New Wedding Stationery Designs

My vintage wedding stationery has proved a huge success over the past year.....

I cannot believe it is nearly a year since I last posted on my blog! It goes to show what a busy year it has been. This time last year I had just started making wedding stationery and this has quickly become the biggest part of my business.




My most popular invitations are these, which consist of a multi layered invitation slipped inside a decorative pocket with one of my unique designs printed on it. I have five designs available as standard, but can create the same look with a custom design of your choice.




I am still making save the date notifications from my gift tags, which are as popular as ever. These have also been used as RSVP's or as table decorations.



I have other wedding stationery designs available including flat postcards, folded invitations and oversized tags used as invitations. I will be posting details of these over the coming days/weeks, so please drop by again :)

May Marketplace

It has been over a month since my last confession, I mean post!! Forgive me fans for I have not brought you up to speed on what is happening at Claryce Design.

April was a crazy month. My craziest ever with a huge demand for the Royal Wedding items I had designed. I sold over a hundred mugs, over 100 coasters and over 1,000 postcards! I have a few coasters and postcards left, so if you haven't bought a souvenir as yet, then you know where to find some ;)

The last couple of weeks have been very quiet which allowed me to catch my breath. However, now I am raring to go again! I have restocked my road sign cufflinks in all my shops in time for Fathers Day. I also have a Fathers Day card available. I have lots of new images available as postcards and I am slowly getting around to making them up as tags also.....

Here is just a sampling of what is new to my shops...........


This is just a reminder of what my Roadsign cufflinks look like. They are made from shrinkable plastic that is sealed under a thick layer of protective resin. The cufflink fittings are silver plated to make these an extra special gift.
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/clarycedesign/product/pair-of-me-and-my-dad-cufflinks


This lovely pendant necklace features a new image of a pretty red/pink rose layered over a page of vintage script that I have flooded with a gorgeous aqua colour. The setting is antique bronze and is fitted with a matching 16" chain with a lobster clasp.
http://www.folksy.com/items/1784534-Vintage-Rose-and-Script-Pendant?shop=yes

This is a new postcard image featuring an etching of the Eiffel tower over which I have added a lovely illustration of a red rose. I have added cut out letters, spelling out Paris and layered the whole lot over my favourite vintage postcard!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/73674382/set-of-six-postcards-parisian-scene

This is not a new design but is newly available as a postcard. This has always been a good seller as a tag, so I hope it proves as popular as a postcard!
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/clarycedesign/product/set-of-six-vintage-roses-postcards


This is a brand new design and features the Eiffel Tower and a lovely peach rose layered over an old postcard onto which I have added a bright orange stamp.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/73685540/set-of-six-postcards-paris-and-peach



Bees are always popular. This is another brand new image with a lovely bumble bee layered over a letter written in beautiful handwriting and I have added a postmark and a stamp.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/73674529/set-of-six-postcards-bee


This card says it all doesn't it! If you have the best dad then snap yours up to let him know this for Father's Day.
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/clarycedesign/product/fathers-day-card

Not on The High Street 40 Favourites!

Okay, so I am bragging a little bit, but this is worth bragging about :)

As you know I sell through Not on the High Street which is a fantastic online marketplace where you can find all sorts of treasures. Be prepared to pay a bit more though, but know it is worth it!! A bit like buying Clinique instead of Max Factor!!!

Anyway...... every day they post on their front page their 40 favourite items. If you are regular customer to 'Noths' you will know that the same items tend to crop up over and over again. If you are a seller and haven't been featured you will be more aware of this than anyone!! Well my friend Sam from Pants and Paper on Folksy sent me a Facebook message today to let me know that one of my items had been featured!! OMG!!! Unfortunately it isn't an item that will be bought very often or by many people as it is a wedding save the date notification, but it should lead lots of new customers to my shop :)

So that is my brag for today and was the perfect excuse to post - which is something I haven't done for a month! A month!!!! where did those four weeks go??
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/showcase/forty-favourite




As a thank you to Sam here is a link to her fabulous shop and goodies :)

http://www.folksy.com/users/pantsandpaper

Etsy Treasury

Being featured in a treasury the other day prompted me to compile one myself - something I haven't done in months!!

For this treasury I decided to go with a red, white and blue theme - probably because the Royal Wedding and all things British have been on my mind of late. However I have also paid homage to my other home - America - so you will see some iconic American items here too :)

If you would like to go to my treasury and visit the shops of any featured sellers here is the direct link: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d7f36769c7c6d9167f1eec0/mid-atlantic-and-retro


Enjoy browsing :)

Featured in a Treasury :)

I was thrilled to be featured in an Etsy treasury this week (first time for a while!).

I was featured by Mouthy Mitts who is a designer based in Brighton. Jenn makes fabulous knit wear with cute faces on them. Her success on Etsy will come as no surprise when you visit her shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MouthyMitts

Here is her gorgeous treasury that features all things 'Royal Wedding' related - no doubt you will recognise my souvenir postcards.



All the designers featured here are - from top left - :

Papatotoro - based in London - http://www.etsy.com/listing/69742488/hand-block-printed-britannia-crown-tea?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-1

Orienjewel - United States - http://www.etsy.com/listing/59121753/hisher-matching-titanium-wedding-band?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-2

ClaryceDesign - Sheffield - http://www.etsy.com/listing/69752711/set-of-six-william-and-kate-souvenir?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-3

Skullandcrossbuns - Devon - http://www.etsy.com/listing/62567788/union-jack-heart-hand-carved-rubber?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-4

Keikosdesign - United States - http://www.etsy.com/listing/66728794/wishing-you-a-happily-ever-after-like?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-5

TwilightOrange - http://www.etsy.com/listing/68705034/new-twilight-princess-sterling-silver?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-6

Frangipanipalace - Australia - http://www.etsy.com/listing/69026601/royal-wedding-commemorative-pocket?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-7

Yourfairytalewedding - USA - http://www.etsy.com/listing/58059988/lyden?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-8

Rosemortem - USA - http://www.etsy.com/listing/53976700/cyroselle-custom-gothic-faerie-wedding?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-9

RumRiverOriginals - USA - http://www.etsy.com/listing/69153622/champagne-glasses-set-of-4?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-10

localhoneyshop - USA - http://www.etsy.com/listing/69797114/crown-pillow-w-lace-trim?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-11

mibolsa - USA - http://www.etsy.com/listing/69223436/royal-engagement-wallet-prince-william?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-12

darklingwoods - USA - http://www.etsy.com/listing/42564193/cinderella-8x10-archival-print?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-13

Silvermangoshop - USA - http://www.etsy.com/listing/68385172/god-save-the-queen-sex-pistols-wooden?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-14

designercushions - New Zealand - http://www.etsy.com/listing/66467238/union-jack-british-bulldog-eyepatch?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-15

Finkshop - http://www.etsy.com/listing/69040669/crystal-satin-bow-shoe-clips-in-gold?ref=tre-4d79d74aa0696d915a00094a-16

William and Kate

When William and Kate sprung their news on us just a matter of weeks ago, I was slow to realise that it was the perfect opportunity to create some new products.

The penny eventually dropped 10 days ago and since then I have not only created two Royal Wedding designs but already had them printed on postcards, coasters and mugs!!! No time like the present!!!

The coasters and mugs are not available in my shops yet but will be in the next couple of weeks.....

I began with the good old 'Union Jack' as shown......





Then distressed it a bit..........





Then I added a brown layer over the top and painstakingly erased it a little bit at a time until I was left with a dirtied image that was darker around the edge. Finally I gave the top brown layer a linen type finish. This was the end result...



I then hand drew, scanned and added a crown silhouette and with William and Kate's initials within it and the wedding date underneath. Here you can see it on coaster that I have received samples of and which I will be ordering in large quantities for my shops :)





There will be two shapes available. Square - shown above - and rectangular...




I also have postcards available that are 100% recycled. They are availabe with the above design: http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/clarycedesign/product/set-of-six-william-and-kate-postcards and also with a similar, but less intricate design .......




When my sample mug arrives I will feature it in a short blog of its own.......

The Genius of Mod Podge - Transferring printed images using Mod Podge

This post is for all you crafters that have yet to discover Mod Podge which should not be missing from any crafters supplies.

I have been using Mod Podge for a couple of years now for regular glueing jobs; particularly for adhering images onto scrabble tiles to make pendants. I also use it as a sealer to seal the surface of the image before I resin over it - otherwise the resin seeps into the image and ruins it.

Why it is better than PVA I do not know, but it is :)

I cannot remember where I first heard that you can use Mod Podge to transfer printed images onto surfaces such as canvas and wood, but I have been itching to try it for AGES!!

With my daughters at their dad's this weekend and rain falling sideways in sheets, I decided there was no better time....

I dug out a canvas I had lying around and set to work. I had to choose a small canvas as my printer will not print on paper any bigger than A4. For this piece I chose an 8"/20cm square canvas that was about 3cms deep.

First things first. I chose one of my favourite images - a vintage botanical print of a bird in a branch of blossom layered over the reverse side of an old photographic print that has a gorgeous border on it which I knew would finish off the edges of the canvas beautifully.

I printed it off as a MIRROR IMAGE on cheap printer paper.

I then brushed a generous layer of MOD PODGE over the entire surface of the canvas and lay the print on it, face down. I then used my trusty breyer to smooth out any bubbles. A good way to do this is to turn the canvas over on a hard surface and apply pressure from underneath also. When I was happy that most of the bubble were out, I did the hardest part - I waited!!! Ideally one should wait overnight to move onto the next stage, but I am waaaay too impatient for that so I left it for just a few hours until it felt dry to the touch.

Now the fun bit. I sprayed the entire surface of the paper with water and let it soak for a few moments. Then I started peeling!!! The top layer of paper came away quite easily but it is then quite a painstaking job to gently rub off the remainder. I wasn't sure how heavy handed I could be with this so I took it slowly with a dry soft cloth and ultimately my fingers. Once I was sure most of the paper was removed I let it dry. By doing so you can easily see areas you have missed as they appear whiter than the rest. To remove them repeat the steps above - spray with water and rub away gently with your fingertip.

What you are left with is a printed canvas - only it looks so much better than a 'printed' canvas. It almost has a fresco like quality to it with little bits of canvas showing through in certain areas. I am not sure how durable the artwork would be if left as is, so I used a few coats of matt polyurethane varnish over the top just in case. I also painted the edges of the canvas a colour to match the background of the image. Et Voila!!

I love how my first one turned out and depending on how my customers take to it, I have intentions of doing many more :)

If you haven't got a pot of Mod Podge in your stash of supplies - run out and get one!!!

For the chance to purchase this or any of my other designs visit my online shops. At present this canvas is only listed here:

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/clarycedesign