A "Berry" Special Girl is turning 3!

This morning I did a mini-photo shoot with Naomi because she is turning 3 in a little over 2 weeks! I think the photos really captured her personality right now :). She is a little ray of sunshine in our family and we are so blessed to have her. She has grown up sooo much this past year we find it hard to believe that she is "still" 2 for a couple more weeks. She seems so much older than that to us and everyone who knows her, but she will always be our baby girl! Love you Nomie Bug!

And here is the invitation! Cool thing is I have photos from my 3rd birthday and it was a Strawberry Shortcake party too! Maybe you'll be seeing those photos pop up on the blog soon....

Fresh Site

*UPDATE: It looks like if you previously used my button, the image will change but not the link to the new site. If you could, please go to colormehappydesigns@gmail.com to copy the new html code and replace the one you are using...or if you feel comfortable, edit your html gadget to remove the dash in the link and you should be set. Thank you!

Hip Hip Hooray! I was able to get my design site restructured and updated with my new information and holiday design gallery. I plan on having more galleries up and running with a full design selection...eventually. I have a bunch of designs ready in many different categories, so feel free to contact me if you are looking for something other than a holiday card. It may not be until after we get settled with the new baby that I get to uploading all the designs, but in the meantime I appreciate your patience! I just did a birth announcement and a save the date card for a couple friends this week, and it was so great to be designing again. I truly love it and it was all the inspiration I needed to get the preliminary changes for my new format switched over on the site!

(Please note a slight address change - I can now be found at colormehappydesigns.blogspot.com (no dash!). There are codes for new buttons available (if you are already using a code, it will automatically update to the new button). If you have an old button/link to my site, it would be great if you could update it. The old link will no longer work. Thanks so much!

{Happy} Christmas Cards

*Edited 10/13 - 2 more designs added (holiday birth announcement design)

I have been thinking hard about whether or not to sell my Christmas cards this year with the baby coming, but I have decided that I enjoy it too much not to to do it! So I am going to share my design selection here and if you know anyone who is interested feel free to pass on this post since I won't have my business site up and running again for awhile yet.

I am including the entire design selection from 2008 as well as several brand new designs debuting today! Unfortunately, I won't be able to do any custom designs this year, but if you would like to make simple changes to the text shown on the sample (ex: Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays, first names instead of "the smith family") or if you would like to add a Bible verse to the card, I would be happy to do that if possible with the design.

Here are the details!

* I am reducing my normal $30 fee for a design to $25 for Christmas card designs!

* All orders must be placed by December 5th!

* All images will be created for a 4x6 size card.

* When you make your selection, you can email me your photo(s) at colormehappy.designs (at) gmail (dot) com as well as any text details/info. You can also choose to have your photo in color, black/white, or sepia.

* I will create your personalized card design and after reviewing and approving your final proof you will receive a full resolution digital image of your card.

* You can also receive a complimentary email-friendly version of your image, if you request it when placing your order.

* You can then upload your card image to the photo processing site of your choice (such as Snapfish, Shutterfly, York, or your favorite photo store) and order your prints! (I recommend a 4x6 print with a matte finish for best results.)

{Happy} Christmas! Design Gallery:


Christmas Cheer ---- Retro Joy


Snow Blossom


Christmas Wishes ---- Winter Bliss


Simple Snow (blue)


Simple Snow (red)


Classic Christmas ---- Red Bow


Merry Little Christmas


Mint Chocolate Christmas



Peace on Earth ---- Joy



Mocha Christmas

Christmas Star ---- Vintage Christmas



Golden Christmas


Cool Wishes


Warm Wishes


Merry and Bright



Snowfall


Precious Gift (blue or pink)

Credit: Some images used with purchased commercial license for Color Me {Happy} Designs from Summertime Designs

The Future of Color Me {Happy}

Many of you know I took a break from designing this summer, and you may have noticed my design blog has been recently set to private. I've spent much of the summer processing the future of my business. I have known for awhile now that I needed to make some changes to it, for several different reasons:

First, it really is a hobby for me more than it is a business. I am not at the stage where I am ready to put a lot into advertising and getting as much business as possible to make a huge profit. I do it because I love it, and I love being able to add that special touch for those happy occasions, not because I need to make an income off it.

Second, I am a designer not an accountant, and I really detested the bookkeeping part of it. It really took some of the fun out of it for me. And on top of that, the state made some changes to the system that makes it a lot harder for me to do what I'm doing.

Third, in the process of organizing and decluttering my home, I am also prioritizing things in my life, especially with a new baby coming. I do tend to take on too much and have already cut way back on how many ministries and activities I am involved in this year. I know what my priorities are, and I need to eliminate or refine the rest so I can focus on those. So I am restructuring the services I am offering to reflect that.


So here is what I have decided:

1. I am still offering custom card designs and will charge an upfront, flat fee that will cover my time to consult and create a digital image for each occasion. Right now I feel that $30 is a fair price for my time to do this.

2. I will only be dealing with digital images. I will no longer print or ship hard copies of the cards, nor provide envelopes. I will only be creating the custom digital image, which would be received by you as a final, printable version in an email. The digital image would need to be saved to your computer and uploaded to your favorite online photo processing company (Snapfish, Shutterfly, Walmart, etc). You would order your own 4x6 matte prints, which run about 8-10 cents per print. I can also provide a complimentary, "email-friendly" version of the image if desired.

3. At this point, I will not have a separate website available specifically for this. It will be more of a word of mouth and friends and family kind of thing. I will probably set something up eventually and will let you know - it will take me awhile to go through my site and change it over. In the meantime, feel free to pass on my contact info if you know of someone interested in a design or contact me yourself! I am still taking orders - it will just be a little different than before.

* I will have my "design" link on the sidebar here linked to a portfolio gallery of sample designs for those interested in viewing my work or considering ordering. I will still have a selection of designs available to choose from as well, and hopefully will be able to add new designs over time, which I will set up for viewing here as well in the near future.

* I will look into incorporating a button on the side of my blog that will allow you to click and pay my fee through PayPal if you are ordering a digital design.

4. I am still open to doing blog designs as a part of this, but I still haven't worked out the details of that yet. If you have ordered a blog from me in the past that needs updating, I am more than happy to work with you on that, so please contact me.

If you have any questions about these changes, please let me know. I love designing and I hope to continue working with those of you who have been such awesome, supportive customers over the last 2 years!

In the Mood to Play

It's a sunny, beautiful looking day out, but I tried going out and it was too cold for my blood. That northerly breeze from the lake is just frigid! I'd honestly rather have it be gloomy and warm out like yesterday than sunny and cold at this point. We had a picnic lunch outside with Auntie Ally yesterday, and it was wonderful! It gave me hope that warmer days are not far ahead.


Look what happens when I'm in the mood to play and get stuck inside! At least I got a new blog design out of it :).

Sneaky Peeky: Naomi is Turning 2!

I know it is so cliche (but every parent out there understands) that I cannot believe my baby is going to be 2 this weekend! Seriously, I feel like I was just right there in the midst of the middle of the night feedings, trying to figure out how to do everyday things like run to the grocery store with two kids (those of you with 3+ kids are just laughing at that I know), and rocking my tiny little baby girl to sleep. My tiny little baby girl is tiny no more, and not so much a baby either. She has become quite a big girl these days-- dressing and undressing herself, talking in complete sentences, using the potty independently, "reading" books and coloring pictures, and just being her own beautiful little person.

I am looking forward to celebrating her special day this weekend (hopefully she will be over this stinky cold/cough!!!), and know some of you have been waiting to see what I've been up to (this is especially for you Tami!). I'm keeping it pretty simple, but going with a monkey theme (Naomi has been talking about her "monkey party" for months now). Here is a sneak peek at the invitation:

I also created a card to send to family and friends, especially those who are out of town. I will hopefully get to mailing them out not too long after her birthday, and hopefully before the next major holiday. ;) For now, enjoy a sneak peek at that as well! I love how you can see how much she has really grown and changed over the last 2 years at the bottom.


You know me, and I will definitely have photos to share after the weekend!

So stay tuned! :)

Little Things

It's funny how little things can make such a big difference in our lives as moms. It doesn't take much to make me happy really. Like a haircut. I get my hair cut about 3 times a year, which is a huge increase from the former annual splurge cut, or even the, "babe, i know you can cut in a straight line...i trust you, with fingers-crossed cut" I would get in our early years of marriage. I scheduled a haircut for today that was long overdue. In fact, looking back I wish I would have had it done before we took our Christmas card pictures, but oh well! So when Brad's pager went off this morning at 7 am and suddenly I had no husband to watch the kids during my appointment, I was like there is NO way I am missing this appointment! I am so thankful for my dear friend Lynda who very sweetly and willingly took the kids for me as I shoved them in her door at two minutes to ten (when my appointment was scheduled) and I was able to keep that appointment (even if I was a few minutes late)! Now I am set for the season...let the Christmas parties begin! :)

On a side note, I have been getting a lot of traffic on my Color Me {Happy} Designs site from all over the world which has been super cool! One reason is that I am donating a portion of December proceeds to String of Pearls for customers from MckMama's blog (who gets mega traffic and has a really fun blog to read - check out the link in my blog list or see my business site for more info about that great ministry!). But I also discovered that I am being featured in a few different places on a google search which is so sweeet!!! I'm on this greeting cards guide site: http://www.zetaprints.com/help/greeting-cards-guide/ AND on this better living guides site: http://betterlivingguides.com/blogging/blog-layouts_page_7.html. How cool is that?!

"WAY cool mommy!!!"

Color Me {Scrappy} Blogs

I have been having quite a bit of fun learning how to design blog layouts (as you have probably noticed) and have finally become comfortable enough with html codes that I am planning on offering custom scrap blog layouts as part of Color Me {Happy} Designs! I have already secured one guinea pig (thanks Terri!) but am looking for one or two more people who would be willing to let me do a complimentary blog makeover for them to get the legistics down before I start it up on my site. Any takers? :) I will take the first one who posts a request here (and possible another one after I finish these two)!

Snapshots June 2008

I am not a big fan of getting professional photos. Don't get me wrong - I see them in people's homes in their lovely frames and think, "wow, those are really beautiful pictures! I would love to have some photos like that." But with the budget of a student for the last 95% of my life and the several really bad experiences I've had, plus with how easy it is to snap a few photos myself when we're having a Kodak moment...its not been on my list of priorities let's just say. I honestly feel physically sick when I have to go to the studio. Plus I really love photos that are "real" and not posed looking (although there are many awesome professional photos that look "real") - I like that when I look back at them and remember my life I will remember the actual moments rather than the photo shoot.

So while I was planning on biting the bullet and taking the kids this summer to get one done, we ended up having one of those moments recently when the kids were dressed cute for church and wanted to sit together on the rocking chair. So naturally I grabbed the camera and snapped a few memories that ended up being some of my favorites of them so far. I have been waiting to post them so I could mail a few first (and I am bringing some copies with us to Michigan tomorrow).

I love that my kids really love each other so much and I pray that will continue throughout their lives. At least for now they really are best friends! :)

And of course they inspired me to create a Color Me {Happy} card to send to friends and family! :)

Grand Opening!

Dear friends and family,

I am proud to announce the grand opening of Color Me Happy Designs! Over the last several months I have been hard at work setting up the site, creating designs, and learning a little bit about the business world (thanks for all your help Josh!).

So please take a look, spread the word, and enjoy!

http://colormehappy-designs.blogspot.com/

Color Me Happy!

I am very excited to announce my new home business that I am preparing to launch by the end of the month! For the last couple of years I have been doing a lot of graphic design as a hobby and decided it was time to turn it into a business. I am very close to my Grand Opening - I have a few more preliminary designs to complete and a couple legistical things to finish up and I'll be ready to go! I will be sharing the link to the site as soon as it is ready, but since I am so close I thought I'd at least share my logo and get you all excited to see it :).

*update 2/29* Ok so I have to postpone the opening after (on top of being sick all week) finding out about one more form that needs to be sent in 20 days before opening. So I will keep you all waiting on pins and needles for just a few more weeks! Will keep you updated with an opening date, but right now the goal is to open on March 24th!