Don't Panic Design

Whether planning a simple wedding, or an elaborate one, one thing remains the same: it's not easy.  There are tons of things you won't consider until you are in the middle of it, and as many are frustrating as they are fun. If you are going the DIY route, you want to have a hand in the design and execution of your wedding.  Choosing or designing your invitation is a fun way to exercise creativity in your planning, and set the stage for your reception decor.  It is also one of the first ways you share your style with your guests. While it can be very fun, it can also be overwhelming: where to start? A couple weeks ago, Andrea reached out about a design in my shop . She loved elements already included in the design, and even the colors were close. But she had designed a wedding logo, and wanted to know if I could, or would, include it on the design. I never mind adjusted designs to make it work - whether it's color, wording, or adding a special touch, so I ...

Whether you are having a small intimate wedding, an elegant soiree, a large raucous party, or a destination wedding, the wedding rehearsal dinner is a wonderful time to connect with the people closest to you - family and friends who have given their support and are likely to be involved in planning and the events of the day itself. This pre-celebration is a time to mingle, chat, say thank you, and spend a little real time together, as the wedding day is likely to be busy, and the reception a whirlwind.  Rehearsal dinners are often hosted by the parents of the groom, but whether it is the groom's parents, the bride's parents, the couple themselves, or some combination,  it is up to the hosts to choose what kind of dinner to have and who to invite. The hosts and the couple can discuss before planning to decide how involved each wants to be, and work together to create the right event.  Both the host and the couple should try to stay flexible - it's meant to be fun!...

It's that time of year again: the season of all things pumpkin flavored.  I live in the northwest U.S., and so it's also the time of year of changing colors in the trees. There is a chill in the air, which makes the afternoon sun feel even better.  It's time to start breaking out my sweaters... I don't love winter, but I do love sweaters. (This love contradicts my dislike of wearing socks, but that's a different conversation.) That means it's almost Halloween! Halloween around here is an often secularly observed, fun, time of year. It's a 'holiday' because we do it every year, we have parties and rituals for it, and there is an air of excitement around it.  I still have to work on Tuesday, but that doesn't make Halloween feel less to me. It's also a time of reflection; while Halloween and it's associated observances have long and varied histories, it's generally accepted as a time to reflect on the dead - those in our fami...

As happens from time to time, I received a request to make a few small changes to one of my Baby on Board baby shower invitations.  The customer wanted a beach invitation that included swamp elements for a custom theme.  Because she asked, I was able to determine that I had access to appropriate clipart and that there was room to easily add it in to the invitation she wanted.  She ordered, I did it, and now she has a custom invitation that is amazing (if I do say so myself).  Thanks for asking Nicole, what a fun invitation! The  Original Design The Custom Version

Are you going to DIY your wedding invitations? Whether or not you are going to DIY your whole wedding, doing it yourself invitation is a great way to be involved, use your creativity, and get just what you want. This is a guide of tips, tricks, and things you won't think about until after you've done your invitations. Unless you read this first. Also, get a FREE PRINTABLE PLANNER to help you get started on your invitations. Link at the end. To Do: PLAN AHEAD: Choose your design and order your invitations at least 4-6 months before your date, and plan to mail them 6-8 weeks before the wedding. And incorporate your colors and theme into the design - it will set the tone and tells your guests the level of formality. DO INCLUDE: Contact Info & a Map Be sure to include all dates, times, addresses, dress codes, and add any necessary contact information. For example, hotel information to make reservations. Include a map or directions for an out of the way venue, or for yo...

The question I get asked the most is: What paper do you recommend? The short answer is card stock. After that there is really is no wrong answer. But there are few factors to consider: 1. The look you want. 2. How you are printing (the next post will be all about printing methods). 3. How you are going to present your invitations. About Paper • Even if you are printing at home, check with your local printer for paper. They will have single sheets of paper you can see and touch to judge the weight and finish, and they sell it be sheet and the ream, so you can purchase samples and do some test prints.• If you still want to purchase paper on your own, but want a shop to print onto it, consult with the printer first about what sizes they can print onto and other restrictions they may have about what papers they can and cannot use. • Any design in color is going to look great on a smooth, matte, white card stock, especially if there are large areas of color being printed...

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...

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 ...

A long skinny invitation, either portrait or landscape,  is a great way to take advantage of your  standard sheet size and look creative and pretty.  Tuesday's Tip Another way to stay within your budget and get a custom design is to create yourself, or have a designer create for you, an invite that will fit two or more onto a standard sheet of paper.  This way you can print two (or more) for the price of one.  Think outside the box in terms of size.  5 x 7 is pretty standard and will fit two up on a letter page.  But 3.5 x 8.5 will fit three per page and with the unique size and shape will really stand out in the sea of invitations. This invite has a white border around the edges and will fit in a number 9 envelope.

I got an email tonight from a recent customer.  I set up the files to fit onto her pre-printed stock.  She was so excited about how they came out, she sent me pictures of the completed invitations to share, and I wanted to share them with you. It really made my night and got me to thinking about some of the other invites I have designed since I opened my shop on etsy.  I have gotten so many nice comments back, and I wanted to share some of the designs with you tonight.  I love being able to provide someone with the design they wanted and to hear them say, these turned out even better than I imagined!  It's why I do what I do!

My sister is getting married in June, and we  started assembling the invitations last week.  Just before, we went out shopping for paper to use as a backing, she says to me, "Oh my gosh, I don't know what I'm doing.  Why am I doing this?"  I just kept looking at the paper and said, "You have to practice to be good at something.  Everyone is an amateur when planning a wedding, because you only do it once." So, when you decide to DIY your wedding, or any party, (and I applaud you if you do) make a list of what needs to be done, and then decide what you need help with.  When it comes to invitations, the hardest part is the design.  Do your research and find a template you love; if you can't, solicit the help of a designer who can help bring your ideas to life.  If possible, find someone who has experience with print as well as design.  You should be able to have a dialogue about what you want and some back and forth with tweaking details....

Printable invitations are becoming more popular, and with near constant access to the internet, your resources are extensive.  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, there is something for everyone out there, and you can find it. If you can't find it, you can always have your design custom made.  Search for created designs that have a similar sensibility and then contact the designer about custom work.  I would be willing to bet you will get a resounding, "Of course I can do that for you!" almost every time, because designing is what designers like to do, so taking on your project will be fun for them. Here are a few of the designs available on my etsy site,  http://www.etsy.com/shop/DontPanicDesign .  They're not just for weddings; I've adapted a few of these for birthdays and even bu...

When doing your own invitations, it helps to understand a little about design and print.  A lot of times you'll be asked questions you won't know how to answer, or hear terms that aren't quite clear to you.  Having a base of knowledge will help you start designing, have something designed, and definitely be useful when you have something printed.  With just a few minutes of time, you'll be that much more prepared to have a smooth printing experience, and end up with just what you want. I have chosen what I think is the most important and most useful information. This glossary is not alphabetical. Instead it is divided and sorted by subject.  Sometimes the terms used to explain the terms are defined next and so on. The first thing to know is Copyright. Copyright : A group of legal rights granted to the author or creator of written or visual work. All work appearing with the © symbol or the word "copyright" is protected by its creator or his heirs.  C...