Event Opening Invitation

front cover

as you open the invite and the inside view

And you thought I only did birthday parties.

This makes 2 down, not that many to go on my list. This is an invitation I created using photoshop and illustrator and lots and lots of emails back and forth to the museum. The American Museum of Ceramic Art that is. The have an upcoming show centered around Pre-Columbian pottery, also featuring two contemporary artists.

I feel like I really connect with all things ceramic, mostly because I had clay in my hand from infancy. My mother (director of said museum) started out as a potter (well, not started out but, well, you get the point) she threw pots for 30 years, 3 kids, a second marriage and one major hand injury. I really get a kick out of working with my mom, my most important client.

Anyway, here is the (not quite final) invitation (but close enough).

Nancy Drew Birthday Party, Here We Come!

One down... six thousand to go. Well, maybe not quite that many.

For this invitation, I scanned the front and back of a Nancy Drew book to get color and text placement ideas. Then, I took some very silly photos of my daughter peeking around a bedroom closet doorway.

In photoshop, I tried (unsuccessfully) to give the photo a more "painterly" quality, and ended up with something not very close to what I envisioned but what I spent far less time trying to achieve. Then, using Illustrator, I created the yellow boxes, text and bar code.

Next, after a simple upload to CostcoPhotoCenter.com, I will glue/tape the two 5x7 photos back to back and mail off in a nice white envelope.

Done!

Let's Get Down to Business

I know, this photo has nothing to do with my post here, but this is
my grandma, and I've been thinking so much about her lately.

Okay people, enough with the stalling... let's get cracking!

For the next week I have a HUGE to do list:

1. my daughter's birthday party invitations (Nancy Drew by the way)
2. opening invitation for the American Museum of Ceramic Art's new show (starts end of Feb)
3. designs for invitation to a preschool fundraiser
4. menu plan for my mom's birthday brunch
5. organize and order photos for scrapbooking weekend in Big Bear (end of Jan, woohoo!)
6. new designs for Paper & Cake (Superbowl Party and Valentine's Day)
7. new orders for See Jack Draw
   

Where do I start? I am actually a little overwhelmed at the moment. I think I need an assistant. Does anyone out there want to be my assistant? The pay sucks but the coffee is good.

So throughout the course of the next few days, I will post as many of these items as I can - let's just get this list DONE!

and thanks for letting me vent/panic/panic.

Still Pulling Myself Together

I know Christmas is over, but I still can't face the day to day regular routine of my life. I guess you could say I'm in denial? So, instead of a step-by-step party instruction (coming soon by the way) here is a cute picture from Christmas eve with my kids and their cousins. Aren't they cute?

Merry Christmas to All!

Have a wonderful day and I will "see" you in the new year!

Family Holiday Card

About three seconds ago, I clicked the "order now" button from Kodak Gallery's website. I feel as though a weight has finally lifted from my shoulders!

To make this card, I purchased several yards of saturated green felt from the fabric store (on sale!) and taped it high on the wall. Three of my family members posed in front of it while my trusty tripod took several photos (before the felt succombed to gravity). Meanwhile, my daughter decorated her gingerbread house. She had such a good time!

Then it was all about the photoshop. I found a tutorial, online, for removing the "green screen" from the background - using a green fabric just makes it fairly simple to "cut" the people out of the background. I had to play around with the coloring of both photographs, the "gingerbread" photo was red in comparison to the "family portrait" photo. I also had to put shadows in behind the "family portrait" photo to make it look as though we had the same lighting as the other photo.

And voila! Sillyness ensues.

"green screen" portrait

Autumn's gingerbread masterpiece


Final combo photograph

A Giveaway from See Jack Draw

I saw this one with my own two eyes! See Jack Draw is giving away one of their most popular collages. A nine square, 12"x12" photo collage of your child's artwork - a $70 value - could be yours!


all they ask is...

1. enter the contest before Midnight PST on Sunday, December 7th
2. just make a comment on See Jack Draw, one comment per person
3. for an additional chance to win, post about their contest on your blog
4. one winner will be randomly picked and announced Monday, December 8th