Crafty Travel Essentials

I often get asked about what I take with me while crafting on the go. You know those "what's in my bag" posts? Well, I think the obsession goes along those lines. I've been documenting my life while on travels and away from home for nearly a decade. There have been times where I have taken a lot of crafty items with me, but most of the time I try and narrow it down to just the essentials. Through many travels on nearly every continent (Antarctica is the only one I haven't really had a desire to visit considering it's 50 degrees in LA today and I think that is cold), I've learned that you can really get creative with just a few necessary supplies. So along with the mini book or traveler's notebook I am working in, I have found these to be my crafty travel essentials.

We shot a little video and Ann-Marie snapped some behind the scenes photos in the new studio while I was filming. 

My filming set up pretty much remains the same as in this video. The Canon G7X is beyond perfect for filming needs and this tripod + ball head - my 222 is discontinued, but this one is similar.

Ashley Mary Tote from Target - I mean how cute is this, right?! | Amy Tangerine washi tape - I just stuck them on a binder ring, perfect for travel and occupying a toddler waiting at a restaurant | American Crafts Sticky Thumb Adhesives | Tim Holtz Detailer Tip Brush - this waterbrush is amazing and I don't know how I ever painted without it | Micron Pens |Watercolor set | Instax Share printer - my absolute favorite Instax ever, totally recommend it for printing photos while on vacation or multiples of the same shot for friends and family | Versafine Ink Pad | Amy Tangerine Finders Keepers Phrase Stamp | Date Stamp | Sakuralala stamps | Acrylic Blocks 

What we pack for a little picnic

Lately we've been really enjoying picnic-ing and having meals/snacks outdoors. At least once a week I try and take Jack for a little mommy & me date to the park. We find a shady spot and sit on our Skip Hop blanket - it's foldable and zips into itself - totally functional and cute. And most importantly, it's machine washable. We also have the matching diaper bag that we love. We pack Jack's food (white cheddar cheese and green beans here) in these awesome glass Wean Green containers - the 4oz cubes seem to work really well for us. We got the limited edition lunch bag met the awesome CEO at this event. Her sweet daughters enjoyed playing with my scrapbook products and Jack just liked watching them. Now he's more of a doer and usually enjoys playing with the lids, but this time he's got his hands on my favorite go-to snacks - Kind bars. They are delicious and easy to throw into the bag. I imagine this scene will change quite a bit once Jack is walking, but for now, life is a picnic. If you have any favorite products, snacks, or tips to share, please do so in the comments! Photos by Jamie Waters

Getting Organized with Creative Options!

Don't you love finding awesome products to help you get organized? I certainly do! Since I am still in the process of setting up the studio in a fully functional way, when Creative Options contacted me about a possible collaboration, I had to say yes. Who doesn't want to be more organized? I, for one, can definitely use some help in that department. Remember these photos of the studio? Yikes. So needless to say, I am ready to create a habit of being organized and staying organized, which is why I'm excited to be partnering with such a fashionable and functional craft storage brand. They have all kinds of fun pieces that will help me keep all my crafty things together in containers as opposed to little piles scattered about. Here's a little video I put together with the help of Jamie's daughters (since I don't have kids going back-to-school).

Oh and please help welcome Jamie Waters to the Amy Tangerine team - we are so happy to have her coming into the studio a couple days a week, and so grateful she's able to work around the chaos... but soon to be super organized studio. If you all have any organizational tips or studio ideas for me that you want to share, I'd love to hear them in the comments! PS - Did you catch Buster making a little cameo in the video?

what i packed for a quick weekend work trip

We kicked off summer with very quick 36 hour trip to Layton, Utah to teach at the I {Heart} Memories retreat this past weekend. We left Friday evening and came back Sunday morning. The event was produced by Memory Works (they do this every other year, so be sure to mark your calendar for 2015 - it was awesome!) and my class was sponsored by American Crafts. JC accompanied me as he has never been to Utah before and was able to play golf while I was teaching the 2 sessions. We fit everything into his Jack Spade Chocolate Wayne Duffle Bag, except for his golf clubs. This is what I packed: Contents: Crazy Rich Asians | Fashion Forms strapless bra | Michael Kors PIPPA Sunglasses in Burgundy | skinny belt from Ann Taylor Loft | Amy Tangerine cosmetic bag - may be in stock soon in our shopEven packing this light, I was still able to bring home a clean bathing suit (I always pack one for every trip = you never know when you are going to hit a hot tub or pool. Except now that I am pregnant, I am not going into hot tubs), and a clean tank top. And of course I had to take some crafty goodies with me. note: we are trying to put together some more travel kits in the next week or so for the shop.

Although I didn't actually get anything done on the plane besides reading, I am glad I had this daybook to put all of my memorabilia into the pockets. This is a book I plan on filling up through the summer, so it's nice to have a head start and all the stuff in one place. Hope you all had a wonderful first summer weekend!

happy fashion talk + a giveaway

1 pair of Robin's Jeans
1 pair of GAP legging jeans
4 amy tangerine tees: 2 for wearing out, 1 for working out, 1 for sleeping
2 plain thermals for layering
1 capped sleeve tunic
1 long sleeved V-neck dress
1 jacket by Industry
1 jacket by Hurley
1 kushcush bikini
4 pairs of underwear: 1 commando, 1hanky panky, 2 alternative apparel
2 GAP tee shirt bras
1 sports bra
2 pairs of GAP socks
1 pair of adidas socks
1 little baggy of jewelry
1 amy tangerine bag with cosmetics/toiletries
1 random nicole bag with Fujifilm Pivi MP-300
1 little bag with crafty supplies
1 smash book pre-decorated
This plus all of JC's clothing all fit into my amykathryn duffle bag.
Not pictured, but also went along for the ride: a book, amykathryn purse, Nikon D90, MacBook Pro, chargers, iPod Touch, cowboy boots and new balance shoes.
(I ended up wearing a pair of the jeans + the Hurley jacket + new balance shoes for the drive down.)

I pack differently for road trips than plane rides. Usually it doesn't take too long to pack for either. The process is always the same though- make sure the bed is made so I can spread everything out on it. I have learned to travel light & find a sense of joyful achievement in wearing/using everything I take with me. Because rain was being predicted for this trip, and because there was plenty of room in the bag & the car, I took a bit more than I actually wore. Often I have a piece that I don't use, which is fine (and good for possible travel delays or changes). Sometimes I do a bit of shopping too & end up wanting to wear my new item right away. Instant gratification is one of my vices.

Speaking of shopping, how about a fantastic fashion giveaway from Shabby Apple? Shabby Apple is an online boutique selling all kinds of lovely dresses. Whether you're looking for something casual, or a fun night on the town, they have fashionable finds for all types of women. Bonus: They're offering you fine readers a discount for any purchase!

This style is bright and fun and aptly called Happy Talk and Shabby Apple wants one of you to win! Be sure to check out & "like" their Facebook Fan Page.
**For your chance to win, just leave a happy comment below and I'll choose a random winner on Friday, April 15 at 10am PST.** Good luck!