Que my parents - being very worried about me and money, me- slightling worrying, can I pay for everything I have grown accustomed to. Let's not forget about the holiday I had paid half the deposit for and still needing flights.

I'm consciously tracking all my finances, selling some old things on eBay, as I do have a lot of clothes I no longer wear and niknaks.  To go with this, I have also followed a few steps to ensure that I am as successful as I can be.

1. Make a Plan

Do you know your finances?

What income streams are working?

whats working in your business?

What can be improved/binned?

As you might have seen in my previous blog post, I have made a bucket list of bite-sized? (not really, but things I want to achieve this year). I also make a quarterly plan of something I want to achieve in three months, that I know will push me and my business forward.

This quarter, I wanted to use up a lot of the materials I have collected over the years. They are using up space in my tiny box room. I spent money on them (and can sell them for more as a finished product). I still haven't really started this, but I still have 20 days to go.

In the last few weeks, I have been focusing on all the admin tasks, I maybe should have kept up with, but slowly starting to use up the materials I have.

2. Plan Socials and make time for them

Previously, I posted what I liked when I wanted to or when I had time. It lacked consistency and never had a brand message or call to action (something to make customers/followers engage, which apparently all posts should have) . 

I have now created a content calendar in excel, listed some ideas out, planned some future posts.

Better late than never?

3. Stock Take

Sometimes this should be one of the first things you should do, and it can also take many forms. I did take stock of what I wanted to do next. But the main reason for this step is all the stock that I have. If you ever see me at a market, we are the first there and one of the last ones leaving.

Is it my anal product organisation? possibly!

Does it having such a range of different products? also yes!

Over the last few years, having products on Etsy and Shopify, has been a bit of a struggle to keep up to date with what I have. I have been using a software called Veeqo, to make sure my products are synced, but this is becoming a paid product (and very expensive), and now looking for a new company.

Also,  when time is tight, and you only have free weekends. So, for the past few days, I have been counting and taking photos (if I didn't already have any) of all the products that I have.  These have slowly been uploaded to the website and Etsy (only when I think there is a genuine market there)

So these are the 3 most important steps I am doing currently, to try and make my 'hobby' 5-9 business, a real 9-5 business. 

Wht would you add

Ideally, I need to bring a lot of money into my business this year for me to survive and potentially go full-time (maybe a bit earlier than I would have wanted).

Why 35 in my 35th Year? I am 35, in less than a month! Honestly, usually my lists are bigger! And I thought the phrase had more of a ring to it. 

I would love to be able to explain them all and my reasoning, but I have some other things happening in my life that I cannot control, and are developing over the next couple of weeks. More on this in the future, sometime!

1. Finance - finish year overall +500 for FayDixon Design
2. Finance - Create another revenue stream
3. SEO - Publish 24 blogs
4. SEO - Update website pages, e.g., about
5. SEO - Update website product description
6. Money - Get 20 orders on the website 
7. Money - 6 orders on Faire 
8. Money - 2 new permanent stockists
9. Money - Sell all white cards
10. Community - Get to 2k followers on Instagram
11. Community - 50 newsletter subscribers
12. Community - Send 8 newsletters
13. Create  - a tea towel design
14. Create - 1 new bag design
15. Create - 2 new Notepad designs
16. Create - 2 new washi tape designs
17. Create - a3 print
18. Create - sticker sheet
19. Explore - new collection of prints min 5
20. Explore - Start designing collections, fewer individual designs. Design 2 new collections
21. Explore - Paint 2 products
22. Use up - Fimo Clay 
23. Use up  - vinyl ( not htv)
24. Use up - card bits to make 5 new items
25. Use up - jewellery bits
26. Finish biz books - chimp paradox
27. Finish biz books -  atomic habits
28. Finish biz books - diary of CEO
29. Mermaidandwild - update Etsy descriptions
30. Mermaidandwild - add 3 new designs
31. Mermaidandwild - end the year with 10 orders on etsy 
32. Mermaidandwild - try 3 new products
    
33. Passive - add 5 cards to thortful
34. Passive - 5 new downloadables
35. Passive - make a bigger downloadable guide 
    

It's no secret that I love having some fun nails; it's why I started designing Nail Decals. So, it's only right I start blogging about the different trends, and new designs might be on the way in time.

Autumn is knocking at our door with its crispy leaves, cosy vibes, and pumpkin-everything season! What better way to celebrate than by turning your nails into tiny canvases of autumn fabulousness?

Whether you're a nail art novice still figuring out which end of the brush to hold or a seasoned pro who can paint masterpieces with your non-dominant hand, these autumn nail art designs will have everyone asking, "Who's your nail wizard?" Perfect for adding a splash of personality to your fingertips while keeping seasonally on-point, these designs are your ticket to hand-fame this season.

Cosy Sweater-Inspired Designs

Cable Knit Patterns

Remember that chunky knit sweater you can't wait to pull out of storage? Now imagine it miniaturised onto your nails! Cable knit nail art uses 3D gel techniques or clever painting to create raised patterns that look touchably textured. The secret? A thin striper brush and patience (or a glass of wine). Create vertical lines with nude or cream polish, then add tiny crossover details. 

Textured Matte Finishes

Nothing says "I'm ready for the 'ber' season" quite like matte nails that mimic your favourite soft-to-touch autumn garments. Start with warm tones like taupe or camel, then apply a matte top coat for that velvety finish. For extra cosiness, try adding a single accent nail with fuzzy nail powder.

Autumn Colour Palettes

Adorable Pumpkin Accents

Autumn without pumpkins is like tea without biscuits. Create mini pumpkin masterpieces with orange polish dots, then use a fine detail brush to add curved lines and tiny green stems. For the overachievers, try a gradient of pumpkin sizes across your nails. 

Whimsical Leaf Patterns

Channel your inner forest sprite with delicate leaf designs. Use a thin brush to create maple, oak, or aspen leaf outlines in burnt sienna, golden yellow, or deep red. Scatter them randomly across a neutral base, or create a full foliage scene. "Look! It's autumn!"

Burnt Orange & Mustard Combinations

Nothing screams "I'm seasonally appropriate!" quite like the classic autumn power couple: burnt orange and mustard yellow. Create colour-blocked designs, ombre effects, or alternating nails in these warm hues. These colours work brilliantly on all skin tones and instantly transport you to a world of pumpkin patches.

Forest Green & Burgundy Pairings

For those who prefer their autumn on the sophisticated side, forest green and burgundy create a rich, jewel-toned manicure that pairs perfectly with both leather jackets and fancy lattes. Try diagonal colour splits, alternating nails, or even plaid patterns if you're feeling particularly ambitious. 

Playful Halloween Elements

Not-So-Spooky Ghost Designs

Who says ghosts have to be scary? Create adorable ghoulish friends with white polish and tiny black dot eyes. Add rosy cheeks for extra cuteness, or speech bubbles with tiny "BOO!" text if you're steady-handed. These little ghosts are so charming, they're more likely to ask for a cuddle than frighten you!

Cheeky Monster Manicures

Embrace your inner child with playful monster nails featuring googly eyes, tiny teeth, and colourful furry bodies. Mix and match monster colors across your nails, or create a family of creatures with similar features. It's like having ten tiny monster friends accompanying you everywhere – perfect for those awkward situations when you need moral support!

Nail the Season with Autumn Flair

There you have it, nail enthusiasts! Eight playful nail art designs that are sure to earn you compliments, Instagram likes, and possibly the title of "Most Seasonally Appropriate Hands" in your friend group. 

Remember, life's too short for boring nails, especially when autumn gives us so many delightful inspirations! So grab your polish, channel your inner artist, and let your fingertips fall for fall in the most fabulous way possible!

If you need help creating simple nail designs, check out my nail decal and tattoo collection

Let's be honest, most greeting cards end up having a lifespan shorter than the cake. They arrive with a flourish, sit proudly on the mantelpiece for approximately 3.7 days, and then make their solemn journey to the recycling bag. But what if your card's message could break this tragic cycle? What if your written words could be so spectacularly brilliant that the recipient clutches the card to their chest, gasping, "I shall treasure this forever!" before promptly having it laminated?

Whether you're bidding farewell to a colleague who's moving on to greener pastures or sending heartfelt wishes to a friend embarking on a new adventure, the right words can transform a simple card into a keepsake. In the UK, where we 'excel' at combining sentiment with just the right amount of cheek, crafting memorable leaving card messages is practically a national sport.

Let's dive into the wild world of card-writing brilliance, shall we?

Finding Your Card Voice: The Secret Sauce of Memorable Messages

Before you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard for those printable options), you need to discover your card-writing persona. Are you the office jokester? The poetic soul? The one who makes everyone slightly uncomfortable with too much emotional honesty? Embrace it! Authenticity is the foundation of any message that sticks.

Matching Messages to Occasions

Different farewells call for different tones. Consider these scenarios:

Retirement: This calls for a blend of nostalgia, celebration, and gentle ribbing about all the naps they'll now be taking. "Congratulations on your escape! We'll miss your wisdom, your terrible coffee, and your ability to make Monday meetings feel like they're happening in slow motion."

New Job: A supportive approach with a dash of banter works wonders. "We're not saying the office will crumble without you, but we've ordered structural supports just in case. Go show them what brilliance looks like!"

Maternity Leave: Warm, encouraging, and perhaps slightly terrifying (in a fun way). "Enjoy your 'break' from work! We'll be here drinking hot tea while you're dealing with 3 AM screaming sessions. Can't wait to meet the tiny human who'll be running or ruining your life now!"

Moving Abroad: A mix of adventure-encouraging words with a sprinkle of hometown pride. "As you embark on this exciting journey, remember that nowhere else makes tea properly, and you'll be back begging for a proper Sunday roast within months."

Humor vs. Heartfelt - When to Use Each

The eternal question: to joke or not to joke? Here's your handy guide:

Go Humorous When:

• You know the recipient well and understand their sense of humour
• The departure is positive and celebratory
• Your relationship has always included banter
• They've specifically requested "no soppy stuff"

Go Heartfelt When:

• The circumstances are sensitive or bittersweet
• You want to acknowledge a significant impact they've had
• Your relationship has depth that deserves recognition
• You know they're secretly a softie who appreciates sentiment

The best messages often combine both elements: "Your dedication to this team has been inspiring, your spreadsheet skills legendary, and your ability to hide biscuits from the rest of us unforgivable. We'll miss you terribly."

Message Formulas That Never Fail

Even the most creative minds sometimes need a template. Here are some tried-and-tested formulas for leaving card messages that will earn you the coveted "best message in the card" status.

The Perfect Opening Line

The first line sets the tone. Grab attention with these opener styles:

The Fake Confession: "I've been waiting 5 years to tell you this: your tea-making skills are actually terrible. But your friendship has been perfect."

The Unexpected Compliment: "Your ability to remain calm when the printer jams for the 17th time is nothing short of superhuman."

The Shared Memory: "Remember when you accidentally sent that email to the entire company instead of just me? I still have screenshots."

The Bold Statement: "The office will be 37% less entertaining and 42% more productive without you here."

Cheeky Closings That Leave an Impression

End with a bang, not a whimper:

The Fake Threat: "If you don't keep in touch, I'll start sending you daily updates about the office plant you left behind."

The Future Prediction: "Can't wait to see your face on the cover of 'People Who Escaped Corporate Life and Lived to Tell the Tale' magazine."

The Backhanded Good Luck: "Best of luck in your new role. They have no idea what they're in for!"

The Callback: "May your new office have better air conditioning, stronger coffee, and fewer incidents involving the microwave."

Making Your Words Memorable

What separates a forgettable "Good luck in your new job!" from a message that gets read aloud to friends, family, and possibly strangers on the bus? It's all in the personal touches.

Personal Touches That Transform

Generic messages die a quick death. Bring your leaving cards messages to life with:

Specific Details: "Your passionate defence of pineapple on pizza during the Christmas party debate of 2019 changed my worldview forever."

Shared Language: Include phrases, nicknames, or made-up words that only make sense to you and them.

Unexpected Nostalgia: Mention small moments that might surprise them, that you remember. "I've never forgotten how you shared your umbrella with me on my first day when it was pouring."

Sensory Details: "The office will smell significantly less like that fancy bergamot hand cream you always use."

The Power of Inside Jokes

Inside jokes are the secret weapon of unforgettable card messages. They create an immediate emotional connection and signal "our relationship is special enough to have its own language."

A simple reference like "May your new workplace have fewer mysterious fridge incidents" can trigger an entire cascade of shared memories and laughter.

However, tread carefully with inside jokes that:

• Might embarrass the recipient if others read the card
• Reference sensitive topics
• Could be misinterpreted without context

The perfect inside joke reference is one that makes them snort with laughter while thinking, "Only you would bring THAT up!"

Beyond Words: The Full Card Experience

Remember that memorable leaving card messages aren't just about what you write, but how you present it:

Strategic Placement: Don't hide your brilliance in the middle of a crowded card. Claim prime real estate near the edge or top where it will be noticed.

Visual Elements: A small doodle, underlined words for emphasis, or strategic use of CAPITAL LETTERS can make your message pop.

Extended Real Estate: If space is tight, a small sticky note with "continued on back →" builds anticipation and gives you room for your magnum opus.

Handwriting Matters: Even if your penmanship resembles a doctor's prescription pad, taking the time to write clearly shows you care.

Go Forth and Write Something Frameworthy!

Your leaving cards messages are tiny ambassadors of your personality, carrying your voice long after the goodbye hugs have ended. They're your chance to crystallize a relationship in a few sentences, to make someone feel truly seen and appreciated (or gloriously roasted, depending on your approach).

Remember that the most unforgettable messages come from an authentic place, whether that place is sentimental, hilarious, or delightfully twisted. The best compliment isn't just having your card saved; it's having your specific message pointed out with, "Look what Sarah wrote! That's so perfect!"

So channel your inner wordsmith, embrace your unique voice, and craft leaving cards messages that will have recipients laughing, crying, or frantically googling how to preserve paper forever. After all, in a world of digital communication, a handwritten message that captures exactly who you are and what you meant to someone is truly magical.

Now go forth and write something so brilliant they'll want to frame it rather than just stick it on the fridge. Your words deserve better than a date with the recycling bin!

The problem is that I buy it in big rectangular rolls, and none of my designs are that square. Which does mean I create a lot of excess vinyl waste, but it's something I have been collecting up for the future.

The Box of Vinyl Doom:

Creating designs with tiny bits of vinyl is more challenging and time-consuming. I have to choose a design that will work, with colours that complement each other, and ensure there is enough vinyl for the design.

Over the years, I have made a few bags that use the vinyl 'rubbish', but they have not been planned, and I didn't advertise how they came about. 

Some old designs:

The new era for 'Rubbish Bags' will bring new unique designs, which may never be seen again (due to the colour combinations). They will be exclusively on this website, at markets and potentially at limited stockists. 

So, snap them up before they go.

Click here to go to the collection of Rubbish Bags

The journey started in March, when I saw a post about the request for makers. I submitted my details, started to think what products to supply and set to work designing some new products. I have thought of a few new products, that i wanted to design and send, but some didn't look good or just are not finished or ready for customers.

Throughout July and August, I was busy buying, making and storing all the stock I sent in the first batch to drop off. Making sure I was ready for the deadline in September. I ended up being two weeks ahead of the deadline, and so my products sat around my house waiting to go to stoke. 

On the 2nd of October, I was able to visit the shop for the opening party after work. It started with drinks and muffins, speeches from the co-owners and then could have a walk round the store. We saw people with my products in their baskets!  My partner said he saw someone clutching a bundle of stickers/Nail Decals and he told me off for tidying up my table.

It was a lovely night to see everything and make a couple of purchases.

To cart all my bits, I use strong boxes and a few bags, and then other bits are big enough to handle myself (by my boyfriend)

• bin bags - not everywhere has bins and a bag behind the stall can save a lot of trips to bins in the area
• bags for customers - a lot of customers bring their own bags these days, but some forget of have already filled the bags, so its good to have some extras. I use paper bags now, and stamp them with my company logo.
• big clips of different sizes for securing things and cable ties (really useful for outdoor markets) - for securing things and when its raining its good to use a clip so there isnt a stream of water.

I usually but the next section of items in a box together, kind of like an admin box. Its built over a number of years

• Stationery: sharpie, pens, scissors and paper, sellotape, black tape and glue dots
• price list, duplicates and blanks - you never know where they disappear
• fairy lights and spare batteries - some markets/gazebos can be really dark and shaded so I use fairy lights to brighten things up. Bring some spare batteries too
• business cards, stickers and extras
• paracetamol - you never know when a headache will hit you
• lip balm -
• plastic cutlery - If you get food from other sellers there may not be cutlery, so a have a couple of sets
• hot chocolate sachets, juice pod -. i have had a juice pod in my box for a while, as I'm not a fan of plain water. But, on a Christmas event a few years ago my neighbour gave me a hot chocolate sachet, which is useful for cold days.
• change and card machine (sum up) (my lip balm actually lives in this box)
• kitchen towel or similar - I have turned up to some grim tables, that i have then had to clean myself and sometimes people spill things
• battery pack to charge phone or card readers
• notepad - to track purchase and make notes

As a little behind the scenes, I thought I would talk about the process I go through when designing these.

Nail Decals where my first ever product back when I started designing in 2014. I remember the very first set I sold to someone in America, and I wrapped it up like a little present (must have cost a lot to post). My design process hasn't changed too much over the last few years, just more digital, when I started I used to draw/colour everything on to paper and then scan it in.

This is the process I do now:

1. Sometimes, it all starts with an idea I have written down already or I research current trends on pinterest and around the internet.
2. I draw out some cute images in procreate on my iPad. Sometimes, I use a pencil brush to sketch and refine the images, but all the images always get finished with the thick black monoline brush. I love the smooth finish of it, and the thick lines, that make the details stand out.
3. Then I colour them all in
4. I save this design as an image and then import it into my nail decal sheet template in affinity photo (the software is very similar to photoshop, except its alot cheaper and designed in the UK)
5. I cut all the tiny images out in the software, shrink them down till they are around 1cm and arrange them on one sheet.
6. I copy the images so that I can fill the whole sheet out and duplicate this to fill the A4 sheet
7. Then its printing time! I use an epson Inkjet printer, print in high quality with specific setting for the paper.
8. I let the sheet dry for at least an hour and then spray with clear lacquer to protect the colours from running when you dunk in water.

I have a lot of ideas for decals, i just need to get round to drawing them. If you are looking for something more custom, you can find out more information here.

Of course, this is a giant task as I had at least twenty different designs and wanted to do brand new designs (not just colour my old designs). I can't work on my business through the day because I work full-time as well, so had to try and do one every week or so. 

Well, I've had quite a few of these designed, and printed out for a while, so I thought it was time to write a little about them.

Here are some of my favourite re-designs so far:

Thanks for wiping my Bum

This is still one of my favourite ever phrases, unfortunately some boring people are baffled by the phrase and ask why someone would by this card.

You can buy this fun card here

Ay Up Duck

Decided to jazz this design up with a bright orange duck.

Eventually, I want to design all my animal cards like this

You can buy this for your duck here

Fuck you're Old

After about three other different versions, countless hours on those crap versions and the final one took a while too. I absolutely love this one, possibly a bit too pink for guys, so might need to create another colourway

I created the borders with the symmetry guides in procreate so, they both sides are the same.

You can buy this card for your old friend here

Thanks, I turned out Perfect

You can buy this perfect card here

There are a few more designs, that I couldn't fit in this blog and I am still redesigning some other favourites. so look out for those in the coming months. 

All of these makers have some great Christmas gifts, and here are just a couple of them. You can find mugs, cards, necklaces, pins, baubles and more.

Mandy Billington (billingtonmandy)

Stafford bauble designed by Mandy Billington Illustrator. With a passion for historic buildings Mandy has captured some of the beautiful buildings that make up Stafford. To see the full collection of Architectural drawings on a range of tableware items please go to: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MBDesignsEngland

BS Clothing and Gifts (bsclothingandgifts)

Personalised etched gin glass, £12 with free delivery to mainland UK

We use etching cream to permanently personalise your glass. Choose from one of our designs, or type your own text in the options box. (font will be the same as shown.) Please double-check the spelling of your personalisation. 

EightFourteen (eightfourteensilver)

I'm making sterling silver snowflakes this year! They will be available at Christmas Markets (Stafford Makers Market & The Woodings Yard Christmas Market) and via my Etsy soon!

www.eightfourteensilver.etsy.com

Becka Higham (becka_higham)

The pin is the limited edition for 2019, only 100 have been produced and they come plastic-free! With the backing doubling up as a bookmark 🎁 £5 for one or two for £8 My children's book tell the story of Merry the Christmas Tree and her friends trying to decide who should host Christmas this year. It includes activities at the back of the book and is rhyming.

Quote the code: FAY10 and get 10% off selected shop items

Me (faydixondesign)

Finally, why not buy from me? A mixture of naughty and nice cards, prints, mugs, badges and much more. 

Also, head over to pedddle on Thursday night for an online market, and dont miss some black friday offers

Also, Me and Launch3d are bringing our jumper decorations back, you can buy a singular one of a premade phrase or get custom words for a little extra.

https://www.faydixondesign.co.uk/

Join me next year for another round up of great christmas gifts, iuf you wanted to be added to the list follow me on instagram (faydixondesign) and get in touch when i put the call out.

I booked the flight and hotel through lastminute.com, about a month before we planned to go.

The flight

Flights were booked with flybe, from Manchester to Dusseldorf, which is about 30-60 mins away from Cologne. We were on a small plane that had propellers both ways. We had an early morning flight there and a afternoon flight on the way back. Originally, I had booked an evening flight, but this had been cancelled and we were put on an earlier one.

On the way back though, we got delayed by over 3 hours. By the time we found out though we were already through security, so my mum was allowed to go back out to the check-in desk to get food vouchers. She got back quite quickly as the security staff had already helped her go back through.

It took a month and a half to finally get compensation back for the delay. 

the hotel

I booked the dorint hotel am heumarkt which is a 5 star hotel and includes breakfast, there is free swimming pool though, like some websites advertise. The room was nice though and the view from the lift of the cathedral is amazing.

Cologne itself

compared to Berlin is small, but it’s a nice walk-able size, with enough things to see for a couple of days and lots of shops, if that’s what you like. On the way to the hotel from the station, we walked through the main shopping area, and there’s lots of shops you will recognise. 

Eating

There is lots of nice restaurants around, plus German McDonald’s are pretty great too. Too many nice places to think of right now, but let me know if you want recommendations and ill let you know.

the triangle

if you want to see a lovely view of cologne, with the cathedral, old town and the railway bridge, head to the triangle (which isn’t a triangle, it’s a tall tube like building) on the opposite side of the river. This is 3 euros to get in.

Farina

so apparently there is a bit of a war on who is the first perfume/cologne company. Farina (red branding) apparently is the oldest, and they make sure you know about it. We had a little tour around the museum, and a talk.

art gallery - Museum Ludwig

the collection of art in this gallery is pretty amazing, especially if you like pop art, but there is a little bit for everyone. Lots of seating around if your feet are dead, and its not all paintings.

Chocolate museum

This is one of my favourite museums to date, free chocolate, lots of lindt bunnies to pose with and another viewing platform. I don't think we saw everything, my feet were dead, and there inst much seating around. We had a small tour round so saw the main things.

You get to see a history of chocolate, where it comes from, how its made, plus a history of different companies. The museum is a working museum, so there you can see all the machines making tiny bars of chocolate, and you can line up to try a sample straight from the machine

Also, the is a shop too, which sells loads of chocolate and chocolate themed merchandise. You can also buy custom chocolate bars and watch them being created.

Cathedral

First we decided to tackle all the stair to view from the top of the Cathedral. As you are paying there is a small sign that says something along the line of '500 steps no joke'. I think this is 3 euros. I thought I'm quite fit currently, it might be a struggle but should be do-able. The steps are very small, stone and in a spiral. There's a few windows along the way.

Let me tell you, someone told me on the way up that I was nearly there, and they were fucking joking. I might have been a quarter of the full way. You get to the top of the stone steps, enter a large circular room and guess what, you're are not at the top and there is a large set of steel steps in front of you. Walk up these and you're not quite there, there's a tiny set of wooden steps at the top. You can see the whole of cologne at the top though.

Inside, make sure you walk all the way round, i love the pixel window they have.

i have to say cologne is in my top 5 favourite cities, it’s easy enough to walk around, a few museums, shops and lots of nice food and drink. Also all the attractions are really affordable, and easy to walk to.

It took me a few months of research, various sketches of 20 different ideas, quite a few prototypes and now I have four new Handmade Christmas Cards to join the oldies (but still goodies).

In this blog, I am going to introduce the brand new cards, what inspired them and where to buy them from.

 Fairy Lights

 Is anyone else super obsessed with Christmas fairy lights like me? I just hate them when they are all tangled up. 

This is one fun and colourful card, that doesn't need to be just for Christmas. Could be used for birthdays and New Year party invites.

The card is 6inx6in square, a hammered texture card, its blank inside for your own message and comes with an envelope.

The light cable is sewn to give a fun effect and then the lights are made out of multi-coloured card, stuck down with foam pads, to give a 3D effect.

Buy the Card here for £4.00

Silver Christmas Wreath

 These next two cards are quite similar, but sometimes simple is better. 

This card feature a risen 'wreath' on foam pads and surrounded by sparkly dots and blue snow flakes. The message on the front can be customised, the card is blank inside and comes with an envelope.

Buy the card here for £3.00

Gold Christmas Wreath

 A bit more of a snazzy 'wreath' in gold. This design features sparkly gems and red snowflakes with the addition of wooden stars and gingerbread man. There are also small jingly bells attached to the card, and the message is on card attached with a small peg.

Buy the card here for £3.50

Snow-globe Shaker Card

I have always wanted to create a shaker card (as in the insides can be shaken and move around like a real snow globe). 

It took a bit longer than expected, and is super fiddly, but I love the background and overall effect.

The snow globe is risen off the card with foam pads and this allows the insides to move around.

The Card is A6 sized, with an envelope include. As standard it reads 'Merry Christmas' on the outside (which can be changed on request) and the card is blank inside.

Buy the card here for £4.00

Which is your favourite? Which do you hope to receive in the post? 

I have a couple more cards I am working on behind the scenes, but they will be a lot more simple cards possibly with small drawings or typography.

Finally, I have reached the end of 100 days of doodles and it feels great not to be having to draw each night.

I think I underestimated the number of hours, ideas and amount patience that I needed.

Don't get me started with the severe drop in Instagram, what a crappy algorithm.

 But I did really enjoy the drawing and so I will continue posting a drawing in brand colours on my instagram, every other post with a mixture of quotes, info, doodles, patterns and mandalas

Please do not use these images for your own designs, claim them as your own, or share without proper credit to me. There are watermarks on all images so I will know, and you will be sent an invoice for usage. 

A few links have been added where the doodle has been made into a product

this batch of doodles continues with the cocktail recipes and then i have finished off with around 10 doodles.

Day 71 

Day 72

Day 73

Day 74

Day 75

really wanted a little Hawaiian theme for this cocktail

Day 76

Day 77

Day 78

Day 79

Day 80

Day 81

Day 82

Day 83

Day 84

Day 85

Day 86

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A post shared by Fay Dixon • Designer & Crafter (@faydixondesign) on Jun 26, 2019 at 10:54pm PDT

Day 87

Day 88

carrying on with the animal line drawings with a horse

Day 89

Day 90

Day 91

Day 92

Day 93

Chinese makes everything better

Day 94

Day 95

someone asked me for a get well card so i designed this ready to be printed out

Day 96

Day 97

especially for mac and cheese day

Day 98

Day 99

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A post shared by Fay Dixon • Designer & Crafter (@faydixondesign) on Jul 10, 2019 at 10:53pm PDT

Day 100

9 of my favourite drawings over the last 100 days

Click below to view each of the blog posts with all 100 pictures

Posts 1-20

Posts 21-40

Posts 41-70

Continuing on from Part 1 and Part 2, below are days 41 to 70 of my #100DayProject. Just as I was starting to wonder what to draw I also joined another little challenge by Becka Griffin and starting drawing an A-Z of cocktails.

Also, there are a few spice girls lyrics and the usual random doodles.

Please do not use these images for your own designs, claim them as your own or share them without proper credit to me. There are watermarks on all images so I will know.

 A few links will be added when I have made the drawings into products.

Day 41

Day 42

Day 43

You can buy product with this cloud design here

Day 44

Day 45

Day 46

Day 47

Day 48

Day 49

Day 50

Day 51

Day 52

Day 53

Day 54

Day 55

Day 56

Day 57

Day 58

Day 59

Day 60

Day 61

Day 62

Day 63

Day 64

Day 65

Day 66

Day 67

Day 68

Day 69

Day 70

If you haven't seen I am doing #100dayproject of doodles, you can check out my first blog of Days 1-20 here.

Days 21 to 40 of the #100dayproject involved a bit of experimentation. I tried drawing without lifting the pen, tried to make a picture with loads of patterns, Game of Thrones quotes and more summery drawings.

I enjoyed most of these days, and some of these are my favourites.  I probably spent the most amount of time on some of these doodles, so they were more like drawings.

Please do not use these images for your own designs, claim them as your own or share them without proper credit to me. There are watermarks on all images so I will know.

 A few links have been added where I have made the drawings into products.

Day 21 - I loved the sheep version like this, so much I created a cow (there will be a pig in the next blog)

Day 22 - fancied a little change from drawing. So I wrote out some lyrics for one of my favourite songs Goo Goo Dolls - Iris.

Day 24 - fab lollies were my childhood, then I started getting brain freezes and sensitive teeth.

Day 25 - fancied drawing a bit of a galaxy, with a nice quote on

Day 26

Day 27

Day 28 - didnt quite come out as I wanted, but maybe I'll try again with this idea next year.

Day 29 - wanted to create a few cute prints for Pedddle Online Market and this was one of them

Print: and suddenly all the love songs were about you - A4 print

Day 30 - all because I wanted to create another badge

Day 31 - was meant to make a card out of this, haven't done that yet

Day 32 - just a 'may' drawing

Day 33 - symmetrical pattern with art and craft supplies

Day 34 - really random pattern

Day 35 - the game of thrones quote that slightly broke my heart. What would ever happen to them?

Day 36

Day 37 - isnt this how we feel with every good tv series

Day 38

Day 39

Day 40

stay tuned for Days 41 to 60, which will be posted very soon.

I've been thinking of a new blog post for ages but didn't realise a potential subject has been under my nose for the last 40 days. I thought it would be nice to show all my #100daysofdoodlesbyfay in 20 day sections, with a small summary on what went through my head.

After #MarchMeetTheMaker, I was looking for another challenge, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do though, I wanted to draw more but thought I didn't want to be stuck on a giant challenge.

I saw a few options including 30DaysOfType but that was a bit restrictive for what I wanted to do.

I saw the 100DayProject, was a little bit worried because 100 days is a bloody long time, I might get bored or miss a day (which I would get annoyed by). But, then thought about the advantages; lots of potential new designs, a post a day, practising doodles/drawing etc.

 The majority of the doodles are drawn in procreate (which I only started a few days before the project, because Karl had recently got an ipad)

Please do not use these images for your own designs, claim them as your own or share them without proper credit to me. There are watermarks on all images so I will know.

 A few links have been added where I have made the drawings into products.

Day 1 - these first two days were done one after the other, I had forgotten to start the drawing and then had to think fast.

Day 2 - I think I had seen another fruit drawing and wanted to try out the symmetrical pattern, so this was one of the first patterns I did. I think it looks great.

Day 3 - one thing I want to start drawing more is more relatable and motivational quotes, that people can share out.

 Available as a Badge and Mirror

 Day 4 - Not quite as happy with this one as some others. But I tried out lots of different brushes and made some cool effects.

Day 5 - I have an app called 'what to draw' and I tried it out to see if it would give me anything interesting. After a few random ideas, 'an astronaut wearing a tie' came up and so that's what I drew. I like how this one came out.

Day 6 - My first ever mandala, and it is a little bit different to a conventional one, because it's really hard to draw sometimes. Joining circles up or doing all the arches around the circle I was struggling with all in one layer.

Day 7 - just upping my motivational quotes one by one with this one.

Available as a Badge and Mirror

Day 8- this is another one of my favourites. I have been dying to draw more 'beings', but I do struggle, especially with faces. But practice makes perfect as they say. So, look out for a few more.

Available as a Badge and Mirror

Day 9 - I'm not sure if this is another what to draw idea, or just me doing an alternative tower for Rapunzel.

Day 10 - I love the look of everyone's floral letters so wanted to have a go at a negative one, this took a while to think of different flowers.

Day 11 - another motivational one

Day 12 - I had just seen a drawing of another animal with lines and swirls, and being a daughter of a sheep farmer, I had to try it out and do a sheep first out of all the animals. I really love how it came out, and have done a cow later one. Who knows what animal will be next.

Available as a Badge, mirror  and a tote bag

Day 13 - Been thinking of adding more lights into my garden, and really love old style big bauble style lights, like these

Available as a badge and Mirror

Day 14 - I have a mirror similar to this in my bathroom, and really one to get some dark gloomy jungle/forest wallpaper to go behind. I just had to put a snow white themed quote on the mirror in what could be lipstick too.

will be a badge soon

Day 15 - I saw some neon lights in this style, and loved the quote too because it's just tequila!

Day 16 - really loving doing little patterns every so often, its just a pain to think of a theme and then all of the items. This one is just purely random.

Day 17 - I think the previous night before I drew this I hadn't gotten much sleep, and I really don't like napping after work, but sometimes you need too.

Will be a badge very soon

Day 18 - just because it was easter and I was currently out of ideas

Day 19 - wanted to try out another face of a person. But this one didn't come out as I wanted, the face is a bit long and too big around the cheeks.

Day 20 - and another alternative mandala

 I hope you have enjoyed the round up of my first 20 images in my 100 day project. I have just finished the next 20 images, but you will have to wait another couple of weeks before I get that blog published.

If you want to keep up to date with what I am getting up to, why not subscribe to my newsletter for discounts, freebies and news. Sign up to the newsletter here

I went to Berlin in October, so thought I would share some of my favourite finds, restaurants and museums.

Travelling and Getting Around

We travelled with from Manchester to Schönefeld Airport with Ryanair (which I was a little scared that they wouldn't accept all my baggage...haha I had one tiny suitcase and a backpack).

From the airport to the city we got a train, and then a short walk to the hotel. For the rest of the week, we mainly walked around which killed my feet, but for the normal person, you might be alright.

The Hotel

art'otel Berlin Mitte, which was lovely, the bed was so comfy. Close to everything, without being super loud and busy. This picture was taken on the way to the airport on the last day.  We didn't eat at the hotel, we chose to eat in small restaurants around the city, or have a cereal bar and some fruit.

Museums

I didn't want to go to too many museums, but I did want to go to some of the big and fun ones. The two below pictures are from museum island, where we visited the Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie and Pergamon Museum. Which are all really popular museums, which sometimes you need to queue to get in, and they have a lot of pictures and artefacts not just about German history.

spy museum 

The spy museum was really interesting, it showed a history of spies, including through the wars, and then it has loads of instruments that have been used over the years to help gather information. There's a laser game, which you can try out and then send the video to yourself, and lots about spy films as well. This museum is a fun one for adults and children.

currywurst museum

This quirky little museum shows the history of the currywurst sausage which is a speciality in Germany. There's giant fast food, and lots of fun features to explore and relate too. If you're a serious person you won't like this museum, you do get a tiny sample of sausage at the end though. 

Shops and Food

This cafe was on the ground floor of a hotel, and made me some amazing oreo pancakes. If you love a breakfast that fills you up, visit the yada yada breakfast club. Unfortunately, we only found this cafe on the last full day, so I fully urge you to go out and explore more around the hotel.

The Big Dog Berlin, if you like fun restaurants or sausage dog illustrations, this is a quirky place. It's under the Marriot hotel and just down the road from the Reichstag building, Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust memorial. 

We found this place called 'Seaside' on the night of The Day of German Unity, which made it incredibly hard to find any open restaurants. We walked in here thinking we could get some simple fish and chips. Nah, this was an expensive fish restaurant by night and you paid by the weight of the fish. Saying that on reflection it was one of the nicest fish meals I have ever had.  The waiter de-boned the fish for us, noticed it wasn't cooked enough, so swiftly too it away to be cooked more.

It was quite a walk to this Streetfood market which is on a thursday, it was super busy, and really hard to find 

anywhere to sit with my poor old person feet.  The walk from the hotel was quite long, and down a few creepy, dodgy streets. 

This food market brings people together from all over the city. People walk around with glasses of wine, and theres many stalls for different food, there was oysters, waffles...a little bit of everything.

Art

Lots of art near the walll....

Other great things

Riechstag building:

Book ahead for the parliament building, its lovely at night for views of all the lights

The city has shops dedicated to the ampelman who is on all of the traffic lights on the east side of the wall.

The TV Tower is also a great place to view a sunset, watch the traffic headlights and trams/trains at night. You can also eat at the top and have a few cocktails.

Hope you enjoy some of the highlights of my trip, and i hope they are useful to anyone else that goes to visit Berlin.

PS if your english and love primark, they have a shop in the city too!

I'm part of many communities, like JustACard, Stafford Made Etsy Team and there are even little communities at markets where we all help each other out, even if it's lending a clip to hold the whole table together or if someone asks for something specific and I know someone who can help.  I think it's important to support other people, hopefully they will help me out when I need it

There is no point asking if you can get on this list, I'm not getting paid for these links. I know a lot of the makers, or I just love what they do on Instagram. 

stafford made makers

These guys are all part of our little etsy team that I run. All based in staffordshire, and all amazing makers:

Giraffes and Unicorns

Mandy Billington

Becka Higham

Launch3D

staffordshire

flying teaspoons - amazing cards and gifts made from collages of magazines *definite buy from me in the future* 
yellowstone ab - based in Trentham, an amazing treasure trove of gifts *shopped here!*
charlotte thorneycroft - pet portrait extraordinaire
fiona Wilson - Printer of quirky wooden people, *another definite buy from me in the future* 

UK-based

oh squirrel - cute personalised stationary *shopped here*

katie abey - puntastic cards

jodieart - a instagram stalker of mine, who is also an artist

puntobelle - handmade makeup bags, travel wallets in unique fabric *shopped here*

eweniverse - any shop nvolving sheep gets a thumps up from me

There are cards for your rude friends, cards for your Granny/Parents/extended family, Wall art for a variety of people and nice kid-friendly (sans-sweary) and sweary homeware.

Postage starts at £2 for orders under £20 and posted within 2 business days.

Cards

Brand new Cheeky, Rude and Alcoholic Christmas Cards - £2 each

Nice cards for nice people - £2.50 each

Wall Art

Geometric Animal Prints 

Shiny Holographic/Mirror Prints

Homeware

Mugs perfect for the office

Cute Puntastic Coaster

To shop in Person, you can find us at:

Makers Market Uttoxeter on the 24th November

Kings Hall Stoke on the 2nd December

Hanley Fire Station on the 9th December

It is a marketplace, community, shop and many more things all in one.

What is an Etsy team?

An etsy team is a community of sellers that share a common interest, location or product group. A team is set up by a captain, and they can add further team leaders to support. The team captains and leaders don't get paid for the time they spend on the team, most do it out of the goodness of their heart, love helping people and just meeting other sellers.

Teams usually start interacting on the etsy website in the team forum, and then usually the team have separate social media groups because it is easier to organise events and chat.

Teams also have individual social media accounts that are run by the team captain and leaders to promote sellers products, events and the local community.  

What you can get out of an Etsy Team?

There are many things you can do as a team, and it all very much depends on the captain, team leaders and what the members suggest, there is a saying 'You get out, what you put in' and that can very much be the case. Usually, there are team meetings, social promotion and selling events, but it can depend on the captain and leaders.

Generally, the team have a monthly meeting, whether it be with tea and cakes or cocktails and mocktails. The monthly meeting has a theme, decided on by the team, but these are there to help the team out selling online and a good chat with other makers.

Ideas to do as a Team (or as an individual if you feel like it)

Sometimes, it can be hard to think of ideas of what to do with your etsy team or just a group of sellers you know.  

(a blog will follow with more details and ideas)

• Create Pinterest Boards of themes for events and products
• Create an instagram challenge
• Team meetups
• Create a team etsy collection page
• Host a loop giveaway
• Team Webinars
• Host an Open night (like gallery style)
• Shared Hashtag
• Invite a guest speaker
• Share a resource like product photographer for the day
• Christmas market/etsy made local 
• Make decorations together
• Craft something different together

Current Active UK Etsy Teams:

Aberdeen https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/29661/aberdeen-etsy

Birmingham Ideas https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/24918/ideas-birmingham

Birmingham Originals https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/24044/birmingham-originals

Brighton https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/7247/brighton-sellers-team

Bristol - https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/21210/etsy-sellers-in-bristol

Cambridge https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/21043/etsy-cambridge

Cardiff https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/23581/cardiff-and-valleys

Cornwall https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/29637/etsy-makers-cornwall

Devon https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/15348/made-in-devon

Dorset https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/14319/dorset-etsy-team

Durham https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/28280/etsy-durham

Glasgow https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/8931/glasgow-etsy-team (Glasgow Team also accept Etsy sellers from across Scotland)

Gloucestershire https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/16017/crafters-of-gloucestershire

Hampshire https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/15233/hampshire-creators

Hereford https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/29599/hereford-etsy-team

Isle of Wight https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/10344/isle-of-wight-hampshire-uk

Kent https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/24812/kent-designer-makers

Lancashire https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/27932/lancashire-etsy-sellers

Leeds - https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/21180/team-leeds

Leicester https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/30227/leicestershire-etsy-team

London Local - https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/23485/london-local-team

Manchester https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/5149/etsy-manchester

Merseyside https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/9694/merseyside-etsy-team

Midlands https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/8815/pretty-midlands

Milton Keynes https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/8718/milton-keynes-team

Newcastle https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/27718/etsy-newcastle

New Forest https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/21071/new-forest-etsy

Nottingham https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/24681/nottingham-etsy-team

Oxford https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/14720/oxford-etsy

Portsmouth and Southsea https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/22400/the-portsmouth-southsea-consortium

Rutland https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/29262/etsy-rutland-stamford

Sheffield https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/23910/sheffield-sellers-on-etsy

Somerset https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/30225/somerset-etsy-team

South East England https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/7314/south-east-england

South Cheshire https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/27538/etsy-south-cheshire

Southampton https://www.etsy.com/teams/27312/southampton-sellers-team

Stafford https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/34267/stafford-made

UK https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/9218/etsy-uk

UK - Craft Britannia https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/5151/craft-britannia

UK and Ireland https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/7332/etsys-uk-ireland-seller-support-team

York https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/27608/teamyork

Yorkshire https://www.etsy.com/uk/teams/9695/etsy-yorkshire

It is super easy to join a team, just click on one of the above teams and press apply. Alternatively, go on etsy, scroll to the bottom and click 'teams', then you can search for other teams for cat-themed products, or whatever you feel like.

We decided to stay at Centerparcs Longleat, in a 2 bed chalet/hut, because I didn't want to caravan it, hotels are quite expensive but centerparcs have everything. We had half a day in Bath, two days at Longleat Safari Park and then one day in Bristol.

We set off just after 9am, and we were going to have a little trip to Bath on the way.

Half a day in Bath

We parked up in a park and ride, close to lunchtime and took a 10 min bus into the city.

We took a tour around the city and this was followed by a little boat trip, up the river.

We looked around the cathedral, which has some lovely stained glass windows, floor grates, art installations and roof architecture.

Next, we had a self-guided tour around the Roman baths, which I didn't realise was so big.  There is a whole museum, with old coins and relics from the area, then multiple pools, and what they think are old sauna rooms and changing rooms.

Finished the day with a little bit of shopping and a walk up to The Circus (a whole ring of houses with a tree in the middle, (which is the first image) Its a horrible walk...but not as bad as the walk to Clifton suspension bridge.  We then had some food at TGI Fridays and then got the bus to the car, and then to drive to Centerparcs.

A day in Bristol

By the time it got to Bristol day, I was pretty bored of walking I have to admit! We got to the Park and ride and got into the city.  I really wanted to visit a few handmade shops first. 

I tried to get a walking tour.. however realised they don't do tours through the week, while we were waiting outside of the building.

Instead, I navigated us toward the Clifton bridge, I thought we would never get there, it is way out of the city. On the way back down to the city we found lots of art shops and wall art, which I loved.

Then we walked around the docks a bit and found a restaurant to eat. 

I really would use park and rides in Bristol and Bath, even though we got stuck in traffic on the way back. There is just so many cars everywhere.

Don't tell anyone but when we got back, my boyfriend realised he didn't lock the car up!

Two days in Longleat

Until we got there I hadn't realised how big and how many animals there is to see.  When you enter the park, you have a long drive down to the house, mazes and the smaller animals and then its another drive (or bus apparently) to go around the animal enclosures and see the Giraffe and Lemurs.

There is quite a few opportunities to feed the animals (instead of paying for a big experience.  On the first day, we fed some of the deer, nearly got my shoulder bitten off and also could have fed the Sea Lions and some birds. On the second day, we managed to get down to the giraffes in time to be able to feed them, which was really cool to be up close to them.

Currently, (because you don't want a list of everything do you) you drive through Giraffes, Zebra, Camels, Tigers, Lions, Cheetahs, Wolves and many more animals.

On the second day, we went through the Monkey drive-thru (which has warnings that they ...misbehave. Halfway round my boyfriend says something about being disappointed that they weren't getting on his car. They must have heard something because next a monkey and her baby jump on the car and start pulling the jets out of the bumper. So for the rest of the trip we couldn't clean the screen.

Back around the house there is still lots to look at, inside there is a lot of old paintings and heirlooms.  Outside, there is opportunities to walk with penguins, meerkats, walk a skunk and pet snakes/tarantulas. There is even some red pandas, Gorrillas Bats, Hippos, and more monkeys!

The Centerparcs Experience

I have wanted to stay at centerparcs for a couple of years now, but I prefer hot holidays abroad (even if I can deal with the current UK temperatures).  We stayed at the Longleat Centerparcs Monday to Friday in Mid-May. We stayed in a 2 bed chalet/hut, there a living room area, small kitchen, dining area, bbq and loads of storage.

We arrived at around 9pm so couldn't really see where we were driving to the house, plus its all one way so can be a bit tricky.

Luckily, there was also a road train, so I didn't have to walk soooo much.

One thing to note is you can't park next to where you are staying (unless you have special circumstances), you have to take your car back to the main car park, and then you aren't allowed to drive it into the area until you leave. This I totally get, you don't want to hear cars zooming around at all hours, plus there isn't the room. Our favourite game was spotting cars, that weren't meant to be parked on the site.

The only negative I can think of is that from the website, it sounds like you can bring your own logs for a fire and bbq, but this inst the case.  They make you buy them in the shop, luckily we only wanted two BBQs which came to £10 for both and then if you wanted a cosy fire, that's an extra cost. 

The one place made centerparcs so great was the water park. There are two huge indoor funnel slides, that you go down in a ring, there is three smaller indoor slides, large pool with a wave machine, jacuzzi, and a childrens area. Outside, there is another large pool with a large rapids section, plunge pool and outdoor jacuzzi

Overall, I loved this holiday (although I did miss the beach, all inclusive drinks and food, I love on a beach holiday).  The animals we saw at Longleat were amazing (and apparently there is some even bigger ones coming).  Bath is one of my favourite cities and is so easy to navigate around the city centre.

Keep your eyes peeled, the next trip is booked in October: Berlin Bitches! At the rate I go, the blog will be ready February 2019

I have compiled a list of some of my favourites, and some other fun ones I have found which will make the party extra fun.

So grab the prosecco, wine or just any alcohol, some snacks and have fun!

• Mr and Mrs
• Porn or Polish - Ideas
• Guess the lingerie - Guess who's belong to each who
• How well do you know the bride?
• He said, She Said
• What age is the bride? - collect images of the bride
• Scavenger Hunt - ideas
• Toilet paper Couture
• Ban the word 'Bride'
• Pin the Tail on the Groom
• Selfie Challenge - Ideas
• Whats on your phone/bag
• Prosecco Pong
• Guess the Dress
• emoji Game - ideas

If you need a little inspiration for your Hen Party or wedding check out my Pinterest board here

I grew up in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales, for me I couldn't simply walk out the door and meet up with friends.  My parents had to drive me, so a lot of my childhood was drawing, making things and helping at home. 

Through school, I had two really cool teachers. Miss Webb and Mr Walker for art and graphics, and because they planned interesting lessons, I fell in love with the subjects.  For my Graphics Final project, I designed a 'Game of Life' Board Game spin-off for the UK Drama Casualty.  My Art Project was something to do with addiction, and I did some canvases with fast food, drugs and alcohol...fun stuff!

I then went to sixth form college and carried on with Graphics at A level, IT and Media, and loved creating things in photoshop, from posters to magazine covers.  During, my free lessons I really got into designing websites

I decided to go to university in Stafford (3hour away from home) and study Web Design, because wanted a mix of artiness and technical. Here I also met one of my best friends who still hosts all my websites, I recommend ZFast Hosting!

At University, I learnt a lot of things about technology, user experience, myself and more importantly others (although, I was to learn even more when I started a job).  I had a placement year at a large IT and tech company in Reading, which was lots of fun and an amazing experience.  After that was my final year and my final project was a study on Branding and Marketing for specific audiences.

A few things that learnt and that are important to me from my university days:

• Don't hold yourself back, just because someone said different
• Take Chances
• Work Hard/Play Hard (but seriously work harder, play time comes later)
• Exercise makes you happy

I started working for a digital advertising company in 2013 after university, making excel reports for clients. Completely not true, I make dashboards to show clients their online performance, a lot of it is about User experience and I deal with a lot of fun issues/people each day. Currently, one of my focuses is to try and get more females into the Data and Insights side of Advertising. Insights is often misconstrued as a boring team, that just deal with numbers.  

After the first year, I started to enjoy it less (all of that excel) and started to think of ways to be more creative. I started making Nail Decals, which grew to handmade cards and then some Fimo and beaded jewellery.

 And a few years later here we are today!

I have designed cards for people you love, admirers, best friends, long-term partners and for the cheeky few among us.

There really is a card for everyone.

You float my boat!

This is one of my old favourites inspired by an origami contest I was having at work (seriously, don't say you can beat me at paper art).

The card features three layers of patterned paper and then two cute origami boats made out of squared paper.  I then hand write 'You float my boat', but I can write anything.

Buy for £4

You'll Do

This card is soo Cheeky! But I love the simplicity of the comment, it's just something you might say if you have been with someone for a few years and you're having one of 'those' days.

The card was originally hand drawn, then it gets scanned in and then computerised in illustrator.  The card is A6 in size and printed on high quality hammered 300gsm card.

Buy for £2.50

Vodka costs less than a dinner for two!

Cheer up a single friend, or just someone low on money that would happily swap pricey food for vodka.

The card is designed in illustrator.  The card is A6 in size and printed on high quality hammered 300gsm card.

Buy for £2.50

You can look at all the other valentines cards here