2 Shows to Shop this Weekend!

EBL Designs will be at two different shows this weekend!  First up is the First Friday Indie Market in Downtown Greensboro!  The Indie Market is a place where local artists and crafts people can come together for an Open Air Market of handmade and vintage goodness. We are located at the corner of South Elm & MLK in Downtown Greensboro. Each Market takes place on the first Friday of every month (April through December) from 4 pm - 9 pm.

Then on Sunday, May 3rd, EBL Designs will be at the Made 4 The Market Spring Arts, Crafts & Pottery Market. MADE 4 Market is the largest all local, NC made arts, crafts, & pottery show with a variety of handcrafted jewelry, pottery, fiber art, fine art, wood, artisan foods gifts, and so much more! MADE 4 Market is a wonderful time to find that special gift for all spring occasions, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, weddings, and graduations.  The market is located the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market - 501 Yancyville St, Greensboro, NC 27405 and will run from 11 am - 5 pm.

I'm offering a special at both these shows -or until I run out (I only have 17 of the packaging...)

It's a gift and a card all in one!  For only $12, get your choice of occasion card (Mother's Day, Happy Birthday, Graduation, and (hopefully) Teacher Appreciation); 1 set of note cards, 1 gel pen of choice, one washi tape of choice, and tag.  All will be packaged as shown in the picture above.  What a fabulous gift!  Remember, I only currently have 17 of the clear boxes, so once those go, the deal goes as well! (I have more boxes on order, just not for this weekend.)  Contact me if you would like to pre-order, go to my Facebook page to see current examples of cards that will be available!.

Make It Monday: Birthday Wishes Window Shaker Card

This week I was inspired by a card that Jennifer McGuire of Jennifer McGuire Inks made.  It was a window shaker card.  I know, they've been done before and I've personally seen thousands (well, maybe not thousands) of videos on how to make this type of card.  But it was something Jennifer said and used that finally made the process click for me and inspired me to give it a try.  To watch Jennifer's video on how to make a window shaker card, click here.

So what finally made this card click for me?  Not having to buy expensive acetate (clear sheets) to make the window of the cards.  Thanks to Jennifer, I learned that I could use just about any clear packaging to make these cards.  She even suggested using the clear envelopes that your stamps come in.  What did I use?  The clear plastic protective sleeves that I package my cards in to sell!

I hope Jennifer can inspire you and unlock some of the mysteries of card making.  I love watching her videos to learn new techniques.

Birthday Wishes Window Shaker Card:

Supply List:

Life is Beautiful Die Collection (set of 2) – both small butterfly dies

Birthday Kisses & Butterfly Wishes Stamp

PapertreyInk - Birthday Trio Die Collection (set of 3) Die B (all caps)

Circle Die

Tim Holtz mini inkers in: Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed, and Brick

Ranger Inkssentials Mini Misters, 3-Pack

Ranger AIP-31468 Archival Inkpad, Jet Black

Sequins 

Wink of Stella - Glitter Brush Pen Clear

Zig Glue Pen

Glue Runner

White Card Stock

Light Blue Card Stock

Watercolor Paper

Clear Plastic Envelope Bags

School Spirit Friday!

HPU Floral Die Cut Note Cards- Set of 4

Lately, I've been working on a new line of note cards that are University themed.  First up, High Point University of course!  My husband and I are both double alumni of the good old HPU (in case you don't know what that means, we got both our undergraduate and graduate degrees from there - go Panthers!)

HPU Lattice Die Cut Note Cards- Set of 4

These note cards make outstanding gifts for all those upcoming grads.  They will need thank you notes (or should - you should always send a thank you note for a gift...jumping off the soap box now...)


Here are a couple of finished designs that are ready to sell and a look of my design concept.  I am working on completing other schools, but my Cricut went down last week and I'm waiting on a replacement.  I do have access to another machine if needed.  

Orignal design concept.

As always, if you're interested in a custom design for your school  or for that college grad, contact me by commenting below, Facebook or through my Etsy shop!

Sale - Just in time for Mother's Day

Hello everyone- just wanted to alert you to a couple of deals in my Etsy shop.  First, I've been marking down some older inventory to make space for new items.  Check out the 50 PERCENT OFF SALE section in my Etsy shop.  Lots of deals on earrings and a few crochet wire necklaces!

Also, just in time for your Mother's Day shopping, get free domestic shipping off of orders of $10 or more with coupon code: MOMSDAY.  Happy shopping!

White of White Die Cards

It's a week of trying new things!  I'm taking part of the Make It Monday #209: White on White Die Cuts With a Pop of Color Challenge this week.  I have a lot of Papertrey Ink products and really enjoy using them.  I hope taking part of these weekly challenges will help me to better utilize what I already have on hand and to keep the creative juices following.

For the challenge this week, I had to make a card using at least one Papertrey product and white on white die cuts with a pop of color.

Here's what I came up with!

And because I like this technique so much, I tried it using black card stock!

Supplies:

Life is Beautiful Stamp Set – inside small butterfly stamp, “Do beautiful things with your” stamp

Life is Beautiful Die Collection (set of 2) – both small butterfly dies

BirthdayClassics: May Mini Stamp Set - Birthday stamp

PapertreyInk - Birthday Trio Die Collection (set of 3) Die B (all caps)

Book Club Stamp Set – “Wishing you a happy day” stamp

Tim Holtz mini inkers in: Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed, and Brick

Ranger Inkssentials Mini Misters, 3-Pack

Tsukineko Full-Size VersaMark Pigment Inkpad, Clear

Hero Arts White Embossing Powder

Clear Embossing Powered

Super fine Pink Glitter

Anti Static Bag

Heat Tool

Fiskars 3x5 Inch Compact Stamp Press

Zig Glue Pen

White Card Stock

Black Card Stock

I Love You To Pieces

Will, age 10, with mom, Elizabeth

April is Autism Awareness month. This is a cause that is near and dear to my family. My son, Will, was diagnosed at age 7, but it was an up hill battle since he was four years old (and really the signs were there from the time he was about a year old). Bill and I are active parents who were telling his doctors, teachers and counselors all along that something was wrong. The pediatrician that we saw was supposedly and expert in child behavior and made us go through parenting classes. Parenting class - without even evaluating Will, because if he had even spent 5 minutes with Will, he would have known something was different. We have never went back to him. Unfortunately, it took Will getting violent in the classroom before we were able to have him tested.

Today Will is doing well! We have wonderful doctors who are working with us, a team of teachers and counselors who are helping us and a wonderful and support group of family and friends who have stood by us. So to my friends out there who are parents - you know your child and you are the only one who can fight for them to get them the help they need.

"Love You To Pieces" Note Card Set

For Autism Awareness month, I designed the "Love You To Pieces" note card set.  This set of cards are made to order. For every card set sold, $4 will go to the North Carolina Autism Association in honor of my son Will. 

Will at the Run/Walk Autism 5k on September 27, 2014.  He was one of the top 10 fundraisers for the event!

Make it Monday - Floral Note Cards

Happy Monday everyone!  I'm going to try something new on my blog - a new series called Make It Monday (inspired by a lot of my favorite blogs).  In this series, I'll show you how I make one on my creations.  It might not be step by step, but it will always include a list of supplies with links to purchase. I encourage you to be a savvy shopper to find the best deals on the items or just use what you have on hand.  I hope you enjoy and are inspired!

Floral Note Cards

I just got my Cricut Explore Air a couple of weeks ago and have been playing around experimenting with a few things. I've been so caught up playing that I forgot that I had to make a birthday card and a thank you note.  So using my Cricut Explore Air and supplies that I had on hand, I created one design that I modified to use in three different ways!

One thing that I would like to note is the size of the note cards turned out to be about 5.5" x 3.75".  You can use a standard A2 envelope, but it won't be an exact match.  I used my We R Memory Keepers 1-2-3 Punch Board to create an envelope box for the birthday and thank you note cards with the 3-D flowers.  It wasn't a perfect fix, but it will do for now. 

In case you are wondering the difference between the Cricut Explore and the Cricut Explore Air - the Air has built-in Bluetooth technology so I can wirelessly connect both my laptop and iPad! 

 Supplies:

Cricut Explore Design-and-Cut Die-Cutting Machine
Cricut Explore Essential Starter Tool Kit
Floral Note Card templates - subscription needed
Instructions on Assembling Flowers

Swooh Stamp Set - Papertrey Ink

Simon Says Clear Stamps Hand Lettered Winter Wishes

Tsukineko Full-Size VersaMark Pigment Inkpad, Clear

Hero Arts White Embossing Powder

Anti Static Bag

Heat Tool

Fiskars 3x5 Inch Compact Stamp Press

Mono Multi Liquid Glue 

White Card Stock

Dark Pink Card Stock

Light Pink Card Stock

Lime Green Card Stock

Black Card Stock

School Spirit!

Purple and white - inspired by High Point University

Did you know that I can make custom crochet button necklaces in just about any school's colors?  Show your team spirit, whether it's for your elementary, middle school, high school, college or favorite sports team!  

Blue and white - inspired by UNC

These necklaces are typically custom order and may take up to 2 - 6 weeks to complete.  It depends on my button supply and it I need to find and order special colors.

Purple and orange - inspired by Clemson University

Necklaces consist of buttons in your choice of colors, hand crocheted onto silver plated copper wire and finished with a magnetic clasp.The necklace measures 18-20 inches, but can easily be adjusted up or down by either gently pulling or scrunching sections together.  The cost is $30 for each necklace plus shipping.

Want to order yours today?  Just contact me either through my Etsy shop or Facebook!

Red and white - inspired by NC State University

Blue and gold - inspired by UNCG

Black and gold - inspired by Wake Forest University