tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34699853202407907232024-03-13T15:25:59.458-07:00Elle Belle CreativeStacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.comBlogger418125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-1743805135618989792014-06-05T18:26:00.001-07:002014-06-05T18:39:18.846-07:00TBT - Sewing projects for the littles<p><font face="Verdana"> Baby's are the absolute best inspiration for sewing projects! In the spirit of Throw Back Thursday, I've compiled my top 5 most popular and personal favorite blog posts and tutorials of past sewing projects I created for my own littles. </font></p><p><font face="Verdana">Let's start with my all time favorite, the <a href="http://ellebellecreative.com/">baby clothes memory quilt</a>!</font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DLUnww0xXCg/U5EYy44vS4I/AAAAAAAAB-4/ChVRhLtnSy8/s640/Photo%25252020140605212634.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font face="Verdana"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DLUnww0xXCg/U5EYy44vS4I/AAAAAAAAB-4/ChVRhLtnSy8/s500/Photo%25252020140605212634.jpg" id="blogsy-1402018740882.0369" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="480" height="640"></font></a></div><p><font face="Verdana"> A close runner up is the perfect new baby gift, the <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/crinkle-corner-tag-blanket-tutorial.html">crinkle corner tag blanket</a>! My version is made even more perfect by including minky fabric that ups the cuddle factor exponentially and a crinkly corner that babies love. </font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8co1u9SpBnY/U5EYzyIUAYI/AAAAAAAAB_A/TmFPqsOUP7E/s430/Photo%25252020140605212634.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font face="Verdana"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8co1u9SpBnY/U5EYzyIUAYI/AAAAAAAAB_A/TmFPqsOUP7E/s430/Photo%25252020140605212634.jpg" id="blogsy-1402018740873.697" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="430" height="365"></font></a></div><p><font face="Verdana"> Next up, a great gift for the pool parties this summer, the <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/beach-towel-backpack.html">beach towel backpack</a>. </font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--3oSbr5rpe0/U5EY0p_S6sI/AAAAAAAAB_E/0Zle93Eljpw/s320/Photo%25252020140605212634.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font face="Verdana"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--3oSbr5rpe0/U5EY0p_S6sI/AAAAAAAAB_E/0Zle93Eljpw/s320/Photo%25252020140605212634.jpg" id="blogsy-1402018740909.1333" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="320" height="249"></font></a></div><p><font face="Verdana"> There are not nearly enough handmade sewn goodies for baby boys. So these awesome <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/applique-applique-applique.html">appliqué onesies </a>definitely make the top 5 cut on that premise alone!</font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gS_T9udof8I/U5EY1d-J27I/AAAAAAAAB_Q/vKCGFYaWpAA/s532/Photo%25252020140605212634.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font face="Verdana"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gS_T9udof8I/U5EY1d-J27I/AAAAAAAAB_Q/vKCGFYaWpAA/s500/Photo%25252020140605212634.jpg" id="blogsy-1402018740906.5825" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="480" height="532"></font></a></div><p><font face="Verdana"> From my <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/roadtrip-project-6-car-caddyorganizer.html">roadtrip series</a>, this <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/roadtrip-project-4-photo-i-spy-bag.html">photo I spy bag</a> is an ingenious (if I do say so myself) way to keep your kiddos of all ages busy and a great way to get them familiar with family that they may not get to see all the time. </font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lpocWVuNlYA/U5EY2JwpRGI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/RsM_NYDOTnc/s640/Photo%25252020140605212635.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font face="Verdana"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lpocWVuNlYA/U5EY2JwpRGI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/RsM_NYDOTnc/s500/Photo%25252020140605212635.jpg" id="blogsy-1402018740868.5708" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="353"></font></a></div><p><font face="Verdana"> My littles aren't babies anymore but that just means they've inspired new big kid crafts and sewing which is pretty awesome too... next TBT I'll dig up some posts for older kid crafts to share!</font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-W8IgIzs4Qs0/U5EaQpV088I/AAAAAAAACAM/Sz9pfNNiV-k/s153/Photo%25252020140605213249.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-W8IgIzs4Qs0/U5EaQpV088I/AAAAAAAACAM/Sz9pfNNiV-k/s153/Photo%25252020140605213249.jpg" id="blogsy-1402018740839.9663" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="153" height="83"></a></div><p><font face="Verdana"> </font></p><p> </p>Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-79591230171140185992014-06-01T15:11:00.001-07:002014-06-01T15:25:18.127-07:00Screen Door Cork & Chalk Board Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OF4T_x_f-hs/U4ukdJUz8NI/AAAAAAAAB-U/EoK-UDtCzDM/s1600/screendoorboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OF4T_x_f-hs/U4ukdJUz8NI/AAAAAAAAB-U/EoK-UDtCzDM/s1600/screendoorboard.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've tried out at least 3 different calendar apps in an attempt to keep all of us on the same page with our busy family schedule. But sometimes low tech is the way to go. I created this cork board and chalkboard from a screen door. It looks great in the hallway and serves as a family hub of sorts. I write our schedule for the week on the chalkboard side and pin any party invitations, school event fliers, chores, tickets etc. to the cork board side. It was a fun easy project and it came together pretty quickly.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I picked up a screen door frame for less than $25 at the hardware store. It didn't have any hardware or screen on it; it was completely unfinished. The least expensive sheets of wood I found were wood paneling for walls. I just grabbed the ugliest cheapest kind they had and asked them cut it a 1/2 inch smaller than the door frame. I also bought a length of narrow wood trim so I could add a little detail to the door. You'll also need:</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lay the sheet of wood panelling ugly panel side down and put the door frame on top lining up edges of the door with the edges of the panelling. Using a pencil mark off the area that you want to be the chalkboard side. Follow the instructions on your can of chalkboard paint to paint that side of the back of the sheet of panelling. When your chalkboard side is done staple or glue your cork to the cork side.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before you paint the door you'll want to add the trim. I cut lengths that were the right size for that section of the screen door and glued them in with wood glue.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To give the screen door a weathered worn look I primed it, then spread the crackle finish on with a putty knife. Once it was dry and crackle-y I painted over it with white paint. To make all the cracks and texture show even more I dipped a rag in a darker paint (I used a blue that I had left over from another project) and rubbed that into the cracks in the finish. </span></center>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now all that's left is to nail the panelling to the back of the screen door, add the hardware to hang it on the wall, and save that few minutes every morning not having to answer "What are we doing today?".</span></center>
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Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-11583900470246335672014-05-26T16:11:00.000-07:002014-05-26T16:32:12.078-07:00Ikea Doll Bed Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you remember the <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/ikea-doll-bed-re-do.html" target="_blank">Ikea doll bed</a> I redid for Elle for Christmas? </span></center>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a fun easy little project and I made it 2 gifts in one by pre-cutting all the squares to make a doll quilt that would be a first sewing project for my 7 year old. After laying out the pattern and lots of straight stitches sewing block after block into row after row, we pieced the quilt top together, backed it, quilted it, and bound it. </span></center>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bedding befitting of any girly girl... even the ones whose elbows don't bend and hair is shinier than humanly possible.</span></center>
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Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-37904262418231715402013-06-18T18:13:00.000-07:002013-06-18T18:21:31.013-07:00Painted Burlap State Pillows<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did I mention we moved? Not too far... just across the county... but still it's kinda a big county. So we've been finding all new favorite spots and settling into being locals in our new locale. Hands down, our favorite new spot is an amazing architectural salvage store that repurposes vintage furniture (i.e. takes old pieces that are unique and beautiful but don't play so well with Pottery Barn/Ikea/anything made in the current decade and remakes them into something totally hip and awesome), <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marcottesflorida">Marcotte's</a>. Our most recent purchase at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marcottesflorida">Marcotte's</a> is a school room map of the United States. The colors were perfect for my girls' playroom and since our family is spread out across the country it was a great way to demonstrate the answer to the question "can we go to grandma's house tomorrow?!".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once we had the map hung over the couch in the playroom, the old typical pillows that came with the couch looked really... well old and typical. Pillows are the most sewing 101 project ever and somewhat uninspiring but that wouldn't do for this fun space. Taking a queue from the map, I decided to combine 2 great DIY crafts, freezer paper stenciling and painted burlap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started by searching the internet for an outline of each of the states the girls' grandparents live in (IL, FL, and VA). I printed them and my 7 year old traced them onto freezer paper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cut the center of the states out and also cut little hearts to show the location of their hometown cities (keep the negative space for the heart cut outs too). After ironing the freezer paper stencils </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(including the little heart over the city) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">onto the center of the burlap squares that would become the pillow fronts, I painted them with a foam brush and fabric paint. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once they were dry I pealed off the freezer paper hearts and ironed the heart outlines over the heart space so I could paint the hearts a different color.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's it! The rest is just pillow making 101 (well except the piping which was a new endeavor for me, maybe I'll post a little tutorial for that some other day).</span></div>
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Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-14853836814088345602012-12-01T10:02:00.000-08:002012-12-01T10:24:06.986-08:00Yoga Birthday Bash<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22qECHZ4TvE/ULo7aKEz4hI/AAAAAAAAB5E/F_pKHMx39OA/s1600/Elle10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22qECHZ4TvE/ULo7aKEz4hI/AAAAAAAAB5E/F_pKHMx39OA/s640/Elle10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">All the beautiful photos in this post were taken by <a href="http://www.memoriesbyerinleigh.com/">Memories by Erin Leigh</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a little yogi in my family. My now 7 year old, absolutely loves going to yoga class and I love the physical benefits and the calm focus it brings her. She was especially excited to share it with her friends at her yoga birthday party.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I designed a set of yoga flashcards for the invitation and the poster above that welcomed guests. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We rented a dance studio at a local community center. It was the perfect space for all the kiddos to stretch out and the parents got to watch the <strike>entertainment</strike> class from a bench along the wall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The party started off with a yogurt bar. The kids scooped yogurt and chose granola, blueberries, strawberries, honey straws, and sprinkle toppings to make their own yogurt parfaits. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">tutorial to come on the string art backdrop I made!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V1UqvN4DllQ/ULo-avW_UzI/AAAAAAAAB54/wP7IYIA35JI/s1600/yoga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V1UqvN4DllQ/ULo-avW_UzI/AAAAAAAAB54/wP7IYIA35JI/s640/yoga.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Honey straws from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PeaceBlossomCandles">Peace Blossom Candles</a></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PeaceBlossomCandles"> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">After everyone had their snack, it was time to bend, stretch, and twist! The yoga instructor lead them through the yoga poses by telling stories and having the kids act out animal characters. The kids had so much fun making fish faces, pouncing like cats, sitting like flowers, rocking their foot "babies" to sleep and the parents had just as much fun watching. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MsRyQ6PwzOk/ULo_IbdpuGI/AAAAAAAAB6A/Rd5HbeXyrsA/s1600/yoga2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MsRyQ6PwzOk/ULo_IbdpuGI/AAAAAAAAB6A/Rd5HbeXyrsA/s640/yoga2.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">yoga instructor from <a href="http://kiddingaroundyoga.com/">Kidding Around Yoga</a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The parents enjoyed a treat of their own during class, Thai flower cookies. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S3CFQerM4rc/ULo_gN_J3ZI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/oZik5n4U7YI/s1600/IMG_3910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S3CFQerM4rc/ULo_gN_J3ZI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/oZik5n4U7YI/s320/IMG_3910.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We took a little break part way through class for a craft. They decorated talking sticks with pipe cleaners, feathers, and beads; one of their own and they each contributed something to one they made collectively. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">All the children sat in a circle and the birthday girl in the center. They passed the talking stick around the circle and each took a turn saying something they liked about the birthday girl. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8rlm95nXSPM/ULo_ZU4yhwI/AAAAAAAAB6I/ightj0Fqowc/s1600/yoga1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8rlm95nXSPM/ULo_ZU4yhwI/AAAAAAAAB6I/ightj0Fqowc/s640/yoga1.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yIgiEt-IatY/ULo_7PyvR9I/AAAAAAAAB6c/NT7Lr34Xa0c/s1600/IMG_4050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yIgiEt-IatY/ULo_7PyvR9I/AAAAAAAAB6c/NT7Lr34Xa0c/s400/IMG_4050.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Elle's lotus top made by<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ahpeele"> Ahpeele</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The class wrapped up with meditation time and relaxation. I don't think I've ever seen my 7 year old lay so still for so long unless she was asleep.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cL7RkoeMWa4/ULo05kZ6gEI/AAAAAAAAB4w/X7uFpiYARA8/s1600/IMG_4033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cL7RkoeMWa4/ULo05kZ6gEI/AAAAAAAAB4w/X7uFpiYARA8/s400/IMG_4033.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It wouldn't be a birthday party without cake... yummy cupcakes with yoga pose fondant toppers to be exact.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_b2wbTAzLeI/ULo03LowHCI/AAAAAAAAB4o/pRyg80N4P6M/s1600/IMG_3940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_b2wbTAzLeI/ULo03LowHCI/AAAAAAAAB4o/pRyg80N4P6M/s640/IMG_3940.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rxm3w1hmpT4/ULpA2vtlpaI/AAAAAAAAB6s/oc1KuGLmpCQ/s1600/yoga3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rxm3w1hmpT4/ULpA2vtlpaI/AAAAAAAAB6s/oc1KuGLmpCQ/s640/yoga3.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fondant toppers made by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TwoSugarBabies?ref=seller_info">Two Suger Babies</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">All the happy yogis went home with their yoga mat, tied up with a ribbon carrying strap (tutorial to come!), and personalized water bottle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was so much fun for Elle to share the enjoyment she gets out of yoga with her friends and I'm happy to get to share the fun of planning this party with you! Namaste. </span></div>
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Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-74091232871151065202012-10-18T06:30:00.001-07:002012-10-18T07:13:09.949-07:00Best big kid gift ever!<center>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Part of my efforts to be involved in my girls' schools and get to know the parents includes attending their classmate's birthday parties. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am perpetually in search of fun kid birthday gifts... preferably something easily handmade that inspires creative play and works for both boys and girls. That's a tall order, but this gift meets all that criteria and doesn't cost a million dollars. Meet my official go to kid birthday gift, the fort building kit:</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNHupVxr8AE/UIANOM7xMlI/AAAAAAAAB30/JVGuIJEhYcA/s1600/6566859b-9baf-475a-af03-550b65fd4545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNHupVxr8AE/UIANOM7xMlI/AAAAAAAAB30/JVGuIJEhYcA/s400/6566859b-9baf-475a-af03-550b65fd4545.jpg" width="387" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found some inexpensive fabric shower curtains. They worked great for this project because they have grommets along one side, which is useful for hooking/hanging the fort to things or using the bungee cords to attach it places. I picked up most of the rest of the kit supplies at the dollar store:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a package of suction cup hooks</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">small bungee cords</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a flash light (don't forget batteries!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">glow bracelets</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a length of rope (I found really cute woven pink rope at Jo-Anns in the trim section but they have rope at the dollar store too)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4MXrtR5LiBQ/UIANO_YgirI/AAAAAAAAB38/L8olOF31Lgo/s1600/8254e240-fb00-49a1-b278-03189aded201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4MXrtR5LiBQ/UIANO_YgirI/AAAAAAAAB38/L8olOF31Lgo/s640/8254e240-fb00-49a1-b278-03189aded201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's only a little bit of sewing involved in this project. I cut 12" lengths of ribbon, heat sealed the ends, and sewed a little loop with long tails to each corner of the shower curtain. The loops provide a way to hang the curtain over a bed post for example or you can use the tails to tie it to something like the rung of a chair. I also put one loop in the center of the curtain that you can use to thread the rope through to keep the center of your fort aloft.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly I sewed a quick easy draw string bag to keep it all in and made a tag so the birthday kiddo knows what this bag of crazy items is for.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7jABJ-iw42U/UIANPX2l7pI/AAAAAAAAB4E/ojOnnjDQlrg/s1600/b73f4ef8-427b-4fdd-baca-3577b7bdaa99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7jABJ-iw42U/UIANPX2l7pI/AAAAAAAAB4E/ojOnnjDQlrg/s400/b73f4ef8-427b-4fdd-baca-3577b7bdaa99.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now my only worry is that I won't remember who we've made a kit for since I'm making them for everyone!</span></span></div>
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Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-68019435176386252072012-10-04T11:39:00.001-07:002012-10-04T11:39:20.817-07:00Yoga Party<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm playing catch up after moving our family from the house we've lived in for 10+ years across the county & my Elle's 7th birthday party on the same weekend, but I had to take a break from the unpacking to post this little teaser for the party posts to come!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo by <a href="http://memoriesbyerinleigh.zenfolio.com/">Memories by Erin Leigh</a></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be back with all the details as soon as I can find the floor under all these boxes in our new house!</span></div>
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Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-6886684967061180972012-09-11T21:03:00.000-07:002012-09-11T21:03:03.530-07:00Like, the coolest nails, like ever!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
We were invited to an 80s themed birthday party... who would turn down an invitation to resurrect the most over the top style era of all time?! </div>
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These rad splatter nails complimented my neon mini skirt, off the shoulder neon top, ripped tights and jelly bracelets perfectly! I found a tutorial for this nail technique online but I I couldn't find any pictures of it on black nails and figured out a couple of tricks I thought I'd share with you.</div>
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You'll need: black nail polish, neon opaque nail polish in at least two colors, a straw cut into 2" lengths, scotch tape, a paper plate, and paper towel.</div>
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Start by painting your nails black. I top coated mine after the black polish but you probably wouldn't have to do that step.</div>
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Using scotch tape, tape off the sides and along the cuticle of each nail on one hand. I used one of those pre-cut pop-up tape dispensers which made operating with tape on my nails a little more feasible.</div>
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Line your work surface with several paper towels... it's gonna get messy. </div>
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Pour a little puddle of your neon polish onto your paper plate. Pounce the end of your straw into the polish. Now here's the trick - hold your nail about 10" away from you and blow through the straw with a short sharp burst (Like you're saying "two"). If you're too close to your nail, the air spreads the polish out too much and you don't get that drip/splatter look. And if you don't blow sharply, you may not get any polish to come off the end of the straw at all.</div>
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Re-dip your straw into the polish between each blow.</div>
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When you're done with one color do the second, remove the tape, and then repeat the process for your other hand.</div>
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Top coat & get ready for all the compliments on your totally tubular nails! </div>
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Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-46699736568900841192012-08-24T07:45:00.001-07:002012-08-25T04:34:08.048-07:00Customer Appreciation Photos<div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love it when customers email photos of their parties they put together with a little help from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ElleBelleCreative?section_id=7382984">my party printables</a>! I had to share this one with you, it's a 1st birthday party Amy created for her daughter, Farrah. </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Nyog1NKKpQ/UDeSMY2E1fI/AAAAAAAAB2U/K-i90jMptPQ/s1600/blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Nyog1NKKpQ/UDeSMY2E1fI/AAAAAAAAB2U/K-i90jMptPQ/s640/blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Photos by <a target="_blank" href="http://labellavitaphoto.blogspot.com/p/contact.html">Bella Vita Photography</a><a target="_blank" href=""></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amy incorporated a lot of great ideas, starting with the beautiful cake. I love the pink ombre icing! The medium size custom party hat picks from my shop and some "1s" were perfect toppers. The smaller <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/61700721/custom-party-hat-cupcake-picks">custom party hat picks</a> adorned the cupcakes dressed in shiny pink foil wrappers. The colored wire "Farrah is one" banner hanging behind the birthday girl's highchair is so creative and you can't get more fun than the highchair decked out with loads of curly ribbon! Happy birthday Farrah!</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/staceysig.png" /><br /><br />Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-16369300172010269272012-08-22T07:05:00.001-07:002012-08-22T07:05:10.484-07:00Tea Time<div align="left">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jXqALFCPMK8/UDTltbzvPyI/AAAAAAAAB14/bwPIhnW0T5I/s1600/jars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jXqALFCPMK8/UDTltbzvPyI/AAAAAAAAB14/bwPIhnW0T5I/s640/jars.JPG" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a fun and somewhat busy summer. Elle has been in various camps and we've done several "family fun" activities on the weekends. However, I think this summer will go down in history... well at least in my mind... as the summer of the gym and the tea. Two major new developements have occured over the course of the last couple months 1) I started going to the gym every week day and methodically tracking the number of calories I consume and 2) my nanny introduced me to her addiction... tea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#1 is not much fun at all, in fact, I wouldn't have even mentioned it if it weren't related to #2. I have a pretty serious sweet tooth and it doesn't play nice with counting calories! Enter, the nanny, her love for tea, and a really interesting site to buy tea from, <a href="http://www.adagio.com/">adagio</a>. On adagio, users can buy tea but they can also make their own custom blends (some of them get pretty creative and make blends inspired by movie characters... like the Harry Potter ones you see above), design their own artwork for their blends label, and make their creation available to be purchased by other users. With teas like chocolate mint cream, I feel like I'm cheating the system somehow by getting my sweets fix in tea every afternoon for virtually no calories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I didn't post about this just to tell you how much I love the site and my new found sweet fix though... I wanted to share this fun project for "stained glass" jars that my nanny did with my girls. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N3IDXoZqYEE/UDTmU8SkgfI/AAAAAAAAB2A/DCF3KydqHfA/s1600/jars2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N3IDXoZqYEE/UDTmU8SkgfI/AAAAAAAAB2A/DCF3KydqHfA/s320/jars2.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You'll need: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">mason jars - one for each type of tea you have</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tissue paper in various colors</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">white glue</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">foam brush</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">First, they came up with a color scheme for each flavor of tea (like peach and white for a peaches and cream tea) then they tore bits of tissue paper in those colors, dipped them in water, applied them to the outside of the mason jar, and smoothed them down. Repeat, overlapping the tissue paper just a little until the entire surface of the jar is covered. Then paint white glue over the whole thing and let dry. Lastly, once the tea you tracked online through the entire shipping process and waited for with bated breathe (that's what happens when these things get to addiction level) arrives, pour it into the jar, peel the artisan's label off the bag of tea, and adhere it to the outside of the jar. Store your jars in a cool dry place.</span></div>
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Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-83637954718060251572012-08-06T12:46:00.000-07:002012-08-06T12:46:05.543-07:00School Supply Printable<div align="left">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took advantage of the tax-free weekend here in Florida and bought school supplies. My soon-to-be 7 year old is going into 1st grade so it's the "real deal" this year, evidenced by the staggering number of school supplies we had to hunt down!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Elle had fun picking out her favorite notebooks and colors for her folders but I saw an opportunity for creativity and promised her "something fun" if she would pick some solid color binders. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm pleased to say Elle thinks I delivered on the "fun" and you can get in on it too because I made you a printable! </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xihw3-rnBC0/UCAR3mceOAI/AAAAAAAAB1I/PZCJMVbbYHg/s1600/belongs_to_printables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xihw3-rnBC0/UCAR3mceOAI/AAAAAAAAB1I/PZCJMVbbYHg/s640/belongs_to_printables.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">I designed a "this belongs to" coversheet with chevron background. You can insert it into binders that have the clear pockets on the cover for an easy and cute way to label them with your kiddos name. I made a pink and a blue version for you. Click <a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=125872637"> blue</a> or <a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=125872640">pink</a> to download them for free.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yea for free printables! But, if you're like me, and gently coax your kid into selecting coordinating color combinations for their folders, scour Etsy to find just the right design for name labels to apply to your kid's supplies, and wonder to yourself if the shade of pink she picked for her notebooks will match her backpack... or even if you're less crazy than I am and just like cute stuff, you can order a custom version of this file in <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ElleBelleCreative?ref=si_shop">my Etsy shop</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wzkVwl9xRec/UCAWym4OovI/AAAAAAAAB1g/y8wfsoCzaqw/s1600/custom-binder-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wzkVwl9xRec/UCAWym4OovI/AAAAAAAAB1g/y8wfsoCzaqw/s640/custom-binder-collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You'll choose pink or blue and get 2 files with your order. The first will be your kid's name in the center of the cover design and the second will be just the chevron print. I printed two sheets of the chevron by itself for Elle's binders, cut 1 for the spine and inserted the other in the back of the binder.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4AO0fKpH6iM/UCAYcDHvjXI/AAAAAAAAB1o/98GMJtRHOsU/s1600/school_supplies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4AO0fKpH6iM/UCAYcDHvjXI/AAAAAAAAB1o/98GMJtRHOsU/s320/school_supplies.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now I just have to figure out how my 7 year old is going to carry all of this into school with her on her first day!</span></div>
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<a href="http://s790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/?action=view&current=staceysig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/staceysig.png" /></a></center>Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-32583502214143788112012-07-26T17:32:00.000-07:002012-07-26T17:32:02.748-07:00A tutorial you never knew you wanted<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can you guess what this tutorial is for based on that first photo? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes I start out attempting to perform a seemingly simple task (like buy a new pillow because I'm waking up with neck aches and think my *ahem old ahem* pillow is to blame) and end up complicating things far more than I ever anticipated. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My search for a new pillow is the perfect example. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started looking into foam pillows thinking the better support would resolve my neck aches. Hours of research later I decided 1) foam wasn't the way to go 2) I should instead, join the many people in Asian countries who sleep on buckwheat pillows every night 3) figure out a way to address the problem of buckwheat pillows being unusually hard compared to the goose down and/or poly pillows I'm acustom to and 4) not spend a ton of money on a pillow I'm not 100% sure I'm going to love. Another 30 minutes or so of research and I found all the materials I needed. If you're looking for a healthy, supportive, relatively cost effective alternative to the pillow you're acustom to, you'll need:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">- One half pound eco wool (I found mine at the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BungalowBear?ref=seller_info">Bungalow Bear & Friends shop</a> on Etsy)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">- Approximately 4lbs buckwheat hulls (source - <a href="http://www.serenitypillows.com/OrganicBuckwheatHullsPillowFilling.html">Serenity Pillows</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">- 3/4 yard ticking (you'll have to ask JoAnn's for the "real thing" (not the looks like ticking but isn't stuff) it's not pretty but it does the job of holding all the buckwheat hull bits in)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We're going to make a simple box shaped pillow from the ticking and add a separate chamber on top to stuff with the wool to make it softer. Here's how:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cut two 25"x21" rectangles from the ticking</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cut one 20"x16" rectangle from the ticking</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sew the 20"x16" rectangle into the center of one of the larger rectangles (there's no right or wrong side of ticking, so it doesn't matter which side you sew it to), leaving a hole to stuff through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Stuff the small rectangle with the wool and sew the hole closed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lay the rectangle with the chamber of wool with the raw sides of the chamber down. Place the other rectangle on top and sew all around, leaving a hole to stuff through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">At each corner, line up the side seams and sew perpendicular to the seams to make a boxed corner (like how I made the bottom of the<a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/library-tote.html"> library tote bag</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Turn the pillow right sides out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fill with desired amount of buckwheat hulls & sew the opening closed</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lay your head on it and sleep</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dKT1V-yThac/UBHhMEgfXdI/AAAAAAAAB00/02luW1uqOZQ/s1600/pillow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dKT1V-yThac/UBHhMEgfXdI/AAAAAAAAB00/02luW1uqOZQ/s320/pillow.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Okay so here's the low down... for me at least. If I'm perfectly honest, I have to tell you two things. Firstly, my neck aches are completely gone since the first night I used this pillow but also, I'm not super in love with it. I apparently move around quite a bit in my sleep and this pillow holds its shape extremely well, so I wake myself up having to re-adjust it when I change positions in the middle of the night. But it's easy to re-adjust and an inconvenience I have thus far (almost 4 months into sleeping with this pillow) been willing to endure in exchange for no neck pain... I am however, thankful my Doug gets out of bed before me so I can steal his flimsy goose down pillow every morning. </span></div>
<center> </center><center><a href="http://s790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/?action=view&current=staceysig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/staceysig.png" /></a></center>Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-91870677470382333842012-07-11T08:17:00.000-07:002012-07-11T08:18:59.896-07:00Sidewalk Chalkboard Tutorial<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/happy-hour-at-shoffice-you-invited.html">Shoffice's grand opening</a>, I needed a way to direct guests to the backyard and thought a sidewalk chalkboard would fit the Happy Hour theme perfectly. I saw one at Home Goods for $80 but knew I could make one for much cheaper. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QpoowX2nU1E/T_2XB0BPGOI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/_if6WIPXd80/s1600/board+supplies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QpoowX2nU1E/T_2XB0BPGOI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/_if6WIPXd80/s400/board+supplies.JPG" width="263" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Supplies:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Large framed chalkboard - since you'll be drilling into it, the frame needs to be wood</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1"x2" board in a 12' length</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">2 one foot lengths of small link chain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">a set of small hinges</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">4 screws</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">black paint</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">drill & drill bit</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">screwdriver</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Cut</strong> the 1"x2" into three lengths - 2 pieces that are the same height as your chalkboard, and 1 piece the width of your chalkboard</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Paint</strong> the boards black</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Nail the stand/legs together</strong> - Lay the short board on the ground, place the long boards perpendicular to and at either end of the short board. Nail in place.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yjWOKx220xk/T_2XWBRULhI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/TPdVU6XpWn0/s1600/board+hinge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yjWOKx220xk/T_2XWBRULhI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/TPdVU6XpWn0/s400/board+hinge.JPG" width="272" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Attach the stand/legs</strong> to the chalkboard frame with the hinges - Pre-drill pilot holes for your screws (if you don't use a large enough bit for your pilot holes you'll strip the screws to your hinges and have to get your husband to muscle the last screw in for you)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Attach the chains</strong> - stand the chalkboard up leaning against the legs. Mark the chalkboard frame at the point where the chalkboard and the legs are approximately 10" apart. Measure the distance from the mark to the bottom of the chalkboard and mark the legs & the other side of the chalkboard frame at the same point. Pre-drill pilot holes then screw the chains into place.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y29xglrnoJQ/T_2Whg5C7aI/AAAAAAAABz4/PTQtdPNGohU/s1600/board+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y29xglrnoJQ/T_2Whg5C7aI/AAAAAAAABz4/PTQtdPNGohU/s640/board+finished.jpg" width="488" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have a feeling this chalkboard is going to make an appearance at more of my parties in the future!</span><br />
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<center> </center><center><a href="http://s790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/?action=view&current=staceysig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/staceysig.png" /></a></center>Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-58946306607485346692012-07-02T18:29:00.000-07:002012-07-11T08:28:58.529-07:00Happy Hour at The Shoffice - You're Invited!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After all that hard work and the many hours we put into designing and building <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/shoffice.html">The Shoffice</a>, a happy hour celebration was in order!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Guests were greeted at the front walkway with this chalkboard sign I made (tutorial <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/sidewalk-chalkboard-tutorial.html">here</a>).</span></div>
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<center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5760741210110567714"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Pbu37aTW4z8/T_JDm9-YJSI/AAAAAAAAByg/WbafmmewpGo/s400/2.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="298" /></a></center><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Outside the Shoffice was a drink station and a giant platter of wings I baked that afternoon and kept hot in crockpots (you'll have to trust me... the wings & condiments and the beer & wine came out after the party started but I did my picture taking duties ahead of time).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But the real treat was in the Shoffice! My very fun, but typically very office orriented, storage piece became the bar. For the transformation, I made a runner for the top from chalkcloth, lined the drawers with leftover wallpaper, and opened 2 drawers for the plates, napkins, and the glasses. The spread included:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">homemade guacamole (I posted my delicious recipe including the secret ingredient <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/guacamole.html">here</a>), salsa and chips.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Caprese shooters I made with balsamic glaze in the bottom, fresh milk motzerella balls, a basil leaf and grape tomato speared with a cocktail sword</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mojito jellies served in asian spoons on platters lined in the wallpaper scraps. I made the jellies from the super fun <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jelly-Shot-Test-Kitchen-Cocktails-One/dp/0762440546/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341262431&sr=1-1&keywords=jello+shots">Jelly Shot Test Kitchen</a> book... sophisticated jello shots who knew?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hurricane jellies displayed in these stands I made by gluing the domes to chunky white candlesticks and lining the bottoms with more wallpaper scraps cut into circles and laminated (do you recognize them from the <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/one-year-old-in-flash-first-birthday.html">1 year old in a flash</a> party?).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Spiked Limonata with the recipe written on the runner. 2 oz spirit (I served Belvedere vodka and Malibu Black rum) and 11 oz Limonata (not only is the Pellegrino limonata delicious but the cans with the foil tops are so pretty!). Oh and the glasses for the spiked limonata had little lemon zest knots in the bottom (thank you Martha!).</span></div>
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<center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5760741310393260258"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NzV6zQU_kHE/T_JDszjomOI/AAAAAAAABzY/tgJUec4O144/s288/9.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Birthdays aren't the only milestones that deserve to be celebrated. Any excuse will do when there's great friends, delicious food, and fun drinks!</span></div>
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<a href="http://s790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/?action=view&current=staceysig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/staceysig.png" /></a></div>Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-79704293542324342772012-06-21T06:41:00.000-07:002012-06-21T06:42:00.575-07:00The Shoffice You Tube VideoThe site I purchased the plans for my "modern shed" from, icreatables.com, made a You Tube video about the shoffice that includes a few additional photos from what I've posted here... Cool huh!? You can check out all their videos, mine is the last one on the page, here http://www.icreatables.com/sheds/shed-building-videos.html<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5755839615730594546" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nBTGeyI9taA/T-DZon--MvI/AAAAAAAABxk/mc27gFtERIA/s400/0.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">doormat custom made for me by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JessicaReneeDesigns" target="_blank">Jessica Renee Designs</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Everything in the room is my favorite, but it all started with the <a href="http://www.hyggeandwest.com/collections/julia-rothman" target="_blank">Julia Rothman wallpaper</a>, it became the inspiration for the design, so we'll start there. It has a hand drawn feel that I loved as soon as I saw it. The hardest part was picking my favorite color way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The colors of the Daydream print were perfect. I had the blue from the clouds color matched at Sherwin Williams for the wall color for the rest of the room. It keeps the space light, airy, and calming. The yellow birds liven the space up and that pop of color is fun to incorporate into accessories. Even the black worked well because, inevitably office equipment is black.</span></div>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5755839630850644546" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zJf1MwKQLBg/T-DZpgT32kI/AAAAAAAABxs/CoNg1uwE6lc/s640/2.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The mid-century modern <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/mid-century-goes-21st-century.html" target="_blank">dresser I refurbished</a> found its home against the accent wall. I really couldn't be happier with how much storage this very functional piece provides! My printer, iPad, and phone are on top, office supplies and reference materials below. And, how can you not love the shiny blue color!?</span></div>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5755839649976734434" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--WHEd_qzMMU/T-DZqnj40uI/AAAAAAAABx0/lXs6pIOrlzk/s400/3.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Above the storage piece, I hung the 14" <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80155012/" target="_blank">Fillsta pendant light from Ikea</a>. It's on a separate switch and gives off a nice diffused light in the evening... ya know in case there's ever a need for mood lighting in the shoffice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The <a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/the-rug-market-shire/yellow/10325248-508.html" target="_blank">rug</a> continues the nature/organic elements in the room and perhaps most importantly, Martha Stewart loves faux bois so it gets my vote on that premise alone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I sit for work... all day... every day. So a comfy chair is a must. No one does office chairs better than the famous Herman Miller! After doing some research I decided on the SAYL chair and was so excited when I found an "open box" SAYL in just the right color combination at the <a href="http://www.officedesignsoutlet.com/product.php?product_id=2154" target="_blank">Office Designs Outlet</a> site. As a side note, I just saw on 30 Rock the other day that Liz Lemon sits in a SAYL chair too :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5755839664033427730" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pACJ7Gw6USY/T-DZrb7Q8RI/AAAAAAAABx8/X5Hs_WbcBik/s640/4.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="476" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Have you ever seen something you wanted but knew you couldn't have so you just wish you had never seen it in the first place? That happened to me with my desk. I saw THE desk I wanted at a small local boutique furniture store. It looked almost identical to the desk you see in my space here, and it even had a really similar design where the cords are hidden in a compartment in the back of the desk. The desk I saw was $1300, my desk came from Ikea and was $69. So yeah, the $1300 desk is sturdier, and will last longer than my <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60180036/#/90214308" target="_blank">$69 Ikea desk</a> but I could re-buy my desk almost 19 times before I would've spent as much... I'm learning to live with my "almost the exact same thing, but not" desk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the photo above you can also see the cuckoo clock I showed you in a <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/cuckoo-clock.html" target="_blank">previous post</a> and a fun mouse pad <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/studioelle" target="_blank">Studio Elle</a> made for me with "She believed she could so she did" printed on it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The last big piece in the space is my chair and ottoman. I wanted a place I could lounge in when I need to review tedious requirements or read through boring procedures. I watched Craig's List forever when I finally found it, it had the clean simple lines and the "comfort factor" I was looking for. The weird somewhere between green and brown color velvet-ish upholstery wasn't gonna work though. I couldn't believe my luck when I found a fabric on <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/spelunks?type=&q=doodles+black+and+yellow&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">spoon flower</a> by an artist whose print work I had admired (and pinned) months prior. With some white leather, black vinyl piping, and my spoonflower find, the upholsterer turned this funky piece: </span></div>
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<center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5755840005579546962"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SPwXk6Q4ejw/T-DZ_USNIVI/AAAAAAAAByE/umD3uCmyfU4/s288/0.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="225" /></a></center><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">into </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">this funky (but in a good way) piece.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Next up, the Shoffice goes cocktail party for its grand opening!</span></div>
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<a href="http://s790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/?action=view&current=staceysig.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/staceysig.png" /></a></div>Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-83062576945774652202012-06-12T13:09:00.001-07:002012-06-12T18:51:20.799-07:00The Shoffice<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5753243060276328226"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1vpzNaievLw/T9egFNJAdyI/AAAAAAAABxA/wJTZole4hsI/s640/0.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="587" /></a><br /><div align="left"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love working from home, but our home is quite small and just can’t accommodate me working and my girls playing at the same time. I needed an office space that would afford me privacy so I could focus on work and my girls needed to be able to be home with the nanny after school and during breaks. So I came up with an idea to fix the problem. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At first I thought it was too crazy to be doable, but have you ever had an idea that just wouldn’t leave you alone?! I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about it, planning it, and growing the idea. Once I realized it was more than a passing thought I had a conversation with my Doug that went a little something like “Sooooo, I have an idea to fix my work at home while the girls are home problem. I realize it sounds totally crazy, but the more I think about it, the more I think it’s gonna work. Ummmm, I want to work from a shed in the back yard *insert cringe face*<insert cringe="" face="">.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Doug has had 13 years practice at accommodating my hair brained ideas; he handled this one like a pro too and just said “I could see how it could work… research our options and we’ll figure it out.” </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a few Google searches later I realized I wasn’t the first person with this idea. It’s not as common in the US, but there are lots of people in the UK working from “sheds” in their backyards. They call themselves shed workers, which sounds kinda creepy to me, so I decided to dub my space “The Shoffice” instead… ya know shed+office. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deciding whether to convert an existing shed, build one from a kit, or build one from scratch was the first decision to be made. I scoured Craig’s List for sheds, shopped the big box DIY centers, and checked out the local shed “stores”. I ultimately decided that if I was going to be in this space 8hrs/day I wanted a normal height ceiling and several windows. Those two features made the price of a pre-built or kit pretty expensive, and they still looked like... well a shed. I found a website, <a href="http://www.icreatables.com/sheds/shed-plans.html" target="_blank">icreatables</a>, that sells shed plans including plans that are designed with the intent to be offices. $15 later I could envision my modern shed in my mind and I had the building plans and the materials list in my hand. A friend who has experience building things and I brought the materials list into the pro desk at Home Depot, they itemized everything, I paid, and all the lumber and building materials were delivered to our backyard the very next day.</span><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5753243071695073282"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F4IiP3MmgVY/T9egF3rcsAI/AAAAAAAABxI/v_sEe5qkl8w/s400/2.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="298" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had tons of help from friends, family, and a few contractors building the Shoffice. It was quite an undertaking… it’s built like a little house, with a pressure treated foundation, floor joists and wall studs spaced according to code, hurricane clips for the roof (gotta love sunny Florida!), insulation, drywall, and laminate wood flooring. It also has all the comfort and convenience I need for working from it, like custom energy efficient windows, a full pane door with blinds & a key pad (so I don't have to bring my keys with me), LED lights in the ceiling, an air conditioner and it’s wired for Ethernet connections, electric, and phone. It even has a little front porch with a porch light. Although we joked about it, I am pretty sure it really is built stronger than our 50 year old house. </span><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5753243089062202354"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2vNYkIWWfAs/T9egG4YGC_I/AAAAAAAABxQ/5CTIkH4wTeI/s400/3.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="298" /></a><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5753243106277281794"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-32qLSxuQNMs/T9egH4gfUAI/AAAAAAAABxY/GBeevAJWSys/s400/4.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="298" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m totally in love with The Shoffice! It’s so nice to have a distraction free space all to myself. I’ve also had fun catching glimpses of the wild life in our backyard. Being this “connected” to the outside world is remarkably different than the windowless cubicles in the middle of a giant office building that I was accustom to!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my next post I’ll invite you inside… I can’t wait to show you how I decorated!</span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://s790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/?action=view&current=staceysig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/staceysig.png" /></a></div><br />Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-48394950075968778672012-06-04T05:56:00.000-07:002012-06-04T06:14:13.343-07:00Teachers Gifts... ugh!<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it's the end of the school year and for the 2nd time I'm faced with the decision about giving teacher gifts. I realize that this is probably not a decision that everyone feels "faced with"... it's a strange topic for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think it takes a special kind of person to be a teacher. I am quite positive that I don't have what it takes to manage and care for 18 five year olds on a daily basis. But I also think it takes a special kind of person to be a nurse, a mail carrier, a call center rep, a salesman, or even a business analyst. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all get to choose our professions and yes some professions are more "personal" than others (my girls' teachers have taken care of 2 of the most preciouse people in my life after all) but that doesn't make the less personal jobs... well less. We all have the same opportunity to find satisfaction and fullfillment in doing our jobs well. For a teacher, maybe it's conveying a lesson in just the right way so that it makes sense to a 5 year old and not showing how frustrated they feel about telling the same child 35 times to raise their hand before they talk. For me, a business anaylst, it's writing air tight requirements, building rapport with my team, and staying on task so that my projects finish on time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">All of that to say, I don't feel obligated to give teacher gifts. However, I appreciate the fact that my girls' teachers take their job seriously and I hope they find some personal fullfillment in it as well. I'm glad that they chose to be teachers, for whatever reason that may be. I am happy to take an opportunity to encourage/recognize someone who is good at their job especially when my family is better because of it. I don't think a bottle of wine or a gift card to the mall really conveys that... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've finally figured out a gift that I am happy (not obligated) to give... a gift that is a good fit for a person who has chosen a profession in which they give to others, the most helpless of all of us in fact, children. <a href="http://tisbest.org/">TisBest.org</a> is a website where you can give a charity gift card in virtually any denomination. The recipient can choose from over 250 charities to allocate the funds to. You can even upload a picture or scanned image (like I did with Liv's lovely artwork below) to be printed on the gift card. Or, if you're like me and struggled with just the right gift until the last possible minute, you can print the gift card yourself instead of having a plastic one made. This gift card + a heartfelt note = no more "issues" with teacher gifts for me!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5VuSB7d_To/T8yxCGqRyyI/AAAAAAAABw0/ja9DUenAG2Y/s1600/gc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5VuSB7d_To/T8yxCGqRyyI/AAAAAAAABw0/ja9DUenAG2Y/s640/gc2.jpg" width="504" /></a></div>
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<center style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://s790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/?action=view&current=staceysig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/staceysig.png" /></a></center>Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-54517873385031445052012-05-21T17:42:00.000-07:002012-05-21T19:25:07.680-07:00Car caddy take 2!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5745176484829715634" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ThSx80BW5jI/T7r3kt4z3LI/AAAAAAAABwc/YjNpP6fKCF8/s640/0.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm finally revisiting the car caddy I made for the roadtrip series I did. At my initial attempt, I used a tutorial I found online and had fun making it, but it really didn't serve the purpose I had intended. So I completely revamped it and am much happier with the results! I put together this tutorial so you can give it a try for yourself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You're gonna need:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 yard of non-directional decor weight fabric (note: if you want to use quilting cotton you'll just need to back it with a fusible web so that it's more ridgid)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 package of double fold bias tape</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">49" of elastic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2 yard belt strap</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">and a buckle</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Cut</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">2 13''x23" rectangles for the front and back of the caddy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">3 pieces for the pockets - 13"x8", 13"x16", and 17"x10" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">3 lengths of double fold bias tape - 2 13" pieces and 1 17" piece</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 13" piece of elastic and 1 36" piece of elastic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 5" piece of belt strap and 1 13" piece of belt strap</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Fold</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Make the pockets by folding and pressing the 3 pocket pieces in half so that you have 2 13" wide rectangles (one is 4" tall and the other is 8" tall) and 1 17" wide by 5" tall rectangle.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sew</span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Encase the long raw edges of each pocket piece in the double fold bias tape and sew. </span><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5745159540845950162"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-i-sNRrmGJZA/T7roKcoRtNI/AAAAAAAABvU/vj1D1vqdzcE/s288/0.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Feed the 13" piece of elastic through the pocket made by attaching the bias tape to the 17" x 5" pocket piece, sewing the ends of the elastic to the ends of the pocket piece. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Next we'll make a pleat in the 17" wide pocket piece by marking the center with a pin, then measuring 2" out from the center, pinching and bringing that into the center, pin & repeat with the other side of the fabric from center. Baste the pleat together & remove your pins.</span></div>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5745159558129633922"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vVYEbXlx0tE/T7roLdBByoI/AAAAAAAABvc/H0spLFUGKHY/s288/2.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a><br />
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5745159575370253698"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gbJom2OVVow/T7roMdPgxYI/AAAAAAAABvk/fCWq9S7tM7Q/s288/3.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="270" /></a><br />
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5745171010912789458"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3aV_T28Cgyc/T7rymF9UI9I/AAAAAAAABvw/FfO9umXjJv0/s288/4.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pin</span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Place the 13"x23" front rectangle face up. Pin the 8" tall pocket piece at the bottom - bottom of the pocket piece even with the bottom of the rectangle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Pin the 5" tall pocket piece (the one you added the elastic and pleat to) 2" above the top of the 8" tall pocket.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Pin the 4" tall pocket piece 2" above the top of the 5" tall pocket piece (you should have approximately 2" left at the top of the rectangle).</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sew</span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Place the items that you want to store in the caddy on top of the pockets and leaving about a half an inch on each side of the item, mark where the pocket seems should be. </span><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5745171025768346018"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LP65q6LRDYc/T7rym9TJ8aI/AAAAAAAABv4/kaZkBW0MHI8/s400/5.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="247" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">If you like the placement of mine, you can mark the seems as follows:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For the 4" pocket at the top make 3 pockets approximately 4 1/4" apart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Leave the 5" pocket open without any additional seems</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Make a 9 1/2" pocket in the bottom section</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sew along the bottom of the top two pockets and along your marked lines to create the division in the pockets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Feed one end of the 5" piece of belt strap through one side of the buckle and sew it closed. Feed the other end of the 5" piece of the belt strap through the other adjustable side of the buckle, fold the end over on itself and sew to finish the end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Pin</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Align the raw edges of the 36" piece of elastic with the raw edges of the bottom of the front rectangle and pin approximately 1/2" above the bottom of the rectangle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Align the raw edges of each of the belt straps (opposite the buckle ends) 2" from the top corners of the front rectangle and pin.</span></div>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5745171040045026290"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-75Lz8fk0n3s/T7rynye-y_I/AAAAAAAABwA/Oc2Q63ky0Mk/s400/6.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="237" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Place the other 13"x23" back rectangle right side down on top of the front rectangle and pin, ensuring the top of each side of each pocket is pinned in place. You may also want to pin the elastic and the buckle pieces into the center of the rectangle so you don't accidently catch them as you sew.</span></div>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5745171059559263362"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IusQJjJGo_0/T7ryo7LibII/AAAAAAAABwI/jFH6vpouonU/s400/7.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="298" /></a><br />
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<br /><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sew</span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With a 1/2" seem allowance, sew all around the rectangle, leaving room at the bottom to turn through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">remove the pins and turn the pieces right side out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Press all around and sew the opening you turned through shut.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Enjoy</span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Slide the elastic down over the car seat, buckle the top strap around the head rest and pull tight. Fill with roadtrip goodies!</span><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5745171079810524210" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eCfs3fX7dMA/T7ryqGn0JDI/AAAAAAAABwQ/c87LZD2aIl4/s400/8.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://s790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/?action=view&current=staceysig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/staceysig.png" /></a></div>Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-81746277707122185962012-05-10T12:23:00.002-07:002012-05-10T12:23:57.124-07:00Cuckoo Clock<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My office is one easy breezy weekend away from finished and I couldn't be happier! Check out this super fun idea I had for the wall... </span><br />
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<center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5740986779571387586"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jz50eBF34hA/T6wVDxiQ_MI/AAAAAAAABvA/UhP8trDiVzU/s400/0.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="298" /></span></a></center><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/mellowyellowdecor?ref=seller_info" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mellow Yellow Decor</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> made this vinyl wall decal for me in just the right size to fit the $1.99 </span><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70098989/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rusch clock</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I picked up at Ikea. I used a level to mark the wall, carefully applied the decal, and hung the clock. Waaalaaa could it be any cuter!?</span><br />
<br />Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-76470213826302470742012-04-23T14:01:00.002-07:002012-04-25T13:29:03.802-07:00Mid Century goes 21st CenturyHave you noticed the resurgence of mid century modern furniture? I sort of stumbled onto it while designing my office space and am worried it could become a new obsession. I knew I wanted a good sized storage piece to house all the necessary office supplies, reference materials, and some electronics. I decided a long and low piece would fit the layout of the room and show off the design inspiration, the wallpaper. I’m really attracted to simple, clean lines, a minimalist look… mid century modern fits the bill perfectly!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5735438037274077298'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-czDq5QCPxBw/T5hegdr8KHI/AAAAAAAABuc/n7blx-mz08g/s288/0.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />After weeks of scouring the internet and local vintage shops, I found this dresser on Craig’s List. It was in great structural shape and original vintage condition which was important because I didn’t want to have to re-re-furbish a piece someone had already put a lot of work into. I started by taking all the hardware and the door off, numbering the bottom of the drawers (so that I would know where they went when it was time to put it back together), and lightly sanding the entire piece. This was a dresser, not a credenza, so when you open the middle door there were 3 smaller drawers inside. I wanted to have an open space to store books and binders upright, so my Dad cut out the frames for the center drawers and reinforced the sides so that the rest of the drawers were still solid.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5735438046536128642'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cxaynXxWMnM/T5hehAML2II/AAAAAAAABuk/DFTrAKbdTrA/s288/2.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Then I spray painted a coat of primer on the cabinet, drawer fronts, and door and gave it another light sanding to make sure the whole thing was really smooth.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5735438069321482258'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xXOWnouF-Uw/T5heiVEowBI/AAAAAAAABus/DETAk_MJLXI/s288/3.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />I wanted my office to be fun, whimsical, a really happy place so I decided to paint the storage piece a bright color in a high gloss finish. After speaking with a couple people at local body shops who thought I was out of my mind, I was able to convince someone to let me bring it in so they could spray it with automotive paint in their spray booth. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5735438078485891282'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-95X8ixo-z9Y/T5hei3NmiNI/AAAAAAAABu0/w8frvukpYpk/s288/4.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />This isn’t the completely finished product because it doesn’t have the new hardware on it and it’s not in its permanent home, but I think this gives you a pretty good idea of the transformation without spoiling the office's big reveal. You’ll have to come back to see it in its full glory.</span></div><br /><br /> <a href="http://s790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/?action=view&current=staceysig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/staceysig.png" /></a><br />Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-15596491918158181892012-04-16T18:35:00.000-07:002012-04-16T18:35:49.839-07:00Just me and my blog<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm pretty sure I've never, in the history of this blog, dedicated an entire post to just me... no craft project... just me and my thoughts. This is it, this is the scoop, the background, the reason I haven't posted as frequently as usual, and consequently the precursor to lots of really exciting posts to come. I hope you'll humor me this one picture free, just me and my blog post. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started working when I was 15 and haven't stopped since. My first job was part-time at the Sears in my small home town's mall. As soon as I graduated high school I started full time at a local Professional Employer Organization (PEO - they provide payroll and HR services to other companies), then I moved to a new town and worked for State Farm's corporate office for a few years. I decided FL was the place for me, and after a short stint as a waitress (I personally think everyone should be a waiter/waitress at least once in their life time... it's fun, responsibility free, and eye opening!) worked for another PEO. I started out in customer service and despised every single moment of it! I did everything non-customer service related I could get my hands on. It took me 2 years, but I moved out of customer service and made a place for myself working on projects and whatever other "fun stuff" the company had in the works. I had no idea at that time, that the job I thought I created out of thin air, would grow into the business analyst role. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love everything about being a business analyst! I get to work collaboratively, improve the way my co-workers do their jobs, be innovative, make the company a better place to work and do business, and influence change. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So many wonderful friendships, a wedding, a house, a blog, 2 children, and almost 12 years later, I quit that job I loved. I didn't quit being a business analyst, but I did quit working for the company that I sort of "grew up" in and where I discover my passion for it. Even though I was so excited about my new opportunity, I knew leaving my comfort zone and the people I loved working with was going to be difficult. What better coping mechanism/diversion could a creative girl hope for than a design challenge?! In the new position I would work from home full time, so I decided to funnel all the energy I could've spent worrying "am I gonna get the new job? how is my leaving going to impact my co-workers? will my current projects be okay without me? How will the transition from working at home part time to full time go?" into designing a new home office. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've been working in my new job, from my new office, for the last 4 weeks and I absolutely can.not.wait. to show you my amazing office space! My darling husband and I and every aunt, uncle, parent, and friend who would come to our aid have been turning my happy place into a reality every available minute since the day I got the official job offer almost 2 months ago. Frankly, we all just needed a break, so it's not quite photo shoot ready yet. There's still a door to be painted, a chair to be upholstered, a clock to be hung, and a deck to be built, but I'm gonna start showing you pieces of it and by the time it's ready for its close up I'll have made it through all the preliminary posts... at least that's my plan. Oh and if design isn't really your thing you'll be happy to know a grand opening party is in the works too :) Stay tuned! </span><br />
<center><a href="http://s790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/?action=view&current=staceysig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/staceysig.png" /></a></center>Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-80053376014010166622012-04-05T18:37:00.000-07:002012-04-05T18:37:07.732-07:00Toy Car Playmat/Bag<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh boys! It's so hard to come up with adorable handmade boy stuff. I was super excited when I found this fabric panel:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VVDZWhyJLkA/T35GdGsnWNI/AAAAAAAABt8/UQ32kTau5G4/s1600/cars+mat+panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VVDZWhyJLkA/T35GdGsnWNI/AAAAAAAABt8/UQ32kTau5G4/s320/cars+mat+panel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I knew it would make the perfect toy car playmat/bag! It was so easy too! Just pick a fun fabric for the back, a solid fabric for the bag part and follow <a href="http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/beach-towel-backpack.html">this tutorial</a> I put together for the beach towel backpack.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vLpUanQuVFU/T35GrwUrGOI/AAAAAAAABuE/CpH2mhh_I_0/s1600/back_bag+cars+mat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vLpUanQuVFU/T35GrwUrGOI/AAAAAAAABuE/CpH2mhh_I_0/s320/back_bag+cars+mat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out this fun HotWheels fabric:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pppPOLnTDpY/T35G9jRr-sI/AAAAAAAABuM/DxPz3AKM1uE/s1600/hotwheels+fabric+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pppPOLnTDpY/T35G9jRr-sI/AAAAAAAABuM/DxPz3AKM1uE/s320/hotwheels+fabric+close.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">All wrapped up and pulled tight, it's the perfect place to store all those toy cars and a great way to tote your favorite toys to Grandma & Grandpa's house!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1CvHj1PqNFg/T35HgiIFrCI/AAAAAAAABuU/2yTsXky-b2s/s1600/car+mat+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1CvHj1PqNFg/T35HgiIFrCI/AAAAAAAABuU/2yTsXky-b2s/s320/car+mat+bag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<center><a href="http://s790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/?action=view&current=staceysig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/staceysig.png" /></a></center>Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-10048878196753072632012-03-23T18:45:00.001-07:002012-04-01T20:06:08.163-07:00Ikea hack -PAX wardrobeOur room was a disaster area! Seriously our clothes were out of control!! I was so over living out of laundry baskets, we decided it was worth the money to rearrange our room and install an Ikea wardrobe. We spent an entire weekend putting together the Pax wardrobe... it took a Saturday evening until 3am and the majority of a Sunday to complete. The part I want to tell you about though is how we modified it to accommodate an electrical outlet and gave me the ability to charge my phone and iPad. <br />
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We used a rotary saw to cut away the cabinet around the outlet that was behind the wardrobe. <br />
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<center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5723273841016647554"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jnjgpjd4cAA/T20nPDYVL4I/AAAAAAAABtM/xsVaKNxtCos/s288/0.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center><br />
Next we cut a hole in the side between to two cabinets of the wardrobe and hot glued a curtain grommet to each side of the rough cut hole.<br />
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<center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5723273854512567202"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dyHBPzMQXy8/T20nP1qAk6I/AAAAAAAABtU/LY04DZBkMYA/s288/2.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="243" /></a></center><br />
Then all we had to do was mount a power strip on the inside of the wardrobe and plug all my chargers in. <br />
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Now my clothes are all hung neatly in their place, shoes nestled on their slide out rack, iPad softly displays the time, and my precious (a.k.a. iPhone)charges all night while I sleep peacefully.<br />
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<center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5723273897175798946"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TKwE-eRlXVQ/T20nSUlt1KI/AAAAAAAABts/XTaRYgd7Fto/s288/4.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="146" /></a></center><br />
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It was a happy day when I was able to wrangle my clothes and shoes and relinquish the closet to my Doug! Good thing because cleaning up this mess was a giant pain!!<br />
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<center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/ellebelleonpicasa/ElleBelleCreative02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGb47bkmeSWdw#5723273909711223906"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9rSvY0CIB-g/T20nTDSZPGI/AAAAAAAABt0/8vZj-NLfw-8/s288/5.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center><br />
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<br />Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3469985320240790723.post-67549668245250510702012-03-02T09:03:00.001-08:002012-03-02T09:03:00.540-08:00More PJs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0P__P1tYr7g/T0w2_9tpzZI/AAAAAAAABs8/BpZWPkXEXfY/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0P__P1tYr7g/T0w2_9tpzZI/AAAAAAAABs8/BpZWPkXEXfY/s640/001.JPG" uda="true" width="480px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So did you catch in my last post that I said I made 8 sets of pajamas but there were only 7 accounted for? Ok, yeah probably not, but anyway… I wanted to post these separately because they’re not Christmasy and would make a really great gift (especially for hard-to-make-for boys) for any occasion. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DSfSNXxoMtQ/T0w3B-GE1II/AAAAAAAABtE/K_KtIYoKtpc/s1600/giopjs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DSfSNXxoMtQ/T0w3B-GE1II/AAAAAAAABtE/K_KtIYoKtpc/s320/giopjs2.jpg" uda="true" width="300px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you know there’s a line of fabric from the beautifully illustrated books of the famous children’s author Eric Carle? Yep, just Google it and bask in the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear Brown Bear, Grouchy Ladybug, and 10 Rubber Ducks goodness! I scooped up two coordinating prints from the Brown Bear Brown Bear line to make these simple drawstring lounge pants & a matching appliquéd T. I included the Brown Bear Brown Bear book and shipped it off to my little nephew in Germany for Christmas.</span></div><center><br />
</center><center><a href="http://s790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/?action=view&current=staceysig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/ellebellecreative/staceysig.png" /></a></center></div>Stacey - Elle Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725236652020663581noreply@blogger.com1