HAPPY HOUR IS FROM 4 to 6!

Cady: "Is there alcohol in this?"

Mrs. George: " Oh god, no, honey, what kind of a mother do you think I am? 
Why, do you want some? Because if you're gonna drink, Id rather you do it in the house."

In honor of Hump Day (...and Mean Girls) here are some fun cocktail prints. 
I found the original design inspiration from an artist on Etsy, and felt inspired to create 
my own cocktails! 

...Drinks anyone?

I LOVE HUE

I have been pretty busy at work these past few days and have neglected my poor little bloggy. I'm sorry babe, I still love you.

This week I plan on getting back on track and have a bunch of great projects I am excited to post, including my first DIY craft! I can't wait to share!! In the meantime, while I slave away over a stupid 86 page booklet (on its 10th round of revisions)... I leave you with a little "graphic design humor". Man, am I a nerd or what.

SISTER PLAYDATE

Lately I feel like I have been so busy that I have become a horrible sister and even worse roommate. So I decided to invite my sisters (yes I sent them an invitation, and yes I live with one of them) to a sister playdate! Because nothing says sisterly love quite like a friendly game of JustDance2.

FREELANCE DESIGN = WORKING FOR FREE

Much to my surprise I have actually been quite busy at work recently. Don't get me wrong, I still have time to search the internet, stalk facebook, and play angrybirds... but finding time to work on my separate design projects seems to be lacking. (Conveniently right when I created a whole blog dedicated to such projects, of course).  In the meantime, while I spend time on actual work projects, here is a look at some of the work I have done for one of my freelance design clients, the Arthritis Foundation of Washington DC.

I call the Arthritis Foundation a "freelance client" but I'll be honest... I do work for them ABSOLUTELY FOR FREE. I have a friend who works for the organization and my freelance originally started as a way to help her out. She struggled with the task of creating invitations in Microsoft Word or Publisher, and I vomited/cringed at the sight of them!  (No offense, love ya, Katie!) I started off just making one or two invitations, and now I have sort of turned into her go to gal for design projects...which I absolutely love! I'm not sure how long this freelance gig will keep up, due to the fact that the AF actually PAYS someone to be their designer. But for now, I am just thankful enough that my friend prefers my style over theirs.

THIS IS A LITTLE GAME I LIKE TO PLAY CALLED "FIND THINGS ON ETSY AND MAKE THEM MYSELF FOR FREE... AND BETTER"

My Dad and Step Mom love to collect art and enjoy meeting artists and going to craft fairs and such, their house is filled with art and I love it! My sisters always joke that part of their house is a "shrine to Dara".

My Dad is pretty awesome and has my paintings from elementary school up until college hanging amongst his collection. (awww love you Diddles!)  ... he has this thing where every time he sees something really cool, he thinks "Dara could make that". I have yet to replicate anything he has actually really asked for... like that stupid 38x46 painting of a polar bear with a red background? I wasn't interested Dad, it's just not cool, sorry.

But, like my Dad, I always see things and think "well that's cool, I can definitely do that".  I don't know how successful I really am, but here is a collection of fun prints I designed and are meant to be matted and placed in a small frame. I'll admit, some of these I copied directly from other artists, but most of them I took the idea as inspiration and put my own spin on it. And if you find a print you fancy, I'll even print it for you for free!  It just may cost you a frame.

BLOG RE-DESIGN #1

One of my good friends, aka one of my 6 followers, asked me to help her re-design her adorable blog thencomesbaby. I was super thrilled because, we all know I love a good design distraction and thencomesbaby is one of my most favorite blogs to read! (the image below is what thencomesbaby currently looks like)

 

I have a ton of suggestions on how to enhance her already spectacular blog, but first we chatted about her style and how she wants the blog to feel. She provided me with samples/images she liked which is always aaaaaamazing and makes my job a heck of a lot easier.

The first step in the re-design is to create a new header/logo/image. I got a little design happy and came up with about 8 different options (...that is I only showed her 8). Below are a few of the top candidates.

Heather already choose which one she wants to be her new header... you'll just have to follow her blog to find out who won!

 

I LOVE BLOGGING!

This is actually starting to get fun! My dream would be to create fun logos and invitations for my friends all day long instead of boring websites and brochures, but sighhhh, I gotta make some money.

I am excited to share a few of the upcoming projects I am working on, the first one being a blog re-design. I can't wait to show you my ideas.

Check for more updates later, for now... back to real work... but not until after I eat lunch first, and by eat lunch I really mean go to Target for an hour.

ENGAGEMENT PARTY INVITATION

One of my good friends recently got engaged and is starting to plan her upcoming wedding which means, I have officially become a wedding planner!  And when I say officially, what I really mean is I nominated myself to design anything and everything needed for her wedding. Of course she said yes.

First things first, the invitation for her engagement shower and housewarming party. My friend is great to design for because she has a very minimalist style, like myself, and likes everything I design, also like myself.

I came up with a few designs, but ultimately we decided upon this as the final choice.  I created the little image myself, and if you look closely you'll notice they are little hearts. Awwww so cute. Congratulations Katie! Consider my services to you, a wedding present! Your welcome.

WELCOME

Welcome to my little blog! I am new to blogging so I am not really sure what to do. But mainly I plan to post a few of my design projects, artwork, and inspiration... of course while trying to be funny. Hope you enjoy!