2014 Christmas Cards are here!

I am so excited to share my new Christmas card designs with you today! Just like last year, it's officially 2 months until Christmas so now's the time to share.

I have to say, these are my favorite designs I have done and hope you enjoy them.

Let's start with the 2013 chalk-style cards.

This is my baby so I have to list it first: Have a holly jolly Christmas.



I designed the typography then printed it and hand drew it all out and added little doodles and flourishes. If you could have feelings for a card, I do for this one. A lot of love went into this guy.

But that's neither here nor there.

Next up, O come let us adore him,



And, then, The weary world rejoices.



Next, Glory to God in the highest.



And lastly, for the chalk-style, Have yourself a merry little Christmas.



Now, onto the colorful cards!

I don't know if you're supposed to have favorites but this might be mine if you can, For unto us a child is born.



This one is also available in red and blue so check the listing to see the other colors.

The next two were designed for instagrammers and the love of square photos. And no, you don't have to use instagram to use this card, I can crop your photos for you.

First up, peace love joy.



And then, Merry Christmas.



This next card has some of my hand drawn doodles in the background and is ideal for horizontal photos.

Merry Christmas.



This one also has my hand drawn doodles, Have yourself a merry little Christmas.




This design is also available with a three photo grid at the top and/or gray. See listing for options.

And lastly, do you save the best for last or do you do the best first? Either way, I'm not saying this is the best but, by golly, I do like this guy too.

Deck the halls.



So there you have it. My 2013 customizable Christmas card designs.



Since I had a lot of questions about the process last year, I'm going to try to explain this as simply as possible.

Who these cards are for:
People that have a family photo that want to send out a unique Christmas card.

Here's how it works:
If you see a card design you like, go to my shop and purchase the listing. There are some steps laid out in the listing but all you need to do is buy it, send me the photo you want me to use and your name to add to the card.

I will then set your design up and send you a PDF copy to review. If everything looks good, I'll send you a print-ready pdf and jpg for you to use as you wish. That means you can print them at home, get them printed at Walmart or you can upload them to an online printer, like Mpix. If you aren't familiar with online printing, don't worry, I offer a little step-by-step-guide to help you through the ordering process that comes with your final print-ready file.

Make sense?

So, you buy the design, I add your stuff and send you a PDF and you print. Got it?


If you saw a design you'd like to have for your Christmas cards this year, hop on over to my shop and get it. You'll also see a few of the favorite designs from 2012 too.

Also, I should let you know that I won't be doing custom cards this year so this is it. And I take the cards down at the first of December so just a heads up.

Oh, and if you're a photographer wanting the templates to these designs for your clients, I have the chalk collection ready and listed in the shop.



I'm still working on the color templates and hope to have those up next week. If there's something you need, let me know.

Thank you for all your support of my shop and I hope you have an awesome day!

p.s. it's important to me to keep Jesus at the center of Christmas and that's why all my cards are either verses, carols or say Christmas somewhere. That's all. Thank you.

Christmas cards - 2013

I have received a few emails and comments asking if I'll be doing Christmas cards again this year. The answer is yes! I was going to wait until Friday, when they'll be up in the shop, to announce it but I decided to do a little sneak peek today.



And yes, like last year, I'll also have templates available for photographers on most designs - more details on Friday.

Some of last year's favorites will be back again, as will a few new fun Christmas related items, like these printable gift tags!



More will be added but for now I'm wrapping up the Christmas card designs so check back Friday to see all the new cards and have a happy Monday!

Everyone Wins

Thank you for all the entries and birthday wishes on the calendar giveaway post! Last night I randomly selected a winner...

drumroll...

Comment number 45 - come on down.

If you are Amanda, and you said,

"Happy Birthday :) Love your prints!! I bought one for my brother earlier this year," 

shoot me an email with your info and I'll get those TWO calendars out asap!

And since tomorrow is my birthday - let's all celebrate with a major discount in my shop! How does 32% OFF sound? Not sure where I came up with that number, maybe it's lucky maybe that's how old I'll be tomorrow - who knows ;) So enjoy 32% off today through Sunday with the code MAKEAWISH at checkout.

Here's a little math to help for this early Friday morning.

Have an awesome Friday and thanks again for all the sweet birthday wishes!

Shop Talk - getting ready for the holidays

Happy Monday friends!

For the last several months I've been working on a few new things for the shop.

First up, my 2014 Bible verse calendar.



I have wanted a little monthly calendar with basic Bible verses for a little inspiration and when I couldn't find just what I was looking for, I made my own. I thought it would be nice to give out to friends and family at Christmas so I bought some little cotton bags and designed a stamp for them. The stamp says "do all things with love."




There are 12 unique designs of a Bible verse for each month and each is printed at 4x6 on card stock. The back is left blank so you can record important events throughout each month and then neatly store the year away in the bag. Each set is packaged in a sturdy box with a little kraft crinkle paper and ready to ship.



The next two items in the shop are digital graphics, aka clip art, and all are hand drawn by myself then digitized for you to use!

I started with a fall set, "it's fall y'all."

There are pumpkins, leaves, banners and some text, all making up 27 graphics and they are available in both transparent PNG and vector EPS. You can click on the images to link over to the shop listing for more details.



The second set it called, "merriest" and is a holiday/Christmas/winter collection.

There are ornaments, packages, more banners and more fun text, all making up 29 graphics, also available in both PNG and EPS formats.



If you have an image editing program, like photoshop or illustrator, you can use these graphics. Some creative uses could include:

• stationary or other printed pieces
• diy cards or party favors
• blog graphics
• invitaions

I have two more Christmas sets that I'll be adding to the shop soon so check back soon!



AND just to make the week a little sweeter, because this Saturday is my birthday and all, I'm giving away two calendars to a random person - one for them and one for them to gift.

To enter:
- leave a comment telling me happy birthday.

kidding. you can comment about whatever you would like

Details:
- one comment per person
- deadline to enter is Thursday at 10 pm
- winner chosen at random and announced Friday
- open to US residents only

That's it.

I hope you have a great week!

Tuesday20

That's the discount code for my shop today. Use it all day for 20% off your order.


I have wanted to create a print from Matt Redman's, 10,000 Reasons, for a while now. It's one of my favorite worship songs and it's been scribbled in my notebook for I can't even tell you how long. I was finally urged to do it after receiving a several comments and etsy convos asking about it. In particularly after a sweet woman shared a heartbreaking story of loss and hope with me.

I don't know if I'll ever get used to people contacting me to create something so dear to their hearts to give to a loved one. It is something I take seriously and am so very thankful God has blessed me to use the talents he gave me to bless others.

Anyway, I had planned on using the first verse in my design but was asked to do the chorus so I decided to do both. They can be displayed alone or together! So this print set is how that song looks in my head. And since it's about to be fall, I opted for some fall colors. I hope you don't mind.

Part 1.




And part 2.



I also added a new printable:

That's all for today. Remember, TUESDAY20 at checkout for 20% off today!

Happy Tuesday and make sure you come back tomorrow to hear all about our Be Craft shindig!

instagram meetup and shop discount

Happy Labor Day! I hope you're having a relaxing and fun day.

Just a quick reminder for you locals - there's an instagram meetup this Saturday at 10-11am at Made, downtown.

Here's the address: MADE: The Indie Emporium Shop 501 S Boston Ave, Tulsa, OK 74103.

There will be donuts from Lick your lips mini donuts, Mod's coffee and crepes will be providing coffee and there will be snacks from the Round House bakery!

Also, there will be several giveaways including: print sets from Origrami, a spot in Ashley Ann's upcoming phone photography Snap Shop (mega value!), peg sets from Once Upon a Peg, and many more! You must be present to win so come say hi!

And in the event you don't follow me on instagram, I'm @recipeforcrazy, you missed a little shop announcement and discount. Since it seems like you guys are always the last to know everything here, I'm giving you a better discount the the instagram peeps - but you can't tell them :)

This week you get 25% of your total purchase (over $5.00) by using the code LASTISFIRST25.

Here are some of the new prints in the shop (click on the picture to visit the shop page):

And this was added a bit ago:

That's all for now. Come back tomorrow to hear about part 1 of the third annual mug swap!

shop talk - custom designs

Hello strangers!  I hope you guys are having a great summer!

Along with all the fun things we've been up to, I've also been hard at work on some custom orders.

Here's a little of what I've worked on over the summer.

The cutest one-year old I know needed a super cute party design. I had so much fun with this that I ended up making a font out of some of the doodles.

My friend is an amazing woman and she's a published author. Get her book here!!! But don't use a lot of exclamations if you send her a thank you note. She's one of those grammatically-correct people and has pet peeves about such things. Amy, do you cringe every time I get carried away with enthusiastic posts?! I love me so exclamation marks!! Ha. Love you friend.


Back to topic,

My sister added an iphone course to her Snap Shops! I have taken both now and think you should too. Go here for more info.



And last up for today, this package.

It was so much fun. Maybe because I like antlers. Maybe because I like pink. Maybe because I like working with awesome people. Whatever the reason, I love how it all turned out.



And while we're talking shop talk, I hit 950+ sales in my shop!!! (if ever there was something that deserved multiple !!!, it is that.)
 

I've been setting aside some treats for big 1,000 and I'll probably have to have a party to celebrate or maybe a marg.

Definitely a marg.

Anyway, thank you friends for your support of my shop and for letting me do what I love to do. I love you.

lately

possible titles included: 80+ pictures, the summer of the poached egg or I haven't posted anything for over a month and here's a long, photo-intense update so sorry if this page never loads.

watched tomatoes being enjoyed like they were candy (not homegrown, yet)

 

purchased new books

 

tried new recipes from said books (flatbread from fresh & easy)

 

visited our land

 

planted some blackberries out by the pond

 

went to our college hometown for a wedding (got margs, obviously)

 

ate cheese fries (because you can't NOT get the if you're at Joe's)

 

bought this bad boy at the flea market

 

took pictures on it

 

enjoyed picnics outside

 

paid someone to do this to the bathroom

 

watched cousins play

made pomeritas with my mom

 

celebrated cinco de mayo with my favorites

 

ate homegrown salads

 

watched the girls pick and eat strawberries from the garden

 

played with different recipes using garden greens, like arugula

 

picked more strawberries

 

got messy and sticky with the girls at Mod's

saw one of my prints in the front window at Made, downtown

 

harvested spinach from the garden

 

made a strata with the spinach

 

smiled when the bathroom ended up looking like this

 

picked more food from the garden

 

ate a heart-shaped poached egg over sauteed spinach and chard on an english muffin

 

picked more strawberries and continued taking pictures of them

played peek-a-boo

ate a really tall burger at Lucky's

 

watched this one brave the "big-girl" swing

 

watched her fight for a corn dog and win

saw art cars

 

got a new book (get this book. you will thank me.)

 

visited our land neighbors

 

#fridaydonutdate still in jammies edition

saw a giant catfish my husband noodled

 

made biscones (recipe from "the back in the day bakery" cookbook) and became instant friends with them

 

danced in the rain

 

had a saturday crepe date at Topeca

 

listened to giggles

grilled okra

 

saw my print in prairie hive magazine

 

added a new print to the shop

 

washed mud out of her mouth, again

 

found out how good radish pods are in salads

 

finished day 15 of Jillian's shred

 

watched her independence grow

 

visited an friend - a friend can be a mexican restaurant, right?

#fridaydonutdate the day the chicken snatched a bite edition

watched them fish

enjoyed summer a little more

shopped with crazies

worked on a custom birthday invitation

 

heard more giggles

 

saw a "wondermelon" at target

 

bought a molcajete and made roasted salsa

 

then guacamole

 

watched her beat her fear of the slide

 

picked the last cup of strawberries for the season

 

watched their love for each other grow

picked our first blackberry from our land

 

picnicked

waited in an insane line for a sandwich from a food truck (Lone Wolf)

 

found a new love in kimchi fries

 

watched her love of water grow

 

#fridaydonutdate starbucks edition

 

had tea parties in stores

 

took big sister to her first theater movie

 

took big sister to her first theater movie

 

had a shrimp boil

 

designed my first font

 

poached an egg over an avocado on toast for the first (not the last)

 

poached an egg over an avocado again (see, I told you it wasn't the last)

 

watched memories being made

 

baked with my girl

ate the baked goods (amazing cookie recipe from the "back in the day bakery" cookbook)

 

finished Jillian's shred

 

poached an egg over leftovers - roasted potatoes, asparagus, onions and quinoa

 

enjoyed nap times

 

#fridaydonutdate pigtail edition

 

poached an egg over leftover roasted squash and zuchinni 

 

spatchcocked a chicken

 

celebrated family

 

got a little patriotic with these cookies

so there you have it. the update of all updates. and that my friends, is why I haven't posted in over a month! i hope you're enjoying your summer!!

Have a safe and happy 4th!!!