ETSY Shop // GIVEAWAY! {Custom Chalkboard&Chevron Invitations//Announcements//Nursery Printables}

So, I've been a bit under the radar on the blogosphere lately, and for that, I apologize!

{you know, in case you were diligently waiting by the computer / biting your nails kinda thing waiting on an update from me..haha}

But here is why...

It's been my little labor of love and
I'm happy to announce that I am now offering
custom/personalized chalkboard digital printables for ALL occasions!

nursery // home decor // baby showers // BaByQ's //

save-the-dates // bridal showers // bachelorettes //

rehearsal dinners // wedding & anniversary gifts //

+ more

All items can be changed up according to your preferences

(background style // colors // occasion)

For example, if you like a particular bachelorette invitation,

but would rather use it for a bridal shower,

just let me know!

The options are endless!

Prices starting out very low -- so get 'em while they're hot!

I may have had a little happy dance last night when I sold my first invitation in less than 24 hours of posting.

I'm excited about the opportunities this may bring,

and hope you enjoy my designs :)

_______________________The    G I V E A W A Y_______________________

So to celebrate the launch of the new Etsy Shop items, as well as surpassing 200 blog followers,

I want to thank all of you by giving away ANY SINGLE PRINTABLE in my shop!

Don't need an invitation for anything quite yet?

That's alright!

Get yourself a custom print to frame and hang in the house,

or order up a custom gift to give as a baby// wedding// engagement// anniversary present!

There is something for everyone :)

RULES FOR GIVEAWAY:

1. Must be a follower

(click to follow on right sidebar -- *you do not need to have a blog to follow*)

2. Comment on this post that you'd love to win one of my new printables

EXTRA:

3. For an extra entry to win, LIKE The BARRTIQUE on Facebook and comment back here that you did.
3. For an extra extra entry to win, visit my shop and comment back here with your favorite item.

_____________________________________________

TWO lucky winners

will be chosen at random (through random.org) this Sunday evening (4/14/13)

Good Luck! :)

Our Unique Guestbook {from GuestbookStore.com}

When planning our wedding, I had so many visions in my head of what I wanted and how I was expecting everything to look. And then when I realized I hadn't thought of some of the smaller details, like the guestbook, cake topper, etc., I had to jump on those to cross them off of my last-minute to-do list. With that being the case, it didn't leave me much time to come up with something creative and unique for our guestbook. I had seen these personalized books being talked about on Wedding Bee, but since I waited until the last minute, I didn't get around to it {Insert sad face here!} And since much of my traffic comes from the Wedding Bee site, I thought I'd offer the wise suggestion to order a personalized guestbook from the Guestbook Store.


How adorable is this?

We used this guestbook for our baby shower, and absolutely love that we now have it to look back on, and share with our baby girl one day. So I can't imagine how great it would be to have this to look back on from our wedding day, as opposed to the traditional 'sign your name here' guestbook approach.





The pages were set out on the table that guests were greeted by as they arrived. The pages were set out individually, so each person could fill it out as they felt like it. Some did it right away and some waited until the end.



And the Guestbook Store pens? They were a hit. Some people just get overly excited about 4 different colors on one pen! But who can blame them?! My cousin even came over after the shower and caught glimpse of the pens, and took home about 4 or 5 to use for Fantasy Football notes or something of the like... :) They definitely gave the guests a reason to make each page CUTE!

As each guest finished sporadically, they would insert their page into the super cute album. {Which, by the way, you get to choose the album cover from a wide range of options -- I chose 'Baby Talk', but equally loved 'Zoo Critters'} And throughout the entire shower, I'd catch people sneaking a peek at the book and checking out what advice others had to offer us.

What I love about this guestbook is the idea that it encourages guests to offer special and unique wishes, words of wisdom, and even fun little predictions. I don't know how many times I've stared at a blank page and wondered, "Hmm..what should I write?"
This gives guests ample opportunity to fork out their best advice in a nice or funny way. They can choose which way to go with it :)

i.e., the 'Drive your parents crazy' piece of advice...not necessarily the 'nice' approach!

And perhaps one of my favoriteee additions to this unique guestbook? The page for the invitation, AND several pages to list your gifts!! Not quite sure why these excite me so much..but, before even receiving this book, I had the intention of adhering the invitation to the inside front cover of the book. Then, to my surprise, a special little page, just for that :)



And this way baby girl can always look back to see who got her those favorite attachment items! And well, helllllo helpfulness for writing thank-you notes!!


Thank you, Aruanda, for filling this part out :)

As you can tell, I've been thrilled about this guestbook and I'm excited to always have it! Baby girl will have fun one day looking back on these special messages, and it will always bring me back to the special day and memories that this shower brought.



You can order one of these sweet little books for all sorts of occasions {weddings, wedding showers, baby showers, anniversaries, birthdays, lodging, memorials, graduations, retirements, reunions, bar/bat mitzvahs, etc.} so if you're looking for a way for your guests to have this much fun while signing your guestbook, head on over to the Guestbook Store {www.guestbookstore.com}, and then toss in a bottle of champagne, wine, or cocktails, and they're bound to throw some fun messages your way!

spring forward with a spring mantel

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It may not 'officially' be spring yet...but we sprung forward last night so that counts for me! While some complained about springing forward, I have been waiting for this day for a little while now. I don't look at it like I lost an hour of sleep, because well, I don't have kids to wake me up and I don't work on Sundays - so, I just slept an hour longer! Not to rub it in for some of you ;) But seriously, I LOVE when it stays lighter later. No more coming home from work, rushing to make dinner, and feeling like it's almost bed time already. Now, I'll leave work while the sun is still shining and have time to make dinner and still take the pup to the park after to enjoy a walk with my little family. Oh, how I've been looking forward to this!

While J spent the weekend studying, I spent the weekend crafting. The neighbors might possibly dislike me after the smell and fumes of spray paint lurked in the backyard area all weekend. I went through a few bottles... but the outcome was worth it to me :) A 100% DIY mantel..it kills time for me and then I get to enjoy the beauty of it all afterwards.





Just about everything was handmade using items I already had laying around in the garage. It's amazing what a little paint and fabric can do!




Now for the important stuff:

The empty big frame above the mantel was an ugly ol' picture I found while helping my brother move. I *kindly* talked him into giving it to me ;) I removed the backing, took everything out of it, and pulled out the staples holding the picture in place. Then, just spray painted.


To make the yellow bottles: drink some beer, clean out the bottles, and spray paint! I also spray painted the sticks to put in them.


To make the 'cake pedestal,' I purchased a small Terracotta planter and plant base, spray painted them, and attached using e6000 glue. (Place the Terracotta planter upside-down) This was a total of $4.


For the Easter/spring wreath, follow the same directions from the Christmas Wreath Tutorial. Only, instead of yarn, I wrapped the wreath with fabric. I made the same flower types as in that tutorial and hung from the frame with a strip of fabric.


The spring banner was made using fabric and felt cut into triangles and clothes-pinned onto jute twine.

If you're interested in making burlap balls, I simply crushed up a piece of computer paper, and wrapped 1 1/2" wide strips of burlap around them using hot glue until it was covered.

The apothecary jar was made back in October (follow this tutorial) and I just lightly painted yellow over the black. Looks messy but I'm okay with it! It's filled with mini Robin eggs.

For the frame with the starfish, I spray painted an old frame we had (Hospice Thrift Store special courtesy of Grandma), put a piece of scrapbook paper in it and hot glued one of the starfish from our wedding on it.


Spray paint colors used: Krylon Blue Ocean Breeze, Krylon Bright Idea, and Krylon Satin Jade.

The total I spent this weekend at Hobby Lobby was a whopping $17 for all of this (excluding items I already had).

Clearly, we are readyyy for spring around here and I will be lovin' these bright evenings :) The windows are open, and we are making our way out more and more. Make room for spring, everyone!

Blogaversary & The Barrtique SHOP LAUNCH!

Happy Blogaversary to Becoming the Barr's!

I started 'Becoming the Barr's' exactly one year ago today. And what an adventure it's been for me!
Check out my first post here.

This was started to keep family and friends in the loop after moving out of state for my husband's medical school career, as well as to track our way through the wedding planning phase. I do miss that phase! Wedding planning was wonderful for me - and now we're sticking around the blog world so you can get a peek inside our newlywed life. I do hope you enjoy!

I've learned so much in the blogging world, and have become inspired by all the fellow bloggers. This past year has brought about a new love for writing, photography, baking, decorating, and creating more than I ever have -- and I am thankful for all the joy that this blog has in turn brought to my life. Let's hope for more years of blogging, creativity, and inspiration in all I do -- especially when we move to The W (pronounced The 'Dub-ya')!

~~~

And now for some exciting news ---

The BARRTIQUE has officially been launched.




It's a little etsy shop with personalized goods & handmade accessories.
Check it out, and be sure to tell your friends about The Barrtique.
www.etsy.com/shop/thebarrtique

I have many ideas for this, but all will have to come in due time -- ya know, because I have to work around this boring ole thing called a job ;)

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