New Vector EPS Graphics for Vinyl Cutting Machines + Coupon Code & FREEBIE!

Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you my passion is graphic design. I began doodling in the fourth grade and I haven't stopped creating yet! Last year when I purchased my QuicKutz Silhouette craft cutter and got in to vinyl cutting, I soon discovered I could put my graphic skills to good use. And then I discovered people liked what I made! (Now I spend all my time designing and only cutting vinyl for friends! LOL!)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW & DOWNLOAD THE ALWAYS-UPDATED FREEBIE!

I'm beyond thrilled to have my graphic products at PeppermintCreative.com available in three different buying options including commercial vectored EPS files for professional vinyl plotters and SVG and GSD files for personal craft cutting machines. Want to see what all the fuss is about? Here's a brand new freebie word art with REPOSITIONABLE commercial EPS file elements and a staggering 6 total file types so you can test for compatibility before you buy:





What does repositionable mean? It means that you can move the flourishes independently of the word art phrase, cut them in a different color vinyl to accent the design or use them in a completely different design. Unlike other EPS graphics, they're NOT WELDED FLAT! Instead I smart-weld for your business in the same way I create graphics for myself. The overlapping word art letters are welded so each word cuts as a continuous piece. Extras & add-ons that don't overlap are not welded to the rest of the phrase but instead are optimized for fast, clean cutting and left as their own layer. To make things even easier, each accessory is saved as it's own EPS file (commercial packs only) for on-the-go designing. So go on, put them anywhere you want! You finally have the benefits of a custom graphic designer without the $75 per-hour price tag.
BTW, the freebie comes with a non-digital commercial license so you are free to sell any 3-dimensional vinyl cut, craft or project made with it!

To Sweeten The Deal: Use Peppermint Creative coupon code tay15vec to take 15% off all my COMMERCIAL vector shape packs! One-time use coupon code vaild through March 31, 2009.


For Small Business Use Only: I designed these graphics to fill the needs of small business owners. I'm a mom too and I know how hard it is to do everything yourself, start-to-finish. Previously there weren't many options besides purchasing font after font and doing the best you could with existing embellishment shapes while large companies with in-house graphic designers gained the advantage. In my own little way I'm hoping to support fellow moms. There is nothing I love more than being at home with my precious little boy and if I can help ensure another mother has that same option then I believe I have made the absolute best use of my talents. :) Enjoy your freebie!

Aiden's Skateboarder Photo Shoot Pics!

He's not quite 2 yet but I want to be able to give family brand new prints when they're in town over his birthday weekend so we did his birthday shoot a bit early. Here are two of my favorites from his TOTALLY AWESOME skater photo shoot!





I designed the vinyl decals on his skateboard and you're getting a sneak peek at some of the things I'm working on. ;) I am VERY thrilled with how vibrant & fun these turned out! I have two brand new bright green metal frames (the exact ones on Kelsey's site!) that have been waiting for these fun prints! Thank you for another breathtaking set of photos, Kels - everyone that sees them has been very impressed!

Aiden Keeps Me Busy!

A few of the funny things Aiden has said or done these last few days:

• I offered Aiden a Girl Scout thin mint cookie last week, to which he responded "Tire!" and began nibbling away. I told him it was a cookie and turned back to dishwasher unloading. (The cookie was to distract him from "helping" me. Read: hitting me with spatulas from silverware basket.) He came running into the kitchen a few minutes later, stopped at my feet and shouted "More tire cookie!" I laughed so hard I didn't even bother correcting him!

• Aiden uses the phrase "tell me" interchangeably with "please", as if it means the same thing. I've been working to help him understand that "tell me" means "use words to say what you want". He's also been practicing putting "don't" in front of things. Sunday Brian was holding him when he suddenly said what sounded like "Don't tell on me" (don't tell me). When Brian smiled and asked who he had heard it from, our little comedian didn't miss a beat and replied "From Mama!" LOL!

• My sister has visited with her newborn little boy several times and we've had to teach Aiden not to pat Kyler too hard or throw toys at him. Today he saw a picture of an infant and exclaimed "A baby! DON'T TOUCH IT!"

• The graphics continue to require a lot of evening work but sometimes I get e-mails during the day that need quick attention. I've tried to explain to Aiden that I need to work for a minute and THEN I can get him his third ice pop.... Previously he would melt into a temper tantrum, not realizing lying realatively still on the floor allows me to quickly do whatever is needed online. Now he seems to understand that typing one-handed is difficult and will seize whatever fingers are closest to him in a death-grip and shout something like "NO WORK! More tire cookies!"

• What is it about little boys and the garbage truck? Sometime during the mid-morning on Tuesdays and Fridays Aiden will suddenly go sprinting for the front door and I'll hear the blinds clatter out of the way as he jerks them aside to peer out the window. Then for a few blissful seconds he'll watch as our trash is thrown in and the truck drives away. This is followed by giggles and a funny, bent-knee, bouncy happy dance and then he darts right back to whatever he was previously destroying. Repeat on Friday afternoons for the Recycling pick-up.

• It was inevitable, I had to teach Aiden to avoid dog piles alongside the sidewalk as we walk to the park. (Seriously people, pick up after your pets!) Unfortunately for me Aiden has made it his responsibility to stop, point and shout "dog poop!" at every single pile we pass along the way. There's always at least ten. I swear, if I find out who is letting their dog use the greenbelt, my little poop-spotter and I are going to locate every single pile and take it to them. :)

And the one that takes the cake: Aiden simply cannot understand why a real flower or a broken apple stem cannot be fixed by his magical mother and her extensive stash of craft adhesives. I can see the expectation in his little eyes just before the complete melt-down when I try to explain how ripping the flower head off the stem makes it permanently broken. You can't imagine how much clear tape I have wasted these last few weeks on "fixing" these types of items! Nor can you imagine the laughter I have to stiffle as he happily trots away with a taped-up flower!

Dirty Little Secret!

Since last May I've been keeping something from you. I've quietly been working away and not said very much about it. Since January 1 I have somehow squeezed in 35 hour work-weeks in the evenings between the time Aiden goes to bed (7:30) and the time I go to bed. This is why some of you have gotten reply e-mails from me at 2 and 3 in the morning! It's not insomnia....



I'M A DIGI DESIGNER ON PEPPERMINTCREATIVE.COM!!!!



I'm designing with Miss Mint! But not digi scrap kits. I've got a computer FULL of professional graphic art intended for cutting on commercial vinyl plotters and Miss Mint discovered that my designs are equally appealing to hybrid gals & digi scrappers. So up on her site they went!

The best part about all of it is that what I love doing helps other work-at-home moms like me. My designs save time and give anyone the ability to compete with larger companies who have an in-house graphic designer.

Take a peek and be sure to watch the gallery for some upcoming projects!

Unpleasant Reminders & Creative Solutions

I ran into a girlfriend at the gym today and had a delightful time catching up with her! She's a total sweetheart and every bit as crafty as I am but MUCH better with a sewing machine! I e-mailed her tonight to forward a link I had mentioned and she replied with the stomach-twisting news that her car had been broken in to and her purse stolen while she was at our new local gym.

I was sickened and stunned to hear the gym, which opened nine days ago, has already been targeted. Criminals know that us mommies don't want to tote our purses inside with us and so they wait and watch for one to be left behind. It's so unfair! We don't THINK of leaving the house with our children without the basic essentials, including a debit card or enough cash to cover the co-pay should you need a quick pediatrician or minor emergency trip if there's an unexpected accident. Then you've got to have your keys, your phone, your driver's license and your gym membership card on top of your water bottle, iPod and whatever else you like to have for your workout. If leaving your purse hidden in the car while you take in only what you need is not an option, what's a girl to do?

I tell you what we're going to do! We're going to beat thieves at their own game and look totally fabulous while doing it! Having been the victim of theft on a couple of past occasions myself, I had a seller on Etsy custom make me this little gym keeper:



It's a 5.50 inch tall, fully-lined pouch with two zippers. (The image above shows the back, click here to see the front.) There is a zipper on top that opens into the largest compartment for storing your cell phone, iPod and other girlie stuff (like my chapstick). There is another smaller zippered pocket on the front that is sized for your driver's license, gym membership card and cash. Off to the side is a swivel-hook where you can clip your car or locker keys or simply clip the pouch to your beltloop.

I requested the little white elastic band be added to the back of mine so I can easily slip the whole she-bang over my water bottle and set it in the cup holder when I'm on the elliptical machines. This way I don't have to get a locker just so I can stash my car keys like I did today.

My gym keeper hasn't arrived yet but I think Theresa's creation is a great idea for us busy moms on the go. I'm hoping you'll join me in supporting her clever product AND thwarting future criminals! Maybe by word-of-mouth we can start a trend with far-reaching positive effects. If you'd like to custom design your own gym keeper, set up a free buying account on Etsy.com (kind of like eBay for all things handmade) and then convo (contact) Theresa and tell her Tay sent you. She'll know what you want!


Updated To Add: Theresa heard about the theft and is giving my friends a 15% discount on your entire purchase! Simply convo her and mention you were referred by me (reference my Etsy ID: TheClutteredMuse) and she'll adjust your paypal invoice. Happy shopping!

WHOO-HOO!

A friend e-mailed me this article on the Etsy blog - they have put a 1 year extension on the CPSIA Mandatory Testing & Certification! I'm so happy! But not for the reason you think. :)

I'm very glad I'll still be able to get cute, handmade things for Aiden online. I hit some AWESOME clearance sales on Etsy (search CPSIA sale and store closing) and came away with some very imaginative and creativity-inspiring playthings for Aiden's birthday. Not to mention stumbling across a few incredible buys for myself! (Like a cute Michael Miller fabric zippered pouch for tampons so they don't come flying out when I get my wallet and bounce across the floor in the grocery store checkout line! Why does all the crazy stuff happen at the grocery store?)

As far as my children's jewelry goes I won't be putting it back up online. If you read more, the stay does NOT apply to children's jewelry produced after March 23 of this year. I would still be required to have all my components tested and I'm just not interested in paying tens of thousands of dollars to do it. I'd rather focus on my adult earrings and finally get some pictures taken and posted online!

Local Friends: Oh my goodness, I have been so touched by all your phone calls! Okay, okay. I am willing to take a LIMITED amount of children's bracelet & surfer necklace orders between now and March 1. You have 28 days. I've already sold off a bunch of beads so it's going to be a first-to-pay kind of thing until I run out of clasps and bead colors. Bubble gum/hot pink is nearly gone and I currently have about 20 of the baby lobster clasps in stock, which probably won't last until the end of next week. Because I was busy with the valentine craft I have a back-log of adult jewelry orders that must be completed first so please allow 10-14 days for me to make your jewelry. Money is due up front so the legal transaction date will be February 2009 with delivery before March 23rd. I'm not willing to compromise on this. Besides, I don't think you would like the $8,700 bracelet price should the sale be completed after March 23! Again, it's not who calls or e-mails me first but who completes the money exchange - keeping me legally covered - that gets her jewelry first! Friend's discount price of $7 for cat eye bracelets (was $12 online) and $10 for cat eye & Swarovski crystal bracelets (was $18 online) are still good.

P.S. Jen Clark has her own unique inventory of my designs in patterns that are just hers. I'm not duplicating those designs so please contact her if you want my fancier, extra-glittery boutique bracelets with the extension chains and little charm bead drops. ;)

In Search of Blanket - Will Pay You $20!

This stupid Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act! ARH! I swear! Before it becomes completely illegal to sell used children's items, I am DESPERATELY trying to hunt down a second star blanket for Aiden. He screams like mad any time it has to be washed, I can't imagine the blow-up if we actually lost it.

Although the blanket originally retailed for less than $5,
I WILL PAY $20 FOR THIS BLANKET IN ANY USED CONDITION!

Here's a picture:



It is actually a LIGHT IVORY / OFF-WHITE background with sky-blue stars in 3 different sizes ranging from .5 to 1 inch in diameter. Believed to have been sold at Target in 2005/06/07, possibly under the Carter's, Circo or Lullaby Club name. It is roughly 27x37 inches and the tag has little info other than it is 100% Dacron polyester fleece from DuPont. The corners are square. (Other blankets may have an additional tag with one of these names.)

Dig through your old baby stuff and make a quick & easy $20! I can get out any stains. (Actually, Aiden's blanket is now a shade of gray so it doesn't matter what the second one looks like!)

I'll also pay $10 for any white-with-blue-somethings blanket that is 'very close' if Aiden will accept it. (He frequently got his blanket confused with his cousin's blue & white pooh blanket at Christmas so he's going mostly off feel. It seems any blanket that is mostly white, fleece and very wash-worn but soft will do. I have hope!)

Since I'm sure I'm not the only one in this situation please feel free to leave a comment if you're also hunting for a duplicate lovey before they become impossible to find on February 10th! We all shop the same stores so what is gathering dust at my house could be the replacement you won't want to be without!