inspiring creativity AND a giveaway!

I’ve already spent much of my morning catching up on all of the blogs I missed during the past 70 hour work week. I’m so excited to start my big birthday wish list – or more like, birthday to-do list – but I’ve already had a slow start to my day.  That means lots of time to make-up already!

Yesterday was NOT just another manic Monday – it was a record breaking prescription filling day… Monday + the first of the month + the first day of safe roads after the big snow + doctors offices opened back up after being closed due to snow + 14 hours in the pharmacy with NO BREAK WHAT-SO-EVER + a 2 hour commute home at the end of the day = complete and utter exhaustion.

Strangely enough, I’ve been sticking to a little mantra lately, “keep calm and carry on”, that saw me through the day and even kept a smile on my face. It didn’t hurt that I knew I got to go home to my husband and puppy at the end of the day, both of whom I hadn’t seen since Thursday!

So I’ve been soaking up my lazy morning today, feeling a little guilty for still sitting around and making no progress on the list, until my hubby called on a break from classes and told me I deserved the rest. I don’t know why I needed another person’s approval that it was okay to kick my feet up for a while - but I did. I big puffy heart love him.

So I needed the encouragement to rest – and I believe I am 99% finished with that for now. I now needed the encouragement to get busy! I have just the fix…

I picked up Martha Stewart Living magazine while at work the other day just to browse, not to buy. One little spread in the mag sold me and I had to bring it home with me.

Meet Darcy Miller – she truly has inspired me with her “scrapboxes”.

 

 

Darcy is an editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings and ALSO  illustrates custom stationary {baby announcements, save-the-dates, wedding invites, mailing labels, etc.}  for Cherry Berry Paper. It is AMAZING what she can custom make, including illustrating stationary from a picture of your family!

In her spare time, she started preserving the memories of her own life with these amazing shadowboxes meet scrapbook, or “scrapboxes” as she calls them. She did an art show for charity, sponsored by Andy and Kate Spade {yes, THE Kate Spade we love}, with proceeds benefitting the pediatric endocrinology and diabetes division of Mount Sinai Medical Center in NYC.

The magazine spread was all about the show – I would’ve loved to have went!

I just wanted to show you a few pics of the scrapboxes that amazed me. The article showed much more – you really should pick it up, even if just to browse in the grocery store line without purchasing ;) my favorite way to pass the time.

{Side note: I was soooo not paid to do this and have no connections to this big-wig, in case you were wondering! I was truly just taken back from the magazine spread and then WOWED from her website! I have to share when something moves me like this did =)}

All of the pictures and captions are from HERE at MathaStewart.com, where you can find many, many more of Darcy’s scrapboxes. You won’t be disappointed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A photo of Pippa, Darcy and Andy's youngest daughter. One of her favorite toys, a giraffe, prances at the bottom of the box, and the label is mounted on foam board for added dimension.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darcy's childhood copy of "Goodnight Moon," a family favorite, fills this box. A photo of husband Andy reading the book to Daisy adheres to the inside of the glass with double-sided tape, and dark-green background paper matches the cover's palette.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daughter Pippa arrives, photographed here in the arms of her father, Andy. The collage captures memories of the day -- the baby cap and Darcy's hospital bracelet -- as well as a sonogram image mounted on foam board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Nussbaums' sand-filled vacation lives on with a dynamic family portrait and a row of collected seashells.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This box contains mementos from Daisy's princess party, including the front of a tiara, an invitation, and a lollipop, the last two decorated with Darcy's princess sketches. Oversize pink confetti, some adhered to the inside of the glass with double-sided tape, adds a festive note.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ella's ballet photo is enlarged to the size of the frame and backed with foam board, to which her first pair of slippers is pinned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A captivating photo of baby Pippa makes a graphic statement: The enlarged images are centered atop one another. Busy images can be distracting in multiples, so choose a simple subject for this project. For ease, purchase a photo in each size when ordering online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darcy's parents, Madge and Martin Miller, beam in the aisle as newlyweds; beside the photo is their wedding invitation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A collage of mini photos captures Darcy and her three girls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like I said – MUCH more on line at DarcyMillerDesigns.com. Her work makes me wanna jump up and get going on all the fun little projects I need to get done in my house – the perfect get busy encouragement. {Plus, how inspiring is she –> editor, illustrator, wife and mom of 3 gorgeous little girls AND finds the time to even scrapbox… she puts my to-do list to shame.}

 

In honor of my new inspiration, and since I was already ordering one for my friend {I get to be the Matron of Honor for the first time!}, I’ve decided to give away one of Darcy’s awesome Wedding Scrapbooks:

It chronicles how you met, prompts you with questions, has little details similar to a baby book timeline, and has places for your own pictures. It also has tons of illustrations and pictures that people are saying they can’t help but look through for hours… it’s classy, not corny, if you get the drift.

The reviews of this book from customers who bought it just rave about it!

It was also featured in Oprah’s O, The Oprah Magazine.

I might even have to order one for myself.

 

Win it for you, to keep all of those little details before they slip from your memory, win it for your future wedding, or win it for a friend!

{It’s great to stock up on last minute gifts for those occasions when you don’t have time to do the shopping!}

I’ll randomly choose a winner one week from today, Tuesday, the ninth.

 

 

The rules:

1. You must be a follower of this blog to win.
2. Get one entry for commenting.
3. Get two entries for posting about our little giveaway on your blog.

 

Good luck!

Now back to my birthday wish to-do list!

I’ve added even more since telling you about it… {!}