Blog — "design"

Design a Day Challenge: Day 20

July 11, 2011 • Heidi Shenk • "cards" • "challenge" • "design a day" • "design" • "envelopes"

Where has the day gone?! I can't quite believe that it is 9:15 and I am just writing this at the moment! Today was a very productive day, I must admit. I got back into my yoga routine, reorganized my entire work area, went through the shipment of paper and envelopes that I received today, began copy editing work for a friend that is self-publishing a novel, ran to the post office, and tried to finally buy a bike (more on that later). I made three new designs, made dinner, and watered the plants and flowers outside. Which of course, that meant a thunderstorm with heavy rain just had to roll through. That's how it always works!

So anyway, on to the design aspect of today. I went back to the basics. No printer again since the ink won't arrive until Wednesday. While reorganizing my paper stash, I found some great stuff to accompany my new envelopes. Today was all about cutting paper, which is how this all started anyway, and I love it!

I love the texture of this card. While there are unfinished bits in the design of this card, there are also neat and geometric circles. The two compliment each other well. And as a final addition, I included one of my new periwinkle envelopes-- the quality of this envelope is absolutely phenomenal!

Design a Day Challenge: Day 19

July 10, 2011 • Heidi Shenk • "cards" • "challenge" • "design a day" • "design" • "stationery"

Disclaimer: This design was printed with ink that I will not be using again. Am I happy about that? No not really. In fact, I'm super disappointed. I had a bit of an ink emergency. It involved a new recycled ink that I was trying out. As you may know the majority of my paper is recycled and produced using wind power. I am a bit of an environmental tree-hugger-- I'm not going to lie. Even my students call me a tree-hugger, and I accept it for what it is. So I like to offer environmentally friendly products as well. I've accomplished that on the paper front, so I wanted to conquer the ink as well.

It didn't work.

The colors were all messed up.

I did a ridiculous amount of trouble-shooting that involved lots of ink being wasted.

I gave up, for now.

So here is my design--

--but those aren't really the colors they should be. So yeah, I'll give you an update one I get some of those glorious Epson printer cartridges back in my hands. The difference will probably amaze you as much as it amazed me. Let's just say that the pink should be cotton candy pink, the brownish/orange should be a mango orange/yellow, and the blue should be a dark iris purple. And had I used Epson cartridges instead of my poopy recycled cartridges that's exactly what they'd be. Oh boooo. But hope you enjoy the design anyway! :)

Design a Day Challenge: Day 18

July 09, 2011 • Heidi Shenk • "birthday" • "cards" • "challenge" • "design a day" • "design"

I'm feeling in a happy birthday kind of mood recently. So I've cooked up yet another birthday card design. This may be the last printed card you'll see in the next few days as I had a bit of an ink emergency this afternoon. But I won't go into that for now. Back to the new design. Simple lettering on white and gray pinstripes. Plus, a super cool square card with rounded corners.

I kind of wish someone else would have thought of this design and given this card to me for my birthday. I love simple, as you know, so this is just right.

Design a Day Challenge: Day 17

July 08, 2011 • Heidi Shenk • "cards" • "challenge" • "design a day" • "design" • "stationery"

It is depressingly dark out today. Rain, rain, and more rain. And when the thunder comes the clouds get even darker. I've been stuck in the house today with nothing to do so I decided to start designing. Today, I came up with five new designs. I'll share the sunny one with you just so my day will seem a bit brighter.

Ahhh! That's more like it! Get some sun into my life and I feel better already!

Design a Day Challenge: Day 16

July 07, 2011 • Heidi Shenk • "cards" • "challenge" • "design a day" • "design" • "stationery"

Today I felt like making personalized stationery with lots of bold colors. I couldn't choose which few colors to use, so I made an entire collection of colors.

I was thinking that since these colors are so fun, why not really show them off. I went with a nice bold block of color along with the somewhat retro Lobster Two font. I love the inverted white against the block of color on the j's, p's, q's, f's, etc.

I even made some of the samples with my own name so that I could enjoy them to send off to my friends and family! :)