December 2015 - Page 3 of 4

December 10, 2015

Mega Christmas Cookie Roundup

I’ve done it – blocked a day off the week of Christmas to bake my face off. A few years ago I attempted to talk my now 91-year-old Grandma into taking a step back and only making her infamous nutrolls. It didn’t go exactly as planned, so now I simply tell her how many cookie recipes I’m making so she can see the reasoning behind my request/demand. I’ll probably end up baking between five and seven different varieties, but need to narrow the list down from these FIFTY. Help a girl out?

1/Sweet Raspberry + Tahini Sandwich Cookies 2/Slice and Bake Spice Cookies with Citrus Glaze and Sea Salt 3/Old-Fashioned Almond Gingerbread Cookies 4/Almond Butter & Maple Cream Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies 5/Caramel Fluffernutter Chocolate Chip Cookies 6/Chocolate Orange Sandwich Cookies 7/Coconut, Oatmeal, and Cherry Jam Thumbprints 8/Gingersnaps with Apple Cider Glaze 9/Swig Sugar Cookies 10/Rosemary and Apricot Shortbread Cookies

11/Pumpkin Molasses Cookies 12/Honey Cookies 13/Chai Spiced Sugar Cookies 14/Milano Cookies 15/Chocolate Caramel Ginger Cookies 16/Chewy Triple Ginger Cookies 17/Cinnamon Roll Cookies 18/Cocoa Cinnamon Sea Salt Cookies 19/Cranberry Bliss Cookies 20/Thin & Crispy Coconut Cookies

21/Brown Sugar Toffee Cookies 22/Salt & Pepper Cocoa Shortbread Cookies 23/Almond Espresso Cookies 24/Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies 25/Cranberry Orange Pistachio Cookies 26/Thin and Chewy Spiced Oatmeal Cookies with Brown Butter Icing 27/Orange Spiced Sugar Cookies 28/Chai Spiced Shortbread 29/Salted Gingersnap Mallomars 30/Clove and Molasses Lace Cookies

31/Malted Chocolate Sandwich Cookies 32/Blood Orange Vanilla Bean Meringues 33/Star Anise Spiced Dark Chocolate Sables 34/Spice Sugar Cookies 35/Spicy Gingerbread Linzer Cookies with Orange White Chocolate Ganache 36/Peppermint Drops 37/Citrus Cornmeal Shortbread 38/Cranberry Orange Almond Shortbread Cookies 39/Brown Sugar Toffee Cookies 40/Colorblock Sugar Cookies

41/Cappuccino Cookies 42/Gummy Bear Cookies 43/Smoky Cardamom Ginger Molasses Cookies 44/Butter Crunch Cookies 45/Caramel Stuffed Soft Gingerbread Cookies 46/Pink Champagne Cookies 47/Jumbo Maple Sugar Cookies 48/Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti 49/Cranberry Almond Cookies 50/Whole Grain Eggnog Cookies

Posted In christmas, food, holidays, living, recipes, round up, series

December 10, 2015

Design Crush x Umbra

I’ve teamed up with one of my favorite design brands, Umbra, to share how I’m using some of their clean-lined products this holiday season. Their wares are extremely well-designed and versatile, making them an especially good fit for small spaces where they can pull double-duty.

I’m starting with my favorite, the Hub Ladder. I wrapped the expandable beech wood and rubber-coated steel clothing (or towel) holder with 200 white lights for a sculptural Christmas tree alternative. Right now it’s my bedroom lending some festive and functional flair to the chaos.

I always have fresh flowers (usually from the grocery store) in my home, so for Thanksgiving dinner I wanted to get extra creative. I used three Touch Toothbrush Holders as vases that formed a modern arrangement when clustered together. (Tip: It’s always a good idea to keep florals short so that guests can see one another across the table.)

I took down two large pieces of art that hang in my entryway and replaced them with wreaths. Each one got decorated with half of a brass Prisma Wall Decor set, which couldn’t have been easier because the pieces could be hooked around the branches.

I use the Gazette Magazine Rack year round in my living room, but for dinner parties I give it a different job – as a utensil and napkin holder. When you’re short on space you can carry it around until everyone is set to eat, then set it down someplace out of the way.

My Toto Storage Box usually lives on a bathroom shelf holding lipstick and nail polish, but during December it becomes a corral for some of my gift wrapping supplies. Sanity and patience are in short supply and this guy helps me out so I don’t lose it wondering where the pen/scissors/tape disappeared to.

Every year I inevitably end up saving a few of my favorite holiday card designs. For what? I had no clue until now. I picked up a few Corda Photo Displays to make some seasonal art that I actually like. And because you hang this frame either vertically or horizontally I can swap out favorites every year.

It’s nice to be able to stick to your style and aesthetic no matter the time of year, and when you don’t have to reinvent the wheel to do it that’s all the better.

Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Design Crush creating fresh content!

Posted In accessories, behind the scenes, christmas, holidays, house and home, living, sponsored post

December 9, 2015

4 Recipes for Winter Simmer Pots

The weekend after Thanksgiving I started swapping out the candles I normally burn with stovetop simmer pots. I was surprised at how easy they were to put together as well as just how good they made my home smell! Just keep adding water as the burn down and one can last for a few days. Pop over to eBay to check out the four simmer pot recipes I’ve had on rotation – Cranberry + Orange + Cinnamon, Lemon + Bay Leaf, Apple + Clove + Cinnamon, Citrus Peel + Eucalyptus.

Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Design Crush creating fresh content!

Posted In holidays, house and home, living, recipes

December 9, 2015

Adrienne Slane

Adrienne Slane slays at creating hand-cut collages from old illustrations and antique and decorative papers. Plants, insects, animals, planets, human anatomy, and various objects that date from the 1500s to mid-1900s make up her intricate works of art.

Posted In create, paper

December 8, 2015

Christmas Wish List

This is maybe the first year I’ve had a tough time coming up with a Christmas wish list. I’d always heard about reaching that age where you just buy yourself all of the things you want and/or need, but I thought it was probably one of those adulthood myths. (You know what I’m talking about.) But after combing through my Pinterest boards I realized there were a few things on my list after all…

1/Howell Short Canvas Parka 2/Glass Water Kettle 3/Big Shampoo 4/Signature Flannel Bedding 5/Cowboy Coffee Kettle 6/Decked Out Pink Stone Coasters 7/Ebony Stripe Planter 8/Merengue Merino Wool Blanket 9/Newen Days Opal Ring 10/Metal Framed Round Mirror

Posted In accessories, beauty bag, house and home, jewelry, kitchen, living, round up, series, style, wear it

December 8, 2015

Erin Armstrong

Toronto-based artist Erin Armstrong uses swift and decisive markings over acrylic-based images to create expressive people in everyday situations. The result is more about creating an atmosphere than mimicking reality.

Posted In create, painting

December 7, 2015

Print Edition: December

Bayleaves Watercolor Canvas by The Savvy Heart // Bowl of Ferns by Stellaire Studio // F + V by Young American Creatives // Frame Two Flat by ALSO // Good Day by Moon Rabbit Press

Good Vibes by Cat Coquillette // Indigo Lines by Sycamore Street Press // Inspirational Quote by Easy, Tiger // New York Rooftop by Idlewild Co. // Orange Sun by Honey & Bloom

Rose Poster by Fine Little Day // Subtle Horizon by Georgia Paraschiv // This Print Wished You Would… by Laure Prouvost // Vintage Beer Photo by The Beer Book // We Are All Made of Stardust by Ban.do

home decor

Posted In create, graphics, illustration, painting, paper goods, photography, prints

December 7, 2015

My Holiday Cards (+ an Artifact Uprising Giveaway)

Every year I think I’m going to skip out on doing a photo card to send out for the holidays, but then I see a design that I just can’t stop thinking about and order them. This year was no different, thanks to Artifact Uprising‘s modern looks and beautiful sayings.

After 8 1/2 years of Design Crush I figured now was a good time to do a card to send out to sponsors and PR folk who I work with on the regular. I really liked the idea of sharing a peek at my home and aesthetic for the photo, so you might recognize the shot on it from this month’s holiday mantle post.

For my family and personal friends it was none other than my pup, Bebe, front and center! I snapped this photo of her last year before decorating, and paired with the sentiment it was a perfect match. (This is also the first year I’ve included my pets names on a card – the decision to makes me laugh!)

I also toyed with the idea of New Year cards as I rushed to get the house decorated, gifts bought, and cards written out and in the mail. They’re such a great option for those of us who note December as the busiest month of the year both personally and work-wise. In fact, I’m already half planning on it for holiday season!

Now it’s your turn to win $150 to spend at Artifact Uprising! They have amazing cards and lots of other good stuff to personalize, so think outside the box. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted In behind the scenes, cards, christmas, create, holidays, living, new years, paper goods, sponsored post

December 4, 2015

Mega 2016 Planner + Calendar Roundup

1/Geometry Planner 2/Gold Foil Any-Year Daily Planner 3/Color Pop Planner 4/Life Planner 5/Planner for Creative Passion Makers 6/2016 Planner 7/Weekly/Monthly Planner 8/Arches Weekly Planner 9/DAYZ 2016 10/Kalenderheft 2016

I hope you haven’t chosen your 2016 planner or calendar just yet, because today we’re sharing the best of the best! Twenty planners and sixty calendars right here, right now. The only problem? I want them all!

11/Monthly Planner 12/Aurora Planner 13/Moment Planner (Large) 14/Marble Planner 15/24/7 Planner 16/Day Designer 17/B6 Weekly Planner 18/Wise Words 17-Month Planner 19/Purple Floral Year-Less Planner 20/Weekly Diary (Large)

1/Brush Script Calendar 2/Great Musicians Calendar 3/A Moon a Month for 2016 4/2016 Coffee & Tea 5/2016 XL Wall Calendar 6/2016 Calendar 7/Stendig Calendar 8/2016 Letterpress Stump Calendar 9/2016 Typography Calendar 10/2016 Calendar Linen Tea Towel

11/2016 Desk Calendar 12/2016 Calendar 13/Flora & Fauna 2016 Wall Calendar 14/2016 Moon Calendar 15/2016 Monthly Constellations Calendar 16/CMYK Color Swatch Calendar 17/2016 Fruit of the Month Calendar Kit 18/2016 Cocktails Calendar 19/2016 Calendar Tea Towel 20/2016 Seasonal Beer Pairings Calendar

21/2016 Calendar 22/2016 Classic Cocktails Calendar 23/2016 Birthstone Letterpress Calendar 24/2016 Famous Poets Wall Calendar 25/2016 Desk Calendar 26/2016 MMXVI Letterpress Wall Calendar 27/2016 Marble Desktop Calendar 28/Perpetual Calendar 29/2016 Floral Calendar 30/Wall Calendar

31/2016 Calendar Printable 32/2016 Stitch the Star Calendar Kit 33/2016 Interactions Wall Calendar 34/2016 Gem & Mineral Calendar 35/2016 Seasonal Moon Calendar 36/Frankie 2016 Wall Calendar 37/Amy Rice Art 2016 Calendar 38/Constellations Perpetual Calendar 39/Constellation Wall Calendar 40/Planet Coaster Calendar

41/Flora Calendar 2016 42/Pattern & Post Card 2016 Calendar 43/2016 Wall Calendar 44/Metamorphosis 2016 Calendar 45/2016 Polygons Calendar 46/Botanical Calendar 2016 47/2016 Calendar Download 48/Gold Foil 2016 Calendar 49/2016 Watercolor Calendar 50/2016 Calendar

51/Blush Wall Calendar 52/Edition #2 National Park 2016 Calendar 53/2016 Desk Calendar 54/2016 Mid-Century Modern Calendar 55/Whales 2016 Calendar 56/2016 Moon Calendar 57/2016 Calendar 58/2016 Constellation Calendar 59/2016 Calendar 60/2016 Wall Calendar

Posted In calendars, create, paper goods, round up, series

December 4, 2015

Handmade Arcade 2015

Kara Reid

Hey, Pittsburgh! Tomorrow – December 5th, from 11am to 7pm – is Handmade Arcade, Pittsburgh’s first and largest independent craft fair. Handmade Arcade brings together innovative crafters and progressive do-it-yourself designers at David L. Lawrence Convention Center to sell their handmade, locally produced, and offbeat wares just in time for the holidays.

Kara Reid created 2015’s branding art, seen above.

The process started with a basic wooden platform, painted black to boost the appearance of the typography. Almost 900 nails were used around the center logo and outside frame to create the best surface for the string. Once the existing HA logo was stenciled and painted onto the center of platform, the string was strung. Each letter was then lightly stenciled onto the surface, then re-painted twice to enhance the appearance of the typography.

Garbella

This year’s show features 160+ crafters, designers, and makers from all around Pittsburgh,
the tri-state area, and the country. Some of my favorites that should not be missed – everyday balloons, Worker Bird, girls can tell, Stak Ceramics, strawberryluna, Alternate Histories, Commonwealth Press, Garbella, Make Believe, and so many more will be there slinging their wares.

Admission is free and includes the Hands-on Handmade area. It features a variety of drop-in, short, and day-long interactive programs – including craft demonstrations, mini-tutorials, make-and-take activities, craft competitions, and art installations – all designed to bridge the gap between consumers and creators. I got a sneak peek of this year’s activities and can’t wait to make my own.

Handmade Arcade will also be launching its inaugural print publication, Things Making Things: A DIY Coloring Book, featuring original commissioned artwork by ten Pittsburgh-based artists and Handmade Arcade vendors. Inside you’ll meet their imaginative creatures who are all crafting, making, and designing things – from robots screen-printing to spiders painting – and ready for you to create an artwork of your own.

Hope to see you Saturday!

Photos by Joey Kennedy

PS: Due to the high demand for our 2015 Early Birdie Passes (which are now sold out) we are opening up a limited amount of Early Birdie Shopping Passes for a reduced fee of $10. These passes do not come with the goody bags. Passes will not be mailed, your name will be placed on the Early Birdie will-call list. Please print out your Pay-Pal receipt to ensure entrance and bring it with you to Handmade Arcade December 5th for 10AM entry.

Posted In behind the scenes, create, pittsburgh