Adelaide's First Try at Solid Foods

Well....rice cereal with a lot of formula at least. She has been eying our utensils for the past few weeks, and has been much hungrier than normal, so we decided to give it a shot on Sunday night. She was very confused by the spoon (as would be expected), but she did great. We started with a semi-liquid for her  first time, and only a few teaspoons. She gobbled it up!

Hopefully she'll enjoy the transition over the next few months as new tastes and textures are added!

Scrapbook Monday: Two Weeks Old

I was finally able to get a few scrapbook pages done while Addie was taking a nap. I had been browsing some blogs from my favorite scrapbook designers and felt a rare surge of creativity.

I always suffer from the feeling that the final page won't be perfect - won't look the way I'd hoped. My resolution for this year is to put that fear aside, and simply scrapbook. Whatever makes it onto the page is a reflection of my thoughts and creativity at the time, and there is nothing wrong with that. After all...I can always re-print the photos later and start over if for some reason I hate the final page.

I took some posed photos of Addie when she was about two weeks old, using some photo backdrops I got from Etsy and some props I'd accumulated along the way. {For details on the backdrops, see this post.} I finally had a chance to scrapbook some of my favorites. Here is one of the final pages.

TWO WEEKS OLD:

Supplies: My Minds Eye, October Afternoon,

Crate Paper, Basic Grey & others

I used a large scalloped punch to punch three circles on the right side of a piece of dark grey card stock. Then I cut three pieces of paper in squares just larger than the circles, and added them to the back so they would show through. I added some stickers, a "hello" brad, teal ribbon and crepe paper trim, and lots of zig-zag stitching using my sewing machine. Machine stitching is one of my favorite ways to add texture to a page.

Hope you enjoy, and hope you can use the layout as an inspiration for your next page.

Presidents Day SALE - Etsy Shop Coupon Code!

Following the blog? Here's your reward! This is the only place you'll find sales and coupon codes for my Etsy shop! In honor of Presidents Day, save 15% on EVERYTHING in my shop. Invitations, printables, matching thank you cards, necklaces, mini scrapbook albums....everything!

Simply use the following coupon code when checking out in Etsy: President15

**Please note that the coupon code must be entered at checkout. I cannot offer refunds on your order after it is placed.**

The coupon expires at 11:59pm on Monday night, so hurry and purchase that invitation you've been eyeing!

Happy Presidents Day!

Blurred Bokeh Lights and Gold Glitter Mason Jar Wedding Invitations

I am so excited to share these with you today....I almost want to squeal! I absolutely love these designs, and I hope you will love them as much as I do. I have a client who loved my vintage hanging mason jar invitations, but wanted to incorporate some gold dots or confetti in some way. I decided to do a few with the lights on the string of twinkling lights in gold glitter, a few with the mason jars themselves also in gold glitter, and several with a blurred light, or bokeh, pattern background. Love how they turned out!

Bokeh seems to be one of the top trends this season, although I have to admit that I didn't know what it was called until I started searching around. I thought they were just blurred lights, like the lights you may see on a photograph you take in the dark of your Christmas tree, or street lights. Upon searching for some designs, I came to find that they're called "bokeh". This makes sense, as bokeh derives from the Japanese word boke which means blur or haze. It is the blur, or aesthetic quality of the blur in out-of-focus areas of an image in photography. So while I knew what it was I was looking for, I wasn't sure at the time what it was called.

Bokeh.

I think I'm in love. I love the etherial quality the background gives these invitations. Here are a few of the options available in my shop. These first ones have bokeh designs in gold, pink, and brown. The hanging mason jars are in creams, tans, golds, and browns. These would be perfect for an engagement party or couples shower - so modern and elegant.

These next two incorporate a less prominent bokeh pattern, so that it doesn't compete with the gold glitter in the lights and mason jars.  {Note: these two appear a little more gray on the blog than they do in the actual image. See the images here in my shop for the correct colors.}

While these are shown as wedding invitations in the samples, I always get asked whether these can be altered for other events, such as a bridal shower or bachelorette party. The answer is always YES! The text is completely customizable free of charge. These invitations can be used for a rehearsal dinner, engagement party, couples wedding shower, baby shower, bridal shower, bridesmaids luncheon, anniversary party, etc. 

These would be perfect for a 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary! Instead of "Wedding Celebration" it could read "50th Wedding Anniversary". These invitations are classy and elegant, yet fun and unique at the same time. Perfect for your event!

As always, I'm also including some inspiration to fit the bokeh theme. Whether you're having a bokeh-themed wedding or shower, or just love the look and would like some home decor, here are some other amazing bokeh finds. 

This is one of my favorites. This photography art print is available from AmeliaKayPhotography, and  has wonderful heart bokeh "lights". 

Having a photo booth at your wedding? Or do you love to take photos of your little one at home? Use this lovely bokeh photography backdrop for your photos, from InkandElm.

This bokeh platter would be great for desserts at a wedding, or even as a wedding gift. You can find it here, from PaintingParisPink.

Want to continue the bokeh theme on your tables? These table numbers, place cards and tags would be perfect for your wedding or shower tables. They are available from WeddingAmbience.

Although not specifically a bokeh pattern, this pink and gold glitter garland would go beautifully with the bokeh wedding invitations above. This garland is available from StellaArborBoutique.

Looking for a unique groomsmen or grooms gift? How about this bokeh flask in black and gold? This is available here, from TipsyFlask.

Lastly, if you're looking for some home decor, this "own the night" bokeh art print would look lovely on your wall. This Katy Perry music lyric print is available from LyricalArtworks.

I hope these inspire you in some way, whether for your next event, or to add a  lovely print to your wall.

You can find my bokeh wedding invitations in my Etsy shop. Please let me know if you're interested in a variation of these designs.

Happy Sunday!!

Snow Bunny....or Bear

We're snowed in today in Virginia. It's great to have everyone home on a snow day. The government is closed, courts are closed, and so is daycare...so the family is at home. This is one of the biggest snows we've had since Addie was born, so we decided to bundle her up and take her outside for a few minutes after Justin shoveled.

My mom had gotten her this pink fluffy outfit a few months ago, and this was the perfect time to wear it. Although it's not a bunny, it always reminds me of the pink suit from A Christmas Story!

Have to say...she looks pretty darn cute in it!  ;)

She was not loving the snow...hopefully she'll grow to love it.

Hope you're staying warm today!

Rustic Woodgrain or Birch Trees Invitation with Navy and Royal Blue Bird

My neighbor recently asked for help with a bridal shower invitation, and loved the design below, but wanted the color scheme to be navy blue, royal blue, and grey. She also showed me an example with a tree, with grey woodgrain bark.

Luckily I have some birch trees and woodgrain designs I've been wanting to use for an invitation design, so this was the perfect opportunity. Here are the new designs, with a navy bird on the branch, and navy and royal blue flowers.

You can find these designs in my Etsy shop, here. If you see another design you'd like, but would like custom colors for your event, please let me know. I'd be happy to set up a custom order for you with a personalized design. 

If you're having a bridal or baby shower with blue birds and/or birch trees, here are some lovely decorations and gifts to fit the theme.

I absolutely loves these birch bark paper straws! I want to plan a shower around these alone. You can find these on Etsy from thatchandthistleco.

These gorgeous birch wood place card holders can be found from TheLovelyGlassJar. They would be perfect for names, table numbers, food labels, etc.

These adorable blue bird fabric cake toppers are from HeyMiemie, and could be used on a shower cake, or even in a centerpiece.

If you're throwing a baby shower, or even just attending one, these birch wood and bird burp cloths would be the perfect gift for the mommy-to-be. You can find them on Etsy from SweetingDesigns.

You can even find a matching baby blanket from peekabootiquequilts. It has a mink texture on the opposite side. Wouldn't these make the perfect set for the new mommy? 

And why not wrap those up in this ADORABLE birch wrapping paper! Love this! This paper is available in 10-foot lengths, from PaperAndPresent.

Looking for an art print with the birch tree theme? Here are two options, one for a baby shower, the other for a bridal shower. The nursery wall art is from GreenCherryFactory, and the wedding art print with custom initials is from GatheredNestDesigns.

This beautiful wooden cake topper would be perfect for a wedding shower, or even for a wedding cake. I love how the branches form a heart. This can be found on Etsy from ImageVermont.

Need some pens for a guest book? Why not use these amazing birch wood pens from EarthlyArtz?

I hope this provided some inspiration for your baby shower, bridal shower, or wedding, if you're looking for a rustic, bird wood and blue bird theme. Now all you need is some party favors to match....maybe I'll post some ideas on that later!

Spring Flowers and Bird Invitations for Bridal or Baby Shower

Although I've had these invitations for quite some time, I just now got around to adding them to Etsy. So, I thought I'd share them with you here as well. They feature various spring flowers, including cherry blossoms, and birds on branches. They have a pink, green, and peach color scheme, and a shabby-chic feel. They would be perfect for a "little chick" baby shower, a bridal or wedding shower, or a bridesmaids luncheon. You can find them in my Etsy shop.

Happy Saturday!