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welcome to Starfall Design's DESIGN CRAFTY blog

About six months ago I decided to write a book. As an ad agency principle, on a daily basis I get to see business people of all sorts try to "play" graphic designer. Our wonderful world of ever evolving technology has given almost every person the opportunity to dabble in this medium.

Sometimes, those who are dabbling in design tend to miss out on some basic principles, no matter what type of program they are using (or how expensive it was). This blog is designed to serve as a testing ground for my book, and a help guide for the non-designer folks out there. We'll be exploring basic principles of layout and typography, branding and design, and ultimately applying it directly to the things closest to my heart... handcrafted goods.

First Makeover announced!

The first Etsy Storefront makeover is coming to this blog soon! The lucky shop in question is Bejewelled Bespoke. While we're working together on the makeover, I will be posting my product label project, and getting a little more in-depth with more graphic design tips. 

I've also just been named the Arts & Crafts Examiner for the Pittsburgh edition of Examiner.com. Be sure to check out my latest article! I will be posting probably twice a week, with craft how-to's, product reviews, and great information on craft festivals and events. As with this blog, I am always open to requests, so don't be shy! 

Entries for both the next Storefront and Product makeovers are always open, and I'm keeping everyone on file as a future choice. 

See you all tomorrow for the next edition of Design Crafty!
Read More 0 comments | Posted by Cassandra | edit post

My new promo items


Since my Etsy store is fairly new and I am just learning the ropes here... I've realized that I didn't send anything extra with my first couple of orders other than a thank you card. 

I have purchased several items on Etsy, and all of the sellers that I've ordered from have sent me something interesting, something a little extra. The store I get my beads from sends me a little packet with some small extra beads, my ribbon order came with a pretty stamped thank you card and samples of some other ribbons available. I got a great pen/dual screwdriver from Evie's Tool Eporium on Etsy (which I use all the time!). I've been kind of torn as to what I should send along with jewelry, and a trip to Staples yesterday solved my dilemma!

I bought a couple packs of these great paper clips... colorful bezeled patterns on large clips, that I thought would be great for attaching my free shipping promo coupons to my business cards. Plus they were on clearance... I couldn't pass them up!!

The cups were filled with what looked to be resin, but luckily when I got them home they were actually a puffy sticker that very easily was removed. The cup itself was exactly 1" in diameter, a perfect match to my 1" round paper punch. I pulled up my current business card design, and worked the elements into the 1" format, complete with my Esty web address.

Printed on professional glossy photo stock, then punched with my Fiskars 1" punch, a little glue and these were ready to roll! I may end up filling the (very shallow) bezel with either resin or Diamond glaze, but I really think this turned out well. 


Read More 0 comments | Posted by Cassandra | edit post

Coming up next...

This week I will be posting my first "makeover" project. I'll be taking an actual product label, critiquing and reworking it, redesigning it. A friend of mine who sells soaps has kindly agreed to let me pick apart her products! 

After this "makeover" I will be holding a contest for Etsy sellers twice a month. There will be two different contests:

1. Product labeling makeover: The chosen seller's product will get a free consultation, free re-design for one product/type of product, and be provided with the files to use the design on the product if they choose. The seller will also receive a 250x100 web ad designed for the product, that will appear on my site until the next contest.

2. Etsy storefront makeover: The chosen seller will get a free consultation, free re-design, and be provided with the files for a new store banner, avatar, and will also receive a 250x100 web ad designed for the product, that will appear on my site until the next contest.

The fine print: Contest open to all Etsy sellers. Limit one entry per person/store per month. Makeover winners are selected by me, for my reasons, that's how it goes. Starfall Design/Design Crafty is under no obligation to anyone in particular, for any reason... this is a blog and the purpose of this blog is to extend my design expertise to help out my fellow Etsyans. 

Files will be sent to winners at the end of the contest. You are under no obligation to use the files given (although I hope you do!). All I ask if you do use my designs is to pass my name along to anyone who might ask you about your fabulous new look! If you are in need of additional files beyond what the contest provides, please contact me and I'll be sure to give you a great deal on what you need. 

Not chosen for the contest, but still would like a makeover? Contact me for an estimate, and if I feature your redesign on my blog, I will also include a free 250x100 web ad here on my site. 

Contact info: to enter your product or storefront into the Makeover contest, email a link of your store and/or product to: digitalecho@comcast.net


Read More 0 comments | Posted by Cassandra | edit post

Fonts: What not to "wear"

Just like the clothes in your closet, fonts and font styles come in and out of fashion. And just like how your blue socks just aren't going to work with your brown shoes, there are many fonts that shouldn't be used in certain instances, in certain ways, etc. 

Today I am just going to explore a couple of issues, ones that I inevitably tend to see at every craft show. 

What not to use: 
Fonts like: Times New Roman, Comic Sans/Chalkboard, Courier, Brush Script, Mistral, Copperplate, Herculanum, Zapfino, Apple Chancery, Papyrus, Peignot...anything resembling those fonts... ok so the list can go on and on. Some of these fonts have spawned online hate groups among designers, are the topics of whiney and self-righteous postings by the design community at large. We don't mean to cringe, but we can't help it. 

There are literally hundreds of thousands of fonts out there. Yes, there will be a situation that's appropriate for (almost) any font. How can you make a good decision on which to use? If you're reading this post you are probably a crafter, an artisan, an artist. We have to start by looking at the font as media in the art you are creating. Is this font current and modern looking? Is this something overused, old, and stale? Does the styling of the font help accentuate and convey the look and feel of your product? What types of fonts do your competitors using, and is what you are creating up to par for the market? 

Sometimes when I have a brand new client, I have them find me something they like. Ads, websites, product packaging, whatever. They are tasked with bringing me designs that they find to be appealing. From those items, a lot can be learned about style, color, etc. that the client is looking for. They almost always pick out high-end, top notch design, and say "This is what I want".

So this is what you must do. Find things that you like, then mimic the style by choosing similar types of fonts, etc. Inevitably, the end product looks nothing like the samples that were given. Putting something together using your own style and skills, your products, your message, brings something completely different to the table. Always remember, never copy, just be inspired and take your ideas to the next level.

What to Use - The Good Stuff:
Stick with classic lines, timeless styles. Some of these fonts have been around for decades, but have stood the test of time and use.

Fonts like Baskerville and other "Serif" fonts (use instead of Times): Why use something so similar? The essence of the font is similar to most people viewing it, but the nuances of the letters themselves can lend a classier and less dated look. Use for both text and headlines.

Fonts such as Helvetica, News Gothic, and other "Sans-Serif" fonts (use instead of Arial, Veranda, etc.) Use for both text and headlines.

Display-type fonts such as HobbyHorse and Rosewood/Script Fonts such as Avalon: Almost exclusively used for titles and headlines, the complexities of these fonts are best utilized at a large size and would make a block of text mostly unreadable. 

Next post: coming up a little bit later, a practical application and real-life makeover of a product package, including more tips and instruction.
Read More 0 comments | Posted by Cassandra | edit post

design crafty

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      Graphic designer, photographer, crazy crafter.


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