Creatively KEPT

Memory Books

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 01:10:00 +0000

Last week I decided I MUST do something with the mess of kiddo school papers and artwork sitting around waiting to become something fabulous our family can treasure later. Sound familiar? I've worked really hard to get rid of things I know we don't use or won't look at later but some things are just too hard to throw away! School photos, special awards, grade reports, and the sweet little picture my first grader drew two months ago that says 'I wuv u mom, u r da best mom evr!"

Really, how can I part with that?!

File folders are too boring to look through if I even remember they're there, scrapbooks take too long, and the idea of scanning everything into the computer just seems like a hassle! Plus, the originals are so much fun to look at :)

Meanwhile, the piles on my kitchen counter space continue to build....

I've finally come up with an idea that I can't wait to share!

Top loading, acid free, 8.5x11 size plastic sleeves are bound into a book

I can build the book with any number of sleeves to hold as much or as little of what you can't part with

Make a separate book for each grade or combine grades in one book separated by tabs

Best of all, I let the kiddos pick their own fabric, which makes it even more fun to look at later!

Now, when an artistic masterpiece arrives home from school, I have a perfect place for it to land, which makes dinner preparation much easier!

Want one of your own? Just send me a message or visit my

etsy shop

I'd love to customize one just for you!

Placing Photo Corners

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:05:00 +0000

Recently, I've received a great deal of questions regarding how to place the photo corners that come with the guest books and albums. Seems explaining can sometimes be much harder than demonstrating, so I've made a quick tutorial to show the easiest way I've found to use the photo corners that come with your album or guest book.

Make sure you have your coffee first....it's that riveting :)

Brag Books!

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 21:02:00 +0000

I'm so excited to announce the new Brag Books just in time for Mother's Day!!

I'll be offering 4x6 and 5x7 plastic sleeve Brag Books in both portrait and landscape designs.

Contact me or visit my etsy shop to purchase a custom design or existing design

Perfect gift for a proud Grandma or Mom!

Easy to change out photos frequently and show off the kiddos you adore :)

Tiffany Blue Wedding Set

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:55:00 +0000

There's just something about Tiffany Blue that sings to a girl's heart

...or at least for this girl!

New Year's Resolution

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:21:00 +0000

My goal this year is to get more organized! So cliche, I know, but seriously you'd agree if you could see the chaos from which I create. Lucky for me, my brother in law noticed my mess while visiting over the weekend and designed/built this very awesome shipping station with my hubby.

WOW, I'm spoiled!!

Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:04:00 +0000

I moved onto my new home studio about a year ago and still have a work in progress!

It's getting closer and closer to how I want it, at least for now, until I decide to change it again!

One of my favorite parts of this room is the custom vinyl a very talented friend at strawberrypearl studios was so kind to do for me! I painted the background squares and she did the rest to make a perfect CreativelyKEPT logo, how fun is that?!

Now that I see the photo, I'm thinking I really need to paint and reupholster that chair! Any ideas? Please share!

Table 6 Productions

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:02:00 +0000

Every once in a while I google 'creatively kept' just to see what pops up.

Well, today I was in for a very pleasant surprise to find Creatively KEPT was featured not too long ago by Table 6 Productions. This surprise was even more pleasant because this site is so neat!! If you're planning your wedding or just want to check it out because you like great ideas for party planning, take a peek at

Table 6 Productions!

Perfect Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:40:00 +0000

newlyweds that have everything on their registry

the new mom that has enough baby clothes to dress triplets

grandma that has absolutely everything

wife, sister, or daughter that loves to scrapbook

special couple looking to preserve memories of their wedding day

sound familiar? anyone like this on your holiday gift list?

Visit my etsy shop and buy a gift certificate!!!

I'll mail you or them a beautiful gift certificate printed on card stock and they can simply contact me with the gift card number to redeem. Contact me to request specific dollar value.

I'll work closely with them to design a guest book or album that will be customized just for them in exactly the way they'd like it!

they'll love you for it...and so will I :)

Contagious Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:41:00 +0000

By February every year, I'm so sick of holiday decorations I can't imagine how I could possibly want to decorate the next year or ever again. I even contemplate getting rid of all the decorations at just the thought of having to pack them up and put them back in the rafters of the garage...as always, the only thing that keeps me rational are the boys.

....then, comes mid November

there's something contagious about the holiday season

the fun ideas on fellow crafting blogs

really neat holiday finds on etsy

snow

Christmas music

hand turkeys the boys bring home from school

I suddenly get the urge...

so, once again, I pull out all the Thanksgiving decorations about a week too late, knowing I'll pack them up and put them away in just a matter of days until next year

....I do it anyway, it's just a contagious urge

this year it was making a holiday banner

these are all over the crafting blog world and I couldn't resist but to try and make one myself

With my Cricut I so lovingly received from my Dad two Christmases ago, it was a cinch

paired with the boys' hand turkeys, it feels like the holiday season

now I remember why I take the time to pack it all up and take the time to put it back in the rafters for next year!

Specialty Books

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 17:41:00 +0000

CreativelyKEPT just got better!!

With more great ideas from my etsy customers and a new addition to the CreativelyKEPT team, I'm so excited to offer specialty guest books!

New Mini Envelope Wish Book

Choose your own book design and envelope color

Instant Film Camera Books with Pre-Placed photo corners that allow guests to quickly and easily slip their photo into place and sign next to their photo

Fujifilm Instax Mini Film Guest book Album

Fujifilm Instax Wide Film Guest book album

Check out my etsy shop for more details

Card Boxes

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 21:27:00 +0000

Love making these new card boxes!

Now offering round or square in any design and a variety of sizes,

check out my etsy shop for details

Celebrating Individuality

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Sat, 01 May 2010 21:11:00 +0000

Creating custom has led to many personal revelations.

I've found that individuality offers uniqueness, interest, creativity, and A LOT of inventory, especially ribbon!

I've got so much inventory in fact that soon I'll be moving into my new home studio.

In anticipation of this move, I've come across a great way to organize my rolls of ribbon. I'm so excited about this revelation, there's nothing else to do now but share it with all of you!

Inexpensive Valance rods are the perfect solution. They are extremely easy to hang, the cost is only about $3 per rod, they adjust to any length you need, and they are really strong and durable. I love that the rolls can be removed and transported to your project and easily placed back. You can also slide the rolls over to make way for a new color

(that unusual colored ribbon on clearance you couldn't pass up)

that happens to go best right in the middle of the rod without having to remove any of the other rolls.

My favorite part.....just look at it!!!!

What a celebration of Individuality

I can't wait to make more custom books

without having to search through my inventory for the perfect ribbon!

Happy Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:02:00 +0000

Thanks to another very lovely etsy customer, I had the opportunity to create my very first Christmas Album...I can't wait to create more next year!

This one is covered in a deep red dupioni silk and a brown/gold silk cut velvet damask.

I'm thinking vintage Santa/Christmas for next year!

Wishing everyone cherished holiday memories....and a wonderful place to store them :)

Ooh La La

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:02:00 +0000

I just couldn't pass up this vintage french poodle fabric salvaged from an old curtain panel

It's just so bizarre and WONDERFUL!

...and of course, I knew right away, there was a new album design in my future!

New Wedding Albums

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:28:00 +0000

Here are a few more wedding guest books I've recently had the opportunity to create!

Verity

covered in a pink dupioni silk and paired with a brown silk cut velvet damask

Mandy

covered in Amy Butler's Nigella Wild Fern in Ivory and paired with a solid brown

Natelie

Covered in a blue and brown damask and paired with a solid brown

Tiana
Covered in an ivory dupioni silk and paired with an embroidered burgundy

Nicole in Gold
Fleur de lis pattern in ivory and gold and paired with an ivory dupioni silk

Wedding Accessories

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:44:00 +0000

It seems my customers are always keep me from becoming stagnant, even if I try! Many thanks to all of these wonderful customers and their great ideas!

After several requests for wedding accessories, I've finally started a new line of wedding sets. Guest book pens, ring bearer pillows, flower girl baskets, and garter sets are all new items I can create to coordinate with your wedding colors/style. Just as with my guest books and albums, there is no limit to customizing. Choose any fabrics and ribbon or even coordinate them with your guest book!

Check out the details at my new web site

http://www.creativelykept.com/

Albums Aside

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:17:00 +0000

Next to albums, decorating is my next favorite hobby, especially my kids' rooms! When it comes to their rooms, they seem to change faster than my kids. I'm really excited about a much needed new web site created by a fellow flickr fan and even more excited that she so kindly featured my Jungle Room mural I painted two themes ago!

Her web site is dedicated to "cool kids' rooms" I only wish I had this site to look at for great ideas five themes ago!

So...looking for fun kid room ideas? Check out her website here and while you're there, take a peek at my 'Jungle Room'

Out of My Element

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:25:00 +0000

Feeling a little frazzled and out of my element this past week!
The good news is... I have a new web site up and running...still couldn't tell you how it happened!

I have a whole new appreciation for web designers!!

Stop by here and check it out!

New Wedding Albums

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:03:00 +0000

Just a few more custom wedding albums/guest books for more wonderful etsy customers! Does anyone else love etsy as much as I do?!!

Amanda's Sage and Butter Yellow wedding is so beautifully classic for a spring wedding

Lesley's color combination makes me feel like I've had a refreshing drink of lemonade...just as she described! Definitely one of my favs!

I love Johanna's cool crisp version of fall

......and oh my goodness Audrey! I can't get over this striking color combination, I wish I could do my wedding over again just to have these colors!!

I just can't get over how much I enjoy working with the brides on these guest books...custom handcrafted work has such a wonderful way of bringing individuality and working relationships back into the product!

Check out my etsy shop for more custom albums and guest books

Custom Damask Wedding Guest Books

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 03:07:00 +0000

I'm now offering custom damask wedding albums/guest books in my etsy shop. For a simple and classic look, combine any style black and white damask with your wedding colors.

Fall Already?

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:46:00 +0000

In the custom order world, fall is closer than it seems! Here is a fall album I had the opportunity to create for another wonderful etsy customer.

This guest book has a brown silk with damask cut velvet pattern placed over an orange dupioni silk. To top off the fall colors of this album, it displays a simple orange satin ribbon on the front and is bound together with a reddish brown organza ribbon. The personalized monogram on the front has a watermarked lily in the background and is printed on a combination of shimmery fall colored cardstocks.

I love the texture and colors of this album, pictures just don't seem to do it justice. I can't wait to see what other custom orders fall weddings will bring.

Boys are fun too!

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:56:00 +0000

As much fun as I have with the girly albums, I'd have to say boys are pretty fun too! Here is an album for a little boy that I had a blast creating!

I just love this 'disco dot' print by Michael Miller chosen by an etsy customer!

Finally Girly

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:40:00 +0000

As the mother of three boys...very sweet little guys, but definitely boys....I'm so excited that I'm going to have another niece!

When I discovered the room would be done in 'raspberry swirl' the instant excitment I felt made me realize I'm a little more girly than I had thought! So needless to say, the girlyness within me couldn't help but escape into another photo album.

This one is for a very special little girl!

Summer!

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:19:00 +0000

The anticipation of Summer has led to some really fun custom orders!

This guest book is for an etsy customer who sent me her fabric used for handmade napkins at a Vintage Fourth of July BBQ themed wedding!

This idea has inspired me to create new curtains for my 50's kitchen, I LOVE it!

I also want to have another baby in hopes it's a girl just so I can copy this etsy customer's choice of colors in her baby girl's room....well maybe not that bad, but it is pretty fantastic!

Kate and Piper

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:43:00 +0000

I'm loving all the sunlight we've been getting in the Northwest!

The kids are burning their energy outside, not to mention the wonderful lighting for photos!

Kate and Piper are two of my favorite albums and winter lighting served them such injustice. Along with Spring, Piper and Kate have a new beginning to show their true colors.

Kate is covered in Amy Butler Belle and green polka dot fabric.

Piper is covered in a green dupioni silk and Anna Maria Horner Drawing Room Fabric
Still trying to get the hang of photography, and loving happy accidents like this Piper photo!