Weekly Inspiration_03: Longing for a 'blue 'spring 2013

Blue shades are part of the Spring 2013 colors. See here plenty of examples. Get inspired!!!

Top Pictures 1, 2, 3, 4
Bottom Pictures, 5, 6, 7, 8

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7 Tips for making your business card a memorable one!!

As a designer I would like to pass on some tips in making your business card look appealing and catchy.

Business cards are an essential way to show your blog or online shop. Don’t negletct this fact. Of course you can use an online business, like vistaprint.com but if you have already created your blog logo or shop logo, you better make sure to keep the same house style. In this case you could easily design it yourself.

Here are 7 tips to make your business card a memorable one.... after the jump:

1. Use standard dimensions:           

_8.5cm x 5.5cm (3.35inch x 2.17 inch), in Europe this is the most common one as it has the same size as a credit card and can easily fit in someone’s purse.

_ or 9cm x 5cm (3.54inch x 1.97inch)

2. Add your logo and work in the same atmosphere / colors as your online blog or shop, to create a strong brand identity

3. Accompany your logo with a short tagline

A tagline comes in handy if your logo is not expressing clearly what you are doing or selling.

Like this next time someone takes out your card, the slogan will help people to remember what you sell or blog about.

  

4. Do not forget to Include your blog /website address and your email address

Do add one email address relevant to your blog or online shop.

The same for phone numbers, add just one to make things more clear for everyone.

5. Make your card readable Use simple fonts and font sizes that are big enough to be easily readable without using a magnifying glass. Be sure the type color stands out against the background of the card, too. Your goal isn't to produce a work of art. It's to produce a business card that clearly communicates what you do and how to reach you.

6. Have your business cards printed on good card-stock.

The best of course is to let it print professionally but if this is not the case make sure your print quality is high enough and you are using proper card paper, to express quality in every sense of the word.

7. Why not add a QR code?

This last tip is not a must but it could show you are up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends. You could use the back of your business card to integrate a QR code from your shop or blog. So many people, worldwide,  are using smartphones, a QR code might facilitate the initial access to your shop or blog without typing in your URL.

I have found this website where you type your blog’s or shop’s URL and it will give you a QR code that you can easily download and integrate at the back of your business card.

http://qrcode.littleidiot.be/

Check it out:  

Good luck!!!

Alex

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Weekly Inspiration_02:: Getting ready for Valentine

This week is Valentine, therefore I would like to get everyone in the mood and share some ideas of how to spend the coming days!! :-)
Happy Valentine to you All!

Links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

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Striped decorative bed end cover (+ pattern)

A few months ago I came across this crochet bedspread at the Purlbee website which looked modern and didn't have this old fashion crochet feeling. And this sparked the idea of not making a bedspread but one of those small bedcovers, which you usually find at the end of your bed in those fancy hotels, to bring some warmth and personality to your room.

Well, I have tried to create the same feeling back home. I have worked with grey and beige as these are the main colours in my apartment but of course you can give it any twist you want.

PATTERN:

Crochet hook 5
Total Length: approximately 1m65
Total Width: approximately 50cm
I lost track of count, but I think with around 450 gr you should be able to finish this bed end cover.

Stitch count is a multiple of 3, plus 3 stitches.

#Main colour : grey yarn
Chain 111
Row1: 1 double crochet (dc) into 3rd chain from hook, *skip 2ch, 3 dc into next ch* repeat until the end, turn
Row2: 3ch (count as 1dc), 1 dc into very first stitch, [3 dc into next space between dc groups] repeat till last space, 2 dc into last space and then 1 dc into 3rd stitch of ch 3 from previous row.

Repeat Row2 23 more times.

Insert colour: beige yarn
Base Row Insert colour:  1 single crochet (sc ) into each dc till end, turn
Finish Row Insert colour: 1 sc into each sc till end.

Repeat from #  5 more times, and finish off.

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Weekly inspiration_01:: Black & White stripes

Moodboards are a must for designers that is why I would like to propose every Monday 'inspiration' from a different angle, to start the week well. :-)

This week: Black & White stripes

Row 1 from left to right: 1, 2, 3

Row 2, from left to right: 4, 5, 6

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Fan like Earrings make a great gift!!! (+ pattern)

Don't you have this sometimes where you think ' I have crocheted or knitted this scarf/jumper but wish I had some earrings to go with it'? Well, if you have some yarn left, a couple of earring pieces from a craftshop and of course 15mins of your time, you are ready to go.

These are easy earrings but they will look, for those who can not crochet, rather complicated and exotic. They are ready in now time and you can make as many as you want. Come to think of it, they would even make a great present.
I have even added a little template you could use to hang the earrings on when you give it out as a present!! ;-)

PATTERN:
chain 8  and form a ring finishing with a sl st in 1st ch
Row1: 2ch (counts as 1hdc), 8 hdc in circle space ( = 9hdc in total), turn
Row2: 3ch (counts as 1hdc +1ch), *1hdc in next hdc, 1ch * repeat 7  more times (= total of 9hdc ), turn
Row3: 1ch, *1sc in next one-chain-space, 3ch, another sc in same one-chain-space*, repeat this 8 more times, finish off.

Repeat this pattern one more time.

Once you have crocheted the 2 fan like patterns in your favourite pattern/colour, you can start putting it all together, the crocheted fan, the connection ring and the actual earring piece (as you can see in the picture below) and you will be wearing them in no time ;-).

ch = chain
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
sl st = slip stitch

Template to use as packaging for your earrings.
Place the mouse on the picture and click on the right mouse button, save the pictures so you can reopen it and print it.
Glue it on some cardboard and you have your own original packaging ;-)

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What's new??? Crocheting with cassette tapes

I came across this great idea which I just had to share this with you. Maybe you have already seen it or tried it but for me it was new... crocheting with old cassette tapes. Honestly I never even thought of this but it is such a great idea and look at all the fun stuff you can create with it, going from doilies to jewelry to even art installation. So inspiring if you ask me. So let's get creative and look for those old cassette tapes and recycle them into something completely new ;-).

 Links: Cassette tape doily - Bracelet

 Links: Flower  - Clutch bag

Link: art installation

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What's new??? Spring colours 2013

For those who haven't seen it yet, Pantone announced it's top 10 fashion spring colours for 2013 a while ago. See here the overview and the names they gave them. They are not that different from last year but they seem a bit more intense and optimistic than spring 2012. The 'It' colour  for 2013 is suppose to be Monaco Blue. Hope this will help you to decide what to wear, crochet or sew for the coming months. :-) 
Which of those 10 colours would you like to wear this Spring???

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