Arts & Crafts Goddess

ZSB Writers Las Vegas, NV

2010-06-24T08:45:00.001-04:00

Freelance writer at ZSB (Las Vegas, NV)
This company hires writers and then does not pay them for completed work. DO NOT do business with them and expect to get paid! They have owed me $400 for months and keep promising to pay me, but never do.

Attention Green Crafters and Artists in South Florida

2009-09-17T08:08:00.003-04:00

Green Saturday Ft. Lauderdale will be taking place at Cinema Paradiso!

Vendors will set-up in Cinema Paradiso's outdoor, covered courtyard from 12pm - 10pm on December 5th. Two live performances (one in the afternoon and one in the evening) will take place inside the theatre.

Booth spaces are 6 ft. or 7ft. for $150. If you do not need a table, then vendor space is $100. If you are interested in becoming a Green Saturday vendor at the Ft. Lauderdale event please email:

GreenSaturdayEvents@gmail.com with:
1. A link to your website or pictures of items you plan on selling
2. A brief description of your art/craft/design business
3. Whether you are requesting a $150/with table booth or a $100/without table booth
4. Your contact information

Vendor submissions deadline is October 1, 2009.

Jo-Ann Launches New In-Store Party Program

2009-09-15T10:33:00.000-04:00

Jo-ann, one of America's favorite craft stores launches a new in-store party program. This is a great birthday party idea for crafty kids and their friends. It's also different from the same old cake, ice cream and clown parties.

Does your child enjoy craft or art projects? A birthday party at Jo-ann may be right up their alley!

For details, visit the Jo-ann in-store party page.

We Remember

2009-09-11T16:16:00.000-04:00

Neon Pumpkins

2009-09-10T17:32:00.001-04:00

Magenta, orange and neon green make up the background and decor of this fun handmade halloween card. Stars twinkle along the center of the card as halloween pumpkins send out the sentiment, "You give me a warm glow inside!" Mailing envelope included. Blank inside.

Measures 3.75 in. x 5.5 in.

Buy now

Candy Corns Anyone?

2009-09-03T21:26:00.001-04:00

Nothing says Happy Halloween like pumpkins and candy corns do! The sentiment under a trio of pumpkins says, "You give me a warm glow inside!" A light plaid green borders it. Mailing envelope included. Blank inside.

Measures 3.75 in. x 5.5 in.

Buy Now

Feeling Ghoulish Today?

2009-09-01T20:12:00.002-04:00

Purple, blue and neon green make up the background and decor of this fun handmade halloween card. Stars twinkle in the background as halloween characters fly on a witch's broom. Mailing envelope included. Blank inside.

Measures 3.75 in. x 5.5 in.

Buy now

Spider Happy Halloween Card

2009-08-25T16:21:00.001-04:00

A black spider hangs from its web and "Happy Halloween" is stamped in black. This handmade orange and purple card is topped off with a raffia bow. Mailing envelope included. Blank inside.

Measures 5.5 in. x 3.75 in.

Buy individual card

Buy any 6 cards for $13.75 or any 12 cards for $27.25 by visiting the Boxed Card Sets category.

Get Ready for Making Lists for the Season

2009-08-20T13:26:00.000-04:00

A Halloween treat that won't give you cavities! This orange mini notepad says "Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet, Give Me Something Good to Eat," and is topped off with a bright green knot bow.

Start making your lists in style for only $2.99.

Order now

Get Ready to Welcome Fall with Leaf Print Cards

2009-08-18T13:21:00.001-04:00

Pretty brown and gold leaves adorn this handmade red card, giving it a Fall feeling. Twelve cards and 12 mailing envelopes included. Blank inside.

Measures 3.75 in. x 5.5 in.

Buy a set of 12 cards and mailing envelopes for only $27.25.

Order now

Are You Prepared for Labor Day?

2009-08-13T21:54:00.002-04:00

Send congratulations on the arrival of a new baby boy with this precious handmade card. A baby hangs in a bundle and a little sign says, "Special Delivery." "Baby" is stamped in blue across the bottom of the card. Mailing envelope included. Blank inside.

Measures 3.75 in. x 5.5 in.

Buy now

Labor Day is Just Around the Corner

2009-08-11T16:10:00.002-04:00

This dimensional chic mom to be heads out with her baby basket in hand while a dimensional pastel colored border surrounds her. Letters* spell out "mom to be." Mailing envelope included. Blank inside.

Measures 7 in. x 5.25 in.

Buy now

How to Make Your Own Earrings

2009-08-06T11:41:00.001-04:00

Watch the Video Now

How to Make a Handmade Birthday Card

2009-08-05T22:59:00.000-04:00

Watch the Video Now

Spread the Love

2009-07-23T12:19:00.001-04:00

I have a feeling that love is in the air today. Do you ever get that loving feeling (hopefully you haven't lost it anyway)? Sometimes you don't need a special occasion to spread the love around. Give your loved one some love today.

A unique handmade love card features two cactus sitting on a plain white card. A little red heart floats in the air in between the two plants. A simply stated love card for any occasion! Blank inside. Mailing envelope included.

Measures 7 in x 5 in

Check out this card now

A Little Christmas in July

2009-07-21T07:09:00.000-04:00

As I sat at the pool Saturday morning soaking up the South Florida sun (and sweltering a little), I thought about how nice a little frost may feel--be it a chill in the air or a slushy drink in my hand.

So I thought I'd share a little winter with you in the midst of the July heat. Enjoy!

When you think of the holiday season you think of snowflakes. This blue and white handmade card features a blue snowflake, a silky blue bow, and "Season's Greetings" stamped in blue. Twelve cards and 12 mailing envelopes included. Blank inside.

Measures 5.5 in. x 3.75 in.

Buy any 6 cards for $13.75 or any 12 cards for $27.25

Check out these cards now

Handmade Orchids Hello Card

2009-07-17T14:09:00.001-04:00

A set of beautiful silk orchids dress the corner of this handmade card. A yellow and pink striped background holds the flowers and a little block of pink stamped with "Hello!" Mailing envelope included.

Measure 5.5 in x 4.25 in
Includes mailing envelope.

Buy this card now--It's a one-of-a-kind

Summer Reading Deserves a Groovy Bookmark!

2009-07-16T15:52:00.003-04:00

Do you know an avid reader who loves the peace, love and groovy times of the 60s and 70s? Well this groovy bookmark was created with them in mind!

Buy this bookmark now

Fun in the Sun and the Water

2009-07-09T08:03:00.001-04:00

Whether it is for a birthday or just to drop your favorite snorkeler a note, this one-of-a-kind handmade card is for you! Dimensional foamy embellishments decorate this card with shades of blue and lime green. Swim trunks, a snorkeling mask, and flippers make this card adorable, fun and festive no matter what the occasion! Mailing envelope included. Blank inside.

Measures 5.5 in. x 3.75 in.

Visit www.cardgoddess.com to see the full line of handmade cards.

Celebrate Friendship

2009-07-07T16:27:00.000-04:00

This handmade chocolate brown and tiffany blue card will help you add flair and style to any note that you send. Tell your friend how much she means to you with the sentiment that states, "Good friends never go out of style!" This is a card that your girlfriends are sure to love! Mailing envelope included. Blank inside.

Measures 3.75 in. x 5.5 in.

Buy an individual card to send a good friend or buy a set of cards as a gift for a friend to send to their friends!

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-02T19:59:00.001-04:00

Blue stars make up the background of this patriotic card. The US flag waves in the middle surrounded by red stars. Mailing envelope included.

Visit the Card Goddess website to view the complete line of cards.

Send Some Fun in the Sun to Your Friends

2009-06-18T15:43:00.002-04:00

This aqua colored handmade card comes complete with a bright orange sun. An orange ribbon sits at an angle in the upper left corner with "fun in the sun" printed on it in white ink. Mailing envelope included. Blank inside.

Measures 4.25 in. x 5.25 in.

Learn more about this card or buy it now

Cheers to Dad

2009-06-16T14:06:00.003-04:00

Sunday is Father's Day, so here at Card Goddess we are toasting to Dad.

So, here's to you Dad!

For a full line of Father's Day cards, visit www.cardgoddess.com.

Sunshine Dad Father's Day Card

2009-06-04T06:30:00.000-04:00

This dark blue handmade card comes complete with a gift tag on a string that features a yellow stamped sun. "DAD" is stamped in blue in the left bottom corner. Mailing envelope included. Blank inside.

Measures 5.5 in. x 3.75 in.

FREE shipping on Father's Day cards for DAD (expires June 8)!

View the full line of Father's Day Cards or Cards for Dad now.

Free Shipping on Father's Day Cards & Cards for Dad

2009-06-02T06:17:00.000-04:00

Enjoy free shipping on all Father's Day Cards and Cards for Dad.

Offer Expires June 8, 2009 so place your order today.

See the full line of Card Goddess cards or shop now.

Fishing Father's Day Card

2009-05-28T22:30:00.001-04:00

A 3-dimensional mounted rainbow trout takes center stage on this great Father's Day Card. "Happy Father's Day" is stamped in brown ink along the bottom of this naturally colored card. If your Dad loves fishing then he will love this card! Mailing envelope included. Blank inside.

Measures 3.75 in. x 5.5 in.

Check out the full line of Father's Day cards and Cards for Dad at Card Goddess.

Happy Father's Day Card

2009-05-27T14:59:00.002-04:00

A man's shoe sits on a bed of black and brown polka dots, which sits on a black ribbed block of paper. "Happy Father's Day" is stamped in black ink along the bottom of this naturally colored handmade card. Mailing envelope included. Blank inside.

Measures 5.5 in. x 3.75 in.

Buy this card or check out the full line of Father's Day cards

Summer Reading is Around the Corner

2009-05-21T13:50:00.003-04:00

There's nothing like summer beach reading. And with summer speeding directly our way, relaxing reading times are almost here. The perfect accent to your beach reading novel?

A flip flop bookmark, of course!

Check out the full line of unique and handmade bookmarks to make your summer reading even more fun.

Book lovers who also love the beach will go crazy for this adorable flip flop bookmark. A pretty sea green bookmark has two sets of flip flops topped off with a sunny yellow ribbon.

How to Turn Trash into Art

2009-05-20T15:54:00.003-04:00

If you're a crafter or artist you were probably drawn to reading this for a couple of different reasons. First, using items or re-purposing items to use as part of your art can save you a lot of money. It also fosters your creativity. Finally, it's a great way to be friendly to the environment while doing what you love--creating art or your craft. Some of what you can use is limited by the type of art you create, but here are five ways you can use items that may normally end up in the trash.

1. Cards you receive. When you receive a greeting card or gift card with pretty pictures, embellishments, ribbons and more, look at these items and think about how they can be reused. I take apart greeting cards like there is no tomorrow and store the pieces in my craft stuff. When I create my own handmade greeting cards, I use these items to make my own creations.

2. Gifts you receive. Take the ribbons, bows and gift tags from gifts you receive and apply it to your next art project. Again, if you receive ornately decorated gifts, this is free material that becomes part of your next painting, sculpture or handmade card.

3. Clothing tags. Some clothing tags contain string instead of a plastic tag. Some clothing tags are made of high quality card stock. These are but two of the pieces you can re-purpose rather than throw away.

4. Junk mail. I recently received a beautiful invitation from one of the car manufacturers. It arrived in a beautiful vellum envelope. I filed the envelope away for future use. Later, I pulled it out and cut the envelope into pieces that I used in layers on one of my greeting cards. Some companies get very creative with their direct mail pieces. Stop looking at it as junk mail and put on your creative glasses to see how you can reuse the pieces it contains.

5. Item packaging. The same holds true for packaging items and products you buy come in. For example, I recently bought a new blanket for one of the beds in my home. The blanket came in a plastic zipper cover and the blanket was held together with a pretty ribbon. I used the plastic zipper bag to hold some of my craft supplies and filed the ribbon away for use at a later date.

Before you throw anything away, think about how you may be able to reuse it. If you can find a way to use it in your art or craft project, it's like getting supplies for free. It also helps you leave less of a carbon footprint on the environment. Finally, it gets your creative juices flowing!

Get Ready for Father's Day

2009-05-13T05:39:00.003-04:00

We just honored our mothers last weekend and next it's time to honor Dad. That's right, next month is Father's Day. In honor of my dad, I always make a line of fishing cards because that's what my dad loves to do--fish!

Whether your dad loves to fish, golf or play soccer, check out these Happy Father's Day cards and cards for Dad.

3 Ways to Market Your Arts & Crafts Locally

2009-05-11T10:50:00.003-04:00

No matter what your craft or art medium, you can market your business on a more global level online, but this doesn't mean you should neglect your local market. Online marketing can be done from the convenience of your home, but getting out in your local community to share your talents can boost your business too.

1. Network with other crafters. Meeting and getting to know other crafters and artists in your community can be beneficial to your business. The hard part may be meeting these individuals. Check out local websites for crafting or artist groups. Meetup.com is a resource to help match you with local groups that fit your needs. Also, visit local craft stores and art galleries. Many of these places offer classes you can attend, hold networking events or events where you can mix and mingle. Bring samples or pictures of your work and plenty of business cards.

2. Attend and participate in local craft shows. Before you decide to participate in a local arts and crafts show, attend it as a shopper first. Visiting the show first allows you to evaluate the crowd. Talk with the participating vendors to find out how sales are going and if it is worth the cost for a booth space. This is also an opportunity to introduce yourself to other crafters and artists. There may be an opportunity for you to partner with one of them to sell your items in their store or another marketing opportunity may present itself.

3. Consignment. Art stores, craft stores and gift shops are but a few of the local places you may be able to sell your items on consignment. If you're not familiar with the concept, you make a deal with store owners to display and sell your items for you and then you pay them a percentage of the sale. This is a great way to get your items on store shelves without the expense of opening and running your own shop. When you find a shop where your items would fit, contact the owner and inquire about a consignment opportunity. It allows them to freshen and vary their product offering and an opportunity for you to boost sales.

Ideally, a combination of online and offline marketing methods is the most effective way to market your business and sell your arts and crafts. Use one or all three of these offline methods in combination with what you're already doing online and you will see a difference in your business sales.

It's Not Too Late for Mom Thursday

2009-05-07T18:19:00.003-04:00

Mother's Day is Sunday. I went out today to pick up a small gift for my mom. She always says she doesn't want anything, but I feel bad not getting her something. This year, I chose to go green--literally. I bought her an ivy plant she's been coveting and an African violet plant.

I'll also include one of my handmade cards, which she always gushes over. Since I'm in town visiting her, we'll probably catch a bite to eat too. There was talk of heading to The Melting Pot, which is one of our favorites.

So, it's not too late for you to pick up something for your mom. It doesn't have to be anything outlandish or expensive. Sometimes it's the small things that Mom loves the most!

Tell Mom You Love Her Tuesday

2009-05-05T10:22:00.000-04:00

Don't forget Mom. Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 10. Be sure to send or give your mom a card and a gift that shows how much you love and appreciate her. Nothing shows her how much you love her like handmade does.

View the line of handmade cards at www.cardgoddess.com. Check out thousands and thousands of handmade gifts for mom at www.etsy.com.

Remember: Mother's Day is May 10!

3 Ways to Market Your Arts & Crafts Business to Boost Your Sales

2009-04-30T08:30:00.001-04:00

With current economic times being what they are, people are returning to a simpler way of life. They crave the good old-fashioned ways of homemade apple butter to spread on their biscuits, or the smile that creeps across a friend’s face when they give them a handcrafted gift—made just for them. As an artist or crafter, this should cause a big sigh of relief. And believe it or not, even though the news keeps touting the fact that people are cutting back on their spending, there are plenty of people still out there spending a ton of money.

So how do you get your art or craft in front of these credit card wielding, cash spending buyers?

3 easy ways to market your arts and crafts business

1. Write and submit articles. If you have a website or a blog that you are trying to drive traffic to in an effort to boost sales, the number one way is by writing and submitting articles. If writing isn’t your talent, then find a ghostwriter to produce the articles for you. When you write articles that position you as an expert in your field, two things happen. First, you build credibility with your audience, which makes them want to buy from you—to do business with you. Second, search engines love content and links. So when you post an article online, it gets indexed and picked up by the search engines. And the author box at the bottom of your article and on the article submission sites allows you to link to your website and talk about your craft. This is a huge traffic driver in your online marketing strategy.

2. Craft SEO website copy. Artists and crafters focus a lot on the picture portion of their website. While visuals are a must on websites, the copy that is on your website is just as important. It’s imperative that your website pages and product descriptions are rich with keywords—words and phrases that your target audience would use to find you. If you can learn the basics of search engine optimization and create copy for your website that meets these guidelines, your site will get indexed and ranked by the major search engines—increasing your chance to drive more visitors to your website. With more visitors, you have an opportunity to turn their visit into a sale. More opportunities mean more sales. SEO is a talent and if you can’t perfect it, hire a writer who can help.

3. Participate in online forums and groups. Join and network in online groups where your potential buyers are. Find forums that are related to your art or craft. Visit and post comments on related blogs—even if it’s blogs of fellow crafters or artists. When you post comments and questions to forums and blogs, you can usually include your name and link to your website. Again, this allows you to gain attention from your target audience and drive traffic to your site. It can also help with search engine rankings because search engines love links. The more links you have on your website and the more your website is floating around out there, the better chance you have of getting picked up by the search engines.

Using these three tools on a consistent basis (at least 2-3 times per week) will help you to boost your arts and crafts sales. And with most of these options being low cost or no cost, there is no excuse as to why you shouldn’t be using these tools to capture your fair share of the buyers that are spending money with your competitors.

Handwritten Notes in Business: 4 Ways to Use Handwriting to Your Benefit

2009-04-26T09:57:00.004-04:00

Recently, one of my writing and marketing clients asked me what I thought about following up with business leads using a handwritten note instead of an email or expensive direct mail piece. I want to share with you what I said to her because it can be applied to your own business.

For business in general, I wouldn't necessarily use a handwritten note to land new business, but it is a highly appropriate way to say thank you for their business. There are exceptions to this rule, but it only applies to businesses where handmade cards are what they are selling. In this case, sending one of your beautiful creations in the mail to your prospects is a way to showcase your work and capture their attention. If you're selling computer equipment or accounting services, it seems strange to send a handwritten note.

With the widespread use of the computer, most businesses have abandoned the handwritten letter and note. People see anything that is handwritten to be unprofessional. There are a few marketing tactics where handwritten items can used to increase your open rate, however.

Hand address your envelopes
You can make your direct mail piece stand out from the rest by hand addressing your envelopes. Hand addressed envelopes trigger something in the brain that makes it seem more personal than the six or seven other pieces of "junk mail" in the mailbox that are obviously printed by a computer. If your direct mail campaigns consist of thousands of pieces, then this is probably not a wise use of your time or money.

Use a live stamp
A live stamp is a regular first-class mail stamp. It is not the postal meter used in many large offices or mail fulfillment houses that send out your direct mail for you. This may seem tedious if you are sending out large volumes of direct mail, but for a small extra cost, you can request live stamps even if your mail house is sending the mail for you. It increases open rates because recipients perceive it as personal mail rather than "junk mail," which usually winds up in the trash.

Write a personal note
Instead of using wording that is obviously a template or form letter, try to personalize the letter so it seems as if you are talking directly to the recipient. One easy way to do this is to make sure that all of your letters are personalized. Instead of using a letter that starts off, "Dear Client," use their first name instead, "Dear Zoe." You can also use a form letter but alter it slightly to speak to a specific event or industry topic.

For example, if you're a real estate agent mailing a letter to owners who are trying to sell their homes themselves, you may talk about your experience helping a homeowner in the same neighborhood that you were able to help that couldn't sell the home on their own.

Print a teaser on the envelope
Another tactic to increase your open rate is to print a teaser on the outside of your mail piece or envelope. If you can, hand write a note to those you know personally. If it is a prospect that doesn't know you then write or print something that "teases" them into wanting to know what is inside.

While it may not be appropriate for all businesses to use a handwritten note in their marketing efforts, there are ways you can personalize your marketing campaigns to make them seem less like a sales pitch. Think about your audience and your business to come up with creative ways to get the recipients to open what you're sending them.

TGIF Buy One, Get One Free Sale

2009-04-24T09:40:00.001-04:00

I'm so happy it's Friday that I'm offering a buy one, get one free sale today. For every card you order, you'll receive its twin--absolutely free. This only applies to cards that can be duplicated so some restrictions do apply.

Shop the BOGO sale now at www.cardgoddess.com.

Terrific Tuesday

2009-04-21T09:31:00.003-04:00

It's Tuesday and I'm feeling a little punchy today. My punchiness is your gain. The first five orders I receive today at Card Goddess receive a free gift.

It's only for the first five orders and this offer is only good for today. Place an order of any size and you'll receive free gift ($12.95 value).

Hint: Mother's Day is May 10, so you may want to stock up on Mother's Day cards and cards for Mom and buy a set of cards as a gift while you're there.

Random Card Thursday

2009-04-16T10:18:00.001-04:00

Send your congratulations for a new baby boy or to accompany your baby shower gift with this handmade card. "Baby Boy" is spelled out in blue wire and accented with mini blue buttons on this one-of-a-kind bluish gray card. A mini sailboat and baby bottle accents sit in each corner. Mailing envelope included. Blank inside.

Measures 3.75 in. x 5.5 in.

Buy now or view the entire Card Goddess Collection

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T10:15:00.000-04:00

Hoppy Easter from CardGoddess.com

Random Card Thursday

2009-04-02T08:36:00.000-04:00

It's Thursday, which is almost Friday--one of the most popular days of the week. In honor of it almost being Friday, the random card Thursday selection is the Baby Things Card. This is an adorable baby girl card, but can also be created for a boy or an unknown sex baby.

These also make great baby shower invitations or birth announcements. Ask me about how they can include personalized inside verses.

Buy your card or set of cards at www.cardgoddess.com.

Tuesday Card Pick of the Day

2009-03-31T08:32:00.000-04:00

Send your thank you in style. This beautiful watercolor card features a beautiful butterfly. Buy one card or create your own box of 6 or 12 cards.

Perfect for nature lovers and lovers of butterflies.

A little birdie told you?

2009-03-26T10:02:00.001-04:00

Let a little birdie tell a friend how much you care or that you're thinking of them. This adorable card features a dimensional bird house surrounded by spring colored and designed paper and cardstock.

This is a one-of-a-kind card. Buy it now

He is Risen Easter Card

2009-03-24T10:00:00.000-04:00

Celebrate the Easter season with this religious card made from cardstock, stamps, ink, and colored pencils. Buy one or buy a set of 12 cards.

Why buy store bought cards when you can buy handmade ones?

2009-03-22T09:30:00.000-04:00

Store bought cards can be nice, but you always run the chance of giving someone the same card as somebody else does. When you buy and send handmade cards, you're guaranteed to send a card that nobody else will.

I love to send cards, which is what prompted be to start my card making business. It's a great stress reliever to me to create cards. And it puts a smile on my face when one of my cards puts a smile on someone's face. When I send one of my cards to someone, it usually prompts a phone call, or at least an email, to say how adorable the card is and how much they love it.

Check out the full line of Card Goddess cards.

Spring Brings the Birds and the Bees

2009-03-21T11:22:00.004-04:00

I love festive cards--especially ones that combine bright greens, blues, and yellows. That's what inspired me to create this springy card. Everyone knows the birds and the bees comes out in the spring. And this festive bee is waiting to brighten someone's day. Buy one or buy a whole set.

Polka Dot Easter Egg

2009-03-19T10:29:00.001-04:00

I bought Easter egg shaped mini playing cards in the Target dollar section a couple of years ago. With a little glue, a stamp, ink, and paper, it's now an adorable and festive Easter card!

Check out the full line of Easter cards now.

Easter's on its way

2009-03-17T20:51:00.001-04:00

What do you get with paper, stamps, ink, markers, colored pencils, and some glue?

This fabulous handmade Happy Easter card.

Check out the full line of Easter cards now.

Spring is Almost Here

2009-03-03T04:57:00.000-05:00

For all of those that got blasted with the winter storms yesterday and today, keep your head up. Spring is almost here. In honor of you, here is a card featuring a bird and his little birdhouse--even a few flowers for inspiration.

Be inspired

Readers Love Handmade Bookmarks

2009-02-17T09:25:00.002-05:00

Readers seem to love my handmade bookmarks, and the wish shoe well bookmark is one of my best sellers. Bookmarks make great gifts for people who love to read. You can also attach the bookmark to the outside of a wrapped present to decorate the outside--especially if the treat on the inside is the latest book written by their favorite author.

Happy reading and happy bookmarking!

Buy the Wish Shoe Well Bookmark now

View other handmade bookmarks

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T06:04:00.000-05:00

Personalized Baby Girl's 1st Birthday Card

2009-02-12T08:55:00.005-05:00

My mom was heading to a baby's first birthday party and she needed a card to go along with the present. With some letter stamps to spell out the baby's name and my birthday candle stamp, some ink, markers, and colored pencils, I created this adorable pink and green combo card for a personalized 1st birthday card.

Everyone at the party loved it! This is the girl version, but I have a boy version made with blue and red to replace the girlie pink and lime green.

Check out the girl card

Check out the boy card

See the full line of birthday cards

Handsome in Blue--For Baby Boy Card

2009-02-10T14:41:00.000-05:00

I bought this beautiful blue and white polka dot ribbon at a garage sale. Since I seemed to have a ton of baby girl cards made, I was looking to make some baby boy cards. With a stamp of my "For Baby" stamp in blue ink, this card was born.

Isn't is adorable?

Buy now

See the entire baby line of handmade cards

Personalize Your Love

2009-02-05T10:37:00.000-05:00

This card allows you to personalize your love for someone special. This card says Kristie (me) Loves Carlos (my Valentine), but your card can say anything you want it to (within reason).

Buy the card now

View all of the handmade love cards available at www.cardgoddess.com

Animal Print Valentine's Day Card

2009-02-04T10:31:00.000-05:00

First, I have to say how much I love Target. Then I have to say how much I love that dollar section they have at the front of the store. If that section doesn't suck you in to spend money then I don't know what does.

This is precisely what happened that led me to this embellishment--the animal print heart with an arrow through it. I turned it into a somewhat "racy" Valentine's Day Card.

Buy the card now (it's a one-of-a-kind)

See the full line of handmade love cards available at www.cardgoddess.com

Be Mine Valentine's Day Card

2009-02-03T10:00:00.001-05:00

I picked up these sticker letters somewhere and I had them stuffed with my card supplies forever. One day, I was thinking about what I could do with them, and it happened to be around Valentine's Day. Voila! The Be Mine card was born.

Buy a card now

See the full line of handmade Valentine's Day cards

CSPIA Video on Indie 5

2009-02-02T10:46:00.001-05:00

Please check out the CSPIA video on Indie 5 and spread the word!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WS_-zG2S00

My Valentine Heart Handmade Card

2009-01-29T10:23:00.000-05:00

I love embellishments, so when I got this one (from I don't know where) I had a good time figuring out how to use it on a card. One of my favorite color combos is pinks and browns, so I matched a variety of shades of these colors together to make this adorbale card filled with Valentine's Day wishes.

Buy it now

View all of the Valentine's Day cards

Happy Valentine's Day Handmade Card

2009-01-28T10:18:00.002-05:00

Keeping with the simple, yet elegant theme, this handmade card includes layers of red and white cardstock stamped with "happy valentine's day" in red ink.

Learn more about this card.

View the full line of handmade Valentine's Day cards.

Watercolor My Heart Handmade Valentine's Day Card

2009-01-27T11:51:00.004-05:00

Sometimes the most simply stated of cards portrays your message loud and clear. I made this for my own Valentine last year and wanted to share it with others to offer to their Valentines.

Learn more about the card

Shop for other handmade Valentine's Day cards

Shop for handmade Love cards

Show Some Love for a Map Lover

2009-01-22T11:26:00.003-05:00

To add to the post from yesterday, here is another card you can use to show your love to map collectors, map lovers, and map aficionados.

Buy it now

Learn about the 2009 Miami International Map Fair (the 2008 event inspired the creation of this card).

Check out other handmade love cards

I Map Heart You Card

2009-01-20T15:55:00.003-05:00

This card has an interesting story attached to it. I used to work at a museum that held the Miami International Map Fair. Map dealers come from all over the world to share their wares, and map aficionados flock to the special event to buy maps, have appraisals done on maps they own, and to buy map related items. During the Map Fair, I sold cards in the gift shop, so that is why you'll see some cards on my site that are made from maps.

Big sellers for map lovers and collectors!

Buy one card or a whole set at www.cardgoddess.com

Cactus Love Card: Love Desert Style

2009-01-13T09:45:00.000-05:00

The southwest region of the country should feel some love from this cactus love card created in their honor. Two cacti joined by a little red heart helps you to express your love desert style. It's a simply stated, but adorable card that is sure to be loved by your loved one.

Check out the Cactus Love Card

or my full selection of love cards. Specifically on the hunt for Valentine's Day cards? No problem. CardGoddess.com offers a full selection of cards created for the day of love--Valentine's Day!

AARP Holds a Call for Artists

2009-01-12T09:32:00.000-05:00

If you're an amateur artist, and a member of AARP, now is your chance to shine! AARP is holding a call for artists to put together its 2010 calendar, titled "There's Nowhere I'd Rather Be." Fourteen paintings will be chosen. Winners will be announced at the AARP national convention in Las Vegas (October 22-24, 2009).

Some of the rules and guideline:

Eligible works of art must be amateur oil, pastel, acrylic, or watercolor works
Must be an original work of art
Must be an AARP member

Read complete rules and to obtain an entry form. Call 1.888.687.2277 for more information.

Now That the Holidays Are Over, Love is in the Air

2009-01-09T11:34:00.000-05:00

My fiance (like most men) thinks that Valentine's Day is a holiday exploited by the greeting card, candy, and flower industries. He believes that if you love someone, it is something that should be celebrated every day and not just once a year. Don't misunderstand me, I still get flowers and a card, or some kind of trinket on the day because he knows he'll be in big trouble otherwise.

Whether you choose to celebrate Valentine's Day with your loved one or want to send a love card just because, I'll be featuring a variety of love cards from now until the big love fest.

May you all feel the joy of love in your heart!

The Art of a Handwritten Note

2009-01-07T11:23:00.004-05:00

Born in the 70s and being a child of the 80s and 90s meant that I hand wrote thank you cards, letters, birthday cards, etc. Growing up, my grandmother lived in New York and I lived in Florida. Every week I received a handwritten letter or card from my Grammie (as we affectionately called her). She'd ramble on for one or two pages about everything she had done that week and the "scandals" going on in the family. I would sit down and hand write a letter back to her (maybe not once a week, but as often as it struck me to do so). When my grandmother died, I was an adult, but we were still handwriting letters back and forth before she passed away. I even wrote a last letter to her that I read at the funeral and placed in her casket.

With the invention of computers (which I love), many have lost the sense of what a handwritten note, letter, or card can do for someone. It's not the same to receive an electronic greeting card. Maybe it's knowing that someone loves and cares about you enough to sit down with a pen and a piece of paper and jot down their thoughts. The invention of the computer has met many of our needs, but our emotional needs are still best met with a handwritten note from our family and friends.

Etsy Greetings: Thank You Card Promotion

2009-01-05T11:18:00.001-05:00

Crafters: Tell Me What Inspires You

2009-01-02T22:45:00.000-05:00

I'd love to hear from my fellow crafters about what inspires them to create their art--whatever it may be. Leave a comment here and share your inspiration with others. You may inspire others in the process!

I'll start. See my comment below.

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T10:32:00.000-05:00

Cuddling Baby Moving & Clearance Sale

2008-12-29T10:00:00.001-05:00

Looking for handmade baby slings, carriers, burp cloths and more? Check out the adorable variety of Cuddling Baby Mei Tai baby items. The best part is that everything is on sale because Cuddling Baby Mei Tai is moving and she's trying to clear out her inventory.

Shop now and save.

Come back when you're done and leave a comment about what you bought.

Send a Stunning Thank You Card for Your Holiday Gifts

2008-12-26T08:41:00.004-05:00

You received a bunch of wonderful gifts from friends and family, and now it's time to send out all of your thank you cards. But why just send the same old thank you notes that are produced in mass amounts? Choose a set of individual thank you cards based on the recipient's likes, while paying less than you would for store bought ones.

Create your own set of handmade thank you cards. You can choose to create a set of the same card, or choose a set of cards that are all completely different.

Ice Skate & Snowflake Card

2008-12-22T09:52:00.003-05:00

In honor of the ice storm that struck Northern Virginia yesterday (where I am visting with my parents), I'm featuring my ice skating card today! This glittery ice skate die cut sits on an ice blue card and comes complete with one plastic snowflake. This simple but beautiful card is one of my wintery favorites.

This is a one-of-a-kind card so you won't find another one like it--anywhere.

Check it out now.

And the winner is...

2008-12-17T11:13:00.003-05:00

Kristal from Tiny Bird Arts, who renamed my Martini Happy Hour Card, You Deserve a Good Stiff Drink Card. I love it Kristal, so you're the winner of a $15 gift certificate to www.cardgoddess.com. As a matter of fact, the name made me laugh so hard that tears streamed down my face. And in honor of Kristal's creativity, I've renamed the card, You Deserve a Good Stiff Drink. Cheers to you, Kristal.

Be sure to visit Kristal's site to shop for modern, personalized note cards, stationary, and invitations www.tinybirdarts.etsy.com. Kristal also blogs about her beautiful handmade creations, sales, and more at www.tinybirdarts.blogspot.com.

Give Kristal some love today and visit her store and her blog!

Wacky Wednesday Giveaway

2008-12-03T06:43:00.003-05:00

Enter to win a $15 gift certificate to www.cardgoddess.com. So what do you have to do? Go to my website www.cardgoddess.com and pick a card you like and give the card a new title. Post the current name of the card and your suggested card name in the comments for a chance to win.

Contest dates: December 3-15

My favorite new title will be announced and posted on December 17. I may even change the title of the card on my website (in your honor).

So get on your creative thinking cap and start naming! Cody (in the pic) is already thinking, so you better hurry up and get your best title in.

Cyber Monday Sale

2008-12-01T10:12:00.002-05:00

Hopefully, you all got a great jump on your holiday shopping by taking advantage of the Black Friday sales. Now it's time to continue your great money savings run with online sales for Cyber Monday. I want to offer all of the readers of my blog a chance to save on their holiday card purchases.

All purchases made on www.cardgoddess.com today receive free U.S. shipping and a free set of gift tags for holiday gift giving. Mention this blog post in the notes to seller section during checkout for

Shop now and save www.cardgoddess.com.

Black Friday Sales List--Handmade Creation Sales All in One Place

2008-11-28T00:00:00.022-05:00

Welcome to the Black Friday Sale Extravaganza, where you'll find handmade items on sale--all in one place!

Roll up your sleeves, get out your credit card, and start shopping and saving.

Nature Manipulated
www.naturemanipulated.etsy.com
Free Shipping or 15% off. Enter "TURKEY" and which discount you prefer in the message to seller and you will be refunded through PayPal.

Lemon Tree Studio
www.lemontreestudio.etsy.com
20% off

Wine Makers Sister
www.winemakerssister.etsy.com
10% off 1 item, 15% off 2 items, 20% off 3 or more items. Free shipping with purchase of $75 or more.

Captured Time Books
www.capturedtimebooks.etsy.com
Free shipping on orders over $25

NYPapercrafter
www.nypapercrafter.etsy.com
20% off all items in shop on 11/28/08. To be refunded through Paypal. (does not apply to postage)

Macaroni and Glue
www.macaroniandglue.etsy.com
Take $2 off any boxed holiday card set and get free shipping when you
add any boxed notecard set to your holiday card order. See shop
announcement for details.

Bellis Studios
www.bellisstudios.etsy.com
Monogram note cards are on sale for $6.50, normally $10.50. Great for
teacher gifts and stocking stuffers.

ScrapbookHeaven
www.scrapbookheaven.etsy.com
Buy one get one half price on ENTIRE shop just for this blog's readers. Please put BOGO in "Notes to Sellers."

GE Designs
www.gedesigns.etsy.com
Buy one notecard set, get two extra notecards for Free! Friday
through Sunday!

Adore By Nat
www.adorebynat.etsy.com
30% off on everything in my store until the 30th of Nov. Mention "Black Friday" and I'll do the refund.

Old Lady Bern
www.oldladybern.etsy.com
Free shipping from Friday, Nov 28 thru Sunday nite, Nov 30th!

Galacards
Galacards.etsy.com
20% off everything in shop (excluding custom orders) 11/28 - 11/30
Mention "Gobble Gobble" and a refund will be issued.

Kelly Bees Place
www.kellybeesplace.etsy.com
Free shipping and 20% off Christmas cards thru Sunday Nov 30. Just mention Black Friday and I'll send a corrected invoice thru paypal.

HaloDesigns
www.halodesigns.etsy.com
Buy one get one half off in the whole shop and free shipping on orders over $25

Mindy and Lola
www.mindyandlola.etsy.com
Everything is FREE Freight and Buy one and get one 1/2 off thru Tuesday AND $1 of every sale will go to our local toys for tots!

Tiny Bird Arts
www.tinybirdarts.etsy.com
Buy one set of Christmas cards, get a set of monogram cards for 50% off! All ornaments sets are 40% off. U.S. purchases over $35 Priority Mail upgrade.

Caras Scrap n Stamp Art
www.carasscrapnstampart.etsy.com
BETWEEN 11/28-12/1 MIDNIGHT EST ANY PURCHASE OVER $10.00 IS 15% OFF. ALL PURCHASES OVER $50.00 ARE 20% OFF. USE CODE BFCM IN THE NOTES TO SELLER. PLEASE WAIT FOR A REVISED INVOICE BEFORE MAKING A PAYMENT. HAPPY SHOPPING!!*****

Card Goddess
www.cardgoddess.com
Save 20% on all Hanukkah & Christmas cards and free shipping on all U.S. orders!Miscelena Handmade Papercrafts
www.miscelena.etsy.com
Save 10% off all puchases *and* free shipping on sales over $20.00 (product cost only)--pay via PayPal and the discount will be refunded!

Made by Moms
www.madebymoms.etsy.com
All gift sets on sale, FREE US shipping, and free goodie bag with every purchase.

A Punkin Card Company
www.apunkincardcompany.etsy.com
20% off your entire order

AJKArtistry's Cards, Invites and More...
www.ajkartistry.etsy.com
Mention BLACKFRI in the notes to seller for 20% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER!!(11/28/08 only, custom orders excluded. Difference will be refunded via paypal).

Melissa Kate
www.melissakate.com
Starting 11/28/08 and ending 12/1/08 buy three cards and get the 4th free!
Buy any Holiday card set and get a free set of 10 gift tags!
Let me know what style of card or tags you'd like in the notes to seller.

Innermuse Jewelry
www.innermusejewelry.etsy.com
10% off any single item purchase and 25% off the purchase of two
or more items! Shipping is free to US and Canadian Postal Addresses!

RandomScraps
www.randomscraps.etsy.com
Free U.S. shipping on all cards (not valid on memberships or decor)

LiSo Cards
www.lisocards.etsy.com
Free shipping on any purchase made on 11/28/08! Refund will be made via Paypal.

Cards by Emily
www.cardsbyemily.etsy.com
FREE shipping on everything until November 30th!

Cardwear
www.cardwear.etsy.com
Free U.S. & Canadian shipping. Reduced shipping everywhere else.

Black Friday Sales

2008-11-26T08:18:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and after stuffing ourselves with tons of yummy food, we need the craziness of Black Friday shopping to work off the extra calories. Most of all, it allows us to get a jump on our holiday shopping. Come by my shop www.cardgoddess.com for 20% savings on Hanukkah and Christmas cards. I'm also offering free shipping on all U.S. orders.

Swing by the blog on Friday because I'll have a list of Black Friday sales being offered by other handmade artists.

I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you have a lot to be grateful for!

And the winner is...

2008-11-24T09:06:00.003-05:00

Kam A. from Mosinee, WI.

Kam is the winner of my Carnival drawing. She's won a set of six handmade Joy cards (complete with mailing envelopes). And what does Kam have to say about being the winner?

"Thank you so much! I love the gold scroll accents! Your cards are beautiful!"

Thank you, Kam and I hope you and the people that receive your cards love them.

Now for some love for Kam. Visit Kam's blog and check out what she's about--a mom of two great boys that shares recipes, ideas, product reviews, opinions, and more.

Blueberries & Peanut Butter

Walter Reed Red Cross "Holiday Mail Call"

2008-11-20T14:09:00.001-05:00

GREAT IDEA!

When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to a wounded soldier or one of the many men or women that serve our country. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get.

When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:

Red Cross Holiday Mail Call
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791‐5456

Please pass this information on to friends and family.

If for some reason you don't do Christmas just send a thank you card during this time of the season to thank these fine men and women who have sacrificed so much for you to have the privilege to live in American and be free to choose how you want to live and worship!

For more information on the program and to read the guidelines, visit the Red Cross Holiday Mail Call Program flyer.

Consider sending a handmade card to your Christmas card or other holiday card list. Choose from one of the many handmade greeting creators of the EtsyGreetings Team by visiting the group's blog www.etsygreetings.blogspot.com.

It's Carnival Time (Win Free Stuff--Giveaways)!

2008-11-19T07:30:00.007-05:00

Haven't you always loved going to the carnival? Now is your chance to join in the fun of the EtsyGreetings Carnival--and the best part is, it's all online! OK. So there's no cotton candy, but there are a lot of great prizes to enjoy (and they are all better than those stuffed animals or the goldfish in a bowl).

I'm giving away a set of six handmade Joy cards* and mailing envelopes(see pic above). All you have to do to enter** is leave a comment here on my blog between today and tomorrow. It's that simple, so comment away!

*If you are of another religion, and are the winner, we'll make arrangements for you to receive a set of cards appropriate for your religion.
**Winner will be posted on the blog Monday, November 24, so stay tuned.

See the other bloggers that are participating in the carnival:

Joy Notepad

2008-11-17T10:45:00.003-05:00

I love paper and I love to make lists! My continuous need to carry a notepad in my purse to "jot things down" is what inspired me to create a mini-notepad for the holiday season. This lime green, plastic cover mini-pad comes complete with a small medallion that says, "joy." And with peppermint candy knot bows decorating the spiral top, can you say cute as a button?

Perfect for keeping your Christmas wish list or shopping list!

Check out this notepad now.

See the other notepads available.

Merry Christmas Card Set

2008-11-14T09:00:00.003-05:00

Sometimes it's nice to send your Merry Christmas wishes in a very simple way, which is the inspiration behind this handmade red and green Merry Christmas card.

You can buy a single card, a set of 6 cards, or a set of 12 cards.

Check out the set of 12 cards now.

View the full selection of Christmas cards instead.

Happy Hanukkah Dreidel Cards

2008-11-10T10:04:00.003-05:00

I used to be an event planner and when I closed my business, I had all of this party stuff left over. I sold a lot of it, but still had some items here and there. All of the products were brand new and unopened, so I took inventory of the supplies I had left one day to see what I may be able to repurpose into a card. Since I only have a few Hanukkah stamps, when I caught a glimpse of the packages of plastic party dreidels I had, I thought perfect!

I attached a dreidel and stamped Happy Hanukkah--voila--a beautiful and simple Hanukkah card! The card pictured is blue, but I can also make them with a red dreidel, a yellow one, or a green one. Blue seems to be the most popular because it's a common Hanukkah color. These cards do fit in mailing envelopes (which are included) but because of the dimension, it may be better if you are delivering these cards in person or attaching them to a gift. You can mail them, but I would suggest using a small bubble mailer to protect the dreidel.

For all those that celebrate--Happy Hanukkah!

Leaf Print Card--Celebrate Fall!

2008-10-28T12:16:00.003-04:00

The deep rich reds and bright golds of turning leaves in the fall is so pretty! And it's the inspiration for the creation of this leaf print card. It's a multipurpose card because you can use it as a just because card, to celebrate the coming of fall, or as a Thanksgiving card.

Buy an individual card (up to 5 cards) $3 each
Buy a set of 6 cards $13.50
Buy a set of 12 cards $27.25

Raking Leaves Thanksgiving Card

2008-10-24T09:05:00.003-04:00

I found these embellishments at a local craft store--that unfortunately doesn't sell them anymore. Since I live in Florida, we don't really have changing leaves in fall, so I think this inspired me to make this card even more. I love all the different colors of the leaves. I placed the embellishments on this natural colored card and used my chocolate brown ink and Happy Thanksgiving stamp to give it a voice.

I have this card in a limited quantity--only 12 cards are left for sale. You can buy 1-5 cards for $3 each, get a set of 6 for $13.50 or all 12 for $27.25.

Buy an individual card

Buy a set of 6 cards

Buy a set of 12 cards

It's Not Too Late to Buy a Halloween Card

2008-10-22T11:00:00.001-04:00

Choose from 150 cards in one spot!

Halloween Mini Notepad

2008-10-15T07:30:00.004-04:00

I went to Mt. Dora (probably about a year ago). It's this quaint little town in Central Florida--north of Orlando. They had a huge art car parade, where people who decorate their cars with art, well, are in a parade. So, anyway, they have a bunch of little boutiques in the historic downtown district and I got inspired to start making these little notebooks from the tourist shop there that sold something similar.

The logic behind my Halloween notepad is that you can give it as a treat and there is no chance of getting cavities from it!

Happy Halloween

Get into the Halloween Spirit with a Little Trick or Treating Hunt

2008-10-14T11:30:00.003-04:00

Halloween is only a few weeks away so it’s time to get into the Halloween Spirit!
The Esty Greetings team (on www.etsy.com) is hosting a scavenger hunt October 14-20, in our member’s shops. And since you’re never too old to trick or treat, we are inviting you all to join in!

This is a fun, easy trick or treating experience, heavy on the “treat.” Everyone who finishes Trick or Treating through the shops will receive a coupon good for free shipping.* At the end of each week, the coupon holders will automatically be entered into a drawing for a pack of cards that has been donated by all our talented Etsy Greetings Team members!

Below is a list of this week’s participating sellers and just below that is a list of Halloween words that can be found in the listed shops. These words will be found in the TITLE of the listing.

What you need to do is visit each shop, find a listing with ONE of the words and click on the item (each shop name can only be used for one Halloween word). Note the listing number (found on the right side of the page, under the heading “additional item info”).

Once you have trick or treated at each shop, please contact SarahKatesKreations (http://www.SarahKatesKreations.etsy.com) with your list. She will email you your coupon and enter you in the drawing for a pack of cards!

Here is the list of participating shops...

AScrappyDesign
BeverlyDyer
CapeCard
CardGoddess
CardsByJenna
HaleysHandmades
NYPapercrafter
RavynFaire
RoseBushDesigns
Southernscraps
StelieDesigns

Here is a list of our Halloween Words...

bats
black
boo
candy corn
cat
fall
frightful
halloween
moon
spooky
witch

Happy Haunt.... I mean Hunting!

And please feel free to visit our blog at http://www.etsygreetings.blogspot.com and learn more about all of the talented and wonderful Etsy Greetings Team members. We're giving Hallmark a run for their money!

*Free shipping from participating Etsy Greetings Team shops. Please visit each participating shop for more specific information on how they will be honoring the free shipping coupon.

EtsyGreetings Team Featured One of My Halloween Cards

2008-10-13T10:35:00.001-04:00

Check it out here:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=14658

My card is the one in the bottom right hand corner! Happy shopping and Happy Halloween.

Turkey Happy Thanksgiving Card

2008-10-08T10:30:00.003-04:00

I love to make cards, but I love to find ways that I can help to save the environment too. So one of my favorite things to do is to find ways to make cards out of things that I already have or things that I receive on wrapped presents, etc. For example, on this Turkey Happy Thanksgiving card, the turkeys are embellishments that I had from a pack of Thanksgiving place cards.

Send your Thanksgiving wishes to family and friends with this card made from recycled art!

I have 5 of these cards available at www.cardgoddess.com and they're on sale for $2.75 each instead of the $3 each I normally sell them for. Mention my blog when you place your order and I'll refund your shipping amount to you. Buy great cards on sale and get free shipping. What a deal!

Pumpkins & Candy Corns Halloween Card

2008-10-06T18:18:00.003-04:00

Black and orange--my high school colors and the colors of Halloween. I combined two Halloween icons--pumpkins and candy corns--in this Halloween theme colored card. Tell someone they give you a warm glow inside with this very festive card.

All Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah cards are on sale so check them out now www.cardgoddess.com.

Trick or Treat Handmade Halloween Card

2008-10-04T09:46:00.003-04:00

So who doesn't love to sit down with a huge bag of candy corns on Halloween and munch out? It was always one of my favorites as a kid, so I created this card in tribute to all of the cavities I got from eating all of those sugary snacks! It's fun festive, and simple, which is how I love to make my cards.

The best part is that all of my Halloween cards are on sale right now. And instead of giving your nieces and nephews or your own kids a sugary snack that is just going to end them up at the dentist, get a card, shove some money in it, make them say, "Trick or treat," and treat them with a handmade card and some cold hard cash!

www.cardgoddess.com

By the way, happy World Card Making Day!

World Premiere of "The Rant"

2008-10-03T07:10:00.000-04:00

Until October 26, 2008
New Theatre
4120 Laguna Street
Coral Gables, FL
305.443.5909 (Box Office)

One crime, four points of view; the truth itself is a kind of bias. A New York City police officer shoots and kills an unarmed sixteen year-old boy. The investigator assigned to the case must wade through prejudice, deceit, and a volley of anonymous threats to find out where culpability really lies. Andrew Case's new play premieres at New Theatre beginning October 2. Performances are Thurs - Sat at 8 p.m. and Sun at 1 p.m. Individual tickets are $35 and $40 with a special flex-pass for 5 shows available for $150.

LoweDown Happy Hour

2008-10-02T07:07:00.000-04:00

Thursday, October 2
7-9 pm
Lowe Art Museum at UM
1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables
305.284.5422

This month's LoweDown Happy Hour at the Lowe Art Museum features gallery tours and Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian Art Curator, Catharine H. Roehrig, speaking about Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, enjoy a flamenco guitarist, tapas and cocktails provided by PAMA Spirits, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly and AMC Liaisons. $10 Admission; Free for Lowe Members. Pictured: Fernando Botero; Las Frutas, 1964.

New World School of Arts Orchestra Concert

2008-10-01T07:05:00.000-04:00

Thursday, October 2
7 pm
Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus Auditorium
300 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Room 1261, Miami
305.237.3559

Conducted by Alfred Gershfeld, the New World School of the Arts High School Orchestra opens this year's season with the 2nd movement of Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 4" and Rimsky-Korsakov's "Capriccio Espagnol." Performing alongside the group of 55 musicians will be the String Quartet, also from the NWSA High School division, coached by Aaron Merritt, and the High School Brass Quintet, coached by Lee Morrison.

Cabaret Live Performances

2008-09-30T07:03:00.000-04:00

October 1-11
Jerry Herman Ring Theatre at UM
1312 Miller Drive, Coral Gables
305.284.3355 (Box Office)

Jerry Herman Ring Theatre kicks off its new season with the multiple Tony Award-winning musical Cabaret, a ground-breaking Broadway show that seamlessly blends together elements of music, comedy, sex and drama. Set against the dark backdrop of pre-World-War-II Berlin, the action takes place in the seedy Kit Kat Klub where pimps, prostitutes and brash showgirls would rather drink, party and dance than face up to the growing menace around them. The show's score was lauded by the N.Y. Times as one of the few Broadway scores "with the kind of lingering power that comes from pungent musicality tied to memorable emotions." Performances run throught October 11. Weds - Sat at 8 p.m. and Sat - Sun at 2 p.m. Tickets are priced at $18-$22 general admission; $16-$18 seniors and UM faculty, staff and alumni; and $8-$10 for students. Warning: Contains strong adult language and themes.

Murray Hill Methodist Arts & Crafts Festival--Jacksonville, FL

2008-09-29T08:57:00.005-04:00

Thursday, October 2
9am - 1pm
Murray Hill Methodist
Corner of Edgewood & College
4101 College St
Jacksonville, FL 32205
904.387.4406

Come out on Thursday, October 2 from 9am - 1pm to the annual arts and crafts festival held at Murray Hill Methodist Church. Visit booths of all kinds including the Card Goddess booth, where you can buy handmade cards, notepads, gift tags, bookmarks, and more. Get a jump on your holiday shopping and enjoy a festive and fun atmosphere to be enjoyed by all ages.

Stop by my booth, tell me you came to the event because of my blog post, and receive a free gift! Ask for Kristie. See you there! Not in the Jacksonville area? That's ok. Shop www.cardgoddess.com for all your greeting card and handmade paper creations needs. All Halloween, Thanksgivings, Christmas and Hanukkah cards are on sale! Shop now and save.

MOCA's Contemporary Art Boot Camp Lecture Series

2008-09-29T06:59:00.000-04:00

October 1, 15, 22 and 29
7 pm
Museum of Contemporary Art
770 N.E. 125th Street, North Miami
305.893.6211, Ext. 25

MOCA presents a 4-lecture series just in time for the new season of art exhibitions and fairs. This intensive training course introduces the essential issues that dominate art today. Led by Dr. Adrienne Von Lates, Education Curator, the lectures are designed to give participants the knowledge they need to interpret and appreciate art from 1990 to today. Participants will receive a list of artists and a bibliography, including online resources, to learn more about the artists or themes. No previous knowledge of contemporary art is required. This week's topics are: Modernist forms, political content; humor; the pathetic aesthetic; small scale, big ideas; sewing, knitting, crafting; childhood revisited. Each lecture is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Seating is limited so reservations are recommended.

Doo-Wop Boys Gone Wild!

2008-09-28T06:56:00.000-04:00

Sunday, September 28
3 pm
Arts at St. Johns
4760 Pine Tree Drive, Miami Beach
786.201.7727

"Doo-Wop Boys Gone Wild!" is the newest music revue from Arts at St. Johns' Artistic Director David Kingery. The show, a tribute to the Doo-Wop groups of the 50s and 60s including The Coasters, The Platters, The Four Seasons, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Temptations and many more, will have you clapping, snapping and tapping along. Four great male singers (including Kingery himself) will croon and bop at this one-of-a-kind production only Arts at St. Johns can produce. Tickets are $15 if purchased online and for seniors and students; $20 at the door. Or bring your "quartet" to see St. Johns' "quartet" - pay for 3 tickets and the 4th is free!

Dark Continents Exhibit

2008-09-27T06:47:00.000-04:00

September 25 thru November 9, 2008
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
770 N.E. 123rd Street, North Miami
305.893.6211

MOCA's new exhibition "Dark Continents" revisits the modernist fascination with tropical locales and indigenous people prevalent during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Artists in the exhibition examine ideas and aesthetics that were popular during this time period and relate them to current views by challenging stereotypical relationships that associate femininity with nature.

Pictured: Detail from Paulina Olowska, Zofia Stryjenska, 2008, gouache on canvas, 90.55 x 157.48 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures, New York.

Jazz at MOCA

2008-09-26T06:52:00.000-04:00

Friday, September 26
8 pm
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
770 N.E. 125th Street, North Miami
305.893.6211

Legendary percussionist Sammy Figueroa and his Latin Jazz Explosion will perform at Jazz at MOCA, a free concert held the last Friday of every month - rain or shine - in front of the museum. Figueroa is recognized as one of the music world's most sought after percussionists, providing the framework for hundreds of hits. He has played with numerous distinguished jazz, Latin and pop performers in his career including Miles Davis, Dave Sanborn, Quincy Jones, Marc Anthony, Maria Carey, and Whitney Houston. In 2002 he debuted his own band—Sammy Figueroa and his Latin Jazz Explosion, an ensemble that fuses different rhythm forms with Latin sounds to create an exuberant and joyful display of high-energy jazz. Jazz at MOCA is sponsored by Starbucks Coffee Company and the City of North Miami. MOCA's galleries will be open by donation from 7 to 10 p.m.