This is my newest collaboration with Papyrus that just came out this month. I love how it turned it out. So sweet, glitter, ribbon and bedazzled to boot. Even the message Papyrus chose is perfect 'lots of love to you. happy day' You could send this to someone well past Valentine's day!
Over at the shop right now! I listed the only 9 cards I have available to share.
lots of love to you and oh happy day!
Since I've been sharing so many Iphone/Instagram photos lately, I wanted to take some pretty, clear ones of the new cards and then I fell in love with this Iphone version that I had to include after all :)
hope you enjoy the new additions! now over at the shop
For all of you who have requested Creative Thursday note cards. Wish granted!
Last year I teamed up with Papyrus to create the "animal friends" assorted notes. Four designs tucked into the sweetest little box for you to keep!
When I was in NY, Laura humored me while I popped into my first ever Papyrus store. {They are gorgeous, by the way} I had to see if my cards were there. I didn't see them anywhere was about to leave, feeling totally disappointed. Did NY not like my art style?...oh here we go... Rather than let my sometimes self-defeating artist mind run away with a litany of thoughts, I decided to ask the shopkeeper. Not only did she know about them, but she had a set at home ;) She said they've been hard to keep in stock and were temporarily sold out. Needless to say, both I and my artist mind felt so much better. Asking is always a good thing.
You can find them at Papyrus stores worldwide {if you don't see them, ask!} and right here online. I also have just a few boxes over at my Etsy shop.
*Edit* 4/28/11 The cards are sold out right now, but I've been informed by Papyrus that they are re-printing and will be available to ship starting June 13.
I hope you enjoy them!
happy holiday weekend xo
More good news!
Ok, seriously my little characters have glitter hats on.
Yup, it's approaching that time of year, my favorite time of year and one of my favorite creations of the year ~ holiday cards! You may or may not know the story ~ oh, fine I'll tell it again :)
Holiday cards are especially meaningful to me ~ as years ago, way before Creative Thursday was even a thought, I always made my own holiday cards that I sent to friends and family. A few times I even hand drew and colored each card. At that time in my life, it was the one time of year that I was able to be creative just for me. You see even before there was a day set aside for creativity, there was a time of year set aside for creativity. When you're sorting all this out, the "what do I want to do with my life?" kind of sorting, you may only have time for creativity once a year. Hey, you squeeze it in where you can sometimes.
Holiday cards were also one of the first creations I actually sold through Creative Thursday. Designing these cards every season brings me right back to why I started this business to begin with ~ my love and let's be honest need for creating in my life. And as I'm endlessly telling my students now, it is this very question/sentiment that is worth coming back to often ~ why are you wanting to be in business for yourself and if you are already in business for yourself, why did you begin the business you are in? Finding the answer to these questions is what will keep you grounded on the days when you feel you've lost your way.
For this year's cards I challenged myself with a new form of creating in one of the cards. The "holiday cheer" design is a combination of painted paper, cut paper, and illustration all combined to form one design. I also felt like mixing up the traditional holiday colors with a little something different. And the green painted paper tree is carried out in the theme of both designs. I hope you enjoy them! You can now find both designs over at the shop.
First day of October. I figure it's good day to get a little Halloween spirit going? Yes?
A long time fan of Papyrus cards, I'm honored to have one of my designs included in the collection this year. I have to say it's pretty adorable. If I saw it in a store, I would most definitely snatch one up. They left my original design as is, but embellished all the black with a little touch of glitter, as only Papyrus can do. How's that for Halloween spirit?
happy October!
And Valentine's cards. And sleeping in on Saturdays (well really due to a night full of animal shenanigans that kept me up! ~ photo below is pre-shenaningans), followed by brunch with Sean at the Vienna Cafe, followed by an afternoon of being creative. That's a pretty good day in my book.
I created some "love" cards and listed them in the shop this afternoon. A hand drawn ink illustration then digitally colored ~ I love the sweetness and the simplicity of these.
happy saturday!
Before Creative Thursday was even an idea, before setting aside a day a week for creativity ever occurred to me, I would set aside one time a year for creativity. And that time of year was now, when I would hand make my personal holiday cards. Even though I worked in "creative" jobs, this was still the one project I had all year, that was complete, pure, creative freedom.
To this day it is still one of the creations that I look forward to all year, and now I get to create them for you too! Honestly when I put it into that kind of perspective, I'm still amazed that I get to do this for a living.
This has always been my favorite season, so I think the creativity naturally flows on over drive during these months. The hardest part for me is choosing which designs I want to use. This year I made 4 designs and chose two and I also had them offset printed for the second time ~ as I used to print them all to order...having them printed is quite a bit easier on my work load, but now when they are gone, they will be gone. Also, I created an option where you can purchase both designs together if you'd like ~ if you can't decide between the two, like me. Ooh and I almost forgot, that for the first time I have packaged these in "GREEN" biodegradable cellophane sleeves!
This holiday season I am also trying out the concept of being prepared. Bj left a comment in the blog discussions a few weeks ago that has really stayed with me where she said "I still don't have time to keep the house immaculate, create & sell a crazy amount of art and whip up a zillion crafts for each holiday. However, careful planning ahead could make it look that way." And that's the secret folks. Careful planning. The secret to peace and the impression that you create like a crazy person. Really, this is the first year I started planning ahead of time, and I STILL could have used more time. You see I always have to "get in the spirit" of the season to create for any holiday. Painting Christmas designs in the heat of the summer just doesn't sound appealing ~ and painting them a year ahead of time, feels too far out as I like the creations and creating process to feel fresh to me ~ although now I'm thinking a year ahead of time may not be such a bad idea... :) Either way, this year I am more prepared than in years past ~and I have to say it has already made things easier. Maybe my usual "under pressure", "deadlines", style of creating is better left behind. It worked ok as a student, but not as a business owner, and not really as the kind of person I am wanting to become, a generally less hectic, more peaceful person. So, to summon the creative holiday spirit a few months ahead of time, I just listened to Christmas music in October and the spirit arrived!
Ok then, they're here, the holiday cards! And a little early this year, so you have plenty of time to send your holiday greetings ~ and did I mention that each holiday card order will be accompanied by these bookmarks that I had made? I'm always using my own business cards as bookmarks and since the company I print with also prints bookmarks, I thought ~ it's time for bookmarks!! Here, Here for Holiday time, preparation and experiencing extreme cuteness while READING!
4 x 4 in.
Believe it or not, in between writing super lengthy blog posts, I have actually been doing some work over here. In fact, this is a perfect time to give you a head's up that my 2008 holiday cards have been printed and are on their way to me as I write this!! I plan on releasing them the first week of November. And these little cuties are one of the two card designs I've created. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind getting these as presents this year.
Ok, then, I'm sending you more cuteness and joy today. (I couldn't resist ~ it's Creative Thursday after all ~ a day for fun and creativity!)
Happy Creative Thursday!
by special request this image is also available a print now over at the Etsy shop.
4 x 4 in.
This polar bear is finding his way into all sorts of things, from claw foot tubs to pumpkins :)
Before I go on with this post ~ let me just say, I mean shout:
LOVE you people!!!!!!
I know I'm hosting a giveaway on the post below but I still have to say that you all have gone above and beyond in sharing what Creative Thursday creations you'd like to see next, even going so far as to coming up with some other great ideas that I am seriously taking to heart. And I had no idea that hearing back from so many of you would inspire me so profoundly!! I woke up this morning incredibly excited to get going on some new directions!!
First of which is a "happy halloween card" with today's painting featured. You can find it as a single or a set of 5 in my Etsy shop. I've listened and I've heard a lot of cheers for "cards" and I am planning more to come. Until then I just wanted to get this one ready in time for sending Halloween greetings. I meant to say that if you do have ideas for what images you would like to see on cards, please let me know. Honestly that is part of the delay, just deciding what images would be best, especially since I plan on printing them off site and would need to order larger quantities. I want to choose images that you would like. A "bird" theme assortment was once suggested to me so I've been thinking about that one to start with.
Thank you again and I'll see you tomorrow with the winner!!!!!!!!!!
