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Cardstore Artists

Artist Guest Blogger: Sam Posnick

by Cardstore Artists on December 9, 2009

Cardstore.com is pleased to feature Artist Guest Blogger Sam Posnick.  To see Sam’s Cardstore.com collection, click here.

SALTY AND SWEET

CONCERNING THE SALTY… When having drinks with some of my iStockphoto colleagues in Melbourne, a new friend said to me, “You know, given your illustration style, I expected to meet this sweet, sort of introverted person. Man, was I mistaken!” Mistaken she was. sohot; Artist Guest Blogger: Sam PosnickI am, and have always been, a boisterous person, to say the least. Sarcastic, loud, and a bit self-absorbed have always been my trademarks. While I am definitely more drawn to illustate the sweet and somewhat twee, I try to use the contrasts in my personality (the salty and sweet parts, respectively) to connect with my audience, whether through words (above) or images (below). CONCERNING THE SWEET… winterbirds; Artist Guest Blogger: Sam PosnickI’ve been asked before why I draw birds so often. The answer to this is simple- I just like them! A few years ago, when visiting my sister in Australia, I got swept away by the sparrows there. Of course we have sparrows in Winnipeg, but these seemed different somehow. They were bigger, scruffier and quite a bit more charming. I called them “hobo birds” due to their scruffiness and penchant for begging for food at the outdoor cafes. I invented entire stories and lives for these birds (putting this into writing, it sounds like I’m a crazy person) so it only seemed natural that I should draw them. And such is the story behind my mascot: samlogo; Artist Guest Blogger: Sam Posnick ” I can’t stand in line at the store, the mean little people are such a bore. But it’s alright if you act like a turd, ’cause I like… birds.” - I Like Birds, Eels I couldn’t have said it better than the lyric from one of my favourite songs above. I’m Sam Posnick, I like birds and I hope you do too. (And if you really like birds, I’ve got a great (and free!) origami bird ornament pattern on my blog, just for you!)

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Artist Guest Blogger: february 13 creative

by Cardstore Artists on November 30, 2009

Cardstore.com is pleased to feature Artist Guest Blogger february 13 creative.  To see february 13 creative’s Cardstore Collection of Holiday Cards, click here.

f13 diygifttags new2; Artist Guest Blogger: february 13 creativeMost of you are probably familiar with Cardstore.com’s wonderful DIY photo card products, which you can use to create cards using your own full-bleed photos. Well, over here at february 13 creative, we recently thought of this fun new use for Cardstore’s DIY Photo Business Card product: custom gift tags!

Upload your own artwork, your kid’s adorable drawings, your photos or any high-resolution image file that you’d like to feature on your gift tags. We’ve even provided a handy-dandy downloadable image file here which you can upload for the back of your gift tag.

Here are some other quick tips for preparing and uploading your image files:

  • Cardstore’s DIY Photo Business Cards are sold in sets of 25, so you’ll want to choose a versatile design.
  • Your file should be formatted as an RGB JPEG (or Grayscale JPEG if your image is black and white).
  • Your final image file should be 3″ x 2″ if horizontally-oriented (900 x 600 pixels at 300 dpi), or vice-versa if vertically-oriented.
  • If your gift tag will be horizontally-oriented, use this product. If it will be vertically-oriented, use this product.
  • Be sure to click “View Back” after you have uploaded your front-of-card image.
    • This will take you to a pull-down menu where you can select the format for the back of your card.
    • If you select the second choice, you’ll be able to upload the full-bleed back-of-tag image file we’ve provided for you here.
    • Of course, you can always create your own back-of-tag design.
    • Or choose the first, blank option for a completely blank tag back.

Our back-of-tag design includes a light mark for placement of a hole-punch if you would like to use ribbon to attach your tags.

Order before December 31st and use Cardstore’s Friends and Family discount (code: FRIEND15) to save 15%!

Happy holidays from february 13 creative!

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Artist Guest Blogger: Tori Higa

by Cardstore Artists on November 17, 2009

Cardstore.com is pleased to feature Artist Guest Blogger Tori Higa.  To see Tori’s Cardstore Collection of Holiday Cards, click here. To learn more about Tori Higa and to find out how to enter her Blog Hop Giveaway to win a set of her new Holiday Thank You Cards, click here.

Thanksgiving has always been a favorite holiday of mine because of the emphasis on gratitude, counting your blessings, and spending time around a dinner table with family and friends.  The cozy feeling of Autumn and the smell of comforting food always makes for a great holiday as well.  We have recently moved out of state – far away from family and life long friends – so this will be our first Thanksgiving in a long time that we won’t be spending it in the traditional way.  And because our family is so spread out now, I thought it would be the perfect time for my two year old son to start his greeting card design career in order to keep in touch with all of his loved ones throughout the country.  Because he is only two, the thought of making multiple “original” cards for everyone seemed a bit daunting.  (He is a boy after all – in his “twos” – and would rather play with cars or run in the dirt than make crafts for too long with his mommy.)  It was the perfect solution to paint his little hand (he thought it was hilarious), stamp it on white paper, scan it, add a few photoshop touches, and import it to a blank photo card on Cardstore.com.  We were able to make ten “handmade” Thanksgiving cards in one afternoon.  Even if we can’t spend Thanksgiving this year with our usual family members, they will know that we are thankful for them.

This is such an easy project to do with your child – I highly recommend it.  It’s fun, not very messy or time consuming, and the grandparents will love it!tori guest 214x300; Artist Guest Blogger: Tori Higa

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Artist Guest Blogger: Motormouth Press

by Cardstore Artists on August 27, 2009

Cardstore.com is pleased to feature Artist Guest Blogger, Laurie Coughlin of Motormouthpress.  To see Laurie’s Cardstore.com collection, click here.

When my eyes gaze upon sweet treats, I can’t help but smile in delight. My love is the same whether it is a store bought ice cream sandwich or a warm donut right out of the deep fryer. And two days ago, it was a chocolate covered cream puff from a new store specializing in what else? Cream puffs. So, it is no surprise that sweet treats are conspicuously my stationery theme of choice.

When asked why sweet treats are my inspiration, I usually say because I like them so much.  It is a short concise answer, and our graphic design professor once told us that you can’t argue with “I like it.” When someone asks why something taste so good, a lot of times you hear, “It’s just good” or “I don’t know, I just like it.”

But when asked to guest write a blog entry, I thought I should let you know that I correlate my sweet stationery subject matter with some of my early childhood experiences. Growing up, my siblings and I were not allowed to go crazy swallowing up spoonfuls of sugary cereals and eat candy whenever we pleased.

It was given to us as a reward for good behavior, like when I transitioned to the big potty during toilet training. Of course, our reward of 3 Plain M&Ms was taken away when my brother realized we could steal them whenever we wanted. We received them in times of celebration such as my 5th birthday, when I ate my first ice cream cake from Carvel. It also helped that I reminded my mom everyday. “I really want this cake, please?” We received candy on Halloween, Christmas and Easter holidays. Need I say more?!

Eventually, we learn that giving them can be just as fun as receiving them. I think my mom was really happy that I did indeed use my Easy Bake Oven until she became the sole recipient of all my frosted mini cake creations. Sweet treats are also fun to eat with others. Sitting on the front steps with my brother while licking our popsicles was one of the few times we would hold an automatic and very temporary truce.

Sometimes you can’t go to your local drive-inn where the car hops bring your order to the car window. You just aren’t able catch up and sip on homemade root beer floats that come in frosted glass mugs and nibble on beer-battered fried cheese curds with a friend. But you want to share this moment in time, and it is my hope that my food-themed greeting cards and stationery help bridge this gap and satisfy your stationery sweet tooth.

m press1; Artist Guest Blogger: Motormouth Press

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