Tag Archives: original+art

Home From the CHA Show & Very Inspired!

NOTE:  JUST CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO GO TO SEE IT LARGER IN MY ZAZZLE STORE.

CHA, the Craft & Hobby Association Show was held in Los Angeles this year at the end of January.  It is always one of my favorite shows to attend.  It is filled with such incredible creativiy – both in the art being used to create the craft, scrapbooking and other kits that are offered and in the creativity of the designers who are creating projects from that artwork.

Designers use existing products to create new and fun crafts with.  Their interpretation of the artwork is incredibly fun and diverse.  There were “make and takes” every where you turned.  Displays of projects and extravagant backdrops or centerpieces such as paper dressed mannequins were all around.  Unfortunately my camera malfunctioned and I don’t have my pictures to share with you.  I will ask my daughter if I can take a peek at her pictures and see if I can add later.

I didn’t get to do as much wandering around as I usually do.  My time was mostly filled with meetings – some of which were very productive meetings (so I’m not whining, LOL!)  The other place the bulk of my time was spent was getting to spend time with some very special artist friends – you know who you are!  My artist friends inspire me so much.  I love seeing what they’re doing, discussing the industry and our goals going forward.  I’m friends with some VERY motivating people!

If you’re snowed in, how about beating the boredom by crafting something with all of those supplies you have stashed away?  How about pulling out your scrapbook papers and creating 5 or 5 greeting cards to have ready to use when the need arises?  I love to make a mess just once and end up with lots of goodies to use later throughout the year.  Try making some matching gift tags to add to your birthday or Christmas gifts during the next year.  It’s a wonderful way to pass a cold and miserable day with the warm sense of joy creating brings.

Kids driving you nuts?  Bring out your craft goodies and set them to work creating.  You might be amazed how much they enjoy the time and remember it fondly decades later (as I do my Mom’s rainy day projects!)

I thought I would also share some of my newest invitations in my two Zazzle stores.  If you know a young bride that is getting married this year, or a new mother welcoming a baby, I would love if you would pass my website along to her!

A Plethora of Peacocks!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE peacocks!  When I was a little girl we went to the San Diego Zoo several times a year.  Anyone who’s ever been there has been regally greeted by the resident show offs that hang around the entrance.  I could have watched them for hours if my mother would have let me.

Peacocks are showing a resurgence in art and especially for weddings.  I have happily gone along with this trend and have some new things to show today.  A new line of wedding invitations at Zazzle.  And new craft oriented designs for sale at my Etsy store.

I am still in the process of adding designs in both stores.  The wedding ensemble will have cupcake wrapers and toppers, table seating charts, table numbers, escort cards, wedding menus & programs and much more.

The Etsy kits will include both square and round designs in 3″, 2.5″, 2.25″, 2″, 1.5″, 1″ and 7.8″ sizes as well as ATC cards, shaped tags and more.

If you’re looking to add some elegance to your Thanksgiving or Christmas table, try this quick idea:  Use peacock feathers, a custom name on a circle design like these collages and a beautiful wired ribbon – cut the feathers to about 5-6″, tie them on to your napkins, tuck them inside the ribbon and place across your table setting.  Easy Peasy Elegance!!!!

Vintage Peacock Wedding Invitation Ensemble, New at Zazzle

I found this vintage image of a Peacock and immediately thought how elegant and stately it would be on a wedding invitation.  I designed the first with a Peacock blue accent color, but it has been set up on Zazzle to be easily customized by the bride to use any color that fits with her wedding.  All that’s needed is the Hex# of the color (selected from your color picker in your graphics program or just ask me), plug that color into the background and in the appropriate text and presto, custom wedding invitation!

I created a matching envelope as well and then ran out of time yesterday.  The entire suite of products should be available by the end of the week.  The customizable color envelope hasn’t been created yet, but I would be happy to create it for anyone needing a specific color combination.

One of the things I adore about Zazzle is that you don’t have to have any minimum quantity to do a custom invitation, try that in a brick and mortar store!  The more quantity you order the less expensive the cost per invitation and they ship for a flat fee.  Remember that any invitation can be customized for any event.  If you have a birthday party, you don’t just have to look at the Birthday invitations for your party theme.  Also great for 50th anniversary parties or Family reunions.

Remember that there are just a few days left in the month to get your comments in for the drawing.  You can comment on any and every post and each comment counts as an entry into the Blog Contest drawing.  The winner gets their pick of a $4.95 kit at my ETSY store.  Good luck!

“Aged Grape Vineyard” Wedding Ensemble or Party Invitations

Useful for wine tasting parties or wedding invitations, this is one of my all time favorite pieces of artwork that I’ve done.  I love the texture, the richness of the color palette (perfect for summer or fall weddings!) and most of all I love vineyards and all things grapes.  I live in the mountains of Central California and our valleys are full of beautifully tended vineyards.  I love watching them grow throughout the year.

There is a full ensemble of products for this wedding line and if I’m missing anything that you would like, I’ll be happy to create it for you. Table place setting cards, Table Cards, Wedding Dinner Menus, Wedding Programs and more.

If you are looking for an inexpensive Bridal Shower or Save the Date option, postcards are great.  This Bridal Shower postcard design can be purchased for as low as $.90 each in bulk (250 or above).

Also useful are two sided, Favor Gift Tags which can be tied on to your favors with a lovely matching ribbon and provide a tremendous visual impact for your table decor with very little cost involved.  100 cards run only $21.80!