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The Dingbat’s Agenda
  • Modern Calligraphy letterpress wedding invitation by Dingbat Press
  • Liz Ackley, calligraphy calling cards by Dingbat Press
  • Little Miss Emma cupcake business cards. Design + letterpress printed by Dingbat Press.
  • Rexburg LDS Temple Print, 14x19
  • Circque de Soleil Wedding Invitations, letterpress and design by Dingbat Press
  • Archives

  • September1st

    Pearls & Lace Proofs

    Posted in: Business Papers, business cards

    Sorry guys and dolls, I CAN’T find my USB to the Canon. SO you are getting proofing week until I dig that thing up from the studio move.

    Anne from Pearls & Lace provided a stunning logo. Sometimes I get projects that I just sit there and drool over because they are so beautiful. Anne’s logo was so great as a jumping off point for her business cards which will be 3/0 letterpress printed pretty darn soon!

    Pearls & Lace, RI

    We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with Anne and her great logo, and provide business card layouts and design that tied it all together for her. These will be going on press soon and I can hardly WAIT to see the finished piece.

    Pearls & Lace, RI

    Pearls & Lace, RI

    What is your favorite?

  • August30th

    to the Lighthouse! Proofs

    Posted in: branding

    These were done for Sonia as part of a branding package, I can’t wait to tell you more about the concepts behind these, but will wait until I print the final designs! Enjoy.

    To the lighthouse! design proofs

    To the lighthouse! design proofs

    To the lighthouse! design proofs

  • August16th

    My 750lb. + 3500lb. babies

    Posted in: Business, Studio Remodel

    I just had to show you this to kick off Studio Week here at Dingbat Press. For those of you who don’t know much about me, I am a mother, and work from home.

    For the last 5 years, my studio has been in my basement. We had a designated room, which my first press and love went barely down a flight of stairs to what we thought would be it’s final resting place.

    Cleopatra : Manufactured by Challenge Machinery Co., model 15MA (manual, knockoff of the Vandercook SP-15). I’m partial to this press, because it doesn’t have those stupid springs that the Vandy has. This baby locks in place ;) But then again I’m a biased mother.

    Then, the business grew, and the product grew, and the raw goods that I needed on-hand grew, and then I hired employees. Interns became part of the team, suddenly I realized that I had all but outgrown my basement. It was time for a real “bigger” studio. (And I bought a Windmill, and there was NO way a 3,500 lb Heidelberg press was going to even make it into our house – let alone the basement.)

    Henrietta : Heidelberg Windmill with lockouts, red-ball. This is genius German engineering. They just don’t make things like they used to. CAST IRON BABY!

    So I decided that the windmill was worth more money than my crap 2000 Honda Accord that smells like child barf, so the car got kicked to the curb. And I shopped, and ordered windows and drywall, and I moved the studio in! Come join the fun in seeing the progress that was/is the garage/studio for the week and get a peek into our new and improved space!

  • July27th

    School Mascot Grad Announcements

    Posted in: announcements

    LaKieshaGradFULL

    LaKiesha wanted to order the monogram grad announcements but replace monogram with her school mascot. The great thing about university and the internet is that it’s easy to find a high-resolution .tif of the logo or even better an .eps

    These were printed with Spruce ink and paired with matching envelopes on 110# paper. A6 (4.5×6″) and customization made these a perfect announcement for completing the task!

  • July15th

    RI Branding Package: Styling

    Posted in: branding, business cards

    These proofs were for Monica of MoniRose for babies and brides. Her seamstress work is amazing and the pieces she creates are truly one of a kind. Simple, beautiful and timeless – she needed her calligraphy from Emilie Friday adapted into a full branding package.

    I tried to keep it sophisticated yet whimsical and stuck to the bright colors that she had indicated exploring. The small branding package is for 1 color work, but I provided 2 color options for her to consider in addition to the one color designs, just to show how the brand can develop for web presence and other printed material.

    Option 1 was a collaborative concept with Jenica (Intern) where I art directed her by introducing her to the client brief and wanted to see what concepts she could come up with on her own. After seeing Jenica’s initial sketches, I provided critique and feedback as to what we should develop for Monica including typographic suggestions. Logo was then developed – adapted from there into print pieces, color scheme & typographic implementation. This was a great project to get Jenica started in the process of how a job starts and transitions through to the different phases in a branding package.

    MoniRose Option 1

    Option 2 was based off of Monica’s suggestion of wanting to see vintage lace with her calligraphy logo. We took a more minimal approach on this design and again stuck with bright colors – green and yellow being Monica’s favorite suggestion.

    MoniRose Option2

    For the third option we explored a stitched tag emblem as trade seamstresses and tailors often had unique marks or embroidery initials that were left in the garments they made. We explored striping in the background to help bring in texture to the piece (reflecting texture in fabric) when printed and went with a more monochromatic option for the pieces with one complimentary color.

    MoniRose Option3

    I can’t wait to show you the next round of Monica’s proofs! If you are interested in a small branding package or a more developed branding package for your business drop us an email through our about page (or at the button above). We’d love to help you with your next project and in printing your business collateral.

  • July13th

    Kelly Totten, final biz cards!

    Posted in: business cards

    You may remember Kelly’s design proofs that were posted back in June and my subsequent raves about her money strategy skills. Well I present you with the final piece! Kelly helps me keep my greenbacks in order and to pinch my pennies. Thanks for being such an awesome money strategist, Kelly!

    KellyTottenBlog

    Printed on 110# Ecru paper with matte copper, matte metallic brown and a faux emboss on the cracker jack logo. Sized at 2.5 x 2.5″ square with 1/4″ rounded corners.

    To get yourself a set of letterpress business cards from Dingbat Press, contact us!
    To see more of our business cards that we’ve designed and printed via the
    letterpress process please see our letterpress business card Flickr set.

  • June29th

    Paper + Nest : Final Cards

    Posted in: business cards

    Below are Amanda’s final printed cards. You can read more about her brand re-fresh and see the initial proofs for Paper + Nest as well as process by clicking.

    Paper + Nest

    These were printed on 110# lettra in matte silver and matte metallic lavender.

    If you are interested in a brand refresh or custom work, not only do we provide letterpress printing but design services as well. Contact us for info or a bid on custom letterpress printing for your business or purchase a letterpress sample pack here!

  • June24th

    FREE WEDDING INVITES!!!

    Posted in: Wedding

    This is Adam, our 18 mo. old neighbor. After a tragic incident on the 24th, he has been life-flighted to the closest children’s hospital (SLC) and is in the ICU fighting for his life. He is 18 months and the youngest child in his family. The hospital is 350 miles from Idaho, and both of his parents are down there praying for a miracle and full recovery for Adam – waiting by his bedside. The rest of their kids are here in Idaho with extended family and neighbors. Susan & George are amazing parents, live a life of service to others, and have so much love for each of their children. My heart is breaking to see this happen to such a wonderful family. Please help and be entered to win some awesome goods!

    To raise money for Adam’s life-flight and hospital bill, I am offering a free set of (100) letterpress 2 color wedding invitations and reply cards for every $2000 worth of money raised. That means if we raise $10k there will be (5) FIVE people who could win.

    Winners will be randomly selected on July 31st. To qualify, you need to contribute $10 to Adam’s PayPal fund (button below). I know via my stats that I get at least 400 unique visitors a day to this site. That means that if 200 contribute, then we’ve hit our first giveaway package! AND for every $10 you contribute you’ll get an extra entry to up your chances of winning!

    You may remember Jessica’s custom design proofs for her suite that was blogged about awhile back. Well it’s time to unveil the finished piece!

    _MG_3199

    Final calligraphy letterpress invitation

    Jessica’s invites are a 1 color suite – remember that you are entered to win a 2 color suite! Click to donate and help Adam, all proceeds will go to help pay for his life-flight and hospital stay!


  • June17th

    Anda Marie, Biz cards

    Posted in: business cards

    Anda Marie Letterpress business cards

    These letterpress business cards shipped awhile back for Anda Marie. She already had her branding established but needed her business collateral printed and wanted it on the super-thick paper. She also needed a little help with her layout, and wanted to tie in a wood-grain pattern as her photography style is very natural, honest and artistic.

    To view more of Anda Marie’s beautiful photography, you can click on the image above to see this incredible wedding, and visit her blog or website to learn more about her services. Thanks Anda for being so fun to work with and for letting me print your cards. Let me know when you’ll be needing more!

    Photography ©2010 Anda Marie Photography, all rights reserved.
    All blog posts by Dingbat Press are regarding client projects, and are not paid editorial services for the above client. Dingbat Press is in no way compensated in addition to the work produced for print. Editorial content on this blog is only used to promote the work & craftsmanship of Dingbat Press and it interns and employees.

  • June16th

    Wedding Proofs for Demi

    Posted in: Wedding

    BRIEF from Demi: If anything I would say our style is Tuscan elegance. Our ceremony is outdoors and our reception indoors in a barrel room/wine cave. I don’t want too much of a winery/vineyard theme going on in the invitation, but rather something elegant that sort of catches the whole winery vibe.

    Demi's Invitation Proofs

    While working on these designs we wanted to explore damask pattern and to juxtapose typography with a simple body layout and elegant script for hierarchy significance.

    Demi's Invitation Proofs

    Often when designing, I go through a series of steps to establish hierarchy within a piece. Wedding invitations are easy as usually the bride & groom’s names are of the most importance. Followed by the Bride’s parents (or the hosting family), and then, if included, the groom’s family. Next the reception/ceremony information and then date/time/venue information.

    Demi's Invitation Proofs

    Not all of these areas in a layout will receive different typographic treatments but it’s good to consider the importance of each element in a piece and where it stands in relation to the next element within the design.

    All designs ©2010 Dingbat Press, reproduction or derivative works strictly prohibited.
    If used in your own blog, please credit by linking to the image source and Dingbat Press.

  • June14th

    The plate order

    Posted in: Business

    I order my photo-polymer plates from Boxcar Press. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to run my business from this rural plat of earth here in Idaho. There’s just something so majestic about working on concept and design for a client and getting to know them. The revising of endless rounds of proofs to make everything perfect – some may think this is beyond their patience level but to me it’s SO awesome to see everything progress and take on life.

    Just like my babies growing up too fast, it feels like jobs that go through the studio are birthed with lots of hard work, and then they grow with help and lastly they are printed with care and shipped off to a new home and to start a new life.

    I have these folders in my email client that I use to organize my jobs that are open. There are folders for each round of revisions that a client will fall into – in addition there are folders for estimates, invoiced clients, ticket phases, plates, press, finishing, and completed. Every week I’m getting plate orders from Boxcar and their customer service and attention to detail never ceases to amaze me. I haven’t yet had an order that hasn’t failed to meet my expectations, to which I am grateful for. Below is an order that came late last week. There are about 5 jobs on this plate that will all print early this week and will finish out and ship near the end of the week/early next week. I love getting my skinny brown packages and inspecting the plates and proofs, something beautiful to behold and why I  can hardly wait to get on press!

    Letterpress Plates & Proofs

  • May25th

    New in the shop! GIVEAWAY!

    Posted in: Boxed Notes

    These are printed just in time for summer. Sold as a limited edition, once they are gone they will be printed no more! To win a set of these scroll to the bottom for details.

    Letterpress wildflower notes

    These wildflower brights are letterpress printed on colored paper with matching envelopes.

    _MG_6864

    Size: 4Bar, and comes as a set of 8 (2 of each pattern).

    _MG_6868

    You’ll get purple lupine, pink columbine, orange indian paintbrush, and pool echinacea.

    _MG_6873

    Comment to win – one comment only, and tweet for a second chance at winning. Two (2) random winners will be selected on Friday May 28th at midnight, and announced Memorial Day! Winner will get 1 set of cards!

    _MG_6871

    If you’d like to get yourself a set right now, you can get them in The Shop!

    UPDATED: Congrats JOEY and LUBICA! You’re random #18 from the random generator. Contact me via my About page and send on your address. I’ll get these sent off next week!

  • April30th

    Baby Butterflies

    Posted in: About Me

    Okay – so those of you that follow the blog may know that David is Type 1 diabetic. While we manage the condition and have a positive outlook it was devastating when he was first diagnosed. Blood sugars are not so easy to manage – giving multiple injections to a child that just turned 4 seemed cruel. Brian and I stopped going out on dates because there was no one who knew how to take care of David’s diabetic needs (and I had trust issues). In addition, I was 5 months pregnant, expecting our 3rd child when he was diagnosed. Overwhelmed to say the least, I turned to two of the only people who I knew could help us though. Help me be calm, help David feel like a kid again. My cousin Katie is a year younger than me. She is an amazing elementary teacher, and she has a fantastic husband Marc. She has also been Type 1 since she was 11, but lives about 350 miles away from me. I shamelessly asked her to drop everything – begged her to – so I could deliver baby #3 in a hospital 60 miles from home (we live rural) with my husband in the delivery room and not worry that my other kids would end up in the hospital with us. Katie, being the woman that she is didn’t hesitate once. When I went into labor the kids spend their first night with my dear friends while Katie drove all the way up to Idaho. She then provided relief for everyone. David had someone to relate with finally, I delivered a healthy baby without losing my mind and I’ll be forever grateful for the service rendered that day. One year later Katie has given birth to her first, a beautiful and healthy baby girl. The least I could do was say, hey you rocked diabetes – and saved my life – can I design and letterpress print your baby announcements?

    Thank you to Katie, to my friends, to my family and to you my loyal readers for being there for me when I needed it most. I didn’t know then if I’d continue working, if I had enough passion to put more love into my work and this blog but you all encouraged me and nudged me along. To help my son, I had to help find myself again this last year. Thank you for all your love and support. I can’t believe baby Charlie is almost 1, it’s been 18 months since diagnosis, and I’m finally starting to forget what the before’s were like. It’s time to enjoy the after’s because isn’t life really all about having a happily ever after?

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