Right Now

It's Two In The Morning

It's true! time goes by so fast when you're having so much fun! I've had a really productive night, lots of design work for a client done and I have just printed these off for my Something To Hang craft challenge.

I'm hoping to do something with these tomorrow before I take the kids swimming.

OK bed time now.

 

Sneak Peek - Make It Meaningful

Leave a comment for a chance to win this kit! If you share this with others you get another chance, just post back here again with the link to where you've shared! 

Submissions close 12pm Sunday night, winner announced monday morning. (Auckland, NZ time zone)

All the best!

 Contest now Closed

 

VinniePearce.com Finally Up

I finally completed my portfolio site! I gathered enough creative energy and drive to start this project over the long weekend we just had. I'm so pleased with the overall feel & look.

Have fun browsing!

Flaire Freebie

A few weeks ago we went to Piha Beach, I was so inspired by the photos I ended up creating a mini kit to go with the page layout I had in mind. Here are the pages -

CREDITS: Purple Melody Kit; Flower, bow, stripe trim, paint strokes from RENO COLECTION (coming soon) ; stitches from Teal Ambition collection; vellum tag from Dash & Dot collection.

opposite page -

 
CREDITS: Mostly from Tickled Pink Studio

so together they  look like this -

And here are your freebies -

link - Download VinniePearce_MyPurple_Melody

 oh! and another bonus giveaway! From the first page you just saw -

LINK - Download VPearce-freebie-template-april2011

 

Flaire Freebie

  Inspired by this fabulous scrapbook page! Well actually two fabulous scrapbook pages! This one is by melsboys, I saved it to my favorites folder a few days ago. And this one below created by Cathy AKA: cayla73. As soon as I saw her one I thought - that's it! I'm going to do some lifting myself!

 

 I love melsboys layout because there's a lot of visual interest with all the different elements & colours. It's a great layout because I think there's a perfect amount of white space framing the composition. The photo isn't lost with all the colours too. In fact it's one of the first things your eye hits when you look at the page. Because firstly, it is dominant in size, the photo is bigger than the rest of the elements. Secondly, the photo is in black & white (with a warm hue to it) this instantly sets it apart from the rest of the page. Remember that if you have a photo with lots of colours, just de-saturate it, add contrast and it will be a lot easier to work with! I do it all the time!

Cathy's page uses the same principle of dominance with the size of her photo. She has a lot of patterns happening on the one page, but because the colours are co-ordinated with the photo she has achieved a seamless page design! Again, perfect amount of negative space too! What a sweet page!

Here is my page design, using the elements mentioned. And the freebie this week!

CREDITS - CLICK HERE!

Your freebie -

Yes it's for professional use too! Please carefully read the terms of use after downloading. Enjoy!

Download VinniePearce-how-i-heart-you-freebie-kit

 

Flare Friday

Happy Friday! I'm excited to share this weeks flare, I hope it inspires you.

   Vintage Dinner Plates from Republic.

Torn straight out of the spring issue of YOUR HOME & GARDEN mag, for my inspiration board. It's the handwriting that grabbed my heart. Most of you know I have an obsession for scripts and handwriting in design. A lot of my art papers have them, as well as my paintings. I've always thought scripts and handwriting add extra visual interest to a page design or project. It also adds a personal touch and warmth. This kind of element mostly works well with natural themed designs. So everything from your photo to your embellishments need to reflect that. Go for fonts, photos, embellishments, etc that have a lot of curves to compliment the scripts. If you do the opposite (use too many elements with sharp corners), your elements will end up arguing with each other. What I mean to say is... that the contrast of the curvey lines and the sharp bold lines will result in a visual riot... a page with no harmony for your eyes. And it takes a lot of mediation (playing, positioning, etc) to get the two singing with each other. Hey, I'm not saying it can't be done, I'm just saying... its hard for ME to do! hahaa!  And hard... usually means spending more time on my designs, which is something I'm running out of as my kids are getting older and the business gets more... busier!. So any shortcuts I can take in completing a project, I'll happily take!

My design and your freebie!

This is how my page turned out by using the design element mentioned:

CREDITS: This weeks freebie, the Vintage Quick Page; Flowers and Wordart By Cosmo Cricket; Brad from my Brad Pack.

Your freebie

Download VinniePearce-vintage-quick-page

Have an awesome weekend!

 

Flare Freebie

Welcome to another Flare Friday!  Last week I was inspired with patterns to create packaging labels. Well this week I'm inspired by ...labels!

Fuego Hot Sauce, By talented graphic designer Stephanie Hughes

As soon as I saw the packaging for this hot sauce selection, I fell in love. And I felt like a short trip to Nando's for some tasty chicken legs! 

Ok back to the design. Take a look at the bottle shape... see the curved edges? This is a design element. The designer has cleverly used the design principle of repetition to create unity. This curved edge or line, is repeated on the shape of the label & the typography.

Check this out!

I have to use this concept one day!

This is how my page turned out by using the design element mentioned:

CREDITS: Font:Cranberry Gin & Geo-sands light; Poised Paper subtly blended in the background, this weeks freebie, the cute Wood Grain Label.

And here is your freebie download:

Download VinniePearce_WoodGrain_labels

Have an awesome weekend!

Vin

Flare Freebie

Cups from Briscoes

A bit different this week. I bought these cheapies a few months ago when they were on sale at Briscoes. I was immediately drawn to the geometric patterns. I love how they add a little class to my kitchen cupboards, and they're a big size for large amounts of coffee!

Patterns used well will add diversity and depth to a composition or room. If used wrongly, it will result in visual chaos! I'm hoping to show you some good examples today. But first my design and your freebie download.

It's not a page layout, but packaging for my homemade cleaning products. (click here to read why I choose homemade instead of store bought solutions)

 

SUPPLIES: papers and labels freebie download, MOD podge glue sealer and bottles from Payless Plastics.

Your Freebie (there are 4 versions of lables included, so you can write or type on the blank ones) -

Download VinniePearce_papers-labels

Examples of geometric patterns used:

INTERIOR DECORATING

 
http://freshome.com/2009/04/13/interior-design-patterns-from-hand/

 

http://www.designhotels.com/

SCRAPBOOKING

http://creativescrappers.blogspot.com/2010/06/dt-kaori-watanabe.html

The pattern here isn't exactly geometric, more leaning towards an abstract geometric. I thought it was a great example of using patterns on a larger scale without looking too overwhelming. It works because of the repetition in lines. Curved lines in the background pattern are repeated in other elements. Such as the brads, cut out paper and ink splatters. This helps to create harmony in the overall design.

 

 

  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35041093@N04/4928397305/in/set-72157623175333419/

Another large scale pattern.  I don't usually use patterns like this for my background, but this one works. Why does it work?... I don't know! hah! Noooo, I thought I didn't know, but as I studied the page, a few thoughts came to me. Maybe it's the muted colours that help create less contrast in the overall scheme. Also I think the density and scale of the pattern help to make the design less busy. If you have any thoughts, please share, I'd love to hear them.

  

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/gallery/member/455787-romyk/1658257-when-we-were/

Here's a cute minimalistic one by Romy.  If you want to use patterns but are too afraid to, then you can't go wrong with using them in small amounts like the above example.

WEBSITE DESIGN

  


http://aliedwards.com/

Ali Edward's new site, uses a geometric pattern so stunningly. Ali also uses patterns a lot in her page designs, so do check out the site if you are new to her stuff.

Thanks for stopping by! If you find great examples of patterns used on large scales please link back in the comments section, I would love to see and I'm sure others would too.

Introducing: Flare Freebies

Its all about inspiring YOU - with what inspires me!

I chose the word Flare because, of the definition:  to start up or burst out in sudden, fierce activity & passion 

Plus it sounds really cool and it starts with F to go with Freebie heehee!

No seriously though, I know what its like when you loose your mojo through the busy week and sometimes you just need a short spark to get you started in your creative process... and a little freebie too!

So here's the first post, I hope it causes you to burst into your designs!

 

iStockphoto's home page banner

I love the high contrast image used, the tiny little arrow, well balanced negative space and the way the title has been done.

This is how my page turned out by using the design elements above:

The patterned paper is Jesse Edwards, everything else is included with your freebie. (minus the little legs photo)

Download VinniePearce_3template

Here's another one that inspired me -

The golden hour, by ArtPeaGracie

I love the composition, the white space, the handwriting... everything really!

Here's how my page turned out -

Everything from the Journey Back Collection

So thats it! I'll add a Flare Friday link soon to the nav bar so you can always visit if you miss a weeks worth or something. Now go create!

Recent Graphic Design Projects To Share

Hello there! I hope you had a great start to your week. I did, it's been a very productive Monday.
A few weeks ago I finished creating two wedding galleries for www.lovebyte.co.nz
Click on images to launch gallery (You might recognize some of the scrapbooking products.)

Sandie Barrack, the clever lady behind the gallery, will charge from $NZD190 (thats about $US130) to put your wedding photos and music on a gorgeous site, for more info click here.

A little while ago I also completed a Year Book for Freelance Animation School, I am really pleased with the way it turned out, and so was Freelance.

I will be taking on more freelance work so please contact me directly vinnie@vinniepearce.com for inquiries and quotes.

Have a great week!

Vin