Extra Special

I love when customers have special requests for their items that will make the finished product extra special :) As most of you already know, I love custom requests and when the request adds something to the item that will make it truly one-of-a-kind, it makes me giddy :)

I recently made 11 custom photo albums for a bride and groom to give their wedding party. They requested that I add Bridesmaid, Maid of Honor, Best Man and Groomsman to the outside of the albums along with the info that I normally add of the couple's names and wedding date.

But that wasn't the most special part about the books. The special part came when the bride asked if I could add her father's handwriting to the inside of her sisters' books. Their father had passed away a few years ago and she had a card that he had signed and wanted it added to the books.

 I was happy to oblige and I love how the books turned out. These books just became ten times more special with the addition of their father's writing added to their books. It is the first thing they will see each time they open the books :)

Wedding Bells

Ever since attending the bridal fair a couple weeks ago, I've had wedding projects on my mind! I have a huge list of ideas I want to make for wedding decor and I got a few done this week! Rustic, shabby wedding themes seem to be very popular, so these items should fit in well!

First up is a Mr. & Mrs. Wedding Banner. I'm selling these both as premade banners as well as custom banners. Make them as long as you like! (And for any occasion!)

Next I made these Engraved Table Numbers. These can be customized as well with any font or graphics the couple would like. Seating charts at wedding receptions seem to be more and more popular lately.

I'll also be adding 4 more Wood Guest Book/Photo Albums as well. Here is one of my new designs.

And for those not into the rustic, shabby chic theme...how about some color! This Double Name Guest Book/Photo Album would be the hit of any wedding (or other party)! The inside pages can be formatted so many different ways!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I still have a list a mile long of wedding items I'd like to get made and listed! And I'd also like to take a few new photos with more than just a white background. I love the look of wedding items at actual weddings. Do you think I could show up at a wedding and start snapping product photos...LOL :)

Latest Custom Albums

I realized recently that I hadn't shown any of my new custom albums I made lately. I always love working with new themes and color combinations! Each one of these is so fun and unique :) BABBEL - Marine Blue and Black with Lime Green accent ribbons decorated for a wedding :)

CLANCY - Pink and Black Zebra to match a little girl's room :)

GRANDPA - Requested in Grandpa's favorite colors :)

AVERY - Pink and Purple for the girly girl :)

AYDEN - Red, Yellow and Blue for Avery's active brother :)

Wells - A new color combo for me...Purple and Orange decorated with birds :) Which one is your favorite?

This is my favorite post from last week, so I'm linking it up over at Artful Rising! Come join the Linky Party :)

Big, Bigger, Biggest

I had a request recently for a really fun album! My friend Re's daughter is getting married and taking a Caribbean Honeymoon. She wanted an album to fit both words! My creative mind got to work and made this XLarge Album! It measures 11.5"x12"!

This is one of the funnest albums I've ever made!!! I enjoyed the challenge of something new and my mind started racing with tons of other ideas these albums could be used for!

I currently have two more of these in the works. One was another custom request for the words Rogue River. The R will be 11.5" tall and the other letters will be stacked like the album shown. The other album is a gift for a friend, so I'll have to wait to show you that one :)

I think these would make the coolest guest books! Using the bride and groom's first names and decorating it to match their wedding colors! Then leaving room for photos as well as lined pages for guests! Oh the ideas!!!

What words would you use if you were to request one of these? I love hearing your comments :)

Fall Wedding Planning

It's that time of year when fall weddings are on our minds! The temperatures are cooling off and it's the perfect time to enjoy an outdoor celebration!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I recently made some Wood Guest Books that would be perfect for fall and outdoor weddings!

Or any other celebration as well :)

These guest books are made from Real Wood and they are custom engraved any way you like! They can be a guest book, a photo album or a combination of both. I love the kraft pages in these books :)

I have added a Wedding Section to my Etsy Shop and plan to add a lot more too it soon! I have more great ideas for guest books and wedding decor as well!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This post is for the EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival. Thank you to Rose of RandomCreative for hosting :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Update 9/19/2011: This is my favorite post from last week :) And I'm linking it up at Artful Rising! Stop by and check out the fun!!!

Blog Carnival-Weddings

For this week's blog carnival, Patch gave us the options of writing about our own wedding or showing wedding items we have for sale in our Etsy shops. Well, since I haven't had a wedding yet, I guess that leaves us with option 2...LOL :)

And speaking of weddings, sorry to get everyone excited yesterday. My Wordless Wednesday Photo was just to show off my pretty polish...not the ring...LOL! Jesse got me that ring for Christmas almost 10 years ago! Now on to the fun wedding items I have in my shop :) As you know, my Custom Name Albums are my most popular item in my shop. And of course I have one in a wedding theme. Actually I have two...I have also made a Custom Wedding Name Guestbook. I have been toying with the idea of adding a multi-album listing for wedding party gifts. I have sold several as gifts for bridesmaids and family members helping with weddings. I thought a package deal for wedding parties would be a great way for the bride and groom to thank their friends and family for sharing in their special day :) What do you think?

Make Me Another

I think my albums are beginning to be like Lay's potato chips...people can't have just one! And this makes me so happy :) All three of my most recent orders have already decided to order more albums!!! I showed you Emily's album earlier this week, and here are the other two albums that got repeat requests: I think the fact that these make awesome gifts and that they are such a unique item makes them a great buy! They fit so many different occasions and are completely custom you could get one for every person on your Christmas list!!!

I ♥ This Album

Customer inspiration has struck again! The last Wedding Date Album I made, I used backslashes in between the dates. But this time I was asked to use hearts.

How seriously awesome did this album turn out!

I love it when the customer and I work together to make the perfect album...and this one was a great success :) Thanks Sharla!

P.S. - Stop by on Thursday for a necklace GIVEAWAY!!!

Custom Crazy

This past weekend I worked like crazy on Custom Albums!!! Many graduations are next weekend and we are in full swing for wedding season and the word is getting out that my Custom Name Albums make great gifts :)

Here is my latest batch ready to be shipped out tomorrow!!!

Wedding Name Albums

Graduation Albums

I am also working on a surprise album for one of Jesse's cousins that I'll have to wait to show you :) It's turning out really cute...can't wait for her to see it!

Hope everyone has a productive weekend :)

Going to the Chapel...

I mentioned last week that Custom Wedding Albums are really popular right now. Between guest books and wedding gifts, it's that time of year to start thinking about weddings!

I love making different designs and trying new styles with my Custom Albums. This customer wanted her wedding date for the album instead of their last name. Very cool idea!

And this customer loved my Custom Name Guest Books, but needed to accommodate almost 700 guests and she wanted them to be able to leave a message if they liked. I worked with her to get all the details right and ended up with over 300 areas for people to write a message or sign their names. I bound it with ribbon as it was over 3" thick!!!

And here's another one I created for a local wedding next weekend. I love the colors :)

I'm sure in the coming months that I will be making several Wedding Albums as wedding season is just getting under way! I wonder what fun requests I'll have next :)

Trends in Custom Orders

I've been noticing a few trends lately in my Custom Album orders: Sororities, Babies and Weddings. All of my latest orders have involved these themes.

I have had a huge jump in orders for Sorority Albums! I think there must be something special going on right now with sororities that girls are ordering them for their Big and Little Sisters :) Here are a couple I finished over the weekend:

I love it when customers get creative with what they want for their albums :) For this baby album, the parents are big Cubs fans...and apparently baby Calvin will be too :)

I'm currently working on a couple of wedding albums that I'll have to show you next week. One includes the wedding date and the other is a cool guest book. Can't wait to show them off!!!

Wedding Season Underway!!!

I do believe that wedding season is officially underway...or wedding planning season anyway :) Next Saturday I have a Wedding Event I am attending to show off my cool invitations and new guest book designs.

I am currently finishing up two Flip Flop Guest Books to be shipped out this week. I am also working on a couple of new guest book designs. One should be done this week...and the other might take a little longer.

I am also making invitations for two up-coming weddings. One is for my cousin and one is for my best friend :) I find it a great honor when those close to me want my work to be a part of their big day :)

I should have photos ready for you this week! And if you're in the SW Iowa area next Saturday...stop and see my designs in person :)

Weekly Feature

I'm pretty excited about this week's feature :) I just listed it in my shop last night! I have made two of these Custom Wedding Flip Flop Guestbooks and decided they needed to be added to my shop as a permanent item :) And you blog readers get to see them here today! Want a guest book that everyone will talk about? Want a memorable keepsake from your special day that you can leave out all year round? Then my Custom Flip Flop Guestbooks are just what you're looking for! This guestbook is made from a real pair of new flip flops and reads Just & Married on the inside (bottom) of the flip flops.Choose from either black or white. And choose any colors for the inside of the album to be decorated with! This listing is for 26 pages. The front page is a great place for the bride and groom's names, wedding date, etc. Any information you would like included. There are 50 lined mats where guests can either leave a short message or over 500 people can sign their names. However you would like the book used. The pages are made of chipboard and are covered on both sides with patterned paper. Additional pages can be added for a fee...convo for more info. Please allow 2-3 weeks for the album to arrive. Need a rush order...please convo first :) So if you have a wedding coming up and would like a unique guestbook...look no further :)

Weekly Feature :)

With wedding season just around the corner...this weeks Weekly Feature will be great for all those showers and receptions you will be attending :) My Custom Wedding Name Album will make you the hit of the event!!! Personalized gifts are always the best! The happy couple will be so thrilled you took the extra effort to give them a one of a kind gift :) Album measures 4"x12". Album base is heavy-duty chipboard. Each side is covered with cardstock and each letter is then covered with patterned paper. Each page is decorated with buttons, flowers, stickers, die cuts and other scrapbook embellishments. Album is bound with two metal rings and embellished with matching ribbon. Ideas for names/words: *First Names of the Couple *Last Name of the Couple *Date of the Wedding (ex. June1608 or Dec142008) Choose 4-9 letters for best fit. Also choose 2-3 colors and specify if there is a special theme. (ex. destination wedding, theme wedding, etc.) This will be a gift the newlyweds will cherish for a lifetime :) Note: To use MR&MRS, the last name must be 6 letters or fewer to fit the 9 letter maximum of the album.