Caroline Creates

BLOG MOVING!

2011-05-06T23:30:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

The blog is moving to www.carolinecreates.com/blog. I will no longer be posting here so please update your bookmarks.

Thank you and hope to see you there!

Pardon . . .

2011-04-10T16:55:00.000-05:00

I know there has been a lack of posts! I'm in the midst of completely revamping this blog and my website. Get excited! Its not quite ready, but soon it will be up and running!!

I'll be back soon!

What I've Been Up to

2011-04-05T12:02:00.000-05:00

Take a peek at the newest member of Caroline Creates:

Introducing Fiona Rosemary Hull! 9lbs 3oz and 20.5 inches long! Did I mention I'm only 5'4"!

Follow this link to hear more about her birth story!

Happy Hearts Day!

2011-02-14T09:30:00.000-06:00

Oh Valentine's Day. How I used to hate thee so. Even now I'm still not a huge fan. I mean, why do we need one day to tell somebody how much they mean to us? Of course, I am married to a huge romantic. We said no gifts this year since baby is about to arrive and he surprised me with a watch! I've been wanting one so bad since I'm always relying on my iphone for the time. However, I am super picky and haven't been able to decide on one. So, he bought a classy, yet modern and simple watch and its perfect! Guess he knows me quite well. Needless to say, although I detest Valentine's, I'm pretty lucky to have one of the sweetest.

On another note, our weekly special is still going on! Check it out!

Maternity Leave or not . . .

2011-02-07T10:42:00.000-06:00

Right now I am in the process of determining how much time to take away from Caroline Creates when our little Fiona arrives. We are 5 weeks from my due date, but I'm preparing for an early arrival. Here I am in all my swollen glory:

The fact is: this is the worst time for me to take time off. Caroline Creates is moving forward and making strides and wedding season is almost here! So, my plan is to officially take 2 weeks off when she arrives, but I will not be shutting down my etsy shop. My husband will be helping me field emails and possible orders. He is very handy with a paper cutter. I may be crazy, but its what I feel is right for now. Perhaps when she gets here I will change my mind, but at the end of the day, there are bills to pay. I can't wait for her to get here!

New Stationery Design!

2011-01-28T09:00:00.000-06:00

Check out my new stationery design!

Letterhead and note cards available!

These are currently available for purchase at my etsy shop!

Don't forget to become a fan on facebook! There is currently a special offer somewhere on the facebook page . . .

Nursery Update!

2011-01-27T11:49:00.000-06:00

We've made some great progress on the nursery the past few weeks and it is really starting to look like a room!

Here is the bedding my mom made:

My husband and father-in-law just built this amazing bookshelf:

We still have some shelves to hang over the changing table and a few odds and ends before I can organize everything. I will definitely put up some pictures of the finished product!

New Designs!

2011-01-19T10:09:00.000-06:00

Check these new invitation designs out! All are available at my etsy shop!

So crazy . . .

2011-01-17T21:02:00.000-06:00

I was just making dinner and remembering when my husband and I were picking out our pots and pans. We had so many conversations about glass tops versus not. My how things have changed!

Now, we are busy picking out diapers and much to my husbands chagrin, dresses!

It has been made very apparent to me in the last few years how very little control we have over our lives and that's a good thing! If I had had my way many years ago, I would be dancing in the Northeast somewhere, living on a meager salary and probably not married! If I had not broken my hip, I would not have come home and I would not have met my husband. More importantly, I wouldn't be now waiting for the arrival of our little girl. Tears come to my eyes as I think of the alternative. God definitely knew better than I did and I will be forever grateful.

Its so crazy that 5 years ago the life I'm living today never would have crossed my mind and I couldn't comprehend the happiness that I feel today.

Valentine's Cards!

2011-01-11T16:44:00.000-06:00

Valentine's is fast approaching. My wonderful hubby wants to do something special this year, since it will be our last one without a kid! Not too sure what we will do yet.

Meanwhile, here are some V-day cards offered in our shop!

Each comes in sets of 2 for $5.00 and are printed on high-quality textured card stock.

The Nursery is Coming Together!

2011-01-10T16:39:00.000-06:00

We have been hard at work the past couple of days trying to get our little girl's room ready for her arrival. I can't wait till the bedding is done because it really inspired the whole room. My mom and I found fabric featuring Owls and some other animals and I ran with it. So here is the room about 1/2 done:

I seriously wish this was my room! It is so bright and happy and the tree from Janey Mac Press is to die for. We had fun arranging the leaves. In fact, it was my husband's idea to have them falling around the tree. He is so creative!

Of course, my child has to have her own stationery and here is the design which is also inspired by the room:

I can't wait to meet our little girl! Hopefully she loves the owls as much as I do!

Pinwheels and Banners!

2011-01-07T12:18:00.000-06:00

Two new invitations have joined the Caroline Creates shop! Let's take a look:

These designs are completely customizable and be purchased here!

2010 in review or can't wait for 2011!

2010-12-23T16:15:00.000-06:00

2010 has been an interesting year for me. So many challenges and changes I faced in my business, family and in myself. As I look back, I'm really excited about how much I've grown and how much I've discovered about myself.

I never thought in a million years that I would be the owner of my own business. For those who don't know my story, I was a serious ballet dancer for my entire life. I ate, slept and breathed ballet, that is until I suffered a devastating hip injury that ended my career just as it was getting started. Needless to say, I didn't have anything else in my life that fired me up after that. Life moved on, I got married and hopped from job to job. For the past two years, I've had the privilege of working for a non-profit nearby. I learned so much about how to be a productive and passionate worker there and I can never thank them enough. That passion slowly transferred into my business until I found myself overwhelmed and overworked!

So on December 31, 2010, I will be transitioning from working full-time out of the house, to working full-time at home on Caroline Creates! Amazing! I never would have made or believed that I could make that jump if it wasn't for Lara, Gina, and Emily at Making Things Happen in Houston. (You can read that blog post here).

2010 will always be the year that changed me and my husband's life forever. In July, we found out that we were pregnant with our first child. It was truly a miracle because a month before that, I was diagnosed with a condition that was supposedly going to prevent me from getting pregnant easily and naturally. Little did we know, a month later that queasy feeling I was having was our little girl starting to grow! She is due March 14 and I can't wait to meet her and be a mother. Here is a recent picture of the belly:

Looking forward, I am so excited to take on building Caroline Creates and being a mom. Both will be challenging and rewarding.

Caroline Creates will be going through some changes too. I am having my website and blog redesigned. I can not wait to see what it will look like and get it up and running!! My online shop will be growing exponentially and look for our new wedding invitation line to be released after Christmas!

This is an exciting time. I"m so anxious and ready to start this new phase in my life and my business and I have to say, for the first time in a very long time, I'm truly truly happy.

Merry Christmas and see you all in January!!!!

Making Things Happen . . .

2010-11-23T19:51:00.000-06:00

I was privileged, no, blessed to spend the day with Lara Casey, Emily Ley, and Gina Zeidler in Houston at Making Things Happen. It was an intensive day. I was so ready to go and then I got there and became so nervous!

"Feel the Fear and do it Anyway"

These words from Lara keep echoing in my brain everyday since I got back. I didn't realize until that day how many fears I have and how badly they are crippling me everyday. I thought it was normal to be that stressed, that I was being "realistic." Little did I know that I was in fact afraid: afraid of good things actually happening to me; afraid of not being good enough; and more importantly, completely afraid of failing and letting my husband down. I think worse than that, I've been terrified that all the people who have been negative and haven't believed in me would be right.

I love Caroline Creates so much and I love stationery and creating. This is what I want to do the rest of my life. However, I haven't been. Again, fear has been keeping me from pursuing what I love. To actually say out loud, "I want to live my dream and run Caroline Creates full time" in a room of people was amazing and FREEING! I've never felt so free!

So after coming home and telling my husband about the amazing things I discovered, things have been set in motion. Since coming back, I have filed for my trademark, hired someone to create a custom website and made a plan for leaving my job.

Beyond the business, I've realized that I have not been living my everyday life to the fullest and I haven't been happy in a very long time. Everything from how my house looks, to how I wake up in the morning has been putting me in a funk. Realizing this was HUGE! Am I living my ideal day yet? Not quite, but the small changes I am making have already made such a difference.

For the first time in a long time, I feel like I am moving in the right direction. The next few months will bring huge changes in my life as I prepare for my baby arriving and taking on Caroline Creates full-time. For the first time in a long time, I'm happy.

Funky Finds!

2010-11-08T18:03:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, I participated in the Funky Finds Experience. I met a lot of really nice people and received so much positive feedback about my new invitation and holiday line.

My husband helped me build my booth so take a gander:

What stationery do you use?

2010-08-18T21:41:00.000-05:00

I'd like to take a little poll. What kind of stationery do you use on a regular basis? Notepads, letterhead, thank you cards, etc.?

Comment directly on this blog with an answer and you will be entered in a giveaway to receive a set of these personalized note cards!

You'll even get to pick your colors, so please let me know. I really am curious!

Things I'm excited about!

2010-08-16T09:38:00.001-05:00

A lot of amazing and difficult things are happening in my life right now. Of course, they are all things to be excited about! So I thought I would take time today to list them.

1.) I am pregnant. 10 weeks and so thrilled to have the blessing of being a mother. I can’t wait till March to meet baby Hull!

2.) I was accepted into the Funky Finds Experience on November 6 and 7. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this. I did a show a year or so ago with them and it brought me so many good things. I can only imagine what a two day show will bring. Now, the only drawback is, I have a ton of work to do to get ready and in my current nauseous, tired state, this should be interesting.

3.) I am taking a 6-week marketing course starting in September through Crafting an MBA. Here is the link if you are interested http://marketingformakers.com/. I for one can not wait to get my feet wet and get this business growing!

4.) This should really be number one, but I have been blessed with the most amazing husband in the world. He is putting himself through school right now and will be done in October. We see each other for about an hour each day and then on the weekends. This weekend, we had such an amazing time together. I really hope our entire life is like that because it is the most amazing feeling in the world to be with him.

5.) We are in the process of redoing our bedroom right now and on a super tight budget. I am going to journal that on this blog probably starting tomorrow. I can’t wait to see the finished product!

6.) I am struggling with my business right now, but I know with hard work and dedication, I can make it everything I dream of and that possibility excited me beyond words.

Have a blessed day!

Wishing

2010-08-11T13:47:00.001-05:00

I was at the beach *sigh* instead of here

Oh well.

New Blog . . . Kind of

2010-08-03T13:32:00.001-05:00

For the longest time, my profile photo has been a picture of me covering my face. The past few months I've been thinking a lot about my business and the image I want to project. I've always tried to maintain a separation between personal and business, especially on the blog. Well I think the time has come to end that.

You may have noticed my new banner. This blog will start being a reflection of that. My life is full of interesting things that affect my design and stationery. As my business begins a new phase, so too will the blog.

Stay Tuned!

First Blog Video! Get Excited!

2010-08-01T23:25:00.000-05:00

Father's Day Card

2010-06-09T21:50:00.000-05:00

What do you think?

Being engaged makes you unhappy??

2010-05-21T14:31:00.001-05:00

I just saw this on cnn.com: http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/personal/05/21/tf.engaged.women.unhappy/index.html

The article discusses how women who are engaged on facebook have more negative status updates than single or married women. I think this is true. Why? I was miserable when I was engaged; not because I was getting married, but because I was planning a wedding. But why do weddings have to be so stressful?

In my personal experience, outside forces were what made is unbearable. I had dreamed about my wedding my whole life and suddenly, I didn’t have a say in anything! Looking back, I realize how little our wedding reflected who we were as a couple. Yes, it was a beautiful wedding but I think we were trying to play a part more than anything. I really wish I had stood my ground on some things and not worried about what everyone else thought. I wish I hadn’t been determined to have the same number of bridesmaids and groomsmen. I wish our wedding had been more funky and less formal. I wish it had been a more intimate location.

However, with all that being said, that day was the beginning of the happiest days of my life. Our wedding mass was beautiful and I will never forget looking into my husbands eyes that day and knowing in my heart that this was the best decision I had ever made and still is!

Weddings aren’t about flowers, cake, dresses and who is invited. Weddings are about the love and ultimate commitment of two people who through whatever grace is on this earth, found each other. It is a blessing, not a curse and not something to be stressed about. My advice to brides: stick to who you are and what you want. Think about how you are going to feel when you look at the pictures two years later and make sure you are going to be happy with it all. Above all, focus on what a wedding and a marriage is all about.

And stop being so negative on facebook!

New Business Card

2010-05-19T14:44:00.003-05:00

What do you think? And yes I made that!

The Art of Letter Writing Intro

2010-05-19T09:46:00.001-05:00

I've decided to do a series or a group of series with different themes. For the next few weeks, I am going to talk about the art of letter writing. Some tips, ideas, and my thoughts on what sometimes feels like a dying art.

Letter writing has been an important part of history, a way to communicate and an intimate piece of human beings. For centuries, letters have found their way into the homes and hearts of receivers and writers. Think about the last letter you received. If you are anything like me, you love receiving mail and especially letters.

So what makes the written letter so special? Why not just send an email? I'm going to explore this as well as tips, trends and much more!

Tomorrow:

New Web Site Announced!

2010-05-18T09:00:00.002-05:00

Caroline Creates FINALLY has a web site to be proud of!

Now, you can buy directly from us on our web site. In addition, we know have new contact information, info@carolinecreates.com!

Now for the best part! Until May 31, you can receive 10% of all purchases from our web site! Simply enter code website10 when checking out!

My New Love!

2010-05-17T11:08:00.001-05:00

I splurged! Decided I was spending way too much time cutting paper. So, I bought this beauty and I can definitely say it's worth every penny.

What tools can you not live without?

Night Owl

2010-05-05T08:26:00.000-05:00

2 a.m. is a very lonely time. When I was in college, I could stay up till 4 and get up at 7 for ballet class the next morning, no problem. Now if I am up past 10, the next day is shot.

My work schedule right now sucks. There is no other way to put it! 2 a.m. tends to be the hour in which I finish up orders and get them ready to ship. Here I sit at 8 writing this blog. Exhaustion is going to set in big time.

Nobody said starting a business was going to be easy. I really need to listen to that!

New Stationery Designs!

2010-05-03T12:17:00.000-05:00

I am please to present 2 new designs in our stationery line. Letterhead and matching envelopes are available!

All of our letterhead now comes in boxes and you can purchase these here!

New About Me!

2010-05-01T11:39:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the genious and generosity of my amazing friend Lauren, I now have a new "about me":

About Caroline Creates
Caroline Creates is an online invitation and stationary studio of original, digital artwork. A Texas native, and former ballet dancer, Caroline overcame an injury, but soon found a creative outlet where her beauty, strength, and experience shines through. She took a leap of faith to transform a passion for paper goods and stylish design into Caroline Creates. Since then, Caroline Creates has flourished by providing personalized, affordable wedding and event invitations, stationary, note cards, and digital artwork of impressive quality. Caroline is receptive and accomodating to one's wants and needs, and specializes in custom designs that reflect one's personality and style.

Caroline is blessed in many ways with a wonderful family and two crazy dogs, and always gratifying and inspirational work. Wearing a funky hat and dancing barefoot around the house to indie music she's discovered that day would best describe her fun personality and free style.

In LOVE! Lauren, you should do consulting for small business such as mine!!!

Earth Day!

2010-04-22T11:51:00.000-05:00

Earth Day is here! One of the challenges of owning a paper company is being green. I mean we kill more trees than anybody! Besides being careful about what paper I buy, there are some things that we do around the office to help.

1. I recycle mad style and I keep leftover paper from cuts to possibly re-use later.
2. I've become obsessed with not leaving equipment on. We have 2 printers and 3 computers and every night I check to make sure they are off before closing the office door.
3. I am currently looking into new paper products and hoping to launch an eco line soon.
4. When test printing, I will often use one sheet of paper, over and over.
5. We re-use boxes like crazy and I never throw one out!

I think the key to Earth Day is making small changes such as these that will make a greater impact in the future! What are some things your business does to promote a greener way of operating?

Schedules . . . or the lack of one

2010-04-16T10:17:00.000-05:00

For you business owners, do you keep a strict schedule? Do you say, ship on Tuesdays and assemble on Wednesdays?

Poster courtesy of Keep Calm Shop

I'm realizing that I am not using my time to its fullest which is causing me stress! Since the past few months have been all about de-stressing for me, I've decided its time to make a schedule and stick to it! So lets see:

Monday: finances, design, organize, order, blog,
Tuesday: print, cut, list new items, web site update
Wednesday: print, cut, assemble, ship
Thursday: design, modify, print, cut if have time
Friday: design
Saturday: off
Sunday: organize for week ahead

I wonder if this will work? We shall see. Oh and I need that poster for my Parisian office!

Happy Easter!!!

2010-04-04T15:28:00.000-05:00

The Downside of Changes

2010-03-19T23:21:00.000-05:00

So there has been a lot of "change" in my life lately. Change with the business, change in my family and really amazing changes that are in planning and yet to come. Somehow, I always manage to get completely overwhelmed by all of these changes. So I want to leave you all with something that has been very near to my heart this month:

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Boy do I need to read this over and over . . .

Letterhead!

2010-03-15T11:13:00.000-05:00

One of the things that has been bogging my business down has been the horrid and I repeat, horrid listings for my stationery line on etsy. If I've learned anything, presentation is everything. So now, here is the new and improved letterhead line from Caroline Creates: they are 5.5 x 8.5 and fit nicely inside an A2 envelope. They are completely customizable and make great gifts. Best of all, they now come in boxes and have matching note cards available for purchase. Even better, boxed sets are coming soon!

More designs in this line will be coming soon!

New Look!

2010-03-11T23:13:00.001-06:00

I've been really agonizing over the way Caroline Creates looks. I've always wanted it to reflect a kind of simplicity and confidence but never could seem to get it right. Now, I am happy to say that I think I've got. Regardless of what anyone thinks, I am seriously happy about the way this looks. I love the colors and I love the focus:

I feel like the "C" really says what its all about. Its about Caroline (me) actually creating unique designs and invitations that you can afford without sacrificing quality. There are a lot more things that will be changing around Caroline Creates so stay tuned!

Changes are Coming . . .

2010-03-05T10:09:00.000-06:00

I know I haven't posted in a while. The truth is, I have been really struggling about my business. In the last few months, the amount of custom design jobs I have has doubled. Unfortunatly, I do not have the luxury of quitting my full-time job, so this has meant long hours late at night and I'm exhausted. I'm exhausted to the point where is just isn't fun anymore.

It is at this point that I realized I needed to make some changes. Do I stop the business for a while and take a break? or do I make other changes in my life to allow me to do the business. After many teary discussions with my hubby, I decided that the business was just too important to me to give up now. So . . .

There are going to be some major changes happening at Caroline Creates. We are making a big push to increase sales and increase our product offering. A new look and logo are going to be a part of this and perhaps a new web site if I can swing it. We are going to increase our invitation line and expand to offer more stationery products. Our packaging is changing to boxes. The pricing structure will be changing very soon as well to include a more comprehensive price when looking at a wedding invitation listing.

Did I say "we"? Why yes I did! I decided instead of paying myself, it would be beneficial to hire some help! Now I have a marketing consultant/assistant that is truly rocking my world.

Another important part of this whole process, is the complete office makeover that will be taking place this month. For my birthday present this year, I am getting new shelves and a new desk. I am so excited and think this is going to really help my creativity and piece of mind. I go crazy in my unorganized office right now!

Please bear with us through these changes. My goal has always been to offer quality paper products at affordable prices and we will continue to do that while increasing the quality. I will start posting more as well in the coming months.

Thank you!

What I've been up to!

2010-01-11T00:05:00.000-06:00

Thing have just been crazy! The orders have been pouring in and we've been enjoying this great holiday season. My hubby loves football so to the National Championship we went and no, we were not rooting for Alabama!

I also got to see so much of California and fell in LOVE!

It was a much needed break for me. Things have been so busy, I haven't felt creative for a long time and that's no fun when you are a designer. Tomorrow, back to the grind! Love you all!

Sorry for lack of posts and Update

2009-12-08T13:01:00.000-06:00

Oh followers! It has been a stressful month. Custom jobs have been flying in keeping me extremely busy. On top of that I am still going to therapy and working on getting my hip back in shape. I am going to start working on some new designs, gearing up for wedding season and hope to start posting more next week. In the meantime, head on over to funky finds and check this out!

Winner of the Nov/Dec Giveaway . . .

2009-11-30T10:13:00.000-06:00

Is Lisa or comment number 1!

Thank you so much to all who participated. There will be more of these in the future so stay tuned. Also a big thank you to Audrey for your comment featuring helpful info!

Free Shipping!

2009-11-25T11:13:00.002-06:00

Black Friday through Cyber Monday, Caroline Creates will be offering free shipping on our etsy and funky finds shops. Be sure to check it out!

Caroline Creates on Funky Finds!

2009-11-24T10:14:00.000-06:00

Check out this great Thanksgiving lineup from Funky Finds!

I love the Turkeys and how awesome it is to be included. I am so honored! I have a Funky Finds shop as well that you need to check out. I just love the format and setup of the shop. I will be adding a lot to my Funky Finds shop this week so be on the lookout. Also be sure to check out the coupons and specials this weekend!

4 weeks post surgery

2009-11-21T20:21:00.000-06:00

And I'm walking! without crutches, well kind of. I still have a lot of work to do. I am having to retrain my brain not to favor the right leg which I've been doing for the past 4 years. Although recovery is going well, it has been a frustrating experience. I had to go back to work and have been in pain virtually all the time.

However, something shifted last weekend and I suddenly felt better. I can't explain it. My range of motion is still limited, but I am getting better every day!

A Little Birdie Says . . .

2009-11-16T09:00:00.000-06:00

Thank you for all your support during the past few weeks!

Little Birdie Note Cards available on etsy!

Seven Tips for Etsy Success!

2009-11-13T09:50:00.000-06:00

I came across this great blog post from Indie Fixx. You can even download the pdf guide by Corinna Buchholz of the etsy shop Piddix. Be sure to check it out!

Card Ornaments!

2009-11-10T13:20:00.001-06:00

This idea came to me while I was recovering from surgery on my couch! What do you think?

You can purchase these at my etsy store!

Nov/Dec Giveaway!

2009-11-09T08:00:00.001-06:00

Ok, time for a new giveaway! These are so much fun! This time, the luck winner will receive 2 of our Happy Holiday Forest Greeting cards!

So how do you win?
1.) Become a fan of Caroline Creates on facebook
2.) Subscribe to the Caroline Creates newsletter
or
3.) Follow me on twitter
Once you have done one of the three above things, comment on this post and be sure to include your email address. A winner will be chosen at random on November 30th! I will email the winner and then post it here on the blog. Good luck!

Surgery Update!

2009-10-26T20:47:00.000-05:00

First, I want to thank everyone for all the kind words and wishes this past week. Having surgery out of town was quite an experience and I am glad to be home with my husband. It hasn't been easy and everyday is exhausting, but I know in the long run, things will be so much better.

So what did the Dr. say? My hip was a mess. I had torn cartilage, a frayed ligament, and had to have the head of my femur reshaped. That's a lot of work! The Dr. was very happy with the results.

So what does this mean for me long-term? This part is hard. I already had arthritis in my hip and I'm only 25. I have to be careful the rest of my life. Unfortunately that means not doing some of the things I was hoping to do like dancing and running. I had a little cry about it, but realize that being able to walk without pain is so much more important.

I am hoping to start working next week but am not sure if I will be able to full-time since sitting hurts a lot! I will keep you guys updated!

Caroline Creates: Behind the Scenes

2009-10-19T09:00:00.002-05:00

Ever wonder what goes on at Caroline Creates? Here is an inside view:

This is my Director of Quality Control a.k.a. my husband at 5 in the morning helping me with wedding invites.

We were very tired!

My Dining Room and Janey Mac!

2009-10-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

I want to introduce to you, my new dining room:

I've recently fallen in love with vinyl decals for decorating and they really are amazing. I have been using Janey Mac who I found on etsy. Not only are the decals amazing, but their customer service is really the best I have ever encountered. I highly recommend them! Check out her designs!

Leaving Tomorrow

2009-10-17T23:32:00.002-05:00

I am leaving tomorrow for Nashville and will have my surgery on Tuesday. Please send good thoughts my way! In the meantime, be sure to check out some the amazing blogs listed on the left side of the page.

Thanks!

And the Winner is . . .

2009-10-15T08:23:00.001-05:00

The Winner of the Halloween Spider Note Card Giveaway is Hazel! She will receive two of these adorable note cards.

For the drawing I used Random.org. Stay tuned for another giveaway in November! In the meantime, head over to Jonathan Ivy Photography for a chance to win $50 toward invitations or save the dates!

Win a $50 Gift Card to Caroline Creates via the Pink Envelope!

2009-10-14T19:19:00.000-05:00

Click here to visit The Pink Envelope and check out all the great savings they find!

Then, check out the giveaway!

Monograms and Weddings!

2009-10-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

Monograms can be a great addition to any wedding. If used properly, it can add a special touch of elegance and spice to the decor.

When my husband and I married, I created a monogram which we used on our Save the Date and Invitation.

We then carried this throughout the ceremony and reception:

As you can see, I went crazy, but it was a great touch to our wedding day and it all started with our invitations. You never know what they may inspire!

Hip Surgery

2009-10-10T11:02:00.000-05:00

I am officially having hip surgery on the 20th, which is next week. I haven't really had time to panic or think about how scared I am, but I really am scared. I am more concerned with being under than anything. Its a new experience for me.

I am also very concerned with how I am going to feel after. Will I be in a ton of pain? How well will I be able to get around? How much work will I be able to do? All of these questions are swirling in my head, but I really have too much to do to dwell on them.

I feel really unprepared but I wasn't prepared when I had to quit dancing and I wasn't prepared when going to the gym became so painful. I never thought I would weigh as much as I do now. I'm not overweight or anything. If anything, I'm "normal" but the ballet dancer in me doesn't like it.

I simply can not wait to start dancing again, although, I've been told that could be the worst thing that I do. You see, my right hip is screwed up too. I wasn't prepared for that.

New Bridesmaid Card!!!

2009-10-07T22:40:00.002-05:00

When I got married, I sent a nice little note to my bridesmaids, asking them if they would do me the honor. Because really, they are doing YOU the honor of being in your bridal party.

Requests from customers and a thought I have had in my head, led me to create this cute little card. Check it out!

Hip Impingement (FAI) Femoralacetabular Impingement: Understanding FAI: For friends, family, caregivers & co-workers

2009-10-06T15:32:00.000-05:00

Hip Impingement (FAI) Femoralacetabular Impingement: Understanding FAI: For friends, family, caregivers & co-workers

Weekend Spotlight

2009-10-03T11:33:00.002-05:00

I've decided that I want to start spotlighting some of the sellers and artists that I've run across on etsy and in life. I am fortunate to be a part of Etsy Fort Worth which is an amazing team filled with talent.

Sins 'n Needles is a shop dedicated to those of us that aren't teenagers anymore but are also not yet ready to slip on a pair loafers and join the boys at the Elk Lodge.

They sell beautiful accessories

And clothes

For a little more information on them, click here and visit their shop!

Paris!

2009-10-02T09:22:00.001-05:00

If you know me, then you know how much I love France, Paris and the Eiffel Tower. Here are some Parisian inspired items from my shop!

Happy Friday!!!!

Our First Giveaway!

2009-09-30T22:51:00.002-05:00

Get excited! Because I love you all so much, I wanted to offer a monthly giveaway. This first giveaway features my Spider Halloween Cards! You receive two in a set!

So how do you win?
1.) Become a fan of Caroline Creates on facebook
2.) Subscribe to the Caroline Creates newsletter
or
3.) Follow me on twitter
Once you have done one of the three above things, comment on this post and be sure to include your email address. A winner will be chosen at random on October 15th! I will email the winner and then post it here on the blog. Good luck!

Looking Professional with Paper!

2009-09-29T10:03:00.000-05:00

Whether you are in the corporate world, own your own business, or are a stay home mom, stationery can really help you make a great first impression. From calling cards to thank you notes, well designed and executed paper products can say a lot to somebody about you.

Interviews are a great place to use stationery to your benefit. Custom calling cards and a nice thank you on professional note cards can set you apart from the other candidates. It should be as important as getting that brand new suit!

I find letterhead and calling cards essential when dealing with my household affairs. When my husband and I were married, I created a monogram for us and a "look" that we have continued on all of our personal stationery. We use our letterhead often for sending letters to bill companies, the IRS, etc. (all good things!).

In short, having someone design some stationery that reflect who you are, sends a great message to receivers.
Take a look at some things we have to offer!

Modern Lines Save the Date

2009-09-27T23:30:00.002-05:00

Need a simple Save the Date? The best part is, you can use regular postage for this one!!!

Check it Out!

New Holiday Cards

2009-09-25T10:15:00.006-05:00

I've been very busy!

Check them out!

Working with Custom Designers

2009-09-23T00:00:00.002-05:00

Being a custom designer . . . of wedding invitations. I find it interesting how unprepared some people can be when they decide to hire a custom designer for their wedding invitations. Yes, it can be overwhelming, but arming yourself with some good tools can help.

1.) Research designs or elements of designs that you like before meeting with your invitation designer. This helps them get a better feel for what you are looking for and your personal style.

2.) Think about how many invitations you may want to send. Designers can give you a better time line if you have this information.

3.) Ask questions and don't be afraid to! Things like "How much is the deposit?" and "How soon to I need to book you?" These can save headaches on both ends later.

4.) Be sure to ask the designer what hours they work and how best they like to be contacted. I work weird hours so its good information for my clients to have if they need me.

5.) Be completely honest with your designer. If you don't like something, say so!

Remember, designers are here for you and to make your day special. Take your time in finding the right person to work with!

2009 Halloween Card

2009-09-21T08:00:00.002-05:00

Check out these cute little spiders!

Oh I love Halloween! It really is my favorite holiday! Stay tuned!

Social Networking . . . I need to work on it

2009-09-17T10:09:00.003-05:00

Its true. I really feel like I never have time to come up with interesting blog posts, tweets, etc., but after reading this guide, I think I can come up with some more stuff. Handmade success publishes and sells many helpful guides on running your business. On their website, they are offering a free guide on social networking and I highly recommend it.

What does this mean for you readers? Look for more blog posts about the invitation business, my life, and the handmade community in general. Stay tuned!

Wedding envelopes, the ins and outs

2009-09-07T23:49:00.005-05:00

One of the most common questions I receive from brides is: do I need an inner envelope? In the past year, I have probably received around ten invitations to weddings and not one of them had an inner envelope. It can be costly and is almost, dare I say, out of style. However, there are some alternatives that many bride are using today:

The wrap band is a common and popular choice among my brides:

The pocket fold is also a nice alternative, but can cost more sometimes:

A lined envelope is elegant and pretty with out the crowding of an inner envelope:

The one thing I always tell my brides: Remember, its your day and your invitation so whatever makes you happy is important, inner envelope or not!

Everything old is new again!

2009-09-01T22:11:00.003-05:00

Since things are changing and improving around here, I thought it only fitting to refresh some of my old items. Here they are printed on high quality card stock and printed with archival inks . . .

Check them out!

First Holiday Card!

2009-08-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

Check this baby out! I am so excited! I finally am starting my holiday line :)

You can purchase these here!

The DIY Movement and Me!

2009-08-26T23:28:00.002-05:00

As my one year etsy anniversary is approaching, I am feeling very reflective of the last year and the amazing things that have been opened up to me. When I graduated from college, I quickly found sanctuary in my creativity. Determined to be a writer, I started my own online magazine and blog. It lasted all of 3 issues, but I learned so much about myself in the process and I realized how difficult running your own business is.

When I met my husband, I was feeling incredibly lost . . . creatively. I had no outlet and couldn't find one that fit. In searching for wedding invitations, I ran across etsy.com and was amazed at the handmade community! It was astounding to see the amount of talent!

I decided because I was poor . . . that I would make my own invitations, which led to making stationery gifts, which somehow led to me opening an etsy seller account.

My shop has changed so much. My style has taken shape and my design skills improved. My photos are turning into their own works of art as well. I have really come into my own. I don't care what people think about me or my work. I am so happy now and will continue to work and improve!

Being sick can make you creative . . .

2009-08-24T22:35:00.006-05:00

This weekend I was held up on the sofa with a horrible cold. My little creative bug was just aching to get out so I dragged myself to the computer. Here are a few things I did:

As always, you can check them out on my etsy store!

I've been Funky Found!

2009-08-19T09:26:00.003-05:00

Check it out! Funky Finds has found me. I love Funky Finds. They have really helped increase awareness of the handmade community in Tarrant County. They are also lovely people! To see the blog post, click here! To visit my funky finds store, click her e!

What the doctor said . . .

2009-08-18T01:06:00.004-05:00

So my father in law and I went to Dallas to meet with a doctor. Despite his lack of a bedside manner, he gave us some good information. I have what is called a cam impingement.
He called my hip "complicated" and recommended we see the best. The best is in Nashville, TN so we are in the process of scheduling my surgery with the doctor there. Hopefully, he lives up to his name!

I also found out, it is in my right hip as well. Not as bad, but its there. Thank god, I have no pain in my right hip. I am going to take much better care of myself to prevent it needing surgery as well.

So there you have it! Once my surgery is scheduled. I will update everyone.

Thanks for the prayers and support!

Two New Invites

2009-08-14T09:06:00.002-05:00

I was a busy bee last night! Check these out!

Save the Date Fun!

2009-08-10T00:00:00.002-05:00

I was playing around and drew this cute engagement ring. In honor of this new Save the Date added to my store, I thought I would include some information that I have learned from my own experiences and from the brides I have worked with.

1.) Send Save the Dates at least 6 months before the wedding, especially to your out of town guests. This gives them a chance to plan their trips.

2.) Set up a wedding website with information about the location, lodging and activities. Include this information on the Save the Date. We hosted our free website at mywedding.com

3.) If you know what direction you are going with, coordinate your Save the Date with your invitations. That way, it gives guests a small preview of what's to come.

4.) Be creative! Take funky pictures!

5.) Send as a postcard to save money on postage. This also cuts down on the actual cost, since no envelopes are needed.

6.) Remember, I do custom Save the Dates!

Anniversary Sale!

2009-08-05T10:45:00.000-05:00

I've almost been on etsy for one year! In honor of Caroline Creates' anniversary, any wedding invitation order, including custom designs, booked in August will receive 10% off their total order!

The beginning of a new journey . . .

2009-08-03T12:43:00.002-05:00

Five years ago, I started a journey and never in a million years did I think it would lead here. When I was a junior in college, ballet was my life. I was majoring in ballet at OU and couldn’t imagine my life any different. I ate, slept and breathed only to go to dance class every day. The fall of that year, I began experiencing sharp pains followed by stiffness in my left hip. X-rays, physical therapy, MRIs and several doctors led to a wrong diagnosis and by the end of the year, I could barely walk. I returned home for the summer to recover and met with one more doctor. His answer to the problem was that I simply had to stop dancing.

In my mind, my life ended that day. I can still recall the heartbreak that I felt. Determined I would dance again, I took Pilates and exercised only making it worse. So, I resigned myself to not being a dancer and switched my major. My senior year is a blur. After graduation, I let dance slip from my life completely. I simply could not bear to walk into a studio anymore. Now, 5 years have passed and my life has been reduced to a sedentary way of living. I can’t workout, I get sore if I go to the mall and stairs are my nemesis. I had to give up wearing heels and when I do, I pay for it the next day.

By some miracle, I married into a medical family who has been helping deal with my current state. Recent MRA’s have indicated that I have FAI or Femoro-acetabular Impingement. The basics are that I probably should never have danced in the first place. The shape of my hip joint causes the bones to rub together compromising the surrounding cartilage and bones. Some doctors still believe this chronic condition doesn’t exist and has only been widely known to orthopedic doctors recently. That being said, 5 years ago when the problem began, none of the doctors I met with knew FAI existed.

Treatment for me is going to ultimately mean surgery to preserve the hip and prevent having to have it replaced earlier in life. If we can find a doctor who can do arthroscopic surgery on my hip, there would be less involved but some some doctors still prefer open hip surgery. I am looking at the next 1 to 2 years of my life being about surgery and recovery. I am praying we can schedule the surgery shortly after Christmas as I am anxious to start the process.

It is important for me to point out a few of the miracles in my life. What was once a life consisting of nothing but ballet, I am now married to the love of my life, have a terrific full-time job, and I have found something I love more than anything which is my invitation business. Instead of worrying about getting back into pointe shoes, this surgery is about the ability to chase my future kids around and play with them in the back yard. If I had not fractured my hip my junior year, I would have kept dancing and the damage in my hip now would have been so much worse and my life would not be as fulfilling. I guess its true when they say everything happens for a reason.

I will keep updating everyone as this process continues and I ask for prayers of healing and the strength to go down this very difficult road to recovery.

I couldn't help myself

2009-07-29T21:54:00.002-05:00

I think I am becoming addicted to calling aka business cards. Any way . . .

You can buy them here!

South Carolina Wedding!

2009-07-28T19:10:00.003-05:00

I went to an amazing wedding in an amazing town last weekend! Charleston, SC was one of the best places on earth in my opinion. Here is an inspiration board from some of the elements I loved about their wedding!

Tree and Bird Invitation

2009-07-21T18:45:00.003-05:00

Check out this new invitation!

Sample available on etsy!

New Invitation!

2009-07-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

It has been a while but I feel a new posting is in order! This invitation matches the Flourish Save the Date and is completely customizable. What do you think?

You can purchase a sample on my etsy store!

Flourish Save the Date

2009-07-15T10:00:00.003-05:00

This designs is quickly becoming my personal favorite. Elegant and completely customizable, it is printed on high quality, thick card stock. It can be converted into a postcard if desired. Check it out!

You can purchase a sample on my etsy store or you can email me for more information!

Best Wedding Toast Ever!

2009-07-14T16:20:00.001-05:00

This is seriously the best thing I have ever seen. Unfortunately, I will not be doing anything nearly as good at the Wedding this weekend!

A Note About Wedding Invitation Wording

2009-07-14T01:00:00.003-05:00

I have had a few brides lately who are struggling with choosing wording for their wedding invitation. There are SO many variations and ways you can go about announcing your upcoming marriage.

My biggest advice is to really choose something that reflects you and makes YOU happy. For instance, when I got married, I really wanted my deceased father to be a part of the day, so his name was included on the invitation. Some found this a little strange but it worked for me!

The best resource that I have found for wording samples is here. However, don't go looking at the invitations!

New Blog!

2009-07-11T18:18:00.001-05:00

Since I redesigned my website, I decided to revamp the blog as well! My goal is to add a more personal touch to this blog including news, not only about my business but wedding advice and information about my journey starting my own business. Stay tuned for more!