Squirrely Christmas Cards

Squirrely Christmas Cards, originally uploaded by krakencrafts.

These are the Christmas cards I made this year using my gocco. I'm starting to really like using it. This is the first time I tried two colors and it worked pretty well even though I didn't have the ink blocking foam stuff.

Being Original is Tough

I keep thinking I am coming up with these super original ideas for wedding crafts. Then as soon as I am set on definitely making something, I find almost the same thing on somebody's blog.

First I decided I was going to make screen printed grocery tote bags as wedding favors. I still haven't decided if I am going to put things in them or not. I've had my mom scouring Portland for reasonably priced roasted hazelnuts (or filberts as Oregonians like to call them) and trying to thing of other things that could fill up the bags. I'm kind of thinking empty bags folded and tied up nicely would probably be ok.

Anyway, first, on flickr, I saw these pictures of guessica's tote bag wedding favors that she gocco printed the cute tandem bike design from her invitations onto.

Then on guessica's blog Fig&Plum I saw she also goccoed coasters with her and her husband's faces on them for their wedding. I wasn't planning on putting Nate and my faces on coasters but I was going to print up coasters with my gocco.

Then today, I saw on the Oh So Beautiful Paper blog, pictures of the illustrator Julia Rothman's table numbers she made for her wedding. And guess what, they are very children's counting book inspired. Oh well. I swear I searched everywhere on the web to see if anyone else had come up with the same concept as me for table numbers. I saw a few counting book inspired ones with table letters instead of table numbers, as in A is for Apple and so on. But I couldn't find any like mine. Oh well, I guess all the stuff I do will be unique because I will be illustrating it. I was just surprised and excited that I had come up with a kind of obvious idea that I though no one else had thought of.

Table Numbers Concept

Table Numbers Concept, originally uploaded by krakencrafts.

If you've looked through my flickr page you can tell I really enjoy vintage children's books. ABC books and counting books are some of my favorites. I though wedding table numbers would be the perfect place to combine my love of sea creatures and children's books. This is my sketch for table 3. I will have the appropriate numbers of different sea creatures for each table.

I'm thinking I will do watercolors for the table numbers and then buy some pre-cut mats, tape two together and then put the whole thing in one of those place card holder things to stand it up.

Nate and I both really loved the table numbers at his friend's Jesse and Jenine's wedding. They were pictures of each of them at the age of the table number. We kind of wanted to steal their idea but I think I've convinced Nate it is better to have something unique.

Finished Save the Dates

Finished Save the Dates, originally uploaded by krakencrafts.

I finished printing the fronts and backs of our save the date post cards with my gocco printer. The writing turned out surprisingly clear. I was worried the website address was in so small of font people wouldn't be able to read it. But it turned out ok. The solid areas didn't print as well as the writing and used a lot more ink. Over all I think they look pretty good for home made save the dates.

Save the Dates

Save the Dates, originally uploaded by krakencrafts.

I finally started printing the save the dates for our wedding today. I've finished printing the front of the post cards. I'll print the back with more info after these dry.

It is a seagull squawking that we are getting married with the Three Arch Rocks in the background.

We are getting married in Oceanside, Oregon. The Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge is just about 1 mile off shore.

I'll post better pictures when I'm all done.

Thank You Cards

Thank You Cards, originally uploaded by krakencrafts.

I have finally completed one wedding related project. I know it is really out of order but I made my wedding thank you note cards before I even made or sent out save the dates.

After seeing something's hiding in here's block printing demo video for urban outfitters I decided to buy the block printing press featured in the video from the UO website. It was only $80 and I was sick of block printing with a brayer.

This was my first attempt at using the new press. It wasn't perfect but eventually I got it to work pretty well. It was so much quicker and took so much less energy than using the brayer.

I know etiquette probably dictates I'm not supposed to show things like this before the wedding but it is so long off.

Crab Card

Crab Card, originally uploaded by krakencrafts.

I made this card for our friend's 30th birthday. Crabs may seem like a odd choice for a 30th birthday card, but the inside has some inappropriate "you mom" joke about crabs that Nate wrote.

That is how card giving works in our relationship. I make the cards and Nate writes something somewhat clever inside.