Don't Panic Design

I previously published a longer version of this article, and it has been very helpful to clients, and hopefully other DIY-ers over the years. I thought this was a perfect place to start - and then I will go into detail about each section in following articles. • • • Download this free guide to get started Doing it yourself, whether it's the design, the printing, can be a fun way to engage with your event and exercise your creativity.  It can also be overwhelming. Starting at the beginning: the invitation. When you set out to create the perfect invitation for any event, it's always good to know what you want. It also helps to know what you don't want, and to not know what you do want. (That sounds backwards - but bear with me...) So where to start?  Niche websites, social networking, and pinterest.com have all changed the face of party planning. You don't have to leave your living room. You can do it late at night, in the bac...

Hi! My name is Amy and I run Don’t Panic Design on Etsy.  I specialize in printable invitations and organizing printables . I have a decade of experience in print, I am a self-taught designer, and I know a little bit about of lot of other stuff.  I DIY stuff too, like: shampoo bars, soap and deodorant, laundry detergent. I paint old furniture and build other pieces.  I re-purpose used things into new things.  I thrift shop for treasures, and half the time I find one. Do you do it yourself? Many people are turning turning a DIY eye towards their lives and homes. But there are a lot of levels of DIY.  You may start from scratch and follow through to the end, learning a lot along the way, you may want something more stylish or customized to your needs and aesthetic, or you may just want a little more control over use. The good news? There are tons of options to learn how to do anything, or seek out the help you need when you need it. There are so...

This year for Black Friday, I was inspired to do something a little different by Lady & Little Bug . Alternative Black Friday is about thinking about the opening of the commercial holiday in a different way. All proceeds from the weekends sales will be donated to my local food bank. Coming off Thanksgiving, a holiday about acknowledging everything we have to be grateful for, spending time with family, and eating delicious food, a donation to my local food bank makes perfect sense. Help get your family, home, school, or business organization on track for the new year. Check out the beautiful and useful printable calendars, planner pages, and diy spice labels in my new shop, Don't Panic, Organize . The best part is that because this is a digital shop, no one has to work during the holiday, you can download and print anytime, and it takes no time at all to participate.  Check out the shop , find your favorite design, purchase and download.  And for choosing...

There are many reasons you might decide to DIY your wedding or special event invitations.  Maybe you are a creative person who likes to get their hands into a fun project, or you might want to add a personal touch as a way of connecting with your guest.  Maybe you may have budget in mind; it may be all, or none, of these things.  Whatever your reason is, being involved with creating your own invitation suite is a wonderful and personal way to invite your guests to your important day, and will give you a satisfying sense of accomplishment. As in everything, however, if you've never done it before, attempting to DIY your invitations without the proper preparation can turn into more of a pain in the neck than a successful endeavor. What follows are 5 thing to avoid when taking on a DIY project like this, along with tips on ways to get started in the right direction.  I will go more into detail of each in subsequent articles.  1. Not deciding how you want...

My name is Amy, and I run Don't Panic Design on Etsy.  I specialize in printable invitations and dabble in organizing printables. I have tons of experience in print, and I am a self-taught designer, and I know a little bit about of lot of other stuff.  I DIY a lot of other stuff too.  I make my own deodorant, laundry detergent, I paint old furniture and build other pieces.  I thrift shop to search for treasures, and half the time I find one. Do you DIY? More and more people are turning to a do-it-yourself attitude towards event planning and invitations.  As printable invitations become more popular, your choices are also increasing.  From etsy.com to your firend's friend who 'does it on the side', there are so many options that I think it must be impossible to not get what you want.  It may take a little research, a little work refining your searches to return to you the results you want, but somehow, somewhere, there is something ...

Congratulations to my blog giveaway winners: M. Nootz - Calendar Mindy Teini - Recycled Notebook Cyndia at Black Siren Studio - Ever Occasion Notecards Please contact me via email (designsdontpanic@gmail.com) with your address, and I will ship out your prizes within 3 days. Thanks so much for helping me celebrate!!

Happy Anniversary to me, and Don't Panic Design !   One year ago today, late on Halloween night, I opened my Etsy shop of printable invitations and personalized note cards, at the urging of my sister.  A year ago November 1st, (tomorrow) I made my first sale.  Even though I didn't make another sale until sometime in January, that first sale was like a fire, urging me on.  It has been an amazing year, full of failures and successes, lessons, and celebrations.  And that's what I like most about this job: helping others with their special celebrations!   In honor of celebration, let's celebrate with a giveaway! To celebrate the last year, and start off on a good foot this year, I am giving away three items that haven't hit my shop yet.  A set of 20 Just a Note note cards with envelopes, a small daily calendar, and a recycled envelope notebook with the winner's monogram on it.  In order to enter, all you have to do is leave a co...