Playground Magazine - The Dying Thank-You Note

The 2u Collection just loves Playground Magazine! As fellow local entrepreneurs and independent business owners, we would like to show this fabulously fresh publication a little support and appreciation. Flipping through the pages of their latest issue, we ran across an article that hit close to home as Playground Magazine featured the importance of the Hand-Written Thank-You Note. Our stationary division more than agrees that this is a dwindling art that must NOT be lost. Sure, a card and a signature will cover the obligation, but there is something to be said about the increased gratitude that is exuded with a personalized touch.

CHECK OUT THE FALL ISSUE OF PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE to see their take & get some inspiration on expressing your own thanks! 

It's a Mad Hatter Thing... Baby Shower!

Parents to be... Robyn and Andrew Dixon having fun with hats!

Robyn and Andrew Dixon are not new topics to my blog. Not only are they close friends of mine, they have trusted me to graphically handle lots of milestones in their life! I was there when it all began, and I've designed their wedding, holidays, and now... their baby! 

Robyn came to us girls (pictured below) and said she wanted to have a Boy themed Mad Hatter baby shower! Of course we jumped right on it. We decided we since she is having a boy and will soon be outnumbered by boys in her house, we would give her one last girly, elegant party! With China tea pots and cups, fresh floral and many antique glass cruets-- the decor started to come together, as you can see above!

Of course we started with Invitations to set the tone, pictured above. To read the full blog post on the invitations, click here.

Hostess' and Mom to be getting in the Mad Hatter fun with our unique head pieces!! (L to R)  Amy Morelli, Robyn Dixon, Cara Sturla and Amy Baumgarten.  Never fear all, the Mommy-to-be is drinking NON-alcoholic wine!

As you can see, we went all out with the decor. In keeping with the Alice and Wonderland Theme, we created die cut metallic "Eat Me" and "Drink Me" tags. We had Rabbit's, Clocks, and Keys sprinkled throughout the event (a thanks to PLAYGROUND Magazine for their contribution of these things, they were designed by Ayla, you can find them in her Etsy Store!). In addition, pictured above, we created custom candy wrappers for the favors to commemorate the event, as well as Signage, for the menu, gift table, and fun photo station!

We also created a Wishing Tree, where guest could write their wishes for the baby's future, and hang them on the tree.  We also did something fun, when guests arrived, we had a "Mad Hat table", pictured below, We here at The 2u Collection had a blast creating these unique headband hats for the guests to wear throughout the day!

A few guests having fun with the wishing tree!

Much thanks to RW Chocolate Fountain Rentals for these AMAZING and delicious Mad Hatter themed Cake Pops! Be sure to visit them on Facebook, and see some of the amazing things they create with Chocolate!

  We also created this fun photo station with these great cutouts with the Mad Hatter/Alice and Wonderland theme! Thanks to PLAYGROUND Magazine for their contribution of these things, they were designed by Ayla, you can find them in her Etsy Store! The guests loved them, and they made for some great fun pics! And one last mention, pictured below is Robyn and Andrew's first baby... Charlie! She is a wonderfully, gentle, loving Westie! We couldn't pass up getting her involved in the fun as well!

What a nice Surprise! Our Invites were on Good Day!

Modern baby showers trends and tips: MyFoxORLANDO.com

What a wonderful Surprise this morning! We were watching Good Day Orlando, and we saw a familiar face! Chrissy Allen from PLAYGROUND Magazine was on, and she took our invitations! We blogged a while ago about these invitations. To check it out click here!

It's a Mad Hatter kind of Affair!

This was such a fun project, not only is it for the Baby Shower of one of my good friends, it will also be appearing in the Spring Issue of PLAYGROUND Magazine. The theme is a Mad Hatter Tea and Lunch. Which I knew was going to be fun from the start. It's exciting as a designer, when you get to be fun and funky! As you can see from above to create "Fun and Funky" she chose Fiber Mark's Black Touché Paper, and embellished it with a Fun Patterned Ribbon and Black Feathers.

 As you can see on the flip side, we had fun with the copy, creating a rhyme to fall in line with the Mad Hatter state of mind. (Props to PLAYGROUND Magazine for this amazing copywriting)

We accented the die cut printed invitation with this amazing glitter damask black and white paper. It turned out sophisticated and fun. Congratulations to Heather on her upcoming "Bundle of Joy!"

PLAYGROUND ARTS & MUSIC FEST!--Save the Arts.

This is going to be a political and artistic post. Those who know me wouldn't expect any less. We at 2u here, had the great pleasure of being an exhibitor at the 2nd Annual PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE Arts & Music Festival. It took place Sunday April, 18th at Lake Eola, Downtown Orlando, FL. We provided a booth where kids could come and create their own Mother's or Father's day card. And estimated 500-700 people visited the festival. It had everything from Student Art Exhibits, to Rock Wall Climbing, Drum Circles, World Wide Mushrooms (to be explained in the next post),Community art Projects, our Create a Card Station and so much more there isn't enough room to mention it all. 


Which brings me to something very important and it should be addressed first. As any artist can attest, the experience and culture of being an artist or even just loving art is a wonderful thing that can lift you up and give you courage and purpose as your growing and feel lost. I can say, with an artist soul, sometimes while I was growing up, in class I never felt understood. Then would come ART CLASS. It was fulfilling, it was creative, it was where I felt 100% myself and didn't care I wasn't popular, or dating, etc.  THIS IS WHY SAVING THE ARTS IS EVER SO IMPORTANT. There are students right now, at every age, IN EVERY STATE finding their only identity in ART. Without it in our schools, children and young adults everywhere will BE LOST! No matter where you live, please get involved in your States, "Save the Arts Program."  IT IS IMPORTANT THAN YOU MAY KNOW.


Okay, now I'm finished with the lecture...to the point. There was an exhibitor at the 2nd Annual PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE Arts & Music Festival...Who brought the attention to the fact that ARTS in Florida are INCREDIBLY UNDERFUNDED!!  Please help us save the arts!!!


The Orange County Arts Education Center has taken it upon themselves to educate our community and help try and save the arts in our school.  For more information please visit: http://ocaec.org
And if you are really feeling ambitious, please write you congressman, your senator, your representative... anyone you think will help our voices become LOUD!!

Playground Magazine! Scratch & Sniff??

As I mentioned in a previous blog. I am now a contributing Art Director to PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE! This is super exciting for me, and I am having so much fun! Don't get me wrong, I love all of the business I do here at The 2u Collection. But those of you who know me, know that I like to mix things up a bit as not to become creatively stale! And working with the ladies at PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE has not only been a blast, but collaberating with the ladies has really juiced me up creatively. I won't drone on, except to say..

CHECK OUT THE HOLIDAY ISSUE OF PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE ! This issue has a special holiday treat, Scratch and Sniff the Cover, it smells like Candy Canes.. FOR REAL! It was fun for all of us to try out this new innovative printing technique.

Below are a few of my favorite spreads from this issue I created! Enjoy, and be sure to subscribe for your quarterly copy. SUBSCRIBE HERE!

Playground Magazine!

I am so excited to announce that here at The 2u Collection we have become contributors to Playground Magazine. I have been working furiously with Heather Reneau and Chrissy Allen to get the Winter 09 issue out. Thank Goodness Apple invented Ichat. Heather and I have been Video chatting, audio chatting, text chatting and even sharing screens! It has been a whirl wind month! And we've had lots of fun. And let me tell you we've even seen each other looking scary before coffee and a toothbrush! As you can tell by the picture above.. The night before the magazine goes to print is really a push, and appearance has no priority!! :) And Heather wants to stab herself sometimes too!


To all the ladies I've been working with at Playground, I am having so much fun — and am so excited to being a contributing Art Director. The issue comes out next week.. And there are all kinds of amazing things happening to and in this issue. I'm not going to give anything away. You'll have to wait and see. Be sure to Pick it up and check it out!

Playground Magazine's Most Wanted!

I am excited to share that we made the summer issue of Playground Magazine!! Not only do I love the ladies over there, but I feel that Playground Magazine is great Publication. It showcases the hippest and stylish moms's and families, and proves that in today's busy world Mom's & Dad's can have it all! This summer's issue they did a feature on Fun Creative Birthday Parties for your child. Now this is the exciting Part: The 2u Collection made the "Most Wanted List"! Check out page 58, to see 6 creative companies guaranteed to take your party to the next level!

Thank you to all the ladies at Playground!

Be sure to check it out! View an online version of the Magazine.