Happy Thanksgiving!

A special "hello" today. Amoung other things in my life I'm thankful for my clients whom I appreciate greatly! Have a blessed and wonderful day!

I'm failing my own challenge

OH, no.

My intention to design, print and post a new design daily has escaped me. My friend Laura taunted me, TAUNTED me about it. While Sara Paper has mostly been chugging along (note to patient brides - all your proofs will be complete this week) there have been a couple bumps in the road elsewhere.

Preparing for a couple holiday shows, a few days devoted to family due to a funeral, and the unexpected installation of a hot water heater took it's toll and something (the November Challenge) had to give. A special thank you to my 6'5" husband Adam for wedging himself into a very, very small utility closet to change the water heater. He worked all day, went to class and then worked into the night to ensure I did not have to take a cold shower in the AM.

At any rate I have at least one new design to post. It's for the Holiday Show at Art Place in St. Marys. (138 East Spring Street, St. Marys) I will have a TON of notecards for sale. I'll be sharing space will a lot of great(er) artists. If you are looking for a unique gift, check them out. The show kicks off November 15 with an Artist Reception and runs through January.

"Hello Chickie" In honor of "Crafty Friend Kat"

And this one for aforementioned Miss Laura, who seems to enjoy penquins.

And now for another bride. Kelly Niblick married John (JD) Hawkins on October 18, 2008. I just love her bridal party who wore rust, a deep red and chocolate. Beautiful!

I LOVE thes colors together. The regal purple looks a little funny on these photos but I assure you the color matches the print and it's just perfect on this olive cardstock with rounded corners.

The Regal Autumn cost $2.80 a packet. 10% off order of 100 qty. or more.

November Challenge - Catching Up

Since it's already the third day of November I decided to sort of cheat with my November Challenge. So I printed some old proofs from a bride who got married way back in September. This is a good opportunity to describe how Sara Paper works.

My normal process for meeting with a couple is this.

First meeting (which is free by the way) - We sit around, look through albums and chat about what you'd like your ideal bridal invitations to look like. Sometimes people find the perfect thing in one of the 9 Carlson Craft Albums I carry. For a standard order I collect a 50% deposit and call you when the order arrives (usually within 2 weeks). If you opt to go the custom route I ask for a $25 deposit.

Step Two - I design several samples based on our conversation. I print them and mail them to you so you have the opportunity to see them for yourself. These proofs are not "perfect" but they give you a good idea of whether you like the direction I am going.

Step Three - You pick the favorite design and I make the needed changes. I tweak, design matching cards and envelopes. If you wish I will mail you a final proof. At this time I ask for 50% deposit before I continue on.

Step Four - You pick up your invites!!!!

It sounds too easy, right? Well, I admit, it's not quite that easy. I mean these are custom invites. Sometimes it takes extra effort to "get inside" someones head. There are often ideas and suggestions along the way which add to the process. But that's okay. In the end you have invitations that reflect YOUR wedding.

So, in my examples below, Stephanie and Darin were looking for a perfect mix of her fun colors of pink and green and her desire to do an outdoorsy theme. They were getting married outside after all. So the following designs are some of her proofs. She ended up choosing a photo invite with a nice overlay but these proofs were unique and fun - just like Stephanie and Darin.