Everyday Celebrating

Still time to: Draw a portrait of Dad for Father's Day

Those of us with children love seeing their perspectives in drawing.

Design Editor provides a great FREE printable for Father's Day.  Simply print it out and have your child draw a portrait of Daddy.  So fun to compare their skills year after year!

 

DIY: Photo envelope liners

I absolutely love lined envelopes.  And while I've made my share of liners, I have never made liners that feature a PHOTO!  Brilliant!

Sidenote: Those that are reading this that usually receive a holiday card from me...you may see this idea again in December.  LOL   Maybe.

Paige of  Paiges of Style gives a tutorial on creating lined envelopes.  This fabulous tutorial gives a photo step by step of creating the template and then she goes on to show you how to use a photo.

This tutorial is one to bookmark for sure!

Don't forget, these will work on ANY envelope.  You don't have to save it for a special occasion or invitation.  You can line any envelope!  Birthday, anniversary or graduation cards or just a special note dropped to a friend.  

Still time to: Recognize your friends on Mother's Day

There are only two times per year that I send out a mass mailing of cards.  One is around the Christmas holidays and the second is for Mother's Day.

 How can I have so many mothers, you ask?  

Well, I don't.  I have one.  (Hi, Mom!)  But what I do have are lots of FRIENDS who ARE mothers.  
 And I like to recognize them on Mother's Day each year.

I've been doing this for several years now, long before I had a child of my own.   It began when I joined an online chat and journaling group more than 10 years ago.  Ladies from all over the world were on this site specifically to talk about planning their weddings.  I became close friends with several so much so that we traveled to each other's weddings, went on vacations together, etc.  

As time went by, both my "real life" friends and my online friends were starting families.  Conversations gently swayed towards the ups and downs of motherhood and even before I had a child of my own, I realized that being a mother was one of the hardest and most important jobs ever.  So I began sending them all Mother's Day cards just to remind them of how great they are and what an amazing job they are doing as a mother every single day.

You're probably thinking it's expensive.  Cards are expensive these days.  BUT... the Dollar Tree has Mother's Day cards priced at 2 for $1.00!  So for $10 plus postage, I can have a little smile show up in the mailbox of 20 women on a day that's meant just for them.  

And who doesn't like to be remembered?

New to the shop: Printable Happy Birthday envelope wraps

I love mail.  Well, I love mail that isn't junk or bills.  So what does THAT leave?  Not a whole lot most of the time.  I think everyone gets at least a small bit of happiness in finding a card or letter in the middle of the junk, right?

I love to SEND mail.  Not only do I like a colorful envelope, but I like a punch of a little something on the envelope if I can.  Like a cute stamp, colored ink or one of my fave things, an envelope wrap.

Since posting the damask envelope wrap a while back, some of you have contacted me about other types of envelope wraps that you can use for various occasions.

Enter the Happy Birthday wrap!  It's colorful and matches most any envelope!

The front:

and the back which says "make a wish"

This wrap is now available in my etsy shop.  You receive one file which includes two wraps per page.  You have the choice of receiving a pdf or a Microsoft Publisher file (if you'd like to type the addresses).

Purchase the file and print them out as many times as you like!

Stay tuned... holiday wraps coming up soon including a red damask! 

P.S. Let me know if you need something in particular to go with your holiday cards/invitations. I just matched a holiday card in a beautiful olive and tan damask. Beautiful!

FREE for my readers! Paperless Post invitations!

Ok. I'll admit.  I love invitations.  Well, who am I kidding, anything paper really.  And while I spend a ridiculous amount of time looking at, choosing and putting together the perfect paper invitation, I realize there are plenty that love to use electronic invitations.  And for quick, beautiful electronic invitations, I fell in love with the products of Paperless Post.

What is it?  It's an electronic card store!  They feature everything from wedding save the dates to party invitations to birth announcements to formal invitations and even thank you cards.

What makes them different?  Here are the top two and MOST important reasons:

1.  Their designs.  Hands down gorgeous.  They have something for everyone!  And each piece can be customized from the texture of the "paper" to the color of the "ink".  

2.  Their presentation and delivery.  When you receive a Paperless Post card, it comes to you in a virtual envelope with your name on the outside.  You click the envelope to open and the invitation unfolds beautifully.  It's my favorite feature!  The drama of the opening!

With Paperless Post... you're not sacrificing style!  The designs are sharp and modern and the color schemes are gorgeous.  

Just in time for your fall gatherings, Paperless Post is offering readers of Everyday Celebrating the gift of 35 free "stamps". Use them for your next gathering - whatever that may be.. Halloween, baby shower, dinner party, bunco or try them out for thank you notes.

Just click on this link exclusively for Everyday Celebrating readers and enjoy 35 free stamps! 

Also, don't forget to connect with them on Facebook and Twitter to see more designs and updates.

 

Paint Party invitations!

Over a year ago, I posted some ideas for a fun children's paint party.  My son, Keaton, loves to paint!

I just happened upon these super cute paint party invitations over at Shorties Funny Farm which would go along fabulously with the ideas I posted some time ago.

First, the paint set invitation.  She bought paint sets at Walmart for $1 each and added an insert for the invitation.   How cute, easy.. and best of all.. they can USE IT!  

Outside:

 and inside:


Second is this cute palette invitation:

 which features the party details on the back:

These are great fun invitations that are perfect for a planned play date or birthday party!  
Best of all, they are easily made at home and have great impact! 

Everyday Events: Teacher themed baby shower

  

When your best friend is a teacher, why not throw a teacher themed baby shower?

Katie of Bower Power put together this beautiful shower for her friend featuring an all-american red, white and blue palette and super cute details.

I love how she named the menu after school details.

 

Beautiful cucumber sandwiches with bits of the peel pushed through toothpicks

and the beautiful apple cupcakes!

 

Usually I don't like shower games, but this shower had some really great games.  Like each guest writing the mommy a note so she'd have encouraging notes every month for the first year.

 
Cute snack bags for the guests to take home included juice boxes and a bag of chocolate chip cookies.

 

A truly simple and beautiful shower that was truly fitting of an amazing teacher.

Amazing! Calligraphy by Jennifer

Calligraphy is one of those things that I truly swoon over.  It's so classic and ornate and awe inspiring to me that someone has that amazing talent!  And more so, the patience to do it! 

Calligraphy is also one of those things that I say I'm going to learn... someday.  LOL

Well, I should have taken the time to learn it in my 20s.  Because now, in my almost 40s, with all the stuff I have going on plus a child, I'm not sure learning is ever going to make it to the top of my list.

And why should it?   Because I know Jennifer, of Calligraphy by Jennifer, and she has learned it amazingly well!

Jennifer, based in Louisville, KY (and I feel I should throw that out there because I'm a KY born girl myself), creates a breathtaking first impression to any invitation.  Let me show you...

 

I love this invitation!

Of course, she also can do place cards and even doilies!

Her prices are amazing and she can do many many different styles of calligraphy.

Don't think she just does invitations. She also handles thank you notes, poems, table numbers, etc.
Will you be having a more formal occasion in the coming months that could use the elegance of calligraphy?  Think: Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, New Year's Eve, a special bridal shower,  your parent's 50th anniversary, etc.  How about something for your children?  Sweet 16, sorority event, etc?

Better get on the books now! 

Special pick me up

One of my good friends recently got a divorce.  And while the divorce was amicable and the process moved fairly quickly, and while my friend was relieved to close that chapter, she was still, understandably, going through the stages of grief.

She moved into her own place and tried to keep her mind off things by decorating and filling up her social life, etc.  

One day, several of her friends (me included) received an email from her requesting we send inspirational cards and messages for a bulletin board that would go in her bedroom.  This would serve as a visual pick me up that she could read in the times when the divorce seemed to be crushing down on her.

So we did.  Below is what I sent.  Just putting it here as an idea for someone that may be looking for an easy and fun idea to cheer up someone you care for.

I pulled out a spool of white satin ribbon, a set of Martha Stewart stamp pads and a set of mini alphabet stamps.

With each letter in a different color, I stamped this quote, letter by letter, onto the ribbon:

"Love is the time and space where I give myself the right to be extraordinary." 

After the ink dried, I rolled it back up onto the spool so that she could read the message as it unrolled.

I glued on a little note so she'd know this was my contribution for her board.
 

 
Wrapped it up in a box... and shipped it off using the printable  "please take me to" envelope wrap.


  
To my dear friend, you are extraordinary.  Every day.  In every way.   Your bravery in being true to yourself and creating the life you want is an inspiration to us all.

i heart envelope wraps

I love envelope wraps.  Easy to use and they really stand out in a pile of mail.

This one is in my etsy store.  Stay tuned... I'll soon be adding a chic chandelier wrap. 

Need something special for your next occasion or have an idea for a wrap to use every day?  email me!