May20

A Paper Floral Garden

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Shannon

As small gifts of appreciation for Sarah’s bridal shower guests, we created double layered paper flowers that matched the hand stamped invitations that were sent out in the mail. The flowers were placed on top of tin candle favors and used as party decorations at each place setting. The best part? When the lid was lifted off the candle, the paper floral garden smelled just decadent!

What creative ways would you use these paper floral topped candles, as pictured, to add a decorative element to your next event?

May17

From Inspiration to Product (Board #1)

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Shannon

From Inspiration to Product (Board #1)

Designing for Ritu & Ray’s wedding (September 2012) was an absolute feast for the eyes. The couple wanted an “American designer’s take” on a Indian-American wedding. When they contacted Sage & Time Designs, we began first by discussing the colors they desired and any specific prints they loved or hated. We built an inspiration board of ideas and items to work from, so we all were speaking the same “language”.

Photo Credits: Top right retrieved from davidtutera.com and all others images retrieved from indianweddings.com

Then we began designing their invitation suite. The main qualities they decided upon were a tangerine, fuchsia, and gold color scheme. Ritu & Ray also wanted to incorporate lined envelopes and gold paisleys into the design.

The gold paisleys were stamped and embossed, and all envelopes were lined with beautiful, luxurious, handmade paper that felt like cloth!

Sage & Time Designs is wishing you much happiness and good fortune in your marriage, Ritu & Ray!

May15

Baby (Carriage) Bling

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Shannon

Baby (Carriage) Bling

Would you roll this carriage down the street? Recent works have been focused on some blinged out baby designs. This one is a favorite! As soon as this picture was posted to Facebook, an order for 90 baby shower invitations was placed! Another order of 40 has come just this past week!

Have an idea for additional baby bling inspired designs? Leave a comment and let me know.

May13

Happy Mother’s Day

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Shannon

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there!

This year I wanted to make something special for my mom–something she could sit on her shelf in her scrap book room in Illinois, and each time she looked at it, she could be reminded of her daughter all the way over in Brooklyn!

My mom loves nature, flowers, and birds. One of the BEST things about going home to visit my parents is spending time on their 24 acres of land with the beautiful flora and fauna. It is truly one of the most peaceful places I have ever been. There is nothing like sitting on the dock, letting my bare feet hang off the edge, and looking out across their property (appropriately named Bucks Crossing) to take in all the lovely scenery.

So, this Mother’s Day, I created an altered bird house and sent via mail to my mama. She loved it! It is the “Posh Birdhouse from Brooklyn”, and she found a great spot for it in her creative space. Thank you mom for being the best mom EVER.

May10

Venetian Inspired Table Cards

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Shannon

Venetian Inspired Table Cards

I recently met Sharon, owner of Sharon’s Decorations, at the EPA NYC launch event. She called me a few days later and inquired about “something different”. Sharon was planning a Sweet 16 for a client, themed around a Masquerade concept. Sharon wanted table names, not table numbers, but was stuck on where to take the design from there. She did share that she had a ton of purple, green and gold masks that she would be happy to give to me for use in some capacity. The other requirement was that she wanted the table cards to be reusable for future events.

I spent a couple of days in deep thought. What could I use that would be affordable and sturdy for table cards? How could I tie them into the event theme, but make sure they were not too customized for a later event–even those with a different theme?

I began researching the history of Masquerade Balls. (I am a major information and research geek!) My inquisitiveness led me to find out that Masquerades became very popular in Venice during the 16th century Renaissance for the upper class members of society. Masks (taken from the word Masquerade) were worn to conceal one’s identity, allowing a person to be himself or herself, and not feel socially inadequate or inferior to his or her peer group.

That’s when it hit me! I would make elegant, simple, sturdy table cards with historic Venetian places of interest. I called Sharon, explained my idea, and she loved it!

The next day, I gathered my supplies: 18 pieces of stiff 5 x7 cardboard (like the kind found on the back of notepads), antique gold glitter paint, 18 4×6 glossy photo papers, and a foam brush. What you see below is the result. They are elegant, sturdy, reusable, and encompass many places of Venetian history. (I chose NOT to incorporate the mask design because I knew that they would have limited use at other themed events.) The best quality of these cards is that they can be propped against a table centerpiece, such as a vase, added to a centerpiece with a floral pic, or framed for a decorative touch.

May7

Thoughtful Customer Service

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Shannon

Thoughtful Customer Service

I’m pleased to introduce guest blogger, Michelle Nahom, for whom I recently designed business thank you cards. Michelle writes:

If you’re a small business, YOU are your brand. Let’s take a moment to think about what that means. You make the first impression and the last impression. For good or for bad, the buck stops with you.

Excellent customer service can really set you apart from your competition. I don’t always consider price when I’m shopping, and I’d be willing to bet most of you don’t either. But I always consider customer service. I have a favorite clothing boutique where I like to shop. It’s not an inexpensive store, and the owner carries unusual things. But the most important thing to me is how I am treated when I go into the shop. The owner knows my name; I always feel important when I’m shopping with her. Recently, when I was attending a formal function and desperately needed a scarf and the right jewelry for the outfit I was wearing, I called her, and even though it was closing time, she kept the store open and helped me. Why am I telling you this? Because her top notch customer service brings me back into her shop over and over. I am a completely loyal customer. Oh, and did I mention, she occasionally sends a thank you note?

In today’s technology driven world, the written thank you seems to have all but disappeared. I will admit that in the past, I’ve sent most of my business thank you’s via email. And honestly, I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve received a thank you note from a business associate. It simply doesn’t seem to be common practice anymore. However, because of that, it really is a way to differentiate your business.

A couple months ago I went out to breakfast with a gentleman from my networking group. We had a nice talk about the different ways we could possibly help each other. I followed up with the things I promised I would do, and sent him a note via email. Imagine my surprise when I received a Send Out Card from him in the mail. The note inside was personalized, and most importantly, it was genuine. No it wasn’t actually handwritten. But it took a little extra effort on his part to send me a card instead of an email. It was thoughtful and sincere. A written thank you note is a kind gesture that shows appreciation.

Around the same time, I met Shannon Hernandez from Sage & Time Designs. Shannon and I met and became friends on Twitter. We tweeted back and forth for a while. I ordered cards from her; she came to one of my presentations on photo organizing. We had dinner one night. Shannon is really serious about her mantra: “I am on a mission to change this world, one thank you card at a time.” This isn’t tongue in cheek. Think about it. The world would be a better place if we were all more considerate and more thoughtful. What better way to express your gratitude than with a handwritten thank you?

So, I decided I wanted some custom thank you notes and asked Shannon to design them. I’ll admit I wasn’t the easiest customer. Shannon was very patient with me as I tried to get across the idea of what I was looking for. At one point when we were having problems picking out paper, she suggested I might find paper choices I was happier with if I worked with a designer in Delaware. But I’d already built a relationship with Shannon. I didn’t want someone new. SHE was her brand. I ended up buying my own paper and shipping it to her. You see, I had something special in mind. I’m in the photo organizing business, helping build a network of committed professional photo organizers. It’s a very personal business. The members of the Association of Personal Photo Organizers help organize and create keepsakes of life’s most important moments. I wanted a quote that related to memories…I wanted paper that was upbeat, but soothing. It took a while to find the right paper, but once I found it, Shannon created a beautiful variety of cards for me.

I’m really glad to have met Shannon, and not just because she makes beautiful cards that can help you take your own customer service a step further. She’s also a very genuine person. She offers thoughtful customer service.

As for me, I’m writing my first thank you note on my cards tonight…

Michelle Nahom has been working with people and their photos since 2003, offering photo management services. She is Marketing Manager for APPO, the Association of Personal Photo Organizers, building a network of independent business owners who provide solutions to those who are overwhelmed by their printed and digital photos, memorabilia and old home movies. As a photo organizer, her favorite project was a WWII military memoir for a client. She blogs about photos and memory preservation at www.thepowerofphotos.blogspot.com. You can also find her on Facebook @ Creative Photo Solutions – Personal Photo Organizer and on Twitter @CPhotoSolns.

May6

#Welcomebaby Contest and Charity Donation

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Shannon

#Welcomebaby Contest and Charity Donation

Sage & Time Designs teamed up with EightTreeStreet to create a welcome baby wreath incorporting some of the awesome wreaths Maribel designs. The idea behind it was to have two artists collaborate to produce a new product using our talents and ensuring that the final design not only showcased our collaboration, but also gave back to the community.

Is it a boy or a girl? Well, we have made two very distinctive wreaths in this collaboration,. One design is a traditional wreath made of twisted grapevine twigs with some sparkling details and rhinestones, all in pink and purple tones. You guessed it–it celebrates a new baby girl on her way. The second option is a contemporary wreath for a baby boy finished in two-tone ribbons with the sweetest little diaper paper design. This boy wreath also includes pearlized adornments and two jeweled pendants in a light blue and yellow palette.

Wreaths make great additions to a baby shower, not just as door decor, but as table decorations and centerpieces. Make sure to enter if you’d like to have one for your shower. They are truly fun decorations and make a gorgeous keepsake.

One of our readers, a continental US-based resident, will win one of these two wreaths. The other wreath, fully loaded with a package of baby essentials, will be donated by Sage & Time Designs and EightTreeStreet to a non-profit organization which serves families in need.

Here’s how to enter:

1.- Simply leave a comment to this post, so we can find you. The contest starts at 12:01am on 5/7/2012 and runs until Mother’s Day 5/13/2012. Winner will be announced on Mother’s Day at 6pm ET.

2.- Follow Sage & Time Designs’ Pinterest board called #Welcomebaby. Leave a comment on the wreath you would like to win. (You must post a comment in both places to enter the contest.)

The winner will be announced on Mother’s Day via Twitter and email. Be sure to follow Sage & Time Designs and EightTreeStreet on Twitter.

Remember not only you win, but a baby in need also wins! That means double happiness for the new bundles of joy on their way.

Restrictions: Open to Continental US residents due to mailing purposes. EightTreeStreeet will cover mailing, but it’s not responsible for any taxes associated with this contest, they are the responsibility of the winner. Product received is as is. Thank you so much!

May4

Love is Appreciation for Each Other

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Shannon

Love is Appreciation for Each Other

Clemson inspired thank you cards for the newly married couple? Yes, indeed!

Julie and Chris Cline celebrated their day of marriage on Sunday, April 22nd, with close family and friends by their side. They chose to have a very low-key wedding. Several family and friends threw pre and post wedding backyard barbeques and parties to celebrate their love for each other, with the ones they cherish most.

The newly wedded couple met through work, both teachers, in their early 40s. Chris immediately embraced Julie’s three children (from a previous marriage), Claire (13), Jill (9) and Tripp (5). Julie quickly learned “how to handle” a man in his early 40s who had never been married! Chris introduced Julie to his love of sports, which Julie had very little interest in prior to meeting Chris. And Julie returned the favor by introducing Chris to long walks in the park and healthy eating! Their love story is inspirational because they demonstrate what it truly means to “come together”, accept one another for who they are, and vow to grow together in love, life, and hobbies.

Enter the Clemson inspired thank you cards. This couple wanted a way to “say thanks” to all their friends and family by showing how their interests have merged over the past couple of years of dating. Each thank you card is bright orange, monogrammed with the letter “C”, and has been paired with a purple envelope. What says happy-Clemson-couple more than this?

When choosing your thank you cards, whether they be personal, professional, or for use following an event, be brave! Go bold! Get personal! Show the recipients just how much you appreciate them by adding a little bit of fun and flair!

May2

The Power of “Thank You”

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Shannon

The Power of “Thank You”

If you have seen any of my recent social media posts, you may recognize the mantra I have been repeating for months now: “I am on a mission to change this world, one thank you card at a time. Who’s with me?” And believe me, I’m serious about my mission.

The words, “thank you”, when spoken sincerely, have the power to change lives. These two small words are fully loaded and show much appreciation and gratitude towards the recipient. They can give one instant energy to continue pushing forward, while burning the midnight oil, as many of us business owners are doing. They can change your perspective about a person you may be working with, who might have been behaving in a difficult matter. And honestly, it’s just polite.

In a world where social media, technology, and quick emails are the norm–and life is hectic, fast paced and typed messages are concise (140 characters or less!)–it is wise to consider sending a personalized thank you card, handwritten, by mail, to your business partners, contacts, leads, and client base. Yes, this means you will have to find a good ink pen, practice your cursive a little bit before starting, and secure a block of time to think and compose a thoughtful message, but believe me, it will be time well invested.

As part of my “Thank You Mission”, I have been working with many business owners to create personalized, custom, handcrafted thank you cards which make a powerful statement when sent with a handwritten sentiment. Each client has different design needs and desires, but their message is the same, and we work together to include all aspects of their business branding into the design. They should be professional–but these little paper presents can also be fun, whimsical, enlightening, and reflect a little of your own personality, as the business owner. (The logo appears on the inside of the card.)

Larger Than Life Events, owned by Atosha Barboza-Bennett: For Atosha, consistent color with her logo, as well as some sparkle and bling were key elements she wished to incorporate into her thank you cards.

APPO–Michelle Nahom, Marketing Manager: Michelle helps clients organize their photos and preserve their memories. For her, one of the most important elements was the incorporation of a meaningful quote that aligns with her overall vision.

Event Details, Inc., owned by Christina Berrios: Christina’s signature branding includes red, black, and dots. We carried that theme throughout here card design.

Epiphany Events and Planning, owned by Lisa Hunt: Lisa wanted a simple thank you card with elegant writing and consistent with her logo color and design.

Handcrafted and custom thank you cards are unique, personal, and powerful! When designed to reflect your personal style and business branding, they are sure to leave a lasting impression on those who receive them.

Apr30

True Appreciation

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Shannon

True Appreciation

I am pleased to introduce guest blogger, Tiffany Silverberg. Tiffany and I met via social media discussions about the power of thank you cards. Tiffany is a freelance marketing writer – helping small business owners and entrepreneurs uncover their brand story. When she’s not writing, Tiffany has knitting needles or a whisk in her hands.

I’ve been chatting with Shannon here at Sage & Time Designs over on twitter about the joy of Thank You’s. It so fits with everything I’ve been telling my clients! Everyone wants the next marketing gimmick or the quick road to success, don’t we? But when you take a moment and realize just how blessed you are to own a business or run an organization, how wonderful it is that people follow, like, tweet, read, and buy from you… all those schemes and plans tend to melt into thankfulness. Why not revive the old Thank You note habit ingrained into us in childhood to show those who have helped you succeed just how much you care?

Over on my blog today, Shannon has shared some beautiful designs for incorporating your brand into your cards. You can do the same with the words you choose to write.

Be specific, and even a bit vulnerable. How exactly has working with them or for them helped you? You don’t have to be mushy, and I recommend you don’t, but details take your thank you note from another task to a truly kind gesture.

Consider your level of relationship. If you are writing a note to tuck into a package going off to a customer, the message can be a bit more generic. This is a great place to pull in some of your branding terms. “Thanks for keeping us flying” or “Thank you for your investment in sustainable cheese making.”

If your recipient is a long-time supporter of your business, speak directly to that relationship. “I really appreciate your loyalty to us over the last five years.” And if the recipient is an investor, fellow designer, partner, or someone “on the inside,” you can get really personal. “Thank you for keeping us off the streets this year” or “Thank you for helping us see the vision we dreamed.”

Finally, don’t drown the appreciation in a sales pitch at the end. Your business thank you note should not be a disguised coupon. Don’t end with “If you want to shop again” or “I hope you will consider…” Now is the time to really be authentic and honest. It’s a time to let your reader know just how much what she has already done means to you… not what he can do in the future.

That being said, make sure you include clear contact information to keep the communication open!

Let’s resuscitate this dying art by incorporating true appreciation even in small business.

Tiffany Silverberg has great advice and tips for business owners. You can (and should!) read more on her website! (I wrote on Tiffany’s blog today about the power of personalized thank you card design to match your business branding. Examples of client work and logos can be seen here.)