Christmas...start getting your lists.

Christmas is coming...

Well, in 40 short days. And my elves and I have been busy working on the Holiday collection of cards.

This year I'm offering four different ways to purchase the cards -- standard, premium, emailable, and print-your-own.

All of these are custom created -- not just a template that I drop images into. I resize, rescale, and make it beautiful. So I can add more or less photos than what's shown. I can also personalize the message written as well.

So take a look and prepare your family for their close ups!

KR
View the entire collection online at:
http://potpourribykerri.googlepages.com/christmascards

Canadian Wedding, eh?

Printed on a linen stock, these invitations set the mood and tone for a wedding in Canada. Vivid orange, maple leaves -- perfect for the wedding in the woods.

Jewelry Party

An invite for a little older crowd -- a 10 year old's birthday with a jewelry theme...
I LOVED the silhouette invitation, even the silhouette could be customized to your own child's profile.

They went with the more straight forward, which was really cute too. Yellow was the girl's favorite color --

Sweet Sheep

The host wanted something different, not the typical yellows and greens for a baby shower, tied in with the sheep theme.
This footed the needs perfectly.

Christmas Is less than 100 days away

Christmas is coming...

Well, in 96 short days. And my elves and I have been busy working on the Holiday collection of cards.

This year I'm offering four different ways to purchase the cards -- standard, premium, emailable, and print-your-own.

All of these are custom created -- not just a template that I drop images into. I resize, rescale, and make it beautiful. So I can add more or less photos than what's shown. I can also personalize the message written as well.

So take a look and prepare your family for their close ups!

KR
View the entire collection online at:
http://potpourribykerri.googlepages.com/christmascards

Christmas...it'll be here soon!

Email me if you want the sneak preview of our Christmas photo card line -- great for those getting married, with children, or even to just send out a story or Holiday message.

Sneak peak E-mail -- to all former customers, or those on the list: August 20th
Release to the public -- September 1st

You can order 25, and groups of 5 after that.
The cards are 5x7 and come with standard white envelopes.
Red, Green or other colored envelopes also available.

Remember, I customize the photos on the cards to fit what looks best with your photos -- it's not just a template I drop in.

You can also order an E-greeting card. Pick one of the cards, I'll place your photos and message and send an E-mail appropriate file to you for only $10. For a printable file (if you want to print your own cards), I will email you the file for $15

What does a invitation designer do for her own kids?

Well for my daughter's first birthday (in June) I wanted to do more of a girly, color theme. I selected lavender with lime green accents.

Because of her nickname "doll baby" and a significance in her and the number 3, I did a paper doll for the invitation. What happened to be even more perfect -- I found a dress (after I did the design) that matched the design (on clearance for $4!)

The invitations were tied with green polka dot ribbons and mailed in a white envelope with a purple scalloped label that wrapped front to back.

The favors: we let the kids decorate flower pots with foam stickers in insects patterns, and then fill them with dirt and plant some seeds (vegetable seeds, they grow faster).

For cake: I did a cupcake tower with vanilla cupcakes, buttercream white icing, rimmed with purple sugar and topped with a royal icing flower.

I decorated with buttons and flower pots (in lime/purples) and cut out her names in various scraps of scrapbook paper in similar patters and hung it from ribbons.

Like a tattoo for a baby announcement.

I'm not a fan of pink. Nor am I a fan of baby blue. But when my girl and boy arrived, you get a lot of pinks and blues.

Drawing inspiration from a mom I met at the park the other day, a lovely woman -- with an edge -- her kid had the coolest rock t-shirt on and sneakers -- and I couldn't help but notice her tattoo-- and I thought, I bet he didn't have a baby blue baby announcement with dogs or cars or cute animals on it.

So here's my first in a line I'm going to call: Tattoo'd Baby

Lady Lyla

Lyla's parents selected a design from the website titled Ribbon. It's simplicity really gives a chance for the photos to share a story. The challenge was to fit the images on the design with the different format -- and all the adorable photos Lyla's parents sent.

The expression on her face was so adorable that we made that dominant. And who can resist a sleeping baby and a laughing baby...all completed the story of Lyla.

Thank you to Lyla's parents...and my husband for referring them to me!

Marc & Candy

My first wedding invitation.
The task was to use the colors of terra cotta and champaign, and give it a garden feel. The wedding will be held outdoors. They also needed an invitation to a reception held after the wedding in their home states. (as well as response cards for both)

The results were two approaches to the designs, while keeping the theme. The lighter, left side, was for the wedding. The darker, right side was for both receptions.

The invitations were all printed on a linen textured paper, with the backs printed as well. The back varied to create more interest and as a little surprise.

They were sent in a beautiful dark terra cotta envelope (the same color as the type) with beautiful labels that wrapped front to back, with a scalloped edge.

March of Dimes: March for Babies

I'm joining the March of Dimes, March for Babies on April 27th in Columbus Ohio.

My baby Adelaine was born at 36 weeks. To many, even the nurses, they didn't think that was too early. But to Lainey, it was. About 2 hours after her birth, she was taken to the NICU. Within 24 hours she had to be fully put on a ventilator to help her breathe.

The wonderful miracle of science and medicine, as well as a feisty little girl -- and the people behind the March of Dimes, allowed my baby to come home 1 week after she was born. With your support, I can help even more babies, more families.

Please visit my website: http://www.marchforbabies.org/foradelaine
To learn more or to contribute.

Announcement: Cutie Kate

I had the privilege of designing this announcement for the cute little Kate. Her parents sent me the photo and asked for something "girly, flowery...in pink"

This is kind of a twist on the antique look I've given some of my other pieces. The clean white really popped out the flowers. And of course there's the symbolism, mommy and daddy bigger flowers looking in on their little flower. I love the combination of textures and dots -- and that bright green is quickly becoming my favorite with pinks!

Thanks to Kate's parents

(and Emily who gave them a gift certificate to use me -- a great shower gift).

A Monster!...and he's hungry

It's my first book. I'd love to find an illustrator to properly do this, but until then, this was fun and I hope to sell some books. If not, it's a great gift for my kids!

A monster!!! ..and he's hungry by Kerri Rodenbaugh A Monster!...and he's hungry! is about a boy who wakes up really early one morning to hear a monster in his room. He puts on a brave face, even trying to save his mommy...or so he thinks.

Valentine

So next year I'll have things more together and I will design a series of Valentine cards that you can order just in time for the great shoebox swap. I got a late start this year...but did do one for my own kids.

Again, I'm working on developing the vintage line.

Birthday: Ice Skating Party

January brings cold weather and my niece's birthday. My sister planned the party at the local ice skating rink, which provided invitations (what?!?!) But she didn't have enough, so I whipped up a few designs. My niece ultimately selected one that wasn't my best work, but it was her party...but here's one I just fell in love with.

Some other ideas from the party include:
Party Favors: Mittens, packets of hot chocolate and marshmallows
Cake: Sheet cake with ice skater in silhouette or round cake with snowflake and sprinkles

Announcement: baby Caroline

My sister's, sister-in-law, had a beautiful baby girl in December. I had the honor of doing her announcement. She picked one I had posted on the website, with some small alterations.

During the process of getting her the perfect announcement, I also played around with color on this and really liked the alternative versions too.

This one I call vintage. It's the first I did, in what I hope to be a series -- Vintage. It takes a scrapbooking look or theme to a photo announcement. So you get the look of scrapping, without having to cut all that paper!

What's the Buzz.

I've been drawing inspiration from a variety of places. My main focus the last month was Christmas and many orders for diaper cakes, but now I'll be working on a new website (hopefully a better look) as well as doing more announcements and party invites.

Lately, my inspiration has been coming from vintage textures and patterns and the mix and match you get from things like quilts. I love that mesh of fabric patterns next to one another. One of the latest announcement cards I've done has that feelings (shown here).

I'm hoping to do much more this year -- so pass my name along. The new year I hope will bring a new series of cards, fun colors that aren't your typical "baby" announcements.