Just For Fun: Greeting Cards

You are running late for a birthday party and just realized you forgot to get a card. You quickly run into CVS, all decked out in your party face/attire and dart towards the card section. As you quickly try to find any card that reads "Happy Birthday" there is an obnoxious girl in your way. She has twelve cards in her hands and she is reading and fondling all of them. Within the thirty seconds you are standing next to her, she giggles and even wipes away a tear. GOD, what is her deal, can she back off? Well, that's me and I'm sorry. I have no control. Really, I have a problem.

I love, love, love greeting cards for a few reasons. They have the potential to be oh-so-pretty and creative. I've been inspired by great design seen in greeting cards for various projects. Materials, color combinations, compositions and on and on I could go. Then, of course, they are so incredibly thoughtful. My minor obsession may stem from my mother's greeting card choices for me over the years. Whether it was a birthday/graduation/we miss you card, they always made me so happy (and nine out of ten times I would tear up). So, when it comes time for me to pick a card for someone I care about, I take my time. And if you think it's weird that I gave you a 'Happy Thanksgiving' card, then I apologize...again. 

There are many times when I'm inspired by fun cards. But, there have been instances when I leave the store with nothing in hand. Nothing was designed well-enough or witty enough or sweet enough to buy. And, because of this, I decided I will start designing and giving out my own cards. Now, I will be the first to say I am no poet, so I intend to keep them short and sweet. I'm starting out with simple materials- printing on a high-quality double side matte paper. But, I intend to get more intricate with time. 

My first card (seen above - top is front, bottom is inside) is inspired by my recent European adventures. I love the vintage look of maps. I photographed a globe and played with the idea of foreign stamps. As I create more cards, I will be sure to post them. And if in the meantime I get in your way at the card aisle of CVS, you have permission to shove me away. 

Products I love: Tocca Perfume

Finding a great perfume for me means two things: a unique, lovely smell and phenomenal packaging and product design. Tocca perfumes have both.

My favorite scent by Tocca is "Florence". It is soft, romantic, and sophisticated. With hints of pear, jasmine, grapefruit, and blondewood it has a sweet musk to it, but will not leave you smelling like a candy shop or even worse, a bad flavored vodka. I always get compliments when wearing "Florence", which only make it that much better.

In addition to the deliciously decadent scent, the packaging for this product is utter perfection. The box is a creme color with bronze embedded "doodles". It is airy and chic - an appropriate style for the scent inside. As you open the box you read the words "love yourself" scribbled inside. The bottle itself has a vintage feel with a heavy brass-ish top. I'm a firm believer in surrounding yourself with visually pleasing elements in your home, and this piece does just that.

You can buy "Florence" by Tocca at Sephora for $68.