announce this BIZ!

Let me just start with saying, what a fantastic life I am able to lead.  Sure I stay up to late, over commit myself, even making myself sick at times, but doesn't that sound like the average person's life (if I am wrong correct me and I will go see a doctor).  But I do all this while working from home where I get to spend each day with my little girls, in my business casual (yoga pants and t.shirts), doing something I really love!  Now, I am sure some people may look at my work and think it isn't art, but it is creating with freedom and I just love it!

As well as creating invitations I love, I have done logos/branding and small projects for small businesses here in Kansas City.  This past January I was approached by 2 wedding professionals to help to brand their new business, "Mr. & Mrs. : Kansas City's Interactive Wedding Planning Headquarters".  Since promoting and opening their store last month, I have created several pieces for them, but this last project was by far my favorite so I just had to share!

As I mentioned, they are a brand new business and had just decided who they were going to do print advertising with, when those mags said their ad's were due pronto.  They came to me a few days before the add was due with a couple of general idea's sketched out, and said "Allie can you do this..."  my answer... ALWAYS YES!  Here is the end result...

This add, of course, would have never happened with out the girls vision, and the fabulous photography from
Christine May of Click Photography!

Look for this add coming soon to KC Weddings and the half page version coming to EA Bride.

If you are a small business owner who needs a little design work done contact me anytime!

www.announcethisdesign.com

Custom vs CustomIZED | 2 winners!

Haley and Joey came to me back in the fall to discuss invitations and save the dates for their summer wedding.  Haley had a very specific vision.  The moment she sat down to look at samples, she spotted the exact peony silhouette she had been looking everywhere for!  I can't tell you the feeling I get when I hear a bride say "I have been looking everywhere for _________ (fill in the blank)! And haven't been able to find it until now!"  That is what I do this job for!  I absolutely love bringing brides visions to life, I'm getting a little fired up just writing about it now!

After playing around a little with the peony silhouettes and changing and rearranging fonts we landed on these custom save the dates for Haley and Joey...

 

A few months after the save the dates went out, we started talking about the actual invitations.  We echoed the custom style set in the save the dates,  but tweaked the slightly by changing them from a vertical style to a horizontal one. I don't think it is completely necessary to keep your invitations and save the dates in the exact same style.  If you are going to change the style up keep with the original colors and maybe echo the fonts if using a photo in the save the dates.  Changing the styles too much will just confuse your guests! 

A few weeks after Haley had ordered her invites, Annie and her mother came in for a consult to discuss her invitations and fell in love with Haley's design! Annie's invitations are a perfect example of customizing my designs.  With a little tweaking of the colors, wording and layout of Haley's design we were able to make the perfect invites to suit Annie's big day!

BUSY BEE.....buzz buzz buzz

Holy SMOKES! Last blog was in Feb?! Do you know what happened?

Wedding season officially began...well officially it began in my wedding invitations world! And this year has blown me away! 22 completed weddings and 14 on the horizon!

The best thing about this crazy year so far is the fact that I have had some super fun clients who have allowed me to really have fun with their weddings.

First example: Melinda and Nick!

Oh boy, I can not even begin to tell you how much I love this couple!  I love the fun loving and laid back feel they are setting for their wedding.  I always say that the invitation is the first impression your guests are getting for your wedding.  What would you think if you received a beautiful, shimmery pocket in the mail and opened it to find this little gem hiding inside to greet you...

Melinda & Nick sent me a sample of this image they had found on the world wide web, and just like Annette Carey made a replica of Kate Middleton's wedding dress, I made a replica of the image she sent!  I drew the images in Nick & Melinda's liking, and created an invitation incorporating their wording & wedding day colors.  And one of my favorite touches...The RSVP card is a mad lib!  They have even mentioned creating check lists and crossword puzzles for their wedding programs! I don't think a couple gets more fun than Nick and Melinda!  Not only do these two love each other, you can tell they are really best friends at the core, and that is what is all about in my opinion!

The very best thing about my job is seeing the different couples, seeing their styles and getting to create such different pieces for everyone!