GIVEAWAY: From a teacher's point of view..

Happy Monday and Professional In-Service week for my teacher friends in this neck of the woods.  This is only my second year of not experiencing the stressful classroom set-up, lingering in the school supply aisles for hours or creating name tags for just about everything you can label in a classroom.  Last year I was on maternity leave and have since extended it for another school year.  I have traded in my Henry and Mudge books & teaching guides for Illustrator and Photoshop. However, I am staying true to my roots (and my Masters degree!) and giving back to education even if I am no longer in front of the class.  

So, I took some time last night and really thought about the little surprises that I loved getting at the beginning of the school year. Just those little things that add up over time but you use daily.  I worked at a wonderful elementary school that had fabulous parents that always did the little things to show how thankful they were for a dedicated staff. 

So, to you it may look like a box of Clorox wipes, but to a teacher it means clean desks and less germs!  When you see an envelope of Avery (or store brand, perhaps) labels you think addresses--teachers think, JACKPOT!  So next time you are out and about, pick up a little something for your child’s teacher.  It doesn’t need to be expensive or lavish and can even be something you are finished with (i.e. old books) but it will most certainly make a difference to the teacher that has made a career out of making a difference. 

In the good spirit of Back to School, Libby Lane Press is giving away a $20 gift card to Staples.  The only rule is that you must use it towards classroom items for a teacher that you know or if you happen to have your own classroom.  Even if you do not have your own school-age children, I am sure you know a teacher, right?!  And if you don't I am sure that your local elementary school would gladly take a few donated goodies bought from Staples. 


Rules for entering giveaway:
Mandatory Entry:
1. Leave a comment below sharing what you will buy for your favorite teacher using the giveaway gift card to Staples.

Extra Entries:
2. Like Libby Lane Press on Facebook
3. Follow Libby Lane Press on Twitter
4. Share this giveaway on your blog, Facebook page or twitter page.

You have a total of 4 possible entries per person.

This giveaway will close on Saturday, August 27th at 10am EST.  The winner will be selected using Random. org and announced on Sunday.

Good Luck and we can't wait to see what you will add to your favorite teacher's collection!

REAL PARTIES: Pancakes & Pajamas Celebration

I love when customers share their party pictures with me! I recently had the honor of working with Merry to personalize the Pancake and Pajamas Printable Collection for her daughter's 5th birthday.  She loved the theme {and of course I do to!} so we brainstormed and Merry hit the ground running. The girls created Fruit Loopy Necklaces, listened to If you Give a Pig a Pancake read by Landry's dad, created crafts and snacked on delicious breakfast treats. The menu was delectable and Merry did not miss a beat from the adorable glass milk bottles with straws, to the fruit kabobs, fruit parfait cups, or coordinating the polka dot table cloth and runner.
All of the hard work truly paid off and Landry and her friends will not only have their stylish pink monogrammed aprons as a reminder but also sweet memories of eating pancakes with good friends in pj's.
Thanks for sharing, Merry, and I can't wait to work with you again.

More, please

So, my children adore mac and cheese. I am sure you can relate as most moms have this in their bag of tricks for foods their children will eat when all else fails. Well, mine are starting to eat more than their fair share and it's time to trade in the box {despite the convenience} and get a new recipe.  I was visiting a friend last week and she passed along several new recipes and this is one we will be dining on this evening. So, just in case you need a side dish, give Barefoot Contessa's Mac and Cheese a whirl. I'll be sure to let you know what the true taste-testers say tomorrow.

Source: House Beautiful

Here and there and Everywhere...

So, I am having standard mush brain here on this lovely Monday and have several different things I want to blog about so in true Nicolle fashion I am going to jump from thought to thought {you are getting a sneak peek into my daily thought process-- scary}. I figure we are friends now so I can do this..

I owe you follow-up pictures of my lobster and penguin creations with Sophia. The penguin is busy right now (aka: not finished) but the lobster is adorably cute! Take a peek:

Sophia: 3 yrs/1mo

If you have yet to create your own, be sure to visit my Pinterest board with fun craft ideas with the kids. My next plan is to frame these and make a gallery somewhere in this house. I am not so sure when this will fit in the schedule but I know it would look fabulous! Stay tuned...

Next on the agenda: I am going to give you a sneak peak into sweet Andrew's 1st birthday from this weekend. I had the honor of designing Andrew's party goods for his Little Red Wagon party. His mom came to me with the red and aqua wagon theme and from there we worked together to create what I believe is the cutest preppy red wagon collection out there! From the whoopie pies, to striped straws to mini fruit cups, Andrew's Mama and Aunt didn't miss a beat. I can't wait to share the professional pictures from Ali Caudill Photography, but until then I will let you ooh and ahhh over the gorgeous cake that matched the invitation design perfectly. Can you believe this?!! Wait until you see the rest..

Pinwheel back of invitation

Look at the detail on the pinwheels! 

And finally, we have some exciting things going on around Libby Lane Press this week. Today I am working with Nancy at A-Zebra Celebrations for my very first give-away! Woo hoo! I am so excited to offer readers the chance to peruse Nancy's talented work and have the chance to win shop credit to Libby Lane Press. So, be sure to check back to A-Zebra Collections blog for rules to enter the give- away.
And-- I am having my first photo shoot on Sunday. I could not be more excited and have been collaborating with wonderful vendors that have made this new adventure even more creative and fun. So, this is one of the 'BEFORE' pics (and only a fraction of the things I have acquired) and fingers crossed the 'AFTER' looks a million times better!  So, there you have it, friends.. I think Libby Lane Press is starting to take off!
{squeal}

Let's Paint!

So, this is not my 'planned post' for today but I wanted to give you a sneak peek of what we are doing this morning. I am sure you probably read blogs and wonder if the bloggers actually try what they are writing about.  Sooo, today was my day to give it a whirl. I have been telling Sophia that I would get washable paint and we would try the lobster and penguin hand print crafts, so today is the long-awaited day. We are desperately trying to occupy ourselves until Cole wakes up and the pool opens. Therefore, it was Crafting Tuesday at the home of Libby Lane Press.  We are now waiting for our creatures to dry and we'll be sure to post pictures of our final masterpieces. Despite the squirmy feet, I think we are off to a good start.

Pass the paper, Please...

So, I had the pleasure of going to the city of brotherly love  for the weekend and despite the scorching heat it was a fabulous, yet brief visit.  I lived in Philadelphia prior to my current residence and loved every bit of it. There is just something about walking out your door and always having something to do (and I don't mean going to Target). So, as I strolled down Walnut Street, where we used to call home, I stopped dead in my tracks. There it was... a paper & design lovers mecca: Paper Source.  Now, it's not like we don't have a Paper Source in Bethesda, but it's just the idea of having it right in front of me AND I was not pushing a stroller OR chasing an active toddler.  This called for a celebration!  I sent my husband to dine alone for lunch while I roamed the store like a kid in a candy shop.  I told the gentleman working there that I could barely contain my excitement.  He smiled cautiously and walked away, probably to alert security to focus their cameras on the girl skipping through the aisles touching everything. So, I filled my bag with many goodies--some inspirational for my own future creations and some for a little hands-on DIY crafting.  I can't wait to share with you what I make-- a new collection coming to Libby Lane Press.
That's for dog-gone sure! (hint, hint)

Real Parties: Pancakes & Pajamas for Ella

So, this is the little girl that started the craze for the Pancakes and Pajamas invitation! Ella's mom, Kellie, contacted me just as Libby Lane Press opened our doors at the beginning of June and said she needed a fun party theme for her daughter's 5th birthday. This had my wheels turning.  After doing a little research and blog-jumping I saw what I thought was the ideal theme for Ella. Who doesn't love breakfast OR wearing pj's to a party? Next, was the invitation design. I saw a few ideas out there but nothing really jumped out and then I was inspired by a pair of bunny slippers. Ella's only request was that we incorporate peace signs on her invitation, hence the peace sign pajama pants. We coordinated the invitation with the pink and brown color palette and wha-laa-- we did it! Ella loved her invitation, I loved the outcome and the pictures truly show that life is better in pajamas..

Thanks for sharing your party and Happy 5th Birthday Ella!

Make your own fruity necklace

Aprons doubled as party favors (with Libby Lane Press favor tags!)

face/hand painting

Make your own apron