congratulations cards

Ok I just have a few more cards to share with you that are new to the shop.  The first are these congratulations cards.  

You can buy these cards at my shop: www.elliebelliehandmade.etsy.com or email me at elliebelliehandmade@gmail.com.  I can also change the label to say anything you'd like - including your name.  

I'm also thinking about doing a little sale on Instagram soon....what do you think??  Happy Monday everyone!  

a little thank you

I owe a big thank you to my mom and dad for sitting me down after every Christmas and birthday and making me write thank you notes.  I'm not being sarcastic - I really am thankful.  I am so appreciative of this because I still to this day write thank you cards.  And unfortunately I think it's a lost art.  We move so fast from one thing to the next and we rarely sit down to pull out a nice card, grab our favorite pen (preferably an ink roller), summon our pretty hand writing, and jot a thank you note.  My grandma wrote not just thank cards but notes in general and I kept many of them.  What a special thing it is to have her sweet handwriting and kind words always.   So, am I making you feel like you need some thank you notes of your own yet?!?!?  Here you go!  

These little cuties are listed in my shop.  
Have a wonderful day!!  

wrapping gifts and {shop update} for you tag

Have you ever take that love languages quiz??  Gift giving is number one for me.  It's how I show love and how I receive it.  And it has nothing to do with how expensive or extravagant the gift is.  I just like to know that I am thought about and known.  When Matt comes home with a pack of orange tic tack for me, my heart immediately swells.  He knows that I love me some orange tic tack (let's not talk about how fast I consume said pack) and I love knowing that when he saw them in line at the market, he thought about me.  

One of my favorite things about gift giving is the wrapping.  I think that a great wrapping job seriously makes a present.  Opening a really pretty package is a gift in and of itself.  I rarely buy the standard gift bag/card because I really enjoy creating unique wrapping and to be honest, it's usually much cheaper to do a diy wrapping job.  Grab a roll of kraft wrapping paper to meet every gift giving need and then add personal touches.  And a tag.  That's a must.  

Oh hey....here's a little cutie....

It's just a little guy... 3 1/4" long.

Someone looks ready to party....

I sell these little guys over at my shop (www.elliebelliehandmade.etsy.com) in packs of 8.  I am also happy to customize them for you if you would prefer a different little saying.  

Of course, these gorgeous pictures are done by Sarah Scheidler.  She's brill.  

{shop update} hello there

Ok so I am seriously freaking out.  The lovely Sarah Scheidler took pictures of the cards, tags, and notepads that I have ready to add to my shop and I am in love with them!  Eeeek!  I am really happy with the designs I have to share with you and couldn't be more happy with her point of view in photographing them.  So, without further ado, here is my first release.  I have shared this design before but of course had to share these pictures.    

First of all, let me say I am obsessed with the color scheme.  Gold, grey, and pool blue??? Yes, please!  

This little card is 3 1/2" x 4 7/8"- just perfect for when you need to drop a quick line.  

I can personalize the sentiment - thank you, just a note, your name...whatever!  

Please check out Sarah's work at www.sarahscheidler.com and her Facebook page.  Thanks for swinging by!  I'm super excited to share more throughout this week and next!  

winnie the pooh party

So this whole year Jonathan has loved Winnie the Pooh.  All things Winnie the Pooh.  It started when my grandpa gave him a Winnie the Pooh book and little sound toy thingy.  He loved it.  Then he went on the ride at Disneyland.  He LOVED that and the obsession began.  Books, the movie, a pooh bear stuffed animal, little rubber toys, listening to the songs until my eyes go crossed....we are full on obsessed.  So, as he approached his second birthday, it just made sense to have a pooh bear party.  Little did I know that it was hard to find Winnie the Pooh party stuff unless it's for a baby shower or first birthday.  Darn.  Plan B?  I'll make it all and turn it into a Pooh bear/honey party.   Pooh was waiting at the door to greet guests.  This Pooh is so special because he used to be Auntie Val's when she was a little girl.  Red balloons were placed throughout the house because if you remember the story well, Pooh used a red balloon to float up to a beehive to try to steal honey.  What a little trickster.  :)

Each kid got a red balloon and an adorable beehive cookie as a take away gift.  The cookies were made by Cookies by Heidi and you guys, she's seriously amazing.  The detail in her work is incredible and they were sooo yummy.  If you need cookies for any event (or just make something up because they are that good), check her out!

The spread.  This was a morning party so we had breakfast foods - a couple of egg bakes, monkey bread, make your own parfaits with fresh fruit, bagels, and honeycomb cereal.  That adorable vintage Winnie the Pooh chair was a birthday present for Jonathan from our dear friend Lindy.  She also made that sweet little silhouette of my boy's face.  Thanks, Lindy!! 

We had coloring pages and Pooh bear books and toys out for the kids.  Here is Jonathan yelling, "Cheese!!!" while squeezing Piglet.  I swear to everything good and holy, he is not trying to murder him.  Piglet is a love in our home. :)

One of the joys of having a summer birthday is being able to swim!  So we had the waterin' hole (swimming pool) set up in the backyard and the kids had so much fun.  Such easy entertainment.  

Here are a couple of shots of the birthday banner I made.  All of the letters are sewn on using my machine to give it a more whimsical, handmade look.  It is currently for sale in my shop - click here to check it out.  I'm also making custom banners so if you have a special occasion coming up, let me know!  

Ok y'all, that's all for now.  Now onto planning and preparing for the next party...this weekend!!  

[shop update] birthday banner

I've got a little shop update: happy birthday banner is in the shop!  Check it out in my shop.  If you'd like to order a custom one, let me know.  I'd love to make one for you!    Happy Sunday, y'all!