February 03, 2016
Since I work freehand and don't use a pattern or template while embroidering, every design is unique. If an item is listed as out of stock, it means that the one-of-a-kind piece of art has sold.
While you may be disappointed, you can contact me to to explore creating a similar design for you. I do my best to replicate the design as much as possible. You can also reach out if you are interested in a design in a different colorway or with a different color mat board. I try my best to honor requests. The lead time for creating a piece for you varies, but is usually about 3 to 4 weeks.
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November 11, 2015
With about 6 weeks until Christmas, the race is on to think about gifts for your loved ones. Looking for something unique for the person who has everything or the person who is impossible to buy for? Want to encourage the kids in your life to send more mail and write thank you notes? Consider some custom stationery.
I just revamped my digital catalog of custom designs. There is something for everyone - baby, child, teen, man, and woman!
Enclosure cards for children have been quite popular so far this season.
I hope you enjoy looking through the catalog. Get in touch and let me know how I can help you create something special this holiday season!
November 09, 2015
As you may know, a few months ago I launched my first collection of hand embroidered pieces of art. While I have enjoyed stitching each and every piece, some of my favorite embroidery projects have been custom commissions featuring a name, monogram, or initial.
Just in time for the holidays, I'm now accepting requests for custom work! Whether it's for a new baby's nursery, a housewarming gift, or just for someone special, I'd love to work with you on something. Get in touch and let me know what you are interested in.
March 04, 2014
The most common requests I tend to get for personalized stationery orders are for little boys and girls. Custom stationery makes a great gift for a new baby or a little one celebrating a birthday. And remember, all personalized flat and folded cards are 25% off through March 7! Get more details here.
Here are my most popular designs for boys and girls.
February 27, 2014
Yesterday on Instagram I shared a little stop motion video of my favorite personalized stationery designs. Remember, all personalized flat and folded cards are 25% off through March 7! Get more details here.
February 20, 2014
The 25% off sale on personalized social stationery is going strong! You can get all of the details here. I'm often asked which personalized design is most popular. Hands down, the pastel flowers folded cards has been the best seller. It is based off the Thank You Pastel Flowers card (one of our top selling thank you cards).
I love that the name is not directly in the center of the card - it makes it much more subtle. It's also a nice mix of pastel hues, which makes it a great gift if you aren't sure of the recipient's favorite color.
Check out all of our personalized designs in the lookbook and take advantage of the 25% off sale through March 7th!
December 06, 2013
Over the past month, I've been super busy preparing personalized stationery and holiday card orders. Tomorrow (December 7) is the last day to place your order if you want to receive your items by December 24. Personalized stationery makes a fun, unique, and thoughtful gift. Browse through our digital lookbook for ideas and get in touch at hello{at}happycactudesigns.com.
September 19, 2013
My dear friend from graduate school, Kasia, and the love of her life, Andy, will be tying the knot in October. I was so touched when Kasia came to me to work on some wedding stationery for the thank you notes they will need to write. She really loved my Corazon design and we collaborated to add a special touch - the same motif on the side of the card with the couples' initials in the center of the heart. It's a fun little surprise when the recipient of the note opens the card. Now I just can't wait for their wedding next month!
June 05, 2013
Recently, Amy Patrick of Thalia Engineering Studio in Houston commissioned Happy Cactus Designs to create custom stationery for her company. Not only did Amy and I go to school together for eleven years, but we're also both small business owners, so I was thrilled when Amy approached me! Amy's envisions Thalia as an engineering studio that puts clients first (I love her manifesto about her company's core values). Keeping in line with that vision, Amy tends to write a lot of personal notes to existing and potential clients and wanted a design as unique as her company.
Amy sent over a folder of her marketing materials and gave me leeway to do whatever I wanted (both exciting and daunting). When I asked her for any inspiration or ideas she had in mind, Amy emailed me a photo of a stained glass window in the building where she offices. It seems that Amy hit the office space jackpot and works from the loft of a church that was constructed in 1929. It now houses office spaces and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1978!
I immediately knew I wanted to build a motif off of the beautiful stained glass window. I hand-drew an outline of the top of the window and then created a pattern out of the shape. I also showed Amy a design of hand-drawn dots in shades of teal (Thalia's signature color). Amy loved both and we worked together to combine the two designs into one. Voila! The final product!
On the back of the note card, a little note was included about the inspiration for the design.
This was such a fun project to collaborate with Amy on and I'm so pleased with how the cards turned out. Best of luck to Thalia on its endeavors!
April 17, 2013
Looking for a unique and personal Mother's Day or graduation gift? I love working on custom stationery projects (check out the Happy Cactus portfolio here) and get in touch with what you have in mind. As you can see from the image below, many existing designs can be adapted to add a personalization. We can also create designs from scratch, as simple or elaborate as you want. Drop an email to hello[at]happycactusdesigns.com and let me know what you are interested in creating!
January 28, 2013
I recently had the pleasure to work on a custom stationery project for a sweet new baby girl and her mother.
Last summer, I worked with the mom-to-be on folded thank you note cards she could use for baby gifts. She was planning on naming her daughter Violet, so I created a pattern of small hand-drawn violets for the cards.
Following Violet's birth, I was thrilled to be asked to create flat note cards featuring Violet's name. I used the same violet flower pattern motif to line the bottom of the card and used a feminine and fun script for her name.
I love collaborating on projects like this one and was honored to get to work with the new mother twice. You can see more custom Happy Cactus Designs projects here.
January 21, 2013
My dear friend Sara will be marrying her love Phil very soon and I was so happy to work with her on custom stationery. She needed personalized thank you notes that she and her fiancé could send both pre- and post-wedding. I showed her a number of motifs and she chose a hand-drawn diamond pattern.
Since the cards would be coming from both of them, we didn't want colors to be too feminine and settled on a navy blue and orange combo.
For the pre-wedding cards, we stuck with just their first names in one of my new favorite fonts.
For post-wedding cards, I did a monogram using their new shared last initial.
I love how these turned out and can't wait for these two love birds to wed!