Click on a pic below to be taken to storefont - other items for sale.
February 21, 2008
February 20, 2008
paper & ink studio online shop
paper + ink studio's website is currently going through a re-vamping. in the meantime, you can purchase "ready-to-go" items at our new ETSY shop - Paper & Ink Shop Online.
I also want to apologize to anyone who has tried emailing me over the past 3-4 weeks; part of the reason our website is down is because we've been having issues with our email - as in not getting any and our clients not receiving any! we switched hosts. when we did, we lost our email because it took a little longer than expected to get our domain + host transferred to the new place. whew. that was a lot of explaining. anyway, we are still HERE!!
we have some new ideas in the works and we can't wait to launch our new website.
in other news, Paper & Ink Studio's work by Mary Carstens was in WISH magazine!
February 18, 2008
January 01, 2008
abc banner project
i made this banner of abc's to hang in fletcher's room and thought i would share the project with other moms. it was really easy and took me about 2 hours, from start to finish. you will need knowledge of using a color printer, photoshop or illustrator and creating layers, clipping masks, flattening layers, etc. in either of those applications.
click on photos to enlarge and instructions are at the bottom:
a note of how i work (obviously, you don't have to work in the same manner as i): i like processes to run as efficiently as possible because with a 15 month old, i don't have much time to do projects for myself on the weekends. i do everything in assembly line fashion, meaning: i do each step from start to finish and then move onto the next step. some people will create a letter, cut it out, tape or paste it to the cardstock, etc, etc. that takes way too long because you get out of your groove. anyway whatever works for you, but this is how i did the whole project in 2 hours.
supplies you will need (and most can be purchased from michael's or some other craft store):
1. cardstock paper (use whatever color you like; i used 2 colors and alternated them)
2. color printer
3. photo quality paper (to print the letters onto)
4. ruler + scissors or a paper cutter
5. rope or ribbon (to hang the letters when finished)
6. decorative edge scissors (to cut bottoms of letter rectangles)
7. double sided tape, zots, etc. (to adhere letters to cardstock)
8. bone folder (or something to use to create fold for hanging letters)
9. pair of good, sharp scissors or an exacto knife and cutting mat (for cutting inside of letters)
steps:
1. using photoshop or illustrator:
a. create a new document: vertical, 5 x 8
b. pick a font you like (to use for the letter, not a script font. use something that has a thick body, not a thin letter). size the font so that it just fits on the page (around 500pt)
c. create another new document (about 5 x 8 or larger). on this document, make a new layer and make it any color you like. create another layer and use the brush to create a pattern, using a different color for the brush. or you can use digital scrap paper. select the brush + color layer and merge them. go back to the first document and using the select tool (arrow), drag the letter onto the other document. basically you want to have the 2 documents (the letter and the pattern) open side by side on your desktop. so drag the letter onto the 2nd document. bring the layer you merged to the top. go into the layer menu and select "create clipping mask." you should now have a letter that is filled with the pattern you just created. crop the letter to get rid of the excess space. flatten the layer.
d. print the letter. when i print, i format the letters so that i can use the same paper twice for 2 letters. i run the same sheet through the printer for the next letter and cut everything afterwards. essentially, you should only use 13 sheets of photo quality (8.5 x 11) photo paper instead of 26.
e. repeat the above steps for the entire alphabet.
2. cut the cardstock into 5.5 x 8.5 pieces. if you are using varying colors, figure out how many you will need of each. you will need 26 pieces. duh, you already knew that, right? cut all of them.
3. take the cardstock you just cut, a bone folder and a ruler and measure 1.5 inches from the top and fold that down. this is what you will use to hang the letter from the ribbon or rope. don't tape anything yet! do all of them.
4. take that same cardstock again and get those decorative scissors out and trim (just a tiny bit) along the bottom of the cardstock (the opposite of the folded end). do all of them.
5. get those letters you just printed and cut them out. do all of them.
6. take the letters and tape or glue them (don't use stick glue because it doesn't last - zots, from michael's works well. or the double sided photo tape stuff) to the cardstock. when you stick them on, be sure to center the letter between the sides and the bottom and the line where the top will fold down. don't center the letter based on the top of the cardstock without it folded or it will be off. hope that made sense. do all of them.
7. get out the rope/ribbon and cut a piece long enough to hang all of the letters. (unless you want to break up the letters into sections to hang). using the piece of rope/ribbon you cut, take the letters and start putting them on. this means: take the rope/ribbon, lay it on a table, get a letter (be sure to do them in the correct order; a,b,c,d...) and set the rope/ribbon under the flap you created. tape, staple or glue the flap down with the rope/ribbon under it. make sense?
once you finish all of the letters in whatever configuration you chose, you're finished!
8. go hang it/them up.
December 21, 2007
November 07, 2007
fa la la la la...holiday cards!
High quality 5x7 photo professionally printed on Kodak Professional Endura photo paper with matte finish. Orders ship 4-6 business days after proof is approved. Minimum order of 25.
When you ADD TO CART each (1) Quantity will be a set of 25 cards. For example, if you want to order 100 cards: click on, ADD TO CART and in the quantity section, change to 4, click UPDATE. Your total will be reflected. If you want to continue shopping, click CONTINUE SHOPPING and you will be brought back to this page. When you are ready to complete your order and check out, click VIEW CART to be taken to the check out page.
Once you place your order, please email photo(s) and pertinent information to be used on card to: mary@paperandinkstudio.com A proof will be sent back to you within 24 hours (M-F) of receiving your photos.
*Photos should not be altered; if you want b&w photos, I will convert to b&w.
*Photo quality should be at least 300 dpi.
*You will receive a digital proof via email. Please review and reply to email.
Your order will not be placed until we have your final approval via email.
A special thanks to my friend, Nicole Fields of Nicole Fields Photography in the Sacramento area. Nicole let me borrow some of her beautiful images to use for my cards. Thanks Nicole!!!
All photos marked "Photo by: Nicole Fields" are copyright of Nicole Fields Photography.
All card designs are copyright 2007 Paper + Ink Studio/Mary Carstens
________________________________________________________________________________________
25 - 5x7 Photo Cards (envelopes included) $1.85 per card
Dots + Stripes One Photo by: Mary Carstens
25 - 5x7 Photo Cards (envelopes included) $1.85 per card
Chocolate Floral Photo by: Nicole Fields
25 - 5x7 Photo Cards (envelopes included) $1.85 per card
Vintage SnowflakesPhoto by: Nicole Fields
25 - 5x5 Square Photo Cards (envelopes included) $2.00 per card
Harlequin Fleur di Lys Photo by: Nicole Fields
25 - 5x7 Photo Cards (envelopes included) $1.85 per card
Hannukah Lace Photo by: Nicole Fields
25 - 5x7 Photo Cards (envelopes included) $1.85 per card
Juicy Border Photo by: Nicole Fields
25 - 5x7 Photo Cards (envelopes included) $1.85 per card
Juicy Candy Cane Stripe Photo by: Mary Carstens
25 - 5x7 Photo Cards (envelopes included) $1.85 per card
Mod OnePhoto by: Nicole Fields
25 - 5x7 Photo Cards (envelopes included) $1.85 per card
Peace, baby! Photo by: Mary Carstens
25 - 5x7 Photo Cards (envelopes included) $1.85 per card
Red + Black + White All Over! Photo by: Nicole Fields
25 - 5x7 Photo Cards (envelopes included) $1.85 per card
Baby Blue + a Brown Stripe, too! Photo by: Nicole Fields
September 10, 2007
aiden's 1st year announcement
this design worked so well because of the picture. i was able to capture the outline of aiden's upper body and incorporate that into the design. everything was hand cut. the design is on heavy, 179 pound, Crane's cardstock.
photo of aiden used in design, copyright 2007 lyndsay stradtner
click on images to enlarge
back of announcement is a blue, textured carstock.
September 06, 2007
mommy cards
Cards for those times when you need to give other moms your contact info...all colors + fonts can be modified.
Note: all designs and images are copyright of paper + ink studio
Print options: gloss cardstock, smooth stock, linen stock
Printing on 1 side: 100 cards for $50.
Printing on 2 sides: 100 cards for $65 (double sided cards can include children's information on back, allergies, emergency contacts, etc.)
Once an order is placed, you will receive your proof within 48 hours (M-F/normal business hours). If you place an order on Friday or over the weekend, expect to receive your proof on Monday afternoon. Once a proof is approved, the turn-around time is about 5-7 days.
Click on image to enlarge.
Card A
Card B
Card C
Card D
Card E
Card F
Card G
Card H
Card I
Card J
Card K
Card L
Card M
Card N
