Black Friday Sale starts NOW!

Hi Everyone! I wanted to let you know that I am starting my Black Friday sale TODAY!

Buy 2 boxes of cards from my Big Cartel Pop-up Shop and get a FREE 2013 Desk Calendar + FREE Shipping! (That's $29 worth of FREE!)

Enter promo code: BLACKFRIDAY at checkout

Black Friday sale starts today and ends Monday, November 26th at midnight.

This is the perfect time to get your holiday cards started and get a free calendar gift for yourself or for a friend. And free shipping? What could be better?!?

Have fun shopping!

My Pop-up Shop & 2013 Desk Calendars are Here!

 {My 2013 Desk Calendar is here!}

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I've decided to open up a pop-up shop with Big Cartel to sell a few of my products. I just absolutely LOVED the holiday cards that Blend produced of my Hip Holiday collection, and just HAD to find a way to make them available to you!

If you're looking to send beautiful and special holiday cards this season, please consider mine! I personally love to send out multiple types of holiday cards each year - design-savvy ones for my designer friends, something unique for those I work with, and a photo card for family. And if you need the perfect gift for an office party, for your friend who has her own business, your mom, sister, or teenage daughter's desk — or even for yourself, then my 2013 Desk Calendar would be perfect!

{6 different 3-D Holiday Cards available in my Shop}

 

In the shop I've got boxes of 6 different holiday card designs to choose from, the 3-D gift tags, and my new 2013 desk calendar! Just to let you know, I've only got 6 boxes of most card designs and the gift tags available, so if you are interested, please snatch them up quickly because once they're gone, they're gone! {FYI: I do have 10 boxes available of the 'Peace On Earth' Forest and the 'Merry Christmas' Reindeer cards - and loads of calendars!}. Last year I sold out of my calendars in 2 weeks. I've ordered more this year just to be safe!

Due to the seasonality of the items in my pop-up shop, it will only be open until December 26th. 

{The 3-D Gift Tags available in my shop}

I've also opened up my Etsy shop again to sell my 2013 Desk Calendars too. If you are only interested in a desk calendar, then I would recommend buying it through Etsy, and you'll save about $1 on shipping.

{Individual pages from my 2013 Desk Calendar}

 

Why sell on Big Cartel & not Etsy?
After I read through Etsy's guidelines on what can and can't be sold on Etsy, they called out that manufactured goods (even though they look handmade) are not keeping with the spirit of Etsy and shouldn't be sold there. Since my holiday cards and gift tags are manufactured (& not physically handmade by me), I just didn't feel right about putting them on there because of this.

Thanks so much for taking a moment to visit my shop(s) and for considering my holiday cards, gift tags and desk calendar for prettying up your holiday and gift giving!!

Hip Holiday Cards, Invitations & More!

I happily received a huge box of samples on my doorstep and I just HAD to share pics of them with you! These products are from my 'Hip Holiday' collection, and from one of my licensee's, Blend, the licensing division of Anna Griffin, Inc. and are just gorgeous! I love it when you see samples from a licensee and they blow you out of the water with their attention to detail, quality & craftsmanship and design skills. It just makes me gush with happiness!

{3-D Gift Tags, 2 each of 4 designs}

What makes me super-duper excited is that these products are all 'Josephine Kimberling' branded (can you see my logo on the front of the packaging?!?). EEK!!!

 {Greeting Cards, sold individually or in a box of 10 per design}

I absolutely LOVE the holiday cards!! They are 3-D and have a combination of foil or glitter or ribbon on them which makes them extra special. If you're in the market for some holiday cards, please keep mine in mind! I'll keep you posted when I know where you can find them. Which is your favorite? I'd love to know! 

{Imprintable Invitations with diecuts & tip-ons accented with glitter or foil or luscious ribbon! Sold 10 per box of 1 design}

I had already shown you some shots of these products during my Surtex 2012 blog post, when they were debuting at the National Stationery Show at the same time, but thought I'd share (a little bit) better pics and details with you here, now that I have a real camera instead of my phone with me.

{From L to R: Note Pad Set of 3, Paper Placemats pack of 24, 60 foil Sticker Seals, Set of 10 Place Cards and 3D Handmade Stickers 12 per pack}

Getting packages of samples in the mail is truly one of the many fun aspects of licensing. It's really fun to see (and share pics with you!) of the finished products, because it makes it more real - especially since it can take many months for product to be developed.  I truly enjoy what I do and am excited to keep growing my business.

I also received some Hope Chest stationery and office products that I'll share with you later this week! Stay tuned!

Cozy Christmas Wreath Project

Between working on Christmas projects, designing my holiday cards & creating a 2012 desk calendar on top of everyday work, things have been a bit busy around here and my blog has been a little neglected. Oopsy! I thought I'd hop on here and go ahead and share with you my Cozy Christmas Wreath project I just finished up. SO fun!!

I helped make some of these for friends and just HAD to rush home and make one for myself! In my rush, I settled for a 14" wreath, but I would have much rather had a larger one, if I took the time to do some research, as this one is a bit smaller than I'd like for my front door. But doesn't this look fun, festive and cozy!! I absolutely LOVE felt flowers, so I kept making them and added more and more...I was even tempted to make a whole wreath out of felt flowers, but I really liked the wooly wreath too much to cover it all up.

Here are the instructions for you, in case you want to make one for yourself. Total time=2 hours. Great to make while watching a movie.

To make this exact wreath, you will need:

• 1, 14" straw wreath - keep the plastic wrapping on it
• 1 package of 'Wool-Ease', Thick & Quick yarn (I used an Oatmeal color with flecks)
• Felt in a variety of colors - approx 2, 9x12 sheets for each large & medium flower. 1 sheet for small & mini flowers.
• Scissors

STEP 1
WRAP THE WREATH
Wrap the wreath with the yarn, making sure you cover the wreath completely. I went over places multiple times to make it thick.

STEP 2
CUT OUT FELT FLOWERS
Make a variety of felt flowers in different sizes and colors. Each felt flower is made up of 8 circles. I made 4 different sizes of flowers for my wreath: 1 large flower using a 5" circle. 4 medium flowers using a 4" circle.  2 small flowers using a 2.5" circle. 3 mini flowers using a 1.75" circle.

STEP 3
ASSEMBLE FELT FLOWERS
Once your felt circles are cut, fold a circle in half. Cut 2 slits at the fold in the center, about 1/4"-1/2" long and leaving about 1/4" of room between the slits. Cut 1 foot of the yarn you used to wrap the wreath, for each flower you want to make. Thread the yarn through the slits of each of the 8 pieces of felt that make up a flower. Once all are threaded, tie a tight knot at the base & leave the tails as you will use them to attach the flowers to the wreath. Arrange the felt nicely to make the flower.

STEP 4
ADD THE FELT FLOWERS TO THE WREATH
Arrange each of the felt flowers on top of your wreath in any way you desire. Tie them down in the back of the wreath with a knot. Snip the edges. Once you are completed, hang on your door to provide a warm welcome for your guests!

Keep me posted if you make one!! I'd love to see!!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Here we are at the end of another year. I don't know about you, but they keep going faster and faster, don't they? This year has sure been full of fun people, community, and great new clients. Thanks to all of you who have swung in, commented on my blog posts, and contacted me to let me to let me know what you've been up to with my fabrics and stamps - your support fuels me to continue putting one foot in front of the other and press on with my dreams.

I have been quite a stranger as of late - so sorry about that! I've been busy working and working away, which usually mean new things are happening, but not able to be chatted about yet. I'll be able to share some exciting new projects with you in the coming year. Stay tuned!

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year! May 2011 bring many wonderful things your way!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope your holiday season is full of laughter, great memories, hope and peace, and that you are surrounded by those you love. I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for all of your support and encouragement this year, as it has meant the world to me. This year has been full of wonderful and new opportunities and friendships. Here's wishing you a beautiful 2010! Blessings to all of you and your families.

Ornaments-Schmornaments!

Toasty Tree

Last year, Sandra and I went to Display and Costume here in Seattle to check out their Christmas ornaments and our mouths dropped to the floor - we had never seen trees decked out so fabulously before! In addition to ornaments, there were dripping gems, glitter strands, garlands of butterflies, glass flowers, hip glittered fronds, and the list goes on and on. In the end it made us say ornaments-schmornaments! Roses Tipped With Glitter and Pewter Glass Money-Tree Fronds Glittered & Jeweled Fronds, Flowers & Branches Woodland Creature Decorations

So this weekend we went to Display and Costume again to see what we might discover. And once again, they did NOT disappoint! I snapped some pictures for you this time, so I could share the holiday inspiration. The trees were so stuffed with such beautiful things, that the actual tree was outnumbered! Close-up of Toasty Tree

What is really fun, is that they have a variety of trees decked out with different theme's and color stories. In a little cove next to the tree, all the coordinating elements are hung from the ceiling, on the wall, and put into beautiful baskets allover, which really makes a statement! Super-hip, Pewter Art Deco Tree Luscious Vintage Gold & Warm Olive Tree Silver & Gold Tree Winter Wonderland Tree

I almost took this cute little feathered friend home with me. Once we put up our Christmas tree, I might need to go back to Display & Costume and pick him up! Our tree is always in shades of turquoise, teal, green, white & silver. After looking at all these tree's, I may want to try to incorporate some pewter, bronze and white gold this year. All of the metallics are so beautiful! What is your favorite Christmas combination for decorating?

My New Christmas Rubber Stamp Designs at Impress Rubber Stamps

About two months ago I worked on some Christmas designs for Impress Rubber Stamps, and now they are in the stores and ready to ship! Christmas already you ask? Oh yes! This weekend I pulled out all of my old stamping supplies and went to town playing with the new images, which was a LOT of fun! After spending a few hours creating cards, I am now excited and ready for Christmas to come. I really enjoy working with my hands, and this weekend has been so refreshing to step away from my computer and create fun things while getting messy with ink and glitter. Note to self: do this more often!

Impress Rubber Stamps is a Seattle based company, and has been around since 1987. They have three retail locations in Seattle and ship their stamps all over the world. They were around before the scrapbook boom and were known for creating modern looking cards as well as using unique supplies and techniques before anyone else. Check them out, peruse their stamps and ideas pages online - and yes they DO ship directly to you, so if there are some fun doodads you must have and some pretty stamps you want to work with, you can order online. Yay!


I had the joy of working retail for Impress while I was in college, which was so much fun because I got to play with all the new stamps, supplies and papers, as well as test out new techniques in order to create cards for display. What a fun job, right? I continued working for them when I got out of college and started my career because it was such a fun experience that grew into designing artwork for their stamp line as well as teaching stamping classes. So working with them again after so many years was quite nostalgic and fun.
Stamps used from left to right: Card 1) 5093D-Berry Branch: $7.75,
5092D-Ornaments: $7.75, Card 2) 5094D-Cozy Snowman: $7.75,
5086E-Etched Snowflake: $8.75, 5087D-Lacy Snowflake: $7.75,5088D-Flurry Snowflake: $7.75

How many of you out there stamp and scrapbook? Do you make your own Christmas cards? Or if you don't do you plan to do so this year? Every year I used to make my own Christmas and Valentines day cards. I would design one and then buy all of the supplies and set-up my assembly line. I haven't done so for the past few years now, but perhaps sometimes in the years to come I will once again indulge in the creativity of working with my hands around the holidays.
Stamps used from left to right: Card 1) 5089E-Baubles Tree: $8.95,
Card 2) 5090E-Beaded Flourish: $8.75, 5096D-Happy Holidays Frame: $7.75,5087D-Lacy Snowflake: $7.75

Stamps used from left to right: Card 1) 5086E-Etched Snowflake: $8.75,
5095D-Let It Snow: $7.75, 5087D-Lacy Snowflake: $7.75,
Card 2) 5090E-Beaded Flourish: $8.75, 5088D-Flurry Snowflake: $7.75,
5091E-Ornate Swirly Reindeer: $8.75