Cards Ink

I just happen to find this great website Cards Ink. You as a designer, or anyone, can become a member, upload your designs and then it is open for voting. The most popular cards get printed, either letterpress of offset, and are available for purchase. How wonderful! It's like the Cafe Press and Spoonflower of cards.

I currently have a few cards up for voting so take a look and rate them! Ill let you know if and when they are available for purchase. I am just so giddy with the thought of my designs being letterpressed!

Vote here (just press on the star you think appropriate)
and for
Congratulations
Meant for Eachother
Head over Heels
Penguins are Forever
Forever yours!

Wonderful Valentine's Day cards

Have you ever heard of Jack Cards? If you haven't go check them out, they especially have wonderful Valentine's Day cards. How will I ever choose? Annnnnd they offer this great service where you enter in all your special dates and events and you can preorder cards automatically so Jack Cards will send it to you when you need it....sounds like a lifesaver.

Fun cards

Check out these fun cards and stationary by Pancake & franks (adorable name), a designer from Arizona now in San Francisco. I love the simple design of them, paired with great colors, and fun visuals/sayings. You can order them of the website here.

My Gocco!

I ordered a Gocco Printer, a Japanese screenprinter that utilizes thermal heat to make the screens, and last night I finally got to try it. I decided to make Christmas cards as my first project and it was so much fun!


First I created my master with the lighthouse which is way easier than any other screenprinting method I have tried (except for the Yudo...any thoughts on that?) I am just so sad that they are discontinuing the Gocco....I guess I better start buying supplies.




After exposing, I selected my inks (brown, red and silver...very holiday-ish) and started applying to the screen. The instructions said to apply the Riso ink-blocking foam to the screen to prevent mixing but I didn't have any sooo I created my own by buying the $0.99 sheets of sticky foam at Michael's. It worked perfectly!



Then I selected my paper and placed it on the sticky pad, which is genius because then your paper never slips around and you get perfect placement. I tried red, white, off-white, green and then a recycled chipboard-ish color. The chipboard one was my favorite.


Press down and ta-da! It took me a few to get the right pressure down but then I was a printing machine. I probably printed over 50 cards last night.



I love how they turned out. I have to now go buy envelopes and write them all. I love my Gocco and it was well worth the purchase, I just wish they would not stop making them. What have you made with your Gocco?

Holiday Cards

How about a little holiday graphic love!? How adorable and awesome are these letterpress bow cards by Pie Bird Press (they have an adorable website). I absolutely LOVE them and they make me so happy. They have a lot of other great stuff too in their Etsy shop so go check it out.

Greeting cards with 'tude.

Tired of those sappy greeting cards from all the stores? You should go check out Amy Smyth Made It. She concentrates on making things with design, affordability, and humor in mind. Sounds great! Check out some of her adorable cards below and make sure you check out her site for many more. Also visit the list of retailers to find where you can get your own.

Inside: Aged. Happy Birthday.

Inside: Happy Anniversary.