A dose of {inspiration}. Gain it when you lose it.

You know when you just feel like you are lacking inspiration? For me, I need inspiration to work. I cannot sit in my craft room and create pieces that I don't want to work on or that I don't adore. My intentions with each and every piece is that they are made with love and attention to detail. I don't won't ship anything out unless I am completely happy with it.

When I am constantly in my craft room due to a busy week of orders (like this past week), I can lose inspiration and motivation to create. I hate the feeling but it's bound to happen once in a while. This is just something I have learned in the handmade biz.

Here are some of the ways I gained inspiration when I was losing it these past few days.

1. I cleaned my craft room. There's just something about a clean room, a bare table and some added sparkle that gets the creative juices flowing.

Sequined bolero (Sparkles & Prays)

2. I doodled in my new sketch book from Kelly Rae Roberts. I'm not so great at drawing but it helps me realize new ideas once the pen touches paper and/or release stress by focusing on something else entirely. It's another great creative outlet to turn to if I can't seem to work with fabrics, beads, flowers or feathers.

3. I went out on a date with the husband to go see The Great Gatsby. If you are in need of any inspiration, this movie will certainly inject a flood of new ideas into your mind. Seriously.

4. Reading. I have been reading almost every night before bed. Whether it be a novel or the bible, reading is so relaxing and allows me to recollect. Light a candle while you're in a book and this heightens the experience.

5. Once pieces were done, coming up with new packaging ideas was a lot of fun. If I were opening up some happy mail, I'd want to see a bit of pretty details. When someone cares about the presentation (not just the product alone) of their shop, that's when you really feel appreciated. I want to convey this to each person receiving anything from Love Sparkle Pretty.

What do you do when you are in need of inspiration?

P.S. Enter for your chance to win a beaded bracelet from the shop + crochet hearts from Laila's Charming Pieces. These are bound to add some "wonderful" to your day!

Coffee Date {with a friend} + Giveaway

Today, I'm sharing coffee date with my dear friend Tara of Laila's Charming Pieces. I came over to her house for a visit and a play date with the littles. She instantly welcomed me with open arms and brewed some yummy coffee for us to enjoy (and then had to brew another since the husband drank all of it before we could get to it). 

We decided for this weeks coffee date, we would share our thoughts with you! We love having others over and getting to know some new faces so lets start by pouring a cup of hot coffee (with hazelnut creamer please) and making room on the couch to get cozy on.

This week has been quite busy in the craft room (for both of us actually). Tara put aside a whole day to clean her craft room and I have been trying to play catch up on orders and clean my mess of a room since Tara inspired me to do so. I firmly believe the saying, "creative people are rarely tidy." (cough cough)

Speaking of which, if you were with us, you would be hearing the crash of Jenga pieces right about now. Coffee dates with babies are quite loud.

Onto other news, my husband and I have officially started the house hunting process. Let the competing and patience testing begin! This market is a nightmare for buyers right now. Prayers please!

Prayers also for Tara as she starts a new endeavor with Laila's Charming Pieces and retail. 

Also, I'd have to ask if you've seen The Great Gatsby. I FINALLY saw it (went with the husband) and fell in love! The whole time I was watching it, I craved my sketch book to jot down all of the beautiful ideas that were dancing in my head for events, shoots, pretties, etc. It's a must see for sure!

We may will also talk about motherhood and share our crazy baby stories. From Levi jumping off tables to Laila sending random photos from the phone. Although the babes drive us nuts at times, what's parenting without some good laughs right?

Of course with littles running around, you can't have pictures without them photo bombing. Keeping snacks nearby sustains their happiness. Even if it's only temporary while you try to take photos with a friend. ;)

The last thing we would share on our coffee date with you is our neat little giveaway we prepared as a special THANK YOU for our readers that we love so much!!
Tara has handmade some adorable crochet hearts that you can use to brighten up a room. You can also use them as toppers, favors for a small party, props for a little girls photo shoot or even attach a table number to each and use them in centerpieces!

To add to this great prize, I created a pretty pink and gold bracelet for one lucky winner. With faceted beads on a dainty gold colored chain, get it before it's available in the shop!

Enter below and the winner will be chosen next Friday, the 16th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Instagram Arm Candy GIVEAWAY

It's a bit hectic in the craft room today + a dentist appointment + house hunting so I will keep this post short and sweet.
Last night, I posted a giveaway on my Instagram just because and I wanted to share it with all of you as well.
I will be adding pretty little bracelets to the shop soon but before I do, I wanted to give you a chance to win a set!
You could win this pretty little mint and gold combo by following me on Instagram (@lovesparklepretty) and re-posting this photo with #lovesparklepretty. Simple right?
I will be choosing the winner tomorrow around noon. GOOD LUCK my friends!

P.S. I hope everyone is having a great Thursday so far. I feel like the weekend is just creeping up pretty fast. Any plans this weekend?

3 Year Wedding Anniversary with My Bestest

Yesterday, was mine and my husband's 3 year wedding anniversary! It has all gone by SO fast but it has been an amazing 3 years. I can honestly say that I married my best friend.
3 years ago yesterday, we shared one of the best days of our lives together. 2 years ago yesterday, we ate at the same restaurant (and sat at the same table) that we went to on our honeymoon during our first stop on our road trip. 1 year ago yesterday, we were enjoying Oregon's coast and wishing we didn't have to come back to California. Yesterday, we ate some YUMMY food, did a little wine tasting, sat under twinkle lights and learned to dance the tango. It was beautiful and perfect!
Thank you grandma Tiffany for watching our little love bug while we went out. :)
Here's a little glimpse of the evening turned night.
(MOST of the photos are taken with a camera phone so the quality isn't the best but hey, they're memories)

I gave him this funny card by Julie Ann Art. Ha! We're married. Whatev.

The olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It looked so strange the way I did it. ;)

Under that layer of cheese is some DELICIOUS spicy penne pasta!

Stuffed and happy.

We ended the night by Tango dancing with Sinatra, Monroe and Presley.

Looking forward to many more anniversaries together. Thank you so much Brandin for loving me more than I deserve and being the BEST husband I could have ever prayed for. I LOVE YOU my wonderful man!

DIY Arm Candy (Part III)

I am finally sharing Part III of this DIY Arm Candy Series. See Part I and Part II to create the ribbon and chain bracelet as well as the beaded bracelet to add to your pretty collection.

Today, the tutorial is all about the gold faceted button and chain piece.

What you will need:

cable chain (I used ~5.5" in length)

large faceted button (I found mine at Joanns within a variety pack)

2 large jump rings

link connector

lobster clasp

needle nose pliers

Start by measuring the chain around your wrist. Create the chain by making it about .5-1" shorter than the circumference of your wrist. I measured my chain at 5.5". Set the chain aside.

Take a jump ring and your needle nose pliers and open the link. Push the jump ring through one of the button holes.

Attach an end link of your chain to the jump ring and close it using your pliers.

Do the same with the other jump ring and button hole.

Once your chain is now connected to the faceted button, remove the middle link of the chain to separate it. 

Attach the lobster clasp to an end chain link using your needle nose pliers to open and close the link back up. Do the same with the link connector by attaching it to the other end link of your chain.

Voila! If your bracelet is too small or too big, you can always add or remove links in your chain.

If you make any of the bracelets from these tutorials, I'd love to see them! Use hashtag #lovesparklepretty via social media to spread the love and who knows, you may even see yourself on my blog. ;)

Have a beautiful day my friends!

Happiness Lately

Happiness Lately:
*As you can see, my new heart shades. Seriously.
*Reading the L.A. Candy series by Lauren Conrad. At first, I wasn't into it. Honestly, I only started reading these books because-well, I heart Lauren Conrad-but the series has actually been hard to put down. Reality T.V. just isn't the same now.
*Mint n' Chip ice cream from Rite Aid. Nuff said.
*Just finished up VBS at my church where I was the crafts station leader. 2 days. 2 crafts. Cute and Crazy kiddos from ages 4-11. LOTS of Jesus lovin'. SO much fun!
*New sketchbook from Kelly Rae Roberts. Just stumbled upon her work and let me tell ya, I fell in LOVE.
*Upcoming photo shoots in Texas, Oregon and British Columbia. Wish I was there but at least my pretty pieces will be!
*Levi has finally learned how to give actual kisses-puckered lips, smooch sound and all. No more going in with an open mouth and slobber. LOL
*Mine and my husband's 3 year wedding anniversary is in a few days! Woop!
*Not being so concerned with "getting ready." A bit of toothpaste, mascara and a maxi is all I need. Bleh.
*Memories from the night we danced to lots of country music.
*Emails with a good friend. Thank you Tara.
*The Valencia Orange Starbucks refresher. Wakes you right up and perfect for this summer heat.
*Speaking of summer heat, a trip to the beach soon will make me happy! :)

What's making you happy lately?

That one time I saw my face in a pretty magazine

When I went to Elevate this past May, I knew it would be a great experience but I didn't know that it would lead to new friendships, bring me closer to the "blogging & handmade community" and that my face would be in one of the prettiest magazines!
When I saw Summer's Instagram post of the new Autumn issue of Artful Blogging, my heart got really excited! I mean, it isn't everyday that your experiences are captured (by Lora Knight-Thank You) and published to bookshelves. Well, not in my everyday life anyway. I'm no Angelina or Britney.

 A special Thank You to these lovely ladies who made this conference happen. Jen from Delightful Deets, Summer from Made by Munchies Mama and Nichole from Yeung Mother Hubbard.

Seriously looking forward to Elevate 2014 and seeing all the pretty ladies who attended in May along with new faces. If you are interested in attending a blogging conference-blogger or not-Elevate is perfect! We had so much fun with a craft, a service project, listening to inspirational speakers, eating YUMMY food and playing silly games. Read all about my experience here.
Would love to see you there!