NewfandHound

Blackbird Letterpress- Bear Hug Card

I found this cute Grizzly Bear Hug diecut from Blackbird Letterpress a few weeks ago on Etsy and I finally found a few moments to open up the package again yesterday.   It's arms open up so you can put a little picture, favorite little gift, or a graduation check over the big "Hug" printed on the tummy.   What a fun way to send a little love note to your honey!

(picture from Blackbird Letterpress)

The bear comes with its own envelope so its ready to be mailed out when you want to send it on to that special someone.  Know anyone that could use a hug?  Ernie needed one so I put his picture in my bear.

Linoleum Block Print

Over the weekend I decided to try cutting my own designs from a linoleum block for the first time.  It was actually pretty easy to get the hang of using the tools and manipulating the block, much easier than I expected so don't be afraid to give it a go.  I came up with the first tree design but copied the flower design from an art deco clip art book which seems to fit in well with this type of printing.  I still need to work out how to get a consistent, solid print which was the most frustrating part of the process.  I think it was too hot outside which made the ink liquify more.  I'll try some other paper too since this cardstock may have been to stiff and not flexible enough.  Next weekend I'll try to print my own fabric!

Ruff day at the Letterpress

I decided to make today as productive as I possibly could mainly because I "goofed" off yesterday and spent most of the day running errands which accomplishes quite a few things and nothing at the same time.  But, after a walk with the dogs to Catahoula Coffee Company for coffee and hot chocolate it was time to get down to business.  I have to add that I wasn't too impressed with the coffee there at first but the hot chocolate is soooo good, they put a little cinnamon and nutmeg in it which adds a special touch.



So here is my high-tech set up....ha,ha,ha.  There's only so much "technology" you can put into a proof press but I must say that I'm great at hand-inking now.  It's just a matter of getting a good coating on your plate and then just the right viscosity to the rest of your ink when you're mixing.  I also like working with wood type because I like the slight variations that you can get with it, even a little rough and vintage looking depending on the paper and how much ink you use.



These CD holders from Ikea are one of my best investments so far, and at only a few dollars each, I found that they are the best for holding your cards while they are drying.  I added a few numbers so I didn't have to recount each time.  I looked for them last time I was there and unfortunately they do not have them anymore but I keep checking for an alternative that works as well.



I even made a few smaller gift cards that fit into some thin paper envelopes.  A little bone shaped paper clip adds to the final touch!
 

Letterpress Thank-You Cards and San Francisco

It's been a while since I've created any cards on my press so today I decided to venture into our "cold" garage to make some Thank-You cards for all the sweet gifts we received this year and to try out a few vintage plates I picked up this fall at Wayzgoose in Seattle.  Nooner and Hazel decided to check things out and make themselves at home, right in front of where I need to work, in case something edible decided to land on the floor. Since I work on a Vandercook proof press each card needs to be inked individually before I roll the drum over the plate, so the results can vary but once you get a nice coat of ink over the plate the picture tends to come out more uniform as you continue. My "Someday" press is up in Seattle and maybe I'll be able to get a similar one once our studio is completed....or even started!  All we need is a permit!

Here's the plate set up, pretty simple, and the end result. Not too bad considering it's been a few months since I've inked anything up. 

Since I still had some ink left over I decided to try out a vintage plate that I hadn't used yet that I found up in Seattle and I love the results. It's a strong graphic with a San Francisco theme to it as you can see from the cable car.  So I think I'll package these up and get them onto Ernie Loves Bananas at Etsy this weekend!