Grey Moggie Press

What it's like to be a student

Most law students (as far as I know) dream often about not returning. I have found it more and more difficult to return to classes after each break, whether it's as long as last year's carefree summer*, or a long weekend filled with looming deadline dread. Something (and for the life of me, I cannot figure out what the something is) keeps bringing me back, and with only one academic year left, I am confident that I will not quit. On the other hand, I can guarantee that I will contemplate quitting at least weekly.

 

Before the start of this past Spring semester, I needed to do something (a different something). I've always loved paper and fantasized about opening up a stationery store about as often as I pictured my early departure from law school.  So, back in January, I spent an afternoon buying supplies at Paper Source and started spending more time working on crafty projects.

From this blog you can see that I've actually spent a great deal of time making cards, working on scrapbooks, creating mix cds with crafty liners, and many other projects.  I worried somewhat that spending several hours a week at my craft table with glue sticks instead of at my desk with casebooks was really going to hurt my GPA. Now, I can report that I kept up with my homework, my GPA did not suffer, and I was offered a position as an editor of my journal. And I'm much happier now than I have been at all throughout this long journey called law school.

I have a dear friend starting grad school very shortly and I wanted to give her an excuse to take some time away from her studies every once in a while to do something unrelated to school.  Before she left, I gave her a stack of these cards to keep on her desk so that she can keep in touch with friends and family near and far. Good luck, K, and I hope to get a letter from you soon!

If you're a student looking for a way to procrastinate, I've got a few of these cards left - they'll be available in my Etsy shop.

*I started writing this post a few weeks before classes started for my third (AND FINAL!!) year of school. Now that the school year has started, I am surprised and happy to report that going back is not nearly as difficult when you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. If there are any 1Ls or 2Ls reading, know that it does get (somewhat) better. Hang in there.

Thank you cards - without frills

Remember when I was trying to make a manly thank you card? And I had to go and add pink? And the cards were no longer as manly as I had originally imagined? Yeah.

Well, I tried again a few days ago. And I got some great feedback. Mr. Moggie reports that his labmate, the one who had originally requested more masculine cards around here at Grey Moggie, squealed when he saw the cards.

He squealed, guys! I couldn't be prouder! Now go on over to the Etsy shop and get one of these cards - make someone squeal!

Just in time for Mothers Day

After my exam on Tuesday night, I decided I would take the rest of the evening off since I had a week until the next exam. I made dinner plans with a friend and while I waited for her to show up, I played around with some new tools. Like my new vase paper punch. And those liquid pearls. I'd had to ignore these fun toys when I first got them because I've been spending most of my time studying.

When the card came together, I realized it would be perfect as a Mothers Day card. If you're still looking for a special card for that sweet lady who nurtured you as a child and still calls you every day, find these in my Etsy shop.

all together now...The entire 5-card set

You've seen them all before but I wanted to share a photo of all 5 thank you cards together.

They just came together so nicely!

Find them here.

Blue Thank You cards

This card is Mr. Moggie's favorite in the 5-card set. A crisp white circle offset by a deep, rich blue with that beautiful daisy pattern on the side strip. I can see why he is a fan!

This card is part of a 5-card thank you card set available in my Etsy shop. The cards measure 3.5" x 5". Each card is joined by a white envelope with matching colored accents and comes in a protective clear plastic sleeve.

Find them here.

Strawberry Colored French Thank You Cards with Brown Accent

Pink and brown. Is there a better color combination? What more do you need for a classy thank you card?

How about tiny daisies, red polka dots, and a thank you message in French? Now we're talking.

These cards make up part 3 of 5 in a special thank you card set available in my Etsy shop.

The cards measure 4.25" x 5.5". Each is joined by a white envelope with matching accents and will ship in a protective clear plastic sleeve. Find the whole set here.

Green and Blue Thank You Cards

There is a lot to be thankful for around here lately. It's springtime and everyone is sharing, helping, and caring. Let them know you've noticed with a pretty little thank you card.

This is the second card in a 5-card set of thank you cards available in my Etsy shop. These cards are very simple with a large thank you flourish stamped onto the front of the card and a tiny blue flower stamped into each corner.

The cards are 3.5" x 5". Each card is joined by a white envelope with matching blue accents and will ship individually wrapped in a protective plastic sleeve. Find them here.

Brown and Pink Thank You Cards

A male Grey Moggie friend recently told me he wants to see more manly cards available here. I took his suggestion to heart and got some black, navy, and brown card stock to see what I could do. I set about making new thank you cards with this brown paper and wholly intended to keep the design away from frilly and delicate.

But you know what goes so well with deep chocolate tones? Light pink, of course! So I abandoned the masculine cards and made these brown and pink creations.

These cards are 5" x 3.5". Each comes with a white envelope with color-coordinated accents and will ship in a clear plastic protective sleeve. There is a strip of kraft colored paper on the inside of the card so that you can write your own sweet message with a regular dark ink pen.

Part of a 5-card thank you set available in my Etsy shop.

After exams, I'll try again to make a few cards without flowers, cupcakes, the color pink, or dresses It's going to be tough, but I'm ready for the challenge!

Hats off to you!

The Grey Moggie is in quite a state. (And we didn't know we were having guests.*) I assure you there is good reason.  Spring break in law school is quite bittersweet. On the one hand, we get a week off to regain the lives we had before the semester started. On the other hand, it's only one week and then we're jerked back to reality.  It gets harder every time! Then, when we head back to the classes and books we're that much closer to exams. I'm also lending a hand with an upcoming journal event so my non-Grey Moggie world has swallowed me whole.

These cards remind me that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. That light may be off in the distance still , but it does exist. A reliable source says there are only 414 days until I am deserving of these cards. For now you can send them to your favorite soon-to-be graduates.

The front of the card features a graduation hat (mortar boards, are they called?) and a stamped message: "The world is waiting for you." The inside reads "Congratulations" with lots of room left over for your own sweet message.

These graduation cards are available in my Etsy shop.

*I imagine my increased traffic is flowing from Fricknits readers. Hello and what a nice bunch you all are!

Everything's coming up COLOR! (a grey moggie update and some new thank you cards)

I've been so inspired over the last few days. Despite frigid temperatures, spring is in the air, and I've gotten a lot of outdoor time. I have a week off from school and spent the weekend catching up and getting crazy with friends. I just had to make these super bright thank you cards in response to my general disposition.

I've taken full advantage of my time off. Thursday was trivia night at Looking Glass Lounge in Petworth and we managed to avoid last place. After pints with friends on Friday night, a group of us dressed up as the castaways from Gilligan's Island and raced around the city with a shopping cart on Saturday to raise money for Miriam's Kitchen as part of the DC Idiotarod.


Yesterday, I was able to join Mr. Moggie at the farmers' market for the first time since school started up in the fall. It was great to see his interactions with all the farmers he's gotten to know over the last few months. I'd forgotten how beautiful fresh produce is when laid out in wooden crates and galvanized steel buckets basking in the sunshine.


I've been keeping up with my training for the 10-miler and got to walk around the city and shop with Mr. Moggie and our good friend, Steph, yesterday, so I've had no shortage of sunshine (though I've had to bundle up).

Today I saw Penelope, which was adorably charming, and then wandered around Paper Source, which is always charming.

And the artichokes have sprouted!!

Is it any wonder this is what I created today?

Available in the Etsy shop soon!

Flowers on your birthday

You know how I feel about orange and blue, but lately I've been loving a blue-green combination. Actually that color duo may have been the reason the cupcake scrapshop kit made me so unbelievably happy! This new card is one way I've manged to get these two hues together lately.

These A2-size cards have stamped flowers falling along the bottom of the front. And there's a happy birthday message stamped and embossed onto a green background - also accented with the stamped flowers.  The inside is blank for a personal bithday greeting.

Soon to be available in the Etsy shop!

More cupcakes!

Cupcakes are everywhere! And now I've got some cupcake cards to show off.

These 4 bar white cards have a cut out sliver and pink cupcake on the front - topped off with a bright red cherry! The front of the card is stamped with the greeting "Eat Sweets" and the inside of the card reads "happy birthday" in red ink.

Available soon in the Etsy shop.

Poppy Birthday Cards

Who knew orange could be so pretty? I love being pleasantly surprised!

A friend asked me to design birthday cards she could send to her clients on their birthdays. I used her company's colors (orange and gray) to create the cards. The result was so pretty that I think similar cards will become part of my regular Etsy offerings.

They're 3.5" x 5" poppy colored cards with a strip of green and blue patterned paper down the side.  The front features a stamped gift image and the simple greeting "happy birthday." I think I'll leave the inside blank, though for my friend's clients the inside of the cards will feature a message on a cement colored text block. Enjoy!

Birthday cards with dragonflies

I designed these with upcoming birthdays in mind.

This is a soft white 3.5 x 4.75 card with rounded corners and cutout polka dots. Behind the cutouts I placed some pretty patterned paper and then stamped a dragonfly on the front. The inside says "happy birthday" and is off-white.

Now available in the Etsy shop!

Simple French thank you cards in silver and pink

Bonjour!!

The French language always adds a touch of class, right? That's the idea with these simple "merci" cards. Saying thank you in French shows that you really mean it!

The 3.5" x 4.75" white card with rounded corners is shown here on a pink background.  The card is stamped with "merci" in pink and with a silver accent at the bottom.  The inside is blank for your own sweet thank you message.

Now available in the shop!

Bises!!

Thank you cards - blue with dandelion

I've pretty much fallen in love with these new cards. Maybe it's because I made them so close to Valentines Day! Maybe it's the simple "thanks;" maybe it's the pretty little dandelion stamp; maybe it's the rounded corners; or maybe it's the shade of blue. Something about these cards makes me smile. And really, that's what a thank you card should do!

The card is white but is photographed on a blue background above. The inside is blank for your own sweet message.

These cards are in the Etsy shop!

Way to Go! cards - red and blue

I made these with a friend in mind. She runs a small business and was looking for a simple way to acknowledge salespersons who work with her. These cards will definitely do the trick!

The card is 3.5" wide and 4.75" tall and is white (it's on a blue background in the photograph above) with blue and red accents. The front of the card says "Way to go!" stamped in red and the inside is blank. I think the rounded corners add a nice finish.

Now in the Etsy shop!

Thank You Cards - Just in time for Spring!

I don't know what it's like in the rest of the country, but here in Arlington the weather is unseasonably warm. I've definitely got spring fever, which might explain why I was inspired to make these green and flowered thank you cards.

These 5x7 leaf green cards are a perfect way to acknowledge someone else's good deeds.  The "thanks" message is stamped and embossed in dark green on a sage green background with rounded corners displayed on a white scallopped oval. I added a strip of Italian paper to finish it off.  The inside is left blank for your own sweet message.

The cards come with matching leaf green envelopes and will ship wrapped in plastic sleeves. 

These are available at my Etsy shop. Check it out!

Be Well cards with bees and bear-cats

This card comes with the sweet greeting "Be Well." You can send it off to friends and family who might be feeling under the weather, but unlike "get well" cards, you don't to wait for someone to be sick to send a "be well" card!  Anyone is sure to grin when he sees the cute bear-cat holding out a daisy on the front of the card.

These 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" kraft colored cards feature a strip of beautiful Italian paper, the aforementioned bear-cat and some green accents, including two buzzing bees. The inside says "BE WELL" in blue ink.

These cards are available in my Etsy shop!

Way to Go! cards with red accent

Here's one to give to your personal superhero, to hand out in proud moments, or when the occasion calls for a pat on the back.

This softwhite card features patterned kraft-colored paper on the front with red accent and says "Way to Go!" Inside reads: "Well Done!" stamped in red ink. Each card has a matching A6 envelope and comes wrapped in a clear plastic sleeve.

Now available in my Etsy shop!