free printable gifts tags & wrapping paper

I designed some gifts tags & matching wrapping paper for your holidays gifts. Print these full color gift tags and wrapping paper at home. An inexpensive way to finish your holiday gifts in style!


Simply download the holiday gift wrap file, print on printer paper and wrap a small gift with it. Then, download the free holiday gift tags file, print on card stock, cut and attach to your gift with tape or a pretty ribbon. Free downloads are available over at the Soft Flex Company website.

holiday wreath

I created a holiday wreath for our front door from an old spring wreath that had seen better days (many years ago) combined with poinsettia and holly flowers I found when going through our Christmas storage. Here is what is looked like before ...

desert baby

I had the pleasure of working Amanda at Desert Baby to help create an identity for her new online shop. She was in need of a banner artwork for her shop and a business card. Desert Baby specializes in sewn handmade goodies for moms and the lil' ones that rule their lives. I based her shops design on retro graphics (since I knew she is fond of retro) and a desert color scheme.

Online Shop Banner


Business Card Design

And on another note, Amanda made an awesome little painter apron for Hudson's 3rd birthday. He loves it. And she now sells this sweet little painter's apron in her shop!

monthly goal meetup

(image: Modish Biz Tips)

December's upon us; our tree is up, the house decked out in decorations and the boys have been memorized by our holiday snow globes. The holiday rush is upon us and I'm trying to keep my sanity (although not doing it too well yet). I keep reminding myself that everything will fall in place as it always does this time of year. I have lots of holiday festivities planned, cookies to bake, gifts to make and plan to focus on those and enjoy the holiday season this month and will wait until January to post biz goals.

I wish you all a very happy holiday season!

feeling grateful

I was not feeling well this past weekend and wanted take a few moments today to reflect upon the things that I am grateful for this holiday season.

I am forever grateful for my family. I'm thankful for my husband Bert and the patience, love, support and friendship he shares with me every day. I couldn't have asked for a better partner in life or father for our children. I'm thankful for my children; Ethan shines with limitless happiness and excitement and Hudson sees the world with wonderment and creativity. I am extremely lucky to have them in my life and see the world as they do.

I am grateful for our home and all that we have. The kids and I went through our toys, clothes and household items this weekend. I was amazed and humbled at just how much we have and just how much we are able to donate to help others.

I am grateful for my extended family and friends. Without them, I wouldn't be me. They have helped see me through so much in my life and I am thankful for all their love and support. My good friends (old and new) help me to smile, laugh and appreciate others. And for that I say thanks.

I hope you had a lovely weekend, enjoyed your holiday and took a moment to give thanks!

desert botanical gardens

On Friday, my long time friend Carla and I got to spend the day together. Carla was in town for the ArtFest of Scottsdale and took some time out of her trip to spend the afternoon with me. We had a fabulous lunch at Arcadia Farms, known for their local and organic menu, and then headed to the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens.


I was the lucky recipient of a Culture Pass which led us to the Desert Botanical Gardens. The culture pass is a program that began in April and allows library members to sign out passes for free admission for 4 people to 15 different museums and cultural institutions around the valley. It's a pretty neat program. The library near me makes them available at random so, it's the luck of the draw and on Friday I happened to pick up a pass the Desert Botanical Gardens, score! While there we visited the Mariposa Monarca Monarch Butterfly Exhibit.

Hope you had a lovely weekend!

pumpkin fritters

This fritter recipe was passed along to me by my good friend Erica. It has become a recipe I look forward to making each year during pumpkin season. I took this recipe to a pumpkin picnic last weekend and the kids gobbled them up. The fact that I called them pumpkin donuts instead of fritters I think made the kids want to try them. My kids get giddy whenever donuts are mentioned.

I use real pumpkin but, you could try it with canned pumpkin and that would be yummy too.

Pumpkin Fritters (aka Pumpkin Donuts)

• 1 small pumpkin (2 cups mashed pumpkin)
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 - 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp salt
• oil for frying
• confectioner's sugar

First remove seeds and peel the pumpkin. To easily peel the pumpkin I roast it in the oven for about 15 min covered until the skin easily peels away or is at least soft enough to easily cut away. Then chop, boil, drain and mash the pumpkin. Combine 2 cups of mashed pumpkin with sugar, whole wheat flour, vanilla and salt. Heat oil in tall saucepan, spoon in mixture and fry. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

This year I decided to make 3 small pumpkins at once. After I prepared the pumpkins I portioned out 3 containers with 2 cups of mashed pumpkin in each. I fried one batch up right away, refrigerated one for the following day and froze one to save for Thanksgiving. This way, I just combine the ingredients and fry without the hassle of preparing a whole pumpkin each time.

Hope you are enjoying pumpkin season! I sure am.

day trippin'

Last weekend we took the family for a drive up north to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. We watched the leaves fall as we drove through Oak Creek Canyon. I forgot how beautiful it is to see the leaves delicately fall all around us. Once there, we ...

had a picnic lunch

played in the leaves

took pictures of the trees, this was taken by Hudson!

feed a goat named Amber

and admired this metal Javelina at an art show, Ethan loved him

While in the area we visited our friends Carla and Mark of Black Mountain Jewelry (and their dog Sam) at an art show they were attending. Lastly, we stopped at the Black Cow Cafe in uptown Sedona and enjoyed some homemade ice cream before hitting the road to head back home. What a sweet way to end a nice day trip with my family.

logo redesign

I created my biz logo for Creative Stash 3 years ago when I was selling handmade paintings and gifts at a local farmers/craft market. I signed up to be a vendor and scrambled to create a logo and print business cards. I have wanted to redo it for awhile but, the timing was never quite right. This year, Creative Stash has branched off into a few different avenues and I felt it was time to revisit my logo and create a professional and cohesive look.

I redesigned it to be a clean, simple design based off the color wheel and used own handwriting ta-boot! Remember when I created my own font? I am thrilled to be able to use my handwriting, it gives the design a personal touch. I'm really excited to begin using my new logo. Hopefully, it doesn't take me forever to get it implemented on my website, blog and etsy shop.

thank you veterans!

Happy Veterans Day to all who have served (and currently serve) our great nation. Thank you for your courage, dedication and sacrifice. Thank you for our freedom and for protecting our families. Many thanks and blessings.