NEW Custom Ornaments!

Christmas is right around the corner, so I made sure that there are a few holiday gifts listed in my Etsy shop for you guys!

I am really excited about these cute little custom dog bone ornaments, which are hand-painted and personalized for your pup! These are a perfect gift for the dog lover in your life, or to add to your own tree for your furry family member.

Hurry though - shipping before Christmas is only guaranteed when you order by December 15!

Happy shopping loves,

Creative Shoot with Dars

I want to share something a little more personal on the blog today.

November was a hard month for me. I felt pretty overwhelmed by stressful situations regarding my health, school, and class events. Last week, I underwent a surgery to remove a benign breast cyst. It's caused me pain, worry, and anxiety over the past six months, and I am so grateful for the smooth healing process post-op. I feel extra thankful for my health lately and for God's continued provision over me. 

This creative photo shoot was something that I wanted to do in collaboration with my good friend Darcie as a fun project in the midst of stressful ones. I want to empower the women around me to embrace their beauty and strength. And so the theme of this shoot is:

Females are strong as hell. 

(Gold star if you catch the TV show I'm referencing haha). 

But really. Moms are some of the strongest people I know - they carry their babies for 9 months and then endure so much pain to deliver them. And if you've never cared for a child all day for multiple days, don't you dare talk badly about moms who choose to be full-time caretakers. It takes amazing strength and sacrifice to do that. There are so many strong women in my life that I love and respect. May we be them. May we raise them.

Use your influence and voice for good. 

Love and serve God wholeheartedly. 

Invest in the people who care for you.

Give to neighbors in your community. 

Work hard and dream big.

Know that you are strong, capable, and beautiful.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you and hope that you are encouraged today!

With a full heart,

(All photos by Darcie Moningka Photography - check her out!)

Pretty Holiday Gifts

Thank you all so much who have ordered artwork from my shop this past weekend! You guys are the best, and this small business owner is so very grateful!

I am excited to share these new shop items with you, especially my custom floral watercolor prints. Each one is handmade and makes a great gift when framed!

These watercolor prints can be displayed in your home, office, or desk. I am happy to create a painting with the quote and colors of your choice too! Just message me on Etsy and we will work together to make your vision come to life.

Be sure to order holiday gifts BEFORE December 14 to guarantee delivery before Christmas!

Happy shopping loves,

Shop Small for the Holidays!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It's now that crazy time of the year, when everyone seems to be in a frenzy to shop for Christmas and snag all kinds of good deals.

So guess what! I have a late Black Friday (I slept in a lot haha), Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sale starting NOW! Save 20% on any purchase from my Etsy shop with the code SHOPSMALL20 until Monday, 11/28/16!!

I just added this new wedding countdown chalkboard to the shop. It is a perfect engagement party or bridal shower gift, and a fun way to keep track of how many days are left until the wedding!

Need a Christmas gift for someone who has everything? Want to buy something personal and beautiful while supporting a local artist? You can order customized watercolor calligraphy prints to frame or hand-lettered signs, and get 20% off if you order this weekend!

Follow me on Instagram @amandaleelettering to stay updated on new products and deals! I've got more pretty things and great deals in store for you guys next month, and I can't wait to share!!

I hope that in the midst of holiday busy-ness, we all remember to be grateful for all the blessings that God provides us with. After all, every good thing is from Him and this season should be all about Jesus.

With love and lots of holiday cheer,

Hope in Jesus

Calligraphy chalkboard for a friend's Wall of Thankfulness

It's been quite a week already in our country. When words are insufficient, I turn to Scripture. 

We talked about lament in church last Sunday, and little did I know that it was preparing me for the grief ahead. I find myself trying to explain things logically to myself in order to grasp what it going on, but really what I should be doing is just allowing myself and others to grieve. Sometimes silence is better. I whispered prayers crying out to our God for my brothers and sisters, for my home. 

We need more of you, God.

More unity, less division.

More compassion, less judgment.

More wisdom, less opinion.

More love, less hatred.

More of Jesus, less of us.

With a hopeful heart,

Updated Wedding Section

Hey hey! 

Just wanted to share that, thanks to the lovely bride Lauren and Kaysen Photography, I have some stunning new photos of Lauren & Seth's wedding up under my "Weddings" tab. This post from July has now been updated and you NEED to check it out!!

The details of your wedding are so personal and fun to share with your guests. If you are interested in a custom lettering wedding package, I would love to chat with you! 

Also, it's almost November!! Crazy how fast the holidays have arrived. I'll be sharing some customized gift ideas for everyone on your list soon, so keep an eye out on my Etsy shop and Instagram!

With love,

Nicole + Sam Wedding // 2016

Nicole is an occupational therapist who works at my past fieldwork site, and she tied the knot with her sweetheart Sam in their hometown of Cleveland, Ohio this year. I had the opportunity to add a few hand-lettered reception decorations to their wedding. The Jenga guestbook, ice cream bar, and quirky details allowed the couple's personality to shine through.

I am now booking for 2017 wedding packages! Drop me a note for a free quote, and I'll help make the details for your wedding beautiful and elegant! 

XO,

Contrast Collective: Solidarity's New Social Enterprise

Hey friends! 

I am so excited to announce that I am now part of Solidarity's newest social enterprise called Contrast Collective. We are a group of creatives and artists who are passionate about our creating beautiful photos, designs, and art while giving back to our community. 

I will give back at least 10% of every artwork order for a client referred from Solidarity to the non-profit's mentoring and internship programs. Additionally, Contrast Collective artists will also help provide job training and discipleship for youth through the Workforce Development Program and internships. 

Check out our Contrast Collective website here. 

Follow @contrast_collective on Instagram to make sure you don't miss any exciting giveaways and updates!

Let me know if you have any questions, or if you are interested in learning more about Solidarity. This organization is dear to my heart, and I am confident that God is transforming individuals, families, and neighborhoods through the Solidarity community. Come and be a part of God's Kingdom and family here!

Blessings,

Watercolor Logo Design

Hi friends!

October has been a busy month already and I love being able to share all the fun projects I have been working on. This logo for Jeanette Ennis Photography that I created using watercolors matches her new website and I am SO excited with the finished product.

Collaborating with other creative entrepreneurs is so much fun! I'll share more about other collaborations I am doing soon. If you want to collab on something awesome, feel free to reach out!

And if you would like a custom logo of your own, I would be honored to create one for you! Contact me through my Etsy shop or here on my blog.

XO,

Big Magic

Original painting and hand-lettering by me, quote by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Reading her book Big Magic and feeling extra inspired to push myself out of my comfort zone creatively. So I'm playing around with new styles, editing apps, and just letting my creativity flow. 

Be brave, friends. Embrace who God has created you to be, and be confident in that identity!

Cheers to my fellow creatives,

Happiness & Good Reads

Considering September is already halfway done (2016 is FLYING by!), I thought this quote was so applicable. And I wanted to share a great author I've recently discovered. 

I first heard about Gretchen Rubin through a friend who recommended the Happier podcast. I am SO glad she did, because I have since learned so many interesting things about happiness, good habits, relationships, and productivity hacks. Naturally, I caught up on all 80+ episodes quickly and also read her books The Happiness Project and Happier at Home, took the 4 Tendencies quiz for free online (do it!), and have her latest book Better than Before on my nightstand, ready to be read. 

Since I appreciate recommendations from others, I thought I would share her work with you all. Also, I'm all about free stuff, and the podcasts, quiz, and books were all free sources of entertainment for me. I am probably one of the only 20 somethings who still checks out books at the library, but I love being able to read all the books on my list without paying for it.

Thoughts on Gretchen's quote? What books are you loving right now? Comment and let me know!

Much love,

Creative Spotlight: Courtney Paige Photography

So this post is way overdue, but better late than never!

A few months ago, at the Open House event that I was part of, I met some lovely new photographer friends. One of those ladies was Courtney. When she asked if Chris and I would model for a few photog's in Joshua Tree, I was STOKED. We had so much fun (it was my first time in J Tree!), and Courtney is such a kind-hearted, genuine person that I am grateful to have met. We've had a coffee date recently, and she is such a joy to be around. I just had to share her amazing work because the Lord has gifted her with wonderful talents, and I am always encouraged and inspired by other creative, passionate girl bosses and artists!

You can find more of her beautiful photography work here: 

Courtney Paige Photography

Thank you Court for these gorgeous images! I know we will treasure them for years to come.

And if you're looking for a photographer to capture your important life occasions, I highly recommend this amazing lady. She definitely made us feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera, and was a joy to work with. Check her out!

XO,