I Need Pillowcases

These are the cutest things I have seen in a while and it is taking all of my willpower not to whip out my credit card and spend $29 on pillowcases.

But. They. Are. So. Stinking. Cute.

Would they not be perfect for Valentine's Day!?

via Bold Loft

Snowed In

Being snowed in isn't always bad. Especially if you have no place to go.

G left last night for a golf trip to South Carolina and I am here braving the "Brutal Storm" by myself. Luckily I have a super duper one piece snowsuit, and handy dandy snow shovel, lots of hot chocolate and a couple of movies to keep me company. Plus, with the house to myself, I actually got some work done today.

I made this photo collage to send to G so that he could see all the fun he was missing out on. Tomorrow I will get myself together and head to the new house to paint some doors but for now I am going to watch another movie. And maybe eat some chocolate chip cookies.

Circle Stickers : Free Download

How about a free download (from yours truly) to start off your Wednesday morning! Is it really Wednesday already? Is it really the 28th of January?

Back to the freebie! Cute little red circles for a possible Valentine's project? Click on the picture for the download.
What other color would you like to see these in? Leave me a comment and the winning color will magically appear later this week.

Photobooth Fun

As an invitation designer, I read a lot of wedding blogs. I know that photo booths at a wedding are the hot thing right now but Saturday was the first time that I got to witness the awesomeness in real life. All together, I was in the photo booth a grand total of 4 times. These, with G, are my favorites though.
We picked up the business card of the guys running the booth and are trying to come up with a way to incorporate them into a party that we throw. Housewarming party? Next Halloween? Some one's birthday?

Thanks L & J for an awesome and beautiful and seriously fun night.

Valentine Freebies (oldies but goodies)

Some Valentine goodies that I dug up from years past. I'll do my best over the next week or so to uncover and reveal some other cute freebies.

Bunny Valentine via Paper Crave


Valentine Cube via Orange Beautiful


Be Mine, Valentine via Inside A Black Apple

I've Been Minted

Ever since my card was chosen as an Editor's pick on Minted, I've been anxiously awaiting its debut on the site! After checking back today (as I've done everyday) I am happy to announce that my card, Letter Swirl, is finally for sale.

Get yours here.Thank you to Minted for this amazing opportunity!

Fold. Stack. Punch. Repeat

The last few days of mine have been consumed by preparing an 8 page long program for a wedding on Saturday. I am here to guide you throughout the process of putting these babies together. Luckily I had Rachel Ray on TV to keep my company and make me hungry.

Step 1: Lay out the card stock (white on top of black) to find the fold point.
Step 2: Use a straight edge to fold the black card stock. I could have done this with a bone folder as well but I don't like the sound it makes. Like fingernails on a chalkboard (to me at least)
Step 3: Gather up the pages for the program. Check that they are in the right order. Run to the kitchen for a snack.
Step 4: Lightly tap to make sure everything in lined up.
Step 5: Fold the black card stock completely over. Make a nice sharp crease.
Step 6: Take your hole punch (or Cropadile in my case) and punch holes where you want them.
Step 7: Put your eyelets in the previously punched holes and use whatever eyelet setting tool you prefer to set them.
Step 8: Stand back and admire your work. Then get busy and finish the other 99 programs you have left to do.
On a side note, G did not have much faith in the power of the eyelet to hold all those pieces of paper together. I had no fear, but I did spend much of the wedding on Saturday night making sure that pieces of program were not falling all over the floor. Much to my delight, not a single program came apart and I could hear many oohs and ahhs over them.

Love Letters

New at the shop!

Royal Note

Love Letter

I think these give off the lovey dovey vibe for your Valentine, but can be used beyond one day of the year. Cute gift idea!!

Addressing the Wedding Envelope

So you’ve narrowed your guest list down to 218 of your closest friends and family members…now it’s time to address the envelopes. Not sure where to start? We hope these tips will help point your pen in the right direction.

FIRST, THE ENVELOPES
Most wedding invitations are sold with double envelopes. The outer envelopes have glue on the flap, so you can seal them for mailing. Your guest’s name and full address is written on the outer envelope. The inner envelopes are slightly smaller and have no glue on the flap. Only names are listed on the inner envelope, no addresses. These double envelopes are traditionally used to ensure that each guest will receive a pristine invitation in a clean envelope, even if the outer envelope has been torn or soiled in the mail.

NOW, THE RULES

‘Expert Addresser’ and calligrapher Moya Minns of MM Ink helps us sort through a few common questions…

{Question}: I am inviting a male friend and his girlfriend to my wedding. How should I address the envelope?

{MM Ink says}: For unmarried couples, it is always ladies first. The outer envelope would be addressed like this:

{Question}: Is it acceptable to use ‘and Family’ or ‘and Guest’ on the outside envelope?

{MM Ink says}: No, it is not. Invitations should always be mailed to the adult household members with the names of the children (or ‘and Family’ for a less formal event) written on the inner envelope. For an unmarried person inviting a guest, it is best to find out the name of the guest to include on the outer envelope. If the guest’s name is not known at the time, then ‘and Guest’ may be written on the inner envelope only.

{Question}: My guest list includes married couples with children. What is the proper way to address the envelope?

{MM Ink says}: Children over the age of 18 should get their own invitation. Any child under 18 would be listed on the inner envelope only from oldest to youngest on a line below the parent’s name. The inner envelope would look like this:

{Question}: What is the difference between Miss and Ms.?

{MM Ink says}: While it is acceptable to use both of these titles for an unmarried female, Miss is typically used for a female under eighteen.

{Question}: I am inviting a judge to my wedding. Is there a particular way to address the envelope?

{MM Ink says}: For the inner envelope, using ‘Judge’ is acceptable, however, a judge should be addressed as ‘The Honorable…’ on the outer envelope:

A few more important rules…

NO SHORTCUTS!When addressing your envelopes, do not use abbreviations other than “Mr.” or “Mrs.” Spell out Avenue, Road, and Street as well as the State name.

LADIES FIRST….AND DOCTORS

Here are the traditional rules for listing guests on the envelope in order of importance:

Children: oldest to youngest if listed individually on the inner envelope

Unmarried couple living together: list the lady’s name first

Married couple with different last names: lady’s name first

If one person is a Doctor: Doctor first, regardless of gender

If both are Doctors: Use “The Doctors Smith ” on both the inner and outer envelopes

If one person is a Reverend: list the Reverend first, regardless of gender

If one person is Military: list that person first, regardless of gender

If both are Military: list the person with higher rank first, regardless of gender

If one person is a Judge/Justice: list that person first, regardless of gender

Gay couple: oldest first unless they’ve stated differently

POSTAGE

Remember! Before purchasing stamps, have one fully assembled invitation weighed at the post office to determine proper postage. Don’t forget to purchase stamps for the respond envelopes as well.

STILL NEED HELP?

Check out this Wedding Wording Guides and Envelope Addressing Guide with more samples, tips and etiquette rules.

Credits:All calligraphy by MM Ink

Images and information by Betsy White Stationery Boutique

Etsy Team Columbus

It has been a lovely day of staying inside and out of the cold. I've been working hard on printing menus and programs for a wedding this weekend.

Plus...I'm now a member of the Etsy Team Columbus!! A pretty great day!

Waiting For Summer

It is 7 degrees out today and I'm ready for some of this.

G getting crazy at Lake George : 2008

Jar Labels : Free Download

Have I mentioned that G and I are renovating? Going on 7 months now!! 7 seemingly endless months of tear apart and put back together (slowly)

Recently I have been painting. Everything is being painted. Ceilings, trim, walls, you name it. I've got gallons of paint everywhere, along with brushes, rollers, paint trays. I am down to the last 2 rooms and one large ceiling that I have been avoiding. I don't even look at it because it screams "paint me"!

Okay, now to the freebie...I am down to the last few droplets of some of my colors. Only enough to touch up with. I have been putting some of that left over color into baby food jars. I don't really know if this method will keep the paint, but I'm going to go with it. So, I needed some labels to put on the jars to remind me of the color, brand, store where it purchased it, and sheen.

Feel free to use these labels however you see fit. Enjoy. To download click here!

Click here to find out what to do with your empty paint cans!

12 Free Font Downloads

Thanks to Magic Jelly for this awesome list of fonts. TWELVE circus-type fonts, all for FREE, all in ONE PLACE. Oh what fun!! Just click through the links below to download.

• Big Top
• De Louisville
• J F Ferrule
• URWWood Typ D
• Cast Iron
• Circus
• Pointedly Mad
• Armenian Circus
• Hoedown
• Romantiques
• Coney Island
• Abilene FLF

Thanks to the fab Magic Jelly for sharing!

Hearts : Free Download

With exactly a month until Valentine's Day it is time to start sticking hearts all over the place. Print these out on label paper or card stock for some cute decorations or labels.Get the download here.

Escort Cards : Leslie & Josh

Not much time for much of a post today. I've been busy printing and cutting escort cards for a wedding next weekend. These will have a ribbon through the upper left corner and tied onto a Chinese takeout container which can be filled with candy at the reception! YUM!


My plan is to post a freebie tomorrow! Check back!

Wedding Day Freebies from the Chicks

Free download today courtesy of The Wedding Chicks.

Download Black and White Menu Card
Download the word document here from Avery.
First, print out our blank Menus on the card stock. (Print design without text.)
Second, use the Avery template to type in your menu.
Last, put the printed Menus back into printer and print again with your menu text.

Download Black and White Labels
2x2 Labels : Insert proper sized labels and print!

Download Black and White Escort Cards
Insert proper sized labels and print!
Get a great pen and use your best cursive! :)


Thanks to The Wedding Chicks for giving us all some great wedding day freebies!

Etsy Finds : Bikes

Typically when I go to Etsy, I head directly to my home page to check on things there. Every once in while though, I go to the Etsy front page to check out the treasury listed. It is always full of beautiful, handpicked items.

Getting a treasury listed looks like hard work. I've never made one or even attempted to, but just reading about the process looks like a little too much for me.

So guess what...I've made my own treasury of sorts. It is all about bikes...because I want a bike...badly. We just moved from a very country town to the big city and I'm ready to ride my future bike to the farmer's market and the library and the coffee shop (for hot chocolate). I want it to have a basket too. So as soon as spring arrives I'll be on the lookout for some wheels but for now these Etsy finds will have to do.

Enjoy

1. Happy Family Canvas Tote
2. JKL Designs Photo
3. Home Studio 2 Pocket Mirror
4. Orange Twist Cards
5. Lofty Mornings T-shirt
6. Matte Art Print
7. Dove Tail Tumbler
8. Please Be Still Print
9. Vital Hoodie

Calendar Creations

At last check, 228 of you have downloaded my 2009 printable calendar. Reader Tracy, from Suddenly I See sent me a message to share what she did to fancy the calendar up a bit.

Tracy, I hope all of your party guests enjoy the little gift!!

What have the other 227 of you done? Send your photos and I'll link to your blog!

Best Hand Soap...Ever

I'm a bit of a hand soap snob. I didn't use to be. I would be fine with pretty much anything except bars of soap by the sink. Can't do it.

The snobbery began when G and I went to Paris in 2004. We stayed with his cousin who had the most amazing soap in her kitchen. Savon de Marseille Extra Pur Orange. I had to have it immediately and I brought 2 bottles and a refill home with me. (Plus lots of their cute little crock pot yogurt containers. But that is another story)

Now I'm out of soap. Luckily for me I don't have to cross the big pond to get it. I found an online retailer. Here is what they have to say about this soap.

French law requires that any soap called "Marseille" be made from a minimum of 72% vegetable oil. This premium Marseille liquid soap from La Compagnie de Provence lasts so long, works so well, and looks so fantastic that it's going to be a new passion. The 500 ml. glass bottle has a clean, bold design that adds style anywhere.Still made in a cauldron according to longtime tradition, this legendary Marseille soap is made with vegetable oils and naturally glycerined. Biodegradable, it's guaranteed free of artificial coloring and animal fats.

Get your own bottle here.

Green and Brown Frames : Free Download

There is nothing like a good freebie to put a smile on my face.

Get them. Print them. Stick them. Whenever. Wherever.

Please Let Me Perforate

I met with a bride-to-be this morning to discuss invitations. We talked colors and fonts and layouts and graphics and paper weight and printing options. What I really wanted to know was...what can I perforate? Rip off RSVP card maybe? Cause I got this bad boy last night!!

The Cutterpede MINI! With perforating blade. I played with it for quite a while when I got home. I asked G, "Need anything perforated? How about now? Would you like me to perforate the sports page for you?" He was very impressed and wanted to see me perforate something laminated. I could not find anything but I'm sure it would have worked.



Oh yeah, free download later today....

Blog It Forward...For A Great Cause

Let’s Eat Cake, an amazing fundraiser hosted by the equally amazing Melissa Margarita-DiStefano, is coming up quick: Tuesday, February 17th at the Plaza Paramount Hotel! Let’s Eat Cake is a cake decorating competition with all proceeds going to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Learn more about the fundraiser right here.

In an effort to make sure we get the word out to everyone (and raise money), we are starting this chain-blog (Ok, not sure if that is correct terminology. But it’s like a chain letter so let’s just go with it, shall we?)

Here’s what we need you to do…Repost this post (or create your own new version) on your blog and ask others to post it on their blogs. Melissa will donate one dollar to the fundraiser for EVERY BLOG that posts on Let’s Eat Cake this week! With the power of the blogosphere, that can QUICKLY add up! Let’s make Melissa Pay! Once you have reposted it, leave a comment letting us know that you posted it along with the url to the blog. It’s for a great cause and it will be fun to see how far it will go! So lets do it… Lets blog it forward and raise money for a great cause!!!

**Kudos to Unique Designs for creating this fun chain-blog effort!**

P.S. Ok, Melissa… time to kick in another $1!

P.S.S. If any business wants to help out with a matching challenge, Melissa would love to hear from you!

Many Pretty Things

I have a new obsession.

Rachel over at One Pretty Thing was kind enough to include my calendar on her weekend roundup.

She has also introduced me to countless other blogs that I've spent all day looking at. Head over there to check out all the handmade and DIY goodness.

Mushroom Cards

New in the shop! Cute mushroom cards.

It's Cookie Time

My darling 8 year old niece called last night and had a lengthy pitch prepared just for me. It was entitled "How to convince my dieting aunt to buy more than one box of Girl Scout cookies". She started out with her sweet little voice telling me that she was calling to see if I'd like to buy cookies from her. She had me at hello. If that was not bad enough, she went on to describe, in details, each cookie from Thin Mints to Tagalongs. She was killing me. Literally. Who could resist an 8 year old trying to pronounce Dulce de Leche and Trefoils. Seriously... I don't know if I could correctly pronounce Trefoils.

Okay, so the point is, I bought 3 boxes and was told I'd have to wait until late February or early March for the cookies. I got one box of Shortbread, one Samoa, and one Dulce de Leche.


If I decide not to inhale the entire box of Samoas, I will definitely be making this dessert. Be still my heart. Late February or early March cannot come fast enough.

Thank Heaven for Little Girl(Scout)s Samoa Cheese Tart

1 box Samoa cookies

3 tbsp. butter, melted

1 8-ounce package cold cream cheese

1 8-ounce container cold mascarpone

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 cups dulce de leche, divided

1 cup flaked coconut

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted

..
Process the cookies into crumbs in the food processor. If you don't have a food processor, put them in a plastic zipper bag and beat the hell out of them until they turn into crumbs. Mix the crumbs with the butter in a bowl. Press the crumbs into a 9 or 10 inch tart pan, preferably one with a removable bottom. Chill for at least 30 minutes.

..
In another bowl, combine the cream cheese, mascarpone, sugar and dulce de leche. Beat on medium speed until well-blended, about 2 minutes. Pour filling into tart shell and chill for at least 2 hours.

..
Meanwhile, toast the coconut by heating it in a small skillet over medium to medium-high heat, tossing it often so it doesn't burn. When the coconut is golden brown remove from heat and set aside to cool.

..
When tart is thoroughly chilled, spread the remaining cup of dulce de leche over the filling, gently spreading it to cover. Be careful not to mush the filling. Spread the toasted coconut over the dulce de leche and drizzle with the melted chocolate.

Circa 1985. Yours truly as a Brownie. Do they still have Brownies or is everyone a Girl Scout?
Recipe and photos of dessert via Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy