Little Red Hen Press Order Packaging

Wrapping gifts and packages are one of my favorite things to do, especially at Christmas. You should see what I do! I wish I had pictures to show of them, but I don't. Doh! You'll just have to trust me that they are pretty.

So when orders started rolling in for the cards and bags, I started experimenting with different ways to package and ship the items. I decided on boxes, even though they cost a little more to ship, because I knew the cards stood a better chance of arriving undamaged, and who doesn't like to open a box? ;) I originally wanted white boxes, but I couldn't find the perfect size for an affordable price. I didn't want to have to charge an extra dollar to my customers for a custom box. So, I decided to go with brown paper ones with mostly recycled content. The liner is 20-30% and the flute is 100% recycled (flute is the wavy part). I also found white tissue paper that is 100% recycled. Unfortunately the red isn't completely recycled, but it's just so nice, I had to include at least one sheet in each box. Red is in the business name after all! The two most recent orders have been shipped in a decorated box:

I have had a lot of fun coming up with this, and I hope I can continue to create a fun package for my customers to open! Of course each package will be slightly different, but always pretty.

This is the housewarming present I gave to me sister last Saturday and the gift contained within. She just graduated from the University of Florida, hence the orange and blue Gator theme, and loves cupcakes. She is very creative so I put together a cupcake decorating kit for her to use in her new kitchen, along with handmade Go Gator cupcake picks (I will be selling them on Etsy soon, so keep an eye out!). Also included in the package, but not shown, were 2 boxes of cake mix, and 2 containers of white icing. I made her promise to take pictures of the cupcakes she makes, and send them to me so I can post them on this blog. The cupcake liners came from Fort & Field, and you can purchase them here. The icing bags and tips, sprinkles, and pan were purchased at a local baking supply store. 

Her base color scheme in her new home is black and white, so coordinated the wrap for that. The bow is upcycled from an Anthropologie package, and the tag is made from my black Birds on a Wire print. She LOVED it all!

I hope I have inspired you!

Delicious Summertime Beverage

Looking at my yellow Birds on a Wire print got me thinking about the yum summertime drink called a Yellowbird. I first had one while out on Lake Hamilton with my family in Hot Springs, AR. My Aunt Kay whipped them up and they were so refreshing on that hot summer day! When I was bartending in Florida, it was always the perfect drink to serve when someone requested "something fruity"and I didn't want to make the obvious and give them a rum punch or pina colada.

Yellowbird

Coconut rum
Banana schnapps/liquor
Pineapple juice
Orange juice
Ice

For a drink: In a glass, add 1 1/2oz coconut rum and 1/2oz banana liquor; fill glass with ice; add equal parts of orange and pineapple juice until glass is full; stir & serve. You can garnish with an orange or pineapple slice.

What Exactly Is "Paper Weight"?!?

Boy, I have had a hard time figuring out exactly what paper weight means. The labels can be so confusing! I print my designs on card stock, and have recently switched over to 100% recycled vs. the 10% I was using before.  The web site I ordered the new 100% from said it was 80lb weight. I was looking around Etsy and realized most people were printing on 110lb, and thought well this can't be good. I can't have wimpy thin cards! No one will buy from me! Jeez those sellers must have a brick of a card! Imagine my surprise when the new 100% paper arrived and it was quite a bit more thick than the 10% I was using before, even though it claimed to weigh less. So I was totally confused, and I'm sure I have confused you too. What in the heck is this paper weight thing anyway? Well I found a website that explains it all:

PAPER WEIGHT DEMYSTIFIED

Thank you paper-paper.com!

So out of all of this, I realized card stock is called "index" paper when measured, and my new 100% recycled paper is somewhere around 119lb weight. Hooray for nice thick paper! I do notice a big difference between the two. I am also glad that it is fully recycled. It helps me sleep better at night... hehe!

I'll Have Some More Punch, Please

(Photo: Matilde Delich)

I found this great recipe for punch in a cookbook handed down to me from my mother. I am obsessed with finding the perfect thrift store punch bowl. I see them all of the time, but most only have a few glasses or some are chipped, etc. I have passed up so many good ones in the past and am kicking myself for it now! We all know that feeling, right? So when I find my perfect punch bowl, I am making this immediately:

Florence's Southern Punch

2 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups water

Juice of 6 lemons

Zest of 2 lemons

Ginger ale

Juice of 2 California oranges (or any other juicing orange)

Zest of 1 orange

2 handfuls of fresh mint, crushed

Syrup: Cook sugar and water together to the boiling point: boil 10 minutes. Pour over juices, zest, and mint: cover and let sit for 1 hour. Strain and chill.

For a drink: Fill glass 2/3 full with crushed ice. Add 5 tablespoons of syrup and equal parts ginger ale (a little more ginger ale, if desired).

For a party: Fill bowl 1/2 full of ice: add equal parts syrup and ginger ale (more ginger ale, if desired). Garnish with slices of orange or frosted grapes over the side.

From the cookbook Blessings by The First Presbyterian Church of Pine Bluff, AR. Recipe by Frances Toney Hall

Birds On A Wire Print

This is the newest print up for sale in my Etsy shop. I enjoy watching birds sitting on wires and fences, and these two make a cute pair!

The Perfect Perch For A Hummingbird Cake

Anyone that has been in my home, car, and especially my kitchen knows that I LOVE the color red. In fact, before I moved to Delaware, the only room in my home that didn't have red accents was my bedroom. Though that room was still close to red with the pink accents, haha! Well I just found this cake stand for sale on the Williams-Sonoma site and think it would be perfect for my kitchen, and would be even better with a Hummingbird Cake sitting right on top. You can't go wrong with a Paula Deen cake recipe!

 (Images courtesy of wiliams-sonoma.com and marthastewart.com)

A Little Bird Just Told Me...

...there's a new stamp in town.

Lucero Love

I recently found this 2006 tour poster stashed in between the large pages of a drawing tablet, and completely forgot that I put it there for safe keeping almost 4 years ago. I love the nautical print, the ship in the bottle, and the turquoise used in the back ground. I also LOVE the band Lucero, and this makes me wish I bought their tour poster more than just once! It's put in a safe place now and I will definitely frame it one day. They have been getting around these days and played Bonnaroo last weekend and Coachella in April. Way to go guys!

Here is the video for their song She's Just That Kinda Girl (love the DIY vibe!):

Anchors Aweigh

This morning I began test printing the anchor stamp I've been carving. My recent trip up the Northeast coast had me totally inspired to do something related to the sea. Standing on the beach with my toes in the sand is my happy place, and it was great to get back to the coast. I picked up this cute Seaside Terry Hoodie at the L.L. Bean store in Freeport, Maine and will be my comfy beach coverup for years to come.

Oh, The Combinations!

I love looking at tubes of paint and imagining all of the yummy combinations that can be put together. My favorite section in the craft store is the paint aisle.


I'm ready to start printing and I'm feeling nautical, ha!

Summer Has Begun!

What better way to start the summer season than by going to a barn party? Our friend David threw one heck of a bash complete with a huge spread of summertime food & drinks, horseshoes, fireworks, and live music all centered in and around his beautiful barn. We had a blast yesterday and it felt so good to get out on the floor and dance!

Going Green

100% recycled card stock and envelopes arrived today. I can't wait to print the new designs on them!

Here We Go (again)

Now that I have started a small printing company, called Little Red Hen Press, complete with an Etsy store, I figured it's about time to get back to blogging. I tried unsuccessfully a few years back, but I wasn't online nearly as much as I am now.

I will be blogging about up and coming prints I am creating, creative ideas for my products, and things that inspire me. I hope you enjoy reading this slice of my life!