Gift Certificates

This last week, I donated some items to the Potter-Dix High School Music Dept. for a fundraiser that was held during a concert that they put on. Various items were raffled off. I donated 3 gift certificates valued at $20 each that ended up getting bundled with some greeting card sets and a few other misc. items. I have a feeling that because of the way that they were bundled with other items, the gift certificates weren't really noticed or taken into much account. So I wanted to mention something about it on here in hopes that whoever won the gift certificates will know this and will take advantage of them. I'd hate for them to be undervalued and tossed aside! So if you are one of the lucky winners, please contact me!

Duck, Duck, TWO!

This weekend is my niece, Christine's second birthday party. I can't believe she's going to be two! But then again, I can't believe that my oldest is sixteen! (yes...I said SIXTEEN. )

Anyhow...I just wanted to share this cute lil duckie invite that I made for Christine. Simple and sweet. I wonder how much her mom and dad would appreciate me bringing her a real duckie? Mwahahahaha...

Letterpress Fun @ Meadowlark Creative

Photo courtesy of Meadowlark Creative

I had the opportunity to attend a small letterpress workshop at Meadowlark Creative in Fort Collins, CO this past Saturday. I've been a longtime fan of letterpress and have been wanting to find someone near me that offered workshops or would at least allow me to visit and watch. I asked around and most of the places I contacted either didn't respond or I got emails suggesting I apply for an internship. Well, as much as I would love to do an internship, considering that I am a busy mom of four, work full-time and live 3 hours from the printshops that gave me the suggestions...it just isn't a feasible option for me. Luckily, when I found Meadowlark Creative and asked, they were much more receptive to the workshop idea. And when they scheduled workshops, they contacted me and let me know so I could jump in. And I did...and am I so glad of it!

Meadowlark Creative was receptive when I asked to use my own design work to create plates for the business card workshop I chose to attend. I revamped my design for my business card a bit and as much as I loved my previous letterpress cards, I really wanted to redo them for this workshop. My new cards were printed using a blind pass for the woodgrain and then a second pass in metallic purplish color. I really really love how they turned out. They're gorgeous!

And...I still want to get my very own letterpress shop and this workshop definitely enhanced that desire. In the meantime, I really do want to jump on any opportunity that comes my way (and that I can seek out) to do more hands-on letterpress work like this. I am so very grateful to Shelby at Meadowlark Creative for working with me on these cards. I am so thankful for this workshop that she put together and I really hope that I can work with her some more in the future. My head is already thinking up ideas for another letterpress project down the road...it would be fun! (photos courtesy of Meadowlark Creative)

 

 

 

Okay, NOW I have iPad envy!

I will admit that I've wanted an iPad for quite some time. Well, since they came out, actually. But I just couldn't ever justify spending the money on what seemed like a big iTouch. I have an iTouch. Love it. It's my most favorite gadget I own. I use it every single day for so many different things. When I'm lazy and don't feel like sitting behind a computer at home, I'll use it to check email or social networking. But I use it for other things, too. Recipes, games, calculator, address book, to take photos (and I have a lot of different really cool camera apps!), even record videos. I also have my music on there as well as a few movies and tv shows. But even with the justification of how much I use my iTouch and how handy it is, I just haven't been able to bring myself to splurge on an iPad. One of the biggest drawbacks has been it's size. Why would I give up my handy iTouch that I can run with, stick in my pocket and go for something that would definitely be more cumbersome? I have relatives that own iPads. Even my mom has an iPad. The screens are bigger but other than that, to me they have just seemed like giant iTouches.

But lately, I have been hearing of more and more people investing in iPads to use at work with all of the new handy apps that are now available out there for multitude of things. People are using them to show portfolios. And today, I saw this video (below) of a guy using an app to sketch. And I mean REALLY sketch as if on paper...but with the functionality of a program like Photoshop with layers. There have been times where I have thought how handy it would be to be able to have "layers" in my sketchbook when I have tried something and wished I wouldn't have. There is no Ctrl+Z in a paper sketchbook. Wait, I take that back. There is...it's called an eraser. But there are times that even an eraser won't work. And it is THIS app...THIS functionality that has me sold. I want an iPad now. I have a multitude of sketchbooks laying around. I have never been one to use just one sketchbook and use it page by page to the very end. I've been more like grabbing a sketchbook, opening to a blank page and sketching. I have sticky notes and office memos with sketches and doodles all over. Wouldn't it be awesome if I were to utilize an iPad to take over? I could sketch on the iPad and if I want to take it further, I have it digitally ready....

The next dilemma...I need to start saving up now, don't I?!

Vegas Love, Love, Love...

I just recently finished up designs for a very old and very dear friend, Lisa and her fiance, Steve. They are getting married in Vegas in May but then having a big reception in June for most of those who would be unable to attend their Vegas wedding. (And as much as I would LOVE to go to their Vegas wedding, especially since I've never been there...I am going to be one of those who will have to help celebrate at their reception...) Anyhow- I am very honored that they came to me to design their invites for their special day as it really meant a lot to me!

The invitations and reception cards were designed to replicate playing cards. The designs feature fancy flourishes, a beautiful script font that is both elegant and sassy, and colors that are rich and vibrant. They are printed on a beautiful linen cover stock and trimed with rounded corners. I wanted to give the pieces a more sophisticated look and feel with the linen paper. I think that it was a perfect choice. The envelopes are French Paper Poptone in Razzleberry with customized labels to match the invitations.