Take it Personally Blog

Cooking and Dancing the salsa

2011-09-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

Blogging is honestly a lot of fun for me. My most difficult part with it is applying it strictly to my business. I start to run out of ideas that are fun and interesting. Soon my words start to sound robotic. So to mix things up I am going to start posting some things that I am doing in addition to my graphic design work.

Honestly I do feel bad for those who have a hard time finding a hobby. My usual response is "take one of mine!". But then again I would have a hard time giving one of them up. Today is about my hobby cooking. For literally years I have tried to make salsa at home. Each attempt is simply ok. Nothing good just ok. And I like to think my cooking is amazing. So with the abundance of tomatoes from my garden (another hobby) I decided to give it another try.

So first I had to find an inspirational recipe. Thanks to my new crush Pinterest I found an image that gave me just what I needed. It is actually from a local B&B. Which makes it even better for me. When I reviewed the recipe I found that half the ingredients are roasted in the oven. Hmmm ... I think I had heard of that before. Now that sounds fun! The next best part is you can this salsa. This means yummy salsa all year round and huge savings. All I needed that I didn't get from neighbor's or relative's gardens was the poblano peppers. I had everything else including jars.

Making this recipe couldn't be easier. I did double the recipe and ended up with almost six jars of salsa. Some parts were a little messy. But I don't mind messy. My only recommendation is to seed the tomatoes. The end result was 1.5 jars of salsa gone in two days! Absolutely delicious! So good that today I am making another batch today. Here is the link to the recipe I hope you give it a try and send the Brayton B&B a little thank you for their amazing recipe!
http://braytonbb.net/2011/09/friday-recipe-of-the-week-canned-salsa-with-fresh-tomatoes/

Orange Toes in Lake Michigan

2011-08-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

This weekend we visited my mother-in-law for a family get together. She lives one mile from Lake Michigan. For us Wisconsin people it is our version of the ocean. I absolutely love going to the beach. I had my camera in hand to take some photos. It also gave me the opportunity to show off my fabulous orange toes.

So when you are considering setting up your manicure and pedicure appointments for your wedding don't forget this fabulous color! And remember they don't have to match. Do a french manicure on your hands and orange on the toes.

Foster Family

2011-08-12T09:00:00.002-07:00

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Sullivan Family

2011-08-12T09:00:00.001-07:00

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The Bortzfield Family

2011-08-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

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The Guzman Family

2011-08-12T08:59:00.001-07:00

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The Robinson Family

2011-08-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

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"Orange is red brought nearer to humanity by yellow." --Kandinsky

2011-08-08T17:17:00.000-07:00

Orange, a close relative of red, sparks more controversy than any other hue. There is usually strong positive or negative association to orange and true orange generally elicits a stronger "love it" or "hate it" response than other colors.
Fun and flamboyant orange radiates warmth and energy. Interestingly, some of the tones of orange such as terra cotta, peach or rust have very broad appeal.

The Effects of the Color Orange

How the color orange affects us mentally and physically

Stimulates activity
Stimulates appetite
Encourages socialization

This info was provided by Squidoo. "http://www.squidoo.com/allaboutorange"

The more research I have done on this simple color the more I fun facts I find. The fact that orange encourages socialization is reason alone to choose it for your wedding. Your guests won't even realize that they are being subconsciously told to socialize.

A few of my fellow vendors have sent some great examples and uses for the color orange. Be sure to also check out the rest of their work!

Love this custom wine bottle label! Fabulous gift for your guests.

An example of using the actual fruit. Love the texture and color it adds to the floral design!

Not a detail is missed even in a bouquet.

My new Invitation line Addison

Deidre's Bachelorette Party

2011-08-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

My dear client Brianna choose my fabulous bachelorette party invitations for her event! Not only does this invite show who the guest of honor is the host is requesting all the guests wear a little black dress. Details like this make the party memorable!

This design can be found on my website

http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/bachelorette-party-invitations.html

An August kind of Christmas Contest

2011-08-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know who wants to be thinking of Christmas now...
Wait I do! And you will too!
Get a head start on your Christmas list and your greeting cards. Imagine getting your greeting cards well before Thanksgiving. Maybe even taking the time to address them right away. This can all be possible with my August kind of Christmas Contest!
The Grand Prize Winner will receive 50 5x7 Custom Christmas Cards for up to a family of 6 (pets are counted as a family member), an 8x10 print of the final design and a Season's Greetings lawn sign with your illustration.
Total value is $245! All other entrants will receive a $25 gift card towards any Christmas order.
Check out my website to see all of my current designs! www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com

To Enter:
Entries will be accepted August 4th, 2011 - August 11th, 2011 at 12:00pm Central time.
Email a photo of your family to takeitpersonallybychristine@yahoo.com. Your photo doesn't need to be the one I will use for the illustration. It doesn't have to be cute or funny. Although I do love funny :) Second if you have an idea for a custom design please include the details of how you would like your family card to look like. All photos will be posted on my blog for voting. *a total of 3 entries must be received for contest to go to voting.
Voting:
Voting will start August 12th at 10:00am. and ends August 18th at 10:00pm Any votes received before voting starts will be considered void. Photos will be posted on my blog. In the comments section you can then post your vote. Only one vote per person. For an additional entry you can sign up for my newsletter on my website. (bottom left corner of my website) Please state you have done so with your vote on the blog.
Daily updates will be posted on my facebook page along with the announcement of the winner. Makes sure your friends and family are fans so they keep up to date on the contest. *note this is not a requirement.
Winner:
The winner will be announced via email and facebook Friday, August 19th at 1:00pm. Winner will be chosen based on total number of votes received. All photos and text for the cards must be received by September 30th, 2011. If they are not received in time winner has forfeited the prize. All runners up will be emailed their code to receive $25 off any Christmas Card order in 2011

*Contest rules are subject to change at anytime during the contest. This promotion is in no way sponsored by facebook. All information provided is to Take it Personally by Christine and not facebook.

Have you tried Orange?

2011-08-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

"Orange: any of a group of colours, such as that of the skin of an orange, that lie between red and yellow in the visible spectrum in the approximate wavelength range 620--585 nanometres"

When choosing colors for your wedding don't forget about the amazing shade of orange. For many the first thought is Halloween. But I would prefer to think along the lines of tangerine. Shades of citrus in Florida orange, tangerine and clementine. Orange can even be paired with purple and not be reminiscent of Halloween if it is the right shade of purple. The right combos can be bold and almost jewel toned or whimsical and romantic. Banish your romantic ideas of a pink wedding when you see these beautiful pairings.

Now that you have seen the combos let's see them in action.

I forgot to add this one in my color combo ideas! I think it is a nice alternative to the yellow/gray combo that is currently popular.

Brittany & Brad's Engagement Party

2011-08-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

For some an engagement party is a formal event they choose to skip. I love engagement parties because it gets the entire family excited about the upcoming nuptials. For the couple everything finally becomes real. And the families get to mingle and get to know each other before the big day. Check out the design my latest couple Brittany and Brad choose below.

Check out this design on my website!

http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/engagement-party.html

Elizabeth and Zach

2011-08-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

Save the Dates have become one of my favorite wedding trends. They give you more flexibility to be fun than your actual wedding invitations. I especially love when my bride's choose my illustrated designs! Make sure to check out my latest bride Elizabeth and her fiance Zach!

This design is available on my website!

http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/small-magnets.html

Cutest Kid Contest!

2011-04-11T07:45:00.000-07:00

Making your next Birthday Party for your child amazing is a goal for many of us. For many of you there is not a single detail missed. But planning can be very hectic. So I have decided to give you some help! Starting Monday April 11th I am doing a Cutest Kid Contest. Many of you remember how fun last year's contest was! The winner will receive 25 Birthday Party Invitations in any design of their choice from my website, one 3'x1.5' vinyl banner and 25 matching favor tags. This package is valued at $130!!

So now the big question how do you enter? Please read the details below carefully.
Become a FAN on my facebook page. (click on the word fan) Post your photo of your child on the Fan Page. In the comment section tell me which invitation design is your favorite. (you can enter each of your kids separately) All contestants must also follow my BLOG as well. All entries must be received by Friday, April 15th by 7:00pm Central Time.

Voting will start Saturday, April 16th at 9:00am Central time and end Wednesday April 20th at 7:00pm Central Time. (any votes received before start time will be removed) To vote simply click "like" on the photo you would like to vote for on my facebook FAN page. For extra entries have your friends and family follow my BLOG and comment that they are now following. The contestant with the most votes will be announced on Thursday, April 21st. Two runners up will receive $20 Gift Certificates and all other entries will receive $10 gift certificates just for entering!
*Please note if you have won any of my contests in the last year you will be unable to qualify at this time.*

TAKEing a Walk

2011-04-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

Sunday can sometimes turn into nothing more than me, my chair and lots of tv. With the weather turning out to be so fabulous today I decided to get a few things accomplished at one time. It is my strong belief that most women are cursed with the need to multi task. So today I thought why not walk the dog, get my workout in and bring the camera with to take pictures I needed for a work project. Work, personal time, family time and exercise all wrapped into one.

The photo goal was to get photos of trees with bare branches. And with spring in full gear I figured now is the best time. This tree will then be illustrated into a photo album for babies. My dear friend Amy Zelmer of Custom Creations Photography came to me with this request. Now searching for the perfect tree was definitely a challenge. Because my version of perfect really means something that is more on the end of unique and misshapen. I was successful in finding 4 great trees.

Isabelle did an amazing job. Every time I stopped to take a picture I asked her to sit and she listened. She didn't get up until I said it was time to move on. Check out her hot pic with her gentle leader.

The sun did eventually break out and I got a cute picture of downtown. But shortly after the clouds rolled in. I then had to beg Isabelle to shake a paw so we could make it home before the storm rolled in. But don't worry I got plenty of tv watching in today.

Creating a Pirate Birthday Party

2011-03-09T10:26:00.000-08:00

My dear client Carrissa came to me with her latest project recently. Just over a year ago I created the cutest nautical baby shower invites for her shower. Now her little Dean is going to be turning one soon! Her party theme was to be pirates. She sent me photos of Dean's bedding and his Halloween costume. All of which were pirate related. The proof I sent to Carrissa didn't turn out exactly as I had hoped. But after a few of her fabulous ideas the final design was a hit! I can't wait to see pictures of the party.

To set the stage for your party you have to first start with the invites. They can help to determine the colors for the rest of the party. You may consider doing cupcake toppers (example below) to match the party. If you can get your hands on an old truck fill it with swords and tripoint pirate hats. This will give the kids some amusement. For a cute favor a bag of chocolate coins. For my parties I love to mix modern items with vintage pieces. Check out your local thrift and antique stores for cheap items. Wooden candlestick holders would be great down the table. Although I don't suggest lighting them for smaller kid parties. A banner makes a great backdrop for the party as well. And to welcome your guests a lawn sign.

Please feel free to comment on how you would decorate your Pirate Party!

What is in a Nickname?

2011-03-08T13:57:00.000-08:00

Recently I was asked to be the featured artist for a local shop during Gallery Walk. I was so excited about the opportunity. The only problem is all of my work is custom. There isn't anything that can be purchased right on the spot. The shop hosting me is Klassy Kids Consignment Shoppe. I was trying to think of something kid related and fun. I don't have any children of my own yet. But I have tons of nieces, nephews and my friends kids. I refer to all of them as my little peanuts. My friend Tina's son Max was mad when I scolded him at a hockey game recently. He told me he is not my peanut anymore! LOL

So this got me to thinking about nicknames. We all had them as kids. And now that we have children we have one if not 3+ nicknames for them. My nicknames as a kid are as follows, string bean, bean pole, beaner, bean, bubble butt, brenda, butch and blondie. The one that has lasted through time is bean or beaner. Most of these do not translate well for this project. But peanut definitely does! So I thought what better way to decorate your child's room than with a print with their nickname on it! So the first print to start the process was Peanut.

Peanut was a little daunting at first. I wasn't sure if I could do it justice in such a simple form. Then I considered giving it a background...no that didn't look quite right...back to white. The final design made me proud. Thanks to all of my facebook friends and fans I got tons of great ideas for more! What to hear them? Here we go....pumpkin, sweet pea, monkey, cupcake, peanut, duck, gator, sweet heart, sweetie pie, princess, prince, button (cute as), jelly bean, honey bee, sunshine and lady bug. Not all of them are created yet. The fun has just begun!

Creating the Perfect Alice in Wonderland Tea Party

2011-02-22T14:35:00.000-08:00

The process has only begun there is so much to do I must not be late! The creation of my Alice in Wonderland themed invites couldn't have come at a better time. My husband's niece Madysen is turning 7. She has asked some of her closest friends to attend a fabulous tea party at my house. There are still some items I have yet to design like the favor tags, food tags, thank you cards and banner. In the meantime I have been creating and purchasing items to create the scene.

I am borrowing the dark green topiaries from my best friend. The yellow soup tureen was a steal for $8 at a local thrift shop. The tea cups and sugar bowl totalled about $6 for a couple different thrift shops. After taking this photo I also realized I have some tea cups and saucers from a set from my husband's family. Yeah!! The bright green topiary is sitting on a vase I turned upside down. This was a $.50 find. The topiary I made myself. Those instructions will be coming soon! I added the red and white roses that remind me of the roses the cards were painting by the Queen of Hearts. I have one more for sure to make.

I am in love with making cake pops. But I might have a past client of mine try her hand at them. I want them to look just like the clock (pocket watch) the rabbit runs around with. I also plan on having cupcakes. The design for those is still to be determined. The menu is also up in the air. Tea of course but more than likely raspberry iced tea. I'm thinking of doing pbj sandwiches cut into simple shapes.

As for activities I will be having the girls make custom head bands. I will have different colors of fleece and felt for them to make flowers. Just like the ones on the topiary. Those will then be glued to the headbands.
Here are a few links of thinks I am thinking of adding to the party. Don't worry more details will be coming soon!
Tea Cup Rings
Cupcake Toppers
Necklace
Mini Top Hat
Things on Sticks
Eat Me Cookies

Hugs'n Kisses Invitations Photoshoot

2011-02-04T17:53:00.000-08:00

Creating bonds with other small business owners makes life sweet. My photography friends are especially very dear to me. My friend Amy of Custom Creations Photography has photographed my engagement, Vegas wedding, boudoir and even my dog Isabelle. She has been a long time friend of mine and now my sister. My newest addition to my photography family is Laurie of Laurie Marie Photography. We met through a networking group for local wedding professionals.

Our first meeting was unforgettable. She had the most adorable headband on and she notice my bright orange Nine West flats that I am so proud of. Once we started talking there was the "spark". This spark only happens when two creative minds meet. All it takes are a few words from one and the other person's gears are turning with ideas.

Laurie asked me to pose for a boudoir session for her, a clothing line and I lent a hand at a couple bridal shows. Love bridal shows! So when I asked her to do a shoot for my new Hugs'n Kisses Wedding Invites she jumped at the opportunity.

Thanks to my mother I love to dig around in thrift stores and antique stores to find unique items. My biggest dilemma was to find a way to showcase a cupcake but unlike anything being shown on other websites. Other party website are showing them in a cupcake stand. I wanted something more individual. My muse came while digging around with my mother on a Saturday afternoon. I came across the cutest little dishes in the snifter and champagne glass section. To be quite honest I do not know what the true use of this dish is. (Feel free to let me know if you do!) But the faint pink hue and scalloped edge had me sold. The $.50 price tag didn't hurt either. All I could picture is one cute cupcake nestled into this glass. There were only 3. Which now means I will forever be searching for more of them!

So now I have my muse the cupcake glass. Now I need some of the small touches. The invites have the xoxo theme with a heart in the center of the o. With Valentines day just around the corner it is easy to get sucked into everything with hearts. But I kept it simple. Marshmallow hearts were my next find. They were great scattered around. I also used them on my simple white cupcake. You can ask my sister I am obsessed with cake pops. So this shoot required pink pops with sprinkles. They looked amazing in the cupcake glass and in a grouping on my antique cake stand. (A gift from my mom. Thanks mom!)

My husband came with and took some behind the scenes photos of Laurie stylizing my shoot. You would be shocked what that woman can do with a piece of ribbon. I know I was! The best part about the day was with working with a great friend and seeing my vision come to life! I have posted the behind the scenes pics. The professional photos will be coming soon!

Free Valentines Printable Template

2011-01-24T10:48:00.000-08:00

My new Hugs'n Kisses line of Wedding Invitations inspired my freebie this month! As a special thank you to anyone that becomes a Fan of my facebook page you will be able to download the pdf version of the Valentines for free. Feel free to print as many as you wish for personal use. If you are not currently a Fan click HERE to become a fan and download this month's freebie. Please note this file is copyrighted by Take it Personally by Christine and cannot be resold or used for business use.

Wedding Package Contest!

2011-01-13T12:40:00.000-08:00

With Valentines Day approaching I see all the cute heart designs. Now I am not a huge fan of hearts. I try to use them as little as possible. I had seen x's and o's used and thought I would put my spin on it. This package is near completion. The completed items are featured above. The envelopes for the wedding invitations will have your return address and a design printed across the front (as pictured upper left) The Save the Dates come in a Cartoon and non-Cartoon version. I will also be offering matching stickers in a circle and rectangle shape. Other items still in progress are matching Programs, Place Cards, Table Numbers, Bridal Shower Invites, Seating Chart, Guest Book and Thank Yous.

To kick off release of my new collection I am running a Contest! Here are the details!

How to Enter:
Entries will start January 12th and end midnight central time January 19th. To enter: Step One: Post a pic of you and your fiance on my "FAN PAGE" In the comment section tell me more about you guys as a couple. Step Two: Post on your profile and recommend your friends become a FAN of Take it Personally by Christine.
There must be a total of 3 entries in order for the contest to go to voting.
Voting:
Voting will start on Thursday, January 20th at 9:00am Central time. To vote you must be a Fan of Take it Personally by Christine. Then simply click "like" on the photo you would like to win. Voting will end Wednesday, January 26th at 12:00am Central time. Please note when voting please refrain from making any negative comments about other contestants :) Negative comments will be removed.
Winner:
The winner will be announced Thursday, January 27th. Winner will be determined by number of votes received.
Winner will receive a custom design from my new Hugs and Kisses Collection. Package includes 50 Save the Date Cards (or 25 Magnets), 50 Flat Wedding Invitations with RSVP's and Envelopes and one 12 page soft covered guest book.

All Runner's Up will receive a $20 gift Certificate. Which makes every entry a winner!!!!!

A Cup of Inspiration

2011-01-10T11:28:00.000-08:00

My day almost always starts with a cup of coffee. Thanks to my mom I have a fabulous Keurig that makes my coffee one cup at a time. I determine my state of mood for the day by the coffee cup I choose. Almost every single Monday I choose my Take it Personally mug. It helps to remind me that this cup of coffee is not about relaxation today. As you can see my cup is surrounded by some of the business cards I received this weekend. Another reminder of things to do!

Not only does my coffee cup help to inspire me and start off my day so do my friends! Being surrounded by other creative types helps to keep me in my best creative form! This weekend I helped my dear friend Laurie Marie at the Green Bay bridal show. She is just one of my many talented photog friends. She says I can sell an ice cube to an Eskimo. LOL! Bridal shows are so inspiring. I get almost a high off of louring in the brides to our booth. This was one of the largest bridal shows I have been to. It really helps me gain perspective for when I am ready to do one myself. Through the networking group that I met Laurie through I also saw a handful of other vendors that recognized me. It was great to reconnect with these vendors. The new vendors I met were amazing. Other great photographers, florists, and a videographer that blew me out of the water 1017 Video.

Today I am working on getting caught up on all of my pending projects. Once completed it is time to network with all the great inspiring people I met this weekend!

I Need Your Help! Adult Birthday Party Designs

2010-07-06T08:24:00.000-07:00

Creating invitation designs for kids is always a blast and so easy. Boys like trucks and superheroes and Girls like tea parties and dressing up. But when it comes to adult invite designs I find myself stumped. Especially designing for women. So today I want to brainstorm with my readers and find some designs that will really work my clients.

I recently ran a post on facebook and had a fabulous response to my men's designs. Two of my photog friends provided not only fabulous ideas but also images that I could use to create the ideas. One of my friends also came up with the idea of classic cars. This one has always been hard for me because most men want their own classic car in the illustration. (something I can do but really ups the cost) But the more I thought about it all I have to do is pick a few classics and we can always adjust the colors. This way I am able to get to some of them. So now I have two new invite design ideas but I need so many more!!! What are your ideas for a perfect guy's birthday party invite?

Now the hardest one, women's designs. One of my favorite ideas from facebook was Old Hollywood! That one came from my client Kimberly. Some of the other ideas were great but I already have designs created around those ideas. So what I am looking for is what would be your perfect birthday party invitation? I want to know what would you be wearing? Would you be sipping on a cocktail or how would you be posed? What colors would you use? What would you have in the background?

Send me your ideas! The best idea will win a $25 Gift Certificate! To win please "follow" my blog and post your ideas in the comment field under this post!

Stock the Wine Cellar Wedding Shower

2010-06-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

My best friend's wedding is coming up in August. As the Matron of honor it is my duty to throw the wedding shower. A duty which I take very seriously! Now as a creative type the bar is held very high for me and I plan to leap over it! This is Tracey's second marriage and she is forever "29". So between her and her fiance they have most of the things they need. To make the gift giving fun I decided to make this a "Stock the Wine Cellar" shower.

Although my theme is absolutely fun it also has a big black hole that I don't want to fall into! This event could very quickly turn into a menagerie of bad vintage looking wine prints with grapes as gifts. Tons of knick nacks in the shape of grapes and wine barrels. You get the point pretty much every wine related decoration under the sun. So when creating the invitation I wanted to give the feel of wine without saying "Hey let's decorate.". So I avoided anything with a vintage worn feel and kept it more modern and fresh. The shower is going to be held in my backyard. To give it an airy feel I made the background sky blue and kept the grape leaves a brighter green. I put Tracey in a white dress but one that is more casual and not an exact replica of her dress. A glass of cold white wine in her hand and a gorgeous flower with feathers in her hair were the final touches.

When I created the wording for the invitation I had a hard time finding something that would work for my theme. To add to the text I decided to add a toast I found online. There were a lot of good ones. The first is my favorite but I added a few more to inspire you as well!

I would like to make a toast to
lying, stealing, cheating and drinking.
If you’re going to lie, lie for a friend.
If you’re going to steal, steal a heart.
If your going to cheat, cheat death.
And if you’re going to drink, drink with me.”
- Anonymous

As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.
- Unknown
May your troubles be less
and your blessings be more
and nothing but happiness
come through the door

When you are finishing up your text make sure to invite your guests to bring a bottle of their favorite wine for the happy couple.

The decorations for the party will be themed around the brides wedding colors of fuchsia and lime green. I love that I get to have the party at my house. In the front yard will be a matching lawn sign confirming the party's location. My backyard has slightly two different levels. On our small octagon deck will be all the appetizers under our big umbrella next to the small pond. I will be adding grapes to the table to add to the wine theme. On the lower level will be two white car port tents set up on the grass. The card tables will be set up under and around the tents. Each table will be covered in a different table cloth in shades of pink, green or both. On the tables will be vintage non matching cake stands with home made gorgeous cupcakes. I am taking my favor labels backing them with cardstock and using lollipop sticks to insert them into the cupcakes. I'm going totally retro with the decorations and purchasing pink and green honeycomb wedding bells mixed with crepe paper. These I will hang from the the inside and outside of the tents.

For your drinks of course there has to be lots of wine but don't go overboard! I recommend picking one wine and one red. Any type of Riesling is always a crowd pleaser for a white wine. For a red go with Cabernet. Make sure to keep the bottles all the same brand unless you plan on having a wine tasting. For my event I wanted to make it a little more fun and self serve. I am doing a red sangria and white wine spritzers.

Happy Planning! And make sure to check out my website for any of the items listed in this blog!
www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com

Wedding Shower Decorations!

2010-05-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

Creating a fabulous wedding shower is easy with decorating ideas like this! The cake stand I purchased for under $5 at a local thrift store. This could also be a great gift for the bride as well. I definitely cheated, these are store bought cupcakes! I purchased lollipop sticks at Wal-Mart and cut them in half. My custom labels were then stuck to the sticks. You can also purchase a circular punch and layer the labels with colored cardstock. The labels also worked out great for the favor bags and gift boxes. And of course I couldn't stop there. I purchased the paper cups for a $1.50 for a pack of 10 and added the custom labels to those. I absolutely love the place cards. They are printed front and back. Not only do they add to your decor they also help to keep your party and guests organized. You can check out my label designs at http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/labels.html

Everything you Need to Decorate your Baby Shower

2010-05-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

My day started out shopping. Looking for some basic items that could be dressed up with my new labels. The labels are professionally printed onto label sheets and come 12 to a sheet. They are 2.5" round. I found endless possibilities. There were paper cups, gift bags, gift boxes... I had so much fun collecting the items. For the cupcakes I used lollipop sticks and attached the labels to those. I would recommend cutting a circle of cardstock to go behind the label. I love the place cards at each seat. They are printed front and back.
Check out the designs available http://takeitpersonallybychristine.blogspot.com/2010/05/wedding-shower-decorations.html

How to use your Business Cards

2010-05-20T08:59:00.000-07:00

This week I created the business card design for one of my contestants DP Photography. Dionicia's business cards went from plain jane to fabulous and professional! The final design was such a contrast. Now she has the tools to promote her company. But not everyone knows how to use their business cards correctly.

Many of my customers purchase 250 business cards and it takes them at least a year to go through them. On the one hand some people may think that is great less money spent. But in reality those business cards are multiple advertising opportunities that have been missed. My company goes through at least 250 business cards every three months. My goal is 250 per month. Now you are probably thinking how can I give out 250 cards in even six months? Let's cover all the great ways you can get your card out there and in customer's pockets.

The first thing is be prepared! How many times have you had a conversation about your business with someone at the grocery store or a party and didn't have your cards on you? I like to keep cards in my purse (wallet), keep a stack in your car, give a stack to family members you see often and when at parties keep a few in your pocket. This way you are always prepared to advertise your business.

I am a huge fan of networking events! I attend as many as possible. The biggest mistake people make at these type of events is failing to give out their cards. When you strike up a conversation with someone make sure you give them your card! If you have a knockout design it is going to make an impression on this person. The more you hand out the more those individuals will remember you. And a strong design will have them talking!

As much as I love to cook I also adore eating out! There is a place in town I frequent and the last time I was there a waitress told me she checked out my website after getting my card and loved it! The next time you are out at a restaurant and you receive great service leave your card with the tip. On the back of your card write a nice note about how you enjoyed your experience.

If you sell retail items either online or in a storefront you have tons of opportunities to get business cards in your customer's hands. If you have a storefront include at least two cards in every bag with the customer's purchases! With every purchase from my website I include a minimum of two business cards and one coupon card. Many people say their friends always ask where they got their invitations from. Well now they have an extra card or two they can give to their friends. Word of mouth is powerful advertising. Why not give your clients the tools to promote you!

And finally the fish bowls! You have seen them everywhere. Win a free lunch when you drop your business card in here. I love this! Not only do you get the opportunity to advertise you can get free lunch. And when I get free lunches I make sure to take out my clients!

Now you have all the tools to use your cards effectively! So get them out there and start reaping the rewards!

Small Investment Big Payoffs

2010-05-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

Recently I ran a contest on facebook. Contestants posted a pic of their current business cards. The winner received a completely new design and 250 business cards. When I looked at each design as they came in the first thing that came to my mind is what does this person do? My next thought was it doesn't look like they enjoy what they do. Many of the designs were just stock and basic with all the basic info name, email and phone number. Some were even the Vista Print stock designs. One of my most hated because anyone can have the same image as you. One thing was the same about all of them. Not one of them stuck out they all blended together.

When you start your business it is hard to determine the best places to invest your money. Unfortunately the creation of a brand for your company is usually the last thing to be considered. Your branding should be one of the first things you consider when you start your business or are looking to refresh it! Your brand is like an invitation it is the first thing your clients see before the party starts. You want that invitation to give them the best impression before they meet you. Your logo is a great way to communicate who your company is and what you can offer your clients. A mistake that many companies is not all marketing materials match. There is a design for the business cards which was free from one company. Then there are the brochures that your Aunt Suzie designed for a small fee. And the post cards that were free off of Vista Print. The pricing sounds nice but the message you are sending to your customers is very confusing. Unless you have 3 different companies there is no reason to have 3 different images.

Are you ready to get excited about your business? My recent client Melanie owner of Salon Indulgence wanted a new look but just didn't seem very excited. In our first meeting I warned her that this process would definitely inspire her. In a recent email from her she said "I want to say thank you again for this you really have gotten me excited about my business again!" It is amazing what a new look can do not only for your company but for you!

When you are ready to start take the time to get an idea of what your want your logo to say. It is time to make sure your company stands out. Out of all the salon's in your city what makes you stand out? Is it the young hip vibe and unique hair designs that walk out the door? Or is it the classic sleek look that you give your clients? This should be represented in your logo and branding. I always recommend to my clients to look at other logo designs that they admire and bring them to me. Your company doesn't have to replicate those designs but it helps your designer understand your style.

My company Take it Personally by Christine offers fabulous logo design. One of the most unique items I offer is the "Cartoon" logos. This design style is great for businesses that the person/owner is the product. For example a realtor, hairdresser or contractor. The best part about this type of design is as soon as you hand the person your card they do a double take. It is so unexpected. And then they exclaim "That's you!". Now you have made an impression with the client.

Ready to get started? Check out my website for more info. For as little as $125 you can get started on a fresh new look! http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/business-cards.html
Make sure to check out the before and after of Salon Indulgence.

Jaime's 6th Pizzeria Birthday Party

2010-04-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

My little Jaime is now officially 6! The party was a huge success. This is the first birthday party Jaime has had with her friends from school. It was so cute to see each girl arrive in her party gear with gifts in hand.
Upon their arrival each girl received their personalized apron so they could get started in the pizzeria. The aprons were created by my friend Marrissa at The Couture Baby www.thecouturebaby.com . Each apron was embroidered with "Jaime's Pizzeria" and an appliqued J with checkered material to match the invitations. We purchased individual pizza crusts and had each girl make their own pizzas. To make the process go smoothly I marked the bottom of each plate with their name. Once they assembled their pizza they brought it into the cook to put in the oven. It was hilarious to see what was brought in the kitchen. No sauce, no sauce no cheese and one little girl didn't want her's cooked!
Of course we needed to make sure and have desert. My sister in law had baked cupcakes the night before. We frosted them before the party. So when it was time for desert each girl was able to decorate their own cupcake. Now that is a sweet ending.
My only advice to those having their first birthday party with a lot of little ones... make sure you have back up plans. We had the girls at the house for 3 hours which ended up being too long. Lunch didn't take as long as we had anticipated. So have lots of fun activities planned.
If you would like to have your own pizza party make sure you check out my matching invitations and banner.
http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/3061g-pizz3061.html

Happy Planning,
Christine

Tattoo Hearts and Roses Make Great Wedding Invites

2010-04-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

This design was inspired by classic tattoos. My goal in creating this design was to reach "Alternative" brides with my work. And with some of those brides comes tattoos. So I thought of making my design based on some classic tattoo designs. Hearts, flames, roses, all symbols of love. And tattoos of course are permanent like love.
Matching programs are also available!
You can check out these designs on my website.
http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/5022-forever-in-love-pocket-fold-wedding-invitat5022.html
http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/5022-forever-in-love-folded-wedding-invitat5022.html
http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/5022-forever-in-love-flat-wedding-invita5022.html
http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/5022p-forever-in-love-wedding-prog5022.html

Bridal Shower Ideas

2010-02-12T08:50:00.000-08:00

Throwing is one of my favorite types of parties to throw. My best friend is getting married this summer and as the matron of honor I get the pleasure of throwing her shower! More details will be disclosed on that later this spring. If you are throwing a shower here are a few things you will want to consider. Location, food, guest list, decorations and games to name a few.

So let's start with the location. So what are the options. Your home or another family member's home, your backyard, banquet hall, local restaurant, local park or your local city center. This will also be determined by your guest list. If you have 30 or more guests having the shower at your house is not a good idea. Now if planning an outdoor shower keep in mind the weather and have a backup plan. Outdoor showers are great for a tea party theme!

Now my favorite part of the event Food! I have been to my fair share of showers and I must say I have only been impressed by one. My favorite meal of the day is breakfast and this shower was a brunch. They served quiches, breakfast bakes, banana bread,mini muffins and mimosas. The best way to impress your guests is to get creative in a simple way. Instead of a big huge meal serve appetizers but make them a mini version of the original. I like mini sandwiches and tiramisu served in tea cups. If you are having it at a restaurant or catered ask if they can do tapas. Similar to appetizers, they are plates full of mini bites served to each table. They can also be served in courses. Another favorite is serve a signature drink. It doesn't have to alcoholic but it should be fun! My biggest piece of advice is avoid items like taco dip and boring veggie trays. We have seen them at a million showers.

Onto the subject of games. I am going to have to admit I am not a big fan. Some hosts get crazy and have 5 or more games to play. That is just too much. Especially when the games are centered around questions about the couple. There are a lot of guests who won't know most of the answers. If you are going to do a quiz on the couples I recommend making them multiple choice and no more than 5-8 questions. If you absolutely have to have games keep them simple and do 3 or less games. Your guests will thank you :)

To be continued.....

Make sure to check out my wedding shower invite designs at www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com

Save the Date Announcement Tips for Brides

2010-01-29T07:16:00.000-08:00

The world of weddings have definitely changed. And in that change has come the arrival of Save the Date Announcements. If you ask your mother when she sent out her save the dates she is might look at you a bit funny. There are brides who want to know what the save the date actually is, who do I send it to, what information is needed, and other related questions. Let's get those answered.

Destination weddings are a large part of why save the dates have become necessary for weddings. These type of weddings normally require a large investment from the guests due to travel expenses. Save the dates allow the guests time to prepare financially. But what about the rest of the brides? Can they indulge in this fun new tradition? Absolutely! They are a great way for your out of town guests to prepare for your wedding. It also helps to make sure your wedding is placed into your guests' calenders before other events!

Now who should you send them to? For a destination wedding I recommend sending them only to the guests invited to the actual wedding. If you are having a reception afterwards send a separate invite announcing your marriage. For a local wedding save the dates should be sent to guests who are invited to the entire wedding.

What information that should be included on the announcement? The date, location of the wedding, names of the bride and groom, and a note "formal invitation to follow". For destination weddings it is also helpful to include the hotel you are staying at or recommended accommodations. If you have a wedding website set up that information can be included as well. Do not include registry information on the announcement. If you have a registry then set up a wedding website where the guests can access that information.

When should they be sent out? It is recommended that you send them out no earlier than 6-9 months before your date.

Many brides ask if the save the dates have to match the actual invitation. They definitely can match and some brides prefer they do. But this is also a time to have fun with your announcements. My favorite designs is my Getting Hitched design. http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/904-hitched-save-the-date-magn904.html
The bobble head feel and the cute little church are so fun! Another idea I love is during your engagement session have your photographer photograph you and your fiance holding a large card that says "Save the Date". You can then order cards through your photographer to send your guests. One of my favorite photographers is Amy Zellmer with Custom Creations Photography. http://www.customcreationsphotography.com/

What options do brides have? The announcement can be as simple as a regular sized invitation. But the most popular option now are magnets. Magnets can be purchased in different sizes and give the announcement another use.

If you are not having a destination wedding save the dates are not required. But with all the options they are too much fun not to send. Happy Planning!

Little Superheroes!

2010-01-25T11:09:00.000-08:00

My customer Meredith has the cutest twin boys. One of them loves superman and the other is more of a batman guy. So we adjusted the colors of the outfits to work for her needs. The final design turned out so cute! These little superheroes can come save the day anytime I need help!

New Wedding Invitations

2010-01-16T12:32:00.000-08:00

This coming week is going to be very exciting. I have been on a few bridal forums and have found that a lot of brides have much smaller budgets for their invitations. Now a $250 budget should not prevent a bride from getting fabulous invitations for 100 people. I haven't had much luck with getting reasonable pricing from local printers. But I contacted a company I have worked with once before to see how they would quote what I am looking for. They came back with some amazing pricing. So this week I will be sending them a few designs for them to print up for me. If the samples turn out great I can really be competitive with some of the big name invite companies. And the best part is that I can accommodate almost every bride! I will keep everyone posted on the details!

Ahoy Ahoy It's a Boy!

2010-01-07T09:13:00.000-08:00

I have had the pleasure yet again to work with my dear client Carrissa. She is an up and coming event planner. I had the pleasure to work with her on a couple events including her best friends wedding shower and wedding. Now I had the honor to work with her on a custom design for her baby shower invitations. Her nautical theme and inspirations pieces were so fun to work with. The final design is a perfect invite for those expecting a boy. The next phase to the project will be matching place cards and a banner.
Once the baby arrives I know Carrissa will have her hands full. But I can't wait to see what events and ideas she has in the future!
Check out this design and all of my other baby shower invites at http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/baby-shower-invitations.html

Wedding Registry Info on your Invitation

2010-01-02T19:10:00.000-08:00

I have been going through the more recent discussions in the bridal forum. And I am so sad to see that most of the brides want to know how to ask for money instead of having a registry. I feel very strongly that a gift is a choice and should never be expected. A registry is simply a suggestion for those who would like to buy a specific gift for the couple other than giving money. As a guest I do not want to be told what I have to give if I choose to give a gift. I was invited to a family wedding that I did not attend because the couple put a tiny note in the invite directly requesting money. As a whole most guests are very aware by a couples age that they probably have most of the items they will need for a home. Most guests will see that there is no registry and simply give cash. Reguardless of the direction you give your guests there are still going to be some odd gifts you did not request.
Now there are examples of websites that allow couples to register for a honeymoon, house down payment etc. I am on the fence with that idea but it is definitely much better than bluntly stating you would like money.
In the end I am sad to hear that most of the brides so concerened about gifts! A wedding is about who you are going to be spending the rest of your life with and celebrating it with those you love. And as brides don't worry you are going to get a lot of gifts and plenty of cash!

Neworking Meeting Update for Tuesday September 22nd

2009-09-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

My excitement just keeps building after every meeting. The ideas and the connections are inspiring. I wanted to give those who attended and those who were unable to attend a review of the topics discussed at this week's meeting.
1. Naming the group. I will need your ideas for the networking group's name by October 1st. Once I receive all of your ideas I will be posting them on FB for us to vote on.
2. Once we have a name I will have a Facebook page created. This will then be our base for information exchange.
3. Facebook offers pay per click advertising that may be an advantage to some of our businesses. I know that my business has seen more traffic from it.
4. linkedin.com is another great free networking resource. Make sure to add me as well!
3. CoCo Chanel. This may sound funny at first but I just watched a documentry on her life this weekend. I was shocked to find out that she was an orphan and in 1913, she opened up her very first shop which sold a range of fashionable raincoats and jackets. The first shop even went out of business. One of my favorite quotes from her was "I gave women a sense of freedom; I gave them back their bodies: bodies that were drenched in sweat, due to fashion's finery, lace, corsets, underclothes, padding.".
To get every detail check out these books
Chanel : A Woman of Her Own by Axel Madsen
Chanel and Her World : Friends, Fashion, and Fame by Edmonde Charles-Roux
I am hoping to have at least one example like this a month. If you have any ideas of women business owners of the past that would be an inspriation let me know.
4. For Tracey's business with Market America we came up with the idea of showcasing a product of the month on Facebook. She could then update everyday a new detail or important information on that product to help educate her customers. This could also be done with a blog or Twitter.
Thanks again to all of our members!
The next meeting will be October 6th at 9:00am. Please rsvp if you are able to attend.
Christine

Fall Showers

2009-08-18T07:40:00.001-07:00

Yes, it is sad Fall is right around the corner. But it is my favorite time of year! My new Enchanting wedding shower design made me realize that I only have one Fall design for wedding showers and nothing for baby showers. So I have taken a few of my design to combine them into these beautiful fall invites. The wedding shower invites I took to the next level by using the trees and the leaves but abandoning the usual fall colors for purple. Keep in mind all of my designs can be adjusted to fit your color schemes.

Annie's Wedding Shower

2009-08-17T06:44:00.000-07:00

Sunday was my friend Annie's wedding shower. It has been a while since I have attended such an event. And I must admit a small secret. The only reason I really attend showers is for the cake. LOL! The cake did not disappoint me. It was chocolate cherry with vanilla frosting, yum! Made by the groom's sister Kelly. Games are not my favorite thing at these events. But when they started passing around spices to see who could guess the most I just told them to hand me the prize. The Martha Stewart in me did not dissapoint. I got 10 out of 12 right and won!

Now it is gift time. Of course I didn't get her anything off the registry! Annie and her fiance Kyle love their cars. So I deceided to create a pin up of annie next to Kyle's other baby, his Camero. I also found at a local shop the cutest underwear with a mechanic's patch on the front with Kyle's name on them. I found that they can also be purchased online at www.blumegirl.com. (These would also make a great bachelorette gift!) Her reaction to the gift was priceless! It also inspired a new design for my pinup collection!
http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/

This Week's Featured Wedding Invite

2009-01-21T18:50:00.000-08:00

Last week I had the pleasure of working with Carla Lee on her amazing wedding invitations. Carla and her fiance Christopher wanted to incorporate their two minature grey hounds into their invite. Of course my cartoon wedding invites offer a unique alternative for this situation. Carla mailed her carefully choosen photos to me. Once received I looked through them to choose the best images. I couldn't believe the charisma these dogs possess. By the time I was done I was laughing and planning my second dog purchase! (ok future purchase Isabelle may note be ready yet) Not to be upstaged by their dogs the couple themselves were just as expressive. And I must say the bright colors of the design done in green and orange had me rethinking my own wedding colors. That is one color combo I don't use often enough. So cheers to another not only inspiring couple but inspiring family!

Christine Anderson
www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com

Amazing Baby Shower Cakes

2009-01-14T13:58:00.000-08:00

One of my recent customers was looking for a custom design. She was kind enough to send with her photo examples of the items she was using for the Baby Shower. The theme of the shower was storks. As I was looking through her paperwork I noticed the photo of a stork cake. Along side of it she noted "The cake no one can make". I'm thinking to myself no one.... I know someone. So I did some research and found that one of my past customers Christee was only an hour away. Christee makes some of the most amazing cakes. So I forwarded her info to the customers in need. Christee contacted me a few days ago to thank me for the referral. I gasped at the gorgeous photo of her cake and adorable cupcakes with my work as the backdrop.

So make sure to check out Christee's work at www.badasscakes.com I did notice they are creating a new site. But she is also listed as one of my friends here on myspace so you can check out her work there as well.

So to all of you with small businesses like myself, let me know what you are up to. You never know when I may need you!

Tea Length Wedding Dress

2009-01-06T15:54:00.001-08:00

For many brides the search for the actual bridal gown is the most important part of the process. I found this to be true for myself when searching for my own dress. Of course I had to be more difficult than your average bride. I did not want your average dress. Our wedding is going to be more like a small party of 50-60 guests in the theme of old Hollywood. So my goal was to find a dress that was around knee length. I was lucky enough to find a line of brides maid's dresses that came in white. Now mind you my search was not very long and I ended up with a fabulous dress. But low and behold I find a website that fits every aspect of what I was looking for in a dress after I have actually found one! So to all of your brides looking for something a little different I suggest checking out Stephanie James Couture. http://stephaniejamescouture.com Now if I could just find someone to create my invitations LOL!

Taking time to fill up the tank

2008-10-20T08:54:00.001-07:00

I was getting gas at the gas station on Friday. Because I work from home I am too cheap to actually fill up my vehicle because I don't really have to drive anywhere. If I put 30 miles on my vehicle in a week I am surprised. Now normally those numbers fly by so quickly that before I know it I have spent more than I had wanted to put in. But with the recent price drops I couldn't believe how long it took to reach $20. My patience is usually pretty low because I am always in such a hurry to get anywhere. And for once I sat back grinning at how long it took to put $20 worth of gas in my car. So anyone in charge of gas prices please know this I really do enjoy listening to the music you guys play as it takes time to fill up my tank. So if you feel like dropping your prices a little more I will be back to fill up that much faster.

Camelot Golf Course

2008-09-18T20:48:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like being a vendor at a local show. I get butterflies just trying to prepare for the event. And of course at the last minute I come up with fabulous ideas. But as soon as the spotlight is on me my adrenaline kicks in and the show begins. I love getting the opportunity to show people my work face to face. It allows them to get to see me in person for once vs through email. And I must say the eggplant colored blouse I bought for the event had me feeling like a million bucks!! LOL! Everyone's reactions good and bad help me to refine my work.

Last night's event was for the Camelot Golf Course in Lomira with their fabulous lady golfers. Those women swept me off my feet with their kindness. My friend Liz who is a fabulous hairdresser attended the event with me as well.(I also do her business cards and marketing) The best part was watching the women fight over who won her gift certificate!

I can't wait for the next event!

Aaron's Carnival Birthday Party

2008-08-25T19:57:00.000-07:00

This last Saturday was my nephew's 2nd birthday party. My sister-in-law had the fabulous idea to throw a carnival party. Of course when someone says party my creative juices start to go. Coming from a creative family we all have great ideas to help create a great event.

It all started with my sister recommending Oriental Trading Company for all of the supplies for the games. That website is awesome! Then we got together the Saturday before the party and started to create the games. My brother is a carpenter so plywood is just an everyday item laying around his house. He created a simple box for the fish bowl game, a sheet of wood with holes cut out for the bean bag toss and signs for the ducky game and the ring toss. But the best part was the ticket booth he created! I begged for just a sheet of plywood with a hole cut out and a triangle for the top. He was busy with work and just wanted my sister-in-law to order a cardboard version for $80. That just doesn't fly in my family. LOL! So after a nice hearty lunch he finally came around. What started as a simple idea he turned into the most amazing ticket booth/play house from scrap materials he had laying around. A few coats of paint and a string of lights and the cardboard booth was put to shame.

The day of the event my sister's neighbors brought 2 miniature ponies to give the kids rides. My sister showed up to dressed as Happy the Clown. Who knew that 4 years of clown club in high school would really pay off. She was armed with plenty of balloons that she twisted into really cool creatures. Happy and I also did face painting for all of the kids. Meanwhile my mom was serving up snow cones from the snow cone machine that we rented for a whooping $15!! By the way if you rent one of these you can make the syrup yourself. It is just a process of making a simple syrup and a koolaid packet.

The best part was the moon bounce that my sister-in-law rented for $100. What a great way to keep the kids happy and corralled all in one spot. But that didn't stop the adults from getting in it as well! I think I may have even bounced in it a few times.

Oh and did I forget to metion the fabulous invitations I created! Check out the design at my website. http://www.takeitpersonallybychristine.com/3031b-carnival-birthday-party-invitat3031.html Aaron is such a cute model!