Looking for 10

The last time I blogged was July...I wish I had some really awesome excuse like I've been abroad or joined the Peace Corps. No, I've just been working and sitting around. I've decided to bring back the blog while I sit around...can I get a "woot woot!"?

Anyway, somehow 190 of you are stilling following my blog after this long absence. Y'all are awesome! (Although, I'm sure you just forgot my blog even existed.)

So, I'm looking for 10 more followers to have a "Welcome Back, I have 200 Followers Giveaway". Here's a hint at what one lucky winner will win!

Giveaway!!

Hello Lovely Followers! I want to fill you in a new giveaway over at Everything Emily. I know a lot of you will remember when I had my giveaway for "Design your own Rosette Headband". Well, that idea has been expanded. You can choose one of three fabric flower styles and one of eight fabric choices!

In addition to the headband, you're also entering to win a $10 Starbucks card!

There are several ways to enter, and I've even given her followers a special coupon code for my Etsy shop. :) Head on over, and tell her Bracey sent you!

Which style and fabric would you choose if you won?

These are also available for custom orders, if you're not the lucky winner.

Monogram Necklaces

Monogram Necklaces are the biggest things right now, and Hand Made and Lovely has finally jumped on the bandwagon.

I have just added these new pieces to my Etsy shop (along with other new lovelies) for your to customize for yourself and friends. These make great gifts (including bridesmaid gifts)!! If you're interested in orders of multiples, please contact me, and I will make you a custom listing.

Choose between Monogram or Initial necklaces.

All letters are in a script font and very light weight. Initial necklaces feature all lower case initials in order. Monogram necklaces feature lower case first and middle initials with an upper case letter representing the last name in the middle.

 Allow 2-3 days for orders to be made and shipped (4-5 days for larger orders). Get your custom Monogram or Initial Necklace today!

Shelving Project - Finished!!

Today, with the help of my awesome dad, I finished my bookshelf project.

I'm not sure the pictures do it justice.

I love the new molding. I love the color. I love the contact paper. I just love everything about it, and I can't wait to fill it up with my tv, books, and accessories in my new apartment!

Shelving Project - Progress

I'm still working on my bookcase project from my last post. I have primed the areas that will painted, removed one of the shelves, scraped off the corkboard, and added a decorate crown molding to the top.

I cannot wait to get this thing painted and the contact paper in place. The next post should be my finished product!!

Shelving Project

I'm starting a new project that I'm very excited about.

The first time I took these this bookcase on as a project, I was in middle school. What a wonderful time to paint a piece of furniture! Luckily, my parents knew how awesome I was and let me have free reign with all of our left-over paint. Obviously, I chose to use every color.

I'm actually proud of the corkboard top shelf. But, alas, it's time for this bookcase to be transformed. I plan on painting the entire thing gray and using a gray and yellow floral contact paper for the back of the each shelf.

I've turned the bookcase upside down, and I plan on removing the once bottom, now top, shelf so that the larger opening will house my TV.

I'll be sure to post pictures of my process and the final result!

Clear Character

Not the first time and not the last time I'll be blogging about my really cool brother. His company, Clear Character, makes amazing websites (including mobile sites!!), ads, and branding opportunities for your business. All of their clients have seen a HUGE boost in business thanks to a professional website and brand.

Clear Character can tackle any project!! See their website for the capabilities and portfolio. If you want to see one of their latest sites, check out my new design and organization business website.

Featured Item of the Week

I should really start having featured items of the month, since I can't seem to keep up with weekly blog posts. That's pretty sad.

Anyway, I am having featured items this week:

These lovely Rose Dangle earrings were added to my Etsy shop last night. I love colored rose beads paired with the smaller gold roses. With a pearl on the end, these earrings are perfect to dress up any outfit.

I'm very proud that I got a few things up on my shop last night. Hopefully more to come today!

New Etsy Listings

I've posted new items in my Etsy shop for the first time in a long time. I'm hoping this is the start of a wonderful habit!

I love all my new pieces! More to come tomorrow evening...be sure to check my shop!

Ribbon and Chain Necklaces

I've been busy the past month making new jewelry for my Sales coming up. I am signed up to have a booth at Newnan's Market Days the first Saturday of each month, April-December. That means I'm going to need a lot of new jewelry each month!

Here is a sneak peak at one of my newest designs.

I love these Ribbon and Chain necklaces. They look great layered! Something great about these is that they can also be worn as wrap bracelets.

Contact me about custom orders today.

New Supplies = New Jewelry

Head on over to my Hand Made and Lovely Facebook Fan Page to see some of the new pieces I've been making with my recently ordered supplies. I'm really excited about all my new jewelry. My first Market Day is April 7th in downtown Newnan, GA. I couldn't be more excited!!

If you don't already, "like" Hand Made and Lovely on Facebook, so you can keep up with all my newest pieces and dates of the Market Days I participate in.

New Easter Gift Tags

The Tag Ladies have just added new Easter gift tags to the shop. These tags feature illustrations from children's books. They are perfect for Easter gifts/baskets, Spring presents, or baby gifts. Get them just in time for your special Easter gifts. Seeing as today is the first day of Spring, I thought it appropriate to post these new listings today.

View each listing for details and pricing. As always, Tag Lady merchandise ships for free!


Hoppy Spring!!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm linking up with Jamie to share what I'm loving this Wednesday...

I'm loving that today is my work-week Friday!!

I'm loving that tomorrow night I'll be dining with the lovely Rachel. We usually have dinner every Thursday night, but for the past two weeks ones of us has been out of town. This week will be our reunion, and I know we'll have a lot to catch up on!


I'm loving that I'm leaving Friday morning for a week long vaca to the beach!! I'll be meeting up with three of my best friends, and we've got some fun stuff on our itinerary!

Etsy Listings

Dear Lovely followers,

I have just renewed several listing in my Etsy shop, and I'd love to hear what you have to say about the pieces.

Those are just a couple! Be on the look out for new listings coming soon! I'm working on photographing and editing, and will have BRAND NEW pieces soon. Never before seen in my shop -- that's exciting!

Love,
Bracey

New iPhone App

I've just discovered a really cool new app for iPhones (coming for Droids soon).

Spot On Trivia is a location based trivia game. You can play against your friends, other people at the same location, or your own high score.

There are different catergories of questions as well as a "random" category that pulls questions from each. They are constantly adding new questions!

Coming soon, this app will have location based prizes. If you have the high score at Starbucks, for example, you may win a free coffee.

If you're in the Austin area, Spot on Games (made by Chances Media) is having a trivia competition with a $1500 top prize!!

Like both Spot on Games and Chances Media on Facebook to learn more. Download the app for your iPhone now and start playing!!

Pinterestin' Friday

It's that time of the week for me to share some of my recent Pinterest finds. Who doesn't love Friday, and who doesn't love Pinterest??

This week, I'm going to share a couple of pins from my "Design Inspiration" board. This board is full of great ideas for my future home (and if I'm lucky future clients).

I love the idea of a built in bench separating spaces.

I love use of paint in this room!

These and many more amazing finds can be found on my Pinterest boards!

Have a happy Friday and a great weekend!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm linking up with Jamie again for WILW.

I'm loving that I remembered it's Wednesday and to link up with WILW.

I'm loving my weekend plans! I'm heading up to VA to see my old roomie Catherine, and she's got an itinerary all planned out for me.

I'm loving the new bracelets I'm making, and I'm loving that I've already sold one. Get your order in today! Right now, I'm making orange, pink, white, black, and gray. $15

I'm loving the beautiful weather we had today! That made my afternoon run/walk much more enjoyable.

I'm loving that tonight is the season finale of Revenge. Even though I'm sad it's going to be over, I am glad that  I'll finally figure out what's going to happen! Does anyone watch Revenge? I want to hear your theories!

Happy Hump Day!!

New Wrap Bracelets

As shared last week during Pinterestin' Friday, I have made my own suede wrapped chain bracelets.

(tutorial)

I love the wrap bracelet trend. I can't wait to wear one of these with my gold watch and bangles. I just made a gray one, and I had to share it with you. Soon, I'll be making pink, orange, white, and black too.

I've got some more exciting "chain" jewelry coming soon as well. Look out for necklaces and more bracelets with rhinestones, suede, and ribbon.

Contact me today about ordering these bracelets before they hit my Etsy shop!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm linking up with Jamie (for the first time in a long time) for WILW!!

I'm loving that I'm back to blogging!! I'm going to try to be better than I have been the past month. I've got some exciting new posts lined up. I'll also be reopening my Etsy shop soon!

I'm loving this amazing Georgia weather! It's February and in the 60s. That makes going to run everyday so much easier!

I'm loving that I'll be spending the weekend celebrating Valentine's day with the boy. This will be our 4th Valentine's together (unless you count our "group date" freshman year because he was too lame to ask me on a real date).

I'm loving the tutorial I found for these bracelets. As soon as the suede I ordered arrives, I'll be making these for my new shop!

Happy Hump Day!

Valentine's Day Gift Tutorial

I thought I would share my Valentine tutorial from last year. I made this treat for my friends back in middle school at the suggestion of my mom, and I brought it back last year for some of my college girls. I think these would be cute treats for any holiday!

Here's what you'll need:

paper towel or toilet paper rolls

tissue paper and ribbon

tags (this is optional)

some goodies

(I chose mini Bath & Body Works hand sanitizers and Reeses)

You will also need tape and scissors. If you chose to use a paper towel roll vs. a toilet paper roll, cut the roll into smaller pieces. I cut mine into thirds. Start by laying out the tissue paper and laying one of your toilet paper rolls on top. Cut the paper based on the size of the roll, leaving a few inches on each side.

Make sure the tissue is facing down and tape one end to the roll. Roll the paper around the toilet paper tube until it is completely covered. If the tissue paper is see through, you might want to roll it a couple of times.

Cut any excess paper off, so you can use the extra for your next treat!

Finish rolling the paper around the tube and tape the end down.

Cut two pieces of ribbon long enough to be able to tie a bow around the end. I chose to use light pink ribbon that matched my cute monkey paper!

Pinch one of the ends of excess tissue paper and twist slightly.

Tie the end with one of the pieces of ribbon.

Fill the open end of the tube with the goodies you chose. I also like to include a little sequins and sparkle as a fun surprise! After you fill the toilet paper roll, tie the other end with the other piece of ribbon you cut. Be sure to attach your name tag.

There you go!! These are sure to be unique gifts for anyone, and they are really easy and inexpensive to make! Plus, you'll get a laugh when your friend opens the package and finds a toilet paper roll!

Be sure to share a link of this post if you love it!