Friday, January 29, 2010

Planning Obsessed

Enter my Giveaway here until 1/31/10 @ midnight central time. 


Hello Blogging World!

Not sure how much I will make it on here in the next few days. I was told last night that I have Mono, and true to its side effects, I am exhausted. :)


Having said that ...

As a special occasion invitation designer I have been really trying to perfect the way I can plan invitations around a brides vision. I think this is one of the reasons Etsys treasuries are wonderful fun for me. I am able to challenge bringing items together, that traditionally don't belong. This is often how it is working with brides. Besides Etsy treasuries, I have been stalking several blogs as of late with amazing inspiration boards of special occasions.





This and other amazing planned events can be spotted on Amy Adams Website "Sweet Designs" She is truly incredible with an eye for detail and an imagination to go along with it. Truly an inspiration!!!



A Diggers and Dumptrucks Birthday Party


Seriously, who would of thought construction could look so sweet, amazing and wonderful! I know exactly how I would create invitations to go with this ROCKING party theme.

Sarah Thompson is the designer, and she is INCREDIBLE! Her work inspires me.


SOOOO, here is mine. :)
Using my adorable and cute lemon and lime invitation.



Wouldn't that make the most awesome summer party??
Seriously, I'm gonna host this party the second it gets warm!!!!




Blessings,





Wednesday, January 27, 2010

{S N O W}

Enter my Giveaway here until 1/31/10 @ midnight central time. 



What a lovely evening surprise!! Massive, Big, Huge snowflakes of tremendous proportions. Made me smile ... too bad it didn't last long.







Blessings,


Monday, January 25, 2010

Fun Features

Enter my Giveaway here until 1/31/10 @ midnight central time. 



Etsy is about the coolest website I have ever been a part of. There are so many unique stores, and just tons and tons of cool stuff to be a part of. I LOVE IT!!!

My little shop has been getting lots of attention lately thanks to some really lovely people that have featured me in treasuries. You have heard and see a few of these on my blog before, but I figured some of you awesome readers may be confused exactly what it is. It is hard to explain, so here is an etsy article that explains it really well. :)

Feature #1 --






Feature #2




featuring my heart valentine

Feature #3




featuring my We go Together set


Feature #4




featuring my Thinking of You Card


Feature #5




featuring my Polka Dot NoteCards


Feature #6




Featuring my Love Coupon Book


Shop Etsy. Buy Handmade!


Blessings,



Friday, January 22, 2010

Lets Take A Poll

Your vote is needed, and appreciated. If you swing by for a quick read, take a second and vote, purty please with ice cream and cherries. I will be your blogger friend forever and ever ... seriously though, please.


BIG SMILEY FACE INSERTED HERE!!!!




I think it is time for another BLOG GIVEAWAY!!! YAHOO!!!!!! But, this time, I am going to let the reader decide the giveaway item BEFORE the giveaway happens. {I'm SOOO Pumped ... hehehe}



CHOICE #1
SUZY STATIONERY SET




This is the Suzy Stationery Set. Adorable and Sweet. Easy to Love. Comes with the stationery box {which holds your cards and envelopes, and could easily hold a pen and stamps}

Perfect for your desk at home or work. Who wouldn't love this for a gift? An awesome Bridal Shower gift with the new name present :)


Also can purchase on etsy here: 
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33493203





CHOICE #2
Love Coupon Book






Love Coupons -- this set has a Valentine's Theme, but the winner could choose the theme.

THINK: Birthday, Mothers Day, Bridal Shower Gift, Baby Shower Gift, Just Because Gift ... the options are pretty endless. :)

Also can purchase on etsy here: 
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38533766





CHOICE #3
Coupon Book Organizer







This is my Coupon Book Organizer. Perfect for saving yourself the trouble of coupon hunting in your purse while trying to check out!


Its easy category compartments make shopping and saving so much easier.


Holds a notepad and pen for writing your shopping list down. Fits perfect in your purse for easy access. :)


THINK: Gift, Baby Shower Present, Bridal Shower Present {you could fill it full of coupons for the new bride} or just for yourself.




Also for purchase on etsy here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38083507











Wanna win???

(huh)

(huh)

(huh)

????







Here is how this is going to work. {ie .. the rules ... and in THIS case, they are NOT meant to be broken ;)}









It's super easy.



1. Become a Public Follower of my blog :)

(or let me know if you already are ... )



AND



2. Leave a comment on this post 
voting for which item you would like to see as the giveaway :)






(as an added bonus ... (wink wink) if you tweet, facebook announce, or blog about this giveaway and leave me a seperate comment saying you did say (with the links for me to check) I will put your name in for 1 ENTRY per GIVEAWAY PLUG!)



Easy right?

OH YEA!!!!!!!!!!!







The p
Contest ends on January 31st at midnight central time.

I will announce the winner February 1 right here.





ready ...



set ...



enter...








Blessings,


Thursday, January 21, 2010

Ode to Damask

Sometimes I am a walking contradiction. LOL I know this about myself. There are times it frustrates me, but mostly it baffles me. hehe I have learned to accept it. :)

a few examples ...


-- I HATE peanut butter ... but will eat a reeses buttercup or butterfinger {don't ask me!}

-- I love love love quiet nights in ... BUT ... equally love "wild" nights out {i know ... strange!!}

-- I love sweet wine ... BUT ... full-bodied wines, I will pass thank you {lol}


these are only a few of the many many contradictions I find myself in daily. :)



-- I love simple and clean ... BUT I also love bold prints and wild colors ... we have been leading up to this, my newest Etsy treasury. :)







It features lovely shops with lovely items! :)
You should have a look ...


In other news ...

I have been sick and my sweet yorkie puppy has not left my lap. I suppose he can sense my yuckiness ... here is his sweet photo snuggled up on my lap!! :)





    Blessings,





Monday, January 18, 2010

How it all Began -- Part IV -- The Final Piece

Read here first ...
then read here second ...
then read here third .... and now you are caught up for the final piece of the puzzle. :)

...

My in-laws decided to take a leap of faith, and bought me an incredibly awesome epson printer. It is the Epson Stylus R1900 Ink Jet Printer .... IT IS AMAZING!!!! I highly recommend it.




I worked very hard on the invitations, and did exactly what the clients wanted.

  


They turned out so awesome, and I was really proud of all my work. When I thought back on the process, I realized I could do this and not get bored with it. I enjoyed every minute of designing, printing, cutting ... and when I got paid it felt like I hardly did any work.

Isn't that what anyone want in a job?? To feel like they could do it forever and never get tired of it.

So, after doing the wedding invitations I decided I could do more. I put an add on facebook and in just a few hours I has several hits from people highly interested in my work. {Since the beginning I have since updated my facebook page to here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christina-Studio-Designs/48749968030?ref=ts} Become my fan!!!! :)

REALLY? They liked my designs??? How cool is that!?!?!?

After facebook, I worked on Craigslist. Again, the idea TOOK OFF. WOWZERS. {Craigslist is still my biggest selling tool.}

After Craigslist really took off, I started trying out all the social media networks.





I started this blog ... http://christinastudiodesigns.blogspot.com



I started a twitter ... http://twitter.com/ChristinaDesgn {become my fan!}







I created an etsy store ... http://chrissywatson.etsy.com







I updated and perfected my facebook page .... http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christina-Studio-Designs/48749968030?ref=ts




In the past year while my life has changed before my eyes, I have sold 


19 items on Etsy


Sold 12 items from Facebook Advertising


Have 90 followers on Twitter


Done 43 Weddings


It has been over a year since I was laid off from MITRE. It was devastating at the time, but now I can look back and know that God's hand was on it the whole time. I don't think I could ever imagine myself spending all day at a desk again. LOL


I am blessed. It is because of people like YOU!
Thanks for blessing me.




:)


Blessings to you,



Sunday, January 17, 2010

How it all Began -- Part III

Read here first ...
then read here second ... and you're caught up for Part III. :)


The Christmas Season came, and it was our first one married. We decorated our apartment, bought a Christmas tree, and drank hot chocolate. We enjoyed many new memories together and got our First Christmas Ornament. :)

    


 It was blessed despite my dampening spirit without a job. Hubs went above and beyond and got me an awesome camera lens. It was a splurge of faith.





It wasn't until after the New Year that things began to change. Hubs and I were at church one Sunday in January, and a lady my husbands parents knew well asked me if I would be interested in creating her daughters wedding invitations. I hadn't done a lot with weddings prior, but I did make my own wedding invitations, which I loved.









I believed I could create them and create them well ... It was this thought that started it all!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

How it all Began -- Part II

To catch up read here first.

...

On September 1st I was called into the boss's office. I didn't really know what to expect walking in. I certainly did not expect the conversation we had .... I was told that the end of the month would be my last day at MITRE, and I was being laid off.

At first I was in complete shock. Was this really happening? I loved my job, I was getting married, how could this be happening???


The shock wore off, and then I was very very angry ...


The month wore on, and September 20 came. I married the man of my dreams in the most perfect ceremony at the sweetest little church.

  

We had a great wedding day full of wonderful memories. It was a fairy tale day the Lord blessed us with. We spent 4 wonderful days at the most darling B&B in St. Charles Missouri.



We stayed in the Lady Emily Suite

  


One week after our honeymoon, I was no longer working at MITRE. At first I began sinking every piece of me into finding a new job. I put in tons of applications and searched hard to find a job. By Christmas I was slowly starting to wear down. I was wondering if I would ever find a job, and I found myself getting more and more frustrated with God.

What could he possibly of had in store for me???

Friday, January 15, 2010

How it all Began -- Part I








One year ago today, Christina Studio Designs opened for business, and my life has changed so much in that time.

It all started ...

I worked for a company called MITRE for three and a half years of my life. I thought I loved my job, and was thrilled with all the opportunities that were presented to me there. It was what, at the time, I would of considered ... my dream job.

I felt accomplished working for MITRE. I felt like I had made something of myself and was was helping the government in the process. I was even being recognized for my work.

I won the coin competition, and saw my design produced on an actual coin. I was given a plaque and bonus check. I was allowed to design several briefings for high ranking folks. Below is a photo I took of several MITRE employees that was featured in the yearly calendar MITRE releases.



I bought my very first car during this time. It was my baby ... and still is. {even if it is going through the process of being sold} I had never been much of a "risk-taker" and I think people were expecting me to a purchase a four-door family car. LOL

Below is "Jasmime" the prize of my years at MITRE.






Everything on the outside seemed to be going well. I had no idea that on September 1st, things would change forever ...

Love Coupons

My sweet Hubs and I love Love LOVE going out for half price appetizers at a local restaurant near us called 54th Street. Seriously, if you ever have a chance to visit, you totally should. They have the LARGEST menu I have ever seen with a wide range of items.

My absolute favorite meal there is the Chicken Madeira ... “Pan Fried” 10 oz. chicken breast with fresh asparagus and melted jack cheese, smothered with housemade mushroom madeira sauce and served on top of a bed of homestyle mashed potatoes ... YUM YUM YUM!!!!


Usually twice a month Hubs and I go to 54th Street after 10pm, and indulge (no joke ... it is that good) in their half price appetizers and get a drink to share. There margaritas are delish, and all their appetizers are so so yummy. Below we were enjoying the "Fry me to the Moon" {also known as cheese fries} 


:)








We are jumping a little ... stay with me ;)

So, I have the perfect Valentine's Idea for you!!! Plan a trip to 54th Street for dinner, and buy one of my newest Creations from my etsy shop. Love coupon books.

I mean seriously ...

Is your significant other hard to shop for? Why not buy them a darling love coupon book? All the coupons are 100% customizable with your own sayings.

The book includes the following tickets (6 total):
1 Breakfast in Bed
1 Squeeze
1 Night on the Town
1 the choice is yours
1 Massage
1 Smooch



This could easily be made into a children's coupon book too!!




















This set is currently for sale on Etsy.

Dinner and homemade coupons customized for your honey ... I know I'm a Valentine's Day Genius.


wink wink




Blessings,



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