FRESHLY MINTED: HOLIDAY CARD CHALLANGE

I'm beyond thrilled to announce that 2 of my designs were selected for Minted's Oh What Fun Holiday Card Challenge.  This is the biggest challenge of the year (over 3300 entries were submitted!!) and I'm so honored to be among those chosen to be sold on Minted.

The designs Married & Bright and Light Heart are both available in several different die-cut shapes (a couple shown below).  I think each design has that perfect touch of whimsy that is perfect for the holiday season!

If you are really paying attention, you also know that my design Mistletoe was picked as a winner for the 'Tis The Season Non-Photo Holiday Challenge.

All three are available for sale on Minted's site and I'm astonished to tell you that I've already gotten orders for these babies.  Some folks out there are some serious pre-planners!!

MUSIC MONDAY vol 61

Whew! It has been busy around here.  Unfortunately, my poor little blog has been taking the brunt and is the first thing left off my list of to dos.  Thanks for hanging in there!  This week I'll striving to get back on the posting horse.

First up, I'd like to share a new (for me) band.  I give you The Boxer Rebellion with Diamonds.  Enjoy!

MUSIC MONDAY vol 60

Happy Monday!

Featuring a local Chicago band today - JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound with Rouse Yourself.  It's doubly local as Chicago son Jake Johnson (Nick from the show New Girl) is playing the boyfriend who tries to 'rouse himself'.

Enjoy!

FRESHLY MINTED: ‘TIS THE SEASON HOLIDAY NON-PHOTO CARD CHALLENGE

I'm so pleased to announce that my design Misletoe has been selected to be sold on Minted!  I usually don't let the cat out of the bag until the design is for sale on the site, but I thought I'd make an exception as my design was also selected as a runner-up for the Christmas Time Is Here special prize award.  Yippee!

I'm so honored as there were some AMAZING designs in that category (Including Nam's awesome design that won the category - isn't it lovely?).

Check out Minted's blog Julep to see all the special prize winners.  More holiday fun to come!  Stay tuned.

MUSIC MONDAY vol 59

I kept hearing this song over the weekend.  Seriously, no less than 6 times.  I thought it was a sign that it must be my Music Monday post.  Enjoy Lana Del Rey's Young and Beautiful.

THE LAST OF THE SUMMER FESTS IN CHICAGO

Mr. Squareview is traveling to Monte Carlo this weekend for business.  I know, sounds glamorous doesn't it?  It's actually a pretty brutal trip where he goes from 7 am to 2 am every day having speed dating-like 30 minute meetings with potential clients.  His schedule is so jam packed that he's wondering when he'll actually get to go to the bathroom during the day.  Poor guy. I bring this up because his misfortune is my gain as I have a fun filled weekend planned jam packed with activities!

photo credit: official germanday site 

First up on Friday, Oktoberfest (more accurately described as German American Fest) in my neighborhood.  At the end of every summer, Lincoln Square turns into a mini-Munich as thousand come together to celebrate.  Music, dancing, food, and beer are in great supply all weekend.

It's a fun time and it doesn't hurt that the fest is on my doorstep so the use of the dreaded port-a-potty is off the table.   Prost!

renegade craft fair official site

On Saturday I'm headed to the Renegade Craft Fair.  I've missed the last few summers and I'm looking forward to exploring all the maker's goodies.  If you're not familiar with Renegade, the site describes best.

 A curated indie-craft marketplace showcasing the brightest talents in contemprary craft and design.   Renegade is the first, largest, and most well respected event of its kind and has been a major force in pioneering the way for the booming DIY craft movement since it’s inception.  Following our Chicago debut in 2003, RCF  quickly spread across the US (and “the pond”) and presently hosts events in Austin, Brooklyn, Chicago, London (UK), Los Angeles, and San Francisco.   RCF events attract tens of thousands of people per fair and over 250,000 visitors annually. 

On Sunday, the plan is to hunker down and work on the shop.  I'll be photographing up a storm so I'll share all the behind the scenes in upcoming posts.

Enjoy your weekend!

IN THE SHOP: PACKAGING THE GOODS

Phew! It's been busy in the shop.  I'm thrilled to report that my address stamps and wedding favor stamps have been flying off the (virtual) shelf!  While I was prepping orders to be shipped last night I grabbed my camera (forgive the bad lighting, it was late) to take a few shots.  I thought it would be fun to share as a little behind the scenes into my packaging.

The address stamps are shipped out in hand stamped muslin bags.  Perfect for storage or gift giving.  The wedding favor stamps are a little too big to be squeezed in to the muslin bags so I pack them in a cellophane bag with a hand stamped tag tied with twine.

Stamps aren't the only items being shipped out.  My party invitations and social stationery designs are also being sent across the country.  I package those similarly to my wedding favor stamps - cellophane bags, hand stamped tags and bakers twine.

I've been researching other packaging ideas that I may implement soon. I'd love to hear about any packaging that you've gotten from a shop that you loved or packaging that you use in your own shop.

Have a great Thursday!

FRESHLY MINTED: KID'S BIRTHDAY PARTY INVITE - SPECIAL PRIZE RUNNER UP

It's always exciting to be recognized, even if you don't come in first place.

Minted announced the special prize winners for the Kid's Birthday Party Invitation challenge and my design Wagon Wheels got an honorable mention for the 'Shape Award'.

I'm honored to be included with the other designs as they are awesome!  Check out the other category winners and runners up on Minted's blog Julep.

AMELIA ISLAND, FLORIDA - A WONDERFUL GETAWAY

Mr. Squareview and I are back from a much needed vacation/birthday celebration.  We flew down to Amelia Island, Florida and met up with my in-laws for a relaxing & fun filled trip.  

The walkable downtown area of Amelia Island is full of cute boutiques, restaurants, and watering holes to explore.  If you're there, definitely check out the shrimp trawlers and sunsets from the balcony of the Salty Pelican Bar & Grill.

Lately, we have been trying to stay at condos instead of hotels when traveling.   Its not always possible, but when it is, it makes your trip so much more relaxing.  You're able to wake up and get the day started gradually with your coffee & breakfast on the balcony in your PJs.  It's also fun to end your day on the same balcony with a cocktail or two.  We stayed at Ocean Place and loved it.   We were right on the beach and our views were spectacular!  Especially, the tortoises.

Mr. Squareview had one request for his birthday.  He wanted to do a little fishing.  Originally, we were scoping out charter boats to go out and do some deep sea fishing, but we were in such a lazy day frame of mind, we ended up just doing some surf fishing.  It was my first time & I really got a kick out of casting the line. Baiting the hook, not so much.  I left that up to the hubby & Father-in-Law Squareview.

We were most surprised at the weather.  It was mostly cloudy every day with either a light or heavy breeze off the water.  This made it really comfortable instead of hot and humid as I was expecting.  On the breeziest day, we got some pretty fantastic waves to admire.

Such a fun time.  I would highly recommend a trip to Amelia Island. I can't wait to go back!