DIY (ish) lapel pin display case

I keep one of each pin that I design, and originally I had them all displayed on a cork pin board. That was all well and good when I had about 30 designs but now that I'm nearing 200 I realized I needed a better way to store and/or display my collection. Now that I finished this project I think I'm going to do the same thing for my embarrassingly large collection of Disney pins, too!

I found these jewelry cases on Amazon, but really any case meant for displaying rings or brooches should work fine. The fabric in the case has a cork/cardboard like backing that is perfect for securing my pins in place. I just make sure that I attach them in between the rows, not inside of the groove, or else they won't be secure. Each case holds about 60 1" - 1.25" pins, give or take.



Since the pins attach securely into the case, I can choose to display the case upright on my dresser along with my other brooches and jewelry! Or I can stack them up neatly and put them away for safe keeping. I love that the glass lid keeps them dust-free but also lets me see my whole collection at a glance.

I hope this little DIY tip gives you some ideas for how to store your own lapel pin collections! And if you're like "wow, I love this idea, but I need to build a pin collection first" (wink wink) they're buy-3-get-1-free in my shop right here.

busy bee

On Tuesday I got home from work close to midnight and immediately changed into my pajamas and started filling out my Christmas cards. The holiday season this year has been so hectic and fast-paced that it's been hard to find time for fun festivities, but I'm trying. Usually I throw a birthday dinner for Frank Sinatra every December 12th with homemade pasta sauce using his recipe, but I was so done-in yesterday that I just ordered takeout pasta instead! I'm hoping that if I keep working my behind off every waking minute that maybe I'll make a size-able dent in my bills but man, oh man I cannot WAIT for January!

I have visions of myself curled up in bed ALL DAY with Arrietty binge-watching Schitt's Creek and Alain Delon movies. Waking up in pajamas, leaving them on all day, and then going to sleep in the same pajamas. Giving my face a break from makeup and letting my hair be its normal unruly self. Laugh out loud when my fitbit tells me to get up and walk 250 steps (I don't think so, buddy! NOT TODAY!) I am making this relaxation day happen in January somehow, some way, I will do it.

dress - asos | turtleneck - forever 21 

tights - target (old) | shoes - bait footwear

wishlist wednesday

1. white bow sweater
2. faux suede flats
3. pocket phone ring
4. scalloped heels
5. envelope purse
6. scalloped earrings
7. crop top midi dress
8. hammered silver ring
9. cat activity tracker

Style Idol - Doris Day

bells are ringing

A hot debate is currently raging in my mind as to whether or not I will wear this pretty dark green lace bell-sleeved dress on Christmas or go the cozy route and stay in pajamas all day. It's a tough call since I always want to look picture-perfect and it's so rare that I have a real opportunity to play dress up (other than "I can do what I want and today I'm wearing a cocktail dress to shop for groceries!" lol!) but I also feel a real tug to play it comfy and sit on the floor in pjs sipping hot cocoa.

Either way, I did wear this dress this weekend (like I said, you don't need a real reason to play dress-up!) and I felt so festive and fancy! Oh, and it's 40% off today only over at Modcloth if you spend $100 or more. I have been pretty good at curbing my spending lately but I have my eye on this sweatshirt, this dress, this dress, this dress, and this dress. It's so hard to resist when the dresses are already super on sale and the 40% off brings them down to about $20 each! I feel like it's actually responsible of me to buy them when they're discounted so much, right? ;)

dress - c/o modcloth | cat belt - modcloth | shoes - amazon