Recycle your Holiday cards...

This year, like every year, my husband and I are blessed to receive several Christmas cards in the mail. Loving thoughts from all of our family and friends fill our mailbox each year. It's one of my favorite parts of Christmas -  I love to get mail!  Being that I love all things paper and am an avid card saver, I hate to throw the cards away. They are so pretty! I always recycle them, but this year I looked into another way I could recycle them. I came across a fantastic charity that I had to share! I'm sending mine out tomorrow!

 

Send holiday cards to St. Jude's Ranch, a nonprofit home for youths that collects old holiday cards for reuse. Either cut off the backs of the cards or leave them intact. Children at St. Jude's earn money by creating new holiday cards from the old.  The children participate in making the new recycled cards by removing the front and attaching a new back made with recycled paper. The new card is a beautiful, “green” card made by the children and volunteers. The benefits are two-fold: customers receive "green" holiday cards for use and the children receive payment for their work and learn the benefits and importance of "going green".

To Donate Cards:

Cards may be donated by sending them to:

St. Jude's Ranch for Children
Card Recycling Program
100 St. Jude's Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

A look back on 2008...

2008 was my busiest year yet. So busy that I could hardly find the time to blog properly or even post new pictures of the invites I did this year. I finally have the time to do both. With the help of one of my favorite photographers, Alison Bates (www.batesphotographic.com), I am able to show you some of my work from this year. Below are some of the items I did throughout the year. 

Happy Holidays!

Where did 2008 go? I swear the older I get the faster the days, months and years go by. I remember being little and some event I was looking forward to always took forever to get here. Not the same anymore!!

I've had a fantastic year! Only because of all of my great clients that I have worked with this year and in past years. It really has been a great to work with each and every one of you. I'm always so sad when each bride gets married because by that point, they're more like a friend than a customer to me. (It's crazy how it works out because I now see 2 of my brides on a regular basis at the gym!) I'm blessed to be doing what I love for people who are so fantastic. Thank you to each and every one of you for allowing me to be a part of your wedding day. I know how special that day is, and I feel very honored to be a part of each and everyone of them. 

To my past brides/customer - Thank for you all your referrals. It's amazing what word of mouth does for a business. I appreciate each and every one of you.

To my vendor friends - you are the best!! I'm so lucky to have friends in the business like you. It's nice to be able to bounce ideas off of you, talk about situations and help each other out. I appreciate all the help you have given me this year.   

This past year was a bit busier than past years and I've had to rely on friends and family to help me get through the busy season. My mom, step-mother, sister, girlfriends and more importantly my husband have helped me through my busiest year yet. (Yes, there have been several times my hubby has cut ribbons and folded paper for me - it's the cutest thing) Whether it was doing bows, assembling invites, cutting ribbons or filing receipts, I could not have made it without you guys. It's a blessing that I have so much support from my family and friends. 

With looking forward to 2009, I'm excited to be embarking on a whole new adventure. I'm really expanding my horizon with my business and trying new ideas. 2009 will be my 4th year in business. I never dreamed that I would be where I am today. Thank you, to everyone I have worked with in the past and will have the honor to work with in the future, for being apart of making my dream job come true. 

Best of luck to everyone in 2009!

Brand Spankin New Website is up and running!

I'm so excited to finally get the site up and running. It's been a work in process. But the new site, I feel, is much more user friendly. It has loads of galleries to look at and is very clean looking. I'm in love with it. 

Keep checking the galleries as I have 50+ invites and other wedding items to feature. Being so busy this year has but me behind on my picture taking duties. :) I plan on have them up in October some time. 

I've got some other new and exciting things in the works for Color Bar Creative for 2009. So check back often. I'm looking forward to the start of the 09 season. I want to thank all my clients this year for being so great. I've worked with some really fantastic people. I'm so thankful for each and every one of you - you make me love what I do!!

 

I made a Wordle

Yes, you read it correctly -  a wordle. Fresh from the belly of this blog came this wordle. What does your blog have to say? Check out Wordle to find out!

Brand Spankin New Website in the works!

I've been spending my days, nights and weekends working on my new website. It's got a ton of features that I'm excited to share with current and potential customers! (HINT: lots of galleries) So stay tuned. I hope to have it up right after Labor Day and before my birthday (September 4th). That's my goal!

Vendor Rave: Amanda Williams Photography

I've worked with Amanda a couple of times now. I even interviewed her back in 2003 to photography my own wedding. I didn't book her on the soul reason that she was not digital at the time. Well now she is and she's fantastic. I had the pleasure of working with her last week when my family (of 23) hired her to do our family portrait. I had FULL confidence that she would shine and take fantastic pictures. But my family, (who is used to the in studio look) took a little convincing.  Their fears where calmed the minute they met her. She took charge and was so patient with everyone. It takes a really great person to do what she does. She's not only one of the funniest people I know, but her works speaks for itself. Hands down - she ROCKS!

Below are some of the pictures she took of my family and I: