My Uncles party for the 30th anniversary of his 20th birthday was this past weekend (aka his 50th birthday party). Unfortunately I was in Asia and couldn't go, so I sent these custom labels in my stead. Custom designed wine and beer labels are always great fun at a wedding or party. These were designed with all sorts of references to his life, some obvious, and some less so. Some of the more obvious, the names: his surname, his nickname, and his alma mater. The establishment date, aka his birthday. Less obvious, the towns of his birth, college, his childhood phone number, childhood vacation spot, the ski-area where he learned his rocking ski skills, the reference to growing up in a funeral home with the "may contain formaldehyde". The batch number referring to him being the fourth child, the "taste notes" calling out the fact that he only ate peanut butter cups and drank mountain dew throughout college. My favorite little call out is in the ingredients area: referring to the joke he always tells about himself and his siblings: "Beth-Ann got the brains, Joe got the left over brains, Michael got the talent, and all I got was damn compassion" I hope he enjoyed them and had a wonderful birthday!
Photo Backdrop: Paper Flowers
When redesigning the website, I kew I wanted to create a really unique image for the header. I still had all the paper flowers I had created for my wedding, and knew they would make a beautiful photo. As I was putting it together in my living room, it got me thinking about the elements that made a great photo backdrop at a wedding or other event. I decided there are two things that really make a backdrop great, those being depth and interest. The two need to combine in such a way that they enhance the subjects of the photo! You want something that creates interest, but that isn't so busy as to draw attention away from the people actually in the photos! So here is the temporary backdrop I created, I included how it actually looks in my living room verses what it looks like in pictures (do you like how I had to take off one of the flowers to access our thermostat?).
Custom Wedding Invitation Design Process
I am often asked how the design process works when creating custom products. I thought I would share how the process for designing a wedding invitation usually works.
Step One: We talk, sometimes in person, and sometimes on the phone. We get to know each other, I learn a little bit about you, your fiancé, and your wedding. We talk about budget, about things you love and the things that you hate! You ask me as many questions as your little heart desires!
Step Two: If you decide to go forward, you make a down payment and I get to work!
Step Three: We share! We build a Pinterest board of things that might inspire you for your wedding day. Anything from fashion, colors, decor, and flowers will help give me a clearer idea of what you want!
Step Four: I start sketching, and working up quick mockups in paper and in digital forms. I send bits and pieces, getting feed back from you as we go. I give multiple font, and layout options. The design process can be as collaborative or as hands off as you want it to be!
Step Five: I put together a digital mock up. This digital draft looks as close to reality as I can make it. Then we edit anything that needs changing until we've created a perfect design for you!
Step Six: I proof the print, color match and check sizing of the text and layout to make sure everything looks just right!
Step Seven: I print out a final draft so you can feel the paper, see the colors and check the fonts and lettering in person. Then make final edits or give the good to go!
Step Eight: You pay the remainder of the cost for your wedding invitation suite and I order all your supplies! Then your invites are off to the metaphorical press!
Step Eight: I print, cut, assemble, and address your invites so they are all set to go! I head over to the post office with one of your invites to get it weighed and find out the exact postage needed. I then pack them in a pretty box, order them alphabetically, and hand them over to you. All you have left to do is lick the envelopes and put on the stamps (unless of course, you want me to do that for you!)
Step Nine: You send them in the mail. Your guests open them with delight and behold your lovely and personal wedding invitation!
Our Holiday Card
It's a funny thing when you're a designer. Often times, the things you need to design for yourself are the last things to get checked off the "to do list". That was definitely the case for me this year. Which is why our Christmas Cards became "Happy New Year Cards"! Luckily I had designed them to say "Happy Holidays" so I think it's totally acceptable that they will all be received AFTER Christmas! I wanted to share them all the same, and just so you know, this photo is a lovely photoshopped version of four different photos so we could all look our best!
Christmas Cards
It's Christmas time! This is the first year (in 6 years of living together and 3 years of marriage) that I have gotten my shiznit together and am actually sending out Christmas Cards! I've been toiling away addressing them all and am anxiously awaiting the delivery of the cards I designed from the printer (it seems like it's taking forever and I'm worried they won't get here in time for xmas!) Everything else is ready so as soon as they come I'll be sliding them in the envelopes and they'll be out the door! But man my hand is tired from all this addressing!
From now until the new year I'll be taking some time off from the blog (everyone needs a vacation!) but I'll probably drop in a post here and there and will surely be filling up Instagram with lots of holiday photos! My plan is to give the website a much needed face lift over the next two weeks, so if all goes well, I'll ring in the new year with a new website! Happy Holidays everyone, I hope you'll be enjoying your family, friends, tasty treats and general holiday wonder as much as I will be!