WordPress Website Design: All-Natural Skincare Website for Julie Leischner

I am so behind on posts here! I have been a busy busy gal, so please pardon the mess of posts I’m about to publish.

Earlier this year, Julie Leischner, a L’Bri independent representative, asked me to help her create a fresh, clean website for her to share skincare tips and also promote her business. Since she’s all about the aloe, we went with fresh colors like blue and green.

Are you looking for a website redesign? Looking to launch a website or blog? Let’s talk! I’m offering $50 off any WordPress design service (complete site, not just modifications) until August 30. Send me an e-mail at amy@amykant-dot-com.

Where I’ve been…

This blog has been quiet for the past month, but I’ve been busy (which is always a good thing when you run your own business).

I’ve been busy working on WordPress sites for clients (stay tuned for reveals) and on a super secret crafty venture. I’m so excited about this new venture I could burst at the seams!

Things are also going great at Pink Ink Studios, where I design graphic resources for professional photographers. We have really ramped up the site this year, with awesome giveaways (um, Intuos 4 Wacom anyone!!!) and a stellar design team.

Here are some of my newest products (click to view):

Outside of all this, I’ve also made a commitment to be a healthier Amy Kant. As such, I’ve launched a new blog, Losing it without losing me. I haven’t felt this good about myself in years. I will be making that blog more personal, and this one will become more professional. I am very open and honest over at Losing It, so if you learn more about me than you’d like to know, well, then don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Custom WordPress Design: James Wigderson

I finished this project awhile back, but finally remembered to blog about it! Life has been pretty crazy lately, and I’ve let my blog suffer. James Wigderson contacted me this summer about converting his Blogger blog to a self-hosted WordPress blog. He has been blogging for years and finally made the switch to a superior platform! Click on the image below to check it out!

wigderson

Peppermint Plaid Holiday Card: New at Pink Ink Studios

ak-pis-peppermint5x7-prev

The Peppermint Plaid Folded 5×7 Holiday Card is designed for printing at WHCC.com and includes proper bleed. You get three flattened .png files in this set: Front, Inside Spread and Back. Add your own message by adding a layer of text on the tag provided in the inside spread. You can even included your business information on the tab in the back file.

Click here to purchase!

Scrappy Rummage, Sex and a bandit

This afternoon, my mom and I drove to Greenfield to get some supplies from The Scrapbook Store. We had received e-mails earlier this week reminding us about their rummage sale from noon-5pm.

We planned accordingly, so we could catch Sex and the City at Southshore Cinemas at 1:35.

We pull into the parking lot just before noon, only to see A LINE of a few dozen people waiting outside. We started laughing. My mom said, “wow, we are really cool.”

We get in there and they’re handing out NUMBERS to get into the rummage area (in the classroom at the back of the store). I was like ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh man… this should get interesting.

While I waited for my number (40) to be called, i browsed through the aisles, picking up some Pink Paislee, Basic Grey and a new line (can’t remember the name right now)…and of course, my Therm-o-web tape runner refills.

I paid for my non-rummage purchases and stood in back waiting for my number to be called. Now, mind you, it’s about 12:30 or so and I’ve been walking around the store, listening to all these ladies bitching and moaning because they had to wait to get into the room and blah blah blah…. I was astounded. They were being rude to the other customers and to the staff. Totally uncalled for people. I don’t care who the hell you are (all these ladies seemed to think they were hot stuff). Be patient and wait your damn turn!

I wasn’t sure if there would be anything worth getting, but I found $18 worth of stuff. Everything from stamps (lots of Stampin’ up! sets in good condition for less than $5), postcard-sized cardstock, a little album that will be great for altering, and a pack of vintage-themed papers, stickers, etc. And here’s the best part: two 2.5 gal ziplocs full of 12×12 sheets of Basic Grey papers, alphabet stickers and die cuts! Each pack was $2… and retail these papers would have easily cost more than $20. BONUS!!! I also got a pack of different papers (including a couple Pink Paislee), some 3-d stickers, embellishments AND the PP Love Birds Clear Stamp! I was excited about that because this store is the only one in the area to carry PP… and even then it’s just the spring fling papers. None of the other stuff.

Then we were off to see SATC. I saw it a couple weeks ago, but promised my mom I would go with her when I got back from Guatemala. I loved it. Again.

When we got home, I couldn’t WAIT to play with some of my new stuff. I’ve been working a lot with altering cheap $1 wooden frames from Michael’s the past couple days. Here is my first completed project.

The picture is of my little Bandit. It’s approximately 4×4 inches. The frame is 8×8.

Supplies
Paper: Pink Paislee Spring Fling. Die cut, alphabet stickers and fiber: Basic Grey. Brads: Making Memories. Flowers: Prima. Ink: Distress Ink in Walnut Stain. Adhesives: Therm-o-web tape runner, 3M Spray Mount, Zip Dry paper glue.

I was looking all over for a big bone paper or die cut and couldn’t find one in either my mom’s or my craft stashes. So, I took a cookie cutter and traced it!

I have to make another one of these for Gizmo and finish up the other frames this week. I’m thinking about making a few like this (waiting to customize name for buyer) and sell them on Etsy.

A birthday card for Em

Here’s the birthday card I made for my sister, Emily. She turns 22 Tuesday and we’re celebrating tonight. I’m sad the scan doesn’t do this card justice. The pink flower is raffia, and hanging from part of the flower is a tag I put a small green eyelet on and i did some accent drawing on the flowers in glitter pens. Then, the biggest flower on the tag I used a paper glaze to add dimension and shine. The purple flower is from a clear stamp set my mom has. I colored it using my V15 and V17 Copic Alcohol Markers (awesome for blending/shading). Then, I did some accents in purple glitter pen and used the paper glaze for the center of the flower. Next, I used my “fortune” Chinese symbol stamp.

Papers used: Basic Grey, plain cardstock, and I can’t remember the other line I used. But it’s one I can only get locally at Serendipity Scrapbooks in Waukesha, Wis.

Then, here’s the inside. I used an alphabet stamp set from Provo Craft for the “Happy Birthday” and used Basic Grey papers and fibers for the bottom.

You can’t tell, but the fiber is attached using two pinkish large eyelets.

New design

The black design was too much for me. Adios!

I’ll try this template out for awhile and see what happens. I really want to customize my CSS, but I figure if I can’t work a full day because of pain – typing makes things worse – I really can’t code at home.

Gotta get better… SOON!!!

Hmmm, gotta order some biznass cards too.

Gift Tags added to my Etsy Shop

I’ve just added five sets of gift tags to my Etsy Shop.

One set (pictured below) features blue/green/tan-ish Basic Grey paper with sage green raffia flower and tie. Click here to view the item listing.

The next two sets include a brown and light blue polka-dot paper and blue raffia flower ties. (I can’t recall what line the paper is from, sorry!) Click here to view the listing.

Finally, I have two sets of five brown and light blue paisley-patterned paper with blue raffia ties (same paper line as above… but the name escapes me). Click here to view the listing.

If you have a specific gift card color scheme/design you’re looking for or would like them in a larger quantity, please send me an email (amykant-at-gmail-dot-com) or convo me on Etsy.

Spring Fling Card Sets Now on Etsy!

As mentioned in my previous post, I found some Pink Paislee papers at my local scrapbook store.

Well, here are (some) of the fruits of my labors. I present “Spring Fling A2 Card Sets” by Amy Kant. Click the images below to see more photos and check out my Etsy store.

These are only 10 of the 30 or so cards I made with the Pink Paislee Spring Fling papers. Stay tuned for more or check out my Etsy Flickr set.

New Find at The Scrapbook Store

I was so excited this weekend when I went to The Scrapbook Store and saw the Spring Fling Collection from Pink Paislee (designed by Holly McCaig). They don’t have all of the Pink Paislee papers, but I’m just happy I can get some of my Twitter-friend’s designs! Stay tuned for some of the cards I made this weekend with these papers!!!