Key elements to include in a party invitation

click image to enlarge

Today I thought I'd share a little advice with you on key bits of information to make sure each and every invitation you send out includes. With the holidays right around the corner, I thought you could use a little reminder:) Plus when you see InkSpot Workshop's fun lineup of Holiday Party Invites (launching Nov 1) you are so going to want to have a reason to throw a party!

The idea to create this post came to me today, as I was designing this actual invitation to be used for a Mom's Night Out get together I soon will be hosting. Can you tell I have a complete obsession with the show Mad Men? I'm pretty sure I'm having this get together just so I could use this design I've had in my head:) Now the pressure is really on me to get some much needed yard work finished!

Here you go...

1. Festive Intro - This really sets the tone/mood for your shin-dig and gets people excited. Have fun with it.

2. Who, What, Where, When - Common sense, right? You'd be surprised how many customers I have that do not include this info in their invitations. ALWAYS be sure this information is clearly stated somewhere, even if you need to include a map, which seems old school now that everyone has a GPS or Google Maps.

3. Special Instructions - This could be a dress code, or a gift "theme" if it's a wedding or baby shower, basically anything out of the ordinary you want your guests to be aware of.

4. RSVP - Don't fall into the "Regrets Only" trap because many people will forget to notify you if they do not plan to attend your party. A response is also helpful when you are trying to secure a head count. If you are using a caterer and need to have a complete number of guests by a certain date, don't forget to include an "RSVP by..." date.

Be sure to send your invites out at least 2-4 weeks before your party.

HAVE FUN!

Hump Day Giveaway - Lemon Bird Handmade Jams

Happy Hump Day!

Today we've got a little somethin' somethin'
to help make your day a little more
JAMMIN'

It is with great pleasure I introduce you to today's favorite find, whom by the way is no stranger to these pages. If you have been a follower of InkSpot Workshop's blog, you might recall 2 years ago {to the date almost} my first post about the tasty delicacies that come from Lemon Bird Handmade Jams, click here for a flashback.

I personally fell for Lemon Bird at first taste and know you will too! It's not enough that Amy painstakingly hand selects all the fruit she uses to make these jams, it's the unconventional blend of herbs (savory and sweet) she concocts. She's a regular JAMOLOGIST! I especially l♥ve the little factoid that Lemon Bird was created the day Amy's co-worker brought 50 pounds of home grown peaches to the office. I mean... what else do you do with all those peaches??? Would have actually made a great episode for THE OFFICE:)

Live in the Los Angeles area? Come meet Amy and the Lemon Bird crew at Artisanal LA an indie artsy/crafty/foodie experience you won't want to miss! Click here for more info.

Today
Lemon Bird Handmade Jams
wants to give you the chance to win
{TWO JARS}
of this season's most popular flavors...
Peach with Lavender and Fig with Honey


ENTERING IS EASY!

1. Go to Lemon Bird's shop - come back here and leave a comment telling us your favorite flavor or item. You may leave a bonus entry if you tell us a a new product or flavor you'd like to see them make.

2. Become a fan of Lemon Bird on Facebook by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment letting us know if you are a new fan or current fan.

3. Become a fan of InkSpot Workshop on Facebook by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment letting us know if you are a new fan or current fan.

4. Follow Lemon Bird on Twitter by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment letting us know if you are a new or current follower.

5. Follow InkSpot Workshop on Twitter by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment letting us know if you are a new or current follower.

6. If you post this contest on your blog and/or Facebook Page you will automatically gain 5 extra entries. Please be sure to post your blog or Facebook link here so we may see your post.

* CONTEST OPEN TO US RESIDENTS ONLY *
* WINNER WILL BE SELECTED USING RANDOM.ORG *
* WINNER WILL BE SELECTED AT MIDNIGHT (EST) OCT 15th *
* YOUR ENTRY IS YOUR COMMENT LEFT HERE *
* PLEASE BE SURE WE HAVE A WAY TO REACH YOU *
* ENTER AS MANY TIMES AS YOU'D LIKE *
* ENTRIES RECEIVED AFTER MIDNIGHT-OCT 15th ARE VOID *
* WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED HERE ON MONDAY OCT 18th *

THANK YOU
and
GOOD LUCK

Hump Day Giveaway - Winner Majkatree

! CONGRATULATIONS !
Ashly
you won this super adorable cosmetic pouch from
Majkatree

Enjoy!

Thanks everyone for entering
Stay tuned for this week's giveaway!!

iCandy - Severance Celebration Edition

Wall Decal from Whirlibird

Happy Friday everyone! and for me it's super HAPPY! Today's iCANDY feature is meant to be inspirational and is very near and dear to my ♥ this week.

You see...for the past few years, well actually ever since I first started InkSpot Workshop in April, 2008, I've secretly had a bad case of Severance Package Envy! InkSpot Workshop has been my side business, while I have been a full time Medical Sales rep for a large medical device manufacturing company (can't name until after the end of the month). It seemed like a rare occurrence for medical device sales people to get laid off in this industry so when other internal people in my company would get severance packages I would secretly feel envious and wish it were me. It's not that I didn't like my job of 9 years or the people and customers I worked with, it's just that I really wanted to be making pretty paper goodies instead:) I never meshed my two worlds together (paper and needles) but there were several sales calls when I just wanted to shout at the nurses...."hey ladies, you think this iv catheter is neat? let me show you my line of stationery" :)

Then there was the tremendous guilt! The guilt of having a very good sales job, the type of job people always had their friends call you about to see how they could "get into the business" but wishing you didn't have. The guilt from having a very good job that you really didn't want, but were so good at doing, when so many other people in the country are losing jobs left and right. The guilt from cutting your day short to take care of customer's invitation orders, when you could have made one more sales call. Ugh! guilt is really such a burden. I won't even mention the toll leading a double life was taking on my family.

On Wednesday of this week my secret wish came true! My company like so many others out there had to reduce head count in order to make a profit for the shareholders and you know what? I completely understand that. It's one of the risks you take working for a large, publicly held company. When I got the call (along with 24 others) I seriously was doing a tap dance while on the call. The sky got bluer and the trees instantly got greener and I felt like the hugest weight ever had been lifted off my chest. I could now stop living this double life and be truly dedicated, 100% to growing InkSpot Workshop! I must also mention the fact my husband who also is in medical sales is super supportive and has made me feel at ease about this decision. Of course he enjoyed my paycheck which contributed 50% to our total income but he also has seen InkSpot Workshop grow, plus my stress associated with keeping a double life and knows if anyone can make a business work, it's ME!

Right now I want to leave you with the inspiration that living your dream CAN happen, not to mention watch what you wish for because someone obviously is listening:) I plan on writing a Part II on this subject where I give some advice for those of you currently working and help you to plan your "exit strategy" now that hind sight really is 20/20. I understand not everyone is fortunate enough like me to receive a severance package after 9 years of service, so I'll try to make sure that post comes from a different perspective.

Oh Happy Day! Thanks to all of you who have made InkSpot Workshop a profitable success and all of this possible for me. Guess you could say....SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED A LITTLE SHOVE TO DO WHAT YOU L♥VE!

1. Collage Poster - Green Nest, $14.00
2. Super Mug - My Other Little Shop, GA $23.00
3. Silver Pendant Necklace - Lisa Hopkins, IN $68.00
4. Notebook - Honey Design Books, New Zealand, $6.50
5. Matchbook Doodle Pads - Monkey Mind Design, CO $6.00
6. Wall Decal - Whirlibird, IL $24.50

Hump Day Giveaway - Majkatree

Happy Hump Day!

Today we've got a little somethin' somethin'
to help make your day a little more
ADORABLE!

Most of the people I feature here on Hump Day Giveaway are designers & shops I've personally made purchases from. It's pretty obvious one of these little beauties currently holds my cosmetics in style! In fact my cosmetic bag is cuter than my actual purse, thanks to Majkatree, Modern Hand Crafted Bags.

Not only is Dawn a mad woman on the sewing machine making bags, she now offers matching pillows and they are absolutely to die for! If that's not enough she's opened a second shop called Grunsugar, click here to check out her line of equally amazing wall art.

Today
Majkatree
wants to give you the chance to win
your very own
one of a kind,
modern,
handcrafted
RETRO COSMETIC POUCH


ENTERING IS EASY!

1. Go to Majkatree's shop - come back here and leave a comment telling us your favorite pattern or item. You may leave a bonus entry if you tell us a a new product or pattern you'd like to see in their lineup.

2. Become a fan of Majkatree on Facebook by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment letting us know if you are a new fan or current fan.

3. Become a fan of InkSpot Workshop on Facebook by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment letting us know if you are a new fan or current fan.

4. If you post this contest on your blog and/or Facebook Page you will automatically gain 5 extra entries. Please be sure to post your blog or Facebook link here so we may see your post.

* CONTEST OPEN TO WORLDWIDE RESIDENTS *
* WINNER WILL BE SELECTED USING RANDOM.ORG *
* WINNER WILL BE SELECTED AT MIDNIGHT (EST) OCT 8th *
* YOUR ENTRY IS YOUR COMMENT LEFT HERE *
* PLEASE BE SURE WE HAVE A WAY TO REACH YOU *
* ENTER AS MANY TIMES AS YOU'D LIKE *
* ENTRIES RECEIVED AFTER MIDNIGHT-OCT 8th ARE VOID *
* WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED HERE ON MONDAY OCT 11th *

THANK YOU
and
GOOD LUCK

2011 Calendars are here!

They're HERE!

Introducing
2011
InkSpot Workshop
Limited Edition Calendars!

Your choice
Desktop or Wall Hanging or both!
{order early and save, see below}

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL!

BUY
2
GET
1
FREE

Enter coupon code 2011 during checkout
Get yours by clicking here
or visiting
InkSpotWorkshop.com

Hurry, offer ends October 31, 2010

Hump Day Giveaway - Lilac Ave Winner

CONGRATULATIONS!
Designs By Miss Chris
you won a
Super Sampler Set
compliments of
Lilac Avenue

Thanks everyone for participating!
Stay tuned for this week's Hump Day Giveaway