You probably noticed a change or two around here. If you’re still clicking on a link to MissWisabus.com or typing that in yourself, look up just a little and you’ll see that you’re being forwarded to my new address — Elizabeth-Michelle.com.
I’d been thinking about a change for a while. It’s been a long time since anyone (other than blog readers) called me “Miss Wisabus” and I have been out of that particular line of work for a while. The mispronunciation can be difficult to pronounce itself and I think it confused some people who didn’t already know my name. That name will always be a part of my identity — who knows, I may have small children in my life again someday who find “Elizabeth” too difficult to get out. In the interest of being more professional and being true to who I am now, I thought it was a good idea to look into a new name.
Deciding on a this new moniker took me a while. I wanted something that was truly me, but I knew that using my first and last name (either maiden or married surname) was not the direction I wanted to go in. My maiden name is far too common and my married name doesn’t have the kind of flow that I would prefer. I’ve tossed around names in my head for a while as far as what nom de plume I would like to grace the cover of any books I may have published in the future. Finally it dawned on me that the answer had been in front of me all along.
My middle name.
I’ve never been partial to it and certainly never had much connection to it as my name all these years. I don’t even think my parents had a huge affinity for it when they gave me the name. In some ways I associate it more with something my mom would say whenever I was in trouble (“Elizabeth Michelle Johnson, you get in here right now!”) than anything else. But it’s a beautiful name, no matter what kind of connections I have with it and it has the sort of sound I’m going for. Plus, I love anything that contains “elle”. It flows right off the pen.
So that is how I came around to the change in my domain name. The Twitter username wasn’t as easy to come by and I had to settle for a sort of abbreviation (@ElizabethMelle), but I’m happy with it. Now people will know my name is Elizabeth 
With all that done, I knew I could finally get the business cards that I am going to review for Minted.com. I’m really excited to be getting a stack of these lovely things because I needed some updated ones to carry with me to Allume at the end of October, but there are so many to choose from that I’m having a very difficult time narrowing it down to my favorite one. There are a couple that I’m leaning toward, but I’m going to keep those to myself so as not to sway the vote one way or another.
Would you mind taking a look and telling me which design you like best? You can vote in the poll at the end and feel free to leave any additional comments you may have. Many of the designs are available in different colors, but I picked the ones that I liked best. (Any weird outlines you may see on the cards are the result of my poor cropping skills and will not be on the final product.)
(Images courtesy of Minted. Review of these business cards coming soon!)
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Oklahoma girl through-and-through. Writer, aspiring domestic goddess and totalitarian dictator. Taking on the world one carb-induced coma at a time. Co-host of Picture Shows & Petticoats. 
I love your new “branding” (for lack of a better word). I would definitely go with the second. The name is easily legible. I also think the first and sixth look great as well.
Thank you, Samantha!
Ultimately I picked #1 but I really like #2 and #7 also. Although maybe with a different font for your name on #7 – more flowy?
You’ve inspired me to consider my middle name (for things aside from Twitter). I’ve avoided my name for ages mainly because my last name is my ex-husbands name and I may eventually get remarried so a nom de plume is rather imperative.
I just love the blue one. It’s so… writerly. Haha! I loved the fireflies ones too but it just doesn’t say what I think it should (which is writerly).
This is so hard!! I went with #2 – just gorgeous. And very, very “writer”ish to me. : )
I love #2. #5 is my least favorite. I cannot articulate why, I just know I don’t like it. #6 & #7, you cannot make out your first name. It took me a moment to figure out the font.
#10 is very you. If you put your persona on a business card, this is it. It reminds me a lot of being a child and of Oklahoma at the same time. Very country, very summer, very “I am eating watermelon on my front porch during the evening”, kicked back, kind of feel to it.
The Mason jar gives me that feeling of sharing. Isn’t that what people do when they “can”? They share things they want to save, and give them to others? It’s a piece of home, a piece of family. It takes you back to fond memories. And what child, when they catch fireflies, after putting them in the jar, does not run directly to someone and show them off? Its one of our first bragging rights in life. I love #2 but #10 has you written all over it.
I went with 10. I was swayed in that direction because I was thinking about getting a similar art print from them… LOVE IT. I also really liked #3 though. It’s simple and easy to read but still decorative.
I think the second one is exactly what you need—you are stating outright what you do. Love that one!
I’ve been thinking about getting business cards done so September is my month to work on that.
That was difficult! I ended up voting for #7 (clearly not the most popular one) but I think 1,2, or 5 would be good ones as well. Like the others have said, I think it is a good idea for your card to state what you are: a writer. Good luck picking the final design!
I voted for 2, but I really liked #8 as well. The rebranding looks great!
Too many good choices! I had a really hard time choosing.
I had three favorites and it depends on what you want to emphasize. If you want your name to stand out, choose #1. If you want the fact that you are a writer to be most impressing, choose $5 (the note book paper brings it home). If you want to grab my attention with the graphics, then choose #10, though there isn’t anything on that card that tells me WHAT you are (can you put the word writer on the jar…that would have a cool subliminal meaning if you think about it).
I loved #10 because I felt the whole design captured your style as an Okie and a writer. The design itself tells people something about what you do without saying “writer.” I do wish the font was a little dreamier, though. I also loved #2 a lot — very feminine and strong. Not sure how I feel about “writer” on there…liked it at first, but when I saw the “story” of #10, I changed my mind. It can be argued that you are far more than that.
Great job with the designs! Can’t wait to see the winner in hard copy!
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