Lime Ricki launch party

Brittany

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March 20, 2023

Lime Ricki Launch Party!

We held our launch party the day the collection debuted. The event captured the energy we’ve been experiencing behind the scenes. This collection has been over a year in the making and we had to make it FUN and celebratory especially since we can see people again!

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This is Lauren and Hannah from the Lime Ricki creative team. They are full of beautiful ideas and ensured a really wonderful collection. So appreciative of their guidance on this whole thing!

Photo booth station

Here’s me and Jenny, who is on my team, showing off the cute cards we made for the night. We had our popular Blixen pattern on the back and the Lime Ricki team had collected a bunch of cute washi tapes and stickers where you could make your own cute frame. It turned out so well!

Jenny was the running heartbeat of this collaboration. She kept everything on time, in motion, and super smooth. I’m so lucky to have her!

Floral window display

Earlier that week we installed the 2D paper flowers we had made for the photo shoot. All the sisters came down to install it with us because they have that all hands on deck mentality. I love how it turned out!

We also placed some around the store. We also included some of our photos from the shoot around the store. LOVE them!

Live models

We had a few models walking around the shop during the party to show off the collection including the one piece Blixen, which is now almost sold out!

Speaking at the event

Jennifer, one of the three sisters who runs Lime Ricki, talked for a bit about the collaboration. She runs the financials of the company.

Then I spoke about the collaboration. I talked about the power of collaboration–how there’s a magic that comes from working together.

Jenny!

Look at this packed house!

Daughters of the owners in the house!

The bandanas arrived just in the knick of time!

The Lime Ricki team HAND STAMPED each of the 100 gift bags we handed out that evening. I still can’t believe it!

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Goody bags

They were filled with so many goodies: Scandinavian candy from Sockerbit, the best out there, a bandana from the collection, hair accessories, and more!

We stocked the Limericki store with some of our own products like our journals, notebooks, hair accessories, and stickers. You can find it in their shop!

And here are some of the wonderful people who showed up!

My mom and sister 🙂

And my friends from my neighborhood–so sweet of them to come!

What a tremendous night it was–good people, good energy, trying on suits, having fun TOGETHER! I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Oh wait, I could have! One person missing from the event was Garet from our team who is located in North Carolina. She designed all of our prints and did a wonderful job. We missed you Garet!!!

Ok! That’s it! The suits are going quickly so I’d jump on it now!

Easy Halloween Ideas From Our Shop

Brittany

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October 26, 2022

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My Ideal Halloween

My ideal Halloween is playfully spooky, crafty, and (above all) easy, and there’s no such thing as too many easy Halloween ideas. If you’re looking for a fun, simple way to celebrate the season without turning your home into a Spirit Halloween storefront, read on for easy Halloween ideas!

Easy Halloween Decorations

This Haunted House makes a perfect Halloween centerpiece and conversation starter. You’ll make it from recycled cardboard boxes, which is a win for Planet Earth, and it’s beautiful enough to come back year after year, which is a win for you! Check out our blog post on it here.

Garlands are another classic when it comes to Halloween decor. Try this fun new Halloween garland featuring the Halloween shapes you’ve been missing. If you love the spooky aspect of Halloween, check out this Vampire Teeth Garland. It’s creepy without being too macabre, and oh so easy.

Another slightly spooky and impeccably easy decor idea is this wooden transfer plaque template! I’m all for riding the line between pretty and creepy at Halloween, and these really fit the bill. Find the tutorial here.

This painted pumpkin face template makes for such a fun, easy DIY! Give your porch some whimsy this Halloween by painting these sweet characters on your pumpkins. Read the tutorial here and get painting!

How many times can you say “pretty paper pumpkin project?” Whatever your answer, you should check out this template for rainbow paper pumpkins, along with this tutorial blog post. These make a beautiful, refined, seasonal table setting, they’ll look great for all of Autumn, not jus Halloween. A Thanksgiving comeback, anyone?

If you’re in a pinch and looking for quick decorations, don’t forget this post about last minute Halloween decor!

Easy Halloween Costume Ideas

There’s something to be said for a super intricate, detailed costume for sure. But even if you don’t have the time and energy to become a perfectly accurate storm trooper, dressing up doesn’t have to be out of your reach. Lots of our costume templates just require some simple clothing, some paper, and a prop or two. No professional costuming degree necessary!

Our Ruth Bader Ginsberg collar is maybe our simplest costume for adults. Just cut it out (a cricut or other cutting machine is helpful here), put it over a dark dress, and pull your hair back. Voilà! You’re ready to advocate for your sisters.

If you’ve been a Lars reader for more than about a minute you’ll know that I love flowers. So of course I wanted to dress up as a bouquet! Ha! Practice making some paper flowers for this Sweet Pea Paper Flower Bouquet costume (and read the tutorial here).

Group costumes are always so fun, so pair your bouquet costume with greenhouse garb for a friend! This greenhouse costume uses cardboard and iron-on flowers, and is sure to turn heads. You can find the tutorial here. Speaking of group costumes, you really don’t want to miss our Andy Warhol Campbell’s soup can team costumes, or our Wild Things costumes. They’re some of my favorites, and they’re great for any size group!

Another cute Halloween costume for a pair of friends would be our beehive and picnic costumes. Both use an iron-on technique to make easy halloween costumes that are as cute as a bug. Find the tutorials here.

This constellation costume with iron-on stars is absolutely dazzling. Honestly, you might as well break it out all year round because it’s that beautiful.

For a subtle Halloween look, just print off our Pumpkin Crown and wear warm autumn tones.

Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids

Brand new this year are our classic Halloween costumes for kids! We give you options for a witch, bat, and pumpkin. Not only are they simple to make in a pinch, they’re adorable and you’ll be glad you tried them out. One of our most glamorous costumes with templates in the shop is our sun, cloud and rainbow set. This makes a great baby and mom costume, because you can add sun rays to a baby bonnet. I love how our model matched the baby’s outfit to her sling! With this costume you can invest as much or as little as you want. Just want the Sun and Rainbow headpiece? No problem. What about the Cloud Bag and Cloud Earrings? Done. Just want a sunny baby bonnet pattern? Your wish is our command. Make the costume just how you like it with this tutorial.

This Giving Tree costume is another easy Halloween idea that you could make in a flash. And who doesn’t want to reference a classic children’s book in their costume? Find the tutorial here.

If you have a gaggle of children to costume, consider our Three Blind Mice baby costume pattern or our Crayon Hat template. Both are simple to put together and oh so sweet. For more kids costume ideas, see this post!

Halloween Party Supplies

Even though gathering in big groups for Halloween parties is starting to look less and less likely (again 😔), you can still throw a Halloween party for your family, roommates, or pod! This Halloween Party Suite includes printable invitations, placemats, party tags, and place cards. Talk about easy Halloween ideas!

And for a party favor, try these printable poppers or printable Halloween candy gift boxes.

These Halloween coupons make a fun halloween activity for your family. They’re a great way for parents to get their kids to relinquish some candy in return for fun activities.

These illustrated Halloween cards are another great party favor because you can attach them to treat bags, trade them, send them as cards, or just hang them up.

If your party is more freaky than funky, you might like this elegant invitation and Halloween dinner menu.

Party Food

Real talk here: what’s a party without cake? Use these printables and templates to make your Halloween cake extra fancy. The Spooky Town printable cake topper set is quaint and just a bit creepy, while this Black Birds cake topper is decidedly Hitchcock-approved. Red velvet cake makes it even more dramatic!

If your fall party isn’t so Halloween-specific (or even if it is!) this Fall Leaf cake topper will add elegance and fun to the celebration.

More Inspiration

Looking for more cards, costumes, and decor? Search for Halloween on our blog! You’ll be blown away by the years of great, easy Halloween ideas and DIYs. If you’re interested in many of these ideas (who wouldn’t be!?), you can check out our E-Book, The Halloween that Lars Made. It’s a one-stop shop for easy Halloween ideas, DIYs, and projects. Also, for more festive ideas check out this post on how to get into the Halloween spirit this year!

Summer Strawberry Party

Brittany

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July 28, 2022

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Strawberry Party Suite

For our summer strawberry party, our designer, Garet, designed the most adorable strawberry party suite ever! I’m in love with all the little details, like the perfect color palette of those strawberries. Or those tiny ants?! Complete with invitations, strawberry toothpick toppers, and box wrappers, this suite will do the trick perfectly for all your strawberry party needs. The best part is that there are plenty of variations with this party suite. Not interested in the toothpick toppers being attached to toothpicks? Print them out on sticker paper instead and hand them out as party favors!

Here’s what to do with our strawberry party suite:

Download, print and cut out the files from our shop here.
Next, fill in those invitations and send ‘em out! Then you can start prepping the other party details.
Now hot glue them to one end of a toothpick.
For the box wrappers, wrap them around the box and secure with hot glue.

Strawberry Surprise Garland

Oh, and don’t forget that amazing strawberry surprise garland–we altered our original strawberry surprise balls to make them into a garland that will make you want to make this strawberry party a tradition for years to come. Because what’s better than GIANT strawberry decorations?! They definitely make it feel more like a party.

I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve been to parties and have been unsure where the party is (this is especially tough at parks where there are a million parties happening at the same time). Maybe it’s just me (though I have a feeling it’s not), but please, help a girl out and make your party eye-catching so it can be seen from afar. That was definitely the point with this garland; your guests won’t be left guessing when they arrive at the party–they’ll know exactly where to go. Plus, it’s just so fun.

How to make a strawberry surprise garland

Download the garland template found here (it’s part of the strawberry party suite).
To make the balls, follow the instructions found here. The only difference is that each strip is made up of two separate pieces, since it’s bigger. Glue them together and then follow the rest of the instructions!
Lastly, to add the string, just thread it from one side to the other on the opposite side of the ball. Keep adding strawberries until it’s as full as you’d like!

Summer Strawberry Party Food

It wouldn’t be a party without food! Take this opportunity to go all in with the strawberry-themed foods. That means strawberries (duh!), cupcakes with strawberry frosting, mini pb & j’s (strawberry jam, of course!), etc. You know what to do! Those adorable little toothpick toppers are perfect to poke in the tops of the pb & j’s and cupcakes. You can also use them for those plain ‘ol strawberries–why not double up? There are so many strawberry foods that would be so cute. So just have fun.

Now tell us: what are you going to do for your summer strawberry party?

More Inspiration

Want to make your summer strawberry party into a picnic? Try your hand at making one of these two simple quilt hacks! Also see this watermelon picnic blanket, duffle/picnic blanket, and autumn picnic blanket. And don’t forget to check out our shop for all your go-to party needs!

Bastille Day Roundup

Brittany

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July 11, 2022

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History of Bastille Day

But do you know what Bastille Day is, or its significance? Well, long story short, it’s France’s national holiday, marked by the storming of the Bastille prison. It was a pivotal day in the French Revolution, one that changed the course of the French revolution and eventually transformed the republic. Since 1880, the French have been celebrating July 14th as their national holiday. And it is well worth celebrating! See this article for a full history of Bastille Day.

Here’s our Bastille Day roundup from years past:

Bastille Day Roundup

July 2018 Desktop Wallpaper and Print

The blog’s first mention of Bastille Day, here’s our July 2018 Desktop Wallpaper and Print! This was the year we celebrated with fun, whimsical illustrations featuring quirky berets. They reminded us too much of France not to use to celebrate Bastille Day!

Printable Paris Crown and Invitations

These Printable Paris Crown and Invitations are another great blast from the past to celebrate Bastille Day! Who says you need to be in Paris to celebrate? Bring Paris into your own home and have a Bastille Day bash featuring these crowns and invitations.

Printable Parisian Placemats

What better excuse to eat a pile of delicious French pastries than Bastille Day? That’s where these Printable Parisian Placemats come in. They’re the perfect compliment if you’re in the mood for a few macarons or croissants. And really, does anyone not like those delicious pastries? The French knew how to do something else besides win revolutions: bake.

Paris-Inspired Design: A Bastille Day Bash

In 2020, we dedicated a blog post to tips on Paris-Inspired Design: A Bastille Day Bash. Because I’m not sure there’s a better day to talk about Paris-inspired design. Except really, isn’t every day a good day? Parisian design is that good.

Celebrating Bastille Day

Most recently, here are some tips on Celebrating Bastille Day.

We’ve reached the end of our Bastille Day roundup! And now, we want to hear from you: what are you doing to celebrate Bastille Day? Drop your answers in the comments below!

Christmas Cards

Brittany

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December 1, 2021

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Christmas Cards with Mixbook

This year’s Christmas card features team Lars! Sadly, we didn’t snag a photo with all of our team members in it, but you get the idea: lots of color, plenty of DIY, this card can’t get much more Lars than it already is.

Team Lars Christmas Cards

You might recognize it as our Team Halloween costume–Andy Warhol’s soup cans. It was only appropriate. And once I found the designs by Oh Joy, I knew we had to use it. Now, sadly, that means that we are missing a few players like Kerry, Carrie, Sophie, and Garet. We love you still!

I love how the card template we chose strikes the perfect balance of holiday cheer and essential team Lars spirit! It’s bright, colorful, whimsical, and just the thing to brighten up this season that is cold and dark so much of the time. I think we can all agree that we need color all year round, but especially at this time of year! If you’re interested in the templates we’ve made with Mixbook, you can take your pick between classic, bright, Lars style and more traditional, cozy holiday cards. P.s. if you happen to be getting married this winter, you’re in for a treat with our wedding invitation templates.

holiday cards

Our Take

One of the best things about Mixbook is how customizable their templates are. It’s so helpful to have a template as a base, but the fun of making your own Christmas card is being able to make it feel like yours, you know? Hence, Crafty Holidays was born. We were just feeling the creative spirit of making this holiday season. Anyway, what better way to spend your holidays than crafting your heart out?

We love sending out cards to our clients and friends. Email me if you’d like one! Happy to send one off to you!

christmas cards

Other Mixbook projects

The fun doesn’t end with holiday cards! If you’ve been following along, we’ve also dipped our toes into Mixbook’s photo albums and year in review books. The results were stunning, and such a fun way to capture memories! You can read more about our other Mixbook projects here: new holiday card with Mixbook, Lars for Mixbook, and our year in review with Mixbook.

Here was last year’s Christmas card that we designed!

And our year in review book.

And our travel book! Oh little Jasper! I can hardly stand it! He can hardly stand too!

Mixbook Discount

Since it’s the holiday season and we’re feeling full of that Christmas spirit, we want to share the love! We’ve honestly been so happy with the way our Mixbook projects have turned out and can’t recommend them enough. To give you a nudge in the right direction, Lars readers get 55% off holiday cards using code HLARS50. Offer expires 1/01/2022, so don’t sleep on it! In case you missed it, here’s a link to Mixbook.

We would love to see what you choose! Crafty Holidays!

This post is sponsored by Mixbook. We love our sponsors who allow us to create beautiful original content for you!

Printable Party Decor

Brittany

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June 1, 2021

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I want your parties to be smash hits, and the printable party decor from our shop are surefire ways to get off to a great start. The Lars party suites are downloadable packages of invitations, party decorations, cake toppers, and accessories. And they couldn’t be easier to use! Just download, print (or send to a a local print shop), cut out, and voilà! Party magic.

Most of these party suites were designed with birthdays in mind, but whether you’re celebrating a birthday, graduation, an engagement, an anniversary, a holiday, a new move, or just getting friends together, these party decorations are sure to put smiles on everyone’s faces and make your party better (and prettier!) No matter what you’re celebrating, pick out the perfect printable suite below!

Birthday Parties

Part of why I enjoy birthdays so much is because they’re an opportunity to do what you really want to do. If that means skydiving, go for it! It’s your birthday. If that means staying inside and watching The Holiday, 10 Things I Hate About You, or Roman Holiday on repeat, go for it! If that means eating a decadent cake, go for it! You do you!

Now that vaccine availability (in the US, at least) is abundant, I’m so excited to bring people together and get back to celebrating. And what’s a party without invitations and decor? These printable birthday suites are the perfect solution when you want fun decoration without too much fuss. Since releasing our original printable birthday party decor, we have been dreaming up even more unique themes.

Rainbow Party

Of course we started with a rainbow theme, and this one works for all ages! This rainbow birthday theme can go as many directions as there are colors in the rainbow. Planning for your miracle child? Plan a rainbow baby party! Your mom is turning 50? Ditch the dark “over the hill” cards and plan an “over the rainbow” party instead! This party suite would also be perfect for a Pride party! #LarsLovesLove

This Rainbow Party Decor Suite includes an invitation, bracelets for party favors, a birthday crown, and more! Check out the full printable suite here.

Animal Menagerie Party

This is our most classic birthday set, a colorful circus of animals! I cannot wait to use this one for a first birthday party for baby boy #2. For this party we also added some DIY felt pennants that can be customized for the birthday kid. Pssst, level up your party EVEN MORE with a simple balloon installation kit.

This Animal Menagerie Party Decor Suite includes party hats, bunting, an invitation, and more! Check out the full printable suite here.

Summery Parties

Having a June birthday means that I can throw garden-themed birthday parties for myself, but here’s the truth: garden parties are for everyone! Celebrate Midsummer or simply bring your friends together in honor of the the long days and warm nights that the season brings.

Floral Party

Adriana Picker from our print shop made the art for this Floral Birthday Suite and it couldn’t be prettier!

I love the elegant colors and the botanical drawings in this collection, and I think the different colors of invitations are so delightful. And don’t get me started on how gorgeous the printable flower crown is! These decorations will make your party glamorous and colorful and fresh.

Lemon Party

The fun colors of this birthday suite printable makes for the perfect theme, whether your birthday feels sweet or sour! The rest of the decor comes easily once you’ve got a theme down! In fact, we have a few other DIY projects from days past that would be darling with the birthday suite. This lemon wreath is one that stands out in my mind. Or, plop some freshly sliced citrus in the middle of the table for a citrusy centerpiece like we did here! And the colors of our original balloon kit have the perfect fruity feel!

This Lemon Party Decor Suite includes a banner, straw toppers, party hats, and more! Check out the full printable suite here.

Garden Party

Another thing that comes much easier when your party has a theme is planning the menu. Thanks, theme! When paired with this printable garden party decor, fruity desserts are always a hit. I went through a popsicle phase a few years back and wrote about three I loved: lemon creme, pineapple pink lemonade, and berry lemonade! These are perfect for when you want a treat but don’t want to turn the oven on. Who said every birthday party HAS to have a cake?

We designed these themed set for a dreamy summer outdoor party (it doesn’t even have to be a birthday party, an excuse for a party is good excuse.) However, as we head into winter I am starting to daydream up an indoor garden party. Hear me out — paper flower garlands and greenery turning the living room into a summery dream. Sounds like just the thing for seasonal depression, right??

This Garden Party Decor Suite includes an invitation, name tags, cake toppers, and more! Check out the full printable suite here.

You deserve to party, whether it’s your birthday or not! Take time to decorate extravagantly (and easily) with a little help from your friend, Lars. Then do exactly what you want to do. Go to the grocery store and just buy snacks and flowers. Dance obnoxiously to Motown classics. Dress up in a formal gown and don’t bother styling your hair. Plan a fabulous meal for yourself and make someone else cook it/buy it. Eat ice cream straight out of the carton. I won’t tell!

Holiday Parties

Don’t limit your celebrations to birthdays and summertime!

Easter Printable Tablescape Suite

Your next Easter party will be your most picturesque with this Easter Tablescape Party Suite! With an illustrated table runner, menu cards, name cards, and a garland, this hassle-free printable decor is sure to become a favorite.

Halloween Party

Halloween parties are fun for all ages, and they deserve fabulous printable party decor, too! This Halloween Party Suite includes printable invitations, party tags, placemats, and place cards.

Head to our Shop for even more printable birthday party decor and gift ideas! And you can find all of our Birthday DIY projects here.

Virtual Workshop + Giveaway With Hello!Lucky

Brittany

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November 5, 2020

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Since our big move, all of our schedules have been thrown off a little. It doesn’t help that I am still losing everything (thanks pregnancy brain!) Jasper has been the most affected by the move though. It’s a big change for my little boo! It has helped to get back our sense of normalcy by taking any chance I can to spend some time with Jasper, doing something he is familiar with.

One of Jasper’s favorite activities is reading and, of course, that makes me so happy. Recently I shared “What Children’s Books I am Reading to my Toddler Right Now” and I am happy to share our latest find with you today! It is the perfect addition to your kid’s book collection just in time for Thanksgiving.

My friends at Hello!Lucky – a women-owned and fun shop in San Francisco – offer the most amazing letterpress cards, stationery, and more recently, children’s books! I have read many of them with Jasper and he LOVES them.

With their bold style and side-splitting humor, Hello!Lucky is excited to introduce their latest picture book that’s all about gratitude. Thanks A Ton!

Thanks a Ton! Is a pun-derful picture book celebrating gratitude! Offering tons of ideas for how to say “thanks” when words just aren’t enough. Written and illustrated by Eunice and Sabrina Moyle from Hello!Lucky. Eunice and Sabrina have created over 15 children’s books selling more than 1 million copies. Their books support children’s social and emotional development, and let them (and their parents) know that they are amazing exactly as they are. Their titles include My Mom is Magical! (my personal favorite ;), a book celebrating moms, Kindness Rules!, a book about kindness, Thanks a Ton!, a book about gratitude, and I Believe in You, a book about unconditional love. A full list of their amazing books can be found here.

And! Hello!Lucky will donate $5 for every copy of Thanks a Ton! purchased on raredevice.com to Love For Our Elders, a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring joy into the lives of the elderly and you guessed it, writing letters to them is one of those ways!

Enter to Win a Copy of Our Picture Hope Coloring Book + A Copy of Thanks A Ton!

We are jumping on board with Hello!Lucky in the name of gratitude and hope this season. So, we are excited to announce we now offer hardcopies of our Picture Hope Coloring Book!

Picture Hope: The Social Distancing Coloring Book, is a compilation of coloring pages designed by 64 of your favorite artists from around the world. It is meant to lift spirits and calm anxious minds with its bold message of hope. Each artist has contributed a drawing of what hope means to them along with a few of their own words. The pages are designed for all skill levels and ages, kids and adults. It’s a perfect activity for staying at home and practicing mindfulness and meditation while filling in your hope through color. The profits of the book go to seasonal charities, which are announced here. Through downloads of Picture Hope, over $8000 has already donated!

The idea is that the artists provide the blank canvas and YOU add the hope through color. And you know what? It works! I can’t even tell you the goose bumps I got while I was working on it! COVID-19 has indeed changed so much of our routine, yet in the confusion and uncertainty we’ve also witnessed countless moments of compassion and the strength of the human spirit.

I’ve spent my career developing The House That Lars Built, whose mission is to encourage people to make things with their hands. We believe that the act of making has the power to heal and improve your well-being. The goal of this book is the same and it’s needed now more than ever. Coloring is a simple yet profound act that allows for meditation and mindfulness and this coloring book is even more profound because of the many voices of support behind it.

A new version of Picture Hope is available now!

Up until now, Picture Hope has only been available for download to be printed at home. We have been working hard (read: months!) to create this physical copy, so that you can order it totally ready to color! This version is also ideal to gift to others this season. Click here to order your hardcopy of Picture Hope!

This high-quality coloring book includes varying levels of intricacy keeping you inspired to color! There are plenty of beautiful motifs to choose from: including botanicals, flowers, animals, cities, people, decorative, quotes. We designed this book for every skill level and age to enjoy! Each page is it’s own unique art piece from one of the 64 contributing artists.

For the next month, ALL proceeds from the Picture Hope Coloring Book go to the nonprofit Love For Our Elders. This comforting nonprofit fights loneliness with love in senior communities and has spread to over 70 countries, all 50 states, and hundreds of schools. Keep reading for more info about the impact of this nonprofit!

How to Enter Our Giveaway

Enter to win your own copy of Picture Hope + Hello!Lucky’s best-selling latest picture book, Thanks A Ton!

To enter, head to our Instagram post here to let us know what you’re grateful for in the comments below, and join the virtual THANKS A TON launch event on November 14th. The winner will be announced live. Click here to RSVP for the virtual event!

Write Gratitude Letters With Us At Our Virtual Party With Hello!Lucky

I (Brittany!) will be hosting this event along with Eunice & Sabrina Moyle founders of Hello!Lucky, Jacob Cramer founder of Love For Our Elders, and Giselle Gyalzen owner of Rare Device.

Letters are especially wonderful during times when physical barriers are keeping us apart. A hand-written and a handmade card is a thoughtful, personal expression of care and kindness and can keep us connected to those we love, and to help everyone feel like they matter. During this event we want to share ways your family can help more people receive hand-written letters and cards during the Thanksgiving season.

Our virtual event will take place on Saturday November 14th at 11 am PST. During this event you will have access to these exclusive free printables created by Hello!Lucky and The House That Lars Built – including printable gratitude cards and a template for a fun DIY card! Download the free printables here and print them out to get ready for the event!

What will happen during the virtual event?

I will be leading a DIY craft tutorial that your whole family can recreate this Thanksgiving season. Plus I will share some of my top tips for holiday card making!

During this event you will also learn more about Love For Our Elders, the charity that proceeds from Picture Hope and Thanks a Ton! will be donated to. The founder of this nonprofit, Jacob Kramer, will be joining the event to share stories of the people your gratitude letters and donations can affect. He will also share tips on how your family can write to people who need it this season!

There will also be a live reading of Thanks a Ton! so this is a virtual event the entire family can log on for. RSVP here and make it a family activity.

At this time we will also announce the winner of our giveaway! (Details above.)

RSVP here for a creative afternoon full of conversation and crafts on Saturday November 14th at 11 am PST. All ages welcome!

6 Ways to Celebrate Halloween while Social Distancing

Brittany

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September 23, 2020

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6 Ways to Celebrate Halloween while Social Distancing

Have you heard about the Ohio dad who invented a candy chute for a contactless way to get candy right into kid’s trick or treating buckets this year? I love it! Since then I’ve heard talk of slingshots, catapults, and some even crazier ideas on how to make trick or treating happen this October. Not gonna lie, my wheels have been turning too. We have made it this long adjusting our daily lives for this virus, and now as we are about to hit all the major holidays I can’t help but wonder how many traditions will need to be thrown out the window this year. Of course I am willing to do whatever is needed, and there are much bigger things to worry about. But I am grateful for the joy and hope that the holidays bring every year, and I am determined to not miss out on at least that part of the celebrations!

One major thing I am looking forward to is, this year, the holidays will be more about family time than ever! No extravagant parties needed, I am looking forward to making the next few months just as exciting and fun with just my own household! My “quarantine crew” and I can still party hard. And at the very least, more leftover candy for me this year 😉

If you’re hoping to make this Halloween something special, we’ve put together some amazing ideas you can throw together with your family. And even friends with some proper social distancing! All you need to get started is a printer and some scissors.

How to celebrate Halloween while social distancing this year

1. Throw a socially-distant Halloween party

We’ve all missed out on lots of family and friend get-togethers this year. (Cross your fingers we’ll be back to normal by next Halloween!) Luckily, weather permitting, you can still have a fun outdoor Halloween Party if you’re creative (and we’re betting you definitely are if you’re reading this blog!) Even if you are sticking with just your immediate family members this year, go all out! Slip an invite under everyone’s door see whose costume impresses even your teenager. Halloween while social distancing can still be as festive as ever.

Print off our ghoulish Halloween Invitations and customize them so everyone knows the lowdown (masks a must!) Decorate your trees with our fall garland (or maybe your trees are cloaked in fall colors already and don’t need any decoration). Add some twinkle lights to the trees and bushes for a bit of warmth.

2. Eat a spooky (but tasty!) Halloween feast with family

Remember our Halloween Feast? You can throw one with your immediate family. Use our Halloween Menu Printable to get started. These printable placecards can make each setting special, and complete it with that family member’s favorite candy!

3. Put on a Halloween Parade

Need a fun way to celebrate Halloween with your friends, but don’t want to get too close? How about a Halloween Parade in the neighborhood? Use any of our free costume ideas, including these easy iron-ons you can combine with items you probably have sitting around the house. I’d argue that the best part about Halloween right now is you can do it all while wearing a mask 😉

4. Host a Halloween movie night

Don’t have the energy or time for a party? Plan for a night in with your family, but make it memorable. If you’re getting tired of rewatching Hocus Pocus every year (if that’s possible) this could be a fun time to pull out a classic scary movie. The Birds, anyone? Eat out of our Halloween Candy Gift Boxes (you can fill them with popcorn, too!) After all, this is the year to trick or treat yo’self!

5. Incorporate costumes into your at home learning

For most of us this school year has become a modge-podge of online classes and homeschooling. If you’re already losing your motivation to keep at home learning going, don’t worry. If you don’t know what you’ll do when cold weather means you can’t keep ushering the kids outside for “nature class” – now is the perfect time to mix it up! One of my favorite ways to make learning super memorable is to have students dress up as the famous people they are studying!

This happens in our Great Artists! kid’s course a bunch. Some of the daily activities include recreating famous art pieces in person, not just on paper! We also did this when we dresses up as famous artists themselves for Halloween one year. Mix Halloween traditions in with your at-home learning by challenging your kids to dress up as someone they are learning about. Print off these placemats, make a yummy Halloween themed meal, and see what figure from history shows up to the breakfast table!

Plus for your younger children, they can join in on the fun too by dressing up as their favorite picture books! See what I mean here and here.

6. Hold a Halloween porch decorating contest

There’s nothing wrong with a little contest! In fact, since most sporting events got cancelled, I think we need a dose of healthy competition in our lives. You know we love to deck out our porches come Halloween. Use one of our printable designs to elevate your porch above the rest.

If you’re not sure how you will celebrate Halloween while social distancing this year, don’t be too hard on yourself! Everything about 2020 has been different than we thought it would. However, taking part in beloved traditions like celebrating Halloween can help!

Click here to check out all of our printable Halloween resources, including the full Halloween Party Suite for a discounted price!

Paris-Inspired Design: A Bastille Day Bash

Brittany

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July 13, 2020

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Paris-Inspired Design: A Bastille Day Bash

How to visit Paris without leaving home

Bastille Day is akin to the USA’s Independence Day in that it marks an important historical turn towards democracy. The bastille building itself was an armory that citizens of Paris stormed and set political prisoners free on July 14, 1789. Modernly, people celebrate in different ways all over the country! My favorite tradition takes place each year in the gardens of the President’s residence, the Palais de l’Elysee. The President hosts a picnic!! Isn’t that amazing? Take your own trip to France tomorrow by celebrating Bastille Day!

Cue the inspiration for my Bastille Day celebration: I’m throwing myself a picnic. Make your picnic simple and clever with these printable placemats!

Our Paris cake toppers from illustrator Jessie Kenelos Weiner, author of Paris in Stride are available for FREE! Download your own and make breakfast extra sweet tomorrow morning. Plus, you can count this as tomorrow’s homeschool geography lesson 😉

How to celebrate like a Parisienne

Lars girls love garden parties and all things French, so this particular celebration is downright delightful. I whole-heartedly suggest you decorate with some adorable France printables, as they are an easy way to play with the stylish theme: Paris-inspired design. Take color cues from there! The tricolore of red, white, and blue is simple and classic – just like French design. Don your best Breton striped top (blue and white of course), chic trousers/skirt, and a pop of color in the form of red lipstick. Stay up late and light off fireworks to celebrate the end of the day.

Print off our Paris crown and invitation suite here for your next party. Whether you are celebrating Bastille Day, a garden party, a birthday party, or anything else – this party is sure to be tres chic.

How to decorate and dress like a Parisienne

I can’t write about Paris without mentioning how much I adore the style and design identity of this city. With each encounter, I feel creatively inspired. You got your first taste of this with our tips on how to recreate the iconic style of Monet’s French home. And everyone knows Paris has the best fashion. They even have a best baby’s clothes! As I figured when I visited while pregnant with Jasper. Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks for incorporating Paris-inspired design in your home and wardrobe.

1. Don’t overdo it

You’ve probably heard this quote from Coco Chanel: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off.” I’m pretty sure she is talking about accessories here… Still, the advice stands – Paris-inspired design/fashion tends to be somewhat minimal. The pieces themselves can be extravagant and ornate, but use a light hand when decorating and accessorizing.

2. Mix the classic with the eclectic

Part of what makes Paris so magical is its history. There’s just so much that has happened in that ancient city, and all of it feels magical. Select pieces that reflect the growth of the city! Ornate mirrors and crown moldings look fantastic juxtaposed with chic European modernism. Picture a chunky strand of gems or pearls atop a simple black suit jacket. Or fabulous shoes beneath a pair of pleated shorts. Invest in a few significant Paris-inspired pieces, then really showcase them.

3. Embrace romance

The feel of Paris is really worth celebrating and if you’ve been, you know that feeling is one of romance. It’s almost as if some city official found a way to transform Edith Piaf’s La Vie en Rose into a scent and then pipe it through every vent in the city. If you’ll take a moment to recall the romantic moments of your life, I’m sure you’ll discover what I have: it’s all about the details. The same idea goes for creating a romantic feel for a space or look! Pick one romantic touch, like long-stemmed candles, your grandmother’s hand-embroidered pillows, ornate frames surrounding photographs from memories you love, sheer curtains, or a touch of crystal. Little details like these can make even the coldest rooms come alive.

Paris-inspired Decor

France-inspired art prints to hang on your walls

We firmly believe anyone can pull off a beret, and this print from Monica Dorazewski agrees! Or for a more subtle reference to the city of love, transport your self to the Palais-Royal with this Stripes is Rhythm print from Jaqueline Diedam.

Fill your home with the art of French artist Julie Marabelle. We carry some of her stunning papercut art in the Lars Print Shop and they have added a touch of a French garden to my bedroom. You can read more about her life in France here.

Other fun French items

Everything you need for Paris-inspired design filling your home. If you are planning a trip to France, our favorite guides are Paris in Stride which you can read more about here. As well as Paris by Design by my good friend Eva Jorgensen. You can also find our guide to small shops in Paris here. As well as our itinerary from our last visit to France, here!

Enjoy!

Printable Summer BBQ Invitations

Brittany

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June 16, 2020

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Patriotic Holidays to Celebrate

With Flag Day, Juneteenth, and Independence Day, there are plenty of reasons to have fun and celebrate. First up is:

Flag Day – on June 14th. It commemorates the day in 1777 that the US adopted the Betsy Ross flag! Few women are mentioned in early American history, so I’m glad this lady is one I like. Betsy is a woman after my own heart – she was involved and crafty!

Juneteenth or June 19th – marks the day that the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. This gave enslaved people their freedom in 1865. The holiday is one for family and freedom. Make sure to celebrate how far we’ve come! And don’t forget: plan for the improvements we have yet to make!

Independence Day or the Fourth of July – already has its own color scheme. You’ve gotta love the red, white, and blue! Since the other two holidays are also about American history, I’m going to use the same color scheme for all three. This gives me an excuse to have summer party decor up longer! Brilliant, isn’t it?

Printable Summer BBQ invitations and more!

Are you having a BBQ this summer? We have a Barbecue invitation suite made just for you! If you’re grilling up the summer feast, I wish you good luck. And I also recommend you try these printable summer party decor items – especially the leftover label. You will more inclined to eat leftovers if they’re wrapped up nicely.

If you live somewhere that you can’t light off fireworks, make these fun red-white-and-blue party poppers! These make an excellent party craft – it’s the entertainment and decor wrapped up in one cute package. Even kids can help out with this one!

After you have printed off you printable summer BBQ invitations, if you still want more, check out our older posts from Independence Days of years past! We’ve figured out how to make DIY buntings, a flag weaving, cake toppers, and even Lady Liberty–inspired floral crowns.

Let’s all enjoy the summer together, celebrating health and freedom!

In the Mood For: The Royal Wedding Anniversary

Brittany

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May 19, 2020

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In the Mood For: The Royal Wedding Anniversary

More than knowing how to throw a party, they know how to show love and respect for one another and people around the world. Aside from all of the drama, Harry and Meghan have been busy running their non-profit organization, Archewell. I did a little digging and learned that they chose this name because the Greek word “arche” means “source of action” (Archie = Arche). Aside from that, Meghan recently teamed up with Save the Children and did a fantastic story-time segment available on instagram. We are donating the proceeds from our Picture Hope coloring book to the same organization! That makes us just like Meghan, right?

Okay. Now that I’ve talked about how wonderful Harry and Meghan are for humanitarian reasons, I can talk about what we all guiltily came here for: FASHION.

Since joining the royal family, Meghan has become an icon. And in the months since Megxit, she has stepped up her wardrobe in a big way. I’ve been feeling a little tired of my same two house dresses and have spent a fair bit of time looking at pictures of Meghan and Kate for fashion inspiration. You’ll love what I found!! The mix of classic elegance with modern, playful touches is perfect. Truthfully, that’s what I hope Lars makes you, dear reader, think of. I’d like to think Meghan is a Lars girl. 😉

Two years ago, we wrote about the wedding and made a mood board! If you want to see their wedding style synthesized, try this out! You probably have one friend who is a big time fan of all things royal (mine is named Dana). Send her something from our Royal Weddings collection!

(I won’t tell if you make a purchase for yourself.)

Keep on scrolling down to see some pieces that are a perfect fit for a royal-loving Lars girl. When you’re ready, head to our instagram today to vote on your favorite royal wedding fashion items. Which wedding was your favorite, Meghan’s or Kate’s?

Now that’s the tea – don’t spill.

Everyday style inspired by the Royal Family

How to plan your own royal wedding

If you are day dreaming of your very own classic wedding, inspired by Meghan and Harry’s big day, we have all the resources to help you! We are in full support of you going all out for the classy, iconic wedding of this decade. Visions of pastel colors and big hats are dancing around our heads. If you can picture it too, keep reading! After all, your deserve to feel royal on your wedding day.

You can find the templates needed to make your own paper version of Meghan’s wedding bouquet in our new paper flower e-book. Start the theme with your bridal shower, with the help of these printable invites the queen herself would approve of! Click here to see the royal wedding inspired tea party we held, for inspiration for your bridal shower or the reception itself!

Explore the links below for fashion inspired by the personal styles of members of the royal family. Imagine your guests donning classy pastel attire for the garden wedding every one will be talking about. Below you’ll find dresses, spring blazers, heels, and even hats the royal family would love any excuse to wear

Royal Wedding Fashion

Royal Wedding Accessories

This post is part of our “In the Mood For” series, where we highlight the taste of famous people and characters we love. Click these links to be inspired by kindred spirits like Anne of Green Gables or Jo March, or to learn how to re-create the iconic styles of real life heroes Iris Apfel or Alexander Girard.

Floral Wedding invitations with Mixbook

Brittany

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February 24, 2020

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The House That Lars Built x Mixbook Wedding Collection

Hailey created her bridal shower invitations with the Save the Date Invitations in the wedding suite. The original suite was designed by us, and customized by Hailey to fit the theme of her wedding.

Gold Leaf Floral wedding stationery

The wedding suite was inspired by whimsical florals (available in two colors, blue/green and pink). Hailey customized her bridal shower invitations with the Double Round edging on the corners, to keep in line with her Art Deco wedding theme. The wedding suite also features an option for real metallic foil, which Hailey selected as well to complement the gold and and metallic accents of her wedding.

Here are some of the options that Mixbook provides:

The foils come in gold, rose gold, and silver, and they look absolutely stunning in person. We are so excited for Hailey, and delighted that she was able to use our designs for her bridal shower! If you’re looking for extra added elegance, Mixbook also has an option for a Pearl Finish on the wedding suite. Head over to Mixbook to check it all out!

This post is sponsored by Mixbook. We love our sponsors who allow us to make awesome original content for you!