Elated Memories: A Design Blog

Mini Thanksgiving {Holidays}

2011-11-20T13:16:00.001-05:00

I have tons to be thankful for: my adorable, charismatic, and loving son; my dependable and fun sisters who make me laugh when I need to and stand by my every decision; my awesome neighbors who keep me sane on a daily basis; the list goes on and on! I'm looking forward to celebrating with them all throughout this Thanksgiving weekend. The cooking has already commenced in my home, and the smell is glorious!

Tomorrow is my lil man's Thanksgiving Feast at preschool. I volunteered to make a treat and decided on Mini Pumpkin Pies. They turned out sooo much cuter than I had imagined:

When I saw this idea on Pinterest I knew I had to do it for the lil ones. I used my go to filling recipe by Martha Stewart and they taste amazing! Of course I made extras for this week's Family Thanksgiving Dinner, just hope they make it that long! I'm not sure if I can resist such a cute and tasty dessert at my fingertips :)

The Polka Dot sign I used in the picture above, is a part of the Owl Thanksgiving Printable Collection available in the Etsy Shop. A simple and pretty way to dress up your family's feast :)

Wishing you and yours a happy and safe Thanksgiving Day!

We have a winner! - New Jersey Etsians {Giveaway Results}

2011-11-18T22:18:00.001-05:00

Thank you to everyone who participated and got to know our shops and artists over the course of this exciting Giveaway. The luck winner is number 8

Congratulations to Kimberly W., who wins the Etsy Shop Credits to all 11 sellers! Enjoy selecting your favorite treasures from all of the lovely artists involved.

New Jersey Etsians {Giveaways}

2011-10-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

If you love browsing Etsy and often think: "My little girl/boy would love that!" or "That piece would be perfect for my wall!" or "Ooooooh, I want those earrings!" - keep reading to learn how you can get your hands on some of the awesome creations you see everyday.

Recently, I joined a team on Etsy: New Jersey Etsians
The team's goal is "to support and promote each other, and help each other grow as an artist." I have felt so welcomed in their environment of friendly and talented creators. After just a few weeks, I have seen them create and suggest ways to exhibit their crafts effectively. There is a genuine feeling of support on the discussion boards, which I absolutely adore!

Name Charm Bracelet - Jamie's Precious Metal Jewels

So, by now you may be asking: "Who are these caring and creative individuals?"
An eclectic group, with many varieties of art including clothing, jewelry, accessories, home decor, wall art, and stationery (just to name a few). There's something for everyone's taste, and you won't be disappointed in the slightest way with any seller or their products.

Art Giclee Print - Mary Ann Farley Art Creations

Give me details!!! I know, you're wondering about the Giveaway part.
Some of the team members have joined together to offer a total of $125.00 in credits to use exclusively at their Etsy Shops. With the Holiday Season upon us, this a wonderful opportunity to share some handmade items or rare pieces with your family and friends (and maybe get a thing or two for yourself :) ).

Eco Shoe Bag - MsVeronicas

Here's all of the participating shops and their credit amount:
CreatedwithLovexoxo $10.00
David Met Grace $10.00
EM Printables $10.00
Jamie's Precious Metal Jewels $10.00
Lil Threadz $10.00
Mary Ann Farley Art Creations $10.00
MsVeronicas $10.00
Party Sparkler $10.00
Quilted Hugs Bibs $10.00
Shadowboxer, Ink $10.00
La Classique' Bonita $25.00

Boys Cardigan Sweater - Lil Threadz

How do I enter?
It's super simple, and must be done for EVERY shop participating in the giveaway:
1. Visit the shop using link provided, (Don't forget to take in all of the sites while you're there) and click on the Facebook "Like" button to become a fan of the shop's Facebook page.
2. Once you have completed this for EVERY shop participating in the giveaway, come here and post ONE comment saying you’ve done so to enter yourself in the giveaway.
EASY PEASY!

Puau Shell Bracelet - La Classique' Bonita

The giveaway ends on Friday, November 18th, 2011 at 10:00 PM Eastern Time. Have LOTS of fun with this and share it with your friends on Facebook so they don't miss out on this great prize!

Note: Credits are limited to one-time use and expire after one year. Credits will be given in the form of a custom listing reflecting the retail value of the item less the specified credit amount (Please contact the shop owner before purchase to arrange custom listing). Credits are non-transferable and cannot be used by anyone other than the giveaway winner.

Pink for the Cause {Treasury}

2011-10-05T22:31:00.001-04:00

I'm sure this won't be the only Treasury inspired by the color Pink. However, it was inspired this time by October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Susan G. Komen Foundation is something a friend of mine fought hard to bring awareness to during her 14 month battle. I do whatever I can to help spread the word about this outstanding organization. I'm proud to wear pink and display it in anyway possible all year round.

Here's just a few pink items that caught my eye the other day:

Pink for the Cause Treasury

Birthday Fun {Real Event}

2011-10-02T20:24:00.001-04:00

Had a great time with my family celebrating my sister's birthday. She loved the birthday banner and cupcake display I created. "It's so FUN!"

We even took the little man to the park to ride his trike and play in the playground. Great day, indeed!

Hey There Cupcake {Collection}

2011-10-01T14:32:00.000-04:00

My first complete collection is now available in the Etsy Shop:

Fall Inspired {Treasury}

2011-09-30T15:35:00.001-04:00

I saw one item that sparked my interest, and then another, and yet another. Just HAD to get them together in a treasury to share :)

Fall Inspired Treasury

Did Someone Say Soiree?

2011-09-22T13:17:00.001-04:00

The NEW SOIREE COLLECTION features a pale pink and black color scheme. Perfect for a sophisticated yet fun get together with the ladies. The complete collection will be available in the Etsy Shop this evening.

Something New

2011-09-14T11:08:00.000-04:00

Event design has always been a favorite pastime of mine. Creating different elements that come together as a whole package to personalize a special occasion, and seeing it come to life… I’ll never be able to fully describe the enjoyment that it brings me!

I have designed for all types of events, from large weddings to small and intimate family celebrations. No matter what the event or how large, the same thing is always constant: the host/hostess wants a way to personalize the event to make it special. If you have found yourself wanting to accomplish the same goal, and have a crafty hand (or even a not-so-crafty hand) then I have the perfect solution for you: PRINTABLES

What are printables, exactly? Printables are a way for you to create design elements in your own home. They give you the freedom to add a custom touch in as simple or over the top you would like. Elements like: cupcake toppers, celebration banners, thank you tags, and much more! Choose the design you like, print on your home printer (or at your local office supply store), then you are free do whatever you please to dress up your event. It’s that simple and you have the ability to print as little or as many as you like to use anyway that you see fit at your event!

If you follow the Elated Memories Facebook page, you may have noticed that I have been promoting some of the new projects in the Printables Line. Currently, there are two themes in the new Etsy shop (EM Printables): Cars 2 Inspired and Cupcake. New items and themes are being added daily and prices are extremely reasonable, starting at just $5.00 for a customized PDF file that you can print over and over again as many times as you want! Don’t see a theme that you need or want? I would be happy to create a new collection based on your idea, just ask!

I am hard at work developing new collections to display in the shop. Soon there will be something for every occasion imaginable. Check back often, subscribe to the blog, become a fan of the Facebook page, favorite the shop on Etsy – however you decide to stay informed, there will be plenty of creativity displayed that may be useful to your or someone you know. Like what you see? Know someone planning an event? Spread the word by sharing the Facebook page or links to items in the shop. Any form of support is greatly appreciated.

Excited doesn’t begin to describe how I feel about this new endeavor, so I’ll have lots to say about it as it all comes together just like the events I have designed for :)

Ask the People

2011-08-22T12:44:00.000-04:00

Planning a celebration? I'd love to hear what themes and color combinations you are planning to use. Your idea may become a new collection for sale in the Etsy shop!

2011-08-15T13:08:00.001-04:00

Things have been too quiet for a while.... Stay tuned for something new and exciting from Elated Memories.

Winner!

2011-02-04T20:19:00.002-05:00

Thank you trdmosgrls and Lesley for entering the giveaway. I have used Random.Org to generate the winning entry number result: #2

Congratulations trdmosgrls, you have won a $25 credit for services with Elated Memories!!!

Thanks again to all of those who helped spread the word about the giveaway.

Giveaway Update

2011-01-30T21:58:00.006-05:00

If you were having trouble posting a comment for the giveaway you should be able to do so without a problem now. I apologize deeply for any inconvenience this may have caused :(

Since there was an issue with the blog page settings I am extending the contest to: Thursday February 3rd, 2011 at 10 pm! The winner will be announce on Friday morning, February 4th, 2011.

Be sure to post a separate comment for each of your entries, as this will be the only way to ensure that you earn your maximum of 5 for this giveaway. And if you have already joined us on Networked Blogs or "Like" us on Facebook you can still enter by posting each of those in separate comments.

As always, if you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to ask!

Thanks for playing!!!

Giveaway Time!!!

2011-01-27T19:32:00.003-05:00

Thank you so much to Megan O'Keeffe Photography for helping me to reach my first goal for 2011: to reach 100 fans on Facebook by the end of January! I am so very grateful to all of my fans for their overwhelming support. This year is going to be a great one for Elated Memories, thanks to you!

As promised, to celebrate this milestone I have decided to hold a giveaway...

$25 credit for services with Elated Memories!!!

If you are planning an event in the near future, this offer can come in quite handy. Need shower invitations, or save-the-dates, or wedding monograms? This credit will cover design fees for most of these projects. So if you know anyone who could use this type of service in the near future, pass the information along!

How to enter (5 ways):

-"Like" us on Facebook, and then come back here and post a comment telling us that you do.

-"Share" us on Facebook, then come back here and post a comment with a link to your post.

-Follow us on Networked Blogs, then come back here and post a comment telling us that you do.

-Tell your Facebook friends to Follow us on Networked Blogs, then come back here and post a comment with a link to your post.

-Tell your Facebook friends to visit the blog and enter the contest too, then come back here and post a comment with a link to your post.

Don't cheat yourself, be sure to post a different comment for each way you can enter to earn your maximum of 5 entries.

Contest will run until 10 pm on Tuesday, February 1, 2011. Once the contest ends I will chose a winner randomly, based on the number of entries. I will post the results by Wednesday morning, February 2, 2011. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and claim their prize.

I appreciate all of the support I have received to date, and look forward to seeing who gets to take advantage of this special discount.

Shark Bait

2011-01-24T22:00:00.004-05:00

I went green for Killian's second birthday and sent electronic invitations to all of our family and friends. His school pictures helped by providing the perfect background with such an adorable picture of my beautiful little man!

Swirly Sacrament

2011-01-19T13:13:00.005-05:00

For my son Killian's Baptism celebration, I wanted to create a simple yet elegant invitation. I chose a great textured paper and embellished it with a delicate swirl, color matched to the envelopes that were used.

After the celebration, Killian was photographed in his gorgeous custom made romper and bonnet. To share these keepsakes and express our gratitude, I incorporated one of my favorite poses into the thank you cards. They were press printed on Pearl Coverstock, which provided the message as well as a keepsake that could be displayed by the recipient.

I love my son dearly, so this project was very close to my heart and I enjoyed every moment spent creating these special stationery items.

Mother Nature Intended

2011-01-17T12:43:00.009-05:00

In early 2009 I was asked to create a baby shower invitation by my good friend, Casey. The mother-to-be is very eco-conscious and even had a registry full of organic and eco-friendly products. Casey came to me with the idea of a "Pregnant Mother Earth." I designed the following invitation and printed it on seed paper, including a message on the back with instructions on how to turn the keepsake into a bed of flowers. Recycled envelopes were also used, to fit in with the green theme.

Etsy Shop Coupon Code

2011-01-07T14:47:00.003-05:00

The Elated Memories Etsy Shop is once again up and running with just a sampling of the type of even elements I can create for you. Custom projects are always welcome, so convo me on Etsy or message me on Facebook if you would like to explore other ideas.

AND...

In honor of my return to my passion I am offering an Etsy Coupon Code, good for 20% off of any order! Enter code: NEWBEG2011 to received your discount as a thanks or showing your support to new beginning for Elated Memories!!!

*20% discount is not applicable to shipping fees or sales tax.

2011: New Year and New Beginnings

2011-01-07T14:00:00.003-05:00

It's time to reemerge into my passion for all things paper. It will be a slow start, but with the support of my precious family and friends I know I can do it!

Please help by suggesting my Facebook page and Blog to all of your friends. My first goal of the year is to reach 100 Facebook fans by the end of January.

Babies are a Gift from God

2009-02-01T12:15:00.003-05:00

As you know, I recently became a mother. Our son is such a precious gift to us and our family. We will be honoring our faith by baptizing him in the church we were married in. Of course my mind started working right away toward a simple and elegant card to invite our closest family and friends to join in our celebration. (I will unveil that design once we have mailed them out ;) )

While working on our son's invitations, I took a nostalgic moment to browse through some of the cards I have created for this type of occasion in the past. Here are some of my favorites.

Thank you to Sandy, Marissa, and Migdalia for allowing me to work with you on your children's invitations.

Cherry Blossom

2009-01-24T20:17:00.005-05:00

This time last year, I was working with my good friends Ruth and Jorge on their wedding details. I had just completed their pocketfold invitations, adorned with subtle Cherry Blossom branches, pale pink and chocolate brown. I went on to create many other emebellishments for their special day, and was lucky enough to enjoy them personally as a reader at their beautiful ceremony and a guest at their exquisite reception. Ruth and Jorge are very special friends and I was glad to help make their day one that none of us will forget anytime soon!

Afterward, Ruth sent me the sweetest words of gratitude:

"We are so lucky to have such a talented friend like you. Our wedding would not have been nearly as beautiful if it wasn't for all of your work. Our invitations are still getting raves from everyone who received them; our unity candles were gorgeous and will be displayed in our home; our programs, petal cones, votives, table numbers, menus, candy jar labels, and camera stickers made our ceremony and reception so much more than we ever dreamed of. The personal touches you add to your work make your products more meaningful and sincere.

We thank you so much for being there for us every step of our planning process and for making our dream wedding come true. You were our first and only choice when it came to helping us plan our wedding and creating our beautiful event details and you will undoubtedly be our first choice when it comes to our most important future occasions.

With all our love and gratitude,
Ruth and Jorge
03/22/08"