I like to capture a colorful life but, I have to admit, I don't always live a colorful life on a day to day basis. How so? Well, my closet is mostly filled with black, gray, and lighter gray. I stare at textbooks with barely any use of color most of the day. And I sit at a desk or in front of a computer, soaking up as much color as I can to compensate for everything else. If this sounds like you too, I'm glad I'm not the only one. But maybe there's hope for us, right? There's gotta be. I've jotted down some quick and easy ways we can both start to put some intentional color into our every day. 

Food | London's Most Colorful Places to Eat, Part 1

I absolutely love Brazil. I've travelled there twice, got engaged there, made great friends there, and I'm waiting for the day when I can return again. In the meantime, anything that can bring back such incredible memories of the vibrant and complex Brazilian culture is a win-win for me. When I travelled to London this past month, I sought out some of the most colorful places to eat. I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed one bit! I was especially surprised (aka...freaking out) to discover one of the most colorful buildings in the city is also a Brasilian Barbeque restaurant. Needless to say, it was a perfect match. Keep reading to see just how colorfully delicious this place is in every way!

Travel | Follow that pink coat

This month I decided to celebrate the holidays a little differently. For the first time, I'll spend them away from home. I was a bit nervous about the idea at first. I absolutely love Christmas in California. It's warm, relaxing, and my mom always cooks a bombtastic meal. Every single time. I also get to wear my pajamas all day and not feel one ounce of shame about it. However, now that I'm married and living this whole adult life deal, I thought it was about time I expand my Christmas traditions. So, this month, I'll be traveling across Europe and spending the holidays with my husband and his family in the Czech Republic! The weather will be colder, the language harder to understand (have you ever tried to learn Czech?!), and possibly a lot more beer at dinner time. But life is an adventure right?! I'm ready to dive in.

In the meantime, you can follow my colorful journey as I trek across Paris, London, Geneva, and Prague! My unifying theme will be #followthatpinkcoat as I capture colorful sites wearing this perfect pink coat I found from Asos. There will also be travel posts on the blog for each city coming this month, as well as daily updates on my Instagam (@creativekipi). Let's go for a colorful adventure this season, shall we?! 

How are you celebrating the holidays? Feel free to share below - I'd love to hear! 

Holidays | Pinterest Gift Guides!

I was approached by Pinterest a few weeks back to put together some holiday gift guides, and I couldn't help but select some of the most colorful items one can buy! I created two guides, one for "Homebodies" (aka those who love Netflix, long naps, and leaving the house only on necessary terms) and one for "DIYers" (aka those who'd rather spend twice as long and maybe twice as much money to make something themselves rather than buy it). Both of these fit my own self-descriptions pretty well, so it was an easy task. Check out my Pinterest for more inspiration for the holidays and colorful projects, travels, art, and more! 

DIY | Candy Dot Purse

Somebody say candy dots?! This DIY clutch is inspired not only by those color coated mounds of pure sugar, but also by this bag by designer. I saw it in a fashion post by CarrieC a couple weeks bag and fell in love. What else was I to do than try to make a spin-off? Here it is folks...fun, quick, and easy!

What you'll need:

-solid color bag/purse/clutch

-semi-circle wooden dots

-markers

-strong glue

Instructions:

1. Color your wooden dots as desired using markers. You could also spray paint them, but given that I made these while on vacation, I didn't have the option. Using a marker means essentially no drying time, but also means a less than perfect color coating.

2. Align the dots on the bag as desired. Drop a dot of glue on the base of the wooden semi-circle and press onto the surface of the bag. Hold for at least 15-20 seconds, or until glue has dried enoughto keep the wooden circle secured. 

3. Continue gluing dots to your heart's content! Let the bag sit for an hour or two to ensure the glue dries thoroughly. Then, hit the town and buy some sweets to stuff it with! :)

Friday Faves || Instagram Love || Colorful Canvases

Holy macaroni! I know it's been a while since I last posted but I promise it's for a good reason! I got married a couple weeks ago and had one of the best days of my life so far (more details and tips to come later!). It is crazy how much a single day can consume weeks and months of time for planning. Alas, I am back and in action! Got some new DIY projects coming for the spring season and working on some more community sharing posts. Speaking of which, Friday Faves will now feature the many incredibly talented, inspiring, and downright cool people I've admired, met, and connected with on Instagram. Seriously - that app is a brewing pot of daily awesomeness! 

To kick it off, today's Friday Faves will revolve around the world of "Colorful Canvases," inspired primarily by my gal Courtney (@myfriendcourt), who is an artist and art teacher in Atlanta. As if her feed were not colorful enough, prepare yourself for the beautiful connections she makes with those on Instagram through her #Makeyourmark challenges each month. Every day, people are challenged to doodle, draw, paint, or sketch a particular theme - from waves to circles and from clouds to colors. She's a burst of inspiration and an example of community loving at its finest!! Click to check out her instagram and blog!

@myfriendcourt

The next four artists below also glue my eyes to the screen when I scroll through their feeds! 

TL:@theebouffants | TR: @nataliawrobelart
BL: @katefjury | BR: @artandsoulcreativeco 

1. Kendra Dandy (@theebouffants): This brilliant woman knows patterns like it's nobody's business! Through her print designs of lips, lipstick, shoes, dresses, fruits, and color galore you are immediately transported to a world where you wish everything came patterned...but seriously, wouldn't that be kind of awesome?

2. Natalia Wrobel Art (@nataliawrobelart): I've known this true beauty since my childhood days (we went to the same elementary and high schools!). She creates some of the most mesmerizing array of  colorful paintings I hope to one day be lucky enough to hang in my own home. She also has a studio space which essentially means she's the coolest person in Boston right now, just sayin'.

3. Laura Uy (@artandsoulcreativeco): This talented lady can take the most dangerous animals - bears, foxes, and lions - and turn them into the cutest furry creatures around! From her cards to art prints, you may find yourself wishing you could just snuggle with them and not look weird while doing so. That may be hard to accomplish though...sorry.

4. Katherine Jury (@katefjury): This dazzling painter can literally create the most beautiful messes you've seen, in all the best ways! I love her mixed color palettes, textures, and her serene outlook on life. She also includes many pictures of beaches, sand, and stones - which may just make you wish you were in her shoes (or lack thereof)...all the time.

Please check out these inspirational artists, follow along, and share your thoughts! Come back next friday for my next batch! Oh, you can also find me on Instagram too (@creativekipi)...happy weekend!

DIY || #28 || I've Got Ya Spotted!

So if you know anything about me, you know I'm addicted to polka dots. I'm not quite sure what it is about them, but they combine the perfect combination of spunk, color, and fun to an outfit, especially in the summer. This DIY project definitely indulges not only my love for polka dots, but also my love for pom poms (the 3D version of a polka dot). I first caught onto this style thanks to the fashions of Design Love Fest, with her fabulous polka dot sweater. I found this layered tulle skirt dress on sale at Forever 21 for $12 (here's the same one in black), grabbed a bag of pom poms at Michaels, some fabric glue, and went to town on it! Super easy and super fun way to jazz up any dress or skirt hanging in your closet. Give it a try!

Here's what you'll need: plain dress or skirt (got mine here), colored pom poms, and fabric glue (you could also sew them on by hand if you have the patience for it!).

Steps: simply dot the pom pom with the liquid stitch glue and carefully press it onto the dress fabric. Continue by adding various colors spread out across the skirt. Wait a couple hours for the glue to dry clear. If you're particular about keeping the pom poms secure, feel free to sew them on instead by hand!

Then...don a pair of vibrant, funky shoes (got these blue ones at ModCloth) and have fun!

Friday Faves || #22 || Tooty Fruity

one | two | three | four | five
tape graphic by Pugly Pixel

Friday Faves || #14 || Triangle Home

I have been loving the triangle look on all things decor. I think triangles are such interesting shapes because they can be warm and edgy simultaneously. I dream of the time when I can finally do whatever I wish to my living space, but in the meantime these are my fave triangle decor favorites! And if you're looking for equally killer triangle clothes, these cut out jeans are pretty bomb (see here).

one // two // three // four // five

FRIDAY FAVES || #13 || SPRING CLEANING IN COLOR

I was so happy last week when I could roll up my sleeves and get to cleaning. When you're living in a cramped dorm room with midterm books all over your desk, pencils hidden in unsuspecting corners, and Starbucks cups overflowing the recycling bin, there's nothing more refreshing (I think) than wiping away the previous months of stress and hard work. Unfortunately, there is no Staples 'easy button', but I love spring cleaning because of all the color you get to infuse into your space throughout the process. Here are some of the first ways you can tackle your spring cleaning that are sure to brighten and color away winter blues. Good luck!

1 // Image Source

2 // Image Source

3 // DIY Natural Room Scents

4 // Striped Weekly Planner

5 // Hot Stuff Skirt

6 // DIY Marker Caddy

DIY Project || #15 || Neon Duct Tape Ipad Case

This project is all inspired by NEON! I tend to be quite wary of neon colors. Little zests of it are somehow manageable for me, but I could never rock a neon tee or sneakers despite how much I wish I could. This project, which was previously featured for I Like Fall, otherwise satisfies my zest for neon in a unique way. The iPad case has become one of many Apple products that is perfect for any crafter. We all love making cases, especially after you spent so much money buying the piece of technology itself, why spend more when you can make it yourself! One reason why I love my case is, yes, it is economical, but mostly because I love these duct tape sheets I found while randomly wandering around Michael's. They were only about $1.99 each, so for less than $10 you can make this spunky baby and strut the streets (or the library for me) with a colorful companion in your hands. Hope you guys like it!

Diy Project || #14 || Removable Floral Wallpaper

I am so happy for the winter to get booted out and spring to be ushered in! As a true bred Californian, I feed off the sunshine, lazy afternoons, and color. For the past 4-5 months I have all but none of these things, so I may be a little starved of all things wonderful at the moment. This DIY removable spring floral wallpaper is great for those with non-permanent housing (i.e. renters or college students) and yet it adds so much color and originality to a room! I may have gone a bit overboard by adding the 'fairy' like white flowers over the window but, hey, it's my space! Overall, try to pick more mute colors for a base (i.e. various tones of green leaves/flowers) and then add that subtle punch with a few really bright flowers (for example, the occasional orange, purple, and yellow petaled ones in the picture). I bought a few large bouquets of fake flowers at Joann's when they were on sale for $0.99 each and just broke them apart to turn them into many small flowers. Lining the flowers in vertical rows also helps create a "wallpaper effect" and to organize the colorful, natural burst that has exploded on your wall. Feel free to experiment with colors and designs, though -- just be (colorfully) inspired!

MATERIALS YOU'LL NEED:

colorful plastic flowers

duct tape 

(the thinner the better!)

FRIDAY FAVES || #10 || PATTERN ME UP!

one | two | three | four

DIY Project || #12 || Origami Paper Envelopes

I recently made a trip to Blick's Art Materials in Cambridge after visiting friends in Central Square and happened upon these beautiful origami paper bundles. I am by no means an origami expert so I tried to find a 'beginner's 101' DIY project to using them in your everyday life. I decided on making these gift envelopes which can be tailored based on the size of what you wish to place inside (i.e. small gift card vs. birthday card). I simply just love the vibrant patterns of the paper and think anyone else would love it too! Let me know what you think in the comment box below!

INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED:

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS:

It's so easy to make a bunch of these and grab 'em when you need a last minute gift package. I tied some with a natural twine string, but you could easily use ribbon, bows, stickers, or whatever you please. Let me know what you think below, and share via the "love it" button!

DIY Project || #11 || Turn a Placemat into a Purse

I am so excited to share with you all this quick and easy sewing DIY project. Over the summer of 2010, I had spent eight weeks living and working in La Paz, Bolivia where I bought these gorgeous, colorful placemats in a street market. Thinking I would give them as gifts to friends and family upon return, I fell in love with their vibrant colors and mixed textures -- and of course I wanted to carry this fabulous decor everywhere. Luckily my family only uses a few of them so I took an extra and turned it into a large clutch bag. A fun idea to spice up your dark colored winter wear, let me know what you think!

INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED:

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP ONE: Fold the placemat in half, then begin pinning one end onto the top of the zipper.

STEP TWO: Taking the other end of the placemat, pin it to the other arm of the zipper. Try opening and closing the zipper to ensure that the placemat does not inhibit the zipper in any way.

STEP THREE: Sew the edges onto the zipper.
STEP FOUR: Next, turn the bag inside out.

STEP FIVE: Sew the right side of the bag (where the zipper ends). Repeat to the left side of the bag. If the zipper is longer than the length of the bag, make sure the zipper piece you pull is located inside the area you sew.
STEP SIX: Trim the edges on the sides of the bag for a clean seam inside.

STEP SEVEN and EIGHT: Turn the bag right-side-out and lightly iron the zipper along the inside of the bag and then along the outer surface for a crisp look.

THE FINAL LOOK:

DIY PROJECT || #10 || TEA BAG HEART VALENTINES

I love tea. I can (and typically do) drink it every day. Chai, Earl Gray, Peppermint, Black Vanilla...the list goes on and on. Given that tea drinking is such a sophisticated and 'adulty' thing to do, I wanted a Valentine's day idea that would be great for all my other tea-drinking-adulty friends. Below is a tutorial on how to make tea bag heart valentines from a free downloadable template I made that can be printed out on a regular sheet of paper. Each of the valentine hearts has a little message like "Love ya!", "Kiss me?", and "You rock!" so you can sweeten the tea for anyone, and everyone, in your life. Hope you enjoy it! And spread the love via Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or any of the other thousand social media outlets!

INGREDIENTS:
free downloadable print out
(click here)
tea bags
scissors
pin
stapler

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step one: Begin by pulling off the original tea bag tag (mine was Twinings).

Step two: Using your scissors, snip off the knot at the end of the string.

Step three: After printing out the free heart & gift bag template, begin cutting out the hearts.

Step four: Take one heart and, using a sewing pin or needle, poke two holes next to each other. Using the pin, gently rip the tiny space between them so that the two holes become a single larger one.

Step five: Next, slide the thread of the tea bag into the hole in the heart.

Step six: Tie a knot at the very end and slide the heart tag back down the thread so that it hangs on the end like the original tea bag tag.

OPTIONAL: TEA BAG COVERS

Step seven: Cut out the tea bag cover rectangles from the template, leaving some white spaced borders across all edges. Fold the rectangle in half where the darker and lighter colors meet.

Step eight: Depending on the size of your tea bag (I recommend the smaller ones!), gently tuck the tea bag inside the folded cover and staple the top so that it will stay snugly inside.

THE FINAL LOOK:

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE TEMPLATE 

(fits perfectly on regular 8.5" x 11" printer paper)