this year, you may have already spent this past weekend cuddling with your sweetheart and whispering sweet nothings to each other. But in case you are celebrating tomorrow and are still looking for the right way to show you care, here are some great last minute ideas to ring in the day of love.


write a love note | DIY valentine cards
1. Kissing Thaumatrope, The Brooding Hen
2. Valentine Scrabble Gram, Oh Happy Day
3. Pixelated Pop Up Card, mini eco


send an e-card | instant gratification
4. Big Love E-Card, Kate Spade
5. Love You To Pieces E-Card, West Elm


get crafty | cute, quick projects 
6. Sweet Nothings Mini Megaphone, Design*Sponge
7. Naturally Sweet Food Stickers*, twigandthistlestore
8. I Love You Garland, Lovely Indeed




*Though these are available for purchase (and therefore not technically "instant"), you could easily make your own version with office supply stickers—just make sure you put them on plastic containers and not the food itself.




Looking for more love-ly ideas? Head here and here.

RICHARD MOSSE

I received a gallery show announcement for photographer Richard Mosse a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately I missed the exhibition, but yesterday I decided to look through his portfolio anyway. Needless to say I was floored! Aren't these stunningly beautiful? That color!


See more of his work here.




Also, without further ado, I am pleased to announce the winner of the Bites Dessert giveaway is . . . drumroll please . . . Karen F! Karen, I will have Shreena email you with all the details. Thank you all for entering! I am going to try to do more giveaways from here on out so keep checking back in. And Happy Valentine's Day!

GETTING SWEET & CRAFTY: VALENTINE'S DAY IDEAS

The way to make a holiday feel special (especially for the DIY-crazed folks like me), is to do just a little bit more than the everyday. It doesn't have to be a big thing, but hanging up a banner or making your own card or setting out new, pretty candle can turn a "Hallmark" holiday into something more personal and special and, well, fun! So, here is a little round up of ideas to set that amorous day, February 14th, apart from the rest. Hope you like it!


one | Yrsno Candles, Ikea, $2.99
two | Crinkled Wheel Set, BHLDN, on sale 12 for $16
three | Lace Hearts Tutorial, Michelle Made Me
four | Folded Cards Tutorial, Martha Stewart*
five | Raspberry Almond Financiers, Martha Stewart*
six | Foxy Valentine Favors How-To, PaperSource
seven | Romantic Paper Hearts Garland, thePathLessTraveled, $8.50
eight | Playing Card Valentines Tutorial, Martha Stewart*







Also, don't forget to enter the Bites Dessert giveaway here! It ends today at 5pm so get in while the getting's good! 




*Did I tell you I was on the Martha Stewart Show? Check out the link (in the "Headlines" section of the sidebar ➭) to watch a clip!

LOVE, NOTED

As a stationery nerd, I have to say that my favorite part of Valentine's Day (besides cuddling with my sweetie, of course!) is picking out the right card for the right person and dropping it in the mail as a little surprise. Remember when we used to give everyone in our class a little valentine? Why does that have to stop? I would love to be able to send a note of love/friendship to everyone in my life . . . wouldn't you?


If you are looking for cards that are sure to make someone smile, the companies listed above—Egg Press, Walk Up Press, Fugu Fugu Press, Rifle Paper Co.—never fail to deliver. I am particularly in love with the heart shaped Egg Press cards and Rifle's 'You're a Fox' card. Too cute!


Have a great weekend all! Make sure to enter our delicious Valentine's Day giveaway here! See you back here with more 'obsessive images' on Monday!

GIVEAWAY: MINI AND DELICIOUS!

     


Just in time for Valentine's Day, I am happy to announce a big (and tasty!) giveaway!* The lovely Shreena, owner and baker extraordinaire behind Bites Desserts, has offered to give one lucky reader one of her "Sweetheart Bouquets" (below) which have 12 red velvet cake pops with pink vanilla frosting. Aren't they adorable? I think they would be the perfect alternative to the traditional red roses and box of chocolates.







So how can you win?


For one entry:
Leave a comment below with your favorite way to celebrate Valentine's Day. Make sure you leave your email address so I can contact you!


To double your chances:
Tweet about the giveaway by mentioning @katiejosephson and #giveaway (and tell me you did in the comments).


To triple your chances (whoa!):
Like Bites Desserts on Facebook here (and tell me you did in the comments).


The giveaway will close next Tuesday at 5pm and the randomly-chosen winner will be announced on Wednesday!


And for all of you who can't wait that long, O.I. readers will get 10% off everything in the Bites Desserts shop by using the code VDAYBITES. Also, check out Shreena's blog here and facebook page here.




*As always, I only write about products, people and organizations that inspire me and fit in with the O.I. aesthetic. In doing this giveaway I have received no compensation whatsoever; I just wanted to feature the lovely Shreena and give you a (well-deserved) treat!

LAST MINUTE VALENTINE

Last week I gave you tips for making Valentine's Day last all year. Today, I am helping out all of you procrastinators out there. Forgot to get your near and dear a little somethin' somethin' for the day of love? Never fear, Kate Spade is here! The Kate Spade B Mine Gallery has a ton of (free!) e-cards designed by some fabulous artists, designers and illustrators.

Go check it out here!

(Just further proof—like this and this—that everything Kate Spade is right up my alley.)

MY (PERMANENT) VALENTINE

This morning I was lamenting the fact that I was behind on my Valentine's Day posts. But I realized something: why celebrate love only one day of the year? I really like the idea of doing small special things for your loved ones on unexpected days, surprising them with little notes or gifts just to make them smile. So, another idea: why not have your walls decorated with artwork that reminds you to spread the love? These are currently some of my favorites:

top to bottom, left to right:

I Love Us, KantanDesigns, $9

Personalized Couple Portrait, Rifle Paper Co., $250

I Have Always Known It Was You, Row Boat Press, $15

Heart Poster, Banquet Atelier Workshop, $50

VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER

This year my sweetie and I decided to keep it quiet on Valentine's Day—we're making a nice romantic dinner at home. My recipe folder is chock full amazing inspiration and it is so hard to decide. Chicken Stir-Fry Wraps? Fettuccine with Peas, Shallot and Herbs? Steak with Arugula and Balsamic Mushrooms? Salmon Fillet with Citrus and Thyme? They all look delicious.

Either way I know I am going to tackle this fun baking project: a Heart Cake! Though I will certainly keep the red velvet cake in the middle, I think I might switch it up and make the rest dark chocolate. No matter, there is a great step-by-step tutorial on the blog 'I Am Baker'. I will let you know how it comes out!

VALENTINE PRINTABLES

On Wednesday, Armelle (one of my favorite blogs!) did a great post about free cards and favors you can print for your Valentine. How adorable are these ideas? You can check all of the picks here.

Happy weekend!

THE THOUGHTFUL VALENTINE (STAMPS INCLUDED)

My grandfather was a big-time philatelist. During the 1960s, when stamp collecting was still a common hobby, he owned a small store which sold collectible American stamps. His passion, however, was always European stamps and to this day his collection from the tiny country Liechtenstein is one of the best anywhere.

Given all that, I have a special place in my heart for a well-designed and thoughtfully used stamp. And as hand-written notes slowly start to disappear (the possibility of a future with no snail mail at all is absolutely horrifying to me), I feel that receiving a pretty note in the mail is all the more exciting and meaningful. Mara's offer of hand-calligraphed valentines mailed with these lovely vintage stamps thus makes me very very happy. I love her stamp combinations, making up mini "narratives", and know that they would look wonderful paired with her beautiful script (which I posted about here).

Learn more about this awesome offer here, check out the 'neither snow' blog here and website here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope you have a day filled with lots of love!  

Just don't forget to brush your teeth first!

let's get it on screenprint poster, linocutboy, $12

VALENTINE'S DAY CARD ROUND UP

It's almost February and you know what that means!  Valentine's day!  I know that I have posted recently about cool sites for Valentine's Day gifts, but I thought I would throw in another post about Valentine's Day cards.

Here is a grouping of my favorite letterpress valentines from Etsy--all of which are reasonably priced around $3 (not including shipping)--which means that you will be guaranteed a great product and feel good knowing you are supporting a small business/local artist.

From top to bottom:

i love you, pistachiopress, $3.50

love guy, littlepretty, $3

je t'aime, set of six notecards, delphineSTUDIO, $12

boy with letters, sweetbeets, $5

f*cking love, ParAmourDesigns, $4

be my naughty valentine, clementinepress, $3