Here we go!

Oh look, the last post I explained why I don’t do custom events anymore and now I’m writing to tell you—I AM BACK! Before, I was already juggling a full time job working for someone else—but now that I quit, started my own business—I have gone back to my first love of custom designing for…pretty much everything. Yes, the shop does focus mainly on events but in the world of design—the sky is the limit.

I want to say thank you to all those that kept asking me if I could design for them even after I turned them down continuously. I am always humbled at how people keep asking and I hope you don’t stop now that I need you guys to ask LOL.

Thank you for following along my long journey and at times very confusing but let’s hope Paper Haven Shop is here to stay and I can fine tune my life a bit more to really figure out what this small business has to offer because right now—I am just taking it day by day sort of figuring it out as I go!

THE WHY BEHIND THE NO

My last post was back in 2016. YIKES! But maybe I can fire this thing back up? Here we go….answering one of my most asked question…about custom event requests. Sorry no fun pictures this time haha!

Even though I stopped taking custom event requests oh…maybe several years ago—I get requests for quotes pretty much everyday. I know it’s a bit confusing when I say “no…I don’t take custom event work” but then you see posts about events I’m a part of…so let’s see if I can clear up any questions.

When I started dabbling in events and paper goods starting 2012—I actually was just doing it for fun. It was something to do on the side since I already worked full time. However, “something fun” turned into endless weeks of all nighters and crazy event deadlines. As much as I loved it, I was losing a lot of sleep and it was not a healthy way to live. Then came the breaking point. I remember it VERY clearly. I had a several event deadlines that week (more than the usual)—day of goods for weddings, birthdays and invitation suites etc. It just so happened on this very busy week, Matthew and Haven both had pneumonia, husband had the flu/cold—and to top it off I was coming down with something as well. (Even though moms do not get sick days). It was sort of the perfect storm of terribleness. Needless to say, I almost killed myself and my family trying to get everything done because let’s face it, if I drop the ball, I’m ruining someone’s wedding and/or birthday and the people pleaser in me could not live with that. After that, I decided, never again. I mean, I’ve said “never again” many times before but that was the REAL “never again” moment that I needed and from then on I started to turn down event requests.

I miss just throwing parties without having to please a client. I miss being inspired to just do something FUN for the kids. I miss just helping friends out without having to say no because I’m “too busy”. I miss how it was before all the business.

I will never completely detach myself from the event industry. I’ve made strong bonds and have gotten extremely close to many coordinators and event designers so I will always probably do a few favors here and there if I’m able-just helping out when things sort of pop up…which they inevitably do in this line of work. I also love content creating so if something comes along where I know I can whip something up quickly and have a lot of fun with it—I’ll take the opportunity to create content that you can also get ideas from and adapt to use for your parties!

Thank you for following along my journey as a creative thus far. I am still a designer at heart so when it comes down to it—I really just like having fun with things that pique my interest and makes my creative heart flutter. :)

I hope I didn’t ramble too much…and it sort of explains a bit more indepth the why behind the no.

Rustic Ranch Wedding

A absolutely stunning venue for an equally stunning couple!
All paper goods were of rustic nature--dark blues, kraft and gold.
Let's have the pictures do the talking!

Lovely captures by: Savan Photography & A Simple Story Photography

Invitations! 

then with some other paper goods!

Chalkboard Love

Other stationery...menus, table numbers, escort cards...

And some more pics of the lovely venue

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Such an easy going couple--I loved working with them. Thank you for letting me be a part of your special day!

Vendor love:
Venue: Calamigos Ranch
Photographer: Savan Photography & A Simple Story Photography
Coordinator: Sage Event Planning
Florist: Erlinda Floral Design
Paper Goods and Calligraphy: The Things Hannah Loves
Rentals: Town & Country Event Rentals

Lan+David

Watercolor galore! :)
Absolutely loved working on this suite. Purple is such a pretty color when doing watercolor--love it! I was giddy when I got all the pictures from this wedding! :)

Perfect captures by: Brandon Kidd Photography

Invitation and Stationery Suite - I'm so so so happy with how the photographer captured these!

Set up and Finished look!

Such a amazing couple to work with--absolutely a joy to have been a part of their special day!

Vendor Love:
Venue: Montage Laguna Beach
Photographer: Brandon Kidd Photo
Coordinator: Spark Event Consulting
Florals: Heavenly Blooms
Paper Goods: The Things Hannah Loves
Cake: M Cakes Sweets

 

A Science Themed Wedding

I absolutely loved working on this wedding. Not only because the couple was near and dear to me--but also--it was such a fun theme! The couple gave me a lot of creative freedom--so needless to say, I had a LOT of fun :) I designed to my hearts content!

Absolutely amazing captures by Snapmotive 

Paper Goods
There are so many cheesy science themed parties--I wanted this one to be DIFFERENT--which is why I took a more modern take on the theme. The hexagon which first came out in the invitations becomes a running theme throughout the entire stationery collection.

And the ultimate science themed item: the seating chart made into a periodic table! This was by far my favorite seating chart to make this past year!

Escort cards that replicate their periodic element!

Gold glittered Table numbers!

Signage!
Some Chalkboard Love :)

Such a lovely venue for a lovely couple!

Venue: Descanso Gardens
Coordinator: Chic to Chic Weddings
Paper Goods and Signage: The Things Hannah Loves
Photography: Snapmotive
Florist: Commerce Flowers
Rental Company: Found Rentals

Monopoly Themed First Birthday

MONOPOLY!! Can't go wrong with monopoly :)

I had the pleasure of working with Sophia from Petite Productions on this lovely Monopoly themed First Birthday. All paper goods were done by yours truly! I think my favorite part were the invitations-put a lot of thought into it. Each invitation was also hand glued onto a super heavy black matte board so it felt like a REAL game board!

Hats off to Petite Productions for an amazing job with styling and coordinating everything--and to John Park Photography for capturing these lovely photos!

Head Table

Table Settings // Menus // Floral Arrangements!

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Doljabi Area and LARGE sized Monopoly Board!

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Bottle Tree Ranch

We participated in our very first styled shoot this summer!

So many talented vendors came together to make this shoot picture perfect.
Mad props to the main coordinator/stylist: A Blissful Soirée
Lovely captures by: Michael Ryu Photography

See the full vendor list at the end of the post!

First picture is my wee contribution hehe :)

Enjoy!

Vendor List:
Venue: Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch 
Coordinator/Stylist: A Blissful Soirée / @ablissfulsoiree
Hair & Make-Up: Sharon Y Park / @sharonypark
Photographer: Michael Ryu Photography / @michaelryu
Florist: Chloe + Mint / @chloeandmint
Rentals for votives and cake stand: Modest Peach / @modestpeach
Rentals for tableware (plates/cups/utensils/napkins): Borrowed Blu / @borrowedblu
Dress: Etsy
Cake: Nicole Varela / @nvarela35
Hair Accessories: Handmade by Sara Kim / @handmadebysarakim
Invitation: The Things Hannah Loves / @thethingshannahloves

Airplanes and Clouds

A BOY birthday theme! Airplanes and lots and lots of CLOUDS!~

Definitely a fun birthday theme to design for--and help out with.

This was for a dear friend of mine (or for her son I should say haha) so we weren't just designing paper goods--we were part of the planning process as well!

The entire birthday was planned and put together in a week! Most of the handmade stuff done actually in one night! Super fast paced party--but considering how much time we had--I think it came together quite nicely. Side note--it wasn't that we procrastined or was being irresponsible--both my friend and I were just SO busy that month--we literally only had 1 week of time to work with!

It was a BRUNCH themed party--complete with a cereal bar, mini pancakes, sausages, bacon and of course some good ol' OJ!

Decor we did consisted of Chalkboards -- Graphics/Printed Decor -- Cake Topper --Photo Booth :) Enjoy!

Table setting for the kiddies:

Passports were bought from Oriental Trading! Just didn't have the time to design/make those too haha--they were super fun--came with stickers!

My little one--he was obviously too short to sit at the table so we moved him to the kiddie table--he seemed to like that much better :)

Cake Table! I absolutely love making cake toppers!!

 For added Decor behind the table--the host (the mom/my friend) put up this cute backdrop of pictures! Totally added that extra sparkle--pictures are always worth a thousand words.

Rainbow Cake by iheartcupcakes.net

 Presents!

 Photo Backdrop! Kept it simple--Die cut clouds on butcher paper!

Birthday boy!

 Cotton Candy Time (because it's a cloud theme haha-edible clouds)

Babies:

I should probably mention the entire patio ceiling was covered with white balloons--but I don't have a picture of it :(

 Yeahhhh, it's always hard trying to get a group picture with kids haha.

Thank you to the host for letting me be a part of their big boy's birthday!

For more personal photos go to my Instagram: @thethingshannahloves

Vendors:

Photography: Adam Wang

Paper Goods/Chalkboards: The Things Hannah Loves

Cake: iheartcupcakes.net

Cherry Blossom Birthday

This was such a pretty theme to work on! :) CHERRY BLOSSOMS!!!!

I love working with talented event designer/coordinators--it just takes the paper goods we design to the next level! Thank you

Petite Productions

for bringing me on board on this one :) Lovely captures by

Shoots and Giggles

.

Let's start with the Invitations:

A soft watercolor touch to some graphically designed cherry blossoms.

Complete with liners - invitation die cut wraps - envelope address wraps!

As for day of stationary goods....enjoy!

Doljabi Game Set Up:

Doljabi Tickets

Escort Card Set Up--tags hanging on branches!

Here's a glimpse at the table setting

Menus with die cut tag accents

Table Numbers

 And some general pictures because everything came out so magical :)

Vendors 

Event Design+Coordinator:

Petite Productions

Photographer:

Shoots and Giggles

Paper Stationary + Day of Paper Goods: The Thing Hannah Loves

Florals:

Enchanged Florist

Linens:

Wild Flower Linen

Venue+Cake: Ritz-Carlton

Esther+David

Weddings!

Here's a throwback post of a wedding we did awhile back--but never posted pictures for.

This wedding was for a beautiful couple who requested our popular "floral vintage" look.

Their color palette was coral, green and cream. 

Photos from John Park Photography!

Programs

 Escort Cards

 Event Signage

 Direction Cards

 Table Numbers

Congratulations to the beautiful couple!

Pororo Birthday! Free Printables!

I thought my stationary design days with Jane from

Jane Events

would come to a close when she moved to Seattle--but I was SO happy when she contacted me and asked if I could help out with her son's 2nd birthday!

She designed the cutest Pororo Themed birthday! Nice pastel palette with a simple sweet look.

On my end, I made some silhouette cut outs in all sizes, some used as food toppers and others for the photo backdrop, pororo glasses, name tags and some small trading cards that kids could take as favors!

Gotta say, Jane is so good at what she does--everything came out super cute!!

For more of her work--check it out

here

!

Lovely captures by Sako from

SakoPak Photography

Happy Birthday Deacon!!

Guess what? Head on over to the free printables page and get your FREE download of the Favors that were used for this party! Pororo Trading Cards! Or just click

HERE

. :) Enjoy!

A Preppy School Theme First Birthday

Time truly flies.

You blink and before you know it, your baby turns ONE!!!

and before you know it 4.5 months have past and you STILL haven't posted pictures of his first birthday.

sigh. *hangs head in shame*

better late than never :)

Matthew's first birthday was an interesting one. As far as planning goes, I told myself I would start early which I did--THEN--BAM--two weeks before the event my creative juices turned me in a different direction and essentially I started from scratch. So...I ran out of time--BUT--at the end of the day, my baby had fun--so I was one happy mommy.

It was a School Theme but with a preppy modern feel to it.

I didn't want it to be the red apple/yellow pencil back to school that I've seen people do--I wanted his party to be unique and different.

I'll let the pictures do the explaining!

Pictures by Jae Keong

Desserts by

Cake Creamery

Overall Shot and Head Table

Sign in Table:

People were greeted with a "Baby Prep School" Sign that showed the classes they would be taking that day (the activities at the party).  HISTORY // READING+WRITING // BAKING 101 // PHOTOGRAPHY

Tables were lined with kraft paper and color pencils/crayons/makers were set out so people could draw/write throughout the party.

FIRST ACTIVITY: HISTORY 101

I hung all his monthly pictures -- his "history" then--the activity dealt with his future.

Career Game: This was a Korean Traditional Korean Game called "Doljabi"where the baby picks an object that is supposed to determine their future. Guests get to participate in a raffle where they can pick which object they think the baby will grab. To go along with the "school" theme--I called it the "Pep rally"

I've only used chalk once before this birthday....so I was still fairly new with this medium.

I also did these chalk pieces at three in the morning so I was rushing through them. Next time I use chalk--promise they will be MUCH better :)

HISTORY+READING: Favors for the kids

Made personalized sketchbooks with their names and alphabet activity cards that they could fill out.

(the cards can be found in our

etsy store

)

BAKING 101: Sweet Treats!

Desserts by Cake Creamery--they did an amazing job!

PHOTOGRAPHY: Photobooth

 Props:

GENERAL DECOR: Pom poms, yarn balls and Bow Ties

Mini Pom Pom Centerpieces: (Both pom poms and yarn balls were all HANDMADE--took FOREVERRRRRR!!!)

I tried to find a overall shot of all the side decor but these two were the best I could find:

Family :)

Wardrobe change for the Pep Rally/Career Game--really didn't want to keep the hat on...boo :(

HE PICKED THE BALL!! He's going to be an athlete!

Wardrobe Change for the Cake Smash and Birthday Song:

FIGHT ON!

CAKE SMASH - he didn't seem too found of this part.

oh, and lets not forget the invites:

excuse the photo quality--these were taken off my phone.

I did a tri-fold but each layer being a different height so that when folded all the layers would show through.

Happy Birthday my baby. You're a toddler now--time truly flies.

Bible Reading Chart 2.0

It's been three years since we posted the Bible Reading Chart as a free download for people to use.

It's definitely been our most popular free download. Just shy of 10,000 hits!

It makes us happy knowing people want to read the word...and spend quality time with our Maker.

We've revamped the chart! The full sheet 8.5x11 is still available as always, but now we've created it to be smaller and more compact! You can now print out a 5.75x8.5 version (double sided).

Excited to share this new resource with everyone!

Excuse the poor picture quality--had to take this in the middle of the night with poor lighting -_-

If you want this PRINTED and delivered to you--just follow us on Instagram for our free giveaway happening TONIGHT! @thethingshannahloves

Click here to download!

And because I'm so into calligraphy right now--here's some doodling I did just for fun:

Cake Creamery

Introducing the cutest bakery ever: Cake Creamery!

They just had their grand opening not too long ago and I had the pleasure of designing their logo and other paper goods for their opening event. They have a lot of high profile clientele--my first project with them was a train theme birthday party for the Givenchy Family. Then just last week finished up some paper goods for Jessica Alba's daughter Haven's birthday. Fun fun fun :) Love working with the cake creamery team--such a talented group of ladies!

Photos taken by 

Youkeun Oh Photography

Check out this oh so delectable bakery

here

Here's the full spread of the desserts they had at their grand opening. Gorgeous right?

Here's the first look at the logo

Made some stickers for them to put on their yummy cookies!

Made some food labels as well.

I also did a fun side logo for them to use. This is not their "main" logo--but something cute that they can use. I basically took the two "C"s in Cake Creamery and used it to represent the two tiers of a cake. Some stickers with the design.

Designed simple menus. Aren't their cakes just to die for? So gorgeous. 

Designed raffle tickers, sign in sheets, and other signage--just not all pictured. I'm so excited for them. Hopefully I'll be working with them on their future events so stay tuned to my IG feed for some snapshots of the work.

Citrus Farmstand 1st Birthday!

Here's another first birthday!

Theme: Citrus Farmstand

The paper goods followed a watercolor pink ombre theme with floral accents.

Absolutely LOVED working on this party--fun fun fun~

Event styling and coordination by the talented Jane over at

Jane Events

. Lovely captures by Marina at

Photography by Marina

And here we go!

Fact board in the back. And table escort cards tied to the flowers--and guest would have to grab the flowers and take to their table which would then double as a centerpiece! 

Here's another shot of the Fact Board:

The Doljabi Game was set up on a Ladder!

With the ticket holders as strawberry crates!

Here's the birthday girl playing the game! So cute in her pink hanbok (Korean Traditional Clothes)

Table Settings were of the Menu, and the favors (a peach!) with "You're a Peach" Tags

Had a lot of fun on this party. Here are some more pics for you to enjoy (no paper goods here--but just amazing to look at Jane's work with the set up and vision)

And here is the oh so cute birthday girl and family!~

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Vendor Credit:

Event Styling+Coordination:

Jane Events

Photography:

Photography by Marina

Sweets:

M Cake Sweets

Event Stationary+Paper Goods:

The Things Hannah Loves

Penelope's First Birthday!

Here's another first birthday party where we got to design the paper goods + event stationary for!! Loved working on this birthday! Simple on the design end--but the colors really made everything pop!

Event styling and coordination by the lovely (and super talented) Jane at 

Jane Events

 and all the perfect captures by 

Youkeun Oh Photography

Let's start off the pictures with the paper goods, shall we?

Annnnnd, some of the oh so cute birthday girl and her beautiful family

and even MORE pictures!

Vendors:

Styling+Coordination:

Jane Events

Photography:

Youkeun Oh Photography

Paper Goods + Event Stationary:

The Things Hannah Loves

Where the Wild Things Are Birthday

I had the pleasure of designing and printing the paper goods for this very cute "Where the Wild Things Are" first birthday! I'll let the pictures do the talking...

Head Table: Credit to the amazing Jane at Jane Events for the head table decor!

Paper Goods Event Signage: Welcome Sign, Instagram Sign, other cute signs...oh and character cut outs!

Doljabi (Korean Traditional Game) Table: Had to hand cut out those tiny labels on those boxes....

Fact Board

M Grill Menu!

Other Paper Goods:

Invitations 

And some other pictures from the birthday because pictures are always fun to look at: 

Finishing it off with the cute birthday boy, happy birthday owen!

Vendors that made the Wild Things HAPPEN:

Styling + Coordination: 

Jane Events

Photography: John Park Photography

Cake and Desserts:

Merely Sweets

Paper Goods+Event Stationary:

The Things Hannah Loves

Valentines Day Printables

Valentines Day is just around the corner!

If you're a parent this means buying cards and candy so your child can pass them out to everyone in their class! Instead of buying those premade cards--why not make them at home? :) You don't even have to get candy--maybe attach pencils, erasers, pens, stickers....the possibilities are endless! Stick them on the back, write on the back, put them in bags, use them as tags, you decide!

Direct download click HERE

and of course, just because you don't have kids doesn't mean you can't give out valentines day cards!!!

Give them out to coworkers, friends and family!

:) happy valentines day!

eight designs total

Freebie featured above!

Stick the cards in goody bags!

 give out pencils instead of candy!