HAPPY HANUKKAH

I found out that there are a ton of companies out there sponsoring contests looking for designers to submit original work to their collections. One of the websites I started designing for specifically is PhotoCardsDirect.com. The same rules apply for the other contests, a specific category is requested... I create and submit my design, and if selected I turn over my art files, receive a small cash prize then make commission on any sales made.

While I wait for my next invitation client, and in-between my full-time graphic design commitments, these challenges are the perfect outlet for me to feel creative, inspired and work on something really fun. The best part is, new contests open up weekly so there is always an opportunity to be designing something.

The first contest I found out about was for believe it or not, designing a Hanukkah photo card! I already had created this Hanukkah image back in December, so it was very easy to incorporate it into a photo card. For this contest, there is no "winner" or place rankings, but either way, my design was selected to be sold on their website.

Below is what the card will look like.

SHEEP DREAMS

A few weeks ago I entered the contest "Little Journeys Art Prints" at Minted. I submitted a few prints, and Sheep Dreams has won as an editors pick! What this means is, I win a cash prize, and submit my art files to Minted where my artwork will be sold. If/when my print gets purchased, I get 8% commission from the sale.

Preparing the files for print takes a little extra time, I had to create 2 additional color options, in 6 different sizes... resulting in 18 separate files.

I am please with how the color variations turned out and am happy to have my print chosen to be sold on their website.

APRIL

Happy April! ...better a little late than never. Lots to post in the next few days including Megan's wedding invitations, a bachelorette party invite and accessories, a save the date, and an update on the results of a few design contests I entered.

HOLY WEDDING WORKSHOP

Wedding workshop has begun. My apartment has been taken over... and so have all of my evenings. Hand making the invitations has its advantages to per-ordering generic ones, lots of work goes into each invite, and I have estimated each invitation to cost about $2.00 each.

The end result is going to look great and Megan really loves them so that's all that really matters!  Out of respect to Megan, I am not going to post the invitations until they have been sent out in the mail, but below are some of the options that that didn't quite make the cut. Her runner up was the third option.

LAST DAY OF FUN-DERWEAR

Another bachelorette party... and this one's got a theme! Stacey and a few of her girlfriends are hosting a day of bachelorette fun for her best friend Elyse. Stacey came across a similar idea/invitation years ago and emailed it to me instantly saying "I found this adorable invitation, you need to make it!".  When the time came around to plan Elyse's bachelorette, Stacey knew exactly what she wanted, and of course asked for my help. I designed this fun invitation/itinerary for the girls as well as a few fun bachelorette games. Stacey and the girls have put a lot of hard work into planning this special day for Elyse, and I was happy to be able to help.

Art Print Challenge

So I mentioned a while back that my design submitted to the Minted art print challenge won not only an editors pick award, but was also selected to be on display at the Alt design summit! Here is a picture of my design on display in all its glory!

Minted is getting ready to post all the winning art prints on sale on their website.  I was asked to create 2 additional prints with different color schemes to match certain rooms. Minted provided an option of "12 rooms to choose". Below are the 2 room inspirations I choose to create my additional prints to match. A coral and yellow room. Coming up with the alternate color schemes was a lot more challenging than I anticipated, having the room inspiration definitely helped bring everything together.

Coral inspiration

Yellow inspiration

 

 

Original design

MARCH

totes ready for spring.