Ellery Designs

Decor, Design & DIY

New Girly Monkey Baby Shower Invitation

I was contacted by a client to create a girly monkey themed baby shower invitation to match this bedding collection except mainly use hot pink and lime.
 {Image via babysupermall.com}
Here’s what I came up with 🙂 

Love how it turned out and so did the customer 🙂  You can purchase this invitation in my etsy shop for only $15 for the digital file. Matching party printables coming soon! XO, m

A little Valentine’s Day Decorating

Some of you may have seen my earlier Facebook status about how much I love Target‘s dollar section. It’s seriously amazing. I bought so many of the favors for my daughter’s Elmo party there and it’s always a go-to spot to grab some goodies for only a buck – and that’s what I did. They have the cutest things for Valentine’s Day so couldn’t resist and only left spending $10 {in that section anyways}. 😉
So I bought some things thinking I was going to use them for an upcoming Valentine’s Day playdate but ended up decorating my favorite corner cabinet in my dining room. Here are some pictures I took using Instagram…
OK, so those adorable white sweater vases from Crate and Barrel weren’t a $1. They were a Christmas gift from my mom and I’ve had them sitting there for a few weeks not knowing what I wanted to put in them since I didn’t like them just standing alone. I used the $1 bag of festive pipe cleaners from Target and wrapped them around my finger for a fun effect and VOILA! Now, I know this may not go with most people’s decor but I actually really LOVE how it turned out + didn’t hardly cost me a thing! Plus, my hubby didn’t say anything bad about my little pipe cleaners masterpiece so that’s always a plus 😉
The subway art seen in the white frame is a new FREE Valentine’s Day printable I created {along with some other fun designs} that you will be able to download for FREE on Living Locurto real soon! Get excited!
I also got a small roll of heart wrapping paper for only $1 so I cut out some strips to lay on the bottom of each shelf for an added touch. I’m going to put some candy in the heart basket and maybe some left over fringe garland I have laying around from past parties to put around the top edge 🙂 So, what do you think? I have a 2 year old so wanted to decorate a little for Valentine’s Day this year – usually I just skip to Easter. Are you still with me or did you already run to Target? 😉 XO, m

{Linking up}

 

2,000 Fans Fabulous Giveaway

In case you missed it last week I reached 2K facebook fans!!! I’m so excited and can’t believe I have that many fabulous people supporting my little business. So with that we have a fabulous giveaway with some amazing vendors!
Here’s all you need to do: 
{Entry One}
Leave a comment below {on this blog post} and tell me which vendor’s prize you would love to win most and why. 
{Bonus Entries}
 {4 possible additional comments/entries can be made!}
Like each of these fabulous vendors/shops on facebook and come back to this blog post and leave a separate comment for each saying you did so. {You can even comment on their page to say I sent you, but not mandatory!} 🙂
———————
I DO invitations by michelle
$200 Gift Card/Shop Credit
Visit my facebook
Visit my etsy shop
Visit by website
*golden*
Valentine’s Day Tee – $38 value
Visit her facebook

AMK’s Boutique
$20 Gift Certificate
Visit her facebook
The Sugared Ribbon

$20.00 Shop Credit 
{Note: Shipping cost will need to be covered by the winner if they don’t have anything left on their gift card after purchase}
Visit her facebook
Visit her etsy shop

Good luck to all!! Winner will be chosen via random.org on Monday at 8pm CST.

********Note: Voting for this contest has ended.

My Favorite Blogs + More

 I follow many {probably TOO many} blogs but obviously everyone has their must reads so thought I would share with you my favorite blogs (in no particular order) in case you wanted some good reads and inspiration to start off 2012…
 {image via Keep Calm Shop}
I could probably list 100 fabulous blogs but these are on my must-check daily list. Go check them out and become addicted like me 🙂 


Do you follow my blog? Over on the right sidebar you can get connected so you don’t miss a post!

Oh, and speaking of blogs. I was looking over my blog statistics for 2011 and want to give a HUGE thank you to Laurie of Tip Junkie for being my number #1 referring URL. Thank you so much for being so kind and sharing my parties with your readers and huge fan base! You ROCK! XO, m

New 40 + Fabulous Printables Party Collection

Sweet and talented Nancy of A to Zebra Celebrations asked me to design some 40th Birthday Printables for her friends birthday and I jumped at the chance 🙂 Her theme was red, black and silver damask. Love how this turned out and they can be customized for any age birthday 🙂 You can be 30 and Fabulous too you know. 😉 This new collection is available in my etsy shop for only $30.
What you receive digitally in .jpg format:
5×7 Invite
Water Bottle Labels
Party Circles/Cupcake Toppers
Thank You Favor Party Circles
Straw Flags
2 – 5×7 Custom Signs

Below are a few pictures Nancy from A to Zebra Celebrations shared from the party she styled using my printables! Love how everything came together!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! Wow, it’s only a couple days into 2012 and I recently reached 2000+ Facebook fans!! WOW! I’ll be celebrating with an amazing giveaway including many amazing vendors come Monday, so stay tuned! Thank you all so much for supporting this fun little business of mine! I just love every minute of it and each and every one of you for supporting me. I plan on blogging on a more regular basis and hope you will follow along with me 🙂 
 
Another awesome milestone I noticed yesterday – 500 sales in my etsy shop! Wooohoo! Never thought that would happen – considering my first year I think I had 25 sales. Thank you my sweet customers and fans for all of your support!

{above image via Happy Deliveries on etsy}
I have some fun things planned for 2012 – first up, a fun Valentine’s Day Collection coming later this month! Cami’s 3rd Birthday in April and everything else in between.

{Valentine’s Day Photo Cards available in my etsy shop for only $14}

I will be at the Northern Illinois University Bridal Expo in a couple weeks on Sunday, January 15th from 11-4. Admission is free so come join me along with many other vendors. {There will be a nice little discount code you won’t find anywhere else!} Stop by and say hi and see my work in person! 🙂


I hope you all have a wonderful and exciting 2012!! 🙂 XO, m

Recipe: Corn Dip Appetizer

With lots of NYE parties approaching I just have to share with you this easy-peasy appetizer. It’s a fan favorite – I am pretty much forced to make it for every gathering. Or maybe that’s the only thing my friends trust me to make, either way – it’s delicious! I promise, it really is even though it may not look like it 😉

What you need: 

2 Cans Green Giant Mexi Corn
8 oz. Sour Cream
3/4 cup Mayo
1/2 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
3-4 chopped green onions

Drain the Mexi Corn and stir all of the above ingredients together until well blended. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Serve with Tostitos Chips 🙂 Oh, and the “Scoops” work the best! 


Thanks to my best friends mom for giving me this recipe in a cookbook she made me when I got married 🙂 I’ve been since named the Corn Dip Queen. 

Enjoy!!

What a year it has been….

Wow. Can’t wrap my head around the idea that 2011 is quickly coming to an end. It has been the most fabulous year for me and I can’t thank my family, friends  + fans enough for supporting this little business of mine. What started in 2008 of only creating wedding invites has turned into one fun party! Who knew throwing my daughter an Elmo inspired 2nd Birthday Party would have gotten my “name” out there – Martha Stewart’s Doer of the Week. Are.you.kidding.me? Still so incredibly humbled by that honor, and always will be. A very special thank you to Jillian at Catch my Party for my first official party feature earlier this year. I don’t plan parties so people think I’m awesome; I do it for my daughter. She was only two years old at her Elmo party and whenever she sees a picture from that day she says, “I want to go to my birthday party!” It melts my heart that she still remembers that day where she had so much fun with all of her favorite people. That’s all that really matters, plain and simple. It’s pretty darn cool, too, to see other people liking my parties and I’m so honored for each and every feature!
In September, I became a party contributor for Nancy, of A to Zebra Celebrations and is it ever fun! I just love seeing all of the adorable parties – it’s amazing all of the talent + crafty chicks out there. Seriously, amazing! I had the pleasure of meeting sweet Nancy this past August when I took the trip to San Diego to attend the HWTM Launch Party. SO awesome seeing the incredibly talented Jenn’s work in person. Her work is so inspiring and pure genius. Loved meeting everyone – especially Chris of Celebrations at Home, Jessica of Modern Moments, Lynlee of Lynlee’s Petite Cakes, Paige of Paiges of Style, Jillian of Catch My Party, Victoria of A Subtle Revelry and so many more.  How’s that for name dropping? Ha! It kind of went like this…”Hi, I’m Michelle with I DO invitations by michelle – you don’t know me but I LOVE your work.” Stalker-ish much? Probably. There were so many talented ladies in one room and it was such an incredible experience and such a fun night!
OK, so the reason for this post – the fabulous Kristy of The Purple Pug mentioned on facebook about doing a recap post and thought it was a great idea! So here goes….my 2011 in a nutshell 🙂
Starting in April 2011 – Cami’s Elmo Inspired 2nd Birthday Party
Vintage Circus Styled Shoot
{featured on Pizzazzerie}
Amber + Andrew’s Yellow + Gray Vintage Country Wedding
{Featured on Style Me Pretty}

Kim + Johnny’s Hot Pink + Black Wedding

 Kalin + Brian’s Vintage Preppy Wedding
{featured on Style Me Pretty}

 Brenda + Mike’s Destination Wedding Reception

Melissa + Jimmy’s Eggplant + Black Wedding
Martha Stewart’s Doer of the Week
Chrissy + Danny’s Twins Zebra Themed Baby Shower
Spooks, Spiders & Spells Halloween Collection
One Fish + Two Fish = New Fish Baby Boy Shower
Merry + Bright Kids Holiday Party Shoot

Are you still with me? Hope so 🙂 A huge thank you to all of my other fabulous clients for letting me help make some of your most important days special through paper 🙂
Thank you for reading (Amber) 🙂 Had to give my bestie a shout-out for being my #1 fan, just behind my wonderful husband. There is so much love in my heart for all of my fab readers and clients – thank you for one AMAZING year. Hope it was a great one for you as well! I’m going to be taking a little break starting December 22nd and will return back after the new year. Lets hope I can start blogging more regularly this time! 😉 XOXOXOXO, m

Our Holiday Cards

Today I’d like to share with you our Christmas Cards this year! I decided to stick with the red, black and white theme from our photos taken by Photos by Vitella and really like how it turned out. I knew I wanted to do a collage again but I never seem to create a simple one-photo card for us because I can never narrow it down. Oh well, the more the merrier, right? 🙂

As for the envelopes, I have to say it came together nicely since I ordered from all different vendors. I especially love the custom photo stamps I purchased from Zazzle and the return address labels from Tiny Prints. I also had every intention of creating wrap around address labels but just have been swamped with holiday card orders so I searched on etsy and saw these and ordered them right away. All I had to do was print, cut and stick on my envelopes. Oh, and the pretty red envelopes are from Paper Source.

Back of the envelope…

In case you’re wondering, I bought Cami’s dress on Zulily for $22 back in October and the adorable rosette headband is from AMK’s Boutique. My hair clip is from the ever-so-fabulous Whippy Cake. Ryan’s dazzling pinstriped shirt is from his closet that he’s had for the past three years because that’s how he rolls. Haha. I know, I’m not really funny just bear with me. 😉

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from our little family to yours! XO, m

Recipe: Holiday Oreo Balls

Last year on the back of my Christmas card I included the below recipe {with a cute picture of Cami, of course}. These little yummy treats are to.die.for. I originally got the recipe from a former co-worker several years ago and have made them every year since! If you haven’t tried these little pieces of heaven before, be sure to add them to your cookie platter this year! They don’t stay on the plate long and I always get asked, “What ARE these?” So here you go…
{Cami’s Snowman Tee by *golden*}

Enjoy!!! XO, m
Disclaimer: Don’t eat too many at once, or you’ll have a bit of a tummy ache. 😉

#ElleryWear ON SALE NOW!

#ElleryWear ON SALE NOW!

Our Pantry Makeover

Our Pantry Makeover