Tag Archives: same-sex

Holiday Greeting Card Giving – A Little Bit of History!

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As a child the holidays seemed to be missing something for me, as an adult I endeavor to celebrate every holiday known to mankind…after all, if we’re One Big Global Family, that’s a lot of Holidays!

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!    2010 Holiday Greeting Card

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

Models’ Search – Femme PinUps!!!

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The Blac Gurlz Ink Babes are excited to announce our next Models’ Search for our upcoming series…

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!!

Blac Gurlz Ink – A Full Service Greeting Card Biz!

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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)

  • Birthdays
  • Baby Showers/Maternity
  • Weddings
  • Romance
  • Holidays
  • Valentine’s Day
  • Mother’s Day
  • Father’s Day
  • Halloween
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas
  • Hanukkah and Kwanzaa
  • Seasonal
  • Special Occasions – Anniversary, Graduation, Congratulation, etc.
  • Pets

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/

Butches of the Bay Series Release Party!!!

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Come Out & Meet the Blac Gurlz Ink
2010 Butches of the Bay Models!!

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!!!

2010 Butches of the Bay Photo Shoot!

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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 – 2009 A Year in Reveiw

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Well its December 27, 2009 and as I sit in the quietness of my space I began reflecting on the year and all the amazing adventures that Ive gone on in my endeavor to achieve the goals I set for Blac Gurlz Ink.

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

Holiday Gift Sets!

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Never know what to get that “unique” person on your gift list?

Well, just in time for the holidays, Blac Gurlz Ink has created a “HOLIDAY GIFT SET” for the LGBT family member or friend in your Life!

Unique in design, true to your sentiments!

And don’t forget to check out our Holiday Pets Greeting Cards…we’re thinking we may make these limited edition/collector’s greeting cards!

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The Blac Gurlz Ink
$50 Holiday Gift Set!

1) 1 Blac Gurlz Ink T-shirt
($35 value – 2 designs to choose from)

2) 3 of our Premiere Greeting Cards or 1 Couture Greeting Card
($15 value – your choice)

3) 1 Poster
($10 value – 2 designs to choose from)

*That’s a $60 value…if purchased separately.

Go to www.blacgurlzink.com/shop – to place your order today!

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T-Shirt Designs

logoeda

Blac Gurlz Ink Logo

graffitiqueers14

Femme Spirit

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Premium or Couture Greeting Cards
(samples below – please go to the www.blacgurlzink.com/shop to view the full selection!)


bgi_gqyq2

Premium Greeting Card

lesxmas9a

Couture Greeting Card

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Poster Designs!

Click here to order the “2009 Holiday Gift Set”

Embrace1_giftset

Embrace 1 - Poster

thekiss1_giftset

The Kiss 1 - Poster

Introducing Our Couture Line of Greeting Cards!

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Lesbian Christmas 4 Couture Greeting Card

Lesbian Christmas Couture Greeting Card

The holidays are fast approaching and the Blac Gurlz Ink line of greeting cards is expanding just as fast!  We know that the holidays can present a unique opportunity for same-sex loving members and their allies to exchange holiday greeting cards that reflect and express their sentiments.

So we decided to help out a bit!

Introducing the Blac Gurlz Ink’s “Couture” line of quality greeting cards!

We are introducing the line during the holiday season so that not another day goes by where you’re wondering…”isn’t there something more…something more representative of my community?”  Well, now there is!

And the beauty of the Couture line is that you can place a custom” order!

These limited edition and signed greeting cards are lovingly handcrafted from the finest materials we have found thus far and can we just add that anyone giving or receiving one of our Couture cards will know that they are SPECIAL to someone!

Once the holiday season has passed they will make wonderful keepsakes AND we didnt just create cards for the Holidays!

Please go to our website to view our complete line:
http://www.blacgurlzink.com/

Holiday Special!

From now until Dec. 20, 2009, when you purchase 4 premium greeting cards or 2 handcrafted couture greeting cards, we will send you a FREE card as our way of saying thank you!

Below are some ideas taken from Gallery Collection of great ways to enhance your greeting cards to fit your home decorating motif.

Lesbian Christmas Couture Greeting Card

Lesbian Christmas Couture Greeting Card

Greeting Card Crafts
(excerpt taken from http://www.gallerycollection.com. All photos are of Blac Gurlz Ink Couture greeting cards)

Puzzles
Choose a theme, such “Winter Wonderland” or “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Cut out the pictures and arrange them on a piece of cardboard (a cereal box is ideal)Glue (Modge Podge works well for this craft) the pictures to the cardboard and then brush Modge Podge on the top of the pictures for a strong glossy finish. After it dries, cut in puzzle size pieces with an Xacto knife.

Christmas Gift Tags
This is so easy. Cut the front of an old Christmas card or just the picture from any greeting card. Punch a hole and place ribbon through it.

Gay Christmas Couture Greeting Card

Gay Christmas Couture Greeting Card

Wall Plaques
Your local craft store sells wooden plaques in all different shapes and sizes. Paint or stain the wood. After it dries, use Modge Podge to glue the picture to the plaque. Put another coat of Modge Podge over the picture for a glossy finish. This can be great in place of a holiday card or Christmas card.

Place Mats
Glue your pictures to cardboard. (You may want to paint the bottom of the cardboard first.) Laminate or use clear Con-tac paper.

Framed Art
Your favorites designs can be framed and hung on the wall. Or artfully arrange a few personalized greeting cards in one frame.

Lesbian Wedding Couture Card

Lesbian Wedding Couture Card

Gay Wedding Couture Greeting Card

Gay Wedding Couture Greeting Card

Community Marketing Inc. 3rd Annual LGBT Consumer Survey!

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Community Marketing Inc. (CMI) is conducting its 3rd Annual LGBT Consumer Index study, “the largest and most comprehensive “pulse” on the LGBT Community in history,” states, Tom Roth, President of CMI.

The Blac Gurlz Ink Babes ask that you please take a moment to complete their 15 min. survey and let your voices be heard!

As an incentive, all surveys completed and submitted to CMI prior to August 31, 2009 will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $500 gift card or other prizes!  We win access to their data results –  its a win/win situation!

LGBT Consumer Index Survey

LGBT Consumer Index Survey