oh happy day

So many reasons why this is a happy day:

1.  It is my first day of winter vacation. Two whole weeks of sleeping in as late as I want!!

2.  I'm lying on the couch listening to the lovely rain outside.  This is the 4th day in a row of rain and it is supposed to rain two more days!  So happy.

3.  The biggest reason of all????  My wonderful husband and I celebrated Christmas on Saturday and he surprised me with a glorious new MACBOOK AIR!!  I absolutely love, love, love it.  He spoils me rotten.

biggest project yet

Hi everyone!  I've missed this place!  I've been so busy for awhile that I wasn't getting on here.  Then we both got sick and it seems like all I needed was sleep!  In the time that I was gone, I completed the biggest project I've done yet.  I made 210 invitations for a client's sweet sixteen masquerade ball in New York.  It was fun to come up with something different but of course the best part was the fact that they were so happy with the product.

I couldn't have completed this huge project without the help of my wonderful husband - thank you, Matt!  We had a ton of fun but by the end, my fingers were definitely feeling a little swollen and chapped.

I wish I took more pictures of the process but I was on such a roll that I didn't stop to do it.  Here is what the invitation looked like.

It's kinda hard to tell but it had a lot of layering of paper, ribbon, and feathers.  Very masquerade ball-esque.  

Wrapping up and packing all of the invitations...  

I took this with my phone and you can't even tell how many packages there were there.  

It felt so good to accomplish something so big - I know it's not a huge order for a normal business but for a one woman show, it was!  

holiday tags

Here are some personalized Christmas/New Years tags I'm working on right now.

adhesive

Yes, I do use a huge amount of adhesive for every project.  This is my current favorite for the basic adhering needs - American Crafts This to That solid adhesive.

Check it out at Two Peas.

For my more intense adhesive needs (I'm a dork) I use Scor Pal.  This stuff is so stinkin sticky.  It will really work for any taping project.  

I've really only been able to find it at Amazon so far.  If you guys find it anywhere else, let me know!!

leaves

So this picture might not seem like a big deal at all to most of you - especially those of you who don't live in California.  But, as I was leaving school on Monday, this is the glorious scene that I saw... a small pile of leaves!  Yes, you heard me right...leaves!!!  It is feeling like fall here!  It has been the weirdest fall.  In the 100's one week and then cold and rainy the next.  I love the cold and rainy and make it through the hot just knowing the cooler weather is coming.  And then I saw these wonderful leaves.  So happy.

Ok, I've not done another truth for awhile so it's time.

day 5: something you hope to do in your life

I'm not going to think about this one a lot but instead say the first thing that popped into my head.  Travel. Travel a lot with Matt.  We LOVE our trips.  We love getting away, relaxing, and just enjoying each other's company.  We went to Maui in April and if money was no object, we'd go back every year.  It was the definition of vacation.  We had our little routine - same walk to get coffee from the same shop every morning followed by the same breakfast place.  It made us feel like locals (that makes me think about What About Bob...love it).  Traveling is one thing that we hope to never give up - even if we just go on small weekend trips.  We need it. 

Bill Murray's shirt in What About Bob?

Matt and I zip lining in Maui.  

holiday crafting

Is it officially ok to pull out all of our Christmas movies?  I feel like it is because Halloween is over and we are in November.  Maybe it's too early?

Well, it feels like Christmas is right around the corner here because of some projects I'm working on.  Here are two different styles of gift card/money holders.

I will be making 16 for a client and really can't wait to make all of them. right. now.  I love playing with felt.  

sam

So here is our new precious nephew.

I LOVE this picture of him!!  I'm thrilled and delighted because Val and Brian (his wonderful parents) asked me to make his birth announcements.  What an honor!  

Happy Halloween!!

more stationary

I just wanted to stop in really fast to share another set of personalized stationary.

I watched the beloved Felicity while making these.  I somehow missed this show when it came out so I am devouring it now.  I actually made it through three seasons over the summer and am watching the fourth and final season now.  Ben or Noel??  Ben or Noel??

I'll have a lot to share soon - so many fun holiday projects!

day 4

Lindy and I went to Reno last weekend to visit Beth.  While there, we went to Lake Tahoe.....gorgeous!!  The leaves were changing colors and it felt like fall.  

Onto day 4: something you have to forgive someone for

Aggg.... I don't know why I'm doing this to myself.  I love the idea of doing something that forces me to open up on my blog but I guess I don't like the opening up part.  Here we go...

I'm weird about forgiveness.  I think it is easier for me to forgive BIG issues than little ones.  I think that is because I actually talk about the big issues.  If someone has really hurt my feelings, I go to the person and work things out.  I usually walk away from these talks sad at first (I hate having hard conversations) but then much happier.  

It's the little things.  I don't feel like they are worth bringing up and then pretty soon, they have built up and I can't let go and forgive.  Gotta work on that.

For example, many months ago a random stranger yelled at me at Michael's (I have a love/hate relationship with this store).  It still makes my blood boil whenever I think about it.  Yeah, gotta get past that!!!  

THANK YOU for always reading my ramblings.  Love to you all!

kindergarten

I was looking through old pictures and happened upon this one.  I was in kindergarten and for share time (I'm guessing), my mom and I played our cellos.

It is weird to think I was a little girl at the beginning of kindergarten and now I'm teaching for my sixth year.   

This picture makes me think about how much I love my mom - how special she is to me, how supportive, how loving, and how proud.  I love you, mom!  Thanks for always being there beside me.  

stationary

I love making handmade stationary.

Day 3

We are in Atlanta right now because we have a new nephew!!  Matt's sister, Val, gave birth to the precious Samuel Matthew at 1 AM Thursday morning.  He is just perfect.  Congrats to the new parents - Val and Brian.  Love you both!  Unfortunately I don't have pictures to share at this point but when we get home, I'll load 'em up. 

It is great to be here with family, relaxing, holding the babe, and reading.  I always get some good reading in while on vacation - even if it is only for a weekend.  This weekend it is the wonderful Artful Blogging magazine.  I HIGHLY recommend it and it just affirms what I am trying to do here.  Although I've only been blogging for a couple of months, I had no idea how it would transform my life already.  I used to journal but haven't for a long time.  This has become a sort of online journal.  A place where I can share what I am up to but also reflect on what is going on - be it my crafts, family events, or my newest "truths" posts.  Ok, before I lose you all (which maybe I already have), onto day 3.

Day 3: Something you have to forgive yourself for

Wow - another tough one.  I think forgiveness is really hard for me - I wish it wasn't.  Just as hard as it is for me to forgive others, it's harder for me to forgive myself.  I'm guessing that is normal. 

I thought about this one long and hard and realized it is more of a daily issue for me.  Whenever I feel like I say something that hurts someone's feelings, make a mistake, or feel like I ruin a moment, I have a hard time letting go.  One time on a trip, I blew up at my family and kinda freaked out and felt like I already ruined the trip or something.  My mom said, "Do you think you have that much control?"  Wow ... that was life changing for me.  From then on, when I feel like I've ruined a moment by being a jerk, instead of dwelling on it forever (I still dwell for awhile) I think about what my mom said.  Do I  really think I'm that important or in that much control that  I can ruin eveyone else's time?  It's still a struggle but little by little, I'm getting better at forgiving myself for the small things. 

If you made it to the end of this post, good job!  I have a lot of orders so you'll see some fun crafty posts coming up.

Love to you all!

Orders and Day 2

Hello world!  I am in such a good mood for one main reason: RAIN!!  After too many days of scorching heat, it finally feels like fall.  We've had rain the past two days and it is supposed to rain again tomorrow.  So happy.

I wanted to show you little sneaks of a couple custom projects I finished up this week.

I love wrapping up a finished project and sending it on it's way.  It's fun making handmade goods look pretty and I just hope the recipients enjoy them!  

Onto my new challenge....

Day 2: Something you love about yourself

I'm just going to say it - I love that I can read people well.  I really feel like I have the gift of being able to see where someone is at, what they need, and how they feel.  Intuition I guess.  Yup, I like that (I mean love that) about myself.  

What do YOU love about yourself?  Care to join in on this challenge with me, all you bloggers?

Something New

Ok, so you all know how much I love this blog.  She's so inspiring and honest.  Not to mention her scrapbooking is spectacular.  She's been doing this 30 Days of Truths project inspired by GirlVaughn.com and I thought I'd give it a try too.

You see, I've been thinking a lot about this blog and what I want it to be.  Is it just a place for creative inspiration?  Or just a place to share what I'm doing with my family? Or is it a place to share me?  The blogs that I love the most combine all three.  They highlight their craft, show the goings on of their family, and share their personal ups and downs.  So I'm going to give it a try.

Day 1: Something you hate about yourself


Oh man, we are really starting all out here.  Ok, well, I think I'm too hard on myself.  I don't think I let myself be free to make mistakes, to fall flat on my face, and look awful while down there.  I think I want to have it all together, to do everything and do it well.  In the meantime, I isolate myself and those around me.  I always want to be there for those I love - to be there for them no matter what they are going through.  But, it is hard for me to let people see me in my worst spots, when I really need help.  Perfectionist much?

  

Wisconsin

We were just in Wisconsin for a family reunion.  It was wonderful to be with everyone - especially my dear grandma.  When I was a kid, I used to fly across the country by myself every summer to see her.  I love her so dearly.  Of course we mostly only have pictures of Isaac...that's how most family vacations go now!  Here is my favorite from the weekend.

Right now I'm wishing for some more of that wonderful fall Wisconsin weather. 

for the sweet little girl

This weekend I helped Beth make her birth announcements for this sweet little girl.

Oh man, I could just eat her up!  

Ok, here they are....

Of course the only camera I had on me was my iphone so these pictures will have to do.  

love my google reader

Are there any other google reader fans out there?  I absolutely love it.  I have so many blogs I read and if I had to go to each one individually, I'd never be able to keep up.  Here are a few of my favorite photos I've found on my lovely google reader.

I love these little goodie bags from Dear Lizzy.

Isn't this garland magical??!  I can always find inspiration at The Pink Couch.

Jenni Hufford creates such beautiful, unique, romantic pages.  

If you don't have google reader, go to google.com/reader and add a blog (like elliebelliehandmade.com...hint, hint) by using the "add subscription" button.  Then, whenever you go to google reader, all of your wonderful blogs will be updated and ready for you to read.  

Drumroll Please....

Here they are!  I've made 50 of these personalized cards, boxed them up, and sent them on their way.  Just 50 left to go!

I love making cards.  I get such satisfaction from packing a bunch of pretty paper into a box and sending it on its way.  

I wish I would've taken more pictures.  Each card is 3 1/2" x 4 7/8".  I hand stamped the name at the top and sewed fabric ruffles to the bottom using the amazing Heather Bailey Fabric.  I lined each envelope with this paper.  They look so pretty and sweet.  

What I've Been Doing

I'm working on another custom order and had the company of my friends on One Tree Hill.  Is it kinda sad that I watch so much teen drama???

Custom Tags

Here is the long awaited post (yeah, right) about the tags I made.  I'm sure there is a faster way to make them but this is what I did.  I ran a standard shipping label through my printer, cut them down to size, added some of my favorite shimmer mist, and sewed on the ruffles.

Enjoy your long weekend!

Welcome!!

Welcome to my new blog!  If you followed me over here from ellieabney.blogspot.com, you might notice all of my old posts are here with us too.  I'm so glad we didn't have to say goodbye :)

Here are my new business cards designed by the talented Sara.  I am so incredibly happy with them.  I feel like they are so "me" ....  so happy.

Keep stopping by and I'll update you with my latest projects!  You can see on the sidebar of this blog that I have an etsy shop.  Please visit!  I will tell you that right now I have so many wonderful custom orders that I won't be adding to it or updating it for awhile.  Custom orders are my favorite because you get to create exactly what someone wants!  If you see anything on here that you'd like me to make (or maybe you have an idea of your own), please leave me a comment and I'll get back to you.  

Thank you so much for visiting!  

Latest Project

Before our wonderful vacation, I was working on a really fun project for a friend of a friend.  Her baby girl was getting baptized and as a party favor, she was giving each couple a box of gourmet cookies.  She wanted a personalized tag for each box.  What a great idea!  This is what I came up with.

Here is a stack of the tags mid-project.

Another picture mid-project.

Here are two pictures of the finished project.  

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!