CardBoxDiva.com » Fab Vendor Monday

Fab Vendor Monday-{Lola Blue Shop}

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:30:42 +0000

Fab Vendor Monday-{Lola Blue Shop}

Erika contacted me to let me know about her etsy shop! She creates some fun invitation designs and other coordinating paper products. Check her out below!

Name: Erika Batista

Company Name: Lola Blue Shop

Website: www.lolablueshop.etsy.com

Blog: www.lolablueshop.blogspot.com

Email:lolablueshop@gmail.com

Established: Oct 2009

Employees: Self

Pricing: $3.00-$4.25 per invitation. Seating charts and matching paper goods vary in price.

Serving areas: USA and Canada

Services offered: Custom invitations and paper goods for all occasions.

How did you get started in your business?
I designed and created my own pocket fold wedding invitations back in November 2008, less than a year later I designed my cousin’s Sweet 16 circus themed invitations, friends and family loved them, so I decided to do some researching for ways to sell my designs. A lot of my work is through referrals but I am trying to get more and more people to order through my shop.

How long have you been doing it?
I signed up with Etsy in September 2009 but I didn’t start posting listings until October. It was very slow at first because I had to do research on how to promote and be active on Etsy. I would say I have been actively selling and promoting since January 2010.

Describe your style.

When I design I like to think of what I would like for my event, of course taking into account my client’s theme. I consider my style fashionable, unique and pretty. I take inspiration from colors I wear and fashion magazines, even though these are invitations and not a piece of clothing, I like to think of them as a fashion “accessory” for your event.

Do you do have any other jobs?

Yes. I currently work full time as an accounts manager, I am responsible for Accounts Payable and Receivable. But my passion, is design. I love my part time job, it is what drives. I easily spend hours on hours designing and creating. I hope to one day be able to work on my shop full time.

What else would you be doing for a living?
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved colors, painting, designing – it takes me to a whole other world. I enjoy it very much. If I wasn’t designing invitations, I would be designing shoes and clothes

What is something that few people know about you?
One of my life long dreams is to become a mom. I am very family oriented and family is very important to me. Having a family and being a great mom, I would say, is one of my most important goals.

Do you have any advice to offer engaged couples or those planning a special event?
Yes. Don’t leave anything for the last minute! Second, if you want to have something at your wedding or special event, GET IT! You will regret not having it later. And third, visit my shop I can design your invitations and matching coordinates especially for you

Would you like to say anything about your friends at Creative Custom Card Boxes?
Yes, thank you for the inspiration I know that you also started as a fellow NJ board “knottie” who made your business from designing your own wedding card box. I hope to one day be as successful and popular as you.

Have anything else to share with our readers?

If you don’t see something you like or have another theme or idea in mind for your event, please note that all you have to do is email me. I will try my best to fit your needs. I design not only invitations but also, seating charts, favor tags, table numbers, wedding invitations, etc… Due to my demanding full time job I don’t post wedding invitation listings on my shop but I do them for referrals, so if you want something unique that no one else has, email me and I can make a design for youcr according to your theme and olor scheme.

Fab Vendor Monday- {For Keeps Sake Designs}

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:30:56 +0000

Fab Vendor Monday- {For Keeps Sake Designs}

At Creative Custom Card Boxes we like to highlight new and fabulous products in the wedding and event industry. For Keeps Sake Designs has a great product that i’m so lucky to be able to use first hand once our little one is born! What a great gift idea for a baby shower!

“My First Yearbook by For Keeps Sake Designs is a unique service for parents. We have made it easy to keep up with baby’s first year memory book with a simple weekly email form throughout baby’s first year. This information is then gathered and put into a custom 40 page professionally printed book with a handcrafted one of a kind hardback cover and ribbon closure. No two books are ever the same, and are as unique as your baby! No more forgotten stories, blank pages, or scribbled out words! In addition, 10% of profits are donated to First Candle or the Trisomy 18 Foundation in memory of our angel baby, Ethan Ryan James Miesnik.”

Name: Shaina Miesnik

Company Name: For Keeps Sake Designs

Website: www.4ksdesigns.com

Blog: www.mommadeby4ks.blogspot.com

Email:4ksdesigns@gmail.com

Established: 2009

Employees: me and hubby

Pricing: $129.95

Serving areas: US

Services offered: Custom Memory Book Service

How did you get started in your business?

I started out doing nursery design and baby showers. I had always thought there should be a service like the “My First Yearbook” and saw a need for it when working with mom to be’s. I decided to go for it and here we are!

How long have you been doing it?

1 year, just launched on our website and nationally after much success in our test run!

Describe your style.

Hmm, I love very elegant designs, I’m not a huge fan of modern.

Do you do have any other jobs?

I’m a wife and mom, and I do accounting for a hotel, and soon to be lending my expertise part time for an event planning service.

What else would you be doing for a living?

I’d be an astronaut! For real! (don’t laugh!)

What is something that few people know about you?

Oh gosh, I once was volunteered to do a commercial in 8th grade for a non-profit my mom worked for. I was unaware I would be sitting in a wheelchair petting a donkey, (who bit me very hard!) how embarrassing. One day a girl at school said, “I saw a girl on tv who looked just like you! But she was in a wheelchair”

Would you like to say anything about your friends at Creative Custom Card Boxes?

Marni is such an inspiration to me! I love her musical background as well because I was in show choir in high school and I love love love to sing (karaoke one night Marni?) lol. The work CCCB does is amazing, I love their cardboxes and can’t wait to have an excuse to buy one!

Have anything else to share with our readers?

10% of our profit is donated to First Candle and the Trisomy 18 foundation. Our dedication to ending infant death stems from the loss of our baby boy, Ethan, to SIDS. Through our business we have been able to raise awareness and educate new parents about the risk of SIDS as well as provide the non-profits with much needed money for research!

Fab Vendor Monday {Crystal-Jewels}

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:00:25 +0000

Fab Monday Interview Questions-

Name: April Browne

Company Name: Crystal-Jewels

Website: www.crystal-jewels.co.uk

Blog: www.crystal-jewels.co.uk/blog/

Email: sales@crystal-jewels.co.uk

Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/CrystalJewelsJewelleryandtiaras

Established: 2008

Employees: Just me

Pricing: £6 – £100

Serving areas: Nation/worldwide

Services offered:

Handmade jewelery & tiaras for wedding, events, social occasions and gifts. Bespoke design service available.

How did you get started in your business?

I originally started making jewelery as a hobby about 7 years ago. My love for designing and making jewellery grew and I got talked into setting up my business.

How long have you been doing it?

7 years.

Describe your style.

The style of jewelery I design and make can vary …. from classic bridal jewelery to funky fashion jewelery

Do you do have any other jobs?

I also work a full time day job and have 2 children.

What else would you be doing for a living?

Probably working in a customer service roll. I love being around and helping other people.

What is something that few people know about you? I have a fear of cows!! Yes I know i’m odd!!

Do you have any advice to offer engaged couples or those planning a special event? Delegate! Planning your wedding or event can be overwhelming and stressful and if you don’t have a planner then delegate some of your tasks to family and friends.

Would you like to say anything about your friends at Creative Custom Card Boxes?

I absolutly love your designs, espically the Megan design. Such great work.

Have anything else to share with our readers?

I hope you’re all having an awesome 2010 so far and wish you all the best in everything you do. )

Fab Vendor Monday – {As You Wish Wedding & Event Design}

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:16 +0000

Fab Monday Interview Questions-

Name: Stacey Kallenberg

Stacey Kallenberg

Company Name: As You Wish Wedding & Event Design

Website: www.asyouwishwed.biz

Blog: www.asyouwishwed.blogspot.com

Email: stacey@asyouwishwed.biz
Established: 2006
Employees: Myself, three Junior Consultants, and a great group of assistants

Pricing: We create custom packages for each client based on their needs and wants. We have packages ranging from $500-$6000.
Serving areas: Our work is usually concentrated in Northern and Central NJ but we’ll go anywhere a bride needs us to!

Services offered:

We are a Full Service Event Planning company, offering everything from Full Service Coordination to Month-Of Coordination to Day-Of Coordination – and everything in between.

How did you get started in your business?

I originally went to college as an English major to become a teacher. Halfway through my freshman year, I had a traumatic experience in a classroom and that was my “a-ha moment.” I realized I didn’t want to be a teacher. In doing extensive research, wedding planning seemed like a good fit for my personality. I did some research, switched my major to business, got certified, and landed an incredible internship. I never looked back.

How long have you been doing it?

Including my internship first job, about six or seven years. I have had my own business for close to four years.

Describe your style.

Personally I love homespun, country chic weddings. I love to get creative in a backyard tent or raw space where the sky is the limit. But, my personal style doesn’t matter as much as how I can take the bride’s personal style and create her perfect day. I’m planning their dream day, not mine.

Do you do have any other jobs?

I just started an Education Division for aspiring wedding planners – www.asyouwishED.biz. It combines the world of teaching (I did enjoy some aspects of it) with the world of wedding planning. 2010 is the first year of classes and so far the response has been great. I’m looking forward to expanding that program in the years to come.

What else would you be doing for a living?

I would love to be a baker – making specialty cakes and cupcakes. I have plans with a few girlfriends to tour the country eating cupcakes – it’s only a matter of time before we do it.

Do you have any advice to offer engaged couples or those planning a special event?

Don’t lose yourselves in the planning. When you first get engaged, talk about the things that are most important to you. Forget about trends and what other people are doing. Infuse as much of your personality into the wedding as you can – it’s the personal touches that your friends and family will love and that you’ll love to look back to on your 50^th wedding anniversary. Oh, and hiring a wedding planner (at least for the day of your wedding) is a really great idea!

Would you like to say anything about your friends at Creative Custom Card Boxes?

I love when a company has “custom” right in the name. Getting a custom card box is a great way to add personality to your wedding. People expect a plain card box – adding some personality is unexpected, will create something that your guests will remember, and they are beautiful keepsakes as you start your lives as husband and wife!
Have anything else to share with our readers?

Don’t get caught up in the drama of planning a wedding. It should be one of the happiest times in your life – not the most stressful! Keep your decisions simple and most importantly – about YOU.

Fab Vendor Monday – { A Wedding In a Box }

admin — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:24:00 +0000

This week i’m featuring a great lady who is part of a wonderful group of women in the wedding business. Read on!

Name: Carrie Grabowicz, Melia Rios-Lazo, Clare Herkendaal, Barbara Kosciewicz, and Danielle Weber

Company Name:
a WEDDING in a BOX

Website:
http://www.aWEDDINGinaBOX.net

Blog:
http://www.WEDDINGinaBOX.blogspot.com

Email:
aweddinginabox5@live.com

Established:
January 2009

Employees:
none, although we are looking for equal partners in the area where we service

Pricing:
We offer all our services a la carte, as well as having one large ultimate package which includes the highest packages from each of our businesses. We also offer an incentive to have clients book with more than one of us: If Brides book with one, they get 5% off second, 8% off next and 10% off, the next.

Serving areas:
Eastern PA (mostly in Chester and Montgomery Counties in PA)

Services offered:
Custom jewelry consultations for you and your bridal party, one-of-a-kind photography, pampering sessions with massage, yoga, and foot soaks, make-up color consultations, skin care, and honeymoon travel packages. We love to make everything CUSTOM to make the brides feel like Royalty! We also are partnered with several reception venues and salons in the area.

How did you get started creating jewelry?
It all started in July 2008 with a trip to the Outer Banks, NC. Hammi Jammi Jewelry owner/designer Carrie Grabowicz created her first necklace in a bead shop. She fell in love with the creative process and the rest is history. Hammi Jammi is a name she calls her children when they are acting like “hams” and she also loves pigs so the name is fitting for fun, everyday jewelry.

How long have you been doing it?
Since July 2008

Describe your style:
I tend to like simple pieces, mostly using sterling silver and semi-precious gemstones. I also love to find unique focal pieces. Lately, I really like to work with Swarovski Crystals (which works well for the bridal market).

Do you do have any other jobs?
I am a stay-at-home mom of 2 boys (Brennon-age 6; Noah-age 2). All of the members are stay-at-home moms who each had our own individual businesses. We thought it was a natural fit to join forces and target the bridal market together.

What else would you be doing if you were not a jewelry designer?
I have a Master’s degree in Public Health. Before having children I worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator for the Division of Orthopedics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. I would most likely still be doing that.

What is something that few people know about you?
???? I have no idea…I’m pretty much an open book!

Do you have any advice to offer engaged couples or those planning a special event? Just have fun with it and try not to get stressedout. By using a WEDDING in a BOX, we take a lot of the stress out of planning by offering so many services in one place.

Would you like to say anything about your friends at Creative Custom Card Boxes? These boxes are beautiful. They just add that special touch to your event. It’s the little details that make the wedding and reception look special and cohesive.

Have anything else to share with our readers?
We like to set up mini bridal shows for our brides and their friends so we can present all our services in a laid back setting. They can try on jewelry, do a foot soak, have a chair massage, and get some photos taken of the fun event, and even have some chocolate fondue at no obligation.

Fab Vendor Monday – { Celeste Designs }

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:00:00 +0000

This week i’d like to focus some attention on another wonderful twitter friend of mine, Celeste of Celeste Designs. She and I have collaborated on some projects including the NFL Celebrity Wedding of Shantrell Moore and Tramon Williams of the Green Bay Packers! She is a fabulous stationery designer so I wanted to highlight her and learn more about her. Read on!

Name: Celeste C. Smith

Company Name: CelesteDesigns

Website: www.celestedesigns.shutterfly.com

Blog (under construction!)

Email: celestedesigns@ymail.com

Established: August 2000

Employees:

Just me! With the occasional assembly helper or set up assistant

Pricing:

Everything is custom, so I create designs to fit my client’s needs and budget

Serving areas:

Anywhere as long as we can email or talk on the phone

Services offered:

Custom Graphic Design and Handmade Stationery

Complete Custom Stationery Sets, Logos and Monograms, Bottle and Favor Labels, Inspiration Boards… also photo editing and twitter backgrounds!

How did you get started doing stationery and graphic design?

I have always dabbled in design for fun, but after creating invitations for my own wedding I started getting requests to design for others and before long my advertising agency turned into a design studio and I started getting paid to do something I loved!

How long have you been a designer?

Almost ten years…wow, time flies!

Describe your style:

Hard question for me because I work so much toward capturing the style of my clients! I love to work with photos and custom artwork or monograms so custom details are a common theme in all my work. I love the idea of creating things so personal people will want to keep them!

Do you do have any other jobs or do you just design?

Everything I do is somehow related to graphic design, most of the time it is wedding and event focused, but I also have corporate design jobs and work for a variety of clients, for example I recently designed a book and champagne bottle labels for a high school reunion.

What else would you be doing if you were not a designer?

You’ve got some great questions! Another hard one… I love creating, but if I totally changed careers I think I would work with children somehow as a teacher or special needs therapist.

What is something that few people know about you?

I am a bit of a twitter addict! Though my twitter family gets it…those that don’t tweet wouldn’t know it… until they try it and get hooked themselves of course! @celestedesigns

Do you have any advice to offer engaged couples or those planning a special event?

The day is already special because of what it means to you, so make everything about it personal and special! You can find a way to customize every detail of your wedding and make it an event that represents you! Enjoy the process and the day by finding talented people to work with that will bring your vision to reality.

For planners, if you haven’t found a custom designer – find a good one!! After one event I guarantee you will choose custom design all your events! We can make you even more fabulous at what you do and a star with your clients, even weddings with smaller budgets look expensive with custom stationery and details.

Would you like to say anything about your friends at Creative Custom Card Boxes?

You guys are fabulous! I now refer all of my clients to your site and think your Card Boxes are such a special way to customize a wedding or event! I love that you can customize the colors and design to fit their theme and budget and I can’t wait for the next wedding that I can collaborate with you on!

Have anything else to share with our readers?

I truly love what I do and value my relationships with my clients and also other vendors and planners!

I work closely with planners and clients online and in person to custom design their entire event. From a logo and inspiration board to set the tone ~ to all of their stationery needs. I’ve worked with all sizes of events and budgets. The list of items I can customize goes on and on! Save the dates, invitation sets (complete sets include: invitations, enclosures, addressed envelopes, assembly and even mailing service), announcements, wedding programs, favor labels (if it can be wrapped or tagged we can customize it!) table stationery (menu, reception programs, table numbers, placecards and table signs). My most popular favors have been custom bottle labels with photo or logo, photo candy labels and favor tags.

Thanks so much Celeste for sharing your company and vision with us. We love to work with you and can’t wait to collaborate on more projects in the future!

Fab Vendor Monday – { Ten23Designs }

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:00:00 +0000

This week we’d like to introduce you to Lauren who owns and operates Ten23Designs. We met her on Twitter and think her work is really unique and a great way to personalize any party decor. Her designs can be used in home decor as well. I love her ideas and just need to think of a way to use something from Ten23Designs in my own home!

We asked Lauren to answer a few interview questions for us and following are her responses:

Blog / website: www.ten23designs.com

Etsy shop: www.ten23designs.etsy.com

Custom orders always taken via e-mail @ designedbylauren@yahoo.com (I love custom orders)

1. How did you come up with your business name? Ten23 is my birthday… October 23rd. )

2. How long have you been in business? I opened my on-line shop last August on the 22nd.

3. What inspired you to start your creative business?

My own wedding… There were a lot of things I wanted (I love personalized things) but they costed too much money. So I wanted to make these personalized items for people at affordable prices.

4. What is your favorite wedding or party trend right now?

Bright colors… I love these bright colors that came out this summer; the yellow & dark pink, orange & turquoise, bright blue & lime, etc.

6. Do you have any favorite wedding, party, or handmade related blogs or websites that you’d like to share?

I like www.brendasweddingblog.com I think it is a great resource for many elements of planning a wedding & she has great giveaways.

Thanks so much Lauren for sharing your fabulous decals with us. We love your work and hope to work with you in the future!