Choosing Flower Arrangements for your Dining Room, #homedecor

I'm usually not one to spend a whole lot of time on things like centrepieces. Hurricane vase, coffee beans and a candle. Easy peasy.

But when it came to redesigning our formal dining room, I wanted to have one centrepiece that would be classic and chic, and would transition well no matter the season or event that we are hosting.

I love the look of fresh flowers, but to get new ones every single week...well...it's just not realistic with a toddler running around and another one on the way. I knew that it was time to order some gorgeous paper flowers from 2Clvr 4 U Designs.

 

One of my favorite bouquets that Laura has created is the Great Gatsby. I love the metallic finishes on the papers, paired with simple whites. I also really love the Pink Peony bouquet

So...I'm thinking a shallow brushed metal bowl, filled with white peonies and roses. Simple, but full of texture and dimension.

Now to find the perfect bowl!

Local Love Monday: A Paper Buffet

I am so incredibly excited to feature this Etsy shop today!!

I have had the pleasure of meeting Stephanie, walking the aisles of Angelo's and trying to find an elusive slice of pie or two. I've had the pleasure of sitting with her over coffee and chatting about Etsy, what makes us tick as artists and keep up to date with her {while only living about 8minutes away from one another} on twitter.

Now...I get to share that with you!

What will you find at A Paper Buffet? Only the finest paper creations, from beautiful handmade greeting cards to gorgeous bookmarks, tags, boxes and even nostalgic memory games for kids!

{Green Damask paper flower bookmark}


{handmade Mother's Day cards}

Seriously beautiful, right?! What I love about Stephanie is that she sources alot of her papers locally. There's a few great shops in town that she scouts paper at and then turns it into the most gorgeous cards and creations that I have seen in a very long time!

Catch up with Stephanie and A Paper Buffet on Etsy, Twitter and Facebook!

Mompreneur Monday: Baily Belle

I had the pleasure a few weeks ago connecting with Vanessa from BailyBelle on Twitter. The lovely Daisy from Pixel&Hank connected us, as we were gushing about crying over Pampers commercials, silly mommy moments and wondering if our hormones would ever be the same again (quick answer: no).

Well!! Vanessa and I quickly started chatting, I looked up her Etsy shop and I'm now the proud owner of this beauty.

Have you ever seen something so unique and beautiful?? I haven't, which is why I snatched it up and got it for my Christmas stocking!!

I wanted Vanessa to be my first Mompreneur featured in 2012 because her vision and creativity just shines in everything that she touches. Truly and simply, she is an artist.

What do you do?

I design and create handmade accessories ranging in materials from fabric, paper, metal and leather. I work in an eclectic manner producing sophisticated and playful pieces for you to enjoy! I run 3 Etsy shops (bailybelle, SoMichelle vintage and The Train Case supplies) with the main shop being bailybelle all while raising my 2 wonderful kids with my amazing husband Lucas.

How do you maximize your time as a busy mom running a business?

Ah the question worth a million dollars! Thankfully I have a great support system of family who help me out a ton, without them I'd be lost. I tend to create when the kids are sleeping or busy playing (my studio is situated so I face our living room and can keep an eye on them).

What do you see as your greatest challenge being a MOMpreneur?

My greatest challenge would have to be balancing my kids education and my work on a daily basis. My kids are small now but my son will be starting kindergarten next fall and as a homeschooling mother things will get tricky! I plan on making a lot of schedules and disciplining myself to stay on task to get everything done.

What advice do you have for other moms looking to start a business?

Take it slow! In the past I had a tendency to jump into things and then realize I was over my head. It's best to take baby steps and learn as much as you can as you grow so you create a balanced business.

Is there anything additional you'd like to share with my readers?

I do have an announcement to make! Yippee!! One of my pieces (my chalkboard necklace) is featured in the January issue of Sacramento Parent magazine! How fun is that and appropriate for your blog?! I will be receiving a copy of the magazine when it's out so I hope to be able to share photos on twitter/facebook and my blog!

I would like to offer a 10% off code to your readers as well so have them enter code SWEETNESS at checkout for 10% off any purchase in January!

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What's Next Wednesday: Mini Candy Cups

Happy Wednesday!! Again, blogging a bit early as we have a busy day of nurse visits and Walk of Hope appointments tomorrow!

So...What's Next?

How about some Mini Candy Cups? These ones are going to a Candy Couture Events candy buffet at the Sunshine Foundation Golf Tournament on Thursday!







Yellow and mustardy-orange cups that measure approx. 3.5" (cup circumference and length). These ones have the word "Sunshine" handstamped in acid free black ink, strung on bright orange cotton cord, then embellished with graphite coloured glass seed beads.

I think that they are just absolutely adorable! I'm going to come up with two more sizes, a Small Candy Cup and Medium Candy Cone, to suit every candy and dessert buffet need!

Mini Cups are sold in sets of 4 for $6.99!

Bulk orders are eligible for a discount, so drop me a line about your upcoming event!

Talk-To-Me Tuesday

Welcome to the first installment of Talk-To-Me Tuesday (written very late on Monday evening before hitting the hay and praying that our son sleeps through the night. He's cutting a molar...so...all of my fingers and toes are crossed!)

What is Talk-To-Me Tuesday? Well, it's your chance to ask me a question about...really...anything. Crafts, techniques, art princples....baby food, baking, Mama techniques. Anything.

The first question that I've received when I put out the call for topics was

How did you get started in working with paper?

I found this question really difficult to answer, actually!

It all began when I became friends with Diane. She is a lovely woman; strong, independent, insanely crafty, and down right adorable. She is also a consultant for Close To My Heart, a brilliant scrapbooking and paper craft company.

I was wanting to get crafty and make some photo memory boxes for my mom and my husband's mom, filled with photographs of our son during his fist 6 months, that we'd give them at Christmas. CTMH had great magnetic closure photo boxes, a huge selection of coordinated papers, and their idea book was fantastic to let my mind wander.

I quickly became obsessed with paper, and my favourite is textures paper. I learned to emboss paper with a press back in highschool (we'll not talk about when that was) and have always loved the way paper feels to work with. There's something about the act of scoring, cutting, folding, punching...working with paper that sets my mind at ease.

I'm pretty systemic when I work with paper. I have a routine for everything, and an assembly line once all of my elements are cut, shaped, inked and about to be put together. Seeing it all come together, one piece at a time, is something that I find hugely gratifying, and knowing that my customers appreciate each and every cut, fold, bend and score makes it all worth while.

Have a question or topic that you'd like me to Talk-To-You about next Tuesday? Let me know by posting a comment below, writing on the Facebook wall, sending me a note on Twitter or emailing me at shannon@sweetstellas.com

Special Post: Facebook Fanpage GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate 100+ fans over on Facebook, I've decided to do a little giveaway!

Up for grabs is a set of 12 custom made notecards! For all of you mama's out there who are throwing 1st birthday parties soon, these little beauties will certainly come in handy!

Head on over to the Facebook fanpage and comment on the Giveaway status with your favourite paper from the Papers album!

Good luck!

MOMpreneur Monday: Andrea Jackson

Good morning! I hope that it is warm where you are! We are being faced with -20 Celsius right now, with blowing snow, gusting cold winds and ridiculous windchills....and all of that spells FLU SEASON! What started out as my husband having the stomach flu, has morphed into a sinus cold for him, a runny nose and scream-filled 7month old, and a not-so-hot feeling Mommy!

Anyhow! Without further adieu...here is your MOMpreneur for the week: Andrea Jackson!

What do you do?

I am a stay at home mom of 2 very active boys ages 5 and 1, the president of my local chapter of MOMsclub, and a MOMpreneur who is launching my dream come true - Dreamer Creations and Baby Laughs by Dreamer Creations. I offer completely custom works of art in the form of Diaper Cakes, Greeting Cards, Party Favours, Invites & Thank-Yous, Wall Art, Photographic Prints and more.Plus I create designs for products sold on Cafepress and Zazzle (in my spare time).

Why do you love it?

I have always been an artist of some form or another. My art has transformed over the years and the current theme revolves around things to do with my kids. Being a busy full time mom, and also active in my community, with a husband who works MANY hours, I quickly found I needed an outlet. So late at night, on the weekends, or during nap time, I squeeze in a few minutes (or if I'm lucky, hours) of ME time and let the creative juices flow. I love making something unique and different, beautiful and fun. I try to offer a little something for everyone, and offer custom work to anyone interested.

What advice do you have for other MOMpreneurs?

Being a MOM is hard enough, but trying to balance family life while running your own business? That takes super powers! It's not for everyone, but for those willing to try it, I say give it all you've got. Some of the most amazing products in the world have come from MOMpreneurs! Even if you think you might not have what it takes to go big, do it anyway. There's always someone out there looking for what you have to offer. And you'll never know just how brilliantly successful you can be if you don't try!

You can find Andrea and her wonderful creations on Facebook, Etsy (here and here), Cafepress (here and here), Zazzle and on her website!

And here's a sweet little button for your website, blog and fanpage, Andrea! Congratulations on being a Marvelous MOMpreneur!

Have a lovely day!

Y3W Friday: New Product Announcement

Finally! The end of the work week...let the weekend begin!

But before it starts...we have our final installment in our party series to announce!

Meet our Treat Flags! Sold in sets of 12, and available in three different styles, they are perfect for dressing up your cocktail, dessert and buffet tables! Choose from our wide selection of papers, or let us search for the perfect paper for your party!

Available in rectangular (pictured), pennant and rounded corner. All treat flags are affixed with acid free adhesive to food safe sticks, and are available with embellished toppers at your request. Flags can also be stamped with the items from your menu at no additional charge! Sets of 12 are only $9.99!

For more photo's, please head on over to our store!

MOMpreneur Monday: Twirlie Whirlies

Good Monday morning to you all!

I am so excited about our first MOMpreneur Monday feature, and the responses have been rolling in from really amazing women who've started their businesses from home!

First up, we have Shannon Torossi of Twirlie Whirlies

What do I do?

My name is Shannon and I am a stay-at-home mom who operates an on-line paper party accessory shop. "Twirlie Whirlies" came about by accident two years ago when I began decorating my little guy's "big boy" room and trying to come up with some fun and clever decor items. Pinwheels became my obsession and I felt I needed to open an on-line shop just to deal with the growing mountain of paper in my home. It has now evolved into an "after hours/all night long" full-time business. In addition to 4 original styles of paper pinwheels, I also offer up my exclusive "Blockhead" party hats and candy cones, buntings, cupcake wraps and the like. I have supplied to the tiniest parties and the biggest weddings and charity events.







Why do I love it?

I love Twirlie Whirlies because it allows that much needed "me" time. Even though everything I make is for other people, the time spent doing it is mine - late at night, after my men have gone to sleep and the house is completely quiet. That is my bliss.

What advice do I have for other MOMpreneurs?

Currently I am a one-woman show, though my darling husband will do postal runs, operate the printer, or anything else I ask him to do (which usually isn't much more since I am a total control freak). My 2011 resolution is to ask for more help where I need it. Friends and family are always offering me their help - as my business grows, this will be the year I will take them up on their offers. So, my biggest advice would be to ask for help when you need it. It is not easy to be a wife/mommy/cook/housekeeper/chauffeur/teacher/friend/ diva/and MOMpreneur all at the same time!

You can find Shannon on Twitter, Twirlie Whirlies, her blog, Art Fire and her Etsy shops (1 and 2)!

Thankful Thursday: Specialty Shops

Happy Thursday, everyone! We've almost made it to the end of the week, which is something to be thankful for in itself!

This week, I am extremely Thankful for....

Specialty Shops!

I know, I know...sounds weird, right? But when I get right down to my paper inventory and stamps, I cannot find nearly the same things at the big chain stores as I can at say...

All About Scrapbooks in Woodstock, ON

or

Scrapbook Memories in London, ON

or even...

Close To My Heart...which is definitely my preferred go-to place for ideas and amazing papers (doesn't hurt to have a great friend as a consultant either...another thing to be thankful for!)

I am thankful for their amazing selection of papers...unique, lovely...beautiful! Walking about rows and rows of paper, brads, embellishments and do-dad's is enough to make this girl go crazy with ideas!

I am thankful for the beautiful store that my mother-in-law and I went to today...

Paper Players in Dunedin, FLA

Absolutely amazing invitations, banners, favours and beautiful papers abound!

And did you know? It's National Papercrafting Month!

Sounds like a new product announcement is coming!! (stay tuned!)

What are you thankful for today?

MOMpreneur Monday

Welcome back!


We've been on vacation for the past week, and we're actually still there but I'm going to whip on every evening to do some posts for you all and next week will really be back into the swing of things.


Even though it's vacation, Stella has been a busy gal creating new products, going paper shopping and checking out local inspiration in the strangest of spots. Shoe stores running rampant with fabulous textures, pools with beautiful hues of crystal blue, skies with interesting contrasts of purples and oranges.


For MOMpreneur Monday this week, I thought I would post a preview of a few MOM's that we'll be featuring!



Shannon Torossi of Twirlie Whirlies



Rosita di Trolio of FreeSpirit Photography



Jenni of Jenni from the Blog



Jenna Beaty of Living Rainwater Tanks




If you'd like to be featured with the above fabulous company, consider these questions:


a) What do you do?
b) Why do you love it?
c) What advice would you give to other MOMpreneur's?



Stay tuned for the answers to the above questions by the above fabulous MOMpreneur's!

Whimsical Wednesday

Happy Wednesday everyone! While my Monster is still snoozing, I thought I'd whip on for Wednesday's post.

Whimsical Wednesday.

Much thought went into the alliteration for today. Wholesome... Wellness... Whatever... Wonderful...ideas were plenty, but at the end of the day, I want to use Wednesday as a day to reflect on what inspires me, new products that I'm falling in love with, and hopefully inspire some creativity in all of you readers.

For our first post, I have a confession to make.

I have a paper obsession.

It's a healthy obsession, in my opinion, because just in looking at a coordinated paper pack from a fabulous scrapbooking company such as Close To My Heart, I can see the endless possibilities in products for Sweet Stella's. In truth, paper makes my imagination run a wee bit wild.

Paper is so versatile, so whimsical and absolutely lovely! I never thought that walking the aisles at Michael's and stumbling upon a 4 for $2 scrapbook paper sale would get me excited, but it certainly does!

In all honesty, paper is one of my absolute favourite products to go searching for. Thankfully, our fair city has two Michael's locations so I can buy them out at both when I find a great deal and beautiful paper for our store. If you give me an idea of the theme for your event, colours, or a pattern...I can find a paper to match it and coordinate all of your party decor! (*hint* to an upcoming new product to be unveiled next month!)

We're off on vacation come Christmas Day, and I cannot wait to get to some of the craft stores at our destination! Vacation paper!!