Everyday Celebrating

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!

 

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?

Celebrate learning and the States!

 My son and I are joining in on the Great American Postcard Swap!

Aimee at Adventures and Pursuits is putting together a postcard swap and we'll be representing Tennessee.

To join: Email Aimee at adventuresandpursuits@gmail.com 

How it works: 50 families (one from each state) will swap postcards over the next year. Each state will have their own week and will send out 49 postcards, one to each state, during that week. We will go in alphabetical order of the states. At the end of 50 weeks we will all have received a postcard from 49 other states!

My son and I will use this to learn about states.  We'll see the postcard picture of each one and then locate them on a map.

If you are interested, but your state is not on the list of states she needs, send an email anyway. With enough interest she may  put together a second (or more?) swap. 

I know I have readers in some (if not all) of these areas.  Join us and hear from my son and I when Tennessee week rolls around!

Still time to: create your child's school valentines

photo credit:  Chica Schmica

Cute and easy Valentine's Day treats perfect for school!

Staple a sucker between two cardstock hearts.  Decorate one side with a cute face!   

 

Open hearts embellishments

Martha Stewart does it again.  While she mentions using "paper", I'd use vellum since it's prone to natural curling.  Instructions here.

 

 

Never forget a card again...

Inside reads:  You go ahead and I'll be right behind you.  Happy Birthday!

Did you make a resolution to become better at remembering special occasions by sending cards?

Introducing Jack Cards.   Jack Cards is an online calendar and card service.  Here's how it works:

 - Fill in your calendar with a year's worth of special occasions.  Birthdays, anniversaries, etc. 

 - Browse through the Jack Cards and purchase cards for each occasion.

 - Jack Cards will send you the pre-addressed, pre-STAMPED card to you in time for you to send for the occasion. All you have to do is sign the card and drop it into the mail.

The selection is varied and the prices are comparable to store bought cards. And you don't have to worry about getting stamps. If you have trouble remembering holidays as they come around, this is perfect for you!