baby book

I'm just popping in to share some pictures of a recent baby book I made. Enjoy! :)

 Here's the cover. I used the SNAP binder and it worked perfectly.  I just added some gold and cream twine and was done.

  The binders come with some patterned paper (like the polka dot below) and I used Elise Blaha Cripe's Project Life patterned paper to supplement.  For the first page, I sewed on a small sheet with the birth information.  

The book is divided into three sections: letters, pictures, and keepsakes.  

pocketed page protectors for photos with journaling cards:

  In the keepsakes section, there is a pocket for ultrasound pictures, birth announcement, first birthday, and special cards.

This book was super fun to make - simple, sweet, and easy to use.  Score!

minted

Ok so it's no secret that I am in love with paper.  I mean seriously in love, makes my hand sweat, in love.  I love making paper products, collecting journals I never use, wrapping pencils in paper, buying thank you cards (the art of letter writing is not lost on me), using only my paper calendar, scribbling lists on paper pads, writing out my grocery list, etc.  Basically, we live in an age of technology and I can't get enough writing instead of typing. 
Enter: minted.  This place is awesome.  I can spend entire nap times perusing through the endless pages of picture cards, stationery, address labels, and art prints.  Major drool.  Here are some of my favorites that I've spotted recently.  

 skinnywrap address labels

 love you more than coffee art print

 watercolor stationery

monogrammed stationery

Pretty gorgeous stuff, right??

black, white, & gold baby shower - details

I'm back with the rest of the details from the black, white, and gold baby shower!  Beth and Laura (the sisters who threw the baby shower for their sister-in-law, Trish) had me help with a few decorative pieces.   First, they had me make tags for the adorable place settings. 

Aren't the little pots so adorable??   I helped with three different banners.  I'm so in love with this combination of papers.

I also helped make these "fans" that were used for a sweet game about the baby's mom and dad. 

Here's everything...

I linked this post up at Sew Chatty's Made with Love link party.

black, white & gold baby shower - the invitations

First off let me say I've been dying to share these invitations.  At the risk of sounding arrogant..... I'm kinda obsessed with them. 
I had the pleasure of designing invitations for a friend's baby shower.  My wonderful friends, Beth O'Brien and her sister Laura put on an amazing shower for their sweet sister-in-law, Trish, who I've also made a ton of paper goodies for.  This super classy affair was mostly black, white, and gold.  It was an elegant shower and I was so pleased to be able to help out with it!  I'll share a few photos of what I helped make later on but for now, I wanted to share the invitations.
Invitations are the first glimpse guests have of an event.  When you get one, you should feel excited and hungry for more.  They should give you just a peek into what is to come.  

The gold glitter lined envelopes, polka dot velum, and black and white ribbon all pointed towards the whimsy and elegance that was to come.  I'm still just dying over that glitter.  I wish I could hang it all over my house! Seriously, it makes my hands balmy :) 

I chose to use a quirky cursive font to make them fanciful and playful.  I sewed white card stock to kraft back polka dot velum to anchor the text.  Black and white ribbon was added as another piece of texture. 

I apologize for the blocked out lettering - I gotta keep info private.

Ok, that's all for now....more from this shower later!

** I linked this invitation up at Sew Chatty's Made with Love Monday link party.  Check it out there! 

currents

time: 8:18 pm location: slouched down on my big red couch with my feet on the coffee table mood: relaxed, content eating: just ate the most amazing pad thai from Daisy Mint.  I've never been and have been dying to try it out.  If you live in the Pasadena area, you must go. drinking: arizona diet decaf green iced tea.  I buy the huge jug and can live off of it.  Well only if I also have my diet coke and starbucks. watching: scandal.  Holy cow this show. reading: I just started Water for Elephants and am really liking it so far.  Since it's fiction, I'll devour it and finish it.  Can't stand non fiction. loving: my husband and my sweet boy.  and yummy pad thai.  and trashy tv. and crocheting. learning: how to balance, set boundaries, and make myself a priority. It's hard stuff folks. thinking: i wish there were more hours in the day.  wishing: that I could sleep in until 10 tomorrow morning. alas, I have a toddler :)
Happy weekend y'all 


Currents from Life.Love.Paper.

boot cuffs

Ok, so I know that California winters barely qualify but for us down here, they feel really cold! Especially for this Arizona girl - when I moved here I thought I was moving to the Arctic - well, not quite... but anyway, it gets just cold enough here for us to pull out our sweaters and boots and enjoy a slight change in wardrobe.

My favorite fall/winter item are for sure my boots. I went through a few tall pairs that I never wore due to the fact that I am a girl who loves comfort (hence my huge collection of sweats) and I just needed a cute pair of flat boots. Flat boots are the bomb because you can live in complete comfort while still looking cute!

This year, I'm also wearing leggings far too often so I thought my boots could use another accessory - enter the boot cuff. I am kinda obsessed with them.  They peek just above the boot and add just the right amount of whimsy to an outfit. And the fact that I can crochet them myself?? Score.

I'm making several pairs for some friends so if you are interested in a pair of your own, email me!!  Or leave a comment below!  elliebelliehandmade@gmail.com

** I linked up this post at Sew Chatty's Made With Love Monday link party.  

i've had a little facelift!!

Hi everyone!  Happy New Year!  I hope you are all doing well out there!  
Do you notice anything different??  I've given my blog a facelift!!  I've hired the fabulous Kim at 733 blog design and I seriously couldn't be happier with what she did!  If you are looking for some help with your blog, please hire her.  She's wonderful!  
If you're viewing my blog in a reader, please click over to the site so that you can see it in all of it's glory.  Please also click on my social icons to follow me and yes, that's right, I finally set up a FaceBook page for elliebellie handmade!  Now I just gotta add some content!  
Love to you all!