Vacation

furniture:

reading material:

tour guide:

(i know these photos aren't the best...they were taken with my phone...but that isn't really the point, you know what i mean??)

I've been gone...

Sorry I've been missing a little bit but so much as been going on!  I feel like that is how I start all posts...

Last week I was sick a bit and also was working on an elliebellie handmade project!!  Did I tell you that is the name of my little store that I'm opening?  I worked with a fabulous graphic designer, Sara Barbar, to work on a logo for my new business (eek!!).  I've gotten business cards, a stamp, labels, a banner for my new blog, and my etsy shop.  The big reveal for my new blog and etsy shop will be next week so please look for updates.  I'd love you all to follow me to the next blog site!

Anyway...back to the project... I was hired to make some tags for a friend of a friend.  Her baby is getting baptized and she wanted specialized tags to put on the party favors.  I have a bunch of photos I'll post next week.  It was so much fun and was a milestone for me...it was the first project I've done for someone I didn't know!

This week, Matt and I are in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina with my family.  We flew into Atlanta and stayed with my parents the first night.  I saw this awful craft I made when I was little:

I was in a sewing class (which I am so thankful I took) and made this little beauty for my mom for Mother's Day...poor thing...she probably had no idea what to do with it.  She's a great mom because she has kept it out all of these years.  

I know I've mentioned my sweet nephew, Isaac.  We have had such a great time being with him.  Here he is with Uncle Matt:

Look at those curls!!!

Here he is with Uncle Andy:

I took this picture with my hipstomatic app on my phone.  

We've been sleeping in, lounging at the beach, staring at Isaac, reading, playing games, and eating ice cream.  In other words, it has already been an awesome vacation.  I love being with family!

Felt Circles

Hello and welcome to a new week!  I feel like it is much easier to say that right now because it is summer.  I love teaching but I also love having my own timeline throughout the day and week.  ahh.... summer....  I better soak it up!  Sorry....all you working people probably hate me now.  I'll stop.

I know you've heard me rant and rave before about making your own embellishments and that is what I did for this page.  There are no store bought embellishments here and these are so easy to make.  

I just used Heather Bailey felt (it is the best - brilliant colors and great texture), embroidery floss, and buttons.  Dunzo.  

Renegade Craft Fair

Oh. My. Gosh.  I LOVED it!!  I mentioned in my last post that Matt and I went to the Renegade Craft Fair on Sunday.  It was amazing.  It was so great to be surrounded by such creative people.  I left so inspired and even more excited (if that was possible) to be selling my products.  There were so many wonderful booths, there is no way I can do justice to them all, but I wanted to mention a couple of my favorites.

My favorite paper vender was Sycamore Street Press.  They mostly had letterpress goods, which I love.  Here is a little poster that caught my eye.  If we had a baby, I would own this for sure.  So funny.

I also really liked The Tinted Mint. 

Jenny Wiegley had gorgeous quilts.  Lindy, these are my inspiration!!

I thought these cute little crowns were really fun.  Unfortunately I have no idea who made it but isn't it precious?

Esoterica Bazaar had this beautiful ring set.  hint, hint, Matt :)

I thought this necklace was really cute too.  

Ahhh...so much wonderful goodness out there in the world.  Doesn't your heart feel full???

This Weekend

Matt and I had a really fun weekend.  We were both off of work on Friday so we drove down to San Diego for the day and went to the San Diego Zoo.  Apparently I went when I was little but I have no memory of it so it was a new experience for both of us.  We loved it!  We loved walking around, looking at the animals, and just having the day together.

I'm glad I married a man who makes me laugh so much.

We then went to a local scrapbooking store, Paper Tales, that I had heard all about.  It was AMAZING.  It was the best scrabooking store I've been to.  I felt like everything there was very much my style.  Of course I got a few things.

On Saturday we got to babysit precious Beckett.

We were sad to give her back to her parents.  She is such a good baby!!

On Sunday, Matt went with me to the Renegade Craft Fair.

Once again, another awesome craft experience.  I really think my husband should win some kind of award .... two crafting outings this weekend!

We also saw Inception.  It was really good but a lot of it was over my head.  I think I'll need a round 2 to really get it.  

That's all for now!  What did you all do this weekend?

Paper Folding

Here is another page from Kala's book.

I really liked this page because of the paper strips.  For each strip, I cut long pieces of paper that were 1 inch thick.  I folded each strip then sewed the whole thing to hold the folds.

It was a bit time consuming but I really like the end result.  I also LOVE any type of craft that I can zone out and do while watching TV.  I think I watched season 1 and much of season 2 of Grey's Anatomy (again) while making Kala's book.

I've mentioned before that my sister-in-law, Val, is having a baby boy in October.  They are naming him Sam :)  Anyway, I am now working on a book for her that I need to finish in 2 weeks.  I'll be busy over here!  It's already cute and boy and vintage .... yum.  As soon as it is done and in Val's hands, I'll share it here.

Butterflies Galore

It seems like everywhere you look in the scrapbooking world people are embracing butterflies.  I was never too into them before but am now a convert.  I think they are sweet, whimsical, romantic, and beautiful.  Here are two more pages from Kala's book that have a plethora of butterflies.

I used this punch for all of the butterflies.  

Have a wonderful Monday!  :)