blog post!! yay!

So excited- I just randomply stubled upon a blog post about my cards today while I was sifting through my Google Reader.  I was shocked!

Thanks, MY MOM SHOPS, a fabulous blog from a NYC mom who finds the coolest things around town for featuring me in your blog!  I appreciate it1

Check out here.

love this

I just love this! From LOOKLY LOO.

happy america day!

In honor of the fourth, here are some FOURTH OF JULY invites I really like...

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY!


From top to bottom: Erin Condren Design, Tiny Prints, Rocks Scissors Paper

ETSY

I have recently updated and added more items to my ETSY shop. Although I primarily sell items form my own website, I have found that ETSY is a great tool for small businesses.

http://emmajcard.etsy.com (no "s" after emma j card)

I also started an ETSY site for my sister's photographs. She takes such beautiful pictures and I just had to put some stuff up for her. It needs to be out there. You can find her site here.

http://elibogh.etsy.com

wedding thank you note

I absolutely LOVE this WEDDING THANK YOU NOTE. Normally I would love something with a fabulous, artistic design but I love that this has pictures from the wedding that you can send to the guests. I like!

Found on blog parcel post

NSS- my aisle buddies!

I know I am a bit late at doing this, but I just wanted to mention the most FABULOUS people that were on my FABULOUS aisle- 1500. The people I met were all so friendly and beyond talented. Thank you to you all for answering my questions and dealing with my BRIGHT yellow booth! You guys were awesome.

Old School Stationers- directly across from me- unbelievable that I had the chance to sit across and witness such talent. Brian is super down to earth and his products are simply the best.

Tach Its- These two wonderful gals from Atlanta were so fun and great to talk to. Such a fun product! I know they will have great success!

Daylight Wasting Time- Johnny I- What can I say? He is the best! He was so inspiring and always had such kind things to say. His lamps are breathtaking and make awesome gifts. I hope I run in to him again someday!

M. Ellen Designs- So great talking with Mary Ellen and he sister and seeing her beautiful custom designs. Such a nice girls!

Two Trick Pony- Oh my goodness! How cool was there booth?!!!! I was in awe of their booth and how amazing there products are. You must check out their stuff!

TreeoDesign- These two sisters are some of the kindest people I met at the show. So cool and so sharing. Their products are so cool and so beautiful.

Sycamore Street Press- Another brilliant letterpress company!! This couple had such a gorgeous booth- this beautiful gray color with hints of white and orange. I love it. There cards are so gorgeous and her blog is fun too!

Tomoko Maruyama- I didn't get to talk to her much, but I loved her designs and thought her booth was so clean and fresh.

Thanks everyone for being so great!

recovery

I am just now beginning to recover from the whirlwind of the National Stationery Show. I thought it would be easy for me to blog about it throughout the whole process but I couldn't even look at a computer, I was so busy. I will post my NSS story with pics soon!

So great meeting such fantastic, nice and talented people. Everyone was so kind and helpful. I am so excited about everything I learned during the process. More to come...

countdown to NSS

So I have one more day before my move-in to NSS! i can't believe it's almost here and frankly, I am ready for it to be here. The little details is what's stressing me out the most- photocopying, press kits, new product display, transportation, etc. So many small details. I am trying to keep sane by just knowing that I have three full days to move everything in and that I will have the help of my family and friends.

It's still very overwhelming. It's hard to know what this year will be like with the recession and all. Will anyone be ordering? I really just want one order- just one!!! But if that doesn't happen, this has been an awesome experience (so far). Hopefully I will learn a ton in the days to come too!!!

How fabulous is this calling card for the chic single gal?
From Mr. Biddington.

mention

Just got mentioned in this blog! Yay!

http://lettersandjournals.blogspot.com/

ikea

It's an IKEA Saturday!!! Off to Ikea in our Mintcar (which I am very excited about..cars you rent by the hour!). I have to get the rest of the furniture for my booth- a table, some cool chairs, flooring and another display table!!! Hope all goes well.

one of my favorite cards ever

Firts of all, I love square cards, second of all I love cupcakes. This is one of the cutest cards I've seen in a long time. From Martha Stewart crafts.

LOVE THIS!

Love this Mothers Day card from Rock Scissors Paper!

language cards

New "languages" note cards...

best NSS info

My absolute favorite BLOG about getting ready to exhibit at NSS is Susy and Jack designer, Susan Connor's blog called 'Hey Susy." This info was so incredibly helpful to me as I got ready for the show. Make sure to read PART TWO as well.

click here to read:
http://susanconnordesign.typepad.com/heysusy/2008/06/its-showtime-pa.html

new cards

Some new note cards- simple, clean, modern and fun!!!
www.emmajcards.com

NSS- getting ready!

So, I am in my final week of preparation for the National Stationery Show. I cannot believe how close it is and everything that has gone in to this. Such a huge investment for me and so unsure of the outcome. It's pretty scary but I ma pretty proud of myself for taking this step for my company and just going through with it.


There have been several times when I have really considered not doing this, but then I realized that this COULD be a nice stepping stone for EMMA J CARDS. Even if I get NO orders, I will be grateful for the opportunity to network and meet a ton of people in the industry and just get my product out there.

My business really started from nothing. I dreamt this up in the shower one morning 3 years ago and it's now a huge reality. It really proves that you can do ANYTHING if you put a lot of work in to it, feel passionate about it and never give up.

I would spend days just researching this business and finding every card company on-line that I could and seeing what is possible. What really inspired me was the fact that many of these companies are run by one or two people and many of them just like me- running it out of their small apartment. There is so much competition in this industry, which can be very daunting, but it's such an amazing bunch of creative people that run this industry. Whenever I have been clueless about something and asked a fellow greeting card designer for help, they have always offered SO much help. This was huge for me!

Anyway, gotta get to work on this big show. I have an 8 x 10 booth to fill and time is running out!

CARDS

W E L C O M E to the new blog for paper lovers!

This blog was created to showcase cool paper products and industry news in the greeting card, stationery and invitation world. I also want to use the blog to chronicle the making of my little business, Emma J Cards. Although I started this from scratch several years ago, my company is about to embark on a new level when I exhibit in the National Stationery Show in a week in NYC! I will be blogging a lot on the ups and downs of running your own small business and hopefully you will watch my company grow over time!

I started my own business, EMMA J CARDS, in 2005 to create beautiful and fun stationery and cards for friends and family. It's now become my business and my passion. I love great design and great products.

Here's to cards!