To download, click on the image to open it full size and select file “save as” for your own personal use.

And be sure to leave a comment or email us with your suggestion and you may see your “name in lights!”

Have a great week!

xo,

Miss Lindsey

Happy Friday! You’ve still got time to enter both Leather Wraps and Graphic Image to win some amazing prizes! And we hope you enjoyed the cake stand tutorial. If you’ve gotten crafty around the house yourself, leave us some links in the comments. We would love to know what you’ve been up to!

Here are some links to make you smile this weekend:

Football player attends prom with fan.

Want to win a free wedding from the most amazing team? Fantastic.

Here’s my Pinterest board reserved solely for nail polish ideas. Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this.

{please visit gigi new york here – and graphic image here}

Am I the only one who hangs up the large tote bags as soon as the weather warms up? Granted, for days spent at the park or the beach a tote is a necessity. Rather, I’m talking about those evenings spent with some strappy sandals and a mojito. When the weather calls for a sundress, the arm calls for a clutch. (Please tell me I’m not alone in this.) The perfect summer adornment is, literally, right at your fingertips.

Our friends at Graphic Image have updated their sophisticated Gigi New York line with a collection of summer adornments. I am a firm believer that the right handbag can absolutely change your mood and these new bags are no exception. Seamlessly making the transition from day to night and erasing the line between casual and dressy, these new clutches embody the spirit of adornment with grace and sophistication and panache. Graphic Image has done it again.

Graphic Image is giving away one Pearl Envelope Clutch to one lucky winner! To enter to win, please answer the following question by Thursday, May 24th.

What is the best compliment you have ever received?

Start checking the winner’s box on Monday, May 28th, to see if you’ve won!

As a special bonus, all BSP readers can get a 20% discount at Gigi New York AND Graphic Image by entering the code SUNSHINE upon checkout!

Hello, dear readers. One special new feature we’ve added this year is the occasional spotlight on one of our contributors. Inherent in the mission statement of The Bright Side Project is the unspoken belief that to “Do What You Love, Love What You Do” is an absolutely essential component in creating a happy and healthy lifestyle. Every now and then, we will ask our contributors to answer a few short questions on the ideas of happiness, creativity and sunshine. We hope these rays of light help inspire you to find the sunshine in your day, today and everyday.

Today we are honored to highlight Graphic Image and Gigi of New York!

 
1. Please introduce yourself to our readers and explain a little bit about your business.

Hi, my name is Rosella and I’m from Graphic Image and our stylish sister brand, GiGi New York, which has just officially launched!  Graphic Image is a leather accessory company and is famous for our leather book binding.  Our new GiGi New York collection is filled with handbags and accessories.  Both of our brands carry many styles of tech cases.

2. We believe that one of the ways to achieve happiness is to “Do what you love, love what you do.” How does this philosophy apply to your life?

This is a great philosophy to live by not only in business but in every aspect of your life.    When you enjoy your work it makes life so much more fun and easier too.  Your happiness doesn’t only affect you but also the people around you – it’s contagious!  Everyone should make attempts for a happy fun environment, which at the end is productive as well!

3. Our mission here at The Bright Side Project is to spread sunshine on a daily basis because we firmly that life is (still) beautiful. Where do you find beauty and inspiration?

Our company is mostly women and we find beauty and inspiration within each other.  We all have different lifestyles and learn so much from each other – that’s where a lot of our creativity stems from! We have a lot of magazines through out the office and love to share new ideas with each other. We are huge fans of blogs and love to stay up-to-date on trends.  We’re always sharing ideas with each other for new inspirations!

4. On a dreary day, what do you do to infuse your life with a bit of sunshine?

Since we are mostly women here and we’re friends, besides co-workers even on the dreariest day we find ways to make each other laugh by telling jokes, ordering lunch or having a happy moment talking about our lives and family.  An extra bonus is the owner brings his 2 dogs to the office twice a week and they really perk up the place – they’re always playing and running around the office and it brings a great energy to all of us.

 5. At this very moment, what are you most grateful for?

We are very grateful for our loyal customers.  Also, were so thankful for the great response to our new Gigi New York collection.  We appreciate you taking the time to learn more about us!  Good luck with the contest!

Check back later today for an amazing giveaway from Graphic Image and Gigi New York! 

First, you will need:

hot glue gun and glue sticks, a base and a plate.

For this project, I used a small thrifted bowl and a thrifted vintage plate.

Turn the base and plate upside down and make sure they are clean and dry.

Apply a thin circle of glue around the edge of the base and a larger dollop in the center. Since my base and plate were not completely flat surfaces that were going to meet, I needed enough glue to fill out the gap and yet not too much that it ran out the sides.

Press the base into the center of the back of the plate and hold for a minute. It will dry pretty quickly and the key is to let it sit for awhile before using it.

Voila! Easy as pie (or cake. Whatever.)

I am using mine for an accent piece in my entry. This is the table where we dump our keys, glasses, mail, etc. I wanted something pretty to hold the leftover blooms from Mother’s Day so that I could see their prettiness right when I walk in.

I have to admit, I love it. And I get such a distinct satisfaction out of repurposing things I’ve already got around the house and mixing it up so that there is a freshness in my home. It makes me feel so productive, you know?

Welcome!

{please visit Leather Wraps here}

I have a bit of a confession to make. There are days when I don’t wear makeup, don’t style my hair, don’t put on anything besides the same tshirt and jeans I’ve been rocking for two days. There; I said it. This doesn’t mean, however, that I don’t care about what I see in the mirror before I leave the house. My secret? I adorn myself properly. A messy ballerina bun or a hat, some cute sandals and a well decorated arm of jewelry are all I need to transform my look from “Mom who doesn’t care” to “Unaffected lady with children.” (This might well be all in my imagination but I’m sticking with it!)

My search for the essential bangle is never-ending. In the sometimes over-saturated market of jewelry, it can be overwhelming to try and find those pieces that speak to you not only with their wearability but also with their chic and easy sophistication. I felt like I hit pay dirt when I stumbled across Leather Wraps. These gorgeously crafted leather bangles with gold and silver accents are the perfect adornment to take an ordinary day and make it extraordinary. Offered in a variety of colors, you can mix and match or stack as many or as few as you like. Personally, I’m torn between the Gold and the Yellow. There is just something about the idea of sunshine living on my wrist that just makes me smile. Maybe I’ll even add some lip gloss.

Leather Wraps is giving away one set of 8 bangles with double gold or silver tube accents (in the winner’s choice of any color available in the shop) to one lucky winner! To enter to win, please answer the following question by Tuesday, May 22nd.

What advice would you give to yourself 5 years ago?

Start checking the winner’s box on Monday, May 28th, to see if you’ve won!

Today we are honored to introduce you to Stormy Baker of Leather Wraps!

Please introduce yourself to our readers and explain a little bit about your business.

I’m a Southern Girl who was a full-time nurse who decided to enjoy life a little more! I down sized and moved to a small country, historic town with my family and started a business from my home. I love making leather jewelry! It just Rocks! I could do this 24/7!

We believe that one of the ways to achieve happiness is to “Do what you love, love what you do.” How does this philosophy apply to your life?

I changed my life by doing what I love and in return….. I see my family and friends and have an inner piece that’s undescribable! Everyone should Try this! Take a leap of Faith!

Our mission here at The Bright Side Project is to spread sunshine on a daily basis because we firmly that life is (still) beautiful. Where do you find beauty and inspiration?

My inspiration comes from the love of my family, the beauty of the earth and nature.

On a dreary day, what do you do to infuse your life with a little bit of sunshine?

Today was one of those days….and we went outside under a covered boathouse and fished with the family. Stay active and with the ones you love.

What are you most grateful for?

I’m most grateful for my daughter(she’s a miracle child from invitro) and my loving husband of 16 plus years! I love them so much!!!

Please check back later today for an amazing giveaway from Leather Wraps!

To download, click on the image to open it full size and select file “save as” for your own personal use.

And be sure to leave a comment or email us with your suggestion and you may see your “name in lights!”

Have a great week!

xo,

Miss Lindsey

Happy Friday, dear readers! Don’t forget to enter this week’s giveaways. We’ve got some lovelies to adorn you with from our friends at fresh grammar AND not Tuesday. Has anyone tried some homemade body scrub? Let us know how it works for you.

Here are a few links to make you smile this weekend:

::A brilliant reminder that our parents were fantastic young individuals once themselves over at My Parents Were Awesome.

::If you’re ever feeling down about the state of human affairs, click on over to Gives Me Hope and check out reader submitted stories of people doing good deeds.

::Love this article about how NOT to fight the blues. Sometimes taking care of ourselves means giving ourselves what we need, not what we want. A refreshing reminder.

If you have something wonderful to share with us, please leave a comment. Goodness is contagious, after all!

No one wants to be a cookie cutter. We all want to be seen as unique and special, even the shy ones among us. This isn’t to say we all want to be the center of attention; sometimes we just want to be noticed for being original. There is something about owning our individuality that allows us to become the best version of ourselves, that allows us to grow even more. Originality is the key. Our theme this month, Adorn, needs originality to live up to its full potential. What is the point of adorning ourselves if we are only going to look like every other lovely person out there?

Alex King of fresh grammar has done the impossible by creating a line of jewelry that screams fresh and new and innovative. Utilizing simplicity as a tool, each of these pieces speak to the fundamental reason we choose to accessorize ourselves in the first place. I firmly believe jewelry should enhance and accentuate and from the “beaded copper ball necklace” to the “silver and white chevron chainmail necklace”, King adds to the fully saturated market of jewelry a sense of uniqueness and chic originality that I haven’t seen a long time. Tell me you’re not longing to drape this “easter egg blue and gold lariat necklace” across your neck. (I am, too.) Let’s honor this month of Adorn with originality. Let’s honor this month with fresh grammar.

fresh grammar is giving away two of the industrial steel hex necklace to two lucky winners (one each)! To enter to win, please answer the following question by Thursday, May 17th.  Comments now closed…good luck!

What is your favorite word (g-rated, please!) and why?

Start checking the winner’s box on Monday, May 21st, to see if you’ve won!