The Art of Type

In addition to carefully selecting the image on one of my cards I love to find just the right style of words (the type) that complements that image. Two styles I always admire are calligraphy and letterpress. I have decided that I would like to learn both!

I remember my Dad bought me my first fountain pen, which I had to fill from a bottle of ink. We had to learn cursive writing in school. I still incorporate some loops into my handwriting but it is my own variation of what I was taught. I purchased a calligraphy starter set which included some exercises. The key is practice but I want to learn the fundamentals from an expert. One day it would be nice to be able to offer the service of addressing envelopes for wedding invitations I have made.

Many years ago I was given the drawer pictured here by a friend. He suggested I use it to display my rubber stamps. At the time I had no idea what it had previously been used for. I now know it is a job case used to arrange font for letterpress, most likely upper case. Letterpress- type images can be produced by computer but there is nothing like the real thing, created by connecting ink to paper by heavy machinery. Letterpress is not limited to text. Modern technology lends itself to custom design plates being made easily for use in an old fashioned letterpress. I am lucky enough to live in an area where I can take classes to learn letterpress. Apparently I'm not the only one eager to learn because I have been wait-listed for the two classes I am interested in taking ! Who said it was a dying art?

Sweet 16!

I love looking at paper and imagining the sheet fashioned into an envelope or playing the starring role in one of my cards. When I picked up the sheet of paper with the shiny brown background, and the foreground strewn with balloons, I knew I would use it for a special card. I scoured the shelves in Michaels but it was the only sheet like it.
I was really touched when I received the call from a lovely young lady inviting me and my sons to her sweet 16 party. Imara is a special to us and therefore deserved a very special card. I knew I had the perfect sheet of paper to fit the bill. Once again I used my Accucut Grandmark machine and dies, vellum, Bazzill cardstock, a purchased die cut balloon, some ink and rubber stamps to create a card befitting a 16 year old.
I told Imara her card was truly bespoke because even if I used the same design for future cards they would never be made with that paper. She said that made her feel special and that made me feel sooooo happy to be able to do that with one of my cards!

Wedding Fever

I had the honor of being asked by another friend to make her wedding invitations. She lives in Barbados and is getting married there so a lot of the communication re: design was done via email. It was truly a labor of love as we have been friends since we were teenagers.

Between my Accucut Grandemark, computer and laser printer, I created the invitation, a folder and card with additional information. I purchased envelopes and then made the envelope liners. Presentation is key so I took the paper scraps and covered a box to package the invitations. I produced a final product I was very pleased with. Congratulations Deb and Andrew!

I Love My Gadgets

My embroidered Adinkra symbol cards have been in recent demand. I love gadgets and am able to use my computer, embroidery machine and Grandemark machine by Accucut to produce this card. When I originally designed my card I had to handcut a 12x12 piece of paper to produce 3 flaps and a window. It was obviously doable but time consuming to ensure each cut was accurate.
When I got my Grandemark I purchased a custom die from Accucut which produced the same style card in a fraction of the time. I also use the die cut machine to make coordinated envelopes. I now can spend more time designing and bring my ideas to fruition quickly!!!

A card for a special little boy

My son was six last month and I wanted to give him a special card. Following my Copic Marker class I was itching to work on my skin tones, using blending and shading, with the markers. He was very pleased with the finished product and recognized the little boy as himself!

Tempus fugit (Time flies)

I cannot believe my last post was over a year ago....I have looked at my previous posts and it appears this has been a stop/start journey. I have not stopped creating in between posts be it jotting down ideas or actually creating. Returning to this blog has been a good reminder for me of what I have done and can do.
This has been a tough year but in the past few months it has been brighter because I have had the opportunity to express my creativity. I made a wedding card for a friend at work and the knocking on the door of Bespoke Card Designs began.
Friends requested invitations for a mother's retirement party, something a little bit different for Christmas cards and a special birthday card for a 70th birthday. Each project used different techniques including embossing, creating unique backgrounds with glossy paper and alcohol inks and getting the most out of my die cut machine!! I am thankful that they trusted me with these special cards and I'm so glad they were all pleased with the end result.
I am learning how to juggle motherhood and work with my passion for card making. In 2011 I plan to put Bespoke Card Designs back on the map!

New Bespoke Designs

A few weeks ago I ventured into a local arts and crafts store in a quest to find yarn to knit a throw for my mum. While wandering the yarn aisles I stumbled across a display for a technique called needle felting. You could buy ready made appliques or create your own. They were used for hats, scarves, purses and a variety of other projects. I immediately started envisioning using the technique for my cards. I purchased a kit to make an applique that was already designed so I could get a feel for how to needle applique and from there I ran with my own designs. For months I have been trying to incorporate the flower I doodle into my designs. It has popped up on mugs I have decorated at pottery parties. I still plan to have a rubber stamp made and use it for screenprinting, but for right now it begged to be needle felted! I incorporated some hand sewn beads and the result is above for you to see. I'm currently working on some needle felted Christmas cards for Etsy.