Ideas for your kids spa themed birthday party

Ideas for your kids spa themed birthday party

Another popular theme lately has been my Spa Day party invitation! This is one of my favorite themes for a girls birthday party. I even had a spa day party one year when I was younger, we took a limo to the spa and got our nails done then went to lunch and I can easily say it was one of my favorite birthday parties ever!Spa Party Birthday Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
I have recently been working on adding printable party packs to my shop as well so that you have coordinating options to go with your invitations (separate blog post on this coming super soon)!
Here are some fun coordinating items I have custom created for recent orders:
Matching Spa Day by Ashlynn Elliff
Spa Party Ideas:
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Are you planning on hosting a spa themed party? Grab your invite here!
Easter birthday Invitations & Some Party Decoration Ideas!

Easter birthday Invitations & Some Party Decoration Ideas!

Can you believe that today is the LAST day of February?! We are about to start a busy month… St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Break & Easter are all coming up (quick)! There is still plenty of time to plan your Easter party for this year. I have a couple of fun themed invitations in the shop and I gathered up some easy decorating ideas that I found on Pinterest!
Invitations:
Easter is a fun theme because you can do a number of different things. Peter Rabbit themed, Bunny themed, Spring themed, Easter Egg Hunt… the list goes on! Whether you are hosting an annual Easter brunch after church or throwing a birthday party I have got you covered on the invitation side! Need something custom? No problem! 
Springtime Bunny Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
Peter Rabbit Birthday Party Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
Easter Bunny Party Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
 
Decorating Ideas:
Courtesy of my Pinterest research, I have found some fun & easy Easter party decorating ideas to go with your themed event!
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Do you have any Easter babies? Do you throw an annual egg hunt or Easter brunch? What are your favorite ways to decorate? Comment below!
The most popular Party themes from 2017

The most popular Party themes from 2017

Last year, I sold over 500 party invitations! I have been having so much fun seeing what are the most popular designs and themes that have been purchased in my shop.
I put together a list of the ten most popular theme invitations that I have sold over the last 12 months (these are in no particular order):
No. 1: Holy GuacamoleHoly Guacamole Fiesta Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
No. 2: Dump EverythingDump Everything Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
No. 3: Golf, Hole in OneGolf Birthday Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
No. 4: Crawfish BoilCrawfish Boil Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
No. 5: Water Guns & Summer FunWater Guns & Summer Fun Birthday Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
No. 6: Farmers MarketFarmers Market Birthday Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
No. 7: Spa DaySpa Party Birthday Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
No. 8: Let’s Taco ‘bout some FunTaco 'Bout Some Fun Fiesta Party Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
No. 9: Monster TruckMonster Truck Birthday Party Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
No. 10: Stop, Drop & Roll Stop, Drop & Roll Birthday Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
A couple of these are already making the list for 2018! Can you guess which ones?
Winter Ice Skating birthday invitation and party planning ideas

Winter Ice Skating birthday invitation and party planning ideas

I know that spring is just around the corner (I can’t wait to share some of the new invitations I have been working on) but it is still very much winter in areas of the country! This ice skating invitation has been quite popular lately and is such a fun party theme. When I was younger I always wanted an ice skating themed party but living in South Texas it was not possible (now there are some indoor ice skating rinks down here though!)
Ice Skating Birthday Party Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
I searched on Pinterest and found some great ideas to match this party invitation and it makes me want to throw an ice skating party just for fun!
Links to images above: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
Have you ever had an ice skating party before? What is your favorite memory from it?
New Spring Invitations (Upcoming Spring Holidays to plan for)

New Spring Invitations (Upcoming Spring Holidays to plan for)

Now that Valentine’s Day is over, we are officially moving into Spring! I have already been working on orders for March, April & May events and am having so much fun designing new invitations as well! Spring is one of my favorite times of year (although am totally a winter person as far as weather goes) because there are so many fun holidays & themes during this time.

spring invites by ashlynn elliff

Need a reason to throw a party this spring? Here are some upcoming holidays/events that you can use as an excuse to have a little fun! Also some of these make great themed birthday parties as well.

February 3rd – March 9th – Mardi Gras
February – May – Crawfish Season
March 17th – St. Patrick’s Day
April 1st- Easter Sunday
April 5-8, 2018 – Masters Golf Tournament
April 22nd – Earth Day
May 5th – Cinco de Mayo
May 5th – Kentucky Derby
April – June – Graduation Parties
May – June – End of School Year Parties

Of course these are just a few well known holidays & popular events, there are still thousands of reasons and themes for your Spring Parties this year!

What parties are you planning on throwing this year? Check out my handy post to see how early you need to send your invites out and don’t forget to download your free party planning printable!

St. Patrick’s Day Party Invitation & Party Ideas

St. Patrick’s Day Party Invitation & Party Ideas

Who is ready to bring out all the green gear for St. Patrick’s Day?! I’ll be the first to admit I’ve never been one to go all out for this holiday but I do love a good theme and I love an excuse to throw a fun party!
St. Patrick’s Day is an easy one to decorate for… lots of green, rainbows, gold and beer!  
St. Patricks Day Invitations by Ashlynn Elliff
I have two invitation options for you to choose from to celebrate St. Patty’s Day (and of course there is always the option for a custom order)
I also rounded up some of my favorite party ideas from Pinterest to help you with your party planning:
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What are your plans for St. Patrick’s Day this year?
How far out do I need to send out my party invitations?

How far out do I need to send out my party invitations?

A common question that I always get asked is… how far in advance do I need to send out invitations? I have gathered some research as well put in some of my own personal opinions to help you plan out your parties better and know when to order invitations and send them out!
First, we have to establish what type of event you are having. There are different guidelines for the type of event you are hosting. For example, guests do not need as much of a heads up to attend a barbeque than they do for a wedding or holiday party.
Girly Fiesta Invitation
If you are sending out informal birthday party invitations the typical timeline is two to four weeks with sending in the mail. If you are hosting a casual barbeque or get together then you can even text or e-mail the invite the day-of the party but in my opinion, sending a printed invitation in the mail is always better than getting a text! However, if your party happens to be around a major holiday (Christmas, etc.) extra advanced notice is recommended so that people can plan accordingly. Side note: When planning your party, you want to make sure that important guests (such as grandparents, etc.) are notified of the date before getting invitations done. You would hate to purchase invitations then have to move the date!
Baby Boy Baby Shower Invitation
If you are sending out formal party invitations graduation invitations, charity galas, baptisms, wedding showers, baby showers etc. You will want to send these out four to six weeks in advance. This gives people enough time to make arrangements, purchase gifts and RSVP in a timely manner.
Boho Style Wedding Invitations by Ashlynn Elliff
For wedding invitations, it is recommended that you send out six to eight weeks in advance. Same as a formal party invitation, this gives guests enough time to make arrangements, make travel plans, RSVP, purchase outfits if needed, etc. Side note: For destination weddings, the more time in advance you send out the invitations, the better so that people can make appropriate travel plans if they are planning on attending or giving people a heads up with a save the date!Tacky Christmas Sweater Invitation
For holiday party invitations it is recommended that you send these out four to six weeks in advance. The holidays are crazy for everyone and people’s schedules fill out very quick! So giving people enough time to plan around the holidays is key to having a great turnout at your party.
Here is a handy guideline for different occasions and timelines of when to send out your invitations:
When to send out invitations
So now you know when to send out invitations, now how about when to order them? I can only speak for myself and not other stationers but here are my recommended ordering timelines:
Casual & Formal Party Invitations: at least two weeks before you are planning on putting them in the mail (this gives enough time to design, edit, send to the printer, mail to you and address the envelopes.
Wedding Invitationsat least six to eight weeks before you are planning on putting them in the mail (this gives enough time to design, edit, send to the printer, mail to you and address the envelopes.
What are your thoughts on invitation timelines? When do you typically start party planning?
Football themed ideas for your Super bowl birthday parties

Football themed ideas for your Super bowl birthday parties

Superbowl Sunday is approaching fast! If you have a birthday to plan for at the beginning of February, it’s easy to turn it into a fun football themed party (or if you are like me and find any excuse to host a themed gathering…) Superbowl Sunday is always a fan favorite!
My husband loves football, so any excuse to throw a party for a football game is an easy decision for our house. We love to host & barbecue for game days and Superbowl Sunday is always bittersweet since it’s fun since it is such a big event but at the same time it’s the last football game until the fall. 
My football invitation has been quite popular these past few weeks for Superbowl Sunday themed birthday parties.
Football Birthday Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
And I also created this other fun Football themed invite that just hit the shop!
Are you ready for some Football Party Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
Football parties are great because there is no need to be fancy, snacks… BBQ and drinks are really all you need! Check out my party planning tips & tricks here.
Some fun ideas to spice up the football party are:
  1. Have people wear their favorite team gear
  2. Have people wear colors for the team they are rooting for
  3. Have a contest for the “loudest fan,” “best-dressed fan” etc.
  4. Place some gameday bets with your guests
  5. Have some fun kid-friendly games so the adults can watch the game
Decoration Ideas:
Click each number to see the original sources for each photo
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Recipe Ideas:
If you only try one of these recipes…try the spinach artichoke dip (so good!)
Who is ready for Superbowl Sunday now? Check back on Friday I’ll be posting a fun, FREE printable that you will want to use for your Superbowl party!
Party Planning: Valentine’s Day Themed Party

Party Planning: Valentine’s Day Themed Party

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Whether you are throwing a party for your kid’s friends and classmates so they can pass out valentines day cards and treats, throwing your February babies a birthday party or hosting a fun Girls Night Out with your girlfriends, I have put together some fun ideas for your party!
First off, I have some fun invitation designs for your to jump start your planning:
Kid’s Birthday Party:
Hearts & Love Party Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
Girls Night Out Party:
Galentine's Day Party Invitation
Kid’s Party:
Milk & Cookies Party Invitation
I found some adorable Valentine’s Day party decoration ideas via Pinterest! One of my favorites is the little trees full of paper hearts, they are so cute and festive! I bet you could even find some great deals on the tree shapes at Hobby Lobby right now since the holidays are over.
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Another fun addition to your themed party is instead of treat favor tags, you can add Valentine’s Day cards to your bags!
Check out my printable cards here:
Printable Valentine's Day Cards
Do you have any Valentine’s Day parties planned this year? What are some of your party ideas?
Printable Valentine’s Day Cards

Printable Valentine’s Day Cards

Printable Valentine’s Day cards are up in the shop! These cute cards are perfect to send with your kid’s to their school parties and/or to attach to treats (see below). Add a little colorful fun to your Kid’s Valentine’s Day with these unique cards you can’t find in stores. Best part… since they are a printable file all you have to do is purchase your favorite design (or the pack of all six), download, print, cut and write your names!
 
Printable Valentine's Day Cards
There are six different designs to choose from or you can purchase the pack and get the whole collection.
These Cards can be used as cards to pass around or attach it to fun snack treats to hand out to the classroom.
Valentine's Day Treat Ideas
Speaking of all this Valentine’s Day…have you seen my Valentine’s Day themed invitationsyet? They are perfect for your February babies birthday parties!
Business Branding: Packages & Changes in 2018

Business Branding: Packages & Changes in 2018

There’s nothing worse than feeling behind in your work, especially when you’re juggling multiple client projects. For me, 2017 was a learning process with my business branding services. Trying to keep up with 5+ client timelines and deadlines at once can be stressful for a designer, and being in a creative field (especially when this is my side job) where inspiration and ideas don’t always flow freely makes it even more difficult. Believe it or not, designer get writer’s block too!

I realized towards the end of 2017, things needed to change. Before it was just kind of a free for all (I would get an inquiry and say okay and start when they sent me the info), which worked for a while but as I am getting busier and my business is growing that system no longer works. I truly love designing brands for people but didn’t want to drag on projects longer than they needed to be. So things are changing this year and I’m very excited about it!

2018 Business Branding Package

What’s included in a business branding package:

  • Comprehensive questionnaires for your brand and how you value your business.
  • Primary and alternative logo designs, signature patterns, illustrations, type combinations, and brand style guide.
  • Four collateral items of your choice (business cards, social media banners, stationery, up to 5 social media templates, media kit, etc. totally your choice based on what you would use most!)
  • Two week turnaround time
  • Design Files (Vector, PDF, Transparent PNG and JPG)

What will be the pros to this new package?
The new system that I’m implementing this year will:

  1. Make client booking easy
  2. Have a very quick turnaround time
  3. Create consistency
  4. And make the customer (and me!) happy

How do you ask am I going to do this?

I will only be accepting 2 branding clients per month.
This ensures that I am only working on one branding package at a time so I can devote my attention to that.

Two Week Turnaround Time
Back to the only 2 clients per month bit… Each project will take two weeks (10 days total). This is to make sure that everything is done in a timely manner and since I will only be taking on one client at a time I can focus my energy into one project instead of spreading it out between multiple clients

Client Homework
I will have a detailed questionnaire for the client to fill out before the two week design period begins. The homework will need to be completed by Day#1. This will also help speed up the process because a lot of times customers don’t have any starting point so then it just ends up being a lot of back and forth with design logos. Not only is communication key to arriving at an end product that both my client and I are happy with, but it’s easier for me to design for a business whose goals are clearly defined.

Timeline/Process:

  • When you fill out the inquiry form on my website you will be sent a welcome e-mail that entails a lot of what you see here in this post (process, timeline, price, etc.). It will also have available start dates.
  • Once you submit that proposal back to me. You will be sent a contract to sign and an invoice for the first half off the total package. Once the contract is signed and the invoice has been paid you will be scheduled for the time slot you selected.
  • Once the invoice has been paid you will be sent the client homework questionnaire. This will give you time to work on it and ask questions if needed before the two week design period starts. (You will be sent sweet reminders to complete this before day 1)
  • Once the homework is complete, I will have everything I need for Day #1!

Timeline:

  • Days 1-3: brand board
  • Days 3-5: Logo Design Concepts
  • Days 5-6: Logo Edits/Logo Approval
  • Days 7-9: Collateral items (4) Designs/Edits
  • Day 10: File Sharing

This timeline is based on the assumption that the client will respond ASAP when sent design proofs. Since there is a dedicated two week time period per project, I ask that you choose the time slot wisely (for example I wouldn’t pick the two weeks where you might be planning your child’s birthday party or have a trip planned, etc.)

As far as general graphic design work not including branding (logo design, business card design, etc.) or invitations. I will accept projects based on availability at my $65/hour rate.

So, who’s ready to get started? Fill out the business branding inquiry here and let’s get your business branded!

Party Planning: Mardi Gras Themed Birthday Party

Party Planning: Mardi Gras Themed Birthday Party

If you asked me what the most popular invitation that I have been selling the past couple weeks is… the answer would hands down be my Mardi Gras themed invite! With Mardi Gras just around the corner this has been quite the popular theme for birthday parties!
Mardi Gras Party Invitation by Ashlynn Elliff
 
This is actually one of my favorite designs that I have created for the shop in the last year and I love that others are loving it too. It is such a fun party theme for all ages!
I wanted to show you a couple examples I found on Pinterest to help you with your Mardi Gras themed party. These are some of my favorites that I found and are great inspiration that you can implement in your party this year.
While searching for Mardi Gras party ideas, I came across these two recipes that I had to share because they looked too good not too! They are easy and perfect to add to your party menu.
Have I convinced you yet that you should have a Mardi Gras party?! To get the invites in printed format click here, to get the printable file click here! And in true Mardi Gras fashion… Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler (let the good times roll!)