 Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #640440] |
Tue, 08 August 2006 21:17  |
 redmeg8
Messages: 433
Registered: June 2005
Location: ypsilanti, mi |
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YAY!! Finally, after 6 months of procrastinating, the invitations are DONE! We started, fumbled, hit road-blocks, life got in the way, re-started, were lazy, and then finally were motivated and decided to do them as a team. We had the silkscreening done in a week (our first time). The silk screened part is the tan poster.
The rest was printed from the computer and all of the red cards, envelopes, monograms, and clips are from Paper Source.
The stamps are from the awesome "Wonders of America" series and added a really fun touch. THREE-PER-ENVELOPE! Yipes!
All of the PICS ARE HERE in my "secret" Flickr account for wedding stuff.  (don't be confused by the shoe pic)
I had to share and thank everyone for their inspiration!
[Updated on: Tue, 08 August 2006 21:17]
my art | our wedding slideshow | photos | 9.23.06 saline, mi
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #640443] |
Tue, 08 August 2006 21:29  |
tee hee
Messages: 1179
Registered: August 2005
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Oh mah god those are SOOOOOOOOOO great! Love the fonts, the birdies, the tattoo/circus vibe, everything! And your kitten is just too fucking cute.
))<>((
forever.
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #640481] |
Wed, 09 August 2006 01:06 |
toughcookies
Messages: 994
Registered: September 2005
Location: Calgary, Alberta |
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Where's the smiley with the jaw hitting the table?
Those are so amazing! You did such a beautiful job!
And you are doing those gift bag favours. Just. So. Awesome!
"He knows I don't like jelly... I don't trust the way it moves."
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #640493] |
Wed, 09 August 2006 06:09 |
number5
Messages: 288
Registered: June 2006
Location: Philadelphia |
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oh Redmeg, I'm so happy for you. I can't imagine how proud you were to see them finished. they are the most beautiful invites I've ever seen. I'd be saving mine forever.
[Updated on: Wed, 09 August 2006 06:10]
oh this? this is my room of unfinished projects.
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #640518] |
Wed, 09 August 2006 09:25 |
redmeg8
Messages: 433
Registered: June 2005
Location: ypsilanti, mi |
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Oh, you guys ROCK. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. 
erin: the printer is an epson CX4800 all-in-one printer (has a printer, scanner, copier, etc.). Epson's print quality is stellar. I'm very faithful to the entire brand.
keeeks: the paper was actually another IB's (InvitedInk) tip. Happily, she suggested I use Neenah paper whom I've used in the past for stationery. Her tip was genious, though. You can order samples from them and ONLY pay shipping. And, I'm not talking a few sheets... I'm talking up to FORTY. I ordered big enough sheets that I could get two posters to a sheet. I think the whole lot cost about $14 and I got 90 posters out of it!
Here's the link to the exact paper I chose, "Desert Storm" (it's cardstock, btw... a little lighter than posterboard): http://neenahpaper.com/itemlisting/index.asp?ft=Home&s=E NVIRONMENTc&b=35&c=DST
There's a tab above the product description that says "samples", just click on it. I ordered the 19 1/2 x 12", 120 lb. paper, 40 sheets. That's about as light weight as I would go, 120 lbs. We did have a little bit of wrinkling on the backside of the paper because of the ink. Anything lighter, like normal computer paper, would be a mess, I'd think.
And yay kitties! We're got lots more pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/redmeg8
Thanks SO much you guys! 
[Updated on: Thu, 10 August 2006 15:40]
my art | our wedding slideshow | photos | 9.23.06 saline, mi
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #640549] |
Wed, 09 August 2006 10:10 |
MrsApplegrass
Messages: 28
Registered: January 2006
Location: Vermont |
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Wow! Amazing! It's great to see everything put together. I love the four options on your RSVP cards. So funny. I also love the squirrels on your poster....when I originally saw your design, I had planned to include squirrels on my invite- and I totally forgot.
Just beautiful, congratulations!
Also, Would you share the template for the cootie catcher? and where did the crazy fake mustaches come from??
[Updated on: Wed, 09 August 2006 10:13]
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #640574] |
Wed, 09 August 2006 10:56 |
thriftyme
Messages: 490
Registered: December 2005
Location: Portland, OR. |
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You amaze me!!!! Everything you do is brilliant. These are the best invites I have ever seen, all of your guests will be delighted when they pull these unexpected treasures from their mailboxes. Well done doll.
When my faith is strong I know my strength
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #640733] |
Wed, 09 August 2006 14:46 |
zelacat
Messages: 180
Registered: December 2005
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WOW! Those truly are exquisite! I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! I am amazed at your talent. Congratulations...they turned out incredibly beautiful!
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #640770] |
Wed, 09 August 2006 15:41 |
skyabove
Messages: 57
Registered: May 2006
Location: Seattle |
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Your invites are GORGEOUS!!! I am so inspired I want to leave work for the day and go play with invitation design. I have been putting it off and there are so many ideas floating aroud in my head I have been afraid to get started.
Such a beautiful job and so full of personality and kick ass to boot!
June 2, 2007
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #640827] |
Wed, 09 August 2006 17:06 |
redmeg8
Messages: 433
Registered: June 2005
Location: ypsilanti, mi |
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| keeeks wrote on Wed, 09 August 2006 15:25 |
And, oh yeah, those maps of yours are stunning.
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Now, I must reveal must inspiration for that, because I was at a total loss before I saw bunnymendelbaum's: http://talk.theknot.com/boards/User/Profile.aspx?bioname=nmr itten
Our inset was 100% mine, though
Hey, and guys? Thank you so much for saying such nice things. It's doing 2 things:
1. Cheering up Redboy who's having a tough day at work, and,
2. Making me consider a second line of work in custom invitation design. I love this stuff!
my art | our wedding slideshow | photos | 9.23.06 saline, mi
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #640837] |
Wed, 09 August 2006 17:23 |
tee hee
Messages: 1179
Registered: August 2005
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| redmeg8 wrote on Wed, 09 August 2006 17:06 |
2. Making me consider a second line of work in custom invitation design. I love this stuff!
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DO IT!!!! Your work is amazing and I bet you could make a lot of dough! There are a lot of people out there who love this kind of stuff but don't happen to be talented graphic designers and silkscreeners like yourself!
))<>((
forever.
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #641256] |
Thu, 10 August 2006 15:31 |
redmeg8
Messages: 433
Registered: June 2005
Location: ypsilanti, mi |
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We did do it ourselves, in the basement
Lemme try to answer your questions:
1. Designed the poster in Adobe Illustrator - I'm a designer/illustrator, so, I had the skillz. I took elements from things I like (you can find cool vector graphics on places like istockphoto.com) and created the design myself. I layered the file so that I could print each color out separately. You have to burn a new screen for each color... we had 5 - white, light blue, dark blue, brown, and other white (text mainly).
2. They say you can screensprint your own drawing. You need to use the photo emulsion method for this as it pics up the most detail and you'll have to create a black version of your image on a transparency to "burn" it onto the screen.
3. You do need to prepare files in a certain way to print, but, that's for 4-color professional printing. Silk-screening doesn't require anything special. I bought special transparencies that you can run thru an inkjet printer (mine's an Epson) from OfficeMax and prepared the templates that way. I made sure to set my printer to print in the highest quality, though, because it needs to be as opaque as possible to get the image to transfer to the screen when you're developing it.
That's probably totally overwhelming. But, I tell you, this was the first at-home silk-screening I've ever done and Redboy and I figured it out. It worked better and was more efficient having two people, lemme tell you. Esp. when you go to print.
I have a beginner's Speedball kit and here's a great tutorial with pictures: http://www.usscatastrophe.com/zettwoch/silkscreen.html (wish I'd seen this!)
Hope that helps!
It totally rocks to inspire others! This praise is truly overwhelming.
my art | our wedding slideshow | photos | 9.23.06 saline, mi
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #641435] |
Fri, 11 August 2006 08:32 |
lettezilla
Messages: 754
Registered: March 2005
Location: london, uk |
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wow, i'm totally blown away by everything you've got in your flickr! the invitations, especially the posters, are gorgeous, the favor packs are so fun and unique, it all just looks great!
i think you could easily make some money doing this, if it wouldn't drive you crazy putting so much work into someone else's wedding. i'm completely not creative and so it would be great to be able to work with someone to come up with something that's so unique...
07/07/07 (chicago and london)
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #641624] |
Fri, 11 August 2006 13:38 |
blackeyedszn
Messages: 11
Registered: August 2006
Location: Appleton, WI |
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Your stunning invitations have promped me to come out of lurk mode and make my first comment on IB. I am feeling very inspired by your invites. I am also a designer and love, love, LOVE the idea of silk screening the invites. I've seen the process done many times but have yet to attempt it myself. Can you let me know what you used for the silk screening process and maybe point me in the direction of where I can find the stuff for purchase.
Also, I hear you are willing to share the cootie catcher template. If you would be so kind, could you send me the .ai file to claire at jamisonadvertising dot com?
Fantastic! You really could start a business designing invites.
May 4th, 2007
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #641668] |
Fri, 11 August 2006 14:37 |
blackeyedszn
Messages: 11
Registered: August 2006
Location: Appleton, WI |
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Thank you so much! That should be everything I need to get me started. I am very excited. I hope you have a fantastic wedding. It seems like you are already off to a great start.
May 4th, 2007
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #641670] |
Fri, 11 August 2006 14:39 |
blackeyedszn
Messages: 11
Registered: August 2006
Location: Appleton, WI |
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I forgot to add this.
Isn't istock the best site ever? I noticed you pointed that out to someone else in this thread. It has made life so much easier (and cheaper).
May 4th, 2007
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| Re: Our DIY silkscreened invites are done! [message #662196] |
Sun, 15 October 2006 17:55 |
meg122183
Messages: 5
Registered: October 2006
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I have to laugh because I've read all your posts (I happen to be attempting silkscreening and attempting to make/buy an orange blossom headpiece for 1920s wedding...), redmeg, and find it humorous because I have red hair and the name of megan..haha.
So I don't know Illustrator at all but am trying to fiddle with it. I know this is delayed...but could you send me the illustrator file which you shared with those people? It might give me a jump start, however, I"m trying to use art work which might complicate things-not sure. Thanks!
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