FROM SOMMER'S DESK...

I'm so pleased to have my friend Sommer here from Paper Anniversary Co. be sure to check out her awesome blog!To share her experience at Alt Summit with us. I met Sommer years ago through our mutual good friends Hi V + R!, and she and I instantly bonded over our love of all things creative, blogging- and much more. Sommer has an amazing knack for putting creativity on paper, and I thought she would be the perfect person to share some of the secrets she learned from Alt...

A BIG Thank you to Keely for having me over today to share my experience at the recent Altitude Design Summit. I couldn’t be more delighted to be here!

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The girl in the photo above - that would be yours truly – the girl behind Paper. Not my most flattering photo; however, I feel its worth sharing. It’s a snapshot of me listening (quite intently I might add) to my girls Alix and Dottie fromModern Kiddo. When I met Dottie the evening before in the Alt Lounge – we share a love for vintage eyewear - she encouraged me to attend her round table the next morning, and I did.

These ‘kiddos’ hosted a discussion entitled “Happiness is a better blog: Simple marketing & PR tips to benefit your blog” focusing on the importance finding and communicating your unique blog style. They also provided a well-crafted outline featuring fabulous advertisements such as this one…

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As you can see, this wasn’t your typical round table and Altitude Design Summit (Alt) was your typical conference either. Many of my fellow Alt attendees have referred to the Summit as a blogger summer camp. I couldn’t think of a better descriptor myself. We worked, we played, and we bonded. In the end, we left better prepared to face a new year.

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Here are a few things I took away from ‘camp’:

·      A better insight into how I can create a true sense of community with my blog

·      Options and alternatives for advertising on your blog

·      An unofficial guide to ethics and etiquette from the modern Emily Posts Emily, Grace, and Joy

·      Tips for hosting a successful event (to build your offline community) such as selecting “Invitations that Shine” according to party planner extraordinaire Jordan Ferney

·      Print is not dead! Whew! There is a basic human nostalgia toward print leaving room for digital and print to coexist symbiotically…perfect examples Rue and Anthology

But, the best thing I took away from Alt (much like summer camp) was the new friendships. I met some wonderfully kind and talented women who I look forward to learning from and collaborating with in the future. And, in the process I realized, the key to being a better blogger: be true to yourself and kind to others.

COCKTAILS, SOON?

This morning I am excited to have Sommer from Paper Anniversary Co. back to luxe+lillies to share the design inspired by Will at Bright.Bazaar [winner of the past giveaway] ! I think she did a fabulous job and was so attentive to who her client was, and really created something fun and exciting! Read about the process below...!

Recently, Keely of Luxe + Lillies announced Will as the winner of the Paper Anniversary Co. Giveaway.  We are so excited to share his coined phrase "cocktails, soon?," now on paper.

{photo and design by paper anniversary co.}

"Cocktail's soon?" is such an inviting and playful phrase, well-suited for a greeting. The design was inspired by this playfulness and by Will's colorful blog, Bright Bazaar. His blog series, Colour Cocktail, no doubt was a major influence in our choice of color.

{via Bright Bazaar}

Creating designs that reflect our clients' unique sense of style is what we live for, truly. Thanks Will for giving us such great inspiration to work with. And thank you to all who participated in the giveaway. It has been so much fun and we look forward to doing it again soon *smile.

Interested in your own custom-designed stationery? Contact the girl behind paper anniversary at hello@paper-anniversary.com.

WE HAVE A WINNER!

I'm so excited to announce that (thanks to random.org)  Will from Bright.Bazaar is the Paper Anniversary Co. giveaway winner! He will be receiving a set of Paper Anniversary Co.'s super cute new paper line, as well as some of his own with "Cocktails, soon?" printed on them! 

Thank You so much to everyone who entered, tweeted, and told your friends. Its wonderful to have great followers and the opportunities to do these giveaways! And of course, a big thanks to Paper Anniversary Co!

LAST DAY FOR THE GIVEAWAY

Today while I am away on a photoshoot... I have asked Sommer, the girl behind Paper Anniversary to remind you all about the awesome giveaway she is offering on luxe + lillies through midnight tonight.

Friday is here, where does the time go?! Today is the last day to enter our fabulous Paper Anniversary Co. stationery giveaway. To participate...

1. Be a follower of luxe + lillies or the Paper Anniversary Co. blog

2. Leave a comment telling us what your favorite saying is to be featured in a future

    Paper Anniversary Co. design

3. Tweet using both @luxeandlillies and @paperanniv

Time is running out...don't miss your chance to have your favorite saying celebrated on paper AND win a set of notecards from the Paper Anniversary Everyday Collection!

Thanks Sommer!

GIVEAWAY: PAPER ANNIVERSARY CO.

On Friday luxe + lillies introduced it's newest sponsor Paper Anniversary Co. I am someone who truly believes in the value of writing a note, I believe it speaks volumes, and so does Paper Anniversary. Not only does Paper Anniversary Co. sell their own designs, but they will create custom pieces [for example the adorable giveaway button to the right!]

This week they are giving a lucky reader will win a mixed set of the new "Everyday" Collection [featured below] , and a set inspired by their own favorite saying! 

SO cute right!?

To participate in the drawing...

1. Be a follower of luxe + lillies or the Paper Anniversary Co. blog

2. Leave a comment telling us what your favorite saying is to be featured in a future Paper Anniversary Co. design. 

3. Tweet using both @luxeandlillies and @paperanniv

NEW SPONSOR: PAPER ANNIVERSARY

Today I am really excited to announce a new sponsor on luxe + lillies!

Sommer is the girl behind Paper Anniversary, and has been creating gorgeous stationary with a creative flair in her own studio, and also custom to order. 

If you are thinking about some paper for whatever the occassion may be, check out Paper Anniversary on Etsy. Even more exciting is starting monday, Paper Anniversary will be doing a great giveaway on l+l with  the new line of greeting cards debuted today!