Invitations and Snow

I decided to use Tricia's engagement (the new sister-in-law-to-be) as an excuse to buy some new colorful paper, a stamp and ribbon, to design some wedding invitations. They're simple enough, nothing too fancy, and so much fun to make! I made some while I watched A Midsummer Night's Dream last night. Maybe we'll make one of these options for Tricia's wedding, maybe not, either way it doesn't matter, I just love working with paper!









It's snowing again. When will this winter end?!

Guest Blogger

I just blogged another guest blog on TransCanada Etsy Team blog. Take a look and leave your comments!

There was a blog post on one of my favorite blogs, This Eclectic Life, about Blog Rolls and who really reads them.

I am one of those bloggers who reads my Roll frequently, always updating myself on who's posted and what's new with my blogger friends. I love commenting on their blogs since I find it such a joy (simple things make me happy!) to receive comments. I'm always surprised at how fast my Blog Roll is growing. Just a few weeks ago, Make It was at the top of my list and now it's closer to the bottom.

I don't put blogs on the Roll lightly. They are always blogs that I love and read constantly and comment on. I will need to clean it out every now and then as there are always bloggers that quit or I will (maybe!) lose interest in. But for now, they are all, honestly, blogs I read daily.

Lately I've been on a wedding blog kick. Since I've been asked to do a couple weddings for the summer and fall, I've been trying to find inspiration and unique ideas. Take a look at Snippet & Ink, Enjoy, An Excited Bride and i heart peonies.

Another Wedding!

My new sister-in-law-to-be has asked me to be in charge of her wedding decorations (Yay! Another one!) and I've been brainstorming for ideas. Her colors are Chocolate Brown and Voilet. I have yet to find out if this is a deep color or light so mostly I've been concentrating on the brown and coming up with original favor ideas. Here's what I've come up with for the favors:

Personalized Jones Bottles
Personalized M&M's


I know, I know, it's not that original. But I'm just getting started (:

Then for table centerpieces I'd like to go with the picture below as well as walnuts and t-lights. The table itself would be mostly browns and then I'd like the chair covers to be white or ivory with a violet bow.



We'll have ivory tooling from the ceiling to make a tent-like atmosphere, perhaps some violet colored Chinese lanterns here and there to bring in the color more.

More ideas to come!

I just saw this movie in Etsy, in the Storque's Wedding Series and thought it was hilarious!!! So true though!

If you've been visiting this blog, this creative vent, you'll have noticed that it's been evolving. It's grown from an ever changing ad for my favorite Etsy stores, to one of quick blips on life and tiny things I found interesting, to this, a (hopefully) deeper place filled with longer posts with deeper meaning (with some humor mixed in).

My Note Book will always be changing, hopefully for the better, but I like the place it's becoming now. I like writing longer posts, challenging my writing skills and sharing a bit more about me. I'll still be posting the odd link to my favorite Etsy store or YouTube clip, but I'm going to try to make this space something meaningful.

By the way, check out my Scared Silly story down below! It's an entry in the writing contest by Shelly at This Eclectic Life. Post your own entry to this contest and let Shelly know!

Also, remember to check out the DYI Wedding Series in the Storque on Etsy. This is just one of the articles they've posted, but it's great! Oh, and then come to my Etsy store, purchase of one of my Wedding Planning Packages and I'll help you make your wedding a unique and affordable event. What, I have a slick sales-man smile on my face? Nooooo...

Yesterday Krystal and Brandi came over and we worked on more wedding plans (!!). We finished 10 of the 90 boxes we need to do for the center pieces. The hard work is going to be worth it though, we were all so impressed with how they turned out. Krystal is buying purple ribbon (with wired edges) to tie around the three boxes, so the picture here isn't of the fully finished product, but it's as close as it's going to get until the wedding day.

Krystal was able to get the roll of paper free from the newspaper printers and the boxes cost $1 - $3 each, depending on the size. Her guest list just jumped from 200 - 320 so we'll be making way more boxes than we thought. With everything included though, we can keep the cost of the center pieces within $200.

Each table is going to have three of these boxes, ribbon around them with a bow at the top, t-lights and sprigs of artificial sage scattered around them. I wish we could get enough dishes, like the one in the last picture, to put several on the tables as well, but I think it would get to expensive. We'll have those t-light holders (modge-podged with cream tissue paper) on the main table and guest book table.

I have blisters from stamping so many times (: Blood sweat and tears baby!

It's different doing this wedding. The bride I helped right before this one didn't have much money to spend. Krystal has a bit more money set aside for these things so we're able to spend more money on things she wants. It's a different frame of mind.

Summer Dresses

We have a wedding to go to this summer and I've been looking for clothes to splurge on for it.



Fifth Avenue South is a super cute Etsy store that I've stumbled across and I'm totally in love with this skirt!!



I do really like this one too by Maisy Brown. I have a cute little grey top that would look great under it...now to find some heels! And to chose between them!

Etsy Wedding Planning!

I've plunged. I've jumped and it's nerve racking but at the same time, it's exciting! As most of you know, my job has been teetering on the brink for a little while. Last week I finally had the conclusive decision from my boss (not that it was a good one, but at least I know what's happening now!) that I would be put on a three month term and a job could not be promised at the end of those three months. As disappointing as it was, this news was also refreshing and made me look at the future of my career.

This brought me to the option of pursuing Wedding Planning. I have always been interested in this but the current job situation allowed me to seriously consider it. Which was cool. Very cool!

I decided to take the first steps of this adventure by listing Wedding Packages on Etsy. These packages are in three stages.

Stage 1 is made up of the more basic options: creative ideas, cost cutting options, room filling, center piece and decor ideas.

Stage 2 is a little deeper. I'll send the buyer helpful links to sites, come up with table decoration ideas suited to their style, ideas for favors and how to spice them up, original guest book ideas, easy to make room decorations and I'll provide lists of options including costs for flowers and center pieces.

Stage 3 is the biggest and most fun (for me!) option (so far! I have bigger dreams and goals coming!). I'll include all of the above info from Stage 1 and 2...but on top of that, I'll make examples of invitations and center pieces. I'll require pictures from the bride of the reception hall (and the church if she's wanting ideas for that as well) so I can give advice as to how to set it up. This option will require the shipment of the invitation and possibly the center pieces examples.

With all of these options I'll evaluate the brides style, budget and colors to come up with the best options for her. I'll provide lists and pictures of ideas. I'll answer any questions she has and give her advice on her different options.

I can't wait to get started on these!! I'm so excited for someone to purchase a package so I can start (: Anyone? Anyone?

TGIF!

It's finally Friday! The tough week is almost over (ok, there's still like seven hours until the day is over, but still!). Actually, these past couple of days have been ok, I've been getting my good attitude back and looking forward to the new job-adventures ahead.

I've had a good response from one of my resumes so hopefully that means I'll have an interview early next week. HOPEFULLY Tuesday...I don't think I can wait much longer than that! I'm dying to start a new job and leave this drama behind. I'm not into drama unless it's a movie. Then at least it's over within a couple hours.

One of the girls brought me Mini-Eggs today (: She's such a sweetie. Chocolate makes me happy(ier).

I can't wait for tomorrow, the hubby is going sledding (fyi: not tobogganing, the motorized 'sledding') so I have plans to brainstorm more with Krystal. We have a couple flower shops to visit and some more ideas to go over. She was trying to think of what to do with her favors, she has a few little things she wants to give the guests and didn't know how to bundle them up. I thought that we could put them in little brown bags with ribbon handles and stamp the front with this great calligraphy stamp I have. We'll have to see what she thinks. Hopefully we'll be starting to make the center pieces soon and I'll post pictures! I would tell you what they're going to be like, but I think pictures will be better (:

I've decided I need to make curtains for my sewing room. I already have some, but the pull down ones are so old and ugly, I need something funky! Check out Martha Stewart's instructions! I love her!

Plans and Flowers

Ok so I'm now officially obsessed with decorating for this wedding. It can be good or bad I guess. I know when it gets closer I think about it 24/7 and dream about planning and preparation. But it does keep me busy and I love love love the planning!

I found this great site for flowers, I'm not sure if Krystal is going to want real ones or silk flowers for the tables but look at these great deals!

I'm really loving the thought of cream roses with hydrangeas. And the prices really aren't bad at all!! I've never really worked with real flowers, but I'm sure I could handle it. The only thing I would be worried about would be when the flowers would arrive. I wouldn't want them to arrive too early and then be wilted, but I have people I can talk to about this issue. It's good to have friends that know stuff! (:

Yay! Tonight Krystal is coming over to discuss all the wedding plans, her expectations, budget, colors...I'm so excited! I told her to come around 7, but I think I need to call her to come earlier, I'm just to excited!

Brilliant Business Plan!

Today has been a rough day. I just don't want to be at work, I need to be handing out resumes and getting my next job rolling. Not even that, I just don't have my heart in my work anymore! But it was cheered up with the delivery of a raspberry yogurt thingy which totally made my day. One of the girls here at the office got it for me...so sweet!

I love raspberries! They make it feel as though summer is here. When I was little we used to gave raspberries and ice cream at my Nana's house in the summer, so I think it all stems from that. I planted raspberry bushes (ok, twigs!) in my garden last year so I hope they have a couple more berries on them this year!

Ok. Business Plan #1: There's a company here in town that individuals can present their business plans to and if they approve them, they will fund you for 54 weeks of pay while you get set up. They will also fund for business cards, rent of office space and start up supplies. One of the girls the other night suggested that I try doing this with my wedding planning stuff. I'm really considering trying it! If it doesn't work, well at least I spent 54 weeks giving myself a head-start, I can always get a job and keep trying the wedding planning on the side.

We'll see how it goes.



I love this pictures. It's by Irene Suchocki. You gotta check out the rest of her store too...it's amazing!

Wedding Planning (not mine :)

Every second Friday we get together with a bunch of our couple friends. This past Friday was one of those nights and we had so much fun! As usual we all sit around, visit, eat and play games. So many of the couples were able to come this week and it was great to catch up with them. There's usually around seven couples that come, we all bring appetizers and games and then spend the evening having a good visit. This week the guys split off and played their own game of...not sure, something to do with cards, loud yells and slapping. So by the time us girls had finished our multiple rounds of Pit, we headed into another room to chat. It was great to see what they had been up to and just chat about girlie things.

Krystal started telling us about her wedding plans and said how she wasn't sure about decorating the reception hall. She wanted to be creative but was finding it hard to think of original things. Jana, who got married several months ago, looked at her and said "Get Katie to help you, she's amazing" (thanks Jana!!).

I had been in charge of decorating Jana's reception hall and loved every minute of it. I volunteered for the position and knew that it didn't involve money, but I didn't mind. It was exactly what I needed to fill some time and to be creative. Besides that, Jana's colors were exactly what mine had been, so it was easier to come up with ideas although they weren't things I had used.

I can't wait to start on Krystal's wedding planning! It's only three months away, but I already have tons of ideas. Her colors are maroon, beige and sage green. I don't know if I'll be helping her actually decorate but I'll be able to help her with ideas. I think that in the end, Jana's reception decoration cost her $75.00 so cost shouldn't be a problem (: I'm good at keeping it down.

Oh, the pictures above are of Jana's wedding. So proud!!