This card was custom ordered for a birthday boy. His girlfriend based the card on one of their favorite movies, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. There’s this well-known image of the two main characters from that movie lying on the ice together. But since this birthday was a spring birthday, we opted to have the couple lying down in the grass instead of on the ice.

And here’s a little insight on what the receiver of the card had to say. This makes my job so much more amazing:

“This was the best card I have ever gotten. My girlfriend Maryna and I both really love the movie ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ because in many ways it’s a story about us and our relationship. Even before we dated, this was my favorite movie; I watched it many, many times, and memorized many of the lines from the film. One of my favorite scenes is when Joel & Clementine go to this frozen lake at night and lay on the ice, looking up at the stars. Even though both of them have really difficult lives, at that one moment none of it mattered and they could just enjoy the now, forgetting about their problems. That’s what the card is about. It’s a reminder that no matter how difficult life can be, I can forget about everything and just enjoy my amazing moments with Maryna. It is definitely the most meaningful and thoughtful card I’ve ever received.”

Inspired by yesterday’s inspiration palette, I wrapped up a little thank you present in tune with it. I wrapped it in my gold kraft paper, but used the opposite side for a more subtle look. Then I glued a mini translucent envelope on the top with a little thank you card inside and some hot pink confetti. Sealed it with two types of gold washi tape, and then added a little bit of gold washi tape on the sides and hot pink ribbon to finish it off.

In love with this polka dot jar via Fellow Fellow; this pastel look via Ruche, photo by This Modern Romance; these colorful wood blocks (image source unknown); this bed via Design Love Fest, photo via Urban Outfitters; these jars via Mon Carnet; this space (image source unknown); these pastel desserts via Ruche, photo by This Modern Romance; and the burnt out candles via Zuckermonarchie.

I have a few home decorating books, including Decorate and New Decorating Book by BHG, that I find myself constantly flipping through. I’ve bookmarked so many pages of fresh ideas that I want to try when the big move happens (and with all these ideas coming in, I’m hoping it’s going to be really soon; I just might explode from all the excitement). This is going to be good. The photos below are not from any of the two books mentioned above, but are ones that I pinned onto my Pinterest. Now that’s another big source of inspiration for me.

Living room via Camilla Tange; dining room via SF Girl by Bay, photo by Petra Bindel; kitchen (image source unknown); bedroom via NIB.

HOW TO WIN: (two options, you can do both if you’d like)

1. Follow @anastasiamika on Instagram. Snap a photo of what inspires you to be creative and post it on Instagram. Tag @anastasiamika in the caption and hashtag it #AnastasiaMarieGiveaway so the photos can be tracked.

2. Leave a comment below saying you did it and all this just might be yours!

OR

1. Follow @anastasiamika on Instagram and repost the photo found at this link: AnastasiaMarieGiveaway.jpg on Instagram and caption it: “Want to win nearly $200 worth of goodies for your creative space? Head on over to @anastasiamika’s blog to see how! #AnastasiaMarieGiveaway”

2. Leave a comment below saying you did it and you might be getting a big box in the mail!

FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: (please leave separate comments below for each entry you make)

1. Follow @anastasiamika on Twitter and tweet the following: “Win nearly $200 worth of goodies from @anastasiamika for your creative space! http://bit.ly/11DnE5Z #giveaway”

2. Like Anastasia Marie on Facebook and share the giveaway photo that’s posted there with your friends.

3. Blog about it on your blog and leave a comment below with the link to your blog post.

WHEN WILL A WINNER BE CHOSEN?

This giveaway is open through Sunday, May 12th, midnight PST. ONE winner will be chosen and announced the following day at 10 o’clock in the morning. Open to US residents only.

UPDATE: The winner of all this loot is @irinabond who posted this picture on Instagram. Thank you to all who entered!

Item specs + values: kraft storage box for $3.99; glass jars – two mini and two itty-bitty for $1.00 each; glitter clothespins – three for $0.99; tissue paper – 28 sheets for $2.98; washi rolls – three rolls for $7.00; ink pads – three pads for $5.99; anastasia marie hello rubber stamp for $12.50; anastasia marie diagonal washi stamp for $13.00; mini notebooks – two for $1.99 each; candle for $6.99; confetti – three sets for $3.00 each; mini colored pencils – 36 count for $5.99; stickers – 24 count for $3.00; gold fringe – three yards for $1.35; kraft boxes – two for $4.00; packaging supplies – ten kraft bags, ten glassine bags, ten translucent coin envelopes, and ten kraft sleeve envelopes for $7.80; satin ribbon – five rolls of two yards, $0.99 each; glitter pencils – three for $0.99; mini tags – ten of each color, $3.00 each set; natural jute – 100 yards for $5.00; baker’s twine – five yards of each color, $0.50 each; handmade paper gift bags – two for $2.99 each; paperclips for $1.99; neon gift tags – ten of each color, $3.00 each set; anastasia marie notecards – four cards for $3.49 each; tinsel glitter for $4.99; flocking powder for $2.99; handmade paper flowers in a glass bottle – .5 oz for $9.99; pearl and rhinestone 3D stickers – three sets for $1.00 each; glitter brads for $2.99; punch set – three shapes for $4.99 each; 1/4″ hole punch for $6.99.

I find myself unusually attracted to wrapped packages decked out with a paper flower on top. You might remember my fuchsia inspired one, which I believe was my first official gift wrap post in this new series. Inspired by yesterday’s inspiration palette of anemones and blackberries, this week’s gift wrap idea is all about paper anemones.

Each flower had five layers, two layers of petals in white and then a center with two layers of blue and a gold glitter brad glued on top for some fun. I used dried leaves as fillers and added a mauve satin ribbon to complete the look.

Adoring this couple via Jonas Peterson; this anemone bouquet via Style Me Pretty, photo by Caroline + Ben; these engraved hangers (image source unknown); this table setting via Ruffled, photo by Bella Grace Studios; these shoes via Refinery 29, photo by Amelia Alpaugh; this blackberry cake (image source unknown); these escort cards via Style Me Pretty, photo by Jen Fariello; and these mini crowns via Style Me Pretty, photo by Tiny Water.

Yep, you read that right! A huge giveaway will begin Thursday, April 25th. It’s been a year since I launched my new brand and I couldn’t be more excited with where things are heading. To celebrate, I wanted to thank you all but hosting a giveaway where I’m including nearly $200 worth of my favorite stationery goodies, some products by me and others not. Stay tuned for more details!

Photo via my Instagram.

This was one of my most favorite cards to make. When I got the call to design a custom thank you card that someone wanted to give to Mindy Weiss, one of the most sought after wedding + party planners in the US, I got giddy with excitement (of course).

I put Mindy at a potential client meeting, where she stands ready to present her grand ideas for a big event. Tables with centerpieces and cake designs are placed behind her. This card had over 65 separate pieces to cut and assemble together; maybe that’s why I had so much fun. Either way, it turned out fabulous and couldn’t be more happy with how it came out.

Wrapping gifts doesn’t have to be complicated, but sometimes it’s worth putting the extra effort into it. This is a similar gift wrap idea that I’ve had on the blog before, but with a fresh spin on it. (See the previous one here.) I’m really into organic things at the moment, so this is my ideal way of wrapping things up.

For this one, I wrapped the package with pinstriped kraft paper and jute. I then paired real greenery with ones cut from paper and tied those on top with the loose ends of the jute. I crumpled up some paper circles and made a string of berries that are often found on bushes. And for the finish, a tag was given gold squiggly lines with gold puff paint and taped onto the package.