....and the beat goes on.....

Michelle and I have been busy trying to build up our business.
I have very quickly realized that most business today is found using the internet. So we have been spending time trying to get our name out there as well as doing some local business networking.
I am quickly being forced to learn how to use the internet and all its avaliable tools, who knew uploading pictures could be so time consuming.
Since both Michelle and I are full time mothers of little ones, time is totaly NOT our friend. We read emails between bottles, diapers, story time and naps, and our house work........well it can wait...right?
Michelle has been busy busy busy with lots of invitations and paperwork. Her dining room table somewhat resembels Michaels craft store. However she always manages to meet her deadline.
I have had some flower work to do as well as I have lots more coming up for the summer. It often crosses my mind how I could spend hours making flower arragments or bridal bouquets BUT when it comes to my back yard gardens. I like to say I am going for the organic look, which basically is a fancy way of saying there is weeds everywhere!
I just thought I would drop in and make a small post. Michelle and I are off to enjoy a caesar and get some paper work done.

Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

Under a magestic willow tree, water racing down a stream as the background music, and the birds singing the chorus! This is the setting of an outdoor Wedding Ceremony. Months prior to this wedding, many arrangements were made from calling the local conservation authority for the booking of the site, to arranging the chairs for the guests to be seated throughout the ceremony! Having an organized planner will set the pace for this big event in your life.

I just finished making up 30 of these Louis Vuitton inspired hang tags for a bridal shower. They are headed off to Connecticut!

The base is made with 105 lb pearlescent bronze cardstock.

Then the dress is hand-stamped and gold embossing powder is poured delicately over the image. Once the excess powder is tapped off, the image appears and is heat-embossed. The vintage framed 'Thank-You' is also hand-stamped with permanent black ink. This tag has a delicate feature as each corner has been hand-punched with a more elaborate design than a simple corner rounded one. Off they go to 'dress-up' the favors that will be given to everyone at this bridal party! Hmmm a Louis Vuitton bag as a favor?

Designing Diva

I recieved an order from a girl in Ontario to design a pocketfold wedding invitation.

She would like a simple silver and white design with a mongram at the top of the invitation part. Her wedding is in the fall so I have plenty of time. Take it from me...future wedding couples...you need give your invitation designer atleast 6-8 months notice to create AND ship your invitations!!! Even having a designer lined up one year in advance is a good idea.

Now my invites are not your basic, buy at your local craft store, invitations. Everything is ordered individually (cardstock, envelopes, pocketfolds,) then I search for the perfect embellishments to give them 'a little something, something'! That may include the perfect color and width of ribbon, a silk flower, or even hand stamping an image and heat embossing it.

She would like a silver crystal added to the top of the invite and on the 'front monogram'.

Once I get all her wording, I start the process of creating samples and sending, via e-mail, pictures after pictures until she is 100% completely satisfied.

Then eventually we will get to the point of approval and I start printing, cutting, adhering, adding embellishments, and assembling. I will also have return addresses printed on her envelopes as she has requested this upgrade.

Packaging everything is stressful as I don't want to damage one of the completed masterpieces. I invest in layers and layers of bubblewrap for the long travels this package will undertake. She will recieve everything and all that needs to be done is placing the stamps on the rsvp envelopes, and inserting them into the pocket. She will need to address the outer envelope, stamp that also and insert the entire custom designed pocketfold invitation.

Now that you have a better idea of what goes into a design, maybe you will choose and independant designer like me. One thing to add, I had one customer that ordered 125 invitations, I completed the order and shipped them to him in Toroont. One week later he called me and realized that he needed 6 more invites! I just made them up that night and shipped them to him the next day! Do you think a larger company would do that? Not for an additional fee, I guarantee you!