I’ve been feeling the love for neon lately. I feel like I can’t move for neon… it seems to be all around me and yesterday I even bought myself a gorgeous neon pink shirt. With neon on the mind, this is what a found for the kids:
We’re big fans of kids stamp kits in this house especially since my 3 year old daughter can entertain herself for ages with her stamps. We’ve got a couple of lovely sets so I thought we were all kitted out but now I’ve seen this new Japanese stamp kit and it’s love. It’s unlike any other stamp set I’ve seen before and the possibilities of creating beautiful designs with this set look endless.
The stamp kit includes everything you need to make hand stamps or roller stamps and also includes 35 pattern ideas to start you off and then you can go on to create your own original patterns. The stamps would be great for making your own wrapping paper and cards and even artworks for your kids rooms but best of all, it’s just great for letting kids express their own creativity.
This kit is the creation of Torafu Architects of Tokyo but you can buy it over at Upon a Fold (one of my favourite paper boutiques) where I found them. It’s out of stock at the moment but more are coming soon. I am a huge fan of Japanese designed goodies because just like this kit, you always get something unique, beautiful and very desirable.
Update August 2014: Very sadly, Upon a Fold no longer exists.
Earlier in the week I was on the hunt for some washi tape. You know, the Japanese stuff that’s like masking tape but comes in the most wonderful colours and patterns imaginable and can be used for endless decorating purposes. I found my washi tape and I also found Papermash… a little London boutique full of wonderful, colourful, bright and happy paper goodies.
Their collection is small but everything in it is gorgeous. There are cards and posters from the Rifle Paper Co, there’s lots of washi tape in solid colours or patterned (I went for the neon ones in coral and turquoise and I love them), then you’ve got party supplies including pretty floral paper cups, stripey straws and gorgeous honeycomb balls. Papermash also have a few crafts that you can download for free and make yourself. I’ve got my eye on the super pretty doily wraps which I’m picturing as party favour holders for my daughter’s next birthday bash. Visit Papermash to see all their goodies.
Today I’ve got my eye on this oh so pretty wrapping paper by Australian brand Love Mae, the creation of 2 mama’s – Emily and Peta. As Love Mae says ‘paper this nice should not be restricted to just wrapping presents’ and I couldn’t agree more. I love the idea of covering notebooks with it or even using it as origami paper. You could also create the most gorgeous garlands and bunting for your little girls room. If you’re a crafty type then I’m sure you can think of hundreds more uses but if you’re not check out Love Mae’s blog where they have many tutorials on creating lovely little things with their paper. And if you do just choose to wrap presents with it, you can rest assured your gifts will look utterly gorgeous!
If Emily and Peta are reading I have one request – please could you turn these in to wallpaper too? Head to Love Mae to check out the paper.
These are a few colourful little things for kids that have been on my radar for a while so I thought it was about time I shared them:
1. A cute wooden giraffe ring toss toy by Sweet Whirl. It so reminds me of the fun fairs I’ve visited as a kid as I always had to have a go at the ring toss game and I remember if I won, I’d come away with some giant soft toy. 2. Love these handmade soft clock bracelets for kids. My bambino loves wearing a pretend watch and I’ve never seen any nicer than these by Specks & Keepings.
3. I’m a big fan of Elisabeth Dunker’s store Fine Little Day. This ‘Fine Little World’ poster is one of her latest creations in collaboration with French Illustrator Steffie Broccoli. It’s a bright and bold world map filled with animals, buildings and other things representative of the various countries of the world.
4. How sweet are these tulip adorned pony tail holders for girls by Hello Shiso? I’m loving the colours and the girly – ness of them. 5. I don’t normally get excited about crayons but I really liked these with their bright, graphic wrappers from Pomme NYC. And the best part is they don’t need a sharpener, just keep peeling the layers of paper to reveal more and more colour.
If you visit me regularly, you’ll know that I love all things Japanese. Be it Japanese toys, or books or homewares, the Japanese are able to create such simple yet stunning objects of extreme desire. In my quest for finding more Japanese goodies, I stumbled across D-Bros that make little objects and stationery for the home and for kids. Some of their offerings are so beautiful in a minimalist kind of way, which is exactly the kind of style that the Japanese excel in.
I love these notebooks with their red ribbon detail and the sweetest illustrations. I think any little girl will be pleased to own one of these but I’m also thinking big girls will want one too. I know I do!
These little match-box style cards are so unusual and so pretty. On offer are birthday cards, new baby cards, wedding cards and more. Just lovely!
These fairytale drinking glasses are just so cool. I’m loving the illustrations and the way they’re reflected around the entire glass. It almost looks like the wolf and the wicked witch are floating through the glass.
To see more of D-Bros‘ lovely products visit them. You’ll find goodies not just for the kids but for the home too. Unfortunately you can’t buy unless you’re in Japan but you can check out Rakuten, Japan’s global market that ship’s internationally and has a selection of D-Bros stuff.
When I first saw ‘Nina and other little things’ I was hooked. I have a bit of a stationery obsession anyway and when it’s as cute and pretty as this, there is no way I can resist. The whole collection is based around a little biscuit sized character called Nina and she’s described by her creators as “Nina is a “pupetta”. She was born from pieces of cloth: her body is made of natural hemp fabric, cloak of red wool & her face sown in black cotton. She’s like a little red hiding hood… almost invisible to many, she’s sometimes filled with sweet melancholy without knowing why, other times she’s exuberant, or plays lazily with her precious little pearls, or dances the “twist” with reels of cotton. Nina exists only if you see her, and not everyone can.”
Nina is from Italy and comes in the form of notebooks, colour pencils, paper games, rag books, handmade artwork for kids and more. Lots of sweet little things that will bring a big smile to your face. I love the stationary she adorns but I also love the charming and whimsical little character that she is. The the whole little red riding hood vibe makes it all even more adorable. To check out all the lovely goodies head to Nina and Other Little Things where you’ll find a list of stockists too.
If you’re a Red Riding Hood fan, have a look at these plates and bowls from Argentina. They’ve got quite a story behind them!
I’m a bit of a stationery fiend. I love buying the stuff and stashing it away for use one day. Be it cool notebooks, pretty gift tags, quirky cards or gorgeous wrapping paper, I can’t resist. And one of my favourite stores for the most unusual and most beautiful paper goodies is the Sydney based online store called Upon a Fold. Today I’ve rounded up 6 of their cards and gift tags that are all super pretty, super fun or super cool in some way. I’m just loving the gorgeous flower gift tags as well the the white dove card. The chocolate lolly and the lollipop cards look good enough to eat while the clown card is colourful and fun! Last is the beautiful elephant card where I’m loving the white with the hint of red. Justine, the owner, seriously has an eye for the most fabulous paper goodies so head to Upon a Fold and have a browse. Worldwide shipping is offered.
If you’d like to see another of my favourites from Justine’s store, check out this super simple but elegant bird mobile from Japan.
Update July 2014: Sadly Upon a Fold shop is no more.
Here is my next Christmas 2011 gift guide for kids and today it’s all about paper. I’ve picked out some fun puzzles, some stationary and some paper toys (even though it’s hard to believe they’re made from paper). I’m a huge fan of paper gifts to give and to receive so I couldn’t have a Christmas gift guide without a paper list. So here it is:
1. Love these circus prints to liven up a kids room. From Haciendo el Indio.
2. Fifi Mandirac is the queen of paper goodies. Today I’ve picked her colour pencils that come in beautiful boxes but there’s lots more paper goodies to be had.
3. Lots of quirky little characters create this punch out and make puzzle by Ingela Arrhenuis. From Hus & Hem.
4. A fantastic punch out animal puzzle that’s for play and display. Called Magical Menagerie it’s by Junzo Terada.
5. A paper dolls house so gorgeous. Called ‘Storybook Cottage’, it comes with 5 pieces of paper furniture. From Upon a Fold (Update Sept 2014 – sadly this shop has closed down). (The monkey should be part of no.4 on the list but it escaped!)
6. Note cards and stickers set by Donna Wilson. A bit of quirky fun to get creative with.
7. A modern and stylish looking paper matching memory game from Binth.
8. Reusable wall stickers in the guise of dress up dolls. What fun! They’re from Love Mae on Etsy.
9. Cool notebooks to draw in, to colour or to keep notes. From Ask Alice.
Ebabee Likes is a style guide for babies, kids, teens and their mamas. It’s all about inspiration, ideas and indulging yourself and your brood. It’s written by me ~ Nomita ~ a style loving girl from Mumbai who now live’s in London. Read More...
