The invite is the most substantial part of the MCD branding brief. I've spent ages playing about with the shape, thinking about the stocks, and getting the design right, so now its time to actually ensemble the invite.
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Step 1. Envelope Textured recycled kraft brown envelope (120gsm from Papermania)
I decided not to actually foil the logo in gold on to the front as I originally decided I would do and did in my experiments, as it wouldn't be suitable or fit in with the theme. I also didn't really have a purpose for doing it apart from the fact I want to put foil on everything.
I have used a zig zag sewing machine stitch onto the recycled paper envelope to add to the craft and textiles theme. I was going to add a perforation to rip open the envelope but I think this would look messy, so you just have to rip it open. I'm not putting the invite in it as I don't want people to have to rip it open and ruin it.
I've used a white stitch as there is going to be a light and dark contrast theme going on through all these products.
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Step 2. Actual Ticket - Textured recycled kraft brown card (300gsm from Papermania)
I made a stupid mistake here. I wasn't printing the ticket double sided, but sticking both sides together to make it quite as thick. But then I forgot to flip the back over! So the flap bit (the date) would be on the wrong side. So I've just had to cut the date off, which is probably a good thing, as it will make the ticket easier to fold, although the date was probably the most useful piece of info on there. Oh well all the info will be on the ticket holder.
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Step 3. Invite Card - Eco cream textured Fedrigoni card (320gsm from Fedrigoni)
Info on back of card:
This photograph doesn't really show how nice the texture is of this lovely fedrigoni card, but I'm really happy with the stock choices for this brief. It definitely works better than when I planned on just doing it all black and white.
Originally in my mock ups, the invite holder was going to have scalloped edges, but after receiving feedback suggesting this might not look professional, I couldn't decide whether it should be scalloped or not so had to ask others their opinions and the 90% said not too, so I've kept the edges straight. Well this saves it going wrong at least.
Front:
Back:
I've tried to tie a raffia ribbon in a neat bow to keep the pieces together. I haven't decided whether this should just be around the ticket and mini cards or the whole thing.
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Step 4. Cloth Cards
The plan is to print these on to cotton but I can't get a print slot til after I've got the photo studio booked, but I'm still going to do this afterwards for the hand in. I wanted to print them on to cotton as this would work really well with the theme of textures and textiles, and would be something different and interesting that I've never tried before.
So for the photo shoot, I'm going to print them on to the same textured paper I'll be printed the business stationery on to.
- 120gsm eco textured cream paper (120gsm from Footprinters)
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Step 5. Envelope Front
The envelope front has changed quite a bit from initial plans.
I needed someone to send the invite to, so I'm making this as if I am sending it to selvedge magazine, (a professional, high quality craft and design publication) to invite them to the event.
I was going to have this as the address printed in the same stock as the card that holds the invite, but I decided to change it to the design below, so I could make a stamp with my logo on.
I have done this because you can really get your own stamps made from Royal mail, called smilers. You have to put them next to a real stamp. They cost about £20 for a set so I'm obviously just going to make my own seen I'm not really posting this.
I tried the logo against all the mini texture rectangles I had created. [see textures] But this paint strip remains my favourite so I'm using this.
Next I needed to actually make it look like a stamp, I tried doing the scalloped edges but it looked childish, so I've just cut it really close to the edge but left a little border.
Now I'm ready for the photo shoot and to place this with the other products.
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