The Dingbat’s Agenda

  • January17th

    Letterpress & Digital Printing

    Posted in: business cards, Color, Custom, letterpress technique, OFFSET, Wedding

    Tilted Sky is a business by couple Lindsey & Stephen who shoot some pretty awesome wedding filmography for your big day. Lindsey approached us with a seemingly challenging project in that she wanted  the look of a gradient/split-fountain in a very small print area. Easy for flat printing, challenging for letterpress printing. After working long and hard on her files and the concept she was going for, we finally decided to go with the solution to have the gradient sky printed via flat printing on our 110# paper, and then ran it through our presses for the final print run with a light silver ink for their business info.

    Above and below are two pre-press proofs that we pulled for Lindsey so she could compare the color of the gradient, the value of the line screen clouds (which were hard to photograph but looked awesome in person) as well as the value of the silver. Above we have a more peachy hue, and below more pink with a lighter silver.

    Upon sending images over to the client for final sign off we hit the presses and shipped these babies out!

  • January13th

    Tangerine Tango, 2012 Color of the year

    Posted in: Color, Custom, posted by ADRIENNE, Wedding

    I’m just slightly infatuated with pantone, if you haven’t noticed. And this year the 2012 color of the year is Tangerine Tango! I love how the yellows are being infiltrated by the oranges now.

    This was a wedding suite for a November wedding for Preeya. First off, she was SO fabulous to work with and had the most amazing mood board. (See at the bottom).

    She was right on the money regarding color trends and the design was so fun to develop with her.

    The suite was printed on 110# cotton paper, 2 inks, paired with gravel envelopes and dark gravel ink. Pieces included Invitation, Directions, Details and RSVP cards for the letterpress pieces, and then place cards and menu for digital pieces for the day of events. To price out an invitation suite like Preeya’s head over to the shop and customize your letterpress suite to your heart’s content!

  • December16th

    Tropical Wedding Invitations

    Posted in: business friday, Edge Painting, letterpress technique, Wedding

    We are already two months into winter here so needless to say, my mind is wandering to more tropical climates. These shipped out for a destination wedding and let me tell you, I SO wish I was somewhere warm right now. We have  lose to eight feet of snow banks on our road in places.

    These were letterpress printed on lettra paper, 220# as a 2-color job. One thing I’m finding is that lettra – while a great paper – seems to exaggerate the “salty” look when printing large ink areas. It seems that paired with the texture and composition of the paper there is less ink absorbancy when printing a flood in comparison to other papers (Mohawk and Arturo come to mind specifically as having better absorbancy).

    In the end, I think it depends on what sort of look you are going for. The salty ink coverage can add a very unique texture to a piece, especially if you are going for a more rustic or vintage look to your wedding suite. However if you are looking for a more consistent overlay and less ink transparency then ultimately you’ll want to go with a less textured paper.

    Edge painted in hot pink, and paired with hot pink envelopes, I love how the salty print on these add character to the already flowing design. Do you like the salty look? Or do you prefer a more saturated look?

  • November8th

    Autumn, Calligraphy Calling Cards

    Posted in: business cards, Calligraphy, Calling Cards, Custom, Edge Painting

    Calling cards never get old for me. Seeing the calligraphy by Kathryn of Della Carta is magical every time it shows up in my inbox.

    These were letterpress printed on 110# luxe white paper in gravel ink with papaya edge painting.

     Sold in sets of 50, this is a great way to get into a set of calling cards without the investment of meeting the press minimum of 250 cards for a custom print order. Get an estimate here, these are always a big hit for gifts for the holidays and turn around super quick!

  • August18th

    Tropical wedding invitations

    Posted in: Wedding, Wedding Invitation Proofs

    On occasion we are asked to take one of our existing designs and adapt it to a new color scheme as well as size. Nicole wanted her invites similar to Sarah and Jeff’s but adapted to the 6″ Square invitation size. Her wedding will be a tropical destination wedding and she’s drawing off the bright fuchsia and green hues to convey the type of event she is going for. Below are the proofs adapted to Nicole’s specifications, I can’t wait to show you the finished piece!!

     

  • September28th

    Custom Aspen Wedding Tags

    Posted in: Wedding

    When I was a girl growing up, we used to spend a week or two in the summers up at my granparent’s cabin in the Uintah Mountains in Northern Utah. My favorite thing about that area was the abundant overgrowth of aspen trees in the forest that surrounded the valley in which we’d drive up. I remember as a little girl falling asleep at night to the rustling of the aspens in the breeze and thinking how relaxing and fun our adventures up there were.

    Mindy & Brian, aspen favor tags

    These tags shipped for a late summer wedding for Mindy & Brian, who were getting hitched in Aspen, Colorado. I never get tired of printing these tags, partly because I have a special place in my heart for aspen tress and also because their colors are so saturated in the fall. What a beautiful time of year to have a wedding!

  • September26th

    Celtic Wedding, need a critique

    Posted in: Business, Wedding

    Hey guys and dolls! So I’ve been working on a few things that are new and I’m almost ready to unveil. However I am totally stumped with one of the designs I’ve been working on and thought I’d put it out there for a critique from you all.

    Who doesn’t love the story of Tristian and Isolde? I know I do, and in a perfect legend they would have gotten hitched instead of Isolde marrying King Mark of Cornwall. Of course I love Celtic knot patterns and thought it fitting to design a wedding suite for Tristian and Isolde true to her Irish heritage. The thing I’m hung up on are colors and the bridal logo. It’s been harder for me to pull this suite together as a cohesive whole and am looking for feedback. Does the bridal logo look like a soccer ball? How do you feel about the buff/khaki/chocolate with accented chartreuse? It’s hard sometimes to see a digital proof and imagine it in letterpress, what are your thoughts? Should I keep working at it, or pass on it all together?

  • August23rd

    October Wedding Proofs

    Posted in: announcements, Wedding

    These were presented to a bride who was looking for a bright fall wedding suite for her event in October.

    Option 1: Maple Leaf wedding suite
    Maple Leaf Fall Wedding Invitations

    This concept plays off a beautiful photo of a wedding cake with the maple leaves that the client sent over. Seeing that she had mentioned wanting bright colors, we explored oranges and warm coral/red on this option. We were going for elegant with the calligraphy typeface however wanted to explore some unique layouts for this. The inner envelope would be lined with the maple leaves liner, and the outer envelope is the cream, matching the paper stock used for the invites. The inner envelope is in poppy and both envelopes would look beautiful addressed with chocolate ink for her guests.

    ………………………………………

    Option 2: Heart Thumbprint wedding invitations

    Fingerprint Heart Wedding Invitations

    We LOVED the thumbprint heart concept that the client presented and thought it would be a good design to add in the requested plum color and the orange. Because we wanted to place emphasis on the thumbprint, we wanted the remainder of the invitation to invoke a minimalist feel with beautiful large margins and flowing typography to tie it in all together. Since the thumbprint is such a personal element of a human and no two are the same, we wanted to maintain that feel in the invitation with a simple typeface reflecting classic school penmanship. There are added dingbats throughout the layout as well, reflecting back on the symbolism of the heart and tying in the typography with the emblem. The envelop liner on this design is an overprint of purple ink on purple paper, to give the envelope a really stunning pop when opened. It sort of adds the detailing in the other pieces without making it look too elaborate or over the top.

    ………………………………………

    Option 3: Modern Dahlia wedding invitations

    Dahlia Wedding Invitation Proofs

    The last option was based off some client provided photos of the dahlias in a beautiful peach color. We wanted to bring in a monochromatic feel to this invite, emphasizing the oranges and peaches that are evident in that photo. Again we wanted to explore a more unique approach to the invitation layout with the typography. The flower pattern is carried across all the invitation pieces, and will make such a beautiful impression when printed.

    If you were getting hitched, what suite would you go for?

  • 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!


  • 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.

  • May12th

    Celtic Wedding Invitations

    Posted in: Wedding

    Kim and her fiance are fans of Lord of the Rings and are having a beautiful wedding in the majestic Lake Tahoe. Inspiration was derived from Celtic imagery and she wanted a sophisticated feel to the invites that somewhat reflected the LOTR elvish mood. Her main inspiration was from the view below – that of her reception site over-looking the beautiful lake!

    We took the shape of the windows and softened them up creating a frame around Kim’s invitation typography. She was looking for a whimsical script typeface, and blind impression of a pattern that flooded the rest of the invite. The final printed piece: 2/0 letterpress printed on 220#/600GSM paper. Paired with pool envelopes and matching dark pool ink.

    Kim Lay, LOTR wedding invitations, Letterpress

    Photographed by Geri – she’s been working for me since December and has quite the eye for photography. Stop by her blog and say Hi, will ya! She’s fabulous. For an engagement Snowing Hearts photo shoot or you can see her San Francisco trip City by the Bay photos that are amazing too!

  • April19th

    Real Wedding: Sarah + Jeff

    Posted in: Wedding

    Sarah came to me wanting a letterpress wedding suite that was bright, modern and sort of cirque de soleil looking for her invitations. To see her previous round 1 proofs and round 2 proofs click to link! Below is the final product. Curry and fuchsia were her colors of choice and they turned out totally awesome with the impression and reverse print band on the bottom of the invite creating a faux emboss.

    Sarah+Jeff

    Check out that close up! This was such a fun job to print and design. It really came together in the last design round and was so unexpected. Perfect for a fun summer wedding. Below is invitation/envelope, thank you note, and table card.

    Sarah+Jeff

  • April7th

    Wedding Proofs: Traditional Romantic

    Posted in: Wedding

    Jessica Craven Wedding ProofsJessica Craven Wedding Proofs
    Jessica Craven Wedding ProofsJessica Craven Wedding Proofs

    Jessica was looking for traditional, black and romantic letterpress invitations with a hint of oversized script typography for the bride and groom’s names. She wanted clean, classy and sophisticated with light pink envelopes – this job is in the final design phases and I can’t wait for it to go on press!

    Related Posts with Thumbnails
« Previous Entries
Return to the Homepage