I've been going a little map mad lately. It's been a long term project working with maps in my work, I love to scan them for a bit of added texture in a digital work. But recently I've been looking at mixed media ideas. Here are a few favourites:

Frances Berrini

Matthew Cusick

Mountains and roads made from maps! Love it! Or turn them into trees.

Tofu Art

There are plenty of free templates available for DIY pinwheels, but once you've done a couple you wont really need them. So we've come up with something extra special - an editable pinwheel template. Just type in your names and the date, print onto your paper, and there you have it, personalised pinwheels!

Just visit creative monsoon and the FREEBIES section. Download the file and type in your wording to decorate the corners of your pinwheel. Print and assemble. Easy.

One of the prettiest details from Cami and George's wedding, which we featured earlier this month, was the vintage map pinwheels. Pinwheels are very simple to make, all you need is a square piece of paper, some dowel rods and a pin.

Step 1. Cut your paper into a square. We like to use a scrap booking sheet as its already the right size, has a good contrasting design for the front and back and you end up with nice big pinwheels.
Step 2. Cut from the corners of the paper into the middle stopping about an inch away from the centre.
Step 3. Fold the corners into the centre of the square and fasten in place on a dowel rod with a pin or tack. Just make sure the pins or tacks are no longer than the thickness of the dowel you choose.

And that's all there is too it! Pretty simple. Watch out for our next post with a free template to download.

Photo: Ashley Maxwell.  

Wow! How's this for a cake with global appeal? Willa and Andrew's wedding cake was the perfect centrepiece to a travel themed wedding. I wonder if the centre is filled with warm berry jam - that would be pretty cool. Photo by Dru Nadler Photography.

Paris is the city of love, so it makes sense to incorporate some parisian chic into your romantic travel themed party. Think chandeliers, the Eiffel Tower and of course what party would be complete these days without french macaroons!
From the top, pink Parisian styling by Georgica Pond. Macaroon wedding cake from Martha Stewart, Eiffel Tower cake topper via Better Homes and Gardens.

We just love these two great ideas for an escort card display with globes. The first uses a collection of vintage finds with the escort cards stuck on, simple but effective. Photo by Kate Harrison. In the second, old maps have been wrapped into globes and the escort cards pinned on like flags. Photo by Jeremy Chou Photography via The Loveliest Day.

If you loved the look of Cami and George's romantic travel inspired wedding, here's how to get it.

1. Retro grey striped paper straws. Eco-friendly and biodegradable. Box of 144, $8.95 from biome.  
2. Vintage travel posters as retro postcard prints from .98c from zazzle.
3. Antique chic travel menu and passport ceremony program cover, from $16.50 from 'i do' it yourself
4. Mini vintage atlas pinwheels set of 12, $12 from Elizabeth St.
5. Here comes the bride vintage cottage sign. $33.95 from Romantic Planet.
6. Old books from antique stores and markets.

Cami and George chose beautiful menus and ceremony programs from 'i do' it yourself's antique chic travel range. Decorated with a vintage map design and aged paper effect they fitted perfectly with pinwheels made from old maps and ingeniously displayed in jars of pink jelly beans! Yum!

Who wouldn't be inspired by Cami and George's amazing style? Happy Valentine's Day everyone and keep an eye out this month as we show you how to make your own pretty pinwheels.

Add some worldwide romance to your destination or travel themed wedding with this gorgeous stationery range. Romantic rendezvous features famous landmarks from around the globe, with a scattering of little love hearts. The designs just ooze romance in berry jam and candy pink, but if you fancy something different, just choose from the huge range of colours.

Also now available is the beautiful matching passport cover, perfect to hold your order of service or even as a menu cover.


Just visit the 'i do' it yourself shop to purchase a print ready PDF computer file delivered via email. Just print at home, trim and decorate. Don't think your home printers up to the task? No problem, you can just take our file to a local printer or just upload to online print shop. 

Pic from Family Fun

If you're looking for a last minute Valentine's idea then pop on a pinny - apron - and bake something!

We all know the way to a mans heart is via his stomach so how about whipping up a batch of heart shaped cupcakes. You can use any cupcake recipe you like, but if you don't have a heart shaped mould just pop a marble or rolled up ball of tin foil between the pan and the lining paper. This will make an indentation in the cupcakes as they bake turning them heart shaped. Just bake as usual. Easy!

...who keeps commenting on the blog.
1. The comments are moderated so you'll never get posted
2. No one wants your crap trainers

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and we've found the best romantic beauty products out there to treat your loved one. Bookmark this post boys.

1. Molton Brown Valentines pack of two. With a unique mix and match gift box of two Molton Brown products, treat your man with products from the re-charge black pepper range or give a gift to your girl from the paradisiac range. $78
2. Fall in love with Vera Wangs latest feminine fragrance, Lovestruck. With notes of pink guava and angelica flower in a beautiful bottle decorated with berry flowers and a bow. $89 100mL
3. Orly I Heart Nails in Butterflies. This deep lolly pink nail polish will add the sweetest touch to your Valentine's Day look $18.95
4. Agent Provocateur Perfume Solid. A added bonus, this perfume solid is a gift with the purchase of any Agent Provocateur 100mL fragrance.
5. Jane Iredale Chocoholicks Lipgloss Set. With four lip glosses formulated with all natural flavouring from cocoa and fruit extract. Flavours include Blood Orange, Espresso, Very Berry and Chilli Pepper. Yumm! $50
6. Lush Sweetheart soap. Shaped like a giant love heart sweet, this gorgeous soap is scented with essential oils of jasmine, sandalwood and ylang ylang to help set the mood. $5.95

This beautiful bridal shower invitation is the easy way to add the professional touch to your party. With a cute eiffel tower illustration, it's time for a tres chic shower! Shown here in candy and shocking pink, or pick your own colour combination from the selection on offer.

Also available is the matching bridal shower party kit with party circles, bridal shower games and a welcome sign.

Here's a great DIY Valentine's Day project we found - beautiful to have on display at your wedding too if you wanted a bit of a Mouline Rouge vibe. This illuminated LOVE canvas is very simple to make and looks absolutly fantastic. Head over to Indie Spotting for their great tutorial.

All you will need is a canvas, some paint, an awl or similar - a long pointed spike for making the holes - and of course a small strand of plain fairy lights.  You can pick these up from Christmas shops, amazon, ebay or try fairylight.co.nz.

1000 wedding confetti atlas paper hearts US$30 from The Lonely Heart.

Vintage map of Paris via Vintage Me Oh My. Romantic Rendezvous boarding pass invitation from 'i do' it yourself. Mini paper plane centerpiece photographed by Caroline Tran. Pink suitcase print 'My Favorite Spot' US$15 from Yvette Inufio Photography. Bridal dessert buffet in the French Quarter of New Orleans, by Carla Ten Eyck Photography via Jubilee Event.

Colour palette: dark grey, candy pink and almond