gift wrap inspiration & downloadable tags

Last week, Summer of Grey Likes Weddings and I traipsed through Forever 21 and local antique shops looking for the perfect accessories to adorn some holiday wrap. We went a little sequin crazy, but wanted to have wrap that would be a gift in and of itself. I think it's mission accomplished, if I do say so myself. Hayley from T&H Photography did an amazing job with the images; we had a blast together. I keep finding little sequins all over the apartment; it makes my heart happy.

View more images on Style Me Pretty.

Download the 12 Days of Christmas gift tag embellishments here. (We printed on text-weight paper and used scissors to help curl.)

Merry Merry!

xoxo,
stets

gift guide { blush lover - aka grey likes weddings }

My dear friend Summer of Grey Likes Weddings requested an all blush gift guide. Well, Summ, this one's for you... p.s. I made sure to add some extra bling. xxoo

01 Rutilated Quartz Crystal The Evolution Store
02 Crinkled Confection Dress by BB Dakota ModCloth
03 Live What You Love Sweet Pink Letterpressed Print Made By Girl
04 Lorina Sparkling Pink Lemonade BevMo!
05 Glamorous Life Rolex Rose Gold Metallic Polish Deborah Lippmann
06 Blush Champagne Triple CZ Earrings in Gold Lisa D Jewelry Etsy
07 Coco Mademoiselle Chanel Watercolor Digital Print Spun Sugar Paperie Etsy
08 Gradient Fringe Necklace by Juicy Couture Piperlime 09 Rose Pink Fiesta Mugs Scavengenius Etsy
10 Gold Dipped Geo Earrings A Merry Mishap Etsy
11 Pink Waterfall Ruffle Pillow Urban Outfitters
12 Pink Himalayan Salt Terrain
13 Petrie Chair Crate and Barrel
14 Polka Dotted Boho Top Vintage Pink Free People
15 Samba Rosa Glace Round Vintage Sunglasses MOD Vintage Shop Etsy
16 Grey & Peach Zag Dish Up in the Air Somewhere Etsy
17 Petal Tear Drop Earring by Tinley Road Piperlime
18 Set of Four Pink Swirl Champagne or Dessert Goblets My Attic Finds Etsy
19 Fantasy Blucher Shoes Zara
20 Mini Suitcase Style Bag Zara
21 Pale Pink Fabric Pom Pom and Metal Necklace The Vamoose

gift idea { diy clay bauble necklace }

Need a quick last-minute gift idea? How about whipping up a few polymer clay bauble necklaces? Polymer clay comes in a variety of colors and can be mixed to create a custom palette.

MATERIALS:
polymer clay
hemp or leather cord
parchment paper
baking sheet
findings/clasps (if you prefer a shorter necklace than those shown which fit over the head)

Select your desired colors. Soften clay by rolling and conditioning clay in your hands. Mix colors, if desired. Roll clay into round balls or squish ball for a disc shape. Pierce holes in the clay balls with needle or skewer. Remember to refer to the thickness of your cord. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake at 275-degrees fahrenheit (15 minutes for every 1/4 inch). Once beads have cooled, string on cord. Use another bead to tie the end, knotting on either side.

Voila; present complete! Great idea for girls and women!

giveaway & gift guide { white lover }

White. Blanc. Cream. Ivory. Snow. Below are some last-minute glistening gift ideas for those that love white on white with a side of white.

AND FOR YOU, we have a special holiday treat, thanks to flip & tumble... we are giving away not one, but TWO white hooknooks! Think a wall hook with storage. I'm debating about putting a few by the door to hang my coats, purse and what-have-you and make it my new designated car-key location. (The hubby will never ask me again where I put them!) Or, perhaps in the office for my (ever growing collection of) markers and pens. So, you interested?!

To enter the GIVEAWAY:
• visit flip & tumble and leave a comment below
• tweet about the giveaway; make sure to include @mstetsondesign and @flipandtumble

The winner will be selected Friday, December 23rd. Consider it a little early present from us to you! Muah!

***GIVEAWAY CLOSED: and our winner is Kristin Sellars! Congratulations, Kristin! Please email stets {at } mstetson {dot} com. Thank you!***

(first photograph from Grey Likes Weddings shoot featured on Style Me Pretty) 01 Ubiqua Hanging Lamp by Selab Seletti
02 GIVEAWAY: White Hooknooks Flip & Tumble
03 Case Study Ceramic Cylinder Planter Modernica
04 White Serving Bowls Heath Ceramics
05 Subway White 18" Pillow CB2
06 Shred White 18" Pillow CB2
07 Baby Patent Leather High Top Sneaker Zara
08 Cable-Knit Sweater H&M
09 White Leather Bar Bracelet Ariel Gordon
10 Waltz Nail Polish Essie
11 ACNE Rita Leather Aviator Jacket Net-a-Porter
12 Contemporary Salad Servers Snow Core Bamboo
13 Finn Chandelier West Elm
14 Lake Erie 1 Black and White Photograph Jennifer Squires Etsy
15 Michael Kors Runway Watch Piperlime
16 Secret-Stripe Tee Madewell
17 Vintage Plycraft Armchairs by Norman Cherner 1stdibs

gift guide { purple lover }

Purple. Periwinkle. Violet. Amethyst. Fuchsia. Aubergine. Roll out the royal treatment with one of these lovely lavendar numbers. (first photograph of Gubi's Gubi 1 Stackable Chair)
01 MT Violet Washi Tape MT Tape amazon
02 Amethyst Rock Garden Nasty Gal
03 Purple Zigzag Printed Rug Urban Outfitters
04 Rum Raisin Ex-Boyfriend Sweater Madewell
05 Alexander McQueen Skull-Print Scarf Net-a-Porter
06 Andy Purple Glasses Lookmatic
07 Dara Ettinger Lark Ring shopbop
08 Purple Rebecca Minkoff Pyramid iPad Case Nordstrom
09 Lilac/Grey Color Block Shoe Clips ban.do
10 Anna Sui ModCloth
11 Soft Hand-Woven Turkish Kilim Pillow Cover Sukan Etsy
12 Purple Paris Photography Postcards Collection Little Brown Pen Etsy
13 Mulberry Tickertape Shift Dress Madewell
14 The Terrestrial Series in Violet Purple Botswana Agate Cube Necklace Iswas+Willbe Etsy
15 Reed Krakoff Leather-Trimmed Python-Print Canvas Tote Net-a-Porter
16 Water Drop Jug 2012 Branch
17 Purple AG Stevie Cords Anthropologie

house | hermes

We interrupt this gift guide series because House Industries just left me speechless. Custom-cut cedar letterforms grace the window displays of Maison Hermès Tokyo. Whoaaa... I've never wanted a giant wooden typographic horse as much as I do now.

gift guide { blue lover }

Blue. Navy. Ultramarine. Azure. Cyan. Sapphire. Teal. Need some gift ideas for your lover of all things blue? Then let's head into the wild blue yonder... (first photograph of "blue without you" care package by Katherine Marie. Darling idea, no?!) 01 Aqua Multi-Stem Vase Heath Ceramics
02 Aqua Kathryn Bentley Bead Necklace Beklina
03 Navy and Light Blue Cubes Throw Jonathan Adler
04 Jeeves2 Mid Heel Suede Brogues Blue TOPSHOP
05 Sky Pencil Cup Night Owl Paper Goods
06 I Like You. I Dislike You. Dry Erase Board row boat press
07 Turquoise Era Round Armchair with Cane Seat by Michael Thornet Design Within Reach
08 Darkest Hour Fishtail Anorak Old Navy
09 Turquoise Dimpled Drinkware Large Tumbler West Elm
10 V::room Slub Jersey Scarf Navy/White Stripe stel's
11 True Blue Wayfarers Nasty Gal
12 Raincloud Mobile leptitpapillon/The Butter Flying Etsy
13 Sabrina Sapphire Boot The Frye Company
14 Paper Cutting Chronicle Books
15 Sanctuary Handmade Porcelain Soy Candle Luminology Etsy
16 Filson for Lucky Denim Sports Bag Lucky Brand

gift guide { green lover }

Green. Olive. Pistachio. Chartreuse. Lime. Emerald. Mint. These selections will definitely make your other friends green with envy. (first photograph from decor8.) 01 Glass Bead Necklace Jewelry by Matt Totokaelo
02 Mica Linen Pillow Grass Angela Adams
03 Cece Sued Ballet Flat Oasis Green J.Crew
04 MOR Macaron Lip Balm Urban Outfitters
05 Raw Green Tourmaline Earrings by Jacquie Aiche catbird
06 Bertoia Side Chair Green Design Within Reach
07 Schoolhouse Extension Cord Green Cloth Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.
08 Drop Glass Tillandsia (Air Plant) Kit terrain
09 Lucia Thyme Flower & Coriander Organic Shea Butter Soap branch.birdie
10 Kaiku Pushpull Rolling Toy Design Public
11 Green Tea Patent Skinny Cuff with Logo Studs Tory Burch
12 Nola Fingerless Mossy Ol' Green Gloves Monki
13 Eco Green Recycled Wine Bottle Soy Wax Candles Paddywax (via Better Homes & Gardens)
14 Rachel Comey Rogue Emerald Green Boot Beklina
15 Clare Vivier Flat Clutch Green pretty mommy
16 Ridleys Table Top Ping Pong parker and otis
17 Harry Allen V2 Key Keychain Green Design Public

gift guide { yellow lover }

Yellow. Goldenrod. Citron. Lemon. Mustard. Butter. This yellow streak is anything but cowardly. Your friend that loves all things yellow will really glow with a gift from below! (first two photographs from Leslie of A Creative Mint)
01 Citron Striped Hand Towels WestElm
02 Coatrack Dots Design Within Reach
03 Responsive Web Design by Ethan Marcotte A Book Apart
04 Round Sea Grass Basket with Handles The Container Store
05 Yellow Wool Curved Arm Sofa By Moselle Meals 1stdibs
06 Vintage Retro Yellow Gooseneck Electric Lamp Fishbone Deco Etsy
07 Grapefruit Pop Candle Jonathan Adler
08 The Betty Hat Krochet Kids International
09 Symbols 6 - Abstract Original Oil Painting on Canvas Maria Kitano Art Etsy
10 XL Fashion Clutch Zara
11 Yellow Trophy Alice Supply Co.
12 Clue Mustard Shoe Seychelles
13 Le Creuset® Dijon Cereal Bowl, 6 1/4" Sur la Table
14 Taxi Mittens Kate Spade
15 Give Luck Give Bag Chewing the Cud
16 Forage Bow Tie Somethings Hiding in Here Etsy
17 Bright Side Print Vapor.Qualquer Etsy

gift guide { orange lover }

Orange. There will be no comparing to apples here; just oranges and more oranges. Tangerine (Pantone's 2012 Color of the Year!). Coral. Peach. Flame. Amber. Pumpkin. (Gorgeous Hermès Boxes 6" x 8" Oil on Canvas painting by Libby Black)
01 Neon Orange Net Color Cord Hanging Pendant Light with Giant Silver Bowl Bulb EarthSeaWarrior Etsy
02 Cambridge Satchel Fluoro Orange shopbop
03 King's Chair : Meg O'Halloran Design EnRoute Studio Etsy
04 Hand-Painted Bike Bells Poketo
05 Pablo Side Table CB2
06 Orange Tree tree2mydoor.com
07 Dynamic Design Hi Gloss Poly Planter with Attached Saucer amazon
08 Yuri Orange Desk Lamp with Counterweight Vraiment Beau
09 Le Pégase d'Hermès Scarf Hermès
10 Convertible Ceiling to Wall Color Pop Sconce Shades of Light
11 Industrial Garment Rack Urban Outfitters
12 Handmade Thom Filicia Durston Blood Orange Indoor/Outdoor Rug Overstock
13 Ursula and Uma the Understanding Monsters Knitting Pattern dangercrafts Etsy
14 Painting Abstraction: New Dimensions In Abstract Painting Anthropologie
15 Vintage Glass Tray Regalia by George Briard Wood and Brass Handles PomDecors Etsy
16 Fruity Chocolate TCHO
17 Veuve Clicquot Traveller Wine.com

gift guide { red lover }

Next up... Gift ideas for the those that are Red hot. Rouge. Crimson. Scarlet. Poppy. Vermilion. Anyway you put it, this is the only time "being in the red" is a good thing. (first photograph by Ingmar Swalue)
01 Red Dipped Side Table West Elm
02 Pillar Box Red Nail Lacquer Butter London
03 Neon Red Large Pendant Geo Necklace A Merry Mishap Etsy
04 Diner Red Super™ Eyeglasses Ciccio Madewell
05 Wine AG Stevie Ankle Denim Anthropologie
06 Raspberry Macaron 'lette macarons
07 Design Sponge at Home amazon
08 I Should Be Making Something Print lunch breath
09 Voluspa "Japonica Gogi and Tarocco Orange" 3 Wick Tin Bloomingdales
10 Red Biennial Satchel JCrew
11 In2Green Eco Ikat Blanket wayfair
12 I Left my Heart in Brooklyn Red Wall Hanging RugglesMade Etsy
13 Red Hunter Original Tall Wellington Rain Boot Nordstrom
14 Children's Red Mountain Boot Zara

gift guide { pink lover }

Pink. Fuschia. Rose. Blush. Salmon. Magenta. Know a lover of all things pink? Then there is destined to be some gift inspiration below! (first photographs by Oliver Schwarzwald)
01 Tickled Pink Italian Lounge Chairs 1stdibs
02 Yves Saint Laurent Succulent Pomegranate Glossy Balm Sephora
03 Jodie Tortoise/Pink Readers Kate Spade
04 Rare 1924 Vintage Carlton Dancers Poster 1stdibs
05 Jumbo Pink Highlighter poppin
06 Syline Necklace Minoux Jewelry
07 BDG Leather Pointy Skimmer Urban Outfitters
08 Piccolo Coin Purse marimekko
09 Joia Fluorescent Belt tobi
10 Anchor Pillow Jonathan Adler
11 Jo Gordon Colourblock Mittens ASOS
12 Echeveria Parva Succulent Plant SucculentDESIGNS
13 CYLINDER set of 3 IKEA

It smelled like Italy

I was super inspired by The New York Times Home & Garden story on Italian-born fashion photographer Fabio Chizzola and his wife Laura. In 2002, they happened upon a 32-acre apple orchard with an old Dutch-American stone farmhouse that, as Fabio put it, "smelled like Italy." What an amazing adventure. View the slideshow.

giveaway winner

Thanks for all the tweets, facebook comments, and blog comments for my super-quick-turnaround giveaway. Seeing as it is December 1st already (oh my!) I figured we'd better get these tags in the mail STAT.

So, without further adieu... our winner is... ABBIE from A Glimpse of the Girl Next Door. 

Abbie said, "I love these! I've been looking for an advent calendar, but I haven't been in love with anything I've seen so far. I love that you can use these in different ways. I think I would use them as a calendar for a couple of years until my son is a little older, then I would use them on daily gifts. These are so simple and beautiful." Congratulations, Abbie; email stets{at}mstetson{dot}com with your mailing address and I'll send them right out.

xoxo,
stets