Feb 28, 2009

Don't Forget Mother this year...


Tell Mom how much you really care and appreciate her...
Lilac with flower print and purple ribbon.
Optional blank inside with envelop.
'Thank You from the bottom of my heart!'
click here to purchase and for more details.

Feb 17, 2009

Easter Bunny is coming...


Easter is coming and everyone loves the Easter Bunny!
These are great note cards to give to friends and family and children too!
Get yours NOW!
A 4 or 8 card set or just buy 1...

St Patty's Day Note Cards

NOW available...
KISS I'M...Irish Note Card
and
Pot O' Gold Note Card











Featuring red lip imprint on white card stocked raised 1/4"
off green card stock surface syamped with black dye-based ink,
'KISS ME...I'M Irish!'

Click here to purchase this card.







Our second design... 'Pot O' Gold'
on green crad stock layered with white card stock rasied 1/4" off the surface. Inside is blank.





Click Here to purchase this card.



Feb 13, 2009

the History of Valentine's Day and that start of the Valentine's Day Card...

Every February around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. Handmade valentine cards made of lace, ribbon, featuring cupid and hearts spread through America in 1850 by way of printer/artist Esther Howland, who was among the first to publish and sell Valentines in the USA.


So now the question remains, who is St Valentine?

The Catholic Church recognizes 3 different saints named Valentine or Valentinus. One was a priest in Rome, one a bishop in Terni, and the third Valentine, nothing much is known of except that he met his end in Africa. All three were martyred on February 14th.


The most commonly know Valentine is that of St. Valentine who was imprisoned and fell in love with a girl, who is believed to be the his jailers daughter who visited him during his confinement. History has it the he wrote her a letter before his death which he signed, ‘From your Valentine’, an expression still used today.


Some believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated mid-February to commemorate the anniversary of St. Valentine’s death, about 270 A.D. Ancient Rome considered February the official beginning of spring and considered it a time of purification. Roman priest would gather in a sacred cave where infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to be cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priest would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. The boys then ran around town gently slapping both women and crops with goat hide. Later the women would place their names in an urn and the city’s bachelors would choose a name from the urn and become paired for the year. These matches often ended in marriage.


Approximately 85% off all valentines are purchased by women. Valentine’s Day is also celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the UK, France and Australia. The oldest known Valentine Card is on display at the British Museum.

Moving On Up… To the East Side!

I am so siked right now. 2009 has, thus far, been good to me in so many different ways.
Though I have not jumped out of the roof with sales, I have made great ground coverage with exposure.


One day, as I always do, I was in the forum section of Etsy.com’s Business Topics. I found a thread where one seller had seen their sales rise due to a press release in their local newspaper. I was amazed by it personally, not because I don’t think that seller was worthy but because hey that’s FREE advertising! So I contacted that seller and asked for a little assistance on how my press release should be look, feel and sound. After a day I finally got mines down on paper. My next step was to find out who to send it to. When I called my local newspaper, The Journal News, I was shocked to get an email and phone call reply that said, “We are interested in doing a story piece on you and your cards, please let us know when you are available…”

You can image how shocked I was. I was siked…


Long story short I contacted them back and a few days later they were at my home and 2 after that I was in the ‘Life & Styles’ section of the paper plus had a small piece on their blog. I was totally happy with just that, even if nothing else happened this year. It’s not everyday a small-small business man gets a 2 page piece in the paper and not making a $100,000 a year. *That article brought in a few sales and an email from the local news station, News 12, editor/producer. Now that’s when I hit the roof, because I thought maybe the next I would be struck by lighting. I mean like so many goods things at one time…It was weird for me. They said they wanted to do a piece on me for Valentine’s Day. Of course I said heck yeah…Well the next week Tuesday, February 10 they came to my home and later that night I was on the 10 to 1030 pm slot, with a few other local shops but I was there and so were my cards. It was amazing and such a joy to know I was getting the exposure I so desperately needed and felt I deserved. *I have not gotten any orders from that yet but I am hopeful.


My point here is that no matter as long you try, be patient and work hard, things will happen. My new motto, which is old but I changed the meaning, is P.U.S.H. ‘Push Until Something Happens’ you have to keep pushing yourself and never quit on yourself, because if you quit on you then you can’t expect anyone else to stand by your side while you sit around feeling down and out.

Feb 8, 2009

80's Theme Party Invitations

I did this 1980's Birthday Party theme invitations for a customer in New York.
Her hubby was into break dancing, loves the 80's and sported a jeri curl...

This is the inside, where I felt it would be great to do a scroll.
You know like ol' skool graffiti
when an artist signed his/her name they would add
this small paper/scroll in the bottom corner...

I thought it a great idea to raise the main guy off the cover about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. All colors are aqua pencil. Complete design was done by La-Mar. To see different invitations La-Mar has done and that are available for sale please visit the Handcrafted by LaMar Gallery...

Feb 5, 2009

Valetines Day is coming....

Here's a great last minute gift package....






Yes, that's right o' school on them...
Plush Teddy Bear with a big red I LOVE YOU heart
and a card all for $7 now available at
you still have time to get it there before Valentines....

New Gift Card Idea...



Pink Flowers and Butterfly's Birthday Card and Headband. This and other sets like it can be purchased only from Handcrafted by LaMar's on-line boutique...

Headband: Callidoras

Card: Handcrafted by LaMar