Fall Collection!!

My Fall collection is up and for sale on Etsy! I'm so excited to share with you guys my first installment of products that are going to be up. This is only the beginning! Bigger and better things are coming for DA! Heres a couple of my new cards that are for sale. Don't forget to check out the other ones!!

I've also been thinking of things new to make for the upcoming season. :D What would you guys like to see for sale in my etsy shop? Handmade wrapping paper? Gift tags? Totes? Pillows? Let me know what you're most interested to see!! 

Let's play Cat(ch)sup!

Oh my goodness!! Things in my life has been so hectic, and…AMAZING! I'm finally starting to get settled into my little apartment (When the little touches are finished I'll do a home tour for you guys), I'm back in classes (all art!) and business is booming!!

The past couple days I've been doing more photoshoots, been designing more cards for the holidays, and extra special pieces that will be added to my Etsy. Also, I've been invited to be a vendor at a craft show coming up in October! I love that someone found me on Etsy and invited me to join!! That only made me feel like my work was worth it. That I didn't just have to sign up, that I was actually desired to attend. So much so that my going was put above other vendors who have been trying to get a spot!! (Insert me squealing like a little girl here.)

So here's a little random update of things or details of things that have been going on. I present you with, my TO DO LIST. 

1. Find a clock for my gallery wall.

2. Finish carving for printmaking class. 

3. Fix the break line on my Jeep Cherokee. 

4. Make display stand for cards.

5. Get more paper for *BEEEEEEP* (thats a censor ;D because I want you all to be surprised)

6. Get mine and Madalyn's Halloween costume.

7. Go to the aquarium on Wednesday.

8. Go apple picking on Friday. 

9. Finish sketches for new card designs.

10. Try to control current obsession with pumpkin spice ANYTHING. 

Welp there you have it!! There's a little sneak peak of things to come! Have any questions? Any ideas on what the surprise is? Gah I'm so flipping excited to the point where I actually have to stop typing right now or I'll just spill my guts! akdjgakldg. BYE! 

New Cards for sale on Etsy!

I'm so excited to introduce some of the new cards I've been working on!! They're now up for sale on my Etsy: DeraeArt. We've got some new (and funny) homemade greeting cards for multiple occasions. From pregnancy cards, I love you cards, and summer cards!! Here's a preview of some of them, go check the rest out!!

 Let me know what you think of them!! Or anything else that you'd like to see. And just to let you know, we have NEW PRODUCTS ON THE WAY! I can't wait to show some of them to you. :D

Cupcakes and Mason Jars.

So as we were preparing for our fourth of July get together, I got a bit crafty. It's just in my blood, I can't help it! As Madalyn watched cartoons, Derek made sandwiches and homemade iced tea, I made the cupcakes and mason jars. The cupcakes were (of course) Red, White and Blue. Making multicolored cupcakes are really easy and simple to do. All you have to do is mix the batter as stated on the box, then separate it into separate bowls, add food coloring and then mix the colors when you put it in the cupcake tin. Granite it's extra work, but it makes for extra cute cupcakes!!

As those were baking, I started making a Mason Jar for all of my friends that were coming with us. It was Derek's idea to put their xbox gamer tag on their mason jars, and they loved it, haha. Here's all you have to do to make custom Mason Jars for any occasion. 

1. Get Mason Jars. I got mine from Michaels and Walmart. If you're buying a lot, I suggest going to Walmart. I got 12 jars for 8 bucks. At Michaels it's a dollar and some change for one, so you'll be saving money.

2. Buy Glass Paint. I got Martha Stewart paints. These were three dollars for one, so it was a bit pricey. But I wanted to make sure that they were washable and weren't going to peal off.

3. Start decorating! Derek wrote some of the names (except for mine…cause I'm greedy) and I decorated them. I like to do something different for each person, and be a bit creative. Luckily they loved them!

4. Bake them! If you don't want to bake them, it takes 21 days for them to air dry completely. So I suggest popping them in a completely cool oven, and then letting bake for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Pull them out and let them cool before touching-- glass is hot my friends.

After they're baked and cool, you can dish wash them and everything! Happy crafting! 

Card Collection Sneakpeak.

Morning blogoids! 

So lately I've been working on a new collection of cards to put up in my Etsy shop. They're still funny, simple, and cute but just based around Summertime, Birthdays and Weddings (ect.) Since there's no major card "holidays" coming up soon, it's given me some extra yardage for card ideas. I've also been thinking about ways I can e x p a n d  my business and that's taken me to tee shirts, notepads, stickers (this list goes on and on and onnnn).

I'm excited to see what else I come up with, and other ways I can expand this little business I've started. I can't wait to see whats next for deraeart and take you guys on that journey with me. :D

If you'd like to product swap or do a product review of my cards, contact me or comment below!! I'm really wanting to branch out as much as possible. 

Make it Happen.

Do you have your own business? Are you looking to start your own business? Have a dream or something that you really want? Don't just sit around and hope it comes to you or works out for you. Sometimes all the schooling in the world doesn't even help! So what do you do? 

You, MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Lately I've come to realize that it doesn't matter what college you went to, how many degrees you have, or the lack of children you have to be successful. All it takes, is YOURSELF. You need to wake up each morning in the right mindset, get yourself on a schedule and apply yourself to your main goal. My biggest challenge has been becoming a morning person. Lately I've been waking up, getting breakfast, getting a coffee and then taking Madalyn to Barnes and Noble to play with the train table (That's her thing). Doing this every morning just puts me in a better mood, opens up my mind, and allows me to think clearer when I'm trying to get my business schedule together.

A few things I've been planning on working on is getting and being a sponsor to blogs, becoming closer to bloggers and actually creating a relationship and also mass marketing my brand. All in which is very important to my goal. Other little things I've been working on is actually planning out my blog posts, instead of randomly deciding what to blog about that day. And finally I'm in the works of creating my very own newsletter. So hopefully everything will take off the ground, and into God's hands!

On that note!

If you'd like to swap ads, sponsor, product swap, spotlight swap or simply just chat it up then email me at: brittanyhugs067[AT]gmail[DOT]com. 

Buhbye Google-reader, Hello Bloglovin'

As I'm sure all of you know Google-reader closes in just a couple days. It's the sad truth. And it completely sucks (in my opinion) that all my favorite blogs won't be at the same place that I write my blog posts. But either way! Don't lose touch with my posts or all your other favorite blogs!!

Bloglovin'

If you haven't already head over to Bloglovin' and make an account. It's a easy and efficient feed of all the blogs that you follow and love. If you want you can click here and have all your blogs from Google-reader onto your bloglovin'. That way you don't have to refollow all the blogs you already have. It even has it's own cute little app! That way you never lose touch. 

Stay in touch

If you'd like to stay in touch completely feel free to follow me everywhere else!

Bloglovin' {here}, Facebook {here}, Tumblr {here}, Twitter {here}, Pinterest {here}

See you on the flip side! 

Whimsical

What's a better way to start the Summer off then being hired to do a Vintage/Retro Maternity Shoot. This couple was beyond lovely and their personalities shone right through the camera lens! This is what photography is all about. Capturing the nature of the person and putting it into a product that they will cherish forever. They even brought the most whimsical props! The car, the parasol, the baby booties and shoes, and the cute overalls. Everything about this shoot was perfect.

I love that in-between my card business, I can make people happy with an affordable and quality photography package. It's the little things that make me happy as a person and a business owner. I never understood why photographers charged 300+ for 20 pictures and an hour of their time. I spent almost two hours with this couple, gave them more than 20 pictures for 60 bucks. With todays economy people don't have 300 dollars to be blowing on pictures that come out mediocre anyway. I'm glad I can provide my services while I'm still growing as a photographer at a great rate. 

What little things do you pride yourself in?

Spotlighting; Jenny

Afternoon Dolls!

Today I'm going to be spotlighting this little beauty, Jenny! And her blog: The Cutest Curliest.

Jenny is an amazing and extremely inspirational blogger! She mostly blogs on lifestyle, DIY tips and also  beauty! She pretty much has anything you need to be looking for in a blog. Her DIY posts are so on point. Just like her DIY for a up cycled headband {pictured above and posted here}. 

I also adore her "must have" posts. My favorite one she has posted is her must have in a summer beach bag! Some of the things she posted made so much sense. If you've been forgetting things to pack for the beach this Summer then definitely check out her post! You can find it righhhht ----> here. 

Not to mention how on track her goals are for her blog. I just loved her lists! I'm the same way, I tend to write out a lot of lists, but I related to this post so much! And I love how she posts on her blog after she actually completed a goal. So lets get number 11 accomplished! Let's get more people to talk to her and be one big blogger family. You know you want to. ;)

PS. If you'd like to do a Spotlight swap, leave a comment below! And let me know what you think of Jenny's Blog too. :D 

Business is blooming!

WHAT CAN I SAY!?

It's a nice day outside, and business is blooming!! With Father's Day coming closer, I've managed to sell over 40 cards in four days! That's a huge success for just opening my Etsy store. I could not be more shocked and completely baffled that so many people liked my designs and greeting cards.

That only leaves me in awe, and excited for what the future might have to offer through this growing business. I can only hope it goes even better and higher from here. A girl can dream right? ;)

Besides selling my business cards I've also been featured on blogs and getting offers for Spotlight swaps and buttons swaps out the butt! I can't even explain to you guys how excited and overly excited I am to actually be doing this and making a connection with you guys and making products that you guys actually like. It makes me so unbelievably happy.

If you'd like to do a spotlight swap, I still have some places available and they'll start going up tomorrow. :D So comment me below with your email and I'll email you. Hope you guys have a great weekend and your Father's and Baby Daddy's have a great Father's day.

Working from Home.

Yawwwwwn.

Starting your own business can be a very rewarding, yet very tiring!! I'm talking about, early mornings, late nights, running back and forth to the post office, to home, to the studio, to the store, to online shops. {i'm telling you…it never ends}

But that doesn't mean that a home business doesn't have it's perks. ;)

A nice cup of joe helps me get motivated in the morning to sit down and actually start working on my business. I also go to Pandora and listen to my favorite country station. Plus! I get the luxury of staying in comfy t-shirts and shorts all morning. Digging my Code Name Kids Next Door shirt I found at Goodwill? 

So since I've been working all morning, I decided I'll give you a little peek of what I do on a daily basis for my business. 

My little iPhone 5 sitting on one of my sketch books that I like to draw my designs in. There's a little preview on a "Congrats on Twins" card I'm making (you're welcome). And my GWTW phone wallpaper…I'm a tad obsessed with the classics. 

I got a few boxes at Michael's since they were on sale ($2!) to put my cards, packaging supplies, stamps and other necessities for my business. I'm still getting everything organized and it's certain place. Since I'm not fully moved out of my current living situation, it's hard having everything everywhere. Hopefully in the next month I'll have my own little station set up (where no little hands will be allowed to wander!)

I'm the type of girl that LOVES lists. I make lists for literally everything. So I bought a separate notebook (Michaels for 50 cents!) to keep track of every card that a customer buys, when they bought it, and when I've shipped them out. Just to make sure that I keep everything organized. Again, once my little business station is set up, I'll probably have a better filing system. But this for right now gets the job done and well! 

Since the desk I'm sitting at is currently full {with a desktop computer, sketchbooks, printer, coffee, mac and cheese, sharpies, ect.} I was forced to set up my laptop and little box of supplies on the bed next to me. But hey! Space is space! Aren't Derek's cowboy sheets cute? haha.

Last but certainly not least, what's working from home without the little one constantly getting in your face? She kept asking me to take a picture of her truck. What can I say? My little girl has a thing for boy toys. And I couldn't help but include this in my blogpost. Look at those delicate little hands!

There you have it!

This is a morning in the life of derae art! And how unorganized, messy, and coffee ridden it is! Haha, kidding {not really though}.