Julep

Wedding Inspiration Board Challenge

Written by Artist Relations

By Jen Casebeer, Community Editor

Ever wonder about those beautiful boards on the top-right of our blog? They’re current submissions in our wedding inspiration board challenge! Every Monday between now and January 7, we’re awarding 2 prizes of $200 Minted credit each. One for the most ‘favorited’ board and one random drawing. At the end of it all, one grand prize winning Editor’s Pick will win $1000 to spend on Minted!

Don’t you just love these boards? To join the ranks and enter the challenge, just create an inspiration board around a Minted wedding invite or save the date. Then embed the board on your website or blog and fill out your entry information here. Happy styling!

Cover Board: A Greenhouse Affair by Kayla King

1: Orange, Gold, and Butterflies by Caroline

2: Central Coast Wedding by annie clark

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Perfect Cocktail Party Playlist

Written by Annie Clark

By Brandy Brown of Marabou, a member of the Minted Design Community

In most, if not all, types of merrymaking, entertainment usually plays a big part. If you are organizing an event and your plans do not include hiring a DJ, and the thought of adding tasks to an already packed schedule borders on the ridiculous? Don’t fret! You can set the tone and provide a magical atmosphere with this all-purpose musical selection. Compiled is a variety of mingle ready melodies guaranteed to pull even the shyest of wallflowers out of their shell! Just remember, in order to encourage & maintain conversation between guests set the volume at a festive level. The Perfect Party Playlist is both crowd pleasing and danceable! Enjoy!

Total Time: 1 hr
Listen to it here

top image via here

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Easy Ball Garland

By Jenny Batt of Hank + Hunt

I like to stroll down the floral pick aisles this time of year. They are full of pre-glittered wonders and as a gal who has worked alot with glitter, I know it is a messy craft. When it is already attached to my object of choice, I get really excited. These ball picks were at my local hobby store and I had to snatch them up. First, they were on sale for half off and second At 99 cents regular price, it was considerable cheaper than the ornament versions of this rectangular glitter style I have seen elsewhere. Less than a dollar a pop always means I will make a garland out of it, especially if it is in my favorite holiday palette.

Let’s get started with supplies …

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How To: Style a Custom Print

Written by Victoria Smith

By Victoria Smith of SF Girl by Bay

Minted Custom Print

I’m a big fan of Minted’s new line of art prints. There’s a few already hanging in my home, but for a while now I’ve been wanting to enlarge a custom print — one of my favorite images of my father who passed away last year. This particular photo is of him arriving in California for the first time after moving to Los Angeles from Toronto, Canada. It’s so stereotypical — him reaching up to grab a fresh orange from a tree, that it could almost be on a postcard. It reminds me of how excited and hopeful for a new future in a warm, sunny climate he must have been.

Minted Custom Print 2

So I asked the Minted folks if I might try out their custom print service and enlarge this print to hang in my dining room to remind me always of my dad. The photos was old – taken in the 50’s and like lots of family heirlooms and ephemera it wasn’t in the best of shape. But Minted enlarged it and framed it, making it look amazing. I couldn’t be more happy with it. Giving a gift like this at the holidays is so much more thoughtful than rushing out to the mall to buy yet another ‘thing’ someone probably doesn’t need. I love the idea of giving custom prints to friends and family. And you still have time to order your custom print, the last date for personalized art is December 17th. Here’s to happy holiday memories everyone. Enjoy the season.

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DIY Modern Christmas Fairy Lights

Written by Rachael Smith

By Rachael Smith of Penelope & Pip

I love walking along the street in our shopping district at Christmas as there are so many amazing Christmas displays in the windows. This year however, I’ve noticed there is not a lot of the traditional red, white and green colours schemes we are used to seeing in decorations for the holiday season.

This inspired me to create a modern take on the tree lights we usually hang, using hot pink and blue, instead of red and green, with a cool geometric pattern of course, to really bring some colourful festive cheer into our home, just like the gorgeous shop windows we love. This is a true five minute DIY which will transform your tree beautifully.

Lets get started with supplies …

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Note from the Editor

By Liz Stanley, Managing Editor

crepepapertree

The editors and I all live in San Francisco and space is very valuable in this city, and often quite limited in our apartments. Christmas trees have a large footprint so right now we’re loving all kinds of alternative wall trees that are festive but still allow for plenty of livable space. They’re very fresh + modern, and creative. Calling to the inner crafters in all of us! Here are a few favorites I found around the web:

Crepe Paper tree (image above)

Would you ever swap out your traditional tree for one of these?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love, Liz + the Julep editors

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Luke’s First Birthday

Written by Annie Clark

By Kelli Hall a member of the Minted Design Community

When it came time to plan my little boy’s birthday, most everyone I know assumed I’d go a little overboard. That I did, but with Minted’s amazing party decor, It was more about the special details than over-the-top scale. The look was inspired by Luke’s favorite things: a single red balloon, along with food themes and illustrative details reminiscent of Shel Silverstein story books. I had visions of understated white and fluffy textures, punctuated by bright, happy pops of red, and energetic scribbles. I tried to keep the busyness to a minimum and let the little details and punchy color palette take the spotlight.

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The Minted Design Grant

Written by Artist Relations

By Jen Casebeer, Community Editor

The Minted Design Community is all about meritocracy. Artists should have opportunities based on the quality of their work rather than who they know or where they live. In keeping with that belief, we’re incredibly proud to share the details of our first annual Minted Design Grants!

This year, we’re offering 3 grants of $4,000 each. 2 student scholarship grants and 1 open design grant for anybody and everybody. We’re looking for fresh, innovative design and we hope these grants will go a long way in nurturing 3 well-deserving artists.

So to all you design geniuses out there, apply here by Sunday December 16, 2012 at 11:59pm PST. Minted’s editorial team will select the finalists and Mariam, our founder and CEO, will select the winners. Winners will be announced and grants awarded in early January 2013. Show us what you’ve got!

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Paperwhite Hostess Gift

Written by Victoria Hudgins

By Victoria Hudgins of A Subtle Revelry

Ready-to-plant paperwhites can be found in almost every floral shop this time of year. A handful of bulbs and a simple stack of vintage napkins makes a lovely gift for any hostess to have. Come prepared for your next party with this sweet combo.

Read on for instructions …

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Ribbon & Wrap Guide

By Olivia Kanaley, DIY Editor

Perfect packaging makes a great gift even better. Here are my favorite gift wrapping finds from around the web.

1. Peace, Love and Joy Gift Tags, Minted
2. Holiday Greens Wrapping Sheets, Rifle Paper Co.
3. Confetti Garland in Endive, Spring Green, and Blush from Kristina Marie
4. Washi Tape in Gold Stripe and Solid Gold, Minted
5. Gold Glitter Gift Boxes, Paper Source
6. Hang Tags with Eyelets in Chartreuse and Moss, Paper Source
7. Gold Glitter Bow, The Container Store
8. Gift Boxes Wrap in Neon, Fig, 2 Design Studio
9. Herringbone Wrapping Paper, Anthropologie
10. Etoile Velvet Ribbon in Green, Anthropologie

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