Merry & Married Holiday Photo Card

Merry & Married photos by Maximilian Franz LLC
All other photos by Ashton Kelley Photography

xoxo
​Erin

It's been a pretty busy couple of days working on my website redesign, but I am happy to say I've come to the end of it! I'm hoping it's a total success but I'm looking to you for a last critique, don't worry, I went to art school I can take it. :) In an effort to drum up some feedback I'm offering a personalized stationery giveaway! And here's how it's going to work.

For one week, September 29 - October 6, 2015, I'm going to ask for feedback on my redesigned site. Take a tour and then comment below. Tell me what you like, or what you don't like. What you love, or what you hate.
Be sure to include:

• Your name & photography business name.
• A link to your business website.
• Whether you would like personalized stationery or thank you cards.
• Your email address.

On October 7, 2015 I will announce the winners* on here as well as via email. Over the next several weeks I will spend my time looking at the winners brands to learn more about their style and then create a set of either personalized stationery or thank you cards and send each of them a set. 

I mean, there's always one right!? It's simple, it's why I'm reaching out to photographers! While I have the equipment, I'm not a photographer, most of my display work is put together digitally in photoshop. So I ask that you, the winners of my stationery, take a few photos of your specially designed stationery and send them to me. 

I'm not asking for anything super special, you've seen my site, just something that will go along with what I'm already portraying. I'll also be listing the stationery in my Etsy store and my Amazon Handmade store (under development). High resolution, horizontal photos are optimal but whatever you like, I'll like! Full credit will be given to you, as well as a link to your photography site. In the end, we both win!

The winners* will be selected October 7, don't miss out on your chance, take a tour of my site and comment below!

xoxo
​Erin

Thank you to everyone who commented directly on my blog, on my FB posts and other social media outlets. Special thanks to my bestie and SEO God Jon Stroz for all of his suggestions! So, without further ado, the winners! Congratulations to Elisabeth Stone of Stone Werks and Alicia Yarrish of Alicia Yarrish Photography! Now if you'll please excuse me, it's time to dig into their brands and learn more about them! Thanks again to everyone!

xoxo
Erin

Though I've designed holiday photo cards for family the past couple of years, I've never actually sold them. Thanks to Ashton Kelley Photography, that's all changing! 

Check them out below and at my Etsy site at Etsy.com/EAlexDesigns. All of my holiday photo cards are 5x7" and double-sided, after you approve your cards I'll send you high resolution files for you to have printed wherever you choose!

Merry Christmas Custom Type: Two background options available, colors can be changed on first

Snowstorm: With this chilly weather it's better to be together (wow am I corny or what?!?)

Love, Joy & Laughter: Nothing's better than a family that has fun together

Happy Holidays Custom Text: Simple but says it all

Holly Illustration: Ribbon, tag and background colors can be modified

Our Most Perfect Gift: Just have a baby? Combine your holiday card and birth announcement

Initial Cap, Stripes: Such a cute simple card (greeting and colors can be modified)

Merry Christmas Chalkboard: For those who prefer to showcase only one photo

Merry & Married: For those who just got married (like me!)

Golden Dots Happy New Year: I'm in love with gold lately :)

So that's what I've got so far. I'll add more as they become available in my shop. Remember to get your order in early so you have plenty of time to print and mail them out! And if you're looking for something totally unique send me a message at EAlexDesigns@Gmail.com and we can work together to make this years holiday card the best ever!

Also, as a little extra announcement that I'll go into more detail on later, I'm going to be participating in the #EtsyGifts holiday marketing campaign. I'll be kicking it off on Tuesday, November 18 and running it through Small Business Saturday on November 26. Each day I will feature a gift idea from my shop at a discounted price for my personal campaign that I will be calling Twelve Days of Etsy Gifts! Make sure to like me on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter and Instagram so you don't miss out on any of the deals!

xoxo
-Erin

So that's it, stylized shoot one, finished!

Shout-out to all of the vendors who helped Ashton make the day perfect!

• Salvaged to Sassy, Vintage Rentals
  
• The Gallery, Flowers & Catering
  
• Sara Lane, Cupcakes
  
• The Dressmaker's Closet, Wedding Dress
  
• Rachael Summers & Katie Lance, MUA
  
• Lori Suite, Custom Tank Tops

Now to make sure all of my details are perfect and head out the door for the next event I'm working on with Ashton (yes again) and Jillian Jenkins of Elle Ellinghaus Designs.

xoxo
Erin

Hanging with your dad this weekend aren't you? 
Forgot to get a card again didn't you?

Don't worry, I've got you covered.

Click on a photo below to download a FREE 5x7 card for your Dad, Daddy, Grandad or Grandpa. From there just print, cut on the crop marks, fold and take it with you.

Happy father's day weekend to all the amazing dad's out there! Especially mine!

My first wedding related post! Today I bring you my sisters peacock themed bridal shower from February 2014. 

My youngest sister Bailey was getting married and who better to throw her shower than our other sister, Tanya, and our mom? The three of us love all the details that go into planning out parties, and constantly joke (or is it a joke?) that we want to start our own party planning business together.

First up, the invitations! I wanted everything to be one-of-a-kind for her, so I pulled out the pencils and paper and got to work. After some sketching I was ready to move to the computer to add the color and rest of the text. I also decided that such a special girl couldn't have plain envelopes so I got to work on my own version of calligraphy for the names and addresses. (I did not realize how hard on my hand that would be, not sure that I'll ever do that again. Or probably will, after all, my wedding is coming.)

Invitations were in the mail so it was time to get to work on all the details of the party. We wanted to choose a place that would have meaning to her and settled on the studio at D&J's Dynamite Dance Company where Bailey spent many years learning to dance, especially tap which she could rock (she makes a great Charlie Chaplin.) They are an amazing set of teachers and if you're in the Manchester/Hampstead/Westminster area of Maryland, I highly suggest checking them out.

Food was super simple, after a few minutes on the phone we had that all worked out. We just needed the decor/ favors.

First I concentrated on what I could accomplish on my own. I had designed and sent a recipe card in each invitation with the request that each invitee fill it out and bring it to the party. Recipes are great but they need a place to go! First I made the matching dividers and then pulled out my wood burner. I've owned the tool for probably 7 years and had never used it. Truth be told, I was kind of afraid of it, something that doesn't allow for mistakes is pretty unnerving to me. But it came out so great, and I'm so happy I took the plunge and did it!

Now favors! My very talented sister and mom were in charge of them. They made a trip to Dollar Tree and bought up all the wine glasses they had. Then Mod Podge and extra fine glitter to make the glasses shine. Tanya even made up a little thank you tag to place inside. So simple and perfect!

Before we knew it party day had arrived. The three of us spent the morning cooking, we considered it practice since the three of us were going to "cater" Bailey's actual wedding the next month. We finished setting up just as the guests started arriving. It was a wonderful shower, and it was so nice to see Bailey so unbelievably happy. 

Here's a peek into her shower.

All in all is was a great day for everyone. I hope Bailey enjoyed it as much as we think she did. 

And if you think that's the last of peacocks you are sorely mistaken, they were also her wedding theme, look for that blog post coming soon!

xoxo
Erin