tabetha sullens | an etsy shop

Do you scratch your head as you begin thinking about what to gift the men that make a difference in your life? Me, too!

Wonder no more...isn't that the cutest most rockin' masculine keychain you've ever seen? Oh, yeah, baby. Papa is going to like that. Not too big, not too flashy {okay, he does wear a cowboy hat with a copperhead hat band...but that's not flashy...right???}. It's just wRight for a man whom we love dearly.

BEST    PAPA    EVER    WE LOVE YOU

I think this 4-sided hand-stamped bar keychain will be very well received, especially when the two cutest little girls in his life will present this to Papa on Christmas morning. It will be a big hit, of that I am sure!

I have several items from Tabetha Sullens, customized jewelry designer extraordinaire, but I wanted to share this one item with you first so that you can get your thinking caps on and start your holiday gift-giving list now before the holiday rush begins. So while you're making your list, take a look at the goodies you see below, too. Having only been on Etsy for a year, she has six years' experience with over 4,000 items sold, this lady knows what she's doing. Another tidbit...she's also a Tennessee gal, gotta love that.

click on photos to be taken to shop listing

From August 30 - September 5, 2011, Tabetha will offer free shipping to I Love It All readers, but you need to mention this special so that she can refund your shipping through PayPal. And to make this deal even sweeter, buy any 3 of the same item {personalization does not need to be the same for each item} and the third item is free. WOWSER...now that's a deal. Remember, mention I Love It All.

the abc's of me

When I design a project for the shop, I like to print it out for myself and give it a test drive. The abc's of me mini album was actually adapted from this often Pinned mini book. 

When I saw what a great idea that was, well, I had to make one for myself, too. I printed it out, embellished the cover and then it sat. And sat. My intent was to write in it on my 47th birthday {which was way back in March} but that didn't happen. So, on August 13th, I sat down at my craft desk and began writing. 

used these small white gift tags on my intro page

And writing. And thinking. And I skipped a few pages. And then I went back to them to finish up. And then when I looked at the pages I thought, hey, why not add some of the super cool washi tape I bought on Etsy! 

Here are just a few pages so that you'll know more than you ever wanted to know about Monika:

And I really like the look those little pieces of washi tape gave my pages.
Here's the All About Me mini book so you can capture your right now story.
Find the popular Alphabet of Our Love mini book here and here. 

Popeye

Okay, I kind of feel safe with that title, because I'm 99% sure Zach does not read his Mommy's blog. But, that look is so famous around here! I ask for a smile and this is what I get. I have the photos to prove it, but I won't bore you with a chronological line-up of the evidence. 

He's already an E-3 with a promotion to E-4 upcoming in November. He also has some other things in the works that I won't share, but keep your fingers crossed. Pretty please. How can it ever be that he is where he is today? I never imagined it and would have never guessed it. All is good, from what I can tell, and that makes this Mom happy.

So, there you have it. Sunday Photo plus Words today.

ready

Last year, on Isabella's first day of 2nd grade, as I took photos of her and a few of her classmates, Victoria slipped into her chair and insisted on being photographed also. She really wanted to be in school, too.

I added photos of her Mommy school work and the little pencil box full of new school supplies that she received as part of her new year of learning. See that red colored pencil? It's one of the nubs still hanging around from when Zach used them to make birthday cards and work on school projects. 

echo park | notebook tutorial

Shopping for school supplies is fun for me. I love new pencils and markers and glue sticks and notebooks just as much as the next school girl! While we were out checking off items on lists for Isabella and Victoria, I happened to spy a pack of index cards and dividers.

Yep, you guessed it...a bell went off in my head. Why not make a cute little password sign-on notebook  | mini | journal thingy!

Using more of the Echo Park papers from the recent blog hop at The Twinery, I added some scraps from the layout you saw here to include journaling spots, letter and word stickers and borders with a mix of the For the Record and Springtime collections.

The front of the notebook has a Clear Acrylic 3"x4" cover from Zutter and I rounded the edges with my Zutter Rount-it-All and used their o-wires to bind my notebook as well. So that the adhesive wouldn't show through when I opened the cover, I used adhesive meant for vellum....see you don't even notice it at all do you?

I'm showing a page here that doesn't have any of my sign-on information, but you get the drift. Have you ever turned index cards and dividers into a notebook? Link me up if you have, I'd love to see it!

busy, busy but having fun!

I've been busy making fun little items to re-stock the mini book inventory in the shop.

Are you ready for Fall? Well, we're already feeling a slight chill in the morning air as we head to school each morning, which means that my favorite season of the year is just around the corner. What do you think of this fun mini book journal?

You've got to have embellishments, right? I'll be using the same mini book and this add-on kit {that's included in the price} so that you'll have a chance to see how I'm putting these goodies to use. You can get your mini with orange Scenic Route stickers or brown Scenic Route stickers. Each kit has somewhat different papers, but all kits have the pages in the photo below. Yep, that's a felt die cut shape cut with my new Big Kick machine. Don't you love that border punch, too?

The kraft page with the bracket stamp is meant to be the inside back cover and the front cover is the custom-designed FALL saying printed on kraft.

You'll see some semi-embellished pages...but not worries there are plenty of pages there allowing you to design your own. And did you see that glassine bag full of add-on goodies that come with this DIY mini album? That's right, 32 pages, a custom designed front cover, a glassine bag full of scrap goodness, two 1" book binder rings and some baker's twine from The Twinery.

If you purchase one today and mention that you would rather have your mini bound with the Bind-It-All, you can have it for the same price...no extra charge for the o-wires but you have to mention it in your message to seller when purchasing.

I'll be using one of these same kits to document our Fall activities which I'll be sharing her on the blog, so you'll have some guidance and inspiration on how to incorporate your photos and all the goodies into a spectacular Fall mini for your family. If you think that you'll need extra supplies and goodies {or larger book binder rings} you can find those here.

How about these fun little embellished spiral bound notebooks using some Pebbles patterned paper and embellishments! What a great size for the expectant Mom to jot down thoughts and feelings and appointments and to do lists. Even more wonderful would be to capture all those first-year milestones.

I've signed up for the 30 Days of Lists class which begins September 1st. While creating the journal I was going to use to house my lists, I made a few more and there are only 3 more of those available for purchase. Updated to Add:  Only 1 more of these available in the shop.

That's the front cover of my journal, using one of the gift tags from this collection. The class is only $6 and I think it's going to be loads of fun. I'm looking forward to what little things I'll learn about myself by the end of September.

I've also been keeping up with the free Big Idea Festival at Big Picture Classes. I've loaded a layout into the Gallery each of the 10 days so far {go me!} and I'll share thse two layouts, they're 6x6. I'm working on creating my own little album, but if that doesn't work out, I've got a back-up ready made album standing by.

Several comments have been made in the class Gallery about the tags I created. If you like them, too, you can find similar ones in the shop in sets of 5....ready for your own scrapbook layouts or to use as gift tags. Or if you're feeling crafty, you can use these and these to make your own!

These 5x7 mini books would make a fun home for notes, tear sheets from magazine {using your fave washi tape} as an art journal or even a diary.

Well, I could go on and on. So, a little shop update for you today and news that there are more ideas rollin' around in my head that need to make it to reality. If you're wondering about all that super cute and colorful baker's twine, stop by The Twinery and try a sampler pack today!

diy designer notecards | momenta

As much as we use e-mail, text messages, phone calls and Facebook to communicate, there is nothing that can ever replace the written word, in my opinion. I tend to write more notes if I have a stash of cards at hand and ready to use, so let's get started. 

The Blossoms line includes a package of 9 mini chipboard words that work perfectly for my project today and they're only $1.49. What a bargain. Looking through my Super Paper Pad, with over 120 sheets of patterned paper, I chose designs that best complemented my chipboard stickers.

As I plan on mailing my cards, I kept them clean and simple and without much dimension. I added the Puffy Flourishes from the Forever Family line on several of the cards to add another layer of texture but without adding too much bulk.

For that extra special touch, why not line the flap of your envelopes...puts it over-the-top don't you think?

I hope that I've encouraged you to create a batch of diy designer notecards to have on hand for yourself or even to pass along as a gift...handmade is always better! Just ask my Mom.

I'm also at the Momenta blog today, if you'd like to come for a visit!

Other Supplies Used

cardstock, envelopes, adhesive, pop dots

jessicaNdesigns

I'd like to share a little goody package that I recently received from jessicaNdesigns on Etsy...

I have plans for all my spoon art, but today I'm going to share with you what I created using the spoon custom engraved with The Wright Family | Est. 1998. First I painted, but did not prime because I was much to impatient to do that extra step, and then waited impatiently for the 2-3 coats of paint to dry before I went on to my next step.

My next step was to distress my plaque after Gordon drilled two holes for me, with just a bit of some watered down brown paint and using a paper towel to dab and add some texture. All because I wanted to use the ribbon I had just purchased.

Here's how it looks hanging outside our kitchen door and why I think that I really need to paint over the brown paint to bring back that happy aqua blue again. I threaded that cute ribbon through the holes and that's what is holding the spoon so nicely and securely on the plaque.

Ane here's an inside view...for some reason I keep getting glare and I'm thinking it's operator error, not the fault of my super awesome camera. {How's that for a little sneak peak of my new craft room?} 

You can find a spoon just like mine here. I also purchased the Jacked up on Joe spoon, and two of these, which will be Mother's Day presents inserted into a lovely flowering plant...yep, thinking ahead! Or, you can just purchase this super awesome deal, Pick 5, and get some early holiday shopping under your belt! The fork you see in the very first photo, JOY, is my One Little Word this year and Jessica had it in stock at the time I ordered. Come Christmas, I'm going to place it on our tree as a celebration of the season and a year full of joyful memories.

I adore my family name spoon and my joy fork, too. We have a stainless steel fridge or that Jacked Up On Joe spoon would have a magnet on the back of it and hanging there so that I could chuckle at it every day. Any ideas what I should do with my Joe spoon?

Before I go, I wanted to share this new item I'm crushing on and say how I'm thinking that I just need to find a reason to order me one!

Now that you've gone to the shop and done some browsing, would you like a little Etsy love?  Jessica is extending a 15% discount to I Love It All readers with code iloveit15 good through 8.31.2011. 

These would both make lovely anniversary gift hints you could throw out there to your husband...

Jessica blogs as well, so why don't you stop by and visit with her a while, I know I do.