Real Home - Wedding Vows

My sweet sister got married last year in a beautiful December ceremony. For her husband's birthday, she wanted to create a custom wall art piece with their wedding vows. I absolutely loved the idea. What a wonderful reminder of that important day and the promises they made to each each. I am thrilled with the way it turned out!

If you would like to create a custom piece like this for your home, send me an email with more information. To see the rest of my wall art, check out the shop!

New Wall Art Collection - "Letter is For"

Today is a fun day. Today I am launching my newest line of wall art - the "Letter Is For" Collection. (I admit that's a dumb name. But creative naming is not my strong suit.) This is my first set of customizable wall art, so we'll see how this goes!

The "Letter Is For" series was designed with children in mind. I wanted to create wall art specifically for the kids' domain, whether that be a nursery, bedroom, or playroom. I wanted color options, so you could use your child's favorite hue or coordinate with the room decor. And, most of all, I wanted to showcase the names!

#1 Custom "Letter is For" Wall Art - Horizontal

I love the size of my City Subway and "Favorite Things" wall art collections - 11.75 by 36 inches is unique for wall art, fitting nicely in odd spots and corners, but is also practical since you can find standard 11.75x36 frames at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, or IKEA. But now I think, why not do a horizontal version? Something that would center nicely above a doorframe or crib. And voila!

First picture: mock up of the print in a light wood frame. Second image: close up of the print. Click HERE to shop!



#2 Custom "Letter Is For" Wall Art - Horizontal Monogram

Remember how you deliberated and agonized over naming your child? Does the first name sound good with the middle? Do the initials look ok together? You chose awesome first and middle names (and well, the last name is what it is) - display them all proudly!

First picture: mock up of the print in a light wood frame. Second image: close up of the print. Click HERE to shop!



#3 Custom "Letter is For" Wall Art - Vertical Chevron

But the horizontal size doesn't work in every room. And you know how you've been loving on chevron lately? Well, I've got just the print for you. Wouldn't it look great to have one for each of your kids lined up in the playroom?

First picture: mock up of the print in a light wood frame. Second image: close up of the print. Click HERE to shop!



If I get some comment loving for this new collection, I just might do another giveaway. So let me know what you think!

Custom Subway Sign Gifts

Last November, my cousin-in-law asked me to create custom subway signs that she could give to her siblings for Christmas. She put together a list of names, places and events, as well as words and scripture that represent each family. She recently sent me the pictures of the finished products, which I'm excited to share here!

She wrote, "I attached two pictures, the one of my brother and sister-in-law who are expecting their first in May, and the other of my sister and brother-in-law and nephew. The reaction I got when they opened their gifts was perfect. I was able to write a note to each, and just having them read that and then open their gifts truly made my Christmas."


I just love personalized and meaningful gifts. What a special memory for both the gift giver and receiver! If you would like more information on creating a custom subway sign of your own, feel free to check out my etsy shop or contact me directly.

Giveaway Winner

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and left comments for this giveaway. Time to announce the winner! Lucky #20, amicon08!


Congratulations, Courtney! Send an email to krubooks@hotmail.com to claim your prize!

Audrey Hepburn Print GIVEAWAY

Since starting my "Favorite Things" Wall Art Collection last April, one print has clearly claimed the title of Miss Popularity. And who else is more deserving of this honor than the infamous Audrey Hepburn? It's with much excitement that I am now adding two new versions of the best selling "I Believe in Pink" print.


The NEW Black Background print: Edgy and bold, dress it up, dress it down


The NEW White Background print: Bright and fun, would look great in teen's room or colorful bathroom



Don't forget, the ORIGINAL Pale Pink Background print: Soft and Sweet, perfect for a nursery or little girl's room


Such a joyous occasion is certainly a good excuse to do another GIVEAWAY, don't you think? Next week, one lucky winner will be getting a free Audrey Hepburn wall art print from my etsy shop. It gets better - you can increase your odds with THREE chances to win! Leave a separate comment below for each task you complete:

CHANCE #1) First, leave a comment on this blog post saying which Audrey Hepburn sign you would pick if you won, and what you would do with it.

CHANCE #2) Head on over to the KruBooks Facebook page and "Like" KruBooks. Then leave another comment on this blog post saying you've completed this step. If you already "like" us, you can just leave a message to say that.

CHANCE #3) Share the link to this giveaway blog post in some way - as a Twitter update, facebook status, or in your own blog. Don't forget to come back and leave another comment saying you've completed this step as well!

**Note: You can leave a separate comment for each task you complete so you have three chances to win!**

Giveaway closes at 8:00 AM EST on Thursday, February 23rd. The winning blog post number will be announced that same day. Must have a US mailing address to be eligible.

Good luck!

Holiday Cards 2011

It's (almost) that time of year! Ok...it may seem a little early, but let's be honest, I start thinking about Christmas cards January 1st. And why not get a jump on the holiday to-do list? I had a previous customer ask me on August 31st when I would be listing my holiday card designs. That alone is plenty of validation for posting these mid-October.

The other reason I wanted to get these out early is because I will be out of the country December 10th-January 3rd. That means...no printing Christmas cards after December 9th! Get your orders in early, people!

This year, I felt inspired to design four new cards, and I'm very excited to show off these contemporary styles. Behold the 2011 KruBooks Holiday Card Collection:





Check out the listings on etsy for more details!

"You Are My Sunshine" Wall Art

Introducing the newest member of my Favorite Things Wall Art Collection - "You Are My Sunshine"


Last week, my sister-in-law told me that her sister (my other sister-in-law) used to sing this song to her twin girls when they were babies. I couldn't resist adding these sweet lyrics to my collection - wouldn't this print be perfect for a nursery or playroom?

The sign measures 11.75x36 inches and is printed on heavy coated bond paper. Custom colors are available for an additional fee.

Just in time for the holidays! Order your "You Are My Sunshine" print now!

Real Home - Baby Nursery

In May, a friend of a friend asked me to design her wedding album. She and her husband have been married for three years, and are now expecting their first child. I had a blast working with Heather on her album. She is such a sweet girl - I like to now consider her my virtual friend :) Here's a link to her blog to see the post she wrote about the album.

A couple weeks ago she asked if I could help with some wall art for the nursery. She liked the Rod Stewart "Forever Young" print, but wasn't sure if the colors would work. So she sent me some pictures of the room decor and the corner where the sign would be hung. I did a couple variations, with different shades of grey and yellow. But when she found this beautiful grey frame at Michaels, I knew a cream background would be the perfect fit. I matched the yellow accent to the pillows and ribbons in the room and...voila!

I'm so excited to "meet" Heather and Christian's sweet little one. Now that the nursery is ready, Baby can come any time!

Real Home - Custom Subway Sign

I always love showing off my client's subway signs. I was thrilled when Emily sent this picture of her freshly framed custom wall art. She picked a quote from her favorite TV show (One Tree Hill - love it). The sky's the limit when it comes to these things!


Check out my etsy shop to see more fun wall art!

Wall Art GIVEAWAY

My first ever blog giveaway! How exciting!

Most of my work revolves around designing custom wedding albums, but I also have a KruBooks etsy shop. I sell some cards (especially around the holidays), and I also sell city and custom subway signs (you can catch up on my past subway sign posts here). This week I am introducing a new line of wall art I fondly call my "Favorite Things Collection." This line includes favorite quotes, lyrics, sayings, and verses. I am starting with four so far, but I'm sure more will be added down the road.


Check out this link to see bigger pictures and read descriptions of the newest collection. Of course the Favorite Things Collection would not be complete without the "My Favorite Things" Sign!


The signs measure 11.75x36 inches and are printed on heavy coated bond paper. Custom signs are also available so you can proudly display your own favorite lyrics, quote, saying, or verse. If interested in this option, send me a message for more information.

So that's the introduction, now on to the GIVEAWAY! This week, one lucky winner will be getting a free wall art print from my etsy shop. This can be a City Subway Sign or something from the new Favorite Things Collection. It gets better - you can increase your odds with THREE chances to win! Leave a separate comment below for each task you complete:

1) Check out the Etsy Shop then leave a message on this blog post saying which sign you would pick if you won.

2) Head on over to the KruBooks Facebook page and "Like" KruBooks. Then leave a message on this blog post saying you've completed this step. If you already "like" us, you can just leave a message to say that.

3) Share the link to this giveaway blog post in some way - as a Twitter update, facebook status, or in your own blog. Don't forget to come back and leave a message saying you've completed this step as well!

**Note: You can leave a separate comment for each task you complete so you have three chances to win!**

Giveaway closes at 8:00 AM EST on Friday, April 8th. The winning blog post number will be announced Friday morning. Must have a US mailing address to be eligible.

Good luck!

Real Home - Custom Subway Sign

In July, I posted about a friend who ordered a custom sign as a first anniversary gift for her husband. In December, sweet wife Mallary contacted me about doing another anniversary gift sign. She wanted to include "all the places and important dates/firsts in our life" - and what a fun list she has! The first line is their wedding date, and the last line is the month their first baby is due!

Congratulations, Mallary and Kurt! Can't wait to see pictures of sweet little Ben!


If you are interesting in making your own custom subway sign, shoot me an email or check out my etsy shop!

2010 Christmas Cards

Can you believe it's that joyous season again? I'm a little behind this time around (I released my 2009 holiday cards on October 16th!), but I'm in the Christmas spirit now! Time to start thinking about sending those warm holiday greetings!

I simplified my offerings this year and just kept my very favorites. I also included a new baby birth announcement/holiday card. Check out my shop to see all the fun options! Here's a sampling of what you'll find...

First Anniversary Custom Sign

A couple weeks ago I was contacted by an old high school friend who was coming up on her first year wedding anniversary. She asked if I could create a personalized sign for husband - complete with their wedding date, last name, first song, and special places. She was especially excited because it fits with the traditional anniversary gift for 1 year - paper! I thought this was such a neat and thoughtful idea. What a sweet wife!


I've sold quite a few custom signs in my Etsy shop, and it's always fun to see what people decide to use and how they turn out. They can be semi-personal (street names from the city you live in or your favorite vacation spot) or uber-personal (all the cities/street names your family has lived in or the names of your grandkids). The sky's the limit! If you are interested in making a sign for yourself or someone else, shoot me an email for more information.

Summer Sale on Thank You Postcards

I'm starting a sale on my Thank You Postcards - just in time for summer babies and birthdays! I've changed the listings on Etsy. For now, cards are $30 for 25, $52 for 50 and $88 for 100 cards - that's 88 cents per card!

These Thank You Postcards are perfect for the busy mom. The starter note on the back makes sending your appreciation quick and easy. Not only are they great for new moms, but they are also ideal for birthday parties, baby or wedding showers, or housewarming parties. The possibilities are endless!

Here's what one happy user had to say: "I can't tell you how easy and effortless it made writing thank yous! I sat down during naptime one day with a pen and a stack of cards, and I got them all finished in a snap. They're the perfect solution for a busy mama like myself who still wants to express heartfelt appreciation. And since they're postcards, I even saved some money on postage."

Check out all the style options here. Happy shopping!

New Product - Thank You Postcards

I'm adding a new product to the Etsy Shop this week! Introducing... Thank You Postcards! I got the idea from my good friend, Elizabeth. After having her son Henry in December, she was showered with meals, gifts, and extra help. She asked me to create a photo thank you postcard so she could send a quick "thanks" to family and friends. It was such a great idea that I decided to create some for my shop as well.

These Thank You Postcards are perfect for the busy mom. The starter note on the back makes sending your appreciation quick and easy. Not only are they great for new moms, but they are also ideal for birthday parties, baby or wedding showers, or housewarming parties. The possibilities are endless!

The cards come in three styles: Fun Retro, Sweet Stripes and Modern Circles. Each style has several color options, so check out the listings to see more!

Subway Signs

A couple years ago, Brent and I were watching What Women Want and saw these posters with Cincinnati neighborhoods hanging in Mel Gibson's NY apartment. Then we started seeing them in other movies like I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and Just Friends. We loved the look and thought they would be cool personal touch in our home. I did an extensive search but couldn't find them anywhere online (though I did find a whole bunch of other people looking for them - so I knew I wasn't crazy!).

* Edit - I was told you can find similar signs on www.subwaysigns.com for $279 each. They have a lot of other cool vintage subway signs as well...check it out! *


So this year for our anniversary, I decided to make my own posters in the same style. I made them for Brent, and then thought maybe I should sell these in my etsy shop too.


In the shop, you can purchase the Cincinnati trolley signs for $50 each, or get your own custom subway sign for $75. I was contacted by an interior designer in Canada (Carol Reed Interior Design) about creating a custom Toronto sign. I checked out Carol's site and was amazing with her work! She bought the print for a bachelor's condo she was finishing up, and recently posted picture on her blog. I thought it would be fun to share the finished product!


If you are interested in the Cincinnati or Toronto prints, check out my etsy shop for more information. And if you have a custom project, send a message...I would love to help!

Holiday Card Giveaway

My new Etsy shop has been featured on the Jack and Izzy blog. I am giving away one FREE custom holiday card (the digital file). Check out her post and leave a comment to enter. Jack and Izzy will annouce the winner on Tuesday morning, October 20th. Good luck, everybody!

Introducing...KruCards!

I know it's been quiet on the KruBooks blog for quite some time, but I've had something up my sleeves! After doing my blog series on card design, I felt really inspired to start selling custom photo cards on Etsy. This week, I finally got my shop up and running! Right now, I only have holiday cards available. But check back for birth announcements, save the dates, and more! I'm really excited for this new extension of KruBooks. Check out the shop and let me know what you think!

Here's a sample of some of the cards:


Tis the season for holiday cards! Check out my shop for pricing and more information!