Humming myself a little song...

That's right! Today marks my 30...something...birthday! To celebrate I'm adding a new collection of birthday cards to my shop.

Introducing the Happy Something Birthday Collection!

 

 {The collection! Check them out in the Birthday section of my shop}

On a recent stroll through the greeting card aisle at the drug store I noticed how cliche some of the cards are. Plus!! There is a selection of age-centric cards only if you are 5 or 21. Booo!!! I wanted a card for a girlfriend that said happy 30 something birthday...so I made one!  Figuring someone else had had a similar experience in the card aisle I also made the design accommodate 20-somethings & 40-somethings. Additional decades to come. Check 'em out here in the Birthday section of my Etsy shop.

I hope everyone has a great day! Mine has been fabulous so far. Thanks to everyone who has sent, called or text birthday wishes!!

Gobble, Gobble, Y'all

{Thanksgiving Turkey Cake Pop by Monarch Cake Pop Company}

This year I am thankful for: my family, my marriage, my dog - which are just a few of my many blessings including my growing business. Thanks to the clients who trust me with their custom projects & those that shop my Etsy store. I endeavor to continue earning your business.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26

No doubt, if you've had the tv on for even a second, you've seen an ad for Small Business Saturday, sponsored by American Express. What do you think? Into it?

I HOPE SO!!

Obviously, I am. I'll tell you right now where I'm planning on shopping...I have my eye on some books at my local book seller. Perhaps a few of them are presents. I can't tell you as my family loves me & so they read this blog. (Props, Mom & Dad!)

The point is to support your local economy by placing your hard earned money into the hands of someone who lives where you live; someone who cares as much about what's going on in your town as you do. Speaking as the daughter of a small business owner...actually, my family has had a few small businesses...I can tell you how important it is to shop local, to be a part of the local economy, to meet your neighbors, to know their needs & the satisfaction that comes in meeting them.

Also, I have to point out...this is a GREAT excuse to avoid the mall. Hello, Insanity.

So, please!!! Please, please!! Support Small Business Saturday, November 26th. It's the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Start small...pick one small, independent business to patronize in your community & watch your $$ go to work.

Announcing: New Shop Items!

{my new holiday listing! Fala la la la, la la, la, la...}

Just a few updates to the shop...a new holiday card design first off - Choose Your Own Holiday Greeting. Last weekend I was inspired by...of all things...my Dunkin Donuts coffee cup & all the choices down the side of it. Boom!! An idea was born for a holiday card in a similar format; something that would cover more greetings that the obligitory "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Hanakkuh." Something with personality!

Did I already post about my new listing for Custom Holiday Cards? $30 covers your design fee on a 100% original design just for you & yours. Then you have an option...get your design in a digital file to print as many times as you like wherever you like or I can help you by getting them printed in a designated quantity. 

More to follow!

Cards of the Week :: Holiday Photo Cards

This week, Cards of the Week is getting a new look. There are SO many great photo cards available from Etsy sellers, I thought presenting them Treasury-style was a good idea. Visually pleasing, links included = perfect...Ta da!

'Sending Smiles :: Holiday Photo Cards' by kbatty

Welcome to Cards of the Week,Treasury-style

MERRY & HAPPY--- holiday car... HENANDCO $16.00	Photo Christmas Card, Holida... CardsEtcetera $15.00
Religious Christmas Card // ... Pearenthetical... $20.00	Joy to the World - Custom Ph... LexiJaynesDesi... $15.00
christmas cards happy new ye... minkcards $18.00	Modern Vintage Christmas Car... 7thavenuedesig... $20.00
Christmas card, holiday card... freshlysqueeze... $10.00	Simply Holly Jolly Photo Chr... MommiesInk $12.00
Photo Christmas Card, Holida... ScriptivaPaper $15.00	christmas cards happy new ye... minkcards $18.00
Custom Christmas Card--Yello... greysquare $12.00	photo christmas card - good ... westwillow $16.00
Christmas card, 2011 photo g... GoodFrau $17.00	Merry Everything Photo Chris... theteacookie $15.00
Gray and Yellow Chevron Thre... MommiesInk $12.00	Christmas Card - Chalkboard ... mwarnerdesigns $15.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Each of the cards above brings something fresh to the holiday photo card landscape - either fun colors, a twist on a card layout...something that doesn't remind me of the same old holiday cards I get in the mail every year. I know, I know...it's not even Thanksgiving yet & we're all talking about Christmas. However, if you're thinking of sending out photo cards this holiday season, these puppies should be on your mind.

Got a picture ready? Instead of combing through a year's worth of candids, Mr. B & I are having our pictures taken next weekend. Yeah!! Stay tuned...

Cards of the Week - Thanksgiving, Take 2

Essentially I wrote the last post so that I could write this post. These. Are. So. Fun...And they are not full of turkeys. Iconic? Yes. But, this time of the year it's as if the world has been taken over by images of turkeys. And (spoiler alert!) not nice ones like the one at the very bottom of this post which is rather regal if you ask me. Please people, try to keep the cheesey turkeys to a minimum.

{Thanksgiving Pilgrim's Hat Table Placecard by Picadilly Heart}

That said - Absolutely zero references to the holiday would be boring. So, how about these fun pilgrim hats? I can't quite put my finger on it...maybe because of their size?...but these feel like a great nod to the history of Thanksgiving while remaining solidly in the cool zone. You can find these on the Picadilly Heart Etsy shop.  She has tons of place cards if these aren't floating your boat. I also really liked the Maple Leaf ones as well.

Cards of the Week - Thanksgiving, Take 1

 {Thanksgiving Kid's Printable Party Pack - DIY Printable by Frog Prince Paperie}

Just 3 short weeks until we are all stuffing our faces with turkey, stuffing & cranberry sauce. YEAH!!!! I, for one, can't. Freakin. Wait.

The initial idea for this post was to highlight some Turkey Day invitations. What would be interesting, cute ways to invite your friends/family over to break bread on this fabulous holiday? And then I saw these...(gasp, placecards!)...I had to switch gears! But wait, I thought, people still need to get to the dinner! Ah, the voices in my head...

So, welcome to Cards of the Week Thanksgiving, A Post in 2 Parts.

Newsletter Goodies

Coming Tuesday, November 1 - a way to get a jump on the Holidays! Yeah!

But there is a catch. It's only for my newsletter subscribers.

So! See that Newsletter sign up box on the right hand side of this blog? Yeah you do...there it is. That is your proverbial velevet rope to discounts & news in your inbox from KBatty Design & Stationery. You will get a discount in my Etsy shop right out of the box!

So sign up by November 1! I want to make your holiday cards & gift giving easier this year. Please! Let me help you! I'm good at it, I promise!

PS If you are reading this post in your inbox through my weekly email wrap up, then let me say thank you for being a part of this newsletter! I'm giving you a virtual High 5 right now :)

Boo!! A Halloween Photo Card Freebie

HAPPY (almost) HALLOWEEN!! To celebrate, I'm offering you, my blog readers, some freebie fun - a 5 x 7 Halloween photo card template in an original design by moi. The only stipulation to use this is that you need Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to put a picture in the template. Here's how to use it:

1. Save the picture above to the location of choice on your computer - your desktop perhaps. Open it in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.

2. Open the photo you want to put in the card & drag that layer into the file containing the template. Make sure your photo layer is BEHIND the template. Adjust to fit.

3. Save for emailing or print them out for cards, to display on the fridge or to send to out. Your choice!

Enjoy! If you use it, I'd love to see your pictures it in. Feel free to email them to me! If it's ok with you, I'll share them here on the blog.

Anyone dressing up this weekend??

***NOTE: All rights reserved by Kerry Batty of K. Batty Design & Stationery. By downloading this template, you agree to use this ONLY for personal use. Please do not distribute this as your own, use it for commercial purposes or sell it. Thanks for sticking to the honor system.***

Yes. I. Am!!

I have to love these! Not just because they are by Amy Locurto of Living Locurto & I {Heart} Faces but look at the message. You're So Batty! Darn skippy :)

"Like" Living Locurto on Facebook to download these Halloween freebies & check back here later for a little freebie action of my own.