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Mrs. Hot Cocoa, Boston/Los Angeles Age and Occupation: 31, JD/PhD Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Medical Student Engagement Date: May 30, 2008 Wedding Date: March, 2009 Blogging Since: April, 2008 Venue: Ritz Carlton, Marina Del Rey About Me: I am a professional student by day and an amateur cupcake taster, bargain shopper, and wedding planner by night. I am obsessed with NPR, the Food Network, paper, dance shows, Anthropologie, post-structuralist theory, Weddingbee!, "The Office," and celebrity gossip. When not procrastinating from my dissertation, I spend time catering to Jellyby, our overly anxious shih tzu, and getting to know Mr. Hot Cocoa. We have only been dating for fifteen years, so it's like I'm in love with a stranger! From the East Coast, we are planning a Jewish-Chinese Extravaganza in L.A., where we both grew up.
About Mrs. Hot Cocoa

Here’s a Hot Cocoa-ism: Craptastic (adj.) = full of awesomely cheap knick knacks.

Craptastic is one of the highest honors I can bestow on a place of shopping. Hong Kong: craptastic. Bangkok: craptasticler. Saigon: craptasticest.

Today, I bestow this adjective on the Christmas Tree Store, where I bought the items for our guestbook vignette.

Chinoiserie Guestbook Vignette :  wedding guestbook los angeles Img 250

The pagoda birdhouse/candle holder was $9.99. The planter was $5.99. The darling porcelain balls were $1 each. And I used a 20% off coupon, bringing all of the above to about $15. We’ll probably make fabric fortune cookies to use on the day of.

Chinoiserie Guestbook Vignette :  wedding guestbook los angeles Img 249

The florals are the pens for the guestbook. On the recommendation of Angel Swanson, Weddingbee PRO and planner extraordinaire, I bought a few Sakura Micron pens from Paper Source. They are archival quality and acid-free. I bought some silk florals on sale from various places: A.C. Moore has all their faux florals on sale for 40% off this week. I cut the flower off at the stem and attached it to the pen cap using packing tape.

Chinoiserie Guestbook Vignette :  wedding guestbook los angeles Img 24901

I then wrapped the pen with green floral tape. You can see the pen cap all wrapped up above. Floral tape, BTW, is fascinating. It’s magic how it doesn’t turn sticky until you stretch it.

Chinoiserie Guestbook Vignette :  wedding guestbook los angeles Img 25001

Here’s what the pens look like in all their covered glory.

Chinoiserie Guestbook Vignette :  wedding guestbook los angeles Img 24902

While you’re checking out the Christmas Tree Store, you should also check out Homegoods. They had a ton of beautiful frames, lovely vases (including hand painted mercury glass vases), stained glass Morocco lanterns, and all types of other decorative knick knacks on clearance today.

Where’s your favorite place for craptastic finds?

Tags: guestbook, los-angeles |
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17 Responses to “Chinoiserie Guestbook Vignette”

1.
frenchbulldog
Bee
frenchbulldog (message)  7,730 posts, Bee Keeper

Great finds! My favorite place for craptstic finds in definitely Home Goods :)

 
2.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Bruschetta (message)  5,565 posts, Bee Keeper

Yup, the Christmas Tree Store is definitely craptastic! Love the Hot Cocoa-ism — got any more? ;-)

 
3.
chickasjf
Member
chickasjf (message)  161 posts, Blushing bee

Craptastic! Thats the best way I can think of to describe the Christmas Trese Shops. “Dont you just love a bargin!”

 
4.
chickasjf
Member
chickasjf (message)  161 posts, Blushing bee

Craptastic! Thats the best way I can think of to describe the Christmas Tree Shops. “Don’t you just love a bargin!”

 
5.
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Member
AmyM83 (message)  250 posts, Helper bee

I am soooooo doing this for my guestbook table pens! Thanks for the great idea!

 
6.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Perfume (message)  2,253 posts, Buzzing bee

Craptacular!!

 
7.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Hot Cocoa (message)  2,077 posts, Buzzing bee

@chickasjf: Lol. Whenever I walk around the Christmas Tree Shop, I always sing to myself, “Oh I do love a bargain!”

@Miss Perfume: Hee hee.

 
8.
Amber1279
Member
Amber1279 (message)  319 posts, Helper bee

We have a few “craptastic” places here … my favorite is Tuesday Morning.

 
9.
happilywaiting
Member
happilywaiting (message)  1,389 posts, Bumble bee

Definitely agree with Christmas Tree…there’s one wayyyy too close…but when I lived in Houston we had the magic of Garden Ridge Pottery…& sometimes (I like to think bcoz they loved me) they would have a 48-hr marathon of loveliness…ooohhh….I miss GR!

 
10.
LzzNYC
Member
LzzNYC (message)  882 posts, Busy bee

oooo I love! I find them at home goods i’ve never been to christmas tree!

 
11.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Duckling (message)  1,415 posts, Bumble bee

Home Goods is great! I’ve never been to a Christmas Tree. Your floral pen is so cute, and I love what you found.

 
12.
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Guest
rhodeygirl

no wayyy!!! i am doing the SAME EXACT THING by putting fake flowers on my guestbook frame pens!!!! my SIL has tons of her handmade flower pens on her desk (we work together) and is in the process of making me some for the wedding!

 
13.
miss mouse
Bee
miss mouse (message)  5,844 posts, Bee Keeper

Big Lots! One time my FI found these things there called “Rap Chips.” Seriously. We always go there every year to buy gag xmas gifts.

 
14.
Guest Icon
Guest
Meg

christmas tree rocks! i’ve found the greatest most obscure stuff there. last week i wandered into a marshalls (hadn’t been in years) and found 3 PERFECT apothecary jars that were idential to the ones i wanted in home goods but HALF the price

 
15.
MightySapphire
Hostess
MightySapphire (message)  7,632 posts, Bee Keeper

LMBO @ “Haikus for Jews” HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

I looked at your first pic and I LOVE that you made your pens flowers!! It looks so pretty! I thought it was just a decorative bouquet at first, then I was like “Oh, pens!! COOL!!”

 
16.
honeymyheart
Member
honeymyheart (message)  764 posts, Busy bee

i like what you did with sakura pen :) those are my favorite pens!

 
17.
mrspaetz
Member
mrspaetz (message)  3,805 posts, Honey bee

wow that set-up looks awesome! great finds, Ms Hot Cocoa!

 

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Mrs. Hot Cocoa
Mrs. Hot Cocoa

Mrs. Hot Cocoa, Boston/Los Angeles Age and Occupation: 31, JD/PhD Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Medical Student Engagement Date: May 30, 2008 Wedding Date: March, 2009 Blogging Since: April, 2008 Venue: Ritz Carlton, Marina Del Rey About Me: I am a professional student by day and an amateur cupcake taster, bargain shopper, and wedding planner by night. I am obsessed with NPR, the Food Network, paper, dance shows, Anthropologie, post-structuralist theory, Weddingbee!, "The Office," and celebrity gossip. When not procrastinating from my dissertation, I spend time catering to Jellyby, our overly anxious shih tzu, and getting to know Mr. Hot Cocoa. We have only been dating for fifteen years, so it's like I'm in love with a stranger! From the East Coast, we are planning a Jewish-Chinese Extravaganza in L.A., where we both grew up.

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