My Lately, through Instagram

Do you Instagram? It's been my new obsession, since I got an iPhone (finally.) My username is just my first name, JONAHLIZA. Come find me, so we can be "insta-buddies"!

"I got nothin."

   Hi, everyone! OMG-this is an un-posted post, I wrote on March 9, 2009.


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   I titled it, "my February stamp suite".. One of my first BIG card projects. Japanese pop art was the inspiration for the cute girl and having a cute saying. That last shot has been my blog banner since I started helloTreecookies. It's almost time to change it up.
   Oh, finished up a business plan, and printed with a cute tree stamp (see here.) I feel really motivated. Ready, and busy..in a great way of course! My January was rejuvenating. How was yours?

an amazing wedding...

found over on OnceWed... parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. It was that awesome... and oh so inspiring!! There's, also, a cool stop motion ceremony video featuring the lovely couple, over at 100LayerCake.

It's such a pleasure to get to see all these great wedding photographs, from all over the world. Something that can be so intimate. Even the simplest of celebrations, tells a great story. All great stories, star love.

Thank you Max & Margaux, for sharing your beautiful celebration.

happy Father's day

No one felt like cooking, so we're takin you to the Freshest Choice. hehe. "Love u, papa." I wish you all lots of fun with famille et les amis.

Family and Friends

awe-inspiring.

   My lovely boyfriend, Ruben, surprised me with a great movie last weekend. I completely forgot that it had just opened, and thought he was taking me to see Get Him to the Greek. Early Saturday morning, we drove to the theater just outside of town. The closest theater playing the movie. I was ecstatic when he told me we were gonna see MicMacs. The latest work by director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet. He's written and directed some of the most beautiful films I've ever seen.. including Delicatessen, City of Lost Children, a Very Long Engagement, and one of my all time favs (maybe one of yours, too) Amelie!
      MicMacs tells the story of Bazil (marvelously portrayed by ex-mime Danny Boon) who wants revenge on two rival weapons manufacturers. With the help of some new friends, who guard the local junkyard, magic begins to ensue. Jeunet is a remarkable storyteller. Something so serious, as weapons, is told in such a visually stunning way. It's a modern "classic French film".  I loved seeing what the super strong small old dude, Pierre, makes out of some of the junk he finds. Or the contortionist, who just wants to be loved. The cast of characters, including the great Dominique Pinon, all contribute to this gem of a film. I was left, extremely happy, after.


Hope you have a magical weekend. hearts.

weekly web favorites

1.) Tourists/ New Yorkers ( when i lived in NY, i would always stick out my elbows. .so, tourists wouldn't run directly into me :) via DesignForMankind  2.) a Pretty Hues photograph, via CreatureComforts. 3.) GORGEOUS earrings by Lila Stuempfig! via GreedyGirl. 4.) You are SO Loved, Shanna Murray.

happy happy joy JOY

I wasn't always the best of friends with my mom.. Like during those awkward "teenage years." Now, I understand a little bit more about `em. Hoping to one day be one, myself <3 It's an incredible feeling to know a few new moms. The amount of love and strength that grows each day. It's just so beautiful! Happy Mother's Day.


Cute cards I made for my mom and my mom (in law).. inspired by a prop I saw over at Rifle Paper Co. 

A favorite photo I keep on my desk. That's me and my mom, circa `87.

What I've been up to, lately-

With the country's current economy, work load (at my day job) has been dwindling... It's kind of a good thing. With a bit more time in my hands, I've been given the chance to work on things I'm a little more passionate about. Remember this post? Well... I'm gonna do it! The goal is to get my lil Etsy shoppe up and running by the end of June 2010, introducing a line of paper goods. Making things is the best! And I couldn't be happier. 


Here's a quick shot of my desk and some things I have been working on. (more to come!)

And below is a birthday card I made for a new friend. The card starring one of these awesome stamp sets, from Studio Violet. I messed up a little on Manager Kattas face, stamping it too light. So I decided to stamp it over again. I LOVED how awesomely 3D it looked, and did it for Mr. Mustache, too. Oh, mistakes can be grand!

P.S. The office is in a different room, with walls, now. Have a lovely weekend! I think BF and I are gonna try and check out Iron Man 2.

happy Earth Day!

-Keeping a canvas bag rolled up in my purse, makes me feel better. 

-Reusing old shopping bags for gift packaging is always fun.. oh, and don't forget to save ribbon from gifts you get.

-I love these buttons (made from old security envelopes), from the Sweetie Pie Press.

-Free downloadable recycling labels, over at Poppytalk. They are so pretty.


-Check out these crazy recycled bags, over at Poketo. They're made from old suits!


-Paint old things. I love what Natalie Jost did to these old baking pans.

-Just saw Food, Inc. today. Buy local, buy organic. "Buy from companies that treat their products, employees and the Earth with RESPECT."

-Earth Day is everyday!

hearts, Jo

web finds...

While Roseanne's on. . Some late night web finds. I thought they looked charming together.

thrifting print: the amazing Ashley G., a few more favorite prints, below. check out her blog --> kitty genius
girl in paris: the Sartorialist

I am in love with her illustrations of people, especially these girls <3
Ashley G. and Drew etsy shoppe.

productivity leads to success, for the heart.

stop motion + Wes Anderson =

I love anything that involves, my hero, Wes Anderson. He's written and directed some of my most favorite films- the Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore, and (one of my all-time #1`s) the Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. The story, humor, and slight bitterness in his films inspire me to "WRITE MORE". .and his movie sets!? breath-taking.

You can imagine.. I jumped with joy after viewing the trailer for his latest flick, Fantastic Mr. Fox. The film`s based on the book by Roald Dahl, of the same name. I've been hearing about the cartoon, for awhile, now. And was pleasantly surprised, to see (in the trailer), that it's been made in stop-motion animation! ~can't wait (hearts)

first photos...

thank you nevver.tumblr.com for posting a photo and link to my most anticipated film (to watch) next year.. Tim Burton`s Alice in Wonderland.

did I mention it's gonna be in 3D?

the 3D movie comeback, yah dig?

Oh, since the first time I watched the trailer.. I knew UP was gonna be amazing. And, it truly did not disappoint. If you still haven't seen it, you've gotta check out this heart warming and visually stunning animation.. and in 3D, if yah can.

Quite a lovely story was told...

Don't know if it was my love for balloons that first intrigued me about the film, but if you find a little figure of the house (and balloons), please tell me where to get it!?

Artist, Eric Tan, designed some amazing vintage-inspired posters for the film. I love the retro, travel guide feel. ..creases, included!

happy mother earth day

.. not just today, but everyday. let's always keep her in mind.

image via ffffound.com

BF's b-day card

As much as I love making cards for friends and family, I love purchasing super awesome cards for BF Ruben. I guess, that way I still have the cool "mini prints" in my life. Then, I can frame or display them, later on, for the both of us. .. but, mostly for me?! Is that bad? RedCap produces some of my favorites. Even though Ruben's not blond, I adore the drawing of the couple and the beautifully subdued ink colors. The "I love you" part reminds me of my own style of writing.

The card on the bottom is part of a stationery set (also, by RedCap), that I had been eyeing for the longest time, and finally bought. I heart hot air balloons.

a deer friend

I love giving note sets & stationery as gifts. Especially, jazzing them up. In this case, something, so simple, as a little deer doodle. Hmm, deer doodle? That sounds funny, but you know what I mean. .an outline. 

I drew my little deer on some leftover card stock, so I had a stencil. Traced the stencil on some decorative paper (from my scrap paper stash). .Cut them out.. and voila! Then, I ran the deer through my handy little sticker maker. Glue sticks are great for kids, but I needed some extra reinforcement, that the mini xyron (sticker maker) provides. An adhesive eraser helps get rid of the sticky gunk around the sticker. and, again, with the .. voila!

Tied some twine around the cards, and threw `em in a handmade envelope, along with a stamped birthday card. 

Oh, did this little set inspire so many more ideas! You'll see My Little Deer, again, soon.

bu..bu..bu...bro k en.

I was so excited to see Coraline (in 3D), last friday. About a half hour into the movie, a blackout occurs. Aww, so bummed, was I. We had to take a rain check. This afternoon, we finally got to finish the film. A quick walk through the food court, because the theater is located in the mall. Bought a corndog and fries, from Hotdog on a Stick. And, I had a "star" on my receipt, which means I won a free medium lemonade! haha. Boyfriend, Ruben, and I walked passed Cinnabon, and walked right back to pick one up. A quick look for our favorite flavors at the gumball stand, and off we go to the theater.. 

So, Coraline was so beautiful, so amazing. 3D=awesome, subtle at times, and crazy in others. I can't believe all the hard work that went into the film. Gumby, James and the Giant Peach, the NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Claymation is freakin cool.

Coraline.com The movies website is so hands-on. You can button your eyes! And, I love the clips of how much work went into this film.

New Years Resolution #6:

Buy (& pick) more flowers.