Details, Details

What fun it is to play around with details! This Christmas card I did had a few I thought I'd share. The photo is of the family at a camp this past summer, and it was not a planned photo shoot so all 5 were wearing something completely different than the others. To keep all the colors from competing and to give it a more woodsy, goodsy, campy feel I sepia toned the photo. That's when the vintage-feel postcard came to mind. And to make it really woodsy I found a wood grain mylar paper that is sandwiched by the postcard. The perfect campy font "pinewood" was another detail that makes it just right. And for those paying attention (and with good eyesight!) a subtle notation of where the photo was taken, Sandy Island, this family's tradition for the last handful of years.

Got Logo?

Recently a couple logos have been requests that I've received. A Christmas tree, wreath and garland program at my church which donates trees to military families, and also a sort of dinner club at church both needed logos. No great surprise, I had fun playing with fonts!

Guys Need Stationery Too - Classic Tartan!

Kiltish? Maybe. Ideas come from the strangest places, and this one came from my husband's Halloween costume he wore this year. He was a Scottish Highlander, dressed in a kilt and all! So the idea came to me that if he was willing to wear that costume he would probably go for plaid note cards. A thank-you note here and there always needs to be written and these handsome plaids work fine, for guys and gals alike!

Cookies, yum! A Cookie Exchange Invitation

I have a sweet tooth. It's dangerous to have cookies in the house. Or cakes or pies or brownies or... You get the idea. I was asked to create an invitation for a cookie exchange party and all I could think about while working on these was how yummy all those cookies will look and taste! I'm relieved to be surrounded by the paper and ribbon part of the party and not the cookies. I'd like to lose five pounds not gain five pounds!

Halloween Brownie Pops

They turned out lumpy yet yummy. I watched Martha Stewart make them and let's just say my experience was not the same as hers. Not that I expected it to, without a staff and all, so instead of painting tiny little jack o' lantern faces on a smooth orange surface I thought I'd make mine look like mini chocolate covered apples. No redeeming food groups here though. Just sugar! Happy Halloween!

Shower Season

There are seasons in life. I remember years ago when my husband and I went to LOTS of weddings. And then I went to lots of baby showers. Then there was a decade long pause, and now we seem to be going to more of these fun events. Since I love a party, and all the creating and planning that goes into them, I am really enjoying this season.

I decided to tweak an invitation that I did a year ago and sell it on my etsy.com site. A real "girlie" one for a lingerie bridal shower that I gave for the best friend of "the daughter". I look back on that shower with such fond memories. Someone else should have a fun time too so I hope my invitation inspires a really good party, and a wonderful wedding season, for a special bride!

I Like Orange... NOT!

It's just not my color. I don't decorate my home with it. I don't wear it. But there is that one time of year when I can get into it, a tiny bit. Halloween.

So when it came time to design an invitation for a pumpkin carving party I decided not to go with rust and peach tones (that I prefer) with some brown thrown in, I went full on black & orange and I actually like it! Well, I'll like it for two weeks anyway, then it's off my color palette again for fifty more.

Show Your Style

Boot Scootin' in 2007

Yes, I'm still in Christmas card mode. Did you get that family photo taken yet? The older "The Daughter" gets the more difficult it is to get a family photo for our card. And now that she doesn't even live in the same state it is ultra challenging. Two years ago, just before she moved, we thought we'd show our different styles by our choice of cowboy boots. Who else would have fancy teal green boots, but "The Daughter"!

Fortunately, a visit from Danielle caused this year's photo to be taken last week (so early compared to our usual) by our friend Sissel Byington and we even made her blog. You can sneak a peek of us here.

Get your photographer and show your style for your 2009 card!

Already?

Yes, we have to start thinking about our Christmas cards already. Last year my friend's asked me to design their card using a photo of them at a Norte Dame football game. So why not go with the college theme, create their own team color combination and "Team Mortensen" logo that looks strangely similar to Notre Dame's. Have you got your photo ready for your cards? Me neither. We all had better get on it. Now.

What Inspires You?

Too many hours spent on blogs that inspire me to throw a party! That's my addiction. And if I threw a party every time I saw a fabulous color scheme or fun theme, which is daily, we'd be in the poor house. The good news is they also inspire a new hanger or invitation for my etsy.com shop.

Gee Thanks!

A layered note of thanks. A narrow satin black ribbon makes a "t"... on a crisp white linen paper... on a green lokta paper... all on a lovely black linen card. "thanks so much" for stopping by my blog.

You Deserve a Blue Ribbon

Inspired by a delightful stay at the guest ranch in my last post, I created this note card. When was the last time you received a blue ribbon? It was 1984 for me and let's just say it wasn't for anything spectacular, but I do remember it. I did send a note of thanks to my inspiration IRMR on one of these cards and I hope it made them feel special... because they are! They deserve a blue ribbon. It will be on my etsy.com site soon.

Crisp Mountain Air

Home from vacation and I'm still thinking about the guest ranch that we stayed at in the central mountains of Idaho. It was so beautiful there and the ranch did everything just right. Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch is the place to go for relaxation or invigoration! We nabbed The Daughter and off we went! City people we are, but somehow when it comes to a vacation we often are putting on our cowboy boots and hiking boots. (Well, hiking "sandals" that double as river rafting shoes and biking shoes!) Wrap a log cabin around us, or even better a grand lodge built of logs, and we're at home.

A horseback ride with Wrangler Ben, enjoying the view to the ranch and the Sawtooth Mountains from top of the hill, and then from the front porch with a cool glass of tea to wash down the trail dust!

Not Spooky, Just Special

There's something about old cemeteries that I like. It makes me think about the lives that these people led and I don't even know them. Why do I care? I don't know, but I do. This old cemetery is in Idaho City, ID, population 100. They had their own Gold Rush in the 1860's but it is hard to imagine it today.

This old pine is younger than the gravesite!

The Big View, The Little Creation

The Deschutes River,

Mt. Bachelor, the little blooms of yarrow.

Francophile!

Definition - an admirer of France and everything French. That's my friend Jenny who just had a special birthday (you know the kind). She teaches French, and oh yea, she just taught a beginning Italian class as well! What a wonderful gift she has. I know a little French too. Very little. So with my limited knowledge I pulled together some stationery for her.

Happy Birthday Jenny!

Hang On

It seems a few folks like my hangers. Who'd a thunk? Well, I thought "maybe", with a shrug of the shoulders, so I put them up on my etsy.com site and they've sold! I never thought I'd be found at a fabric store so often... and actually like being there! (My mother will not believe I just said that!) Touching the ribbons and fabric are almost as much fun as paper. I need a few more colors in my collection though so I'm off to the fabric store again to add to the rainbow!

What to do about June gloom?

If the weather is going to be all misty like this we might as well pretend to be in Ireland. My friend recently got back from a trip there and I've been checking out her blog for photo postings of the trip. Those Irish sheep are so darn cute that when I took Cory to the groomers this morning (so misty I had to use my windshield wipers!) I asked for a lamb chop. Or maybe I didn't quite ask for that, but Cory came out with a nice short 'lamb cut' and he reminded me of Sissel's photo of some lambs. Really, check out her blog Cory looks like a lamb. Oh how I'd love to go there!

Well, Ireland is out, for now anyway, so I'll just enjoy our hydrangeas which make me very happy when they are in bloom like this. I bet Ireland has hydrangeas too.

With a gloomy day like today I think I'll create a wedding invitation in shades of gray, with maybe a touch of yellow since I'm hopeful the sun will come out... tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar!

Another something new...

I have a shop on Etsy.com. Pretty crazy. Inspired by the invitation in my last post, I decided to concentrate on a "banner" niche. Invitations, announcements and cards that are a declaration! The first one I created was the card for our niece and that got me hooked. My gift tags are just mini banners. Somehow my padded hangers got in there too! Please check out my shop on Etsy at http://kimgrantink.etsy.com/ and spread the word!

And a big "Congratulations" to Dave & Marsha who are now grandparents, and to Matt & Katie the loving parents of their new baby girl Ryen.

Celebrating Marriages

Back in 1980 my parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and in 2006 my husband and I did the same. They had a big bash, we had a small gathering, but a special invitation is something both couples did. My mom had acquaintances that made stunning screen printed artwork for invitations and calendars and such so she went to them for something different, and WOW it's still fabulous 29 years later. (lower left) Printed on gray felt with lavender, fuschia, silver and white ribbons sewn on it made for a declaration invitation. I guess we share a love of lavender as I used the same as well as pink for our theme. I created our invitation in shades of gray with the purple and silver paper as a background.

I asked our guests for their wedding albums the week before the party. As part of the table decorations I scanned some pictures from each album, printed them on vellum paper and matted them in silver and put three framed photos together with a votive candle inside to illuminate them. Then I printed out photos, one of each guest, and used them as place cards as well as favors. I asked everyone to sit at the place where their spouse's photo was. Gee, we were all so young!

The invitation by Marilyn Pace and Karen Wilson still inspires me almost 30 years later! Thank you ladies.

Tag... you're it!

My newest project: beribboned gift tags. I think these are so pretty, cute, fun, elegant that you don't need gift wrap. Put some ribbon around the box and tie one on! "It's a Banner Day" begins.

It's a Banner Day

When I get a phone call from my niece it's always a good day. A week ago she called and it was better than good... it was a banner day! She shared the fabulous news that she got a full ride scholarship TO MEDICAL SCHOOL! I know! Who gets things like that? Well, our lovely and smarty pants niece, that's who. So I decided to make a special card for her; a banner of congratulations. My inspiration was from an invitation that's almost 30 years old. I'll share that next month.

Poster Fun

Each June the Journalism Department at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has an end of year dinner to celebrate the accomplishments of their students. And for the past handful of years the chairpersons of the student-run public relations firm are responsible for the organization of the event. In 2007 my daughter was one of those chairpersons and enlisted my help in a few areas, one being the design of the poster to advertise the event and the tickets as well.

Print Journalism, Public Relations and Broadcasting take turns as the general the theme, and as you can see "good year. and, good luck." was the broadcasting theme choice that year. The movie "good night. and, good luck", about Edward R. Murrow had come out the year before so Ed became the star of the poster. And the dress code theme was black & white. I've discovered that if everyone at a party dresses similarly it gives the party a fun vibe!

The Daughter must have been feeling nostalgic about her college years because she requested this post. How could I say no?

Sunflower Soiree 90th Birthday

Driving along the road the other day I spied a sunflower plant in full bloom. It sure seemed early in the season but what do I know? It reminded me of my great aunt Audrey's 90th birthday invitation that I created a couple years ago. It was sent to relatives all across the country. My husband calls her a "little pioneer woman" and the folks in her tiny town of Twin Bridges, Montana call her "L'il Audrey". And since she's L'il Audrey, I thought I'd dwarf an old photo of her with a giant sunflower and thus sunflowers became the theme.

One of the most interesting things about her party is that the entire town (pop. 400) was invited. That's the way it is with occasions such as this and the invitation is always an ad in the local newspaper. So I emailed a digital B&W of her invitation and that's what appeared in the paper. No RSVP needed, they always guess that about 100 people will show up and that's what we had! About 15 family members from 4 states made it as well. It was a delightful and unique party, and so interesting to experience small town America. And I mean really small!

Bottom right photo is a mural on the side of the library building in town.

Hey Grad!

There's no doubt it is graduation season. Announcement number three showed up in our mailbox today so I thought I'd post some graduation announcements, grad party invitations that I've created and my daughter's graduation "thank you" notes. Knowing that she would be writing the same "this is what I plan to do now" I thought it best to just state that on the front of the folded card with a fun photo and leave the inside for the personal note of thanks. Best wishes to all the grads!

I owe ya Mom!

I am known as "The Mother" to my daughter and that just cracks me up! She has called me the much less formal "Kimmy" as well. I'm so bummed I can't spend Mother's Day with her, but I'm so blessed to be able to spend it with my mom, also known as "Mom". ;-)

To all my friends that are moms (and that's all of you because if you don't have human kids you have dog or cat kids) have a fabulous Mother's Day!

Celebrating Five-O, Installment #2

The wine weekend celebration for my friends will surely be a fabulous time for all who attend. This second invitation was fun to create. The invitation part is a wine label with a posterized photo of the hosts and has a very detailed RSVP card for the weekend chock full of activities! I'm ready to pack my bags now!

Earth laughs in flowers. - Emerson

It may be gloomy and cloudy today but our roses are in full bloom. And what is cheerier than a yummy yellow one? Ahhhh, spring and baseball season! Happy weekend!

Lending Library

It's always good to share a good book. I rarely read a book and give it away. Most of the time I want it back and every so often one never finds its way back to me so that got me thinking. I just finished reading a book I really enjoyed and plan to share it with a friend, and then my daughter, and most likely another friend or my mom after that. So I decided to design a bookplate for our little library here at Stone's Throw. These are just a handful of what I've been playing around with. Bookplates have been around for hundreds of years and I intend to make sure they do not become extinct!

Favor-ite Favors

A little something to remember the day, the evening, the weekend or the event. And these days a party favor ain't what it used to be! Some are extravagant and some are just plain thoughtful, but no matter what it's always fun to take home a little gift. Black and white fabric covered hangers, each with a place card tag were the favor at a lingerie bridal shower. A cozy blanket was a most thoughtful favor for an outdoor wedding in the coolness of January, even if it was in sunny San Deigo County! And custom etched wine glasses were the favor at my most recent party. With each guest's name on a mini wine lable and a special friendship quote on the back. Of course they used the glass at the party, and I had tissue paper and "thank you" printed paper bags at the table for wrap up on the way out the door.

A friend of mine told me of a bridal shower she just went to where the favors were aprons, a variety handmade by the hostesses. Sounds like the perfect thing for a kitchen themed shower. And another friend of mine is giving a "Time for Tea" shower and she found some lovely vintage hankies for the favor. The "tea bag" invitation has a beautiful vintage look as well. There's nothing like following a theme from beginning to end!

In the Vineyard

Well, I like to pretend! That's what theme parties are all about, so our backyard became a lovely picnic area at a vineyard for my birthday. The fabulous invitation was created by my dear friend Danielle Leopold, but I was flattered that so many thought that I had done it. I love her work. I did enjoy making the place card wine glass tags, the wine labels, as I named each table a different type of wine, and menu cards to complete the "paper & such"! Also, I love Continental Catering in San Diego because the food is delish and they help create the ambiance that I'm looking for.

An idea I love (and stole!) is the do-it-yourself photo booth. "Dress up and pose at the brick wall please!" Thanks for playing.

Most of all I LOVE that so many friends and family came to celebrate with me. A special shout out to travelers from Idaho, New Hampshire, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, and almost Colorado (they got snowed in)!