Echo park/ My Pink Stamper/ Shop Pumpkin Spice graduation card

  I have some happy news.  For more than four years I have been selling my greeting cards at a local coffee shop.  Under the original owner I sold ~40 cards/month and lots more at Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and graduation.  When the original owner sold the store (~3 years ago), some of the regular customers stopped coming and went to other local coffee shops.  My sales dropped to about 40% of what they had been.  About two years ago the shop was sold again, and all of the regulars (except two) stopped coming.  Some new customers came, but the new owner kept moving my little basket of cards away from the register, and I have sold only 2 to 7 cards/month.  It was very frustrating that the new owners did not honor our agreement to keep my little 6x6 basket by the register.  This is how I earn my spending money to purchase craft supplies.  I have been whining about the situation for months, but with the move to our new house, I've been a little busy lately ;)

 Last week I went to the old coffee shop, collected my measely pay, and took my basket.  I drove to another local coffee shop (one nearer to my new house) and asked the owner if she would be amenable to selling my cards.  She said, "Yes!"  Guess what?  Most of the regulars from the previous coffee shop are at the new shop AND I have sold 42 cards in the first 6 days.  I like to keep my cards unique, but I am a slow crafter.  So I am beginning a little mass production using my supplies on hand.

  The customers are asking for graduation cards in the local high school colors (blue & gold).  I perused my papers and used some Echo Park "Winter Park" blues for the background and the bird's head, and Echo Park "For the Record" gold for his beak and feet.  I added some My Mind's Eye twine (or crinkle ribbon when I ran out of twine) and a My Pink Stamper sentiment.

Supplies:
Cricut cartridge:  "3 Birds on Parade" p.47 cut @ 3"
sentiment:  My Pink Stamper "School Days"
papers:  Echo Park "For the Record" Lace Stripes and Echo Park "Winter Park" Sledding, Park City, and Teal; navy linen card stock
twine:  My Mind's Eye Out of the Blue "Playful"
(or crinkle ribbon)
Cuttlebug embossing folder:  "Polka Dots"
ink:  Impress indigo blue

Life is good.  Happy Tuesday!