After Christmas Sales: Anthropologie, Paper Source, Local Goodies

I’m eager to hit up the post-Christmas sales for crafty items like wrapping paper, ribbon, and tags that I can use next year. It’s always like Christmas morning to open up the holiday storage bins after Thanksgiving!

Here’s what I’ve seen that’s worthy of a look-see:

Anthropologie is offering 50% off all holiday décor, in addition to their great winter tag sale that offers 25% off of other sale items (you can’t combine discounts). Though the website looks a little sparse, I visited two of three of my local Anthro stores and they had ornaments, trim, and candles galore. I bought these goodies. I just love the bright, slightly cheez vintage look.

So good. I also bought this adorable plate that I had my eyes on for $7.00 (regular $14.00). My mom bought me another design of the same plate.

Paper Source is another good store, although the one I visited in University Village over the weekend (near UW) was really picked over. I was able to get some great ideas for some Valentine’s though (yay!). The website has some goodies left.

There are two local stationery stores here, Paper Delights, and Stuhlbergs that offer discounts off their Christmas stock. Paper Delights had wonderful Rifle Paper Co. tags and coordinating gift wrap that I couldn’t pass up. And Stuhlbergs has 50% off their calendars! Super steal.

This wrapping paper would make a beautiful color scheme and inspiration for a winter baby or wedding shower. I might not be able to stash it away for an entire year. Good luck with your post-xmas sales!

Dec252014Dec 14 2015

Merry Christmas!

International Fountain, Seattle Center — Crisp Christmas walk to the International Fountain at the Seattle Center

I adore Christmas. The quiet mornings, chocolate pancakes, twinkly lights through sleepy eyes, sharing stockings and coffee, listening to classic Christmas records, and throwing on the $6.99 blurry fireplace DVD. Here’s wishing you a wonderful, relaxing holiday with your loved ones. xo

Dec172014Jul 6 2015

Holiday Photo Cards from Minted

Minted Christmas Card — 2014 Christmas photo cards. Photos on the back.

You guys. I ordered Christmas photo holiday cards and I ADORE them. I’ve been crushing on Minted for a long time and their holiday cards don’t disappoint! There are hundreds of designs and most have different color combo options. On top of that, tons of different customization options offer flexibility in the type of paper you choose, envelopes and liners, and photo layouts. They will even address your freakin’ envelopes for you! Can you believe it? On top of everything, they support independent artists. AND they recently began offering fabric and wrapping paper! I know, whaaaa?!

I chose the standard paper and envelopes that were included in the base price, and they are very high quality, thick and luxurious (better than Paper Source!). I picked out 25 of my favorites and then narrowed it down to the City Holidays design. I live in an apartment, and this card was perfect. And that script! Just beautiful.

City Holidays card from Minted — Color option #2. You can also customize the title to say anything you want!

I’ve never ordered photo cards before and in the end, I probably went overboard in my choice. I went for the 12-photo option that gives you the opportunity to post 12 pictures of various sizes with short descriptions at the bottom. Though I was worried that the pictures might turn out too small or grainy, the quality was top-notch and the photos turned out beautifully.

The best part was that I was able to purchase my design early in the season and add photos and place the order at a later date. So I bought them in early November and scored a sweet deal! Don’t get me wrong, they weren’t super cheap, but given I usually spend loads of dough on DIY supplies, the price is probably comparable.

I’ve also ordered business cards and love them (more on that later).

Dec152014Jan 11 2015

Blog Launch!

Hiya! Welcome to Gold Standard Workshop. I’m so excited to debut my blog today! I’ve been thinking about writing a blog for years (six, to be exact! Whoa.) and I finally have the guts, wherewithal, and plain courage, really, to get this thing up and running. If there’s one thing my friends and family say I could do, it’s write a blog. So, with their support and my courage, BOOM. Here we are. I find inspiration all over blog land and I sincerely hope you’ll find inspiration from me, too. GSW is a little lifestyle, a little DIY. You’ll find DIY home décor and fashion projects, and lots of experiments with personal style and figuring out how to dress for your best self. You’ll also run into my latest thrifty finds, whether paper, fabric, clothes, thrift stores, or estate sale goodies. I’d also like to share tools and resources I’ve come across in my quest to focus my life on my passions and to live life more creatively.

My biggest hope is to just be my authentic self: share ideas and projects, join in engaging conversations, and even start a few myself. I have lots of positive stuff to share and certainly to gain from others, but honesty and discussion of things that might not be going so well will be welcome here too. I have a job that is on the opposite end of the creative spectrum. It’s tedious and monotonous, but it pays the bills right now. I have other career ideas in mind (forever college student, lottery winner) but this is how it is right now. I really want to channel my creativity into this blog and grow and create in a way that my job won’t let me. It’s just little ol’ me wanting to share some of my creativity and ideas to live a fulfilling life in which you love what you do, no matter what.

Let’s have some fun!