As most of you know from following the fan page - or my personal Facebook page - we are gearing up for our big move into our new home in just 3 weeks! I’ve been crazy busy packing, cleaning, handling the details, and trying to work in between! We’re also getting ready for the arrival of Baby Corinne which is a lot closer than we think - just about 90 days to go! Where has the time gone?!

A little while ago I posted the change of address cards I designed for us on the Sassy Fan Page.

Many of you showed interest in the design template so I’ve simplified it a bit, removed my personal info, and put it together as a freebie download for all of you! The download includes both the front and back PSD files for the 4x5.5 flat press card and the 2x3 PSD file for the sticker/label. The background patterns I used are included but, they can be swapped out to anything else that you like! The key sketch is also included, on its own layer, and is an original sketch by my tattoo artist husband. I’ve been hanging onto it for YEARS just waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it!

You can click here to download the zip file. ENJOY IT!! And a big THANK YOU to all of you for being such awesome fans and friends!!

In exactly one week from today I will be having an ultrasound to find out if this baby I’m carrying is a boy or a girl. I have been anticipating this day since I first found out I was pregnant!

In the very beginning I was very sick…I had morning sickness, night sickness, and I was even hospitalized for severe abdominal pain that there was concern could have been a tubal pregnancy. This pregnancy has been far different from when I was pregnant with Patrick!

Most people say the sickness means I am having a girl. My cravings are even way different and have changed as the weeks go by.

A friend of mine suggested that I try the Intelligender over the counter gender prediction test. You can take it as early as 10 weeks and their accuracy rate is upwards of 80%. I’ve taken TWO! The first one at 10 weeks and the second one at 14 weeks. Both results were BOY! However, the default result for the test is also boy so I am not quite convinced!

So, we aren’t making any decisions for nursery color, gender-specific apparel, or anything else until the tell-all ultrasound! I’m still up in the air as far as thinking boy or girl myself!!

I thought it would be fun to have a contest here where everyone will win something just for taking a guess!  The contest will start today and will end Monday 2/13 at 11:59pm EST. My ultrasound is on Valentine’s Day at 10:30am.

To enter simply comment on this post with your guess of boy or girl. ONE ENTRY per person, duplicates will be removed. All CORRECT answers will receive $5.00 to spend in the Sassy Shop. All INCORRECT answers will receive a coupon code for 50% off! It’s a win for everyone and something fun to do!

So, think long and hard and post your guess! I’ll post the answer on Valentine’s Day after my appointment - prizes will be emailed within 10 days! I hope you’re as excited as me! I’m glad to have you all along for this journey!

I know that almost every one of you has a website of some sort for your photography business - if not a personal blog or website on the side, too. I’ve had a personal domain since, are you ready, 1997!

Over the years I’ve gone back and forth between keeping my personal site(s) updated - depending on how busy I was with work and my business website. Most of you probably do not know that when I started Sassy Designs I started out as a website designer. ;)

I am one of the rare few that actually enjoys working on my website and updating it…when I have the time. When I’m stressed out I also enjoy working on personal projects as it keeps my mind occupied and helps relieve my stress no matter what the source may be. So, the other evening I was feeling a bit tense and I decided I’d get back to work on my personal domain: terry-ann.com

It’s probably been out of commission for at least a couple of years now while it’s been on my personal “to-do” list. I was able to get my “About Me” section re-written and updated and now I have to work on getting my portfolio put back together and uploaded. I’ve designed SO many things over the years - ads, publications, logos - you name it and I’ve probably designed it. I’d love to have it all in one place so that it was readily available for my own reference as well as that of anyone else that cared to review it.

So, tell me about your website. Do you have a business website? A personal website or blog on the side? Leave your link in the comments and I’ll add you to my bookmarks! I think websites are much more personal than a social media network like Facebook and I love seeing everyone’s layouts and designs. Don’t get me wrong, I love Facebook for it’s ease f use and simplicity but, I’m a web designer at heart so I’ll always be stuck on the good old personal dot com!

WOW! We hit and then quickly surpassed the big 15,000 fan mark on Facebook! Unfortunately I have been sick, along with my 5-year-old, so the celebration has had to wait.

The Sassy Shop has been marked down 50% OFF for the last few days but, in honor of having over 15,000 fans on Facebook I’d like to also give you all a coupon code valid for an ADDITIONAL 15% OFF! Simply load up your shopping cart and then during the checkout process enter the code: FIFTEENK to have the discount applied! The code can be used more than once and is valid now through Valentine’s Day!

Be sure to check the New Products Link in the Sassy Shop to see all of the newest goodies that have recently been added! There’s more on the way as well as soon as I can get caught up from being sick!

I’m also planning another fun contest for the Sassy Blog that will start next week! Hint: It’s baby related and EVERYONE that enters will be a winner! :)

This is Patrick’s first year of school - he’s in Kindergarten - and his first year that he’ll be handing out Valentine’s to his class. They did have a party in pre-school last year but, we just went the easy route with store-bought cards since there were only 8 kids and let him practice writing his name on them. ;)

Since Mommy is a designer, and his class is much bigger,  I couldn’t imagine doing that again! I came up with this cute little idea using one of Patrick’s favorites candies, a 2x8 Folded Bookmark Card, and some cute little Round Stickers from Moo.com!

[caption id=”attachment_173” align=”aligncenter” width=”392” caption=”Rockin’ Valentines”][/caption]

You will need the following:

1.) Full Size Pop Rocks Candy - any flavor. We went with Cherry because they’re in a red package. :)

2.) 3.75”x6” Clear Cellophane Bags - I got a pack of 200 at my local craft supply store for less then $2.o0

3.) 2”x8” Folded Bookmark Cards. I ordered mine from WHCC.com and had both the inside and outside UV coated. Cost: $27.50 for 50

4.) 1.5” Round Stickers from Moo.com. Cost: $12.99 for 52

TO CREATE:

Fold you cards and place the Pop Rocks inside. Then place the card with candy inside the cellophane bag. Fold the top of the bag over and seal with the stickers! Voila! Adorable, personalized, unique Valentines for your little sweetie to give out at school!

Bookmark template is fully layered so that patterns, colors, and text can all be edited or changed. Sticker designs are also layered and editable.

I don’t know about you but, I like to change my wallpaper on my iPhone almost as much as I like to change the color and style of my hair. HAHA!

So, with Valentine’s Day coming up I decided my iPhone needed to be festive. Time to swap out the “Be Original” background with something more fun! :) So, I created this:

[caption id=”attachment_167” align=”alignnone” width=”200” caption=”Festive iPhone Wallpaper for Heart Day!”][/caption]

Want it for own iPhone? Just right-click on this image  and choose “save as” to download it:

[caption id=”attachment_168” align=”alignnone” width=”320” caption=”iPhone Wallpaper”][/caption]

Happy Heart Day! :)

As most of you know I like to send goodies out periodically via good old snail mail. Last year, due to my health issues, I didn’t get a lot sent out; I think I only managed one! Sassy Designs turns TEN this May and I’m planning on celebrating BIG!

If you’ve gotten mail from me in the past you’re good to go but, if you want to be added send your postal mailing address to me: patricksmomma@gmail.com with the subject: MAILING LIST. You won’t want to miss out!

Well, happy 2012! I vow that this year I will keep this blog updated — more updated than I did last year! ;)

My friend, Sarah Sweetman, is celebrating having 1,000 fans and is doing a fun giveaway! Head on over to her blog for the details and to get your entries in!

Interested in having Sassy Designs participate in a giveaway of your own? Feel free to email me directly: patricksmomma@gmail.com — I’m always up for a good giveaway! Just please don’t post on my Fan Page asking me to contact you. If you want me to participate you can at least be courteous and send me a proper email! :)

I’m sorry I haven’t been updating the blog! As many of you may already know my summer was very hectic with me being ill and hospitalized from the end of June through the middle of July. Even after they released me I was not 100% until many weeks later, only starting to feel normal again at the beginning of September.

So, I’ve been trying to play catch-up and get some new things designed for the Sassy Shop. I’ve also been honored to begin working with Full Color Lab in Dallas, TX. I’ve partnered with them to design EXCLUSIVE templates for their new Artistic Edge Cards. These templates will be available EXCLUSIVELY from Full Color Lab via their ROES ordering system.

I’ve also designed coordinating 4x8 gift tags to match a few of the card template designs. These are printed 4 to a sheet and are two each of two designs. They can be customized with your photos and you can print them on press paper stock or even as stickers! Be sure to “like” Full Color Lab on Facebook and tell them Sassy sent you!

I know you’re all gearing up for the busy holiday season as am I but, I am planning to do some fun giveaways and promotions to end the year right! Stay tuned here and on the Sassy Fan Page so you don’t miss anything!! Thank you all for helping me get through my crazy summer of sickness — your support and kind words really meant so much!

I try my hardest to “like” all of my customer’s Facebook pages but, sometimes I just can’t keep up! So, if I don’t yet like you - or you’re not sure if I do or not - please post your Facebook Profile link here as a comment and I will go like you the first chance I get!

Do you like Sassy?! Feel free to spread the word and share the Sassy Fan Page with all of your friends and colleagues - I’m preparing for some summer giveaway fun and want everyone to be included! :)