Feeling Productive

As promised some new things and some new new things (kind of reminds me of when I use to say "like" versus "like like"). Anywho...

I have been wanting to add new illustrations and patterns to the shop this year. In my 2011 Desk Calendar-Patterns I featured two new patterns "Burst" "Zigzag". I finally got around to adding one item each with that pattern. I will slowly be adding those patterns to the options in the shop.

available here

available here

I have to be the right mood to make new illustrations if its not a request by a customer. For some reason I felt artsy this weekend (hmmm maybe after focusing on pee and poop one needs a little creative outlet...) and I whipped up 3 new illustrations and I added these newer ones to actual products. I updated the listings with the new photos which I think turned out really well.

available here

available here

available here

I think my favorite illustration is the Robot...he turned out so darn cute! The dinosaur is a close second.

I felt pretty productive this weekend (I'm counting Monday in my weekend since I was off and everyone was home so it felt like the weekend...or maybe it felt that way because I didn't get out of my pjs all day).

I am trying to bring back "With Envy Wednesday" so hopefully there will be one up on Wednesday...I make no promises :)

Packaging Makes the "Man"

Even though I have spent the whole weekend fairly focused on potty training, I have managed to work on some shop stuff. Hoping to post and list these things later today...so be on the look out for a double post (probably late).

As I have been working on new items I have been thinking about branding and packaging. I have tweeked my packaging a few times since starting Green With Envy Studios and I think I'm finally happy with it. But I plan on offering a little packaging upgrade in the near future that I'm super excited about.

One of my favorite stores Bath and Body Works has also tweeked their packaging and I love every evolution. This is the one product that I truly believe their packaging totally draws me to the product...it's whats inside that keeps me coming back though :) Here are some pics of their packaging evolution.

Not sure if this is their original label or not but its from a few years ago.

Sleeker more fresh!

WAPAM!! Totally eye catching and glamorous (oh and i came up with wapam myself...working on a patent :D )

photo found here

A fancier pic of the new packaging.

I told you I liked them...ok I'm totally obsessed (I also have a bunch in the other bathroom too) :)

On a side note....after two full days of potty training we had a ton of pee in the potty successes versus accidents. The problem is she really doesn't want to actually go to the potty. I don't want to force her and scare her but once she does it she is so happy to flush the toilet, put her undies back on, get her sticker and brag. We're working on her telling me before she actually wets herself...my least favorite part of parenting thus far.

New Comers Welcome!

I still working on being more consistent with my blog. Good thing is I have totally wanted to blog I just haven't had time since I have been filling orders and working on new items. I have a VERY long list of things I need to get done but I'm trying to be patient and do what I can each day. But I thought I would introduce you to a couple of new illustrations I have done. I am still working on a few more but I have had these for a couple of months and I haven't update yet....and still haven't updated my shop listings to include these (I'm working on it).

I made these little construction themed illustrations by request and just think they turned out sooo cute!

I made this little rocket for my Valentine's Day-Illustrations Mini Folded Cards.

I love all my illustrations but I get nervous to create new ones because I'm always worried how they will turn out and I get worried that I won't be able to make them nice enough to fit the look of my other ones. But some how it just comes together.

Are there any illustrations you would like to see?

Things To Come

Well it looks like the holiday rush is slowing down. So this is my second holiday season and what I consider my first real holiday season. Last year I was only open for about two weeks when holiday time rolled around so I didn’t see much traffic. Now I’m sure my “rush” was a drop in the bucket for some shops out there but it really renewed my love for what I do. I love seeing what people like in my shop and what they come up with for customizing their order. I got my packaging and order filling down to a science. And being so busy after a full day at my day job made me realize what I need to do in the new year to be better organized in hopes that the good times keep rolling.

I am currently working on a few Valentine’s Day related items that I am super excited about and hope to have in the shop early January. I am also thinking about new packaging options for some of my items.

I also want to make some changes in the products that I offer. Bookplates by far are my best sellers and its funny because I didn’t even know what a bookplate was when I first opened shop. I want to definitely expand on those. On the flip side I have been looking over my shop and trying to decide where to trim the fat so to speak. Its easier to cut products that I thought were neat but never sold, and got little to no views. It’s harder to decide what to cut when looking at items that may have never sold but get tons of views and hearts. I think I might cut a few things in the hopes of re-vamping them and see how that goes.

So during the slow time before the new year you may notice some new things popping up and a few things disappearing. IF something you liked before disappears feel free to drop me a line, I am always happy to make it available for purchase again.

Oh also I will be “closing” the shop Dec. 23rd-26th. It will be open but I won’t be processing orders until the 27th. I will be spending some much needed time with my hubs and daughter, baking cookies for Santa and enjoying the holidays in our matching Xmas pjs (I know you’re jealous).

Look Who Is Back...

Wow it’s been 9 million years since I last blogged J Not sure anyone is out there…heck I wasn’t sure anyone really read this when I was blogging a lot. Well for those that may still be checking this I felt I should start up the blogging again but make some changes.

So I stopped blogging for a few reasons….but in all honesty I wasn’t liking it. I originally entered the blog world when I was preggo with my daughter. I created a blog to chronical my pregnancy and life after I gave birth. I soon became obsessed with blogs and loved reading about other women who were preggo or new mothers. When I started down this business road I became obsessed with reading other business owners blogs. I was interested in seeing how other people were managing their businesses. But soon it became too hectic and I stopped reading the family blogs. I abandoned my personal blog because I didn’t have time to do two blogs. But I have found it hard to find a rhythm with this blog and I don’t really like to blog anymore, I feel like it’s a choir. Part of the problem is figuring out what to blog about. I felt like I should be blogging about my business of course but then other blogs have all these crafty tutorials and giveaways and features and so on and so on.

I found myself trying to cram that stuff in but the reality is I don’t have time to read the blogs I used to let alone come up with crafty tutorials (or do much crafting). Plus it just wasn't true to whats really going on in my world.

So as this wonderful poster by John W. Golden says...I'm going to be myself.

I'm going to blog about my business of course but I'm going to blog about stuff that interests me and maybe some personal life sprinkled in.

Ok with that being said I will blog some more tomorrow about whats in the works for the shop for the New Year. Stay Tuned!!

Season's Greetings-2010 Holiday Collection

Oh the holiday season is here. Time to start shopping, preparing for the annual holiday photo, sending out Holiday cards and preparing for the 20 million pounds you'll gain from the yummy food (hmmm maybe that last one is just me).


I picked a few of the note card sets in the shop that I liked and paired them with my new Holiday illustrations.

2010 Holiday Collection by Green With Envy Studios

Holiday Dash Flat Note Card Set


Holiday Stacked Flat Note Card Set

Holiday Big Circle Folded Note Card Set

Holiday Silhouette Folded Note Card Set

Holiday Dash Folded Note Card Set

I also created some 2.5"x2.5" square gift tags to coordinate with the holiday card designs. I liked how they turned out. I am thinking about offering them with my regular illustrations.

Holiday Dash Gift Tags

Holiday Silhouette Gift Tags

Holiday Stacked Gift Tags

I did not create any holiday specific items for my Pattern line. I considered it but the reality is you already choose the color scheme and personalization for those note cards and gift tags so you can easily make them into a holiday theme.

This is my first real holiday season. I opened my shop right before Thanksgiving and I didn't offer any holiday related items then. So we will see how this year goes!

I will be including the new holiday illustrations to all the items in my shop in case you want to add a little holiday flare to bookplates or maybe a print.

So since I'm in the holiday spirit I will be offering 20% off your purchase of any item in my 2010 Holiday Collection or any item you order using my Holiday illustrations. Offer ends Novemeber 15, 2010.

The Party's Over...

Sort of...

After thinking about this a few days I have decided to close Parties With Envy and focus more on Green With Envy Studios. Initially when I decided to open PWES it was because I had all these ideas for party items but I felt like keeping them in GWES would clutter it and shift the focus.


But since opening PWES I have felt overloaded and stressed about what I should be selling there and how I should be selling it. Not to mention really wanting to live up to some of the other really cook party shops that I see out there but just not having the time or resources to make PWES what I envisioned. I have yet to feel happy about the results of my labor. Heck it took almost a year for me to finally feel happy with the look and feel of GWES. Plus I just had my hands too full trying to make both shops equally showcased. The last week it really hit me as I was spending most of that week revamping PWES and trying to figure out what I wanted to create next. Then my day job jumped in a took over for a bit I wasn't really able to do much with either shop. I really wasn't excited about listing new things for PWES or deciding what item to work next. It felt like more of a chore than something fun. On the flip side I have had some fun ideas for more items to add to GWES.

I have several items in the works that I hope to roll out in the coming weeks and I hope to be ready for the holiday season. For now I have decided to bring some of the party stuff back to GWES because I like party stuff and I think it fits in nicely but I'm trying to figure out what I want to bring back and sell and in what format. I had originally just wanted to do printable party items because depending on the numbers in a party its super time consuming to create party items beyond the invite and it gets really expensive for the customer too. But in my desire to reach and please everyone I will probably end up offer both printed and printable but just limiting the items I sell so my shop is still a good mix of items.

Even though I'm really not changing much as I will still be selling party items in GWES, since I made the decision to go back to just one shop I have felt better and more focused.

So once I finish up a few orders I will start transitions party stuff back to GWES and then officially close up PWES. Maybe I will reopen it in the future but who knows, but for now I think I can only handle one shop at a time :)

TGIF!

Ahhh Friday! This week has been dragging, so I'm super excited that it's Friday! Now I just have to make it through the work day :/


So over the next few weeks I am going to be revamping Green With Envy Studios. I feel like I haven't added anything new in awhile and I haven't really updated photos either. So I will be doing lots of reshoots and taking down some items and patterns that need tweeking. The shop will remain open through the process.

And not surprisingly I am not satisfied with my images for Parties With Envy Studios. So I will be tweeking those this weekend and new images will be up Monday as well as some new items. So even though we're heading into the weekend it seems like when one job ends the next one begins (at least I have a lot more fun with this job!)

Now I leave you with a link to these FABULOUS, totally drool worthy workspaces featured on Oh My! Handmade Goodness yesterday!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

CLOSED $20 IS WAITING FOR YOU!!!!---UPDATED

DUE TO ISSUES THAT DID NOT ALLOW FOR COMMENTS TO BE LEFT, THE GIVEAWAY WILL BE OPEN AN EXTRA DAY! (thanks sis for letting me know about the comment problem!!)

I know I have said before that I am never fully satisfied with my shop or products and I always feel there is room for improvement. Well that goes for this blog and my Facebook fanpage. As a consumer I read a few blogs daily and check out some of my fanpages when I'm checking my personal and business Facebook pages. I strive for people to want to read my blog and check out my fanpage. But more importantly I want people to feel invited and inspired enough to leave comments and interact more. I think that makes it more fun for me to connect with people and also it makes it more fun for people to read what I'm writing.

So that is where you guys come in!!! I need your help and opinions. I have listed 4 questions below. If you leave ONE comment with ALL the answers to the questions you will be entered into a drawing where TWO people will win a $20 Gift Certificate each to Green With Envy Studios!!!

You MUST answer ALL 4 questions to be eligible for the drawing!

Please also leave your name and email address in your comment (I need to be able to reach you!)

1) What is ONE thing that makes you follow a blog or like a fanpage?

2) Think about the blogs you read regularly or the fanpages you check often...what keeps you coming back regularly (examples: lots of giveaways, funny posts, product updates etc.)

3) Do you comment often on posts (both on blogs and fanpages)? Why or Why not?

4) Check out my blog and fanpage...tell me ONE thing you like and ONE thing that needs improvement.

For ONE extra entry (please put in a separate comment):

*Go to my shop and:

Tell me ONE thing you like about it -OR- Your favorite item

-AND-

Tell me ONE thing that needs improvement -OR- An item you would like to see.

The survey/giveaway will end Friday May 21, 2010 Saturday May 22, 2010@ 10PM PST

The winner will be announced on Saturday, May 22, 2010 Sunday May 23, 2010 here on the blog.

Thanks in advance guys!

Mondays Around the Shop

I hope everyone had a nice weekend! My munchkin turned 18 months...so close to two it's crazy. It so funny she watches me working on items for the shop and aside from coordination issues she pretty much understands what each tool does or at least how to use the tools. She loves to mimic mommy.

I managed to add the new patterns to the shop. I still have to update a few items but I like how the new patterns turned out.

can be found here

can be found here

can be found here

As I was working on some other things, I ended making these fun little guys.

can be found here

can be found here

They came together rather quickly and I love how they turned out. I am working on a little something to add to them to make them really pop. Hopefully I will at least have the samples finished by the end of the week so I can update the pics.

HAPPY MONDAY!