Darcy Miller, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings and an avid chronicler, celebrates life's meaningful moments and turns them into charming keepsakes.
Artwork by Darcy and her daughters is embroidered onto tote bags. Visit the Stray Notions Etsy site to have your drawings embroidered onto a tote.
Here's another drawing by Darcy and her daughters embroidered onto a tote bag. Visit the Stray Notions Etsy site to get your own.
Darcy remembers her marriage to Andy Nussbaum with the book she created, "Our Wedding Scrapbook" (HarperCollins; 2004). This and other albums were on display during her recent gallery exhibit, "Family." For a behind-the-scenes look at the event, visit darcymillerdesigns.com.
Darcy's 50-pound scrapbook celebrates her wedding day. The opening page features her illustration of the newlyweds and script by Bernard Maisner, their wedding calligrapher.
These two colorful paper turkeys were made with Ella's and Daisy's hand silhouettes. The birds' bodies are affixed to the pale-chartreuse background, with the feathers left fluttering.
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Darcy, Andy, and daughter Daisy celebrate the birthday of little Ella, in the foreground. A candle saved from the cake stands inside the box, secured with a dab of glue.
A photo of Pippa, Darcy and Andy's youngest daughter. One of her favorite toys, a giraffe, prances at the bottom of the box, and the label is mounted on foam board for added dimension.
Ella's painted jewel box finds a home inside this deep frame, with the glass removed. Pale-blue background paper with crisscrossing lines covers the inside edges of the frame, and the heart-shaped box is mounted with foam tape.
Darcy's childhood copy of "Goodnight Moon," a family favorite, fills this box. A photo of husband Andy reading the book to Daisy adheres to the inside of the glass with double-sided tape, and dark-green background paper matches the cover's palette.
Daughter Pippa arrives, photographed here in the arms of her father, Andy. The collage captures memories of the day -- the baby cap and Darcy's hospital bracelet -- as well as a sonogram image mounted on foam board.
Daisy's first day of school -- umbrella, galoshes, and all -- is remembered with this enlarged photo and note, both mounted on foam board. The background paper is lined to mimic loose-leaf paper's classic design.
A matrix of quarter-size personalized photo confetti, featuring different generations of the Nussbaum family, becomes a keepsake.
To show off this Mother's Day present -- crepe paper flowers inside a water-bottle vase -- the frame's glass is removed, creating a diorama effect.
Daisy's first swim meet is celebrated in full, with a photo, a medal, and pink goggles. The enlarged snapshot is backed with foam board, and the goggles are secured with pieces of wire looped through holes in the board and twisted on the back. Straight pins press into the side of the board to hold the medal's ribbon; the rest is taped behind.
An often-read treasure from Darcy's childhood library, this book is a favorite of the Nussbaum girls. Teal background paper adds a subtle rim of color.
Creative kids come home with scores of drawings, but the best ones deserve special recognition and double as personal artwork for your house. Darcy saved this undersea mermaid, drawn by daughter Daisy, and taped it to a sheet of white art paper for a spare presentation.
This box features Pippa's first two stuffed animals, given to her by sisters Daisy and Ella. Standing up, they add a plush dimension to the box; they also cozy up beside the baby and a snapshot of the two older girls. Illustrated balloons backed with foam board and a "Welcome Pippa!" label complete the display.
A black-and-white portrait from Ella's horse-themed birthday is joined by a party hat and invitation illustrated by Darcy, as well as a small toy horse.
A trip to "The Nutcracker" is an annual tradition for the Nussbaums. Here, a photo of Daisy and a ballerina is paired with the theater ticket and a flurry of confetti, perfect for any winter scene. For the look of snowfall, a few "flakes" are glued on top of the glass.
Art projects inspired by nature -- painted butterflies and an egg-carton caterpillar -- are grouped together in this spring-themed box. A row of paper grass sets the scene.
This box contains mementos from Daisy's princess party, including the front of a tiara, an invitation, and a lollipop, the last two decorated with Darcy's princess sketches. Oversize pink confetti, some adhered to the inside of the glass with double-sided tape, adds a festive note.
Darcy Miller and Andy Nussbaum pose as bride and groom; their monogrammed invitation is also framed. The scripted banners in both boxes are by Bernard Maisner, Darcy and Andy's wedding calligrapher.
This cutout castle mounted on foam board stands as a striking piece of kid-friendly art and architecture.
Darcy sketched portraits of fashion-industry professionals and their families for her gallery show, since it coincided with New York Fashion Week. Bernard Maisner, a calligrapher and stationer, hand-lettered the names inside the shadowboxes.
Darcy also sketched portraits of fashion designer Lela Rose and her kids for the gallery show.
A visual growth chart of baby Ella documents her first year of life, using the unifying principle of the bed as backdrop. The frame is from suttonplaceframe.com.
Everyday playthings, such as crayons or Matchbox cars, make for colorful, easy-to-assemble wall art.
A collection of dress-up jewelry shows off children's exuberant sense of style; choose any item that's meaningful to your family. Cutout photos of Daisy and Ella are held in place by the weight of the beads.
Tiny sunglasses, full of personality, offer a look at the world through kids' eyes. To secure them, wire is looped through holes in the foam board near each arm hinge; the wire ends twist together on the back. Small pieces of double-sided tape hold the floating photo aloft.
This growth chart was inspired by one in Daisy's baby book. Darcy's mother did the lettering, and Darcy added an illustration, along with a photo and a tape measure.
To create your own version, print the clip-art chart.
Ella's ballet photo is enlarged to the size of the frame and backed with foam board, to which her first pair of slippers is pinned.
A captivating photo of baby Pippa makes a graphic statement: The enlarged images are centered atop one another. Busy images can be distracting in multiples, so choose a simple subject for this project. For ease, purchase a photo in each size when ordering online.
Four generations branch out on Darcy's illustration. Her husband, Andy, and their three daughters roost in the center of the leafy canopy, above the heart. Her parents and grandparents sprout to the left; Andy's side of the family is to the right.
To create your own version, print the clip-art tree and the clip-art boxes for names.
See more family-themed clip art.
Scrapboxes and frames can be purchased at the Martha Stewart Shop.
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