The custom order I was working for 100 passport-styled invitations has been completed and delivered to the client today, five days ahead of schedule. I am relieved and very, very satisfied that the way this project turned out. (To read the background story, click here.)
I ran into several minor problems with this order, most of which were printer-related issues. First I ran out of ink. Then the replacement ink I ordered (remanufactured to cut costs) did a miserable job of printing. The print and the graphics were fuzzy and not at all sharp. (Never again!!) Had to return the ink and re-order manufacturers' original ink at double the price. Printing was better but still not great, not because of the ink but because the printer itself is not well suited to graphics printing. I had been see-sawing for years about buying a new printer, feeling guilty about buying a new printer when I had one that worked well but just didn't give crisp graphic images. This time I bit the bullet and ordered a new HP Photosmart Printer. With the exception of my current printer, I have always used HP printers both at home and at work. The print quality is excellent and the machines are workhorses. My current Dell (boo...hiss...) printer was given to me and a free printer trumped one I had to pay for (or so I thought). My experience has me running back to the hardware I have come to trust for crisp, sharp printing. It should arrive sometime next week and I can't wait to put it through its paces. Future client orders will look awesome. So bring 'em on. I'm ready!
Ballo ergo sum
- Gitana, the Creative Diva
Showing posts with label invitations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label invitations. Show all posts
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Passport Invitation
(Note: Click on a photo to see a larger image.)
It seems as if my life is being carried in a small boat along a fast moving stream. So much has happened in the last month that I have not had time to post on my blogs or participate in any of the challenges hosted by the online groups to which I belong. Fortunately my little boat is not sailing without a rudder so I can keep myself from capsizing into the rapids.
One of the big events for me was being contracted by a returning client to produce invitations for her annual client event. Her invitations are always tied into the theme of the event and are intended to set the mood from its receipt. This year's theme is adventure so I came up with the concept of creating a passport document to act as the invitation. A specific color palette was requested and you can see two of those colors in the photo above. Although the concept was easy enough, designing it proved to be somewhat more challenging than I expected but after two weeks of brainstorming I prevailed.
When I presented the prototypes to my client and her assistant, they were completely bowled over. They particularly liked the small details I used to convey the idea of adventure and travel throughout the document. In years past the order was for 50 invites. This year's order was doubled! This presented a double challenge for me; 1) I now had to produce twice as many cards, a substantial task when you consider they are all made completely by hand and 2) I had to do it in less time than I had in the past because the process began later this year. Regardless, I am up to the challenge and am enjoying it immensely.
To see additional photos of this card, click here to go to my Photobucket album where you'll find photos of my other cards as well.
Ballo ergo sum
- Gitana, the Creative Diva
It seems as if my life is being carried in a small boat along a fast moving stream. So much has happened in the last month that I have not had time to post on my blogs or participate in any of the challenges hosted by the online groups to which I belong. Fortunately my little boat is not sailing without a rudder so I can keep myself from capsizing into the rapids.One of the big events for me was being contracted by a returning client to produce invitations for her annual client event. Her invitations are always tied into the theme of the event and are intended to set the mood from its receipt. This year's theme is adventure so I came up with the concept of creating a passport document to act as the invitation. A specific color palette was requested and you can see two of those colors in the photo above. Although the concept was easy enough, designing it proved to be somewhat more challenging than I expected but after two weeks of brainstorming I prevailed.
When I presented the prototypes to my client and her assistant, they were completely bowled over. They particularly liked the small details I used to convey the idea of adventure and travel throughout the document. In years past the order was for 50 invites. This year's order was doubled! This presented a double challenge for me; 1) I now had to produce twice as many cards, a substantial task when you consider they are all made completely by hand and 2) I had to do it in less time than I had in the past because the process began later this year. Regardless, I am up to the challenge and am enjoying it immensely.
To see additional photos of this card, click here to go to my Photobucket album where you'll find photos of my other cards as well.
Ballo ergo sum
- Gitana, the Creative Diva
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
An Aquatic Theme
(Note: Click on an image for a larger view)
I have been busy creating invitations for my daughter's upcoming Sweet Sixteen birthday. My young miss has an interest in all things aquatic and decided upon mermaids as the theme for her party with a color palette reminiscent of the Caribbean Sea in blues, greens, turquoise and purple. I think I have purchased every mermaid rubber stamps ever created in an effort to craft 35 different cards. Some of them are pictured here. You can see these and others in my Photobucket album. Just follow the link at the top of the left hand column.
Next up: Party favors. The mind reels...
Ballo ergo sum,
Always and all ways,
- Gitana, the Creative Diva
I have been busy creating invitations for my daughter's upcoming Sweet Sixteen birthday. My young miss has an interest in all things aquatic and decided upon mermaids as the theme for her party with a color palette reminiscent of the Caribbean Sea in blues, greens, turquoise and purple. I think I have purchased every mermaid rubber stamps ever created in an effort to craft 35 different cards. Some of them are pictured here. You can see these and others in my Photobucket album. Just follow the link at the top of the left hand column.
Next up: Party favors. The mind reels...
Ballo ergo sum,
Always and all ways,
- Gitana, the Creative Diva
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Catching Up
(Note: Click on an image for a larger view)
It has been seven months since I've posted to this blog, during which time I've been extremely busy on things crafty and non-crafty alike. In the interim I have probably created some of my most beautiful cards to date and I believe I have reached the point where I can take my show on the road, albeit very slowly. Some of the cards can be seen above, others can be viewed on my Photobucket Greetings Cards album. (Use the link in the upper left column.) I have discovered new techniques, am working in mixed media and am generally having a high old time crafting cards. I have recently completed a custom order for a repeat customer and am getting a better sense of what I will need to do to successfully market my cards. Now what I need to do is lay the foundation.
I have taken a step in that direction recently when I finally stopped procrastinating and completed the application for a registered trademark. I have been using my name, Gitana, on my work for the past 11 years and have developed it into a logo. Now I'm making it official. Next I plan to create client intake business forms and to create boxed sets of themed cards for sale. Baby steps for now. I'll be toddling in no time and soon I'll break into an all-out run.
I am currently working on my daughter's Sweet Sixteen invitations. My aspiring marine biologist wanted an aquatic theme so we're going with mermaids. Instead of creating a number of identical invitations, hers will all be variations on the theme of mermaids and sea life. No two invitations will be exactly the same. When she recently reviewed the cards completed to date, she commented that the cards were so pretty, they should be considered souvenirs of the event. I thought that was a great idea, something I'll keep in the back of my mind for a future client...souvenir invitations.
Now that the warm weather is slowly waning, I'll be spending more time indoors. Hopefully that means I'll be posting more of my work. That is, of course, if I don't spend all of that time having fun creating cards.
Ballo ergo sum,
Always and All Ways,
- Gitana, the Creative Diva
It has been seven months since I've posted to this blog, during which time I've been extremely busy on things crafty and non-crafty alike. In the interim I have probably created some of my most beautiful cards to date and I believe I have reached the point where I can take my show on the road, albeit very slowly. Some of the cards can be seen above, others can be viewed on my Photobucket Greetings Cards album. (Use the link in the upper left column.) I have discovered new techniques, am working in mixed media and am generally having a high old time crafting cards. I have recently completed a custom order for a repeat customer and am getting a better sense of what I will need to do to successfully market my cards. Now what I need to do is lay the foundation.
I have taken a step in that direction recently when I finally stopped procrastinating and completed the application for a registered trademark. I have been using my name, Gitana, on my work for the past 11 years and have developed it into a logo. Now I'm making it official. Next I plan to create client intake business forms and to create boxed sets of themed cards for sale. Baby steps for now. I'll be toddling in no time and soon I'll break into an all-out run.
I am currently working on my daughter's Sweet Sixteen invitations. My aspiring marine biologist wanted an aquatic theme so we're going with mermaids. Instead of creating a number of identical invitations, hers will all be variations on the theme of mermaids and sea life. No two invitations will be exactly the same. When she recently reviewed the cards completed to date, she commented that the cards were so pretty, they should be considered souvenirs of the event. I thought that was a great idea, something I'll keep in the back of my mind for a future client...souvenir invitations.
Now that the warm weather is slowly waning, I'll be spending more time indoors. Hopefully that means I'll be posting more of my work. That is, of course, if I don't spend all of that time having fun creating cards.
Ballo ergo sum,
Always and All Ways,
- Gitana, the Creative Diva
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