Midwestern Girl

My favorite gift...plus, a GIVEAWAY from JORD

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Merry merry everyone!

Christmas is right around the corner - can you even believe it?! - and I can't wait!

I'm a huge proponent of the idea that giving is way better than getting...but I gotta be honest -

getting isn't too bad, either.

And, because my darling children can't always be trusted to get me exactly what I want (case in point:

For my birthday, I asked for a certain cookbook and received a phone charger...???),
I decided to get my own gift this year.

Now you've heard me talk about this company before...I've worked with them for a couple of years now...

but I've never been more excited about their products than I am now.

JORD (pronounced YODE) is a St. Louis-based company that makes the most beautiful watches...

and this is the gorgeous piece I recently received.

Meet the CASSIA Ebony & Sable.

Isn't she GORGEOUS?!

JORD describes this watch as "the statement piece you've been waiting for."

And they're absolute right.

Now, I will admit, before working with JORD I wasn't much of a "watch person."

I mean, I used to be - like 20 years ago - but I figured, I have my phone now - what on earth do

I need a watch for?

My husband, however, LOVES watches and has an entire collection...including several from JORD.

After seeing how much he loved the quality, craftsmanship & style of his JORD pieces -

and seeing how many freaking compliments he would get while he was wearing one - I decided it
was time for me to try wearing a watch again.

Now I don't go a day without wearing one of my beautiful timepieces...my wrist feels naked

without one.

Plus, it just looks so darn good!

And, because I love you guys so much, and I want to share my love for these gorgeous piece of jewelry,

I want to give one of you $100 off the watch of your choice from JORD...yayayay!

All you have to do is enter HERE!

And guess what? Even if you don't win, all entrants will be emailed a code for 10% off the watch

of their choice!

Honestly, these watches are the perfect gift for anyone on your list...and I highly recommend them.

Wouldn't a JORD watch look so lovely under your tree this year?

Here are just a few facts of about JORD watches...

*JORD watches are a sophisticated mix of natural & largely reclaimed materials,

combined with quality movements and components.

* Most watch backplates can be engraved! I had this one (the Frankie Koa & Ash)

engraved with our wedding date for my husband last year...

Gorgeous, right?

* Watches can be pre-sized for the recipient, too!

* Most watches have additional options for customization, too! Like mixing &

matching faces and woods! What??? I know! So good!

Plus, every watch comes with a one year warranty and options for return & exchange.

Oh, I can't forget - JORD provides

FREE WORLDWIDE STANDARD SHIPPING!

ENTER HERE for your chance to win a $100 gift code toward your favorite JORD watch!

But don't delay - the contest ends January 1, 2019!

Thank you so much for entering! And Merry Christmas everyone!

DISCLAIMER: I received my CASSIA Ebony & Sable as compensation for reviewing JORD and their watches.

Please know that this review reflects exactly how I feel about JORD watches and my opinion is entirely mine.

I had purchased JORD watches before working with them, and I will continue to do so.

Wooden Wrist Watch

Journal Studio Pocket Folders DIY

Friday, November 16, 2018

Hello, hello!

If you've found your way over here from the Heidi Swapp blog, welcome!

If you made it to this post before seeing Heidi's, head on over there super quick to see what's happenin'...

Here's the folder I gave you directions for on Heidi's site...

Next up are the instructions for the other two folders I showed you.

This first folder is probably the most straight-forward and easiest to make...just 2 sheets of 12x12 patterned paper (either double- or single-sided), and a couple of scraps are needed.

1. To begin, cut your papers to the following sizes: 12x8.5, 2 @ 3.5x8.5 & 2 @ approximately 2x3.

2. Turn your 8.5x12 paper over and score at the measurements shown below.

3. Then, fold this paper in half width-wise.

4. Fold over each flap at your score marks.

5. Turn your paper over and adhere one 3.5x8.5 piece to each flap...leaving just about .25" of paper on the outside of each score mark (or fold).

6. With your paper still turned over, and, using your craft knife, trim a small triangular section off the top of each flap, from the score (fold) mark inward toward the middle of the folded folder.

7. Fold each 2x3 scrap in half length-wise...

8. ...and apply adhesive to both sides of your fold.

9. Open each flap on your folder and adhere your folded scrap along the bottom of each side...making sure to stay close to the outside edges of your flaps.

10. Fold in your flaps and press down along the bottom edges to make sure each side is securely adhered.

That's it! You're done!

NOTE: You may choose to simply adhere the bottom edges of each flap to the back side of the folder directly. That's totally fine...adhering them to the scrap paper first just gives a little extra room inside your folder for more stuff.

And, finally, we have the larger pocket insert...

I love this design because it has both deep and shallow pockets and can be used for bigger items like passports or larger papers.

This insert calls for 2 pieces of patterned paper...cut to the following dimensions:

1. To begin, score your paper along the middle (at 4.75") and up from the bottom 2.5".

2. Fold your paper along the middle score line and trim off the corner created by the middle fold and your 2.5" score line.

This is what your paper will look like when you open it back up...

3. Next, fold your 5.5x9.5 paper in half width-wise and, using your 1" circle punch, punch a half-circle into the middle of each side, along the top, of your paper.

NOTE: This step is totally optional...I just like the way the half-circles look punched into my pockets.

Here's what your paper will look like when you're done.

4. Place the bottom edge of your 5.5x9.5 paper along your 2.5" score line and adhere onto the inside of your 10.75x9.5 paper, along the sides and bottom only.

5. Fold up each bottom flap along your 2.5" score line...

6. ...and adhere each flap along the left-hand edge to create your shallow pockets.

7. Fill with your favorite items and add to your journal!

Thank you so much for stopping in to check out how I created these inserts!

I hope I've inspired you to play with some of your favorite paper today...

SUPPLIES | Emerson Lane Double-Sided patterned paper, Emerson Lane 12x12 paper pad, Emerson Lane Stickers, Emerson Lane Ephemera, scoring board & bone folder, craft knife, ruler, self-healing craft mat, adhesive, 1" circle punch (optional), corner rounder (optional)

Foodie Gifts for Your Holiday Hostess

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

The holiday season is in full-swing and I can't say I'm upset about it.

In fact, I've already started to prepare all of the little gifts I always seem to need at a moment's notice.

There are few things worse during party-season than making last minute plans and not having a little gift ready, and I truly believe that you should never show up to anyone's house with your arms swingin'.

In other words...always bring something for your hostess.

No need to knock yourself out, though!

Let someone else do the baking/making...you focus on the pretty packaging.

In an effort to take my own advice, and, to prepare for the next few weeks, I took a little trip to both Trader Joe's and Aldi and stocked up on a few little edible gifts.

Then I dug through my stash and pulled out some of my favorite Emerson Lane papers and embellishments.

I also grabbed this incredible paper stack from DCWV.

Then I got started dressing up my cookies and candies and getting them ready to be given away.

First, I wrapped the chocolate bars with some paper and label stickers.

Because the candy was wrapped in such a fantastic package to start, I didn't have to do much to make it holiday-ready.

Next, I used my WeR Memory Keepers Goodie Bag Guide to create a little bag to hold the Birthday Cake Popcorn, which, by the way, tastes EXACTLY like Crunch Berries cereal and almost didn't make it long enough to be photographed...;)

I used a piece of Emerson Lane Vellum Specialty paper to create my bag, and I tucked in a piece of wax paper before adding the popcorn.

I love that you can make so many different goodie bag sizes with the Guide. It really is a great little party-favor tool.

The Gift Bag Punch Board was up next.

Oh man, I just LOVE this bag.

Add some parchment paper and a beautiful bow, and your recipient will never know you didn't spend hours baking & wrapping!

Now, the other punch boards are AWESOME...but the Gift Box Punch Board is definitely my go-to gift-wrapping tool.

You can create a million different-sized boxes and they are perfect for wrapping any kind of gift!

I would LOVE to open this box filled with absolutely delicious dark chocolate stars! And when I say delicious, I mean "oh man, why did I eat one because now I can't stop" delicious.

Little individual boxes of gingerbread men would make the perfect gift to go along with a hot-chocolate bar or kids Christmas party.

And what goes better with a perfect little box than a perfect little bow?

Thank goodness for the WeR Memory Keepers Bow Loom.

It will be your new best friend.

Making bows with this loom is SO EASY...and SO FAST...and - huge bonus - takes like no skill at all.

You simply choose your bow size, wrap your ribbon around the pre-measured "teeth" as many times as you want (each wrap-around will create another loop in your bow)...

...tie a length of string tightly around the middle of your "bow," and then adhere a small piece of ribbon over the string to cover it and to complete your bow.

The perfect finishing touch.

And one of the coolest things about using these amazing punch boards to create your wrapping is that you can completely customize your gift just by using different patterned papers.

And, let's face it, we all have enough paper to create bags or boxes for everyone in the entire civilized world, amiright?

Please don't tell me it's just me.