Internet, I need your input

Particularly you design-oriented people.

I'm still working on figuring out this mantel configuration (and yes, I'll probably get it done just in time to revamp everything for Christmas... but at least then I'll know where to put everything back). My brother-in-law gave me some good ideas and a good start by pulling out some of my children's books and getting them set up in a display with the shadow box.

This is the section he did, and I really like how it looks with the various heights and things leaning and facing different directions.

Here's the whole thing, though:

I still have a little more than half to fill up. I've pulled out some more books, and filled in some space, but now I need to decide whether the game and/or framed pictures should be hanging, and in what configuration, and then how densely to arrange the books on the shelf around/below them. I'm just kind of stuck. This kind of 3-D large-scale visual arrangement isn't something I do much.

The remaining side close-up:

Any brilliant ideas? Or websites you've found useful for this kind of thing? I think what's stumping me is that the whole thing is just so LONG. There's a lot of space to work with.

Dilemma

I think we can all agree, it's really entirely too late for me to start making Christmas cards like I usually do.  I've just been too tired to get them started, and seeing some of the cards others are making gets me all intimidated.

But.

Even with my baby-imposed hiatus, sometimes I can't keep myself from getting a little creative. It makes me want to get back to the crafting desk! Case in point, two baby showers this weekend.

I went into my office/crafting room to wrap presents, thinking I wouldn't even make cards, just put tags on the presents.

Well, I got a little carried away.

I ended up basically making the whole thing into a card-front. Apparently my creative juices were thinking differently when I said "simple."

You did hear me say "showerS" up there, right?

I kept going. This cute Martha Stewart wrapping paper (which is part of 4 rolls I bought several years ago when they were on sale - I thought they were too small to be worth more than the $1 apiece I paid for them, but I use them ALL the time for all kinds of fun stuff - I'll be buying more when they run out, even if there's not a sale - well, maybe a coupon) reminded me of hot air balloons, so I wrapped the whole thing in vintage binding tape and die-cut some balloons to stick on. The tag is also a Martha Stewart find (what did I ever do for crafting before she started making stuff?) that I added a tiny die-cut to.

Baby Boy Gift - Stamps: All Booked Up, Fillable Frames #9 - Papertrey Ink; Paper: gift wrap from Paper Affair, Buckaroo Blue (retired) - Stampin' Up; Ink: Versamark, Buckaroo Blue (retired) - Stampin' Up; Accessories: buttons, Fillable Frame #9 coordinating die & Mat Stack 2 coordinating die - Papertrey Ink, Cuttlebug, Ranger Embossing Pearl Silver embossing powder, Fine Linen felt - Papertrey Ink, twine, e2 Daily striped fabric tape


Baby Girl Gift - Paper: Martha Stewart gift wrap, Summer Sunrise - Papertrey Ink, Regal Rose - Stampin' Up; Accessories: Martha Stewart tag, vintage binding tape, Up, Up & Away die - Papertrey Ink