Blogging and Salut Greetings Etsy Shop

Ok guys, you probably noticed that things have been changing around on the blog recently and that I'm not posting as much. You probably guessed it — I'm taking a short break. But I will be back! I do love blogging and learning the ins and outs of it. But I'm turning my focus more towards my Etsy shop now.

You might've checked it out in the past and noticed that it's been empty. I've making cards rather frequently, but I haven't been putting them up. That changed starting today!

Even though I won't be blogging for a little while, you can still find me on Instagram or Twitter. And while we're talking about my Etsy shop, you can check it out here and like the Facebook page.

I'd love to hear your input about what kinds of cards should go up on the shop. Need more thank you notes? Just to say hello notes? Birthday cards? Anniversary cards? Let me know!

So Fearless Goals July 2015 Update

So, I didn't actual take this exact picture with my DSLR, but I swear I've been using it!

It's the middle of July, meaning we're already half way through the summer! This year is going by so fast. I mentioned recently that I was changing up how I'm doing these #sofearlessgoals and now it's time for an update.

Personal: Plan a vacation. Photograph more. Get back into my planner more. - Still working on planning that vacation, but I have been using my camera and utilizing my planner more. I went down the shore over the weekend and took some awesome pictures of the sunrise and sunset. As for my planner, I'm working on using more of a bullet journal system for my to-do list, which then gets put into my actual planner. That probably sounds confusing, but it's working for me!

Financial: Keep better track of my finances. - Been doing great with this! If I'm out at several stores, I keep track of what I spend in my phone and later on put it into my excel document. I'm still not good about the receipts, but well... small steps, right?

Work: Going over planner system for the Etsy shop and finally get that thing opened! Work on my handlettering. Share a post or article I like on Twitter at least once a day. - Guys! I did some product shots recently and I'm getting ready to put some cards up on Etsy. I've been working on some handlettering and signed up for a mini-course. I did get behind on reading the blogs I follow though, so I haven't been sharing that many on Twitter. I know I can schedule them, but I like putting them up myself. Do you schedule the blog posts that you want to share on Twitter?

Health: Walk 2 miles atleast 3 times a week. Drink a glass of lemon water first thing in the morning. - Nope, not keeping up with walking three miles. I was drinking a lot of lemon water, but started to cut back.

How's July going for you? Let me know in comments below or share your goals post! Don't forget to download the printable to keep track of your goals and if you end up sharing it on Twitter on Instagram, make sure to tag it with #sofearlessgoals or @melissahebbe. Thanks for stopping by!

Designer Inspiration: Rich Blues and Handlettering

I went to a party over the weekend and they had the most beautiful outside wicker couches and chairs with bright blue cushions! It's a couple days after that party and I'm still thinking about them. I don't even own my own house with my own backyard and I'm still thinking about them. So I thought, "Hey, why not make a moodboard out of this!"

Top Left: Watercolor Patterns | Top Right: Brush Lettering
Bottom Left: Tide Business Cards | Bottom Right: Foiled Business Cards (1+2)

Don't forget to follow the Pinterest board for all the designer inspiration posts! What's inspiring you lately? Leave a comment below or share your blog post with me.

So Fearless Goals July 2015

Guys we are half way through the year! Wait since it's July, is it actually more than half way through the year? I hope you all had a fantastic June! Summer has always been my favorite season — I love the heat and the humidity. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it doesn't bother me.

So I mentioned in my June wrap up that I was changing up how I shared my goals and updated you on where I left off with my previous goals. Let's get into this month's goals!

Personal: Plan a vacation. Photograph more. Get back into my planner more. - It's summer and if it were up to me, everyone would get a vacation. Not sure when or where, but it's going to happen! And I have one awesome DSLR that I want to use way more than I do, so I'm thinking of some hiking/walks up through the mountains or just capturing my daily life more. Doesn't everybody need more pictures of their pets?! I also have been bailing on my planner a little bit and I want to get better about that as well as sync up my paper planner with my digital planner.

Financial: Keep better track of my finances. - I created an excel document to help document my expenses and income, but when I'm out and about, going to several stores in one day, I misplace reiceipts, forget that I bought something at a store. I want to make it a point to write down in my phone when I've bought something so I can reference it when I get home and find a system for keeping my receipts.

Work: Going over planner system for the Etsy shop and finally get that thing opened! Work on my handlettering. Share a post or article I like on Twitter at least once a day. - I sound like a broken record, but this is going to be the month guys, I just know it! I posted a behind the scenes of Salut Greetings last week and have a Pinterest board showing my cards that features some that I've made for my family and friends. As for the handlettering, I'm going to set a side sometime every week to work on it and try out new materials. I have some watercolors and I think I still have some ink and bamboo brushes from an art class I took a while ago. I joined in on #NectarChat this past Wednesday and mentioned that I want to start sharing links that I like — not just the ones I share in my monthly wrap up.

Health: Walk 2 miles atleast 3 times a week. Drink a glass of lemon water first thing in the morning. - I know I've been talking about adding some cardio into my workout routine and I've slowly but surely have been. Now I just want to make it a more consistent thing. And as for the lemon water, I can't even tell you how many articles/blogposts/etc. have talked about the benefits of drinking of warm glass of lemon water in the morning. I love lemon water, but I'm a huge morning coffee person too and I'm not planning on giving that up anytime soon.

Think I'll have enough going on for the month of July? What are your July goals? Don't forget to download the printable to keep track of your goals and if you end up sharing it on Twitter on Instagram, make sure to tag it with #sofearlessgoals or @melissahebbe. Thanks for stopping by!

June Wrap Up

Another month is over! Can you believe we're halfway through 2015?!

**You may have noticed that I haven't been doing #sofearlessgoals weekly anymore. I decided to change that up, so in the beginning of each, I'll share my goals with you awesome people, update you in the middle of the month and finally during the monthly wrap up. You can check out my last #sofearlessgoals post here if you're curious as to what my goals were before reading the update.**

#sofearlessgoals Update

Personal: Keep reading! - I've been pretty good about this! I joined in Kory's The Summer Reads book club and ready Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht and I also joined the NovelTea Book Club, which is starting The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins in July.

Financal: Keep up with my finance tracker. - I was pretty good with this for the most part. I do have to keep better track though.

Work: Make 8 new cards this week. Research product shots. - I'm not sure if I kept up with this goal, but I know I made a lot!

Health: Work in cardio. - You probably won't find my running miles anytime soon, but I'm enjoying taking walks. I'm trying to get up earlier to walk in the morning instead of at night.

What's Going On

This is my first full month out of school. I'm still looking for a full time job, but while I'm doing that I'm taking on freelance work as well, so if you're looking for a graphic designer, check out my portfolio and contact me with your project. I know job searching can make people really anxious, but I really enjoy the process. I look at this as a learning experience and I'm a full believer in that things will happen when they are supposed to. I've made a lot of cards this month! It was full of birthdays and graduations, so that called for tons of card making! A few days into June, we found a scary looking mole on my dog, Riley. It turned out to be nothing, but it still had to get removed. Apparently, some dogs are prone to moles regardless of whether or not they stay out of the sun. We're so thankful for the vet that took care of Riley — she's already back to her old self.

Instagram

Top Left: I've been working on some hand lettering and shared this free printable with you guys. Top Right: A behind the scenes of my Etsy shop. Bottom Left: Riley did not like the cone after her surgery. I recommend getting a donut like this one. Bottom Right: This is probably my favorite wallpaper that I've made. You can download it here.

Links

You can see all the links I favorited over on my June2015 Favorites Bloglovin' list. Also, make sure to follow So Absolutely Fearless over on Bloglovin' too. That way you'll never miss a post! But here are some posts from the month of June that I think are really great!

Megan from Makewells was back again on Alisa Burke's blog talking about lettering with an ampersand. If you haven't caught her previous posts about lettering (I shared a post from her in May's Wrap Up too), I definitely suggest you checking them out! And while you're there, make sure to check out Alisa's sketchbook posts because they're just as fantastic! I love both Megan and Alisa's work.

I don't even need a side table, but I still want to make this copper pipe table shown on A Beautiful Mess.

I loved Kory's cool and fitness moodboard can't wait to see the final project! I'm loving moodboards lately and how different designers put their own moodboards together.

I love sharing with you guys what's been going on over the past month, but I want to know what you guys have been up to too! So make sure to comment below with what you have been up to this past month or if you blog about it, leave a link.

Behind The Scenes: Salut Greetings June 2015

I probably mentioned in one of my earlier #sofearlessgoals posts that I was working on reopening my Etsy shop. I spent most of the month creating cards to sell in my shop. Between my graduation, my sister's graduation, Father's Day and a bunch of birthdays coming up, I was rather busy making cards to celebrate all of those occasions. I love being able to share these special moments with my family and friends.

You get to see all of the final products on Etsy, but I thought you'd like to see a little bit of what goes on behind the scenes. Sometimes one ink just isn't working for me, so I mix up two. Sometimes I need to use scrap paper and washi tape to help line things up. And sometimes I take way too long roaming the craft store (haha!).

 

Don't miss out on anymore behind the scenes! Make sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram for the most recent updates of what's going on in the shop.

I've been mostly making thank you cards, birthday cards and congratulations cards. What other kind of cards do think should be sold on my Etsy shop? Let me know because as much as I'm making these for me (hey, I like what I do), I'm also making them for you to give to your family and friends. Also, don't forget to check out the shop and share it! Cards will be up soon.

Lost In The Right Direction... Free Wallpaper #3

Hey guys! Got another desktop/iPhone wallpaper for you. I seriously love making these.

iPhone / 1280x800 / 1440x900 / 1650x1050 / 2560x1440

I found the quote scrolling through Pinterest and used the letterpress effect technique from We Lived Happily Ever After, which also happened to be one of the posts I mentioned in my May Wrap Up.

Hope you all like the wallpaper!

If you have a quote in mind you'd like me to use for next month's free wallpaper download, leave it in the comments below!