DIY

Do you dread wrapping gifts over the holidays?

If you do, don’t! I’m sure that over the years, you’ve managed to master the art of wrapping regular shaped boxes. Either that, or you’ve likely accumulated piles of gift bags and tissue paper to help you get the job done. The truth is, I love gift wrapping. To me, it’s like a piece of art! Each gift can be customized with fun paper and accessories. And they can even be placed around the house before they’re shipped off to each recipient as holiday home decor!

If it’s not written down, forget about it.

Having essentially two full time jobs means that I must stay organized. Between meetings, deadlines, running errands, and well, having a personal life, there is just too much going on to be able to keep track of every mental note. As much as I rely on my phone’s calendar to keep me in check, I find writing things down on a Post-it® sticky note helps me tremendously. Perhaps its the same theory behind taking notes in a meeting or making to-do lists. The act of writing and crossing off items creates a sense of accomplishment!

I’ve been thinking about setting up a message board where my husband and I can keep track of our errands and important to-dos for quite some time now, and when I discovered these genius Post-it® Super Sticky Dry Erase Surface Sheets, I came up with the perfect solution.

Can you have enough pairs of basic sandals during the summer?

The answer is no, of course! I love pairing them with maxi dresses and they’re great to toss in my tote bag in case I decide to take a long evening stroll after work. I decided to give my two pairs of Joe Fresh sandals a dose of glam by customizing them with faux pearl beads and assorted trims. The results were awesome!

Keep reading to see the full how to and where to shop for these DIY summer sandals supplies!

A few weeks ago, I was invited to join the Scotch® Brand team in New York City to spend the evening at the Scotch® Brand Open House. It was situated in a beautiful brownstone home near Chelsea where we got to learn about their newest product innovations and get creative ideas on how to best use these products.

We saw demonstrations of expert gift wrapping styles using a variety of Scotch® Expressions Tapes as added decorations, utilizing the Scotch® Thermal Laminator for wine and cheese entertaining, and learned how we could use various tapes to make packing and moving more efficient.

Woohoo it’s finally denim jacket season and that makes me so happy! Denim jackets are perfect for the warmer season and they pair so well with just about anything (well besides more denim that is). I like the fact that they add an instant casual vibe to any summer dress.

This season, I went with a slightly unique option. I opted for a longer length style and also decided to add a few personal touches by customizing it! I promise, this DIY patchwork denim jacket couldn’t get any more dummy proof.

Keep reading to see where to shop the best patches and appliques!

I learned early on in my career the positive impact of self-motivation. I remember nearly 10 years ago, I attended a one day workshop on communications. We spent an entire afternoon working through ‘positive self talk’ exercises. And to be honest, at the time, I thought it was silly and never imagined that what I learned that afternoon would be one of the most important lessons in my professional life.

When I began my career as part of a start-up team, it meant that rarely would you be given set assignments, projects, or clients to work on. Being in a start-up environment involved rolling up your sleeves, wearing many hats, drumming up new clients, and often times, figuring out what the heck we were going to do next in order to pay our employees. To succeed in that type of setting, there is no room to be complacent, no time to contemplate, and requires a whole damn lot of self ignition.

I’m often asked where I find inspiration for my DIY projects. The truth is, just about anywhere and more often than not, around ordinary objects laying around the house. I could be starring at a lemon or a book cover and it’ll spark a thought in my head for my next project.

I was brewing my Nespresso coffee one Saturday morning and as I was refilling my empty glass bonbonniere with my favourite capsules, the pastel coloured ones particularly stood out to me. They reminded me of beautiful and delicate Easter eggs. 

A couple months ago, I shared a super fun Sharpie watercolour project for with you. I enjoyed using the Color Burst Permanent Markers so much that I decided to tackle another DIY just perfect for the upcoming season!

With Spring just around, I am already thinking about refreshing my home with an injection of colour and also eager to add some new plant life. When it comes to keeping plants alive, well, let’s just say I’ve still got a few more lessons to learn! Therefore, a bullet proof option, such as succulents are just the perfect way to kick things off.

I love using Sharpie markers in my DIY projects. They are so versatile and come in so many different colours, felt tip sizes, and can be drawn on countless materials and surfaces. With the fresh start of 2017, I’ve got my mind on setting goals and planning out the projects and accomplishments I want to tackle this year. My home office is where I get a lot of head-down work done but it’s also where I’m most inspired.

To kick off the year, I thought it’d be the perfect time customize some new notepads and desk accessories with the help of the limited-edition Sharpie Color Burst Permanent Markers. I used a simple watercolour technique with the Sharpie markers and the results were fabulous!

Do the kids in your family love unwrapping presents as much as the ones in mine? My nephews LOVE ripping wrapping paper apart. It’s been a family tradition that on Christmas Eve, we all gather at my sister’s place and bring our gifts over to unwrap. The kids are always volunteering to open up ours even though they’ve got plenty of their own to tackle!! It’s incredible how much joy they get from tearing paper and boxes apart with all their might!

This year, I thought I’d spread some extra joy to them and greet them with a couple of Giant Christmas Crackers filled with Cadbury Dairy Milk goodies! Did you know there are Christmas themed Cadbury Mini Eggs?!

Read further to see how to make giant Christmas crackers! They’re also great for adults of all ages!