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)!

Celebrating Five-O, Installment #1

A fellow party lover and dear friend is planning a big event for not only her 50th birthday but her husband's as well. They now live in Maryland, used to live in Southern California and he used to live in Washington. So they decided on a location that friends from all of those places would love and that's the Napa Valley wine region. Four fun filled days of wine tasting, golf, fabulous food and maybe a spa treatment thrown in for good measure.

This is the first mailing that I have created for the celebration and I'm working on the next one right now. A "grapey" logo of their very own will be used throughout all the printed materials. Installment #2 coming next month!

Rockin Invitation

A Rockabilly themed baby shower is certainly one of the most unique I have ever heard of. I was happy to take on the challenge to create the invitation though. The mom-to-be knows she's having a girl so she requested pink with black & white and I went from there. I know the hostess Jill will have a rockin' good time ready for everyone!

The Happiest Bride on Earth

I knew it was coming. "Mom, can you make the invitations for me?" My daughter was the maid of honor for her friend Kendall and thus was in charge of the bachelorette party plans. For a gal that has always loved Disneyland, was obsessed with Tinkerbell, and goes there for her birthday every year, where else should the Bachelorette Party be? Duh.

What could I pull together in a hurry? Relying on the sneaky and fabulous photographer Sissel Byington, who captured Kendall & Brandon's engagement moments, I decided to use a couple of her shots. And then to go along with those photos a couple captions... just like every sports figure that wins some big championship we asked "Well Kendall, now that you've got your Prince Charming, what are you going to do next?" And like all those sports figures she answers "I'm going to Disneyland!" As I stared at the photo of Kendall walking her bike that brand new, beautiful ROCK on her finger seemed to say 'highlight me' so I added a little stick-on rhinestone and it really made the invitation rock. And it was magical!

Move is not a "four-letter word"!

Someone recently told me that people don't like the word "move". Apparently "relocate" is preferred. As if there's something wrong with moving. I suppose I'm not thinking that it conjures up the day when everything gets packed in boxes, a "moving" van comes and the sad goodbyes take place. Does "relocating" happen in an easier fashion?

Over a year ago we "moved" our daughter all the way up to Idaho. And I say "all the way up" because it was a long haul in a U-Haul on snow and ice covered roads! But her adventure was just beginning and we were so excited for her. Was it because she'd landed her first big job out of college and we were no longer paying tuition and other assorted bills? Well maybe. But honestly, to know she was launching into the world, and into her career that she had worked hard for, was thrilling.

We had our sad goodbye at the airport when we flew back home but my next little project awaited me. Her "I've Moved!" cards of course! So many people had asked "Now where exactly is Idaho Falls?" so that's what I started with... a map.

Okay, "move" does have four letters in it, but it's not a four-letter word.