Easter time!

This isn’t so much a craft as a technique you can use for SO many things.  You need some decorations for Easter? Consider it done. You have an empty space on a wall that could use some prettying up? Don’t give it another thought.  You’re going to blow your own mind once you see how easy it is to transfer an image onto wood using your printer and a sheet of plastic, and after you recover you’re going to want to keep coming up with projects to do (coasters? printing on canvas? one large panel with multiple images? Anything goes!!) because it’s super easy and fun.

What you’ll need:
transparency film or printable plastic sheets
inkjet printer
wood panel or pieces (check wood projects section at your craft store)
rubber brayer (aka small solid rubber roller, also available in craft stores)
clear coat spray

Before you get started: You can use transparency film for overhead projectors, but in stores near me those cost $15-$20 a pack … so instead I used these plastic sheets which were much cheaper. You can reuse the sheets so you just need a few.

image prep

1. The first thing you need is an image that’s as high resolution as you can get.  I happen to have a CD-ROM of high res vintage labels and ads which works perfectly, but there are also a ton of resources online.  I  love the huge variety of vintage files they have at vintagerio.com, but some of them are scans of greeting cards and are pretty low resolution … which is fine, so long as you print it out small! For the Easter images you see here, I used this pack I bought for $1. There are some classic super weird cards included (looking at you, illustration of a baby chick with two long braids of blonde hair) but there were enough cute ones to make it worthwhile. The best thing to do is print out tests on plain paper (use black and white on a draft setting so you don’t burn through your color ink!) and figure out what size looks good without being blurry.

Important: Use Photoshop or other photo editing software to reverse the image before you print onto your plastic, otherwise the text will be backwards when you transfer it and you will say lots of cuss words.

2. If your wood panel is larger than your image, use one of your test print outs as a guide to make small pencil marks to help you with placement.

3. Print out your image on the plastic film, making sure to print on the shiny side, and use whatever setting will give you the nicest quality but QUICKEST printout.  The first time around I chose a super high quality setting and it took so long to print that the ink was practically dry when it was finished.  The key is a quick printout so you have plenty of ink to transfer.

Quickly and carefully position onto your wood surface and hold tightly in place — don’t let it slip– and use the rubber brayer to smooth over the entire image.  Be very thorough and press down evenly.

4. When you think you’ve gotten all the ink you can onto the wood, carefully remove the plastic and give the transfer time to dry.

Pro tip: You can use a damp paper towel to wipe away any remaining ink on the plastic sheet so you can reuse it!

5. Once transferred, the ink will not be waterproof, so spray a few layers of clear coat over it to protect it.  Let that dry and it’s ready to hang!  I found those adhesive velcro hangers to be perfect for the job.

It's a Boy!

When you get home from the hospital, you’re going to be filled with so many emotions and feelings. Take some time to reflect on what just happened. You’ll have the time because you’ll be up constantly, but instead of feeling like you want to die at every waking hour, look down while you’re feeding your little one and realize what a precious moment this is. You just had your first baby!

It takes some time to get back into the rhythm of life. Give yourself (and your partner) a lot of grace. This is a life changing moment and it needs to be remembered as a positive experience. You are now the life line of this little being. He is relying on you for his well-being and it’s a time that seems like forever in the moment, but will be gone before you know it.

Your baby is now experiencing life. He’s now outside the womb and every little thing is new. Yes, they cry and sleep a lot, but think how exhausting it must be to have your warm safe haven taken from you. Soothe your baby – he recognizes only you. I know it seems so foreign to you at the moment that he belongs to you. There often isn’t that instant connection, but he knows your voice. You are his comfort – talk to him, hold him close, help ease him into this unfamiliar place.

I write this post hoping that you read it before you have your baby. I was SO tired the first couple of months that I didn’t feel functional – chances are, you won’t either. I don’t remember some moments that my husband or parents did after we had WF. We’re still in our first year and I’m already thinking this time is going way too quickly. This is a reminder to soak in every moment and take on the position you’ve been waiting for. You are the protector, the comforter, the familiar, the parent. Enjoy!

Madame Butterfly

As you may or may not know, I have a TV show coming out this Sunday.

What? How? Who would allow such a thing?!?

Last year the good people of WE TV (being of sound mind and body) asked me, Rachel Hollis wedding planner extraoirdenaire to host a new wedding show. The result is a little doozy called “JILTED?” about bride’s who asked their boyfriends to marry them and then wait , at the alter, for the answer. It’s fun, maybe a little dramatic and highly entertaining. In any event, regardless of how good (or bad) it might do in the ratings, I am hosting a TV show which is exciting and so to celebrate I’m hosting a giveaway!!!!

Just Hangin' Around

Beso Handbags allowed me to design my own version (that’s right, designed by MOI) of their Eve Bag. And now you can have this gorgeous, fall inspired, vintage covered, masterpiece as your very own! How, you ask??

It’s simple, just comment on this post and tell me why you absolutely MUST have this bag, why you deserve it more than anyone else on here, or what fabulous event you’re going to wear it to. Just hurry, the giveaway ends soon and the prize will be awarded to the most creative, thoughtful, heartwarming or downright hilarious comment there is. Good luck, and don’t forget to watch JILTED this Sunday at 10PM on WE TV!!!

Up Close and Personal

Vintage Teal Suede?? Oh yes it is!!

Ready to ReCycle

If you’re like me a wine-0 wine connoisseur than you go through at least a case bottle a week. That adds up to a LOT of corks that I end up throwing away, which totally bums me out because it’s such a waste! However, last week whilst blazing though Whole Foods in search of their brown rice sushi (a small obsession of mine) I found a cork recycling center provided by Cork ReHarvest. They use the recycled corks for everything from shipping material to tile. You can click on this link to find a cork recycling drop off near you!

Joan Jett and Kristen Stewart (swoon!)

Sorry I’ve been MIA for the last week or so… if you’re following me on Twitter than you’re well aware the mayhem surrounding the latest Chic Event. We’re smack in the middle of Utah and 4 days in to the Sundance Film Festival. This is our second year working the Entertainment Weekly Lounge which is both a blessing and a curse.

A blessing because, doing the EW Lounge at Sundance is the type of thing we dreamed about when we were wee baby event planners and to actually be doing such a thing (for the second time) is beyond cool… I mean, we’re hanging out in an ultra chic lounge in the beautiful snowy mountains watching Orlando Bloom get his picture taken. This does not suck.

A curse though too, because we’ve been doing this same thing for 4 long days of standing on our feet as really, glorified waitresses, wearing Mountain Men uniforms that we can’t seem to get the soup smell of out of.

Regardless here are some stats from the festival:

Number of celebrity sightings: 1.2 million

Number of Twilight Heroines I’ve personally served minestrone to: 1

Cast of Happy Thank You

Number of times the Paparazzi have mistaken Erika for Cameron Diaz – 3

Number of times we’ve been skiing or done anything vacation-like – ZERO

Number of HIP eyeshadows the L’Oreal Paris Makeup Girls have tried out on me – 2

Number of days til I go home – 2 (yippee!!)

So that’s what I’ve been up to for the last couple weeks. I promise to get back to all the blogging merriment upon my return. Until then, check out the photos of the shoots that have been going on in our space and be sure to follow my Twitter so you can get all the haps on Park City!!

EARTHA KITT

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! HAPPY HANUKKAH!!! HAPPY QUANZA!!!! I wish you and your loved ones the chicest of holidays. Stay safe and merry and watch the carbs!!!!

This week is a special holiday classic in its original form. I used to sing this song year round in my youth… now it’s my gift to the Chic readers!!!!  Although Eartha Kitt left us last year, she is still one of the Chicest and most sultry women to ever come out of Hollywood! Click Here for Eartha’s original 1953 television performance of Santa Baby… Then go have yourself a merry little Christmas and a happy holiday!!!!

FILTHY DUKES

Happy Tuesday chic readers! Its almost Christmas; here’s a great last minute gift idea!!! ….MUSIC!!! This week I will recommend a band I would love to have play at my holiday festivities… Filthy Dukes!!! Lost in the earlier shadows of  djs like Hot Chip and LCD Sound System, this English electro band was bound to be recognized…. They have been deejaying and supporting like artists for years, and finally in March 2009 they released a seriously chic and sophisticated debut album, Nonsense in the Dark! It is indeed dark, refreshing, and best of all oozes sex appeal…. Turn out the light, pump up the volume, start grinding those hips and CLICK HERE for one of my favorites, Light Heart Skip Cross!….. Then go stuff it in someone’s stocking!!!!

VV BROWN

Happy Tuesday! I’m excited to be in LA this week… (Chic office pics to come)! I am also excited about this week’s pick. Vanessa, or VV brown, is a 26 year old out of Northampton in England. She hit the scene running with her distinct sound and style. Inspired by 1950 couture and Northern Soul sound, this musically trained artist is something I am expecting big things of. She is truly one of my new faves and worth the unknown release date of her single Shark in the Water. Click Here for the video!!!!

However, just because a place isn’t crawling with celebs and wannabes doesn’t mean it isn’t super cool and just as fun. Dear Chic readers, let me introduce you to Bordello.

The current downtown renaissance has brought an influx of young professionals, businesses, and an entirely new vibe to what was once a scary barren wasteland. Bordello is a favorite of many for its carefree vibe, cheap (but yummy) drinks, and lack of doorman attitude.

I have been to Bordello several times and each time has been amazing. The decor itself is worth the trip. Staying true to its namesake, Bordello boasts deep reds, elaborate moldings that look like a frosted cake, and a sexy interior. One of my best friends had her birthday party here recently and it was amazing. The space really lends itself to being a great birthday spot. But don’t take my word for it, check out some photos!

Sexy lounge area

From the outside, however, Bordello can give you the wrong impression. The rumor goes that Bordello was once a fully functioning..well, bordello, so it’s way on the outskirts of downtown LA.  It’s in an area that is largely abandoned after 5pm, so it can be a little unnerving if you’ve never been, but never fear, the area is totally fine.

The only down side to Bordello is that there is a cover. BUT at least you avoid the snooty Hollywood bouncer who can make any night into a disaster.

Check out the website for nights and all the 411.

The dancefloor

Drinks please!