September 09, 2015
I'm so excited to share a brand new product to the shop: a hand-painted blue and white floral art print. I painted this piece free hand earlier this summer and find the deep blues so soothing. The print measures 8" x 10" and is printed with archival inks on 100% cotton tree-free paper. Find it in the shop here.
August 13, 2015
When I first launched my paper goods collection, I primarily worked with ink and all of my cards were based on my own hand illustrations. This year I have begun to incorporate more painting into my work (read more about it here) and have really enjoyed the process of conceptualizing new design ideas that will be painted.
My preferred medium is gouache, a type of paint that is kind of like a cross between watercolor and acrylic. My paintings are pretty free flow - I don't plan out what I'm going to paint and just see where it takes me. With this new collection of cards, I tended to gravitate towards bright rainbow hues and lots of florals. You can shop the new collection here.
August 12, 2015
In addition to the Rainbow Dot Heart card released earlier this summer in celebration of the Supreme Court's decision on marriage equality, I'm also excited to share two new love cards I've just added to the collection! I really enjoyed my time hand painting new designs this summer and love the end results. You can shop all of the new cards here.
July 13, 2015
I am in the midst of designing new cards that will be released later this summer. One card in particular could not wait, though! I'm excited to share the brand new hand-painted Rainbow Dot Heart card that I released early following the Supreme Court's historic marriage legalizing gay marriage. Find it in the shop here.
June 30, 2015
As we approach the Fourth of July, I wanted to share a round-up of some of my favorite red and blue striped products. Open my closet doors and you will see an abundance of simple striped outfits. There is something so timeless about the classic striped look!
1. Happy Cactus Designs Painted Stripes Thank You Card
2. Solid and Striped The Morgan Bikini
3. Chance Signature Boatneck Top
4. Clare V. Margot Flat Clutch
June 15, 2015
I had such a great time guest blogging over at Oh So Beautiful Paper last week. I shared a mix of my own work and some more business and industry related thoughts. Here's a recap with links to the individual posts - check them out!
June 11, 2015
One of my favorite products that I recently released is the "What's Cooking" notepad. It's perfect for jotting down a grocery list or noting a recipe. It's long and skinny (3.5" x 8.5") and features hand-illustrated kitchen motifs.
I think it makes a great hostess gift or pop it in a gift basket for your favorite home cook along with a cookbook or your favorite culinary items! Find it in the shop here.
May 28, 2015
Father's Day will be here before you know it (Sunday, June 21 to be exact), so it's time to pick out a card for your dad or a father figure in your life. Here's a round-up of Happy Cactus Designs' Father's Day cards. You can find them all in the shop here.
May 26, 2015
When I first began my company, some of my favorite cards to design were new baby cards. As Happy Cactus has grown, I've also become more attune to market needs. While new baby cards are wonderful to give once a baby has arrived, they aren't quite appropriate for a baby shower celebrating the mother-to-be. With that in mind, I've been so pleased with the reception to my new mom/pregnancy card. They are great to slip in with a shower gift or send to a long-distance friend who has just shared the big news. You can find all of these cards in the online shop!
May 21, 2015
Oftentimes when a friend or family member is going through a tough time I want to send them a card to let them know they are on my mind. Sometimes "thinking of you" can feel a bit formal (although my "thinking of you" lavender card remains a bestseller), so I wanted to design a card in a fresh color palette that was a little more cheery and upbeat. Let me introduce you to the new good vibes card:
Pretty cheerful, right? My other goal with this card was for it to be a bit more general and not just a sympathy or condolence card. Sometimes it's hard to know just what to say when someone is going through a tough time, but jotting a quick note does not go unappreciated. Even a quick "I'm here for you" or "Sorry you are having to go through this" goes a long way. Find the card in the shop here.
March 12, 2014
One of my favorite new cards in the Early Spring collection is the Yippee!!!! card. While many of my designs feature intricate patterns and motifs, sometimes I realize when working out ideas that just one word can make the card. "Yippee!!!!" is hand-lettered in rainbow colors. I think it's a great card for any celebratory occasion! Personally, I've sent it to a friend celebrating a pregnancy and a couple who were recently engaged. Shop it here.
February 10, 2014
Every so often, a design idea gets stuck in my head. I sketch the design, lay it out as a card, and then sit on it. That's the case with the Congratulations Banners card. I think I first drew out this design idea over a year ago, and could never pull it together...until now!
It features colorful hand-drawn banners and flags with hand-lettered words. I think it makes a great graduation card, but would be perfect for anyone celebrating a special achievement. Shop it here.