Category Archives: Stage Presents

Happy Birthday Elmo!!

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balloons

Photo Source:

 

I don’t know about you but Elmo has been a BIG part of all three of my children’s lives, from my 18 year old all the way down to the 4 year old.  So, I was a little excited to hear that it was his birthday. Go figure!!  Can you believe that Elmo has been around since the 80’s?

When I told my little ones they seemed to share in my excitement.  So just for fun here are some fun Elmo Craft Projects that I found.

Elmo’s Cut & Paste Activity – found here at the FunwithMamaBlog.

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Elmo Coloring Page – found here at Coloring-Book.Info.

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Sesame Street Clay Pots ** – found here at ButtonsBobbinsandOtherBits. (This one is my favorite.)

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I picked the Cut and Paste Activity to do with my four year old.  She is at that age where she loves any excuse to use scissors.  These others are definitely going on my Toddler Craft To Do List.

 

 

Fun Friday – All About V-Day!!

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Free Valentine's Day Pencil Tag #valentinesday #valentinesdaygift #valentinesdayideas

Wow, did this week fly by for anyone else but me?  Today’s Fun Friday is ALL about Valentine’s Day!!

Do you miss those days when it was just the two of you?  But, that just isn’t the case anymore, now that you have little people running around, who seem to be sapping your romantic flow.  But, you want your guy to know that he is still #1 in your book.  No matter how tired you may be.

Most men are simple.  And, most men don’t really give a hoot about Valentine’s Day.  Even still, you care, so make sure he knows that you do too.  Keep in Mind, that this year Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday (what a treat). So, you have the whole day to make your love feel special.

Here are a few Quick & Hopefully Not Too Dirty Ideas:

Start with Breakfast — In Bed or Out (your choice)

It doesn’t have to be anything GRAND, you know your guy. Add a Sweet Card, a Love Note, or even an IOU (for later fun).  Running low on time in the morning, consider prepping your guys breakfast the night before.

Breakfast in Bed for Valentine's Day

Babysitter or Not –

Can you get a baby sitter to stay with the kids so you can have some alone time? What works better for your family?  Are you going to hit the movies with your honey during the day, or are you going to make it an official date night and don the heels and flirty dress??  Whatever you do, make sure the plan is put in place long before that weekend.  Remember reservations are nearly impossible to get around this time of year.

Of course, if a Baby Sitter is not an option for you, then you have to either plan V-Day around the kiddies, or include them.  When my oldest daughter was much younger, we both dressed up one year and had dinner with my hubby.  It was super sweet and we all enjoyed sitting at the table together for dinner. She enjoyed being included and making a Valentine for her Daddy.

Here are some fun ideas for sharing V-day with your little ones, that I found around the web.

12 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Kids

4 Sweet Ways To Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Kids

To Dine –

If you are lucky, maybe you are one the of the couples who manage to get time alone, reserve your table far enough in advance, and are dressed to impressed for a Night On the Town.  Leave everything else on the back shelf for the night.  You have pulled off a major coup!!  Make tonight only about YOUR LOVE.  No talk of work, daycare, or diapers.  Relax and Enjoy Each Other.

Every Day is Special with the One You Love, but Valentine’s day should be even SWEETER.

V-Day Stories –

Sad Valentine's Day Story

Funny Valentine's Day StoryAnd, if you got all the way through this post, Good For You!!

So as promised, here is your Free Valentine’s Day Pencil Tag (PDF File) with instructions.  Click to Download and Enjoy!!

Valentine's Day Pencil Tags

How to Capture Memories with a Yearly Family Photo Book?

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Capturing Memories with Yearly Photo Books

Four years ago, I decided to start putting together a Yearly Family Photo Book.  The years were going by way too fast, and I wanted to document it . The thing about digital photography in my opinion, is that the memories get stuck either on your SD Card, Your Phone or Your Camera.  And, then the ones that get uploaded only seem to make it as far as Facebook.(Well at least in my case.)

The first two years, I struggled through a year’s worth of pictures, trying to decide which ones were worthy of a spot in our Photo Book.  The process was tedious, and frankly more than annoying. So last year, I decided to try to stream line my process.  Hopefully, it will save you some aggravation should you decide to do this for your family.

1.  Cataloging – At the end of every month, I download all the pictures that are on my various devices.  Then, I take my time and go through them and weed out the duds. Then I save them on my Desktop to a specific folder named for that month.  As I save them, I try to give them names that would inspire captions for the book.

2.  Uploading – After I have completed that, I upload them to Shutterfly and then make sure they go into the My Projects Folder, so that I can come back to it the following month.

3.  The Finished Project – At the end of the year, or realistically at the beginning of the following year.  I give my Saved Project the once over.  For the most part, you should not have much to do at this time.  But, most likely you will want to add some pics of the Holiday Season to complete your project.

Capture Life

Photo Credit: Colorado Senior Life

Note:  I use Shutterfly for pretty much everything photo related, but there are several options out there.  I love Shutterfly specifically, because several times during the year they offer a coupon for a free photo book, and in that case you will most likely only have to pay for shipping.  Unless you are like me and you have so many pics that you go over the allotted page requirement.  But, even still its worth it!!

Do you have pictures that you lost or wished that you had printed?

Shutterfly Evergreen 300x600 - Capture Memories with a Shutterfly Photo Book

Fun Friday – What’s In Your Bag??

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Fun Friday Post - What's In Your Bag?

I always find myself intrigued by the many and varied Instagram, and Pinterest posts on “What’s In Your Bag?”  So, just for fun, I thought I would do one as well.

What's In Your Purse - Contents of My Purse

 

I thought I kept a lot in my bag, or at the very least that my bag was Heavy, but some of you have me beat.  My list is kind of small.

  1. iPhone w/Personalized Case (shhhhh.. don’t tell hubby I have way too many phone cases.)
  2. Business Card Case – Never leave home without it, you never know when you will need to plug your business.
  3. Cosmetic Case – (I’m not a big makeup person, so for me, its just Lip Gloss, Eye Liner, Mascara and More Lip Gloss.)
  4. iPad (It’s like an extension of my arm, when I am not at home.)
  5. Glasses(cause, I am pretty blind), and my Favorite Pen that the Hubby Got Me in Year One.  And, even though it’s not pictured here, I normally carry a spare pen, because I don’t share my special one with anyone.  And, baby girl’s Epipen Jr. (She has severe food allergies.)

NOTE:  After I wrote this, I thought I should go back and add that this is what is in my bag, after I pull out all the receipt, spare coupons, and, when I am traveling alone.  With kids in tow, there is normally 2 mini packs of  Kleenex, Hand Wipes, Candy, and Occasionally Some Bags of Chips, or some other On The Go Snack.  We are passed the age of Diaper Bags, so my Bag tends to double at times.  Yeah me…

OK, so I shared.  Now, it’t your turn.  What’s in your Bag?  Link Up Below.  I can’t wait to see what special things you have in your bag.

A Facelift & lots of New Additions to The Blog

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I am still riding the Start of a New Year Wave over here.  The good thing about that is that it serves as a kind of adrenaline, ideas have just been pouring out of my brain, and on to the pages of my planner.  I have been working hard at giving the page a cleaner, streamlined look.  And, I am happy with the outcome, though I am sure you know me, I don’t stay satisfied for long so I am sure that the changes will keep coming.  At the end of last year we announced that we were adding the option to Subscribe to the Stage Presents Blog for exclusive material. This year we plan to add many and varied items to that section, starting with Free Printables, that you can use to decorate your home, create photo gallery walls, and even use on your devices and or desktop.  I am sure that the list will expand as the year goes on and as it does, we will let you know.

In addition to that, I plan to add a lot of great content to the blog this year, as well as sharing information about Our Etsy Store, our design process, and our little corner of the world.

To give you just a glimpse of the kind of items that you can expect to get access to after Subscribing to the Blog.  Enjoy this free download!! Right Click and Save.

BE ACTIVE RGB

Please keep in mind this Printable is for personal use only. Personal use means non-commercial use of the Media for display on personal websites and computers, or making image prints or video copies for personal use. The Media may not be used in any way whatsoever in which you charge money, collect fees, or receive any form of remuneration. The Media may not be used in advertising. The Media may not be resold.

2014 – A Year in Review

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Whew — What a Year!!  I am going to End this Year, by revisiting the quote that topped my Vision Board for 2014.  It turned out to be self fulfilling prophecy.

“The Well Rounded Adventurer is adaptable, flexible, and versatile.  They know that things don’t always go as planned, so like trees, they bend with the wind, course correcting as often as necessary.  Their capability to do many things competently keeps them pressing forward, staying mentally alert and undistracted in focus.  Frustration has no room in their minds to sabotage their determination or to kill their confidence.  Prepare, Posture, Position, Arise and Be Wise in 2014!!” – Author Unknown

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This year has truly been one for the record books, or at least “My Record Books”.  And, the journey has been that much more interesting for the many amazing people that took it with me.  My friends and family, who were always there to encourage and support.  And, yes, even the naysayers, who helped me to push myself over and beyond what I thought my limits were.

On February of this year, we launched Our Etsy Store.  It was our original intention to just sell Decorative Throw Pillows.  After all, we knew that we could make those and were pretty confident in our choices when it came to fabric/texture/quality. So easy enough… Stage Presents went from just a Lifestyle Blog to an actual store.  As time went on, we ended up adding physical prints, digital prints, Vintage Items and other One of a Kind Home Decor Finds. And, with each change, our following and our audience seemed to grow.  What an amazing feeling to have a vision and have it received by so many.  We jumped on the Social Media Bandwagon and joined Instagram and Pinterest and Twitter.

We shared with you Trends in Home Decor, Asked your Opinions, Gave you some Amazing Free Printables and even offered you the Option to Subscribe to the Blog for Exclusive Materials.(We will be doing so much more with this in 2015.)

This year we also hosted Our Very First Handmade Holiday Gift Guide, and a corresponding Giveaway.  We got to interact with amazing vendors, sponsors and shops.  And, it was truly a fulfilling experience.

Over the course of this year, I invited you guys into my life, more than ever before.  Sharing the struggles of balancing all aspects of my life, of excepting change and of “progress versus perfection.”  The joy of family outings, our favorite recipes and a little bit of the pain, that comes with just living. And, the joys of decorating my home, as the seasons changed.

OurHome

As always, I look back and think how quickly the year flew by.  And, of all the things I wish I would have been able to pack into this year.  But, all things considered this was a great year full of love, laughter, and great memories.

 “Surrender to what is.  Let go of what was.  Have faith in what will be.” – Sonia Ricotti

I project that 2015 will be ever more epic, than 2014!!  And, I’m claiming it, Hang On We Are Taking 2015 By Storm!!

For Taking this Journey, with us here is a Free 2015 Device Wallpaper.  Enjoy!!

Click Here to Download the Take the World by Storm 2015 Device Wallpaper.

For Directions on How to Install Your Wallpaper  – Follow this Link.

We Wish You a Happy New Year and Infinite Blessings for the New Year!!

From Your Stage Presents Family!!

What I learned about hosting the 2014 “Handmade with Love” Holiday Gift Guide?

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What I learned about hosting the 2014 “Handmade with Love” Holiday Gift Guide?

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  1. First and foremost the most crucial component of prepping a Gift Guide is TIME.  Make sure to give yourself enough time on the Front End and on the Back End, FOR LIFE.  Because, it is definitely going to go on regardless of what you have to do.
  2. Be Clear.  Decide up front who your target audience will be. Research and Reach Out to those who you feel will meet your criteria.  Pick Your Categories and Advertise in Places that you think you will find participants best suited for each category.
  3. Create a Detailed Marketing/Advertising Plan.  Decide on the front end what is expected from each participant, and what you as the host have to offer your participants. (Provide information on how many people you reached in previous years, if applicable.  And, what avenues you utilized to advertise)
  4. Create Realistic Deadlines.  Stop accepting Applications After that Time.  Provide Participants with Hard Deadlines that you can stick to.
  5. Work your Plan.  Use All Available Social Media Outlets to get the word out for your Gift Guide.  Create a HashTag (#stagepresentshandmadewithlove) and Encourage All Participants and Sponsors to Share Info Across the Board Using the Same Hashtag.

Things I would probably do differently.

  • I would probably charge a nominal fee for those wishing to be showcased in the Gift Guide.  For no other reason than, time is money. I would also hope that if you put money out for advertising, you would be more likely to do your best to promote the Gift Guide.
  • I would probably start the Entry Process out at the end of September, beginning of October.  I feel this would give applicants, more time to get their entries in.
  • I would publish the completed Guide Mid-November.  I feel this would allow the items and shops that are showcased a greater lead time to get their items noticed.
  • Now, that I have Year One, under my belt.  I have a template within which to work and I will request all necessary information up front, as to avoid the constant need to reach out to applicants, and wait for their responses. **I know everyone is busy during the Holiday Season.**

Things I would not change.

  • The completed project.
  • The amazing artist/shops that were showcased.
  • The opportunity to help share their talent with consumers.
  • The opportunity to promote Hand Made.

Again, I want to take the opportunity to thank all the participants and the Sponsors that contributed and participated in the Gift Guide, the corresponding Giveaway and its promotion.  I could not have done it without you!!

“I feel like every project I work on is a dream project, so long as I am learning.”
― Simeon Kondev

Our Delayed 2014 Christmas Home Tour — Welcome In…

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This Year’s Christmas Tour was delayed, obviously.  But, things got so busy leading up to Christmas that there honestly wasn’t enough time to post.  This years Tour will be more pictures than words.  Welcome to our Little Piece of Heaven — Enjoy!!

Our 2014 Christmas Home Tour

2014 Christmas Home Tour - Front Foyer

Kid's Tree - Decorated with Kid's Handmade Ornaments

2014 Christmas Home Tour - Holiday Mantel

2014 Christmas Home Tour - Joy In The Kitchen Window

2014 Christmas Tour - Formal Living Room - Decorator Tree & Front Door Area

2014 Christmas Home Tour - Decorator Tree + Stage Presents Exclusive Holiday Deer Pillow

Coffee In Front of The Tree - 2014 Christmas Home Tour

2014 Christmas Home Tour - Putting Gifts Out Under The Tree

Decorating brings me much joy, but decorating for the holidays brings me enjoyment on another level.  This time of year is still wrapped in magic for me, even now.  Watching the excitement on my children’s faces as the whole house comes together, and knowing that we are creating life long memories leaves me totally blissful!!  I believe that my love for decorating and this time of year, was passed on to me by my amazing mother and I only hope that it is something my kids will do with joy, for their own families years from now.  Our whole family, hubby included gets wrapped up in the excitement, of the Christmas Elf, Santa, and the real reason for the season.  I hope that you all had an amazing Holiday and wish you Only the Best for the Year to Come.

— Sheree

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Featured Shop/Artist Interview: OpenHandCreations

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FeaturedShopOpenHandWhen did you fall in Love with Handmade?

Since I was a young person I have always enjoyed making gifts with my hands. Knitting, card making, sewing… you name it I wanted to make it. I especially love that I can transform a raw material into something usable… and the fact that I can help put a smile on someone’s face even for a moment makes it so worth it!

15 years ago I started my business as a paper crafter. I made greeting cards as well as wedding invitation & birth announcements. However in 2012, I decided I wanted to work outside my usual style of perfect straight measured lines and neutral colors and OpenHandCreations was born.  I love painting with my hands, not measuring anything and using all the colors of the rainbow!

What does your Shop have to Offer its Patrons?

Every item at OpenhandCreations is made by me. From choosing which materials to use to the final assembly of the item I pour my heart into every project.

At OpenHandCreations I offer one of a kind artful and useful gifts. I also welcome custom orders. You can expect special detail and attention to your order and superior customer service… I value and am so very grateful to all my customers who support me and my work.

Do you have any upcoming sales or local appearances?

For the holidays I am offering 10% off all OpenHandCreations purchases (no limit) until Dec 24, 2014 by using coupon code: HWL2014 at checkout. Also each purchase will ship with a handmade felt/collage gift tag.

Please like my Facebook Page, for updated info as well as a very special Black Friday/Cyber Monday discount.

Where can you be found?

You can find my work at OpenHandCreations ( www.openhandcreations.com on Etsy) as well as several storefront locations.

-The MUSE In Frederick, MD
-Uni-T at the Natick Mall in Natick, MA
-Hibiscus Jazz in St. John, US Virgin Islands
-The Shop at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown, MA
-Mosees in Barnstable (Cape Cod), MA

I will also participating at two winter fairs in time for the holidays:

  • Saturday Dec 6 (10am-3pm)

At the 77th Annual Christs Church Cambridge Christmas Fair at Harvard Square (Zero Garden Street Cambridge, MA)

  • Saturday and Sunday Dec 20/21 (10am-5pm both days)

at Etsy Artists of Boston Winter Bazaar (485 Arsenal St Watertown, MA) http://www.thearsenalproject.com/events.php

 You can connect with me via :

Etsy: www.openhandcreations.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/openhandcreations

Instagram: http://instagram.com/openhandcreations

Email: thoughtfulcreations22@gmail.com

Blog: www.thoughtfulcreations.wordpress.com