We have an Event Stationery Design intern!!! We decided to hire an intern this year because we still wanted to offer invitations and other event stationery while April and I were busy planning our own weddings. It’s our pleasure to introduce you to:

Hi there! My name is Norman Ramos. I am currently a free lance graphic designer and student going to school at San Diego State University and San Diego City College. I stay busy with additional projects that range from brand and identity development, illustration, and photography.
You can check out past projects i’ve done on my flickr:

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/normanjayramos/sets/)

After two years of taking seven courses, volunteering over 100 hours for practicum, finishing and turning in my portfolio, I have graduated from George Washington University’s Event Management Certification Program from the University of San Diego!

The reception was pretty awesome with yummy food and open bar provided by USD Catering.  We were also provided with a cap and gown!  Here’s me receiving my certificate with our speaker Brad Gessner, the General Manager of the Convention Center, our program director Jodi Waterhouse, and our program coordinator Monica Phelps-Zambrano.

2010 graduating class:

 My EMP classmates and friends that started and ended the program with me – Michelle, Jennie, and Lisa!

 My parents:

 Fiance Justin:

My family:

Since she was driving down from Irvine, my sister met up with us after for dinner at Buca Di Beppo.  So now, I’m certified in Event Management!

April and I attended the November program of the International Special Events Society San Diego Chapter, of which I’m a student member of, entitled “But Are You Making Any Money?”.

Celebrity event planner Marley Majcher is not only the CEO of The Party Goddess, high-end, full service catering and event planning company.  She also serves as a speaker and mentor helping business owners like me and April build a successful event planning business. Marley recently came out with a new book entitled as so:

I bought the book  at the event and she was able to sign it!

Food was provided by Continental Catering.

Dessert was provided by Sweet Treats, a company that serves dessert in a truck!

The event was fun and educational. It was definitely beneficial for Simply Chic!

Before turning in my portfolio for my Event Management Program at the University of San Diego, I took a few pictures to share! I did my portfolio on Karen and Christian’s wedding.

Karen and Christian’s Wedding Timeline:

Karen and Christian’s Same-Day Edit video and Thank You card to me on the left and my very detailed almost Type-A production schedule for their wedding day:

As it turned out, I passed and graduated from the program! Thank you to Christine from Fancy That! Design for my letter of recommendation, Deejay from Omnistories for providing me with Karen and Christian’s Same-Day Edit video, and of course to my fiance Justin for proofreading!

We attended the LA Printers Fair back in September. I know, it’s been a while, but better late than never right?? The fair was hosted by the International Printing Museum and our supplier Envelopments provided the talents of their Design Deparment:

We went through vendor booths, letterpress “swap meet”, and printmaking demonstrations like this:

Selections of type:

April’s slug with her soon-to-be last name “HILL”:

It was interesting and fun to see all the different printing machines and people who love paper just as much as we do!

As part of obtaining my certification in the Event Management Program, I have to fulfill 100 hours of practicum.  Nearly forty of those hours was dedicated to volunteering with Christine from Fancy That! Designs.  I had first met Christine on Karen and Christian’s initial consultation. I didn’t know her very well though we went to the same high school and she’s April’s sister-in-law’s cousin. She was really sweet and passionate about her work so I emailed her asking if she needed any help.  From April to August, I had the privilege of getting to know her as a business owner, creative extraordinaire, wife, daughter, and sister. I’ve been blessed to also get to her welcoming family. Christine’s business is truly family owned and operated with her mom, dad, and sister as her core team.

I helped Christine with prep a couple days before one of her many weddings and I was always the one assigned to figure out where the tall versus short centerpieces should go. I dropped off flowers to a bridal party, figured out table assignments when there wasn’t a coordinator to do so, and assisted with ceremony decor.

I even had a good work out putting chair covers over chairs (my whole body was sore for two days!).

I also helped with escort card table decor and a candy buffet table!

Christine had two weddings in one day so she entrusted my sister and I to take over the smaller one. We picked up all the centerpieces, laid them out on the tables, and nervously placed flowers onto the cake.

With my experience, I take with me knowledge into a florist’s hard work thus giving me better understanding in the industry as a whole. I also take with me a great friendship, inspiration, and awe. Thank you to Christine and her family for taking me in as one of their own!

*All photos provided by Fancy That! Designs.

We are offering a new product for the holiday season! Twist Cards!

They are available in 5 x 5 , 5 x 7 Landscape, and 5 x 7 Portrait in 12 card stock colors:

The Twist Cards will only be available until December 17 so feel free to place your orders soon! Please note that we are only offering the product for purchase, not for design and/or print.

We know. We’re horrible at blogging the past few months! We apologize!!! Some people ask me, how do you work full-time,  run a business, and plan your own wedding?? Alicia Key’s “Superwoman” comes to mind. But as Superwomen, we tend to have to make sacrifices. After a long stressful work day then going home and printing and cutting cardstock or drafting a day-of itinerary on Excel, would we rather blog or snuggle with our fiances?  No contest! Haha. Plus, we want to blog ready-worthy material. Anyway, it’s not like we don’t have a lot to blog. Here’s what to look forward to:

• We have a few invitations to showcase (we’ve completed 4 so far)
• April has a personal project to share
• Ginet has an adventure to share
• We both have our own wedding planning to update  you with!
• We’ll also be updating with you our latest business decisions

Thank you for your patience and please stay tuned!!!

Envelopments has a few new products they’re offering:

Rad Roll-O-Decks:

Awesome Artist’s Pads:

Gnarly Note Cards:
 

Be sure to check out our online showcase for more information:
http://www.envelopments.com/dd/9783/default.aspx