Courtney Brewer Designs

A ladybug skating party!

2011-11-17T20:10:00.001-06:00

Miss Kaylee is by far the cutest ladybug I've ever seen! So, of course, her mom would want her birthday party invitation to include her adorable photo taken by jennied photography. Not only did she need an invitation for her skating party, but cupcake toppers and favor bags too. Check out the designs I did, just for Kaylee, to celebrate her fourth birthday in style.

If you have an upcoming party or shower, contact me at courtneybrewerdesigns@gmail.com for your custom order.

There's a baby on the way...

2011-09-12T11:43:00.000-05:00

My dear friend and daycare provider is having a beautiful baby girl in October. When she told me that she was having a baby shower and she wanted me to do her invitation, I was THRILLED! #1 -- I love getting to do anything baby girl -- because our house is ALL boy. And #2 --- well, it was Jessica... I would need to pull out the big guns!

Here's the invitation

The shower was this last Saturday -- and thanks to Pinterest --- I got the fun idea to make monthly onesies for baby Grace to have her photo taken in each month. Well, if you know me.... I wasn't just going to order stickers from another designer on Etsy and put them on a onesie... I was going to design, print and iron those suckers on myself!!! And you better believe that's JUST what I did :)

What a great photo op AND a great way for me to incorporate the design on her invite (which Jessica LOVED) into the gift I was going to give her.

They turned out beautiful! Here are the pics:

Introducing Caleb Joshua....

2011-06-24T23:32:00.001-05:00

I had the pleasure of being ask by a wonderful set of new parents, Katie and Jason, to do their newborn son's birth announcements. The photography was provided by JennieD Photography out of Glenwood, Iowa. She's one of my favorite photographers in the area! Her photography makes my job much easier too. And a side note... if that cloth diaper doesn't make you want to go green, I don't know what will. So.stinkin.cute!

(This one was mom's pick!)

(And this one was dad's pick!)

Charlie Brown, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and well... Charlie Barenek, of course!

2011-06-24T09:44:00.000-05:00

Ok, these were by far some of the best baby announcements to work on! Jason and Joanna have such a great sense of humor and their newborn photos were beautiful. My mission from the parents -- Charlie Brown theme, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory theme and a third traditional announcement. Mission accomplished? I'll let you decide.... but Joanna did order some of each!

Once the boxes are unpacked...

2011-04-26T23:08:00.000-05:00

Have you moved lately? Thanks to facebook, twitter, four square and even myspace (for those of your even still using it)... you may not see a need to send out the old fashioned Moving Announcements anymore. Well, if you're like me... your grandmas are still using snail mail and you really just look for any excuse to send a cute card to your closest friends and family.

I recently designed these Moving Announcements for my friend Marla M. You'll have to scroll down under the pictures to see which one she actually chose :)

So?? Which one do you think she went with?? Well, after much deliberation (and a little bit of decision help on my end), Marla chose the first option with the blue and green whimsical floral background. Enjoy Marla! And thanks for giving me the opportunity!

Postage rate increase in April

2011-03-27T16:45:00.002-05:00

Did you know postage rates are going up in April??

Starting on April 17th, USPS postage rates will be increasing across a range of denominations. While the one-ounce first class stamp will remain at $0.44, several other postage values will be changing.

New USPS Postage Rates
Postcard - $0.29
1st Class, 1oz. - $0.44
1st Class, 2oz. - $0.64 (This is your common wedding invitation postage)
1st Class, 1oz. Odd Size - $0.84
1st Class, 3oz. - $0.84
1st Class, 3.5oz. - $1.05
1st Class, 4oz. - $1.48
Priority, Flat Rate Envelope - $4.95

A stack of programs and a BaByQ

2011-03-13T22:47:00.001-05:00

As I'm plowing through wedding season, I'm getting hot and heavy into my May/June/July weddings. Those months are creeping up on me quickly, but I'm working on a lot of fun weddings. I can't wait to get some of those things posted once they're in the mail! In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at the programs for a wedding next weekend as well as a fun couple's baby shower coming up in April. You may recognize that these are the programs that go along with the invite I posted for Katie a couple months back.

The baby shower invite is actually from one of my previous clients out on the east coast. I did her daughter's wedding programs (as well as some other miscellaneous items) about a year ago, so I'm really excited to see that they're adding to their family and thought of me to help them celebrate! Thanks Vickie!

Top Secret Baby Announcement... revealed!

2011-02-24T20:55:00.000-06:00

Alright folks, I've been given the 'all clear' to post this sweet baby's chosen announcement. It was my first design for her (and secretly, my favorite). Once again, fantastic photography by Jennie D Photography. I was IN LOVE with the purple blanket that Lyra was lying on. It reminds me of the afghans that my grandmother crocheted. So sweet! Enjoy!

The Cutting Room Floor: A beautiful baby

2011-02-20T16:07:00.001-06:00

I know some of you have been DYING to see these announcements for little Miss Lyra. Great photography by JennieD Photography made designing these so natural! My intention was to give the parents three completely different styles to choose from.

Since not all of the announcements have hit the mailboxes of the recipients, I'm going to hold off on revealing the announcement that they chose... and just show you the two that hit the cutting room floor.

And just for fun, here's a couple quotes I stole from the emails from Erica:

"OMG that is so cute! I can't wait to see the rest. I know you are going to make it hard for me to pick. :-)"

"Okay, we are in love with all of them. Your work is phenomenal!!!!!!! And you made this very hard."

"All 3 are sooooooo good. It was a very tough decision for us."

Thanks so much Keith & Erica for choosing me to share your beautiful new addition with the world! She's so adorable!

Awesome Customer Feedback... gotta love it :)

2011-02-10T12:56:00.003-06:00

I always enjoy those emails where a customer is raving about your work! My goal is to give a bride everything she was hoping for and more. I mean, that's why they trusted ME with their wedding invitations, right? Well, I just received this email from a bride whose wedding invitations I dropped in the mailbox just this weekend. She included a photo and all!

"So far, the response has been bananas! Everybody LOVES the RSVP! I should start seeing some in today/tomorrow’s mail! I am keeping a scrapbook of all the responses… I thought it was so fun, I have to keep them all!" -- Rebecca S.

And here's a terrible picture taken with my phone of Rebecca's invitations all ready to be dropped off at the Post Office :) I always like to send them a little note to let them know I'm on my way. And her response to my picture message:

"OMG…. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!! I cannot wait to start getting RSVP’s back!!!!! Thank you so much… you have no idea what a stress-free process you have made this for me!!!!" -- Rebecca S.

And yes, she really did have THAT many explanation points! :) I'll post some better photos and share all the details with you later.

WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 Winner!

2011-01-25T11:19:00.001-06:00

Omaha, NE – January 25, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Courtney Brewer Designs (formerly Simply Said by Courtney) has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for Wedding Invitations!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Courtney Brewer Designs stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Courtney Brewer Designs for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Courtney Brewer Designs is among the very best Wedding Invitation Designers within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/courtney-brewer-designs-omaha/2a5c32339b48da49.html.

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire.com, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).

Happy New Year

2011-01-12T11:10:00.000-06:00

Wow, I've been officially doing wedding invitations for brides all over the country for 5 years now! I started with my very own wedding invitations back in 2006. It's crazy how time flies. And looking at my calendar, it doesn't look like 2011 is going to be any exception. I've got brides booked all the way through the end of the year and my first wedding invites of the year should be in the hands of their guests already!

Katie came to me quite a few months ago knowing exactly what she wanted! I love the recycled paper that these invites were printed on.... so much that I may just start using them for everyone :) It was so smooth and bright white and very economical. Which is exactly what brides like to hear!

Now that I have an SLR camera, I'm going to start posting "real" picture of my invites when I can. Now, I'm not a photography pro... but I promise to get a class under my belt so they at least look decent :) And once my office ready, I'll have a little area set up just for photoshooting those invitations. I'm really excited about it!

Anyways, here's a look at Katie & Mark's wedding invitations -- both in the flesh AND my digital layout. And a special THANK YOU to Katie for referring me to her friends!

A sneak peek into Michelle and Edsels upcoming wedding!

2010-12-24T15:45:00.000-06:00

I love this Indian culture inspired wedding stationery set. The save the dates are getting ready to be mailed, so you can have sneak peek into what everything is going to look like. The antique gold and jade colors give this card a rich and elegant feel. I can't wait to see the entire finished invitation package! Stay tuned!

Now that they should be mailed....

2010-12-24T15:37:00.000-06:00

I always want to wait to make sure my clients get the chance to mail out their holiday cards before I plaster them all over the internet. These cute couples came to me to design their photo cards. As always, thanks for thinking of me to wish your family and friends a Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays from the Brewer Family

2010-12-22T10:59:00.000-06:00

Since we just moved to our new house at the beginning of November, I decided to save some postage and combined our "We moved" cards and our Christmas cards. My Christmas card list is getting longer and longer every year... so for those of you that didn't get one of our photo cards, here's what we sent out :) And I promise I'll order enough next year! I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season and we'll see you in 2011!!

Babies, babies, babies

2010-10-25T13:15:00.001-05:00

I love welcoming babies... and what better shower invite than showering the mama-to-be with lots of love as she welcomes her little bouncing baby boy. Thank you, Heather, for coming to me once again for your invitation needs!

And this little lady should be joining her very excited parents any day! This shower was super cute with all the pink goodies, fun games and – my favorite – the pink champagne punch! And Lola is going to have the cutest nursery ever.... it made me want a little girl so darn bad :) Guess I'll have to work on that! For now, the firetrucks will have to do at the Brewer household!

A Little Catching UP

2010-10-25T13:01:00.002-05:00

Where does the time go? These pieces are from a wedding in August. A friend of mine got married and asked me to do her rehearsal dinner invitation. I also co-hosted her bridal shower, so I'm adding that invite in here too... plus a photo of the bride and bridesmaids (I'm the second from the left if you could guess)!

Happy 1st birthday Colin!

2010-09-13T17:03:00.002-05:00

Ok, I have to take the time to AW a little bit. One of my favorite Omaha children's photographers Heidi Keene Photography did my son's one year photos last week. I've been waiting an entire year to use her. She just posted a sneak peek up on her blog. The photos are absolutely stunning and I can't wait to see the rest of them! Thank you Heidi!

Bachelorette Party fun

2010-07-20T10:08:00.000-05:00

I worked on this bachelorette party invite a couple weeks ago. Love the red with the zebra print and the maid of honor wanted cute little return address labels to go with it. How crazy fun do you think this party is going to be?!?! I'm so jealous! Enjoy the night ladies and I send my best to the bride-to-be on a wonderful marriage!

Hog Wild for Father's Day

2010-06-18T08:36:00.001-05:00

A previous client approached me wanting a Pork Rub label designed for her husband's favorite concoction, so she could give it to him for Father's Day. That stuff must be good if it's worthy of a label! Hope he loves it!

Find me on Facebook

2010-05-06T00:07:00.000-05:00

Ok, I've officially created a page on facebook. I know, I know... it's about time, right? Be sure to check out the page here and "Like" it :)

As graduation time nears

2010-04-20T16:22:00.002-05:00

It was a blessing that my co-worker Jen's husband forgot to order his formal graduation announcements for his upcoming graduation from Creighton. Maybe she didn't think so, however, until she asked me to do this personalized design for her. Not only does it invite everyone to the party, but it also expresses his love for motorcycles along with the exciting journey he's been on leading him from the Marines, to his bachelor's degree and now on to Pharmacy School. Jen recently posted this comment on facebook: "Just got Billy's invitation proof! LOVE It!!! Courtney Brewer you are an amazing graphic artist! THANK YOU SO MUCH! Can't wait to send them out!!"

I always love to see a happy customer! Thanks for thinking of me Jen!

A quick sneak peek

2010-03-24T00:17:00.001-05:00

My baby brother is getting married and I was lucky enough to get to design the wedding invitations for them! They are going for a vintage theme using salmon, black and ivory. These will feature a custom linen black folder with the information cards held in with a custom printed vellum belly band. I just got all the files sent off to the printer and I can't wait to see the final product! In the meantime, I'll be cutting, scoring and folding those black linen folders :)

My first Zazzle item!

2010-03-21T22:50:00.003-05:00

Bridal Shower Invitation by simplysaid
make an invitation online at Zazzle.com

First Birthday Monkey Invitations

2010-03-12T15:21:00.003-06:00

First, wedding invitations then baby announcements and now, 1st birthday invitations. I love being able to see my clients' families grow! And what better way to celebrate the first year of this little monkey, then having a girlie monkey birthday party theme! I'm also designing up some party decorations including party hats, cookie bags and a birthday banner. I'll post pictures after the party. This mom goes all out, so it's going to be cute!