{wrapping ideas} using fabric as ribbon

I've said it once, I'll say it again...gift giving is so fun for me.  One of my favorite parts is the wrapping. I'm always looking for ways to use what I have on hand and this week, my fabric scraps were calling to me.  Let me explain.   My church, Christian Assembly in Eagle Rock, has an outstanding Women's Bible Study. It has truly been life changing for me.  As a stay at home mom, I have found those moments of gathering to worship, learn, and spend time with out another to be such a highlight in my week.   I'm a part of a table of women who support one another, learn from one another, and really love one another well.  Our table leader (love you, Jacquie!) is the icing on the cake to such a great experience.  If not for her and her constant love and support, our table wouldn't be even close to the same.   In our session last week, we were discussing how to show love to our family, friends, and neighbors and I felt so convicted about the neighbors part.  We moved into our home almost a year ago and I barely know my neighbors at all.  I don't think I've even exchanged any words with most of them!  Although this is typical California culture with neighbors, it's not how I want to be!  Sure I love privacy as much as the next person (well, probably more) but I really feel like I want our home to be a place that radiates Jesus' love.  I especially want to model this for my little guy.   So last week Jonathan and I made pumpkin bread.  Well, I made it and he pretended to put spices in while playing with lots of flour.  And I made seven loaves of pumpkin bread and was ready to pass them out and then realized I didn't bake them long enough and the middles were all mush.  I dramatically dumped them each, one at a time, into our trash can.   That's it, I decided.  Done with this little project.  Or not.  The idea didn't leave my mind so I gathered supplies this week and made 4 loaves.  I kept one for us (and Jonathan has already finished it!) and Jonathan and I took the other three out yesterday.  We handed two out to neighbors and with no one else home, I gave the extra loaf to my brother and his wife who just brought home their sweet baby.   I'm not done though.  We are going to make more and keep passing them out until I've met more neighbors!   So here are my little loaves of pumpkin bread wrapped in fabric.  

 These were so inexpensive - I already had the Martha Stewart labels and Heather Bailey fabric on hand.  Win/win!   Have a great week, y'all.  And I'll just keep pretending it's fall over here.... 

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!!  

coral, mint, gold & navy baby shower

Ok so my brother and his wife are having a baby.  A baby girl.  Like any day now.  CAN'T WAIT!! This will be the first baby girl in our family and we all couldn't be more excited.  Leggings, headbands, ruffles, RUFFLE BUTTS, need I say more?? 
To celebrate their transition, I helped her friends throw a baby shower for the happy couple.  Since it was a couples shower, we went more with a party theme and less of a baby theme.  
The baby's room is coral, mint, gold and navy so we knew these had to be the colors for the shower.   I don't have a ton of images right now but as I get more, I'll be sure to share them here.  Drumroll please..... 

Aren't those jars fun?  One of the girls had this idea and I just love how they turned out.  We took mason jars, spray painted them, and then painted them with a mod podge/glitter mixture.  Another friend did the flowers and they are to die for.  Flower arranging is one skill I don't have so I'm super impressed. 

Here's a view from my family room.  We had the whole party in the backyard.  We moved basically my whole house out there and then borrowed a bunch of furniture too.  That's one of my favorite things about living in Southern California - summer nights are a dream and I love summer night backyard parties.  Trying saying that four times fast.  

Here's my patio....obviously all patio furniture removed.  I love creating little seating areas for people to enjoy at parties.  

 The dessert table!  The parents-to-be LOVE sweets so we made this table a focal point.  

Ok there is so much more I want to share here so as I get pictures, I promise I'll post them here.  Oh and all of that fringe?? I have a ton left over so if anyone wants any, let me know.
All of these pictures are courtesy of Alexander Aquino Photography and Design.  He has such a great eye for photography and am so happy we have these!  You can view his website at www.alexanderaquinophotography.com. Thank you, Alex!

get it done

Get it done.  I seriously can't say that without thinking, "git r done!!"... especially because Mater is a favorite in our household.

This is the last item in the gold and grey product line...a notepad!  

This is a small notepad - 5" x 8".  It's perfect to tuck in a drawer, your purse, leave on the counter...you name it!  

As with all of my products, I'm happy to customize it to meet your needs.  A personalized notepad makes a great gift.  

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!