How About Orange

Photoshop gifts for graphic designers

2009-12-03T19:21:00.004-06:00

Check out these funny Photoshop-related items—I bookmarked them but can't remember which sites I saw them on originally. Looks like the fridge magnets from ThinkGeek.com are out of stock, and I'm not sure about these photo frames from ILoveBlocks.com. But I bet you could make your own DIY versions pretty easily with some Photoshop screen shots. Fun.

(Images from Think Geek and I Love Blocks)

Giveaway: Sears gift cards

2009-12-02T17:58:00.007-06:00

Sitting on my desk is a $200 gift card from Sears, and here's my dilemma: should I spend it on myself or on Christmas presents for other people? Look at all the cool goodies $200 would buy you from the Sears website. (If your name is Jess and you like orange things and modern patterns, that is.) That doormat is calling my name. However, my mom is a huge Lands End fan and might never let me hear the end of it if I don't get her some socks, at least. While I ponder this moral dilemma, there's good news for you, too.

To help you with your holiday shopping, Sears is giving away two $50 gift cards to How About Orange readers. The cards can be used in stores and online at Sears, Kmart, and Lands End, so you have tons of options.

To enter the drawing, leave a comment on this post with a way of contacting you, plus one thing you'd like to buy with your gift card. (I need Christmas gift suggestions, so I plan to read through here and steal all your ideas.) The giveaway ends next Wednesday (12/9/09) at midnight CST. Two winners will be selected by a random number generator, announced in this post, and contacted.

Orange printable pillow box

2009-12-01T09:26:00.003-06:00

As a follow up to yesterday's orange twine post, here's another nifty orange packaging item: a cute pillow box template you can download, print, and assemble. Get it free, right here, at Up Up.

Orange baker's twine

2009-11-30T11:17:00.005-06:00

At this time of year, I know everyone else is snatching up red and white baker's twine to tie up their adorable presents, but I'm smitten with the orange stuff, available here. Maybe it could go with these printable orange gift tags for a zesty little holiday package.

Printable advent calendar

2009-11-25T09:59:00.005-06:00

This Sunday is the first Sunday of advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas. If you'd like to count down the days in December, download this sweet free advent calendar from Mibo. Just 10 minutes assembly is required, plus a craft knife, ruler, and glue.

And in the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I'm taking tomorrow off from blogging to stuff myself with turkey and enjoy the company of some wonderful people.

Printable bird bookmarks

2009-11-24T09:24:00.005-06:00

Sharon Rowan sent over a link to these little bird bookmarks she designed. You can download and print them right here. And as always, if anyone else has designed a lovely printable freebie, written a super DIY tutorial, or stumbled onto something fabulous, send me a link. I can't feature every submission, but I always love to see what you guys are up to.

Another freezer paper stencil project

2009-11-23T16:11:00.003-06:00

Here's another freezer paper stenciling example, printed a couple weeks ago when I was trying out the technique. I had grand aspirations to get the fabric sewed into a zippered bag to use as a sample at the Craft Social stenciling table. But I ran out of time, of course. I finished it this weekend, only a week late.

Things gone awry

2009-11-20T11:03:00.006-06:00

I think of this blog as my vacation getaway, a happy diversion from commercial graphic design work. (Except for the occasional logo quiz, of course.) But I'm compelled to mention a hilarious site which designers everywhere will appreciate. Clients From Hell is "A collection of anonymously contributed client horror stories from designers." Welcome to the wonderful world of graphic design! (Via Coudal.)

Logo memory game

2009-11-19T10:39:00.003-06:00

If you've got some time to kill, try this logo matching game. A fun way to look at logos if you're interested in design. I could have used this diversion during the short breaks in my jury duty this week. The case ended yesterday, so now I'm tending to the backlog of logo, stationery, and signage projects that piled up while I was gone. How come I don't have a "time-saver" category for posts?

Felt gingerbread ornaments

2009-11-17T17:31:00.004-06:00

Friday's Chicago Craft Social was lots of fun. The theme was handmade gifts and holiday decorations, like these felt gingerbread ornaments. I made the half-eaten gingerbread man using Elsie Marley's free pattern, available here. The tiny houses are based on Betz White's design in the e-book Crafty Tree Trimmings: Six Festive Holiday Ornaments to Make, for sale right here.

Printable 2010 calendar

2009-11-16T08:18:00.000-06:00

If you're the type to plan ahead—way ahead—you can download this free printable 2010 calendar by Erika of Gleaux at Love. Obsess. Inspire. I'm an expert procrastinator myself, so I don't need this until at least mid January.

Mini printable stationery set

2009-11-13T07:49:00.001-06:00

Here's another free printable, courtesy of Amy Moss at Eat Drink Chic: a mini greeting card, envelope, and stationery set. Help yourself to this quirky little man with a candy cane right here. He says "holiday" in a subtle way. Well, actually it looks like he says "Greetings." But you get the drift.

(Image by Amy Moss)

Handmade Holidays

2009-11-12T10:10:00.003-06:00

Sew, Mama, Sew's third annual Handmade Holidays round-up of tutorials is in full swing over on their blog. Every day during the month of November, they'll feature a themed collection of sewing projects from the internet—all gifts you could make yourself. A daily recipe and printable are included, too.

How to stencil with freezer paper

2009-11-11T16:21:00.008-06:00

One of the projects at this Friday's Chicago Craft Social will be freezer paper stenciling. I'm helping lead this table, so I needed to give it a test drive and make up some samples. You know how a project usually has four tedious steps you tolerate and one step that's super fun? I think this is one of the few where all of the steps are fun. Or maybe that's just me. I'm now in the grips of stencil mania. I'm stenciling everything.

To stencil your own stuff:
Buy a roll of freezer paper (approx. $3.99) or beg a piece from the guy in the meat department at your grocery store. Draw your design on it and cut it out with an X-acto knife. Then iron the paper, shiny side down, onto the fabric you're going to stencil. Iron another sheet to the back of the fabric to keep the paint from soaking through. You can use the iron setting that corresponds to the fabric you're stenciling.

With a foam brush, stenciling brush, kitchen sponge, or other paint brush, apply fabric paint to the cut-away areas. I used Jacquard brand textile paint from the local art store.

Let the paint dry (use a hairdryer if you're the impatient type, like me.) Peel the freezer paper off. Set the paint by following the directions on the jar — usually ironing will set it. Ta da.

DIY coffee stencil

2009-11-10T13:29:00.003-06:00

Husband Alex usually makes lattes for us on Saturday mornings, so here's my secret plan to spruce his up. He's out of town at the moment, so I have plenty of time to practice dusting cocoa properly. Right now it sort of looks like this says "I blob you."

I drew the design on a piece of paper, then laid a plastic lid on top. (This one is from a deli container I saved.) With an X-acto knife, I cut through the plastic, tracing along the design underneath. A tip: you'll never be able to cut the shapes out in one pass. Make many cuts on top of each other until you break through.

Lay the stencil on top of your mug and sprinkle with cinnamon or cocoa. Dust the powder through a sieve or strainer to make a very fine layer.

Since cutting your own stencil is a bit of a pain, you could also get some from Amazon or CoffeeStencil.com. And if you totally dig stenciling, don't neglect your cakes and cupcakes!

Fabric spotted in the wild

2009-11-09T09:41:00.004-06:00

There's no way for me to know which companies use the fabric I've designed. Since I don't get every catalog or browse every website in the known universe, I'm dependent on kind souls like yourselves who report sightings. Here are a couple of recent ones that thrilled me to pieces. Pieces, I tell you. I'm still picking them up.

At Land of Nod: a limited edition child's Nod Chair.

At Nordstrom: a Reese Li Baby diaper bag, laminated to make the fabric weatherproof and wipeable.

Quiz: Name that corporate logo

2009-11-05T18:25:00.004-06:00

Consumers everywhere, see how many corporate logos you can identify in six minutes in this quiz. I got 31 out of 36, then came to a screeching halt. Americans will have a distinct advantage in this game; sorry, international friends.

Printable cup wrappers

2009-11-04T10:15:00.002-06:00

Download and print these pretty paper cup wrappers by Amy Moss at Eat Drink Chic. "La Dolce Vita" is Italian for "The Sweet Life," and you can fill your cups with candy or treats and give them as party favors.

Tutorials: small, soft, cute edition

2009-11-03T11:38:00.008-06:00

A collection of projects for babies and people who like small cute things. If you like big ugly things, these are not for you. And I should clarify that the recipient of some of these projects might be a baby; it's not that I think a baby could actually make that monkey. I don't have kids, but I'm pretty sure about that.

Felt rabbit keychain (above left) at Daily Cute
Crocheted mini monkey with fez (above right) by Christen Haden
Cashmere baby hat and animal friend at Chez Beeper Bebe
Fleece baby mittens at Canadian Living
Argyle onesie by Lu Bird Baby
Felt stuffed piggie at Dollmaker
Crocheted owls with big eyes by Brigitte Read
Piece of toast keychain at Deviant Art
Felt cake slices at Better Homes and Gardens

(Images from Daily Cute and Chad VanPelt)

Charley Harper high res images

2009-11-02T16:45:00.003-06:00

While poking around the internet, I came across artwork by Charley Harper, modernist designer and illustrator. Cincinnati's Contemporary Arts Center has a bio on Mr. Harper, along with a few high resolution images of his work you can download. Not to be used commercially, of course, but you might put a bird on your desktop or make yourself a print. I'm a fan, and use my Charley Harper plates almost every day.

Free papercutting templates

2009-10-30T17:11:00.002-05:00

If you've got nothing to do on All-Hallows'-Eve Eve, try out these Halloween papercutting templates from Cindy Ferguson's Scherenschnitte blog. Get the wolf here and the witch here. Cindy does amazing work and generously offers plenty of free templates to download. Some samples are below. Go get some Band-Aids and have fun.

Quiz: What's your interior personality?

2009-10-29T15:01:00.003-05:00

Here's a short quiz that will determine for you which colors and qualities you would most like reflected in your home. How does the magical quiz determine this? By asking you which colors and qualities you would most like reflected in your home. Not rocket science, is it. My completely non-surprising result is above.

NaniBird paper toys

2009-10-28T14:51:00.002-05:00

Created by Josh McKible, NaniBirds are 3D paper models of birds based on a series of his paintings. "Nani?" means "what?" in Japanese, and it's the word Josh uses to summarize his experience living in Japan. Since the project began, dozens of artists and illustrators have added their own NaniBirds to the collection. Download them all here and construct your own flock.

Printable moving announcement

2009-10-27T16:56:00.008-05:00

Another free printable goodie at Love. Obsess. Inspire.: a "We've Moved" postcard, designed by Adrienne at Dingbat Press. It makes me want to move somewhere, just so I can send out these cute little numbers. Head over here to download and print.

Orange illustrations

2009-10-26T15:26:00.005-05:00

At Share Some Candy, a delicious smorgasbord of illustration and design, I stumbled upon Brent Couchman's work. Brent is Senior Designer at Fossil, and has posted a few work samples on Flickr. I hope he won't get mad because his foot is now on my desktop. I borrowed it for wallpaper. See his retro-flavored art right here.