Love, Love, Love...

This is what my desk looks like right about now. Every year I make handcrafted valentines to send out to my loved ones and this year - well this year I have an Etsy shop. So, I've been making twice as many. I've always felt that the best valentines I've ever gotten were the ones made by little fingers with crayon smudgings and dried glue everywhere. Now mine may not be so messy, but they are made with just as much heart because, I think, nothing says I love you better than a homemade valentine. Well, that's my two cents anyway.

Okay, gotta get back to work. I've got a ton of pictures to edit so that I can list these new cards in my shop this weekend. Wishing you all lots of love. Smooch!
-Kate

Just Another Couple Of Bucks...

Check it out! My Buck It Up Note Card was featured in this fun deer centric treasury! Ahhh, a happy Saturday indeed. Head on over and check out all the other fun fawn themed items from my fellow Etsy artisans.

Light As A Feather...

A few weeks ago I had the most elaborate dream. In it a feather pillow burst open and I was unable to run away. Instead, I stood still mesmerized by the falling feathers that were as white and as fluffy as snow. Needless to say it was one of those strange dreams that stick with you and for days afterwards I kept sketching feathers and played around with the idea of feathers mirroring snowflakes. In the end I ended up with a new screen printed card called Feather Flakes. The Fall version is in a red wine or rust colored ink reminiscent of the changing leaves and, in a few weeks, I'll be listing the Winter version in the Birdcage Cards' shop as well. It's printed in a light steely blue ink and paired with a silver envelope.

Since I've just printed 20 new cards last night and I'm gaga for feathers anyway this week's I Want Wednesday post is very plumage centric. So, for all you feather fanatics here's a healthy dose of colorful plumage...

Clockwise from top left: Controversial Pillow, Feather Flakes Note Card, Sweet Feather Color 03 pillow, Chartreuse Scoop Neck Tank, Bella Headband, sterling silver feather pendant necklace, Cecile watercolour and ink illustration, hand illustrated feather necklace

New In the Shop:

I've been very slowly releasing my fall cards in the shop. I'd love to say it's to build anticipation, but really I've been too busy with other orders to be able to turn my sketches into burned silkscreens or stamps yet. Fortunately, I was able to get two new screen prints completed last week and one of them listed in the Birdcage Cards' shop so far.

Shown above is my newest edition, Lovely Leaves. It's an original hand drawn, hand screen printed card in a lovely mustard yellow color. Printed on a heavy 100lb card stock and measuring 3 3/4" x 5 1/8" this bad boy comes in at only $3.00. I'll be adding more color options and bundled prices for this card in the next week or so, as well as a handful of more original hand drawn cards. So, be sure to stayed tuned!

Paper Lanterns

It's that time of the year again, when stores bring out their warm weather merchandise. On their list this year at Target is my favorite form of party decorations - paper lanterns. Every time I see one in a store I picture myself in a field of trees tucked away on a vineyard somewhere. There, round tables with white linens sit under paper lanterns hanging from old trees. I won't bore you with every detail but trust me I've thought of it, right down to the mixing of vintage wooden chairs. So anyhow, in honor of one of my favorite daydreams I made this simple little card. Hope it brings out a few daydreams for you too.


Paper Lantern note card by Birdcage Cards

And what else was in my spring card goody box...

Butterflies and Tulips.

These tulips were all hand painted with watercolors, one in every color of the rainbow - well almost.

That's all for today folks. Wishing you warm daydreams on this wet rainy day.

Spring Card Peep Show

So, as promised here's a look at some of the spring and Easter Cards that I've whipped up recently. I'll start the picture show with my favorite hands down...


"Yellow Zinnia" note card by Birdcage Cards

Okay, so I'm a bit obsessed with this yellow and grey card. It was made with spring in mind but I think I might use this style year round as a stationery set.

"Dandelion Fields" by Birdcage Cards. Available in assorted colors with and without the little cotton tailed bunny.

This little hopping bunny was made with my, soon to be 4 year-old, niece in mind. The perfect card for an Easter basket. But, I think hers will have to be on a pink card!

I'll be sure to share some more spring styles tomorrow and at the end of this week I'll reveal another stationery set from our new line. This one is sure to be a favorite. I guarantee it.

A Roarin' Good Card

I recently had a request to make a custom birthday card for a little boy who loves animals. All the client knew was that it had to be yellow and blue and fun. We exchanged a few emails and I sent her some rough sample pictures to pick just the right little animal. In the end this is what I whipped up for her little nephew. I think I'll call it a Roarin' Good Birthday Card.



I was sure to add a lot of dimension, and quite securely I might add, as it was for a pre-schooler.

So just remember no request is too small. Custom is the name of the game here at Birdcage Cards. Next week I'll share some pictures of our new spring and Easter cards so stayed tuned.
Enjoy your weekend everyone!