Craftside

Free folded jewelry display pattern from the book The Packaging and Design Templates Sourcebook

I think this folded paper card display looks like the "and" symbol- "&" (well not the one in this font but the one on my keyboard!) It makes a great little display for my recycled wool felted sweater and button ring (the one you can make at Unique LA with me!) All I did was add an extra cut in it from the original pattern from the book The Packaging and Design Templates Sourcebook .

I printed the pattern out on a nice piece of heavy paper.

Then simply cut it out along the lines.

 

I did add a sticker and the extra slice for the ring. You could add 2 holes for earrings too!

You could really use this fun shape for all sorts of things. Hey, if you do leave a comment telling us what you did! We'd like to know.

If you love this pattern and you need 139 more grab a copy of:

The Packaging and Design Templates Sourcebook

Luke Herriott

A practical and inspirational resource book of templates.

The Packaging and Design Templates Sourcebook presents a stunning showcase of 140 new, innovative and classic packaging and paper engineering ideas across a variety of areas. Accompanying each project is a detailed template, which shows the reader how to copy, fold and construct each project from material that is widely available.

This book provides a source of inspiration for graphic and packaging designers, both student and professional alike, as it explores the fundamentals of a package at its most basic level. Covering areas as diverse as food and drink, product packaging, promotional material, CDs and DVDs, books, retail and stationary, it is a completely comprehensive guide. The book also includes gatefold templates, some insert card packaging concepts, and a CD-Rom of templates and finished packages, allowing designers to create presentations for their clients!

Luke Herriott is a widely respected freelance graphic designer and book designer and runs the design company Studio Ink in Sussex. He is also the co-author of First Steps in Digital Design for RotoVision. He lives in Hastings, UK.

Complete Digital Illustration: A Master Class in Image-Making By Lawrence Zeegen

 

Click on these cool pages of design by McFaul and read about his design process. They are personal projects of Saints of the Month. To see more inside pages of this eye candy and cool tutorial-filled book pop on over to Complete Digital Illustration on Amazon.

I love them and this book:

Complete Digital Illustration:

A Master Class in Image-Making

By

Lawrence Zeegen

Complete Digital Illustration is an informative and practical guide to this in-demand area of design. Alongside step-by step tutorials, top image-makers from around the world provide real and practical advice on setting up a studio, creating a killer portfolio, and winning commissions.

The work featured in the book reflects the wide and exciting range of image-making practice that thrives today, from music and fashion to character and toy design. The book reveals the secrets of the industry's most successful creatives who transfer traditional illustrative skills into digital dimensions, producing the highest quality, most commercially successful animation, three-dimensional, and vector-based illustration.

This book offers a master class for students and professional designers and illustrators who want to take their work beyond the constraints of two-dimensions and gain greater commercial success. An inspirational, must-have guide,Complete Digital Illustration is also of real value for professional image-makers.

Lawrence Zeegen is an illustrator, educator, and writer. He is the Academic Programme Leader of Communication and Media Arts at the University of Brighton, and is the author of Rotovision's successful What is Illustration? He lives in Brighton, UK.

Question:

What is your favorite "tool" in what software?

Mine:

I use "adjust levels" all the time. It is my favorite way to fix my photos in Photoshop. (OK I have been known to use the paint brush tool to fix a little this or that on some of those photos of me taken in that not so friendly big indoor fluorescent lighting!)

Leave your answer in the comments and you are entered to win a free book!

Oh paper lovers are going to love the book: The Packaging and Design Templates Sourcebook

I just got this book and I can't wait to make just about everything in it!

Hence all the little stickies coming out of the top! The book comes with the 140 templates on a disk!

I decided to try this little cute box first that has a round tab top closure.

I printed it out on a nice pink piece of card stock.

All that was left to do was cut out along the solid lines and score along the dotted lines and glue together!

I think this box will make a great gift box for special Easter eggs.

Here is the box pattern for you to download:

And if you need 139 more grab a copy of:

The Packaging and Design Templates Sourcebook

Luke Herriott

A practical and inspirational resource book of templates.

The Packaging and Design Templates Sourcebook presents a stunning showcase of 140 new, innovative and classic packaging and paper engineering ideas across a variety of areas. Accompanying each project is a detailed template, which shows the reader how to copy, fold and construct each project from material that is widely available.

This book provides a source of inspiration for graphic and packaging designers, both student and professional alike, as it explores the fundamentals of a package at its most basic level. Covering areas as diverse as food and drink, product packaging, promotional material, CDs and DVDs, books, retail and stationary, it is a completely comprehensive guide. The book also includes gatefold templates, some insert card packaging concepts, and a CD-Rom of templates and finished packages, allowing designers to create presentations for their clients!

Luke Herriott is a widely respected freelance graphic designer and book designer and runs the design company Studio Ink in Sussex. He is also the co-author of First Steps in Digital Design for RotoVision. He lives in Hastings, UK.

Dresses made with maps from the book Paper Engineering by Natalie Avella

Isn't this a fun idea? Haven't we all heard jokes about the inability to refold a map? Well, why not fold it into something cute like a dress?

Click on the image to enlarge and read about these cute dresses folded from maps by Elisabeth Lecourt.

And if you want to see more cool stuff made from paper, grab a copy of:

Paper Engineering
By
Natalie Avella

Paper Engineering explores graphic design that extends beyond 2D. From a simple fold in a letterhead to the structural intricacies of a pop-up book, the construction of a 3D paper object requires as much input as its surface decoration.

This stylish and inspirational book unfolds the conceptual complexities of paper engineering, studying the techniques of eminent international designers. Case studies are illustrated with photographs of finished work, as well as detailed diagrams and commentary. Now available in a fully revised and extended edition, Paper Engineering also explores the functions of paper architecture in graphic design, ranging from greeting cards to invitations and from point-of-sale to packaging.

Natalie Avella is a design writer living and working in London.

Pop on over to Amazon for more inside peeks into Paper Engineering.

Or hop back to this post to see how to make a little quarter circle mini journal ornament!

How to make an image have a Pop Art look from the new book 500 Digital Illustration Hints, Tips, and Techniques

This is such a fun way to take a traditional image and give it a pop art look in Photoshop:

 

Click on the image to read the super easy way to give a photo a pop art look. This is just 1 of the 500 tips from the cool new book:

500 Digital Illustration Hints, Tips, and Techniques

The Easy, All-in-One Guide to Those Inside Secrets for Better Image-Making

By

Luke Herriott and Robert Brandt

500 Digital Illustration Hints, Tips, and Techniques is the ideal introduction to this popular subject. The book guides the reader from the basics of digital illustration through to more advanced techniques, with detailed sections on the most commonly-used software programs, including Photoshop, Painter, Illustrator, Flash, Cinema 4D, and 3D Studio. This accessible, yet comprehensive handbook covers all the essential technical considerations of digital illustration, such as file formatting and setting up a document, as well as the creative aspects of working with colors, textures, special effects, and more.

The book is packed with inspiring images covering a wide range of different illustration styles, and with its colorful blend of step-by-step tutorials, quick fixes, and bullet-point tips it is the perfect antidote to boring technical manuals.

Luke Herriott is a graphic designer and the co-author of Instant Graphics and Art Directing Projects for Print. He lives in Hastings, UK.

Robert Brandt is a designer and illustrator, and lives in Brighton, UK.

Holiday Goodness Giveaway!

Here's how it works:

• We ask a question each weekday.
• You leave your answer in the comments section each day to the question (and you can enter each day!).
• We will randomly pick a winner each day to send a free book to!

Today is DAY 19 of 19!

Question:

What part has your computer played in your holiday prep? Shopping on line, graphics, photo altering, greeting card making or just idea getting?

My answer:

All of the above including idea sharing! And thanks to all of you for leaving comments each day sharing your fabulous answers I have loved reading them!

Be sure to read the comments of others; maybe you can pick up a good idea, a new place to find your inspiration, or just a good giggle!

FREE MAKEREADY WRAPPING PAPER!

Want some cool, crafty, AND eco-friendly wrapping paper? Send your receipt showing you’ve bought today’s book to craftside@gmail.com, and we’ll send you a package of this brightly-colored up-cycled wrapping paper made from the “Makeready,” or printer’s scraps, from some of our newest books.  Don’t forget to include your shipping address too!