In my desire to create holiday cards that speak to your inner child, I set out on a cyber quest to see just how greeting card giving all began for some inspiration!   

To my surprise it all began with a gentleman by the name of Sir Henry Cole, who lived in England during the 1800’s.  Sir Henry Cole, like myself, initially created each card by hand and probably unique to the receiver.  However his family and circle of friends grew beyond his ability to continue creating, handcrafted cards and so he commissioned John Calcott Horsley to create a Christmas design that he could more easily use when sending his sentiments off to their destinations.

However, Louis Prang, an immigrant from Germany, can be credited for the popularity of the American Christmas card when in 1881 he began producing quality greeting cards from his quaint lithograph shop – and is affectionately known as The Father of the American Christmas card!

Wow! Im in good company on this one…haha!

My personal desire is to create stunning greeting cards that are jaw-dropping works of art!  And I believe Im on the correct path with our handcrafted couture greeting card.  When you want to give a work of Art and not just a plain card…think about US!  Because Blac Gurlz Ink is NOT your ordinary greeting card!

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

www.blacgurlzink.com

Halloween Card #7

Considering that I was raised in a religious environment that didn’t celebrate Halloween, or the fact that I am so not into horror or “slasher” flicks…many may find my enthusiastic verve over Halloween…well…strange! But I love everything about it!

I love the candy, the parties, but especially the dressing up! Being an eclectic weirdo…I embrace that…bahaha! I think it’s the one time of the year where I don’t have to feel outta place AND I bet we get visitors — from other dimensions and planets too, because we’re all dressed up and who can really tell, right – thus it’s one BIG Universal Party!!! WooHoo!

Haha! Since starting Blac Gurlz Ink greeting cards, I have pegged Halloween as the holiday we would set as our “limited, collectors’ editions” holiday – meaning I’m only creating a limited number of cards…this year I’ve created 8…with 1 card already winging its way to Northeast Ohio!! So we have 7 left…at a special rate of 9.99…it’s a queer number (divisible by 3)!!!

So with all of that said…Happy Halloween 2010!!

Please visit our website to view and purchase Our 2010 Halloween selection! www.blacgurlzink.com

Halloween Card #1 (outside)

Halloween Card #1 (inside)

Halloween Card #4 (outside)

Halloween Card #4 (inside)

Femme PinUps!

Submission Period: March 5, 2010 thru April 24, 2010

We are looking for members of the LGBT community who express the feminine aspect of the spectrum and want to share it with the WORLD!!!

How do YOU express “femme”?!

Sexy? Geeky? Large & in Charge? Quiet Church-mouse? How about Naughty School Gurl or BabyGurl? Better yet, Grown & Sexy or Bombshell? You get the idea – the list is endless!

Whatever it is…Bring It!

This Model Search is open the ENTIRE LGBT COMMUNITY!!!

Blac Gurlz Ink is proud to feature REAL members from our community and we won’t ever use “professional models” to act the part. With this premise in mind, we’re sending out a call for YOU to come and REPRESENT – show us, and the world, what you’re working with!! Haha!

Here’s what we need from you:

*Name
*Phone#
*Email
*Birthdate
*2 Photos – showing us your “best” side
*1 paragraph telling us why you’d like to be a Blac Gurlz Ink Femme PinUp!

All components are required to be considered for the photo shoot.

Again, the Submission Period is: March 5, 2010 thru April 24, 2010.

Send your submissions to: bgicasting@hotmail.com or hit our website: www.blacgurlzink.com – click on the “Community” tab and complete the online form. Easy!!

We look forward to receiving your submissions and Thank You!

The Babes!!

S. Opara, Owner - Blac Gurlz Ink Greeting Cards & Gifts

Blac Gurlz Ink is the brain child of Spring Opara. I am an American lesbian of African descent, who found that I could not find a greeting card, a print, a calendar, or bumper-sticker… that “authentically represented the diversity” of the LGBT community in general, nor the lesbian community, specifically.

Not being one to complain and a creative cookie, I launched Blac Gurlz Ink Greeting Cards, in December of 2008!

Blac Gurlz Ink is, NOT your ordinary greeting card business. We provide a full range of paper greeting and event items, as “in-stock” inventory or “custom” orders to suit your special occasion needs.  In addition to creating unique and authentic “premium” greeting cards, specifically designed with the LGBT consumer in mind, Blac Gurlz Ink also create gorgeous, 3-dimensional, “handcrafted,” couture greeting cards, for ALL occasions, which are so artistic they appeal to EVERYONE!

“See a Need…Fill a Need” ~Robots (the movie)

We are a full-service greeting card business and provide the following services:

• Custom Invitations
• Custom Event Announcements
• Custom Thank You Cards

Current Handcrafted, Couture Greeting Card Line
(Custom Ordering Available)

Blac Gurlz Ink’s handcrafted, couture greeting cards are also great for any industry professional who wants to add a more “personal” touch to their business interactions: i.e. Non-Profits, Real Estate Agents, Financial Services – a great way to close those BIG deals!

Handcrafted Couture Greeting Card

Our handcrafted, couture line of greeting cards can be used as/for:

• Individual gift giving
• Fundraising/Raffles
• Donor/Funder Thank You cards
• Board Member Appreciation: birthday or anniversary
• Annual Event Announcements and Gift Bag Items
• Retreat “Swag”
• We even have greeting cards to celebrate your Pets!

Additionally, many of our designs make great PRINTS and are classy enough to be used in any home or office décor!!

The company’s name, Blac Gurlz Ink, was chosen because I and my former business partner are two, tattooed (inked), black lesbians and it was the most logical commonality we shared.  We felt it was important to ensure that everyone knew who was behind the scenes of this endeavor — two lesbians, who have a vision of providing “positive visibility” of the LGBT community, while filling a need.

Premium Greeting Card/Postcard Design

It is Blac Gurlz Ink’s intent to specialize in bringing quality greeting cards to the LGBT consumer, specifically, and to also produce greeting cards and gift items that appeal to ALL consumers!

Remember our motto – NOT your ordinary greeting card business!

We will continuously conduct “Calls for Submissions” and “Model Casting Calls” for future series that we will be creating to keep presenting “fresh,“ “authentic,” and “diverse” designs.

So Bookmark our website, subscribe to our blog, follow us on Facebook & Twitter or join the Blac Gurlz Ink e-newsletter (link located on the top of any of our website pages), to keep abreast of upcoming series releases and events!!!

Thank You!

Blac Gurlz Ink
www.blacgurlzink.com

Photography – http://www.ephemeralstudios.com/

2010 Butches of the Bay Models

The Blac Gurlz Ink Babes would like to invite you to join us for our Butches of the Bay Postcard series release party!  Not only are we introducing our new product to you – Blac Gurlz Ink Postcards, we also want you to meet and mingle with the models who contributed to the project!!

In addition to meeting the models and previewing our new product line, there will be a complete menu of Asian/Urban blend food (vegetarian included), provided by Mazu of San Francisco; a well stocked bar, a DJ and more!!

Mazu Menu - Cold Soba Noodles

When: Friday, Feb. 19, 2010
Time: 9pm – 2am
Admission: $5
Where: Mazu – SF
3809 Geary Blvd. (btw 2nd & 3rd Ave. in the Inner Richmond)
San Francisco, Ca.

*Full menu available til 11ish, lite menu served til closing.

We, the Blac Gurlz Ink Babes, want you to get to know our models like we have and what better way than via a party – Fun, Food & Good Times!!

So Come on Out on Feb. 19, 2010 & Party like a Rock Star!!

http://www.blacgurlzink.com

http://www.mazusf.com/

Additional Stuff:

• Raffle
• Select framed, autographed prints
• Blac Gurlz Ink greeting cards and postcards
• And tons of FUN!!!

AND to also introduce our selection for the 2010 Butches of the Bay!

In keeping with our mission statement to be “authentic” in our presentation of images specifically designed for the LGBT community, by using LGBT members as our models and to showcase the “diversity” of our community, we feel that the handsome women chosen, represent a cross section of the submissions we received, as well as our community.  They come from various walks of life, ethnic representation and gender expression within the dynamics of being “butch women.”  The Blac Gurlz Ink Babes feel that based on the models’ energy, personal expression of their “butch-ness,” in addition to being simply handsome…well, we’re happy with our picks!

We asked our models to give us a brief bio (see bios below) so that you would be able to get to know them as we have and come to “love the Butches of the Bay” as much as we do.  They are an amazing group of women; they were easy to work with and though they had only met one another during the photo shoot (it was an open casting call), their energy was so warm and welcoming that well…you can feel it emanating from their photos!

Who better to launch our POSTCARD series then gorgeous women who also endow such wonderful masculine energy! 

A set of 6 Postcards for $9.99 (assorted)

And there’s more!

We have also reduced pricing on our hand-crafted, couture greeting cards – in time for Valentine’s Day as well!

Now you can have one of these gorgeously crafted greeting cards for $12.99 – they’re great for expressing that “special” sentiment to the ones you love!  Our hand-crafted, couture greeting cards are great for weddings, baby showers, birthday, anniversary or any special occasion giving.

Valentine's Day You & Me Handcrafted Couture Greeting Card

We here at Blac Gurlz Ink strive to enhance your shopping experience when you visit us at www.blacgurlzink.com and hope that you enjoy your purchases from our greeting cards, gifts and NOW our NEW POSTCARD line!

Our products are also being carried in the following retail locations, so please show support for local and independent businesses:

Laurel Bookstore
4100 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA  94619
510/531-2073

Crumps Clothing
7416 N. Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93702
559/449-8437

Rainbow Grocery
1745 Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415/863-0620

VoluptuArt
www.voluptuart.com.

www.blacgurlzink.com

Please keep us ALL  in mind when making future purchases and Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Model Bios

2010 Butches of the Bay Model: C. Svendsen

Christine Svendsen is a college instructor who is always busy.  She is the president of her local pride organization, president of a local Dyke on Bikes Chapter and president of an advocacy council, all of this while working on her PhD.  She loves to write and is finishing edits on her first book, which she hopes to see in print soon.  She recently married the first, an only, woman in her life Schileen.  She feels one of her greatest accomplishments has been raising three great sons.

Loretta Cannon is surgical assistant who likes to volunteer in countries who little to no access to health care.  She is a firm believer in promoting good health and well being for all women and their families.

Loretta enjoys making gourmet meals for friends and families and team members.  If she had one wish, she would want all lesbian couples to see and feel the safest and warmest memories within each other.

2010 Butches of the Bay Model: L. Cannon

Loretta is embarking on a new business endeavor where she will assist you in “wooing” your sweetie – so watch out for it!

Ericka Schneider enjoys spending her days dreaming of a future as a porn star, but when she is not dreaming, she is spending her time running her own company – ELS Plumbing, “where their specialty is snaking your pipes”.

She also enjoys donating her skills to various organizations that help better the community, such as – Rebuilding Together Oakland (RTO), First Christian Church of Concord (FCC) and the First Christian Church of Fremont, volunteer programs.

When she is not working or dreaming she can be found out on the softball field or at a pool table.  Ericka really enjoys meeting new people and learning new skills.

2010 Butches of the Bay Model: E. Scheider

Blac Gurlz Ink 2010 Butches of the Bay Selectees!

The Blac Gurlz Ink’s 2010 Butches of the Bay photo shoot took place this weekend and I must personally say that the wonderful energy of the models, the organic approach I take to photo shoots and Jennipur Jane’s (Ephemeral Studios) phenomenal eye, led to an amazing time and some great photos to work with for our 4th series release!

Our open casting call, which ran from April thru July of 2009 and which we posted to our website; Myspace page; circulated via our newsletter and flyers and spread by word of mouth, yielded quite a few submissions but due to location, date, time etc. — some were not able to be selected, however ALL submissions were placed into our Model’s Database for consideration for future photo shoots!

These handsome women represent a cross section of the submissions we received and the Blac Gurlz Ink Babes feel that based on the models’ energy, personal expression of their “butch-ness,” in addition to being simply handsome…well, we’re happy with our picks!

Now, if you’re thinking, “I dont see this or that represented?”  Well, that means YOU need to model for us!  In keeping with being “authentic” in our designs for the LGBT community, we will not use professional models and thus we wont ever “get” someone to “represent” you.  And well…if you didn’t submit your info during the casting call period…well? Im just saying…

The Blac Gurlz Ink staff would love to get as many of you onto our quality premium greeting cards and

Thanking the Models - Outtake 2

gift items as we can!  We believe “visibility” is important and we have tons of ideas for which we will be putting out calls for submissions — but why wait!

You can submit your information to model for us by completing our Model’s Submission Form on our website:  www.blacgurlzink.com

Also, if you haven’t already joined our email newsletter list, in which we announce all of our casting calls, contests and fun information, what are you waiting for? *Click on the Join the BGI Network at the top of any page on our website.

So look for the release of the Butches of the Bay series — coming soon!!

Happy New Year,

Spring E. Opara
Owner
Blac Gurlz Ink

Blac Gurlz Ink & Flirtatious-T

Blac Gurlz Ink and Flirtatious-T have teamed up to make this Valentine’s Day a holiday to remember.  With both of us on your side you’re sure to score plenty of kisses from your Valentine!

Everyone knows that flirting is the best way to spark a conversation and one of the quickest ways to a potential love interest’s heart.

However, if you’re not good at flirting why not send a handcrafted, couture greeting card?

In honor of Valentine’s Day 2010, Blac Gurlz Ink has created limited-edition designs to commemorate your sentiments on this special day by honoring romance and all things flirtatious. These handcrafted, couture cards are artistic and the perfect token of affection.

Small tokens of affection on Valentine’s Day can go a long way.

Valentine's Day You & Me Handcrafted Couture Greeting Card

To make this offer even sweeter, Blac Gurlz Ink and Flirtatious-T will be donating 20% of the proceeds to the New York Gay Men’s Health Crisis Center and to also show support to team “Flirtatious-T – Flirt with a Cause” who will be participating in the 2010 New York AIDS Walk being held on May 16, 2010!

It’s flirting for a cause.

When you purchase a handcrafted, couture Valentine’s Day card from Blac Gurlz Ink it’s more than just a greeting card — it’s a lifestyle!

www.blacgurlzink.com

www.flirtatious-t.com

Valentine's Day Handcrafted Couture Greeting Card

Valentine's Day Handcrafted Couture Greeting Card

I hope you all have BIG plans for 2010 and that you tackle them with vim and vigor!

I took the last few weeks of ’09 off to reflect on the accomplishments of the passing year and to set realistic goals for Blac Gurlz Ink for 2010!

It is my intent to leave a most memorable and positive mark via Blac Gurlz Ink on the World and I trust that all is in order to continue to make that happen as 2010 unfolds!

In 2009 I was fortunate to have developed some amazing partnerships, create many inspirational networks and to muster up the gumption to bring Blac Gurlz Ink into fruition.

I had so much support and I want to send a shout out to Lahle Wolfe, of About.com – Women in Business for doing a story on us.  I met Lahle via Help A Reporter Out (HARO) and she “tracked” us pretty much at our inception.

Our story: Women in Business Success Story – Blac Gurlz Ink: How an Idea for Greeting Cards Became a Successful Business, was one of the best gifts I received in 2009 — and there were a few!

I look forward to my continued relationship with many of you and to walk…if not but for a short while, with some of you, as we make our way to the lives we wish to lead.

I will be 50 in 2010 and I think that it is going to be another amazing year and so onward I go…to leave my mark — “traveling Light to travel faster” as my Granddaddy would say — haha!

Wishing you all positive abundance and wonder-filled adventure in 2010!

Making it a Great Life!

Supreme Challenger of the Status Quo!

Spring Opara
Owner
Blac Gurlz Ink
www.blacgurlzink.com
admin@blacgurlzink.com

Spring Opara, Owner Blac Gurlz Ink Greeting Cards & Gifts

From day one the support has been simply amazing as family, friends and strangers came on board to assist in propelling Blac Gurlz Ink through…again…an amazing year! And to them I offer up my most heart felt “THANK YOU”. Without their support, the achievements made would not have been possible and for this I know that I am blessed.

One of my dearest friends mentioned to me that considering the year, being grateful/thankful is all that I can be and with that said I wanted to blog about Blac Gurlz Ink’s 2009 Achievements so that all involved can see what they contributed to in the course of helping to bring this dream to fruition.

So without further ado…

Blac Gurlz Ink’s Year in Review

*Starting and operating our first year during one of the most challenging economic meltdowns since the Great Depression

*Participation in the Make Mine a Million $ Business Race (M3Race)

*Second series greeting cards, Graffiti Queers completed

The Blac Gurlz Ink Babes - Graffiti Queers Photo Shoot!

*Enrollment and completion in the Women’s Initiative Simple Steps to Success Business Intensive (Mar-Jun)

*Enrollment with the BBB

*Free Trip to New York to attend the M3Race, The First 100 Day – a symposium for the Women Business Owners

*San Francisco Pride 2009

*Monterey Pride 2009

*San Francisco Intl Gift Fair

*Butch Voices Conference – Oakland

*Sistahs Steppin Pride – East Bay Dyke March & Festival

*Castro Street Fair 2009.

Paddington Station - London

*Free trip to London to promote Blac Gurlz Ink to overseas markets via winning a contest sponsored by StartUpNation and British Airways.

*Eclipse Holiday Event

That is quite a bit of work for any business in its first year.  I am so happy in this moment and in the safety of my quietness I plan our continue…

TAKE OVER OF THE WORLD…haha! One greeting card at a time.

To all of you I send peace, prosperity and love in the coming year and I hope that you are all as excited about 2010 as I am.  Cant wait to see what the Universe has in store for me…woohoo! Im so ready for it…see you all next year!!

Spring Opara
General Partner
Blac Gurlz Ink