the nine to 5 - volume 1

This is the first of what I plan to turn into a weekly post in which I will share something nifty or neat that I have designed at my nine to 5!

As much I would love to tell you that Whit + Wonder is my full-time job - I can't. I only wish that I was able to put every waking moment into it, but I'm not there yet...not quite. 

In the meantime... I DO HAVE A REAL JOB or career, if you will... a pretty darn cool gig, I must say.  My official title is "marketing coordinator," but it is safe and simple to say that I do *graphic design* for the Round Rock Express (Triple-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers)! When you work in minor league baseball there is NEVER a dull moment. We are all about providing a 'good ol' fashioned fun' experience for all. I couldn't have dreamed of a more exciting place to start my career in sports marketing.

A day in the life looks a little something like this:

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

7:05 p.m. - ???

If you are familiar with baseball at all, you can probably guess that I work a lot of hours [hence the venti iced white chocolate mocha pictured above!] 

Now that you have an idea of what I do, stay tuned for volume 2 of the nine to 5!

[where I will actually include some of my design work!]

coming soon.....

Save the Date - Kate & Clay

PHOTO BY: JP BEATO PHOTOGRAPHY

^he's awesome! 

This Save the Date was inspired by a design on minted.com that the bride-to-be fell in love with - only that design was for a vertical photo - so I was able to recreate the design to fit their photo and above is the final product (it's actually a magnet)! 

In case you were wondering, that happy couple up there is my brother Clay, and his fiance, Kate! 

THAT'S RIGHT, MY BROTHER IS GETTING MARRIED, Y'ALL!

Come November 23rd, Kate will be a Rhoden and I will finally have a sister. I love these two so very much and have had the chance to share so many great memories with them... 

My FAVORITE being....

....at The Palace of Versailles in Paris, France. Every girls dream? I THINK SO... my brother really knows what he's doing y'all. I am so lucky to have captured this moment - so maybe I was the third wheel for the rest of the day with these two lovebirds, but I wouldn't have traded it for anything!

Let's just say that I was pretty stoked when this little guy came in the mail!

I am so excited for more wedding projects and posts about these guys - stay tuned!

Custom Logo + Business Card Design - Revive & Restore

Check out Revive & Restore on Facebook and follow them on

Instagram (@ReviveandRestore) to see their latest pieces!

                                                                                                 photos by @ReviveandRestore

DIY - Tissue Paper Garland

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

1. tissue paper

pick any fun color combo that you like and don't forget

to include gold & silver paper!

2. rotary cutter & cutting mat / good ol' fashioned scissors

I would recommend the rotary cutter for efficiency, but scissors will get the job done.

3. string/twine/rope

whichever you prefer. (I used a glittery gold twine for my garland!)

STEPS:

1. fold one piece of tissue paper in half 

(where the creases will be parallel to your cuts)

2. fold the same piece in half once more 

3. begin making cuts, leaving about 1 in. uncut on the creased side

4. once you have cut all the way across, cut the the piece of tissue paper

in half at the 2nd fold (each piece of tissue paper will make 2 tassels)

5. unfold one of the already cut sheets and begin to roll it up 

from the center (uncut portion)

6. once you have rolled it all the way up, give the uncut portion 

a little twist to keep it together

7. last, fold the prepared sheet over your twine or rope 

and twist together at the top.

...and there you have it. repeat this step, alternating colors, until you have your 

desired length of garland AND THROW A PARTY!

Engagement - Amber & Leif

It happened. One of my VERY BEST friends got engaged this spring and I couldn't be happier for her! Amber and Leif are the perfect match - tall, athletic, attractive, funny, kind, quirky, and IN LOVE! I was over-the-top excited when Amber  shared the news and even more so when she asked me to take their engagement photos - a little nervous that she was trusting me with the task (because I am no professional) but no way was I going to turn it down! 

We took the photos in Elgin, Texas, where Leif (Amber's fiancé!!!) grew up. The site was beautiful - white house, red barn - so appropriate! Here are a few of my favorite shots!

photos edited by the incredibly talented Katie Jameson

Birth Announcement - BABY BOY!

On April 18, 2013, my neice, Kellie gave birth to a healthy and handsome baby boy. Meet my nephew, Mr. Brantley Wayne Bender! I was thrilled to have the honor to create Baby Brantley's birth announcement and I am excited to share the final product with you... TA-DA!

And because I am so infatuated with this babe, I have to share a few darling pictures of him! Isn't he just the cutest? I cannot wait until I get to see him again... hurry up, August! 

Texas Style Council - August 2-4, 2013

I am excited to share that I will be attending the Texas Style Council conference - August 2 - 4 in Austin! This should be a great learning and networking experience for me - especially since I am very new to all of this.



"A weekend for female bloggers, women-centric business owner and women, everywhere - with small, intimate workshops - from experts in the field. Featuring Keynote Speakers, Emma & Elsie from A Beautiful Mess and presented by Squarespace." - TxSC

I am MOST excited about the keynote speakers, Elsie and Emma of A Beautiful Mess - the BEST, most awesome/inspirational blog of all time! These girls are pretty stinkin' (yes, I just said stinkin') awesome. Not only do they rock at sharing all things DIY, foodie, and fashionable, but they have published their very own book - A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book! AND, if that's not enough, Elsie and Emma just launched a MUST-HAVE iPhone photo editing app (it's called "A Beautiful Mess" too!)

NEEDLESS TO SAY, THESE GIRLS ARE AWESOME. 

(and a HUGE source of inspiration for me!)

CUSTOM LOGO DESIGN - Simply Twisted

Interested in a custom logo designed by me? Visit my ETSY SHOP or drop me a line -- whitneyrhoden.design@gmail.com!

TODAY!

BIGGEST thanks to Lauren Jade Martin of Make it a Double - I wouldn't be writing this post or much less have started this blog if it weren't for the encouragement and inspiration she fills me with daily! I have been wanting to start a blog FOREVER now, but always had an excuse for not doing it - "I'm too busy," "work gets in the way," "I am an awful writer," etc. etc. - Lauren has called me out on each and every excuse I have come up with. 

Getting started is always the hardest part, right? 

TODAY her inspiration was this....

How can I ignore that? I CAN'T! So here I am writing my first post! 

Thank you, Lauren Martin & Thank you, Karen Lamb.

Since this post is in no way relevant to what my blog will be about, I guess I can share that with you now. First, you should know that I have a CRAZY & UNNATURAL obsession with paper of all kinds- notecards, postcards, invitations, business cards, posters, wallpaper, wrapping paper, kraft paper, newspaper -like I said, ALL KINDS OF PAPER! This obsession has grown into a LOVE for design, graphic design - and that's what I do. With that said, I will use this blog to share anything and everything that inspires me, my design work, and other fun things that I happen upon! ENJOY!