Designers Care: Hurricane Sandy Support

Much like many individuals across the country over the last couple weeks I experienced Hurricane Sandy from the safety of my home, looking at the devastation of the east cost via TV and photos posted on various news and social media sights.  Wanting to help, but not sure how.

by Jen Wick

Cue in the very talented Jackie Mangiolino, owner of Believe Notes, a designer friend and NY native.  Jackie, with the help of her mother and over 50 designers, decided to help through the best way we know how, through design. She created an Etsy shop called Designers Care where you can purchase beautifully designed and stamped note cards and all proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross.

Each design in this shop has been donated by an established designer and then hand stamped, or hand embossed, onto either a small wallet-sized card or a larger note card. The cards are perfect for keeping as inspiration, framed art, or to gift it forward to people that may be in need of a little cheering up.

Please click through these links (below the image) to view more designs and support such an important cause while bringing a little beauty into your life.  

Hint: these would also make lovely holiday cards, gifts and gift tags!

by Stacey Meacham

by Frooted Design

by Lori Wemple

and my own design in the shop: 

by Inkblot Paper

Holidays are here!

It sure is crazy that I haven't posted in such a long time and even crazier that I am posting about the holidays (really they are just around the corner)

To get you in the spirit I thought I would share a little inspiration board with you.   I am totally into this neutral metallic look.  So beautiful and timeless!

You too can create your own inspiration boards, just click though the below image to minted.com

Gold + Snow board by Inkblot Paper. See more Minted holiday cards

New Art Prints

I am really excited about the new Minted Art Print category. It really takes me back to my fine art studio days! After the big holiday challenge it was kind of nice to look through my past portfolio to see what I had that was ‘minted worthy.’ Sort of an easy and fun way to enter a challenge.

So I submitted the following. Feel free to vote for these and more if you have the time. Remember a 5 = AMAZING, but only if you think so too.

art prints - Looking Down



art prints - Looking Up

art prints - Suburbiascape

art prints - harbor-scape

art prints - Striped Maize

I also thought I would try out a few portraits to see what would happen with the reaction of the community. So we will see how they fair.

art prints - ombre eyes

art prints - Windows (Looking In)

art prints - stalker

Christmas (and Hanukah too!) in Junely

I am posting to celebrate Christmas/Hanukah/Holidays in Junely (pronounced June-Lie, yes this is a made up word I created combining June and July)! That is right, while the rest of the world is enjoying the summer I’ve been hunkered in my design studio ignoring the bright sunny day outside my window (and all other things as well, just ask my husband about the state of our house!). Instead of sitting pool side I’ve been imagining winter wonderlands, sugar plum ferries, and all that the holiday season will bring. ‘Why?’ you may ask. Well, in the stationery world summertime Christmas/Hanukah is the norm, in fact, it is all the rage, as designers of the world work on the creations to make your family look beautiful on your holiday card of choice come November/December (and January for you procrastinators out there!).

Take a look at the below designs and if you deem them worthy of your time, please feel free to vote for each and every one of them by clicking on their individual images. Every vote will bring the design closer to being sold on minted.com (one of the loveliest stationery websites out there).

Berry Bunch Garland

holiday photo cards - berry bunch garland

Bright & Light

holiday photo cards - Bright & Light

Doily Doily

holiday photo cards - doily doily

Stitched Up Wreath

holiday photo cards - Stitched Up Wreath

Stitched & Sealed

holiday photo cards - Stitched & Sealed

In Review

holiday photo cards - in review

Simple Stripe

holiday photo cards - simple stripe

The Most

holiday photo cards - the most

Connected Christmas

holiday photo cards - Connected Christmas

Many thanks in advance to all who will vote for me (5s I hope!) and I’ll keep you all updated on how everything shakes out. :)

Quirky Cards, Winning & Lovely Patterns

Happy Valentines Day!
I love a good smarmy/quirky valentine card. Here is one from Sapling Press that I oh so enjoy.

I am also happy to report that I am QUITE enjoying my Valentines month if I do say so myself. I found out recently that one of my art print posters came in 5th place at Minted. It was so strange. I really wasn’t expecting anything to come of this design, in fact I got the email from Minted that lists all the editor’s picks and my design and name weren’t listed. I took that as yet another challenge passing without having a good score or a ‘pick.’ Then I thought I would use my handy dandy iPhone to surf online to my designer profile page. I am not really sure what made me do this and I got the shock of my night! I had a ‘winner’ tab next to my name! And after a few more clicks there she was, Nature’s Confetti, looking all pretty sitting in the top 5 designs. I got all giddy and happy. You can ask my husband, I was acting like an idiot.

 

art prints - Nature's Confetti

Well I’ll stop bragging now and just share my joy…and shamelessly ask for more voting help.
I entered only one new design into the most recent challenge, Women’s Stationery. I recycled this design from the journal challenge because I am in love with this color scheme and pattern.

personal stationery - Chain Letter

Happy Valentines Day to all!

Hooray!!!! Minted Again!!!!

SUPER thrilled I just got an email from Minted and my Here's a Story save the date design received an editors pic!  Couldn't wait to share!!!!  A big thanks to all the Minties out there that helped during the critique phase!

save the date cards - Here’s a Story

I'll be sure to post again once it is up for sale.

Story Save the Date Design + More Minted Goodness

It’s that time again! Designing for Minted is creeping back into my day to day and I am super excited about the latest Save the Date Challenge as well as their Art Challenge.

With every challenge, I feel like I grow more as a designer and being a part of the minted community has really given me so much I am so excited to see how this design year pans out.

Voting is now open for both the Save the Date and Art challenges, click on each of the below designs to vote on them, but feel free to vote on many more designs. There are some pretty innovative creations this time around and I can’t wait to see the winners already!

SAVE THE DATES:

save the date cards - Here’s a Story

save the date cards - Get There

save the date cards - 24 Carrot Coral

ART PRINTS:

art prints - Nature's Confetti

art prints - Patchwork Monogram

Not sure if you can tell by all the above designs (with the exception of the last one): I am a little obsessed with shades of Orange. Ha-ha! Thanks goodness the Pantone Color of the year is Tangerine Tango.

Vintage County Fair Chic – NWD Launch Party

The new issue of Nebraska Wedding Day Magazine came out and I’ve just been WAITING to see the spring issue! 

Back in the fall I designed some invitations, menu cards and place cards for a tablescape photo shoot and the images are beautiful.

Then on top of all that, they had a launch party for the new year’s mag and I must say it was a pretty AMAZING event.   Super fab if I do say so myself.   I would categorize it as high-end rustic with super chic county fair flair.   

  The food was delicious gourmet Comfort Food. .

Miniature delights at every corner.  

 {I can’t get over these mini pies!}

And of course a signature drink that was divine.

And to set the tone for the evening I as super pleased last month to receive the beautiful invitations designed and printed by Omaha’s leading letterpress studio Inclosed. 

 {A perfect execution blending multiple typefaces} 

What fun a fun way to get my year started. 

Happy New Year and Real Wedding Previews

Well hello and happy New Year!

I must apologize for the long stretch since my last post.  But I have been busy these past couple months.  Many thanks to my booth at the Wedding Essentials Ideas Show this past October.

I’ve met a bunch of really fun couples recently and am so excited for all the fabulous designs that will be created this year!

In the meantime I thought I would put up a few sneak peaks of some real wedding suites yet to be posted. 

{Emily + Brent}

{Chelsey + Mark}

 

{Amy + TJ}

{Amanda + Rick}

 

{Gina + Christian}