Introducing... the Bella Bash Boutique!

I am so excited to announce to opening of Hello Bella's very own Etsy shop! As many of you may know, I love etsy, and I love paper, so it seems only natural to open up a shop selling printable paper party wares!

Some may already know what a printable party is, but for those of you who don't, well here's the low-down. You purchase a party from the Bella Bash Boutique, decide if you want it customized with a monogram (free for November!), and then wait. For customized parties, you will receive an email in your inbox within 48 hours (non-custom parties it's just 24 hours). This email will include all of the pdf files you need to print off your very own party. For best results, I suggest emailing the files to your local Office Depot print shop and getting them printed on a minimum of 80lb white cardstock (18 cents a piece), but you are also welcome to use your printer at home. Once you print as many copies as you need, you cut, assemble, and party! Every party is accompanied by easy to follow directions and a supply list.

Why a DIY printable party you may ask? Well, as an event planner I am well aware that not every one can hire a designer or planner for parties such as birthdays and showers. People have come to accept that custom and stylish event design is just for a wedding (or for a host with mad graphic design skills or an enviable budget). My goal with the Bella Bash Boutique is to make sure you never have to walk down that craft/party aisle again to buy over-priced, over-used, and often tacky party wares for the event that you're hosting.

What do you get in your party? Everything from invitations, to favor boxes and bags, to cupcake wrappers and more. Essentially, add the food and treats and you've got yourself a party!

Currently I've got 3 parties created and ready to go, which I will be rolling out on my blog over the next few days (complete with fun DIY projects to compliment each party). Also expect to see custom digital invitation design for weddings and more!

I have more parties in the works, but I want to hear from YOU what themes you think I should create for my next collections? Please leave your feedback, and I will select one poster at random to receive a free party of their choosing!

Homemade Biscotti Treats for Fall Favours

For our (Canadian) Thanksgiving dinner, I decided to have a go at making homemade biscotti favours that would also double aa place cards. I found the EASIEST recipe, and I was so excited to try it out. Anyone with a coffee/latte/cappucino addiction like myself should understand the yumminess that is biscotti dipped in some piping hot java.

Something about the crunchy texture of this italian twice baked cookie, that turns to a soft moist cake when emersed in coffee, makes this treat an absolute favourite of mine. Whilst the recipe looks incredibly fool proof, I found a way to mess them up a bit (when I turned the timer off for the first batch, I inadvertently turned off the oven, so the next 2 batches were just hanging out in the oven for about 10 minutes with no heat). To compensate for the oven mistake, I left them in a bit longer than I should have and they were a tad bit on the overcooked side. I was able to salvage most of them except for the chocolate ones (which were eaten despite their burnt aftertaste by my hubby's best friend).

Although Thanksgiving up north has come and gone, there's still US Thanksgiving, Halloween, and of course any random dinner party, that you can use these for. I packaged mine in clear cello bags with orange ribbon, then put each package into a small kraft bag. I grabbed some leaves from outside and wrote the names of each guest in gold pen, and secured it to the bag with green ribbon. If you'd like some fun, free halloween templates like the one above, head on over here.

Now how to make easy peezy biscotti:

1 Box Betty Crocker Cake Mix (any flavour but Super Moist White is great for regular biscotti)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 eggs

Your choice of flavour/topping ( I toasted pumpkin seeds and almonds, used some in the mix and some for sprinkling on top)

1.Heat oven to 350, or 325 for dark/non-stick pans

2. In a medium bowl, mix cake mix, eggs and oil until a dry dough forms (there may be some extra cake mix left in the bowl). Stir in your flavourings ( pumpkin seeds and pumpkin pie spice/ gingerbread spice/ almonds/ m&ms).

3. On an ungreased cookie sheet, shape dough into a 15 by 4 inch rectangle using greased hands (crisco!). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on cookie sheet for 15 minutes.

(If you want to do 2 different flavours in one batch, separate into different bowls to flavour and then shape on your cookie sheet. Here I've done almond on the left and pumpkin spice on the right.)

4. Cut rectangle crosswise into 1/2 inch slices. Place slices, cut sides down, on cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges are a deep golden brown. Cool for 5 mins, remove from cookie sheet, and cool for another 30.

5. Melt some chocolate chips in a double boiler, dip your biscotti in and place on parchment paper. You can also drizzle melted chocolate over top if you like in different colours. Sprinkle with crushed nuts or other topping and let stand until set!

There you go... It doesn't get much easier than that! It is fairly time consuming, however, so next time I might just head over to Costco ;) At least I can tell my husband's italian family that I made biscotti!

Cute and fuzzy crafts for fall

I'm a sucker for a great diy project, and an even bigger sucker for free templates. This post satisfies my craving for both! Domestic Fluff has an easy-to-follow tutorial for making pom pom flowers, a creative take on the infamous tissue poms (just on a smaller scale and suitable for everything from wedding and party crafts to home decor). In addition to these delightfully adorable yarn blooms are the matching paper templates that would be perfect for a shower or birthday! Enjoy, and if you do happen to ever try your hand at one of these crafts, send me a picture! I'd love to see ;)

Pink Party for Breast Cancer Awareness: etsy Tuesday

Another week has come and gone, and here I am again with an etsy Tuesday post and nothing else to show for the last week! The "rush" of my wedding season has come to a close, and blogging daily is back at the top of my list! I can't make any promises, but at least I can try.

For those of you who've read my blog for a while may remember another feature I did on Paper and Cake. I absolutely LOVE this company, and I think it's ingenious that they sell their designs electronically and allow you to print your own party ware. It's not QUITE homemade, but at least you'll feel a bit more creative than if you had walked into a store and bought everything premade. And who doesn't like to feel a little bit Martha Stewart every once in a while?

This pink partyware is designed in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month which is right around the corner, but would be perfect for a bridesmaids luncheon, shower or tea party. Compliment your tablescape with gorgeous white candle holders (these ones look like they're from Ikea), some pastel blooms and pretty stands to hold your treats, and you're good to go!

For $8, you get ALL of this :

Invitation + Envelope

Notecard + Envelope
Door Sign “Welcome”
Pennant Banner “Pink Party”
Placemat
Napkin Rings (vase & candle wrappers)
Menu Card
Wine Glass Tags
Cupcake Wrappers
Cupcake Toppers
Party Food Labels (name tags / gift tags / place cards)
Handbag Style Favor Box
Bag Topper for Pink Lapel Ribbons
Full Sheet Patterned paper

Find the pink party printables from Paper and Cake here.

Ice Cream Parlour Dessert Table

Oh. My. Gosh. OH MY!!!! I just about DIED when I came across this too-cute-for-words DIY Ice Cream Parlour. First off, anyone who knows me (or anyone who has seen my website design or blog), can tell you that I love pink. I really love pink. And I also have a HUGE soft spot for dessert-table-esque features at weddings and parties and showers. I think they are an amazingly adorable way to tie in your colours and give your guests something to munch on. Hence why this DIY Ice Cream Parlour is complete and utter perfection if you ask me. Not only is it incredible to look at, but the fabulous Amy from Eat, Drink, Chic has provided you with the templates so that you can create your very own fabulous Ice Cream Parlour for your next party. Heck, I might even have to try one myself. I have a baby shower that I'm working on for October, and I just might have to add this to the list!

Bubbles for the Bridesmaids

Since I've got bridesmaids on the brain, I thought I'd devote another post to your handy sidekicks. I have just found the prettiest DIY gift I think I've ever seen: homemade bubble bath (recipe by Abigail Beal here) in a gorgeous vintage or frosted glass bottle customized with a set of these amazingly adorable and free downloadable templates from Eat, Drink, Chic here. These templates are to die for! Incredibly chic and original, and could also be used for bridal shower favours or guest favours for a small wedding.

DIY Bridesmaid Guide

What is cuter and more practical than a bridesmaid guide? Pretty much nothing, because as soon as you set your sights on these beauties you'll be smitten! Customize the free downloadable template with the details and dates for all of your wedding activities, plus add fabric swatches, ribbon samples and magazine cut-outs of everything you want your wedding and bridesmaids to be. This is especially perfect if your besties live in another city and won't get to do a ton of shopping/sourcing with you. Get the free template here or head over to Project Wedding for full project details and instructions.

Monogram Giveaway!

Above: "Ella"

Above: "Madison"

Above: "Paris"

Above: "Carolina"

Above: "Whimsy"

This weekend is my 1 year wedding anniversary, and in celebration I am giving away custom monograms for free! Yup, that's right, free! I was having so much fun playing around and designing monograms last night, and thought maybe someone out there might like one for their own use!

It doesn't even have to be for a wedding- if you just want your name for your own stationary, or have a birthday or shower and would like a monogram for it, let me know! To get your custom monogram, email me at jen@hellobella.com and provide me with the name of the monogram you want, the colours and what you want incorporated (names, initials, dates). I'll have the giveaway open until Friday, August 28th and will accept the first 20 entries. I will try and get your monogram to you as soon as I can, but expect it to arrive within a week!

Terrific Templates!

Photographic Scavenger Hunt Card for the kiddies from Martha Stewart

Placecards from Martha Stewart

Sparkler Holders and MatchBox Wraps from Twig and Thistle on Style Me Pretty

Favour boxes from Twig and Thistle on Style Me Pretty

Vintage Save the Date on Wedding Chicks

Printable treat bags on iDiy

Apocathy Labels and more on iDiy

Green Templates from ELuckyMe

I guess you could say I'm sort of a paper princess. I love love love pretty papers and printed materials. I think they are THE best thing you will do for your wedding/shower/party, as they make the biggest impact for the smallest investment. There are loads and loads of free templates on the web, and with a little customization and a trip to Kinko's you pretty much have an insta-party. I've rounded up some of my favourite templates for you, and in case you're wondering what they can be used for- well let's just say pretty much anything. Want a list? I thought so. Here it goes:

~Save the Dates

~Invitations

~Thank You cards

~Favour Labels

~Favour Tags (Yes, these are different than labels! Labels are usally attached, tags hang off a ribbon)

~Napkin Wraps

~Candle Wraps

~Cupcake Wraps

~Signs: Welcome, Candy Buffet, Washrooms, Just Married

~Programs

~Menus

~Place Cards

~Escort Cards

~Guest Book

~Fans

~Colouring Books

Those are just a few, but I'm sure you can think of more ways to use your templates! Just one word of caution- as magical and wonderful as it all may seem, DIY templates do take a lot of time to customize, print, cut, and assemble, so a word to the wise: only DIY a select number of projects and what you don't have the time or creativity for, leave to the professionals ;)