Blog.CaliCards Feed
CALICARDS.COM
Business Logo & custom stationery
I have been branching out lately doing more graphic design work creating company logos and stationery. Here are a few business stationery designs I have created. The first one was for a client who wanted a design that represented her personality and beliefs. She fell in love with the idea of using Chakra symbols and so I created the design based on this.
This client is a Special Education Advocacy lawyer and wanted a design that was modern and would focus on the education aspect. She liked the idea of stacked books so instead of the traditional lawyer book clipart I created a modern design reminiscent of stacked books.
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer whospecializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright© 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
CaliCards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
This client is a Special Education Advocacy lawyer and wanted a design that was modern and would focus on the education aspect. She liked the idea of stacked books so instead of the traditional lawyer book clipart I created a modern design reminiscent of stacked books.
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer whospecializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright© 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
CaliCards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Leather Wedding Invitation
I am so far behind on sharing my latest creations so I'm going to start with my most recent one and by far my favorite one to date! Katrina O'Donnell of Katrina O'Donnell Custom Florals asked me to be a part of a photo shoot for San Diego Style Weddings . She told me it was to be photographed on Vessels Ranch located in Bonsall, California. She sent me photos of the site and started describing the tablescape design she wanted to create...rustic elegance, slight hints of horse shoes, teal distressed farm table, s'mores for favors, leather belts as napkin holders. Wow, what a fantastic concept and I couldn't wait to be a part of it!
As I started my brainstorming process I knew I wanted to create something unique and original. I thought of using wood paper and different textures for a very natural look but that has all been done before. Then Katrina started talking about the leather accents she wanted to use and I thought, "Hey, why not try and silkscreen on leather" and so the idea for the menus, favor cards and invitation were born! We got leather scraps from La Costa Upholstery in Carlsbad and I finally bought myself a Yudu machine. I have been wanting to get one for quite awhile so this was a perfect excuse.
I created the design on the menu to resemble the trees and fencing that are on Vessels Ranch and my sister, Kimberly Lord Stewart , author of Eating Between the Lines: The Supermarket's Guide to the Truth Behind Food Labels, created an organic, locally grown food menu perfect for the occasion. Katrina wanted the menus to rest against some horse shoes that she had custom fabricated by Justin Hermann of SRD , so I knew the menu's had to be rigid. I stained some balsa wood and glued the leather to the board. Perfect, light-weight but sturdy!
The favor tags were silkscreened with a little message for the guests and tied to the favor boxes of s'mores with twine.
The invitations were also silkscreened leather and designed to be reminiscent of the old-fashioned "Wanted" posters. Rolled up with a custom made belt and buckle and you've got quite a show piece. The RSVP card is a leather postcard that can be placed directly in the mail! Now how could you say no to an invitation like that!
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
As I started my brainstorming process I knew I wanted to create something unique and original. I thought of using wood paper and different textures for a very natural look but that has all been done before. Then Katrina started talking about the leather accents she wanted to use and I thought, "Hey, why not try and silkscreen on leather" and so the idea for the menus, favor cards and invitation were born! We got leather scraps from La Costa Upholstery in Carlsbad and I finally bought myself a Yudu machine. I have been wanting to get one for quite awhile so this was a perfect excuse.
I created the design on the menu to resemble the trees and fencing that are on Vessels Ranch and my sister, Kimberly Lord Stewart , author of Eating Between the Lines: The Supermarket's Guide to the Truth Behind Food Labels, created an organic, locally grown food menu perfect for the occasion. Katrina wanted the menus to rest against some horse shoes that she had custom fabricated by Justin Hermann of SRD , so I knew the menu's had to be rigid. I stained some balsa wood and glued the leather to the board. Perfect, light-weight but sturdy!
The favor tags were silkscreened with a little message for the guests and tied to the favor boxes of s'mores with twine.
The invitations were also silkscreened leather and designed to be reminiscent of the old-fashioned "Wanted" posters. Rolled up with a custom made belt and buckle and you've got quite a show piece. The RSVP card is a leather postcard that can be placed directly in the mail! Now how could you say no to an invitation like that!
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Graduation Announcements - The Tassel is Worth the Hassle!
Spring is here and graduation is fast approaching. It is time to celebrate the memories of the past and the promise and opportunities of the future. I can still remember the excitement and anticipation of my big days...it was at my Kindergarten graduation that I got to wear my first full-length dress. How grown up is that! It was at my High School graduation, my true rite of passage into adulthood, where I really started to feel grown up. With all the excitement of the unknown and a tiny bit of trepidation, I couldn't wait to get to college. It was worth it! College graduation was the ultimate accomplishment; my career and life possibilities were endless.
Graduation is just one of those events that you remember forever. No matter what level, every achievement deserves recognition and celebration. Why not celebrate those achievements with personalized Graduation Announcements, Party Invitations and Thank you cards. At Cali Cards we make the process simple and fun. Our creations are all custom designed, handmade and assembled which keeps your celebration looking and feeling unique amongst the many you might be sharing the honorable occasion with. We will even mail the cards for you to help save you the time and effort.
Let Cali Cards take the hassle out of the tassel so you can enjoy the moment!
"I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunites, and to the most special places your heart has ever known." ~ Author Unknown
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Graduation is just one of those events that you remember forever. No matter what level, every achievement deserves recognition and celebration. Why not celebrate those achievements with personalized Graduation Announcements, Party Invitations and Thank you cards. At Cali Cards we make the process simple and fun. Our creations are all custom designed, handmade and assembled which keeps your celebration looking and feeling unique amongst the many you might be sharing the honorable occasion with. We will even mail the cards for you to help save you the time and effort.
Let Cali Cards take the hassle out of the tassel so you can enjoy the moment!
"I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunites, and to the most special places your heart has ever known." ~ Author Unknown
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
DIY Invitations
Do It Yourself Invitations is one of the biggest cost saving trends for brides today. Trying to save money in this economy is big. However, I caution you, and this is why. I have received numerous calls from brides who were not happy with the look of their homemade invitations and wanted me to fix them. Unfortunately by the time the bride had contacted me they had already spent money and most importantly time on making the invitations and just could not justify the costs for me to come in and "fix" it. So they ended up settling on the invitation. As a business I do not like to "fix" others cards because they are not a Cali Cards creation and I cannot guarantee the craftsmanship. I am extremely meticulous and can't stand poor construction. People do not understand how much goes into creating custom invitations, from using the proper tools and glues to having a steady hand and the proper design software.
Now I certainly can't be against creating your own invitation because I did just that. It was the start of Cali Cards and I completely enjoyed it and had fun doing it. However looking back at my original design, it is nothing of the craftsmanship or design I have today.
My Wedding Invitation
2008 Cali Cards Design-As seen on Platinum Weddings
2009 Cali Cards Design - Playing with metallic inks and graphics
As with anything, there are pros and cons to Doing It Yourself. If you are a creative and crafty person that has the free time then making your own invitations may be right up your alley. However, there are many things that people do not understand about creating invitations. Building your own is not always as cheap as you may think. Material costs start to creep up as you begin layering papers, purchasing pocketfolds, and embellishing with ribbons and rhinestones. Then you have to worry about creating a graphically appealing design and Word does not allow for easy formatting. If you decide to use specialty papers then you will need to have them professionally printed and Kinkos is expensive. In the end you may end up spending more money and certainly more time than you anticipated. And remember, time is money!
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Now I certainly can't be against creating your own invitation because I did just that. It was the start of Cali Cards and I completely enjoyed it and had fun doing it. However looking back at my original design, it is nothing of the craftsmanship or design I have today.
My Wedding Invitation
2008 Cali Cards Design-As seen on Platinum Weddings
2009 Cali Cards Design - Playing with metallic inks and graphics
As with anything, there are pros and cons to Doing It Yourself. If you are a creative and crafty person that has the free time then making your own invitations may be right up your alley. However, there are many things that people do not understand about creating invitations. Building your own is not always as cheap as you may think. Material costs start to creep up as you begin layering papers, purchasing pocketfolds, and embellishing with ribbons and rhinestones. Then you have to worry about creating a graphically appealing design and Word does not allow for easy formatting. If you decide to use specialty papers then you will need to have them professionally printed and Kinkos is expensive. In the end you may end up spending more money and certainly more time than you anticipated. And remember, time is money!
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
The Art Of Writing A Thank You Card.
Did you know that greeting cards date back to societies from over 500 years ago? The Chinese and Egyptians would exchange messages of fortune and goodwill on pieces of papyrus. It wasn't until the 1400's that the Europeans caught on to this type of social expression. Due to the cost of these hand-delivered cards only the wealthy got to partake in their exchange. However, by the 1840's and with the invention of the postage stamp, greeting cards became the mainstream. And as the printing process became more advanced cards became available to both the elite and lower classes.
Fast forward some 150 years and the art of writing a thank you card is rapidly being lost. In the age of electronic media we are becoming all to accustomed to writing thank you emails or picking up the phone and calling instead of sending out the time honored hand-written thank you card. I too am guilty of being slow to get out my thank you cards or forgetting all together and just emailing a thank you. But even I know nothing can truly replace the Thank You card. I mean really we all love getting mail. Our daily ritual consists of walking out to the mail box, smiling, wondering what arrived today only to be disappointed that we have more bills, magazines and junk mail. I love getting hand-written cards but if I don't send anything out then I shouldn't expect any in return. Besides, isn't it just good manners to send a thoughtful note of appreciation and thanks?
At Cali Cards we can help you make your hand-written notes more personal by creating a unique design that will tell them you truly care. Your thank you cards will reflect your personality and make receiving them a memorable experience. Plus, if you have them on hand you are more likely to get the out in a timely manner!
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Fast forward some 150 years and the art of writing a thank you card is rapidly being lost. In the age of electronic media we are becoming all to accustomed to writing thank you emails or picking up the phone and calling instead of sending out the time honored hand-written thank you card. I too am guilty of being slow to get out my thank you cards or forgetting all together and just emailing a thank you. But even I know nothing can truly replace the Thank You card. I mean really we all love getting mail. Our daily ritual consists of walking out to the mail box, smiling, wondering what arrived today only to be disappointed that we have more bills, magazines and junk mail. I love getting hand-written cards but if I don't send anything out then I shouldn't expect any in return. Besides, isn't it just good manners to send a thoughtful note of appreciation and thanks?
At Cali Cards we can help you make your hand-written notes more personal by creating a unique design that will tell them you truly care. Your thank you cards will reflect your personality and make receiving them a memorable experience. Plus, if you have them on hand you are more likely to get the out in a timely manner!
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Spring is in the Air!
I am so excited to show you my eco-friendly thank you cards that I have created for the Grab Bags being given out at the Engagement Shootout charity event on April 22nd. I wanted to create something that each bride would remember and really want to use. So I had custom Abaca scrunch envelopes made and embellished them with hand painted butterflies. A colorful thank you card made of recycled papers was placed inside the custom envelope.
So you are probably wondering how you would mail this. Well you just mail it in an Eco Clear Bag that is also biodegradable. Just place a mailing label on it and some stamps (it will cost more than a first class stamp to mail) and voila! Not only will it bring a smile to your friends face but the post men and women will enjoy delivering it!
If you are interested in purchasing your own Eco-Friendly Butterfly cards contact me at tiffany@calicards.com.
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
So you are probably wondering how you would mail this. Well you just mail it in an Eco Clear Bag that is also biodegradable. Just place a mailing label on it and some stamps (it will cost more than a first class stamp to mail) and voila! Not only will it bring a smile to your friends face but the post men and women will enjoy delivering it!
If you are interested in purchasing your own Eco-Friendly Butterfly cards contact me at tiffany@calicards.com.
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Calling all Brides! Engagement Shootout!
Ok Brides. You need to check this out. On Thursday, April 22nd Jen O'Sullivan, a Beverly Hills Wedding Photographer, is hosting her Annual Engagement Shootout. She has gathered the best wedding photographers in the area to photograph you and your fiance. Each couple will have up to 6 shooters work with them for 15 minutes. At the end you will receive all your files from each photographer at no cost. Yes, I said no cost! Unheard of, right? They only hope that you will donate (any size) to the charity LETMESAIL. It sounds too good to be true but there really is no catch. It is a win, win situation. All you need to do is contact Jen O'Sullivan by April 14th to get on the list.
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Upcycle your unused fabrics!
I love to create!
Every Christmas I make my gifts. One year it was scarves, then aprons and this past year I made my sister a patchwork quilt. She had given me some fabrics she had when I was visiting last fall (extra fabric from her window coverings, an old green throw pillow cover and a blue blanket). She told me I could make whatever I wanted. I decided on a patchwork throw and then went to my local fabric store to find a fabric to tie them all together. I chose a brown corduroy. I cut up the pillow cover, deconstructed the blue blanket and created this throw for a total of $20. Since I still had more fabric left over I made her a footstool as well. My first attempt and I thought it turned out pretty good!
Here is a picture of them in her house!
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Every Christmas I make my gifts. One year it was scarves, then aprons and this past year I made my sister a patchwork quilt. She had given me some fabrics she had when I was visiting last fall (extra fabric from her window coverings, an old green throw pillow cover and a blue blanket). She told me I could make whatever I wanted. I decided on a patchwork throw and then went to my local fabric store to find a fabric to tie them all together. I chose a brown corduroy. I cut up the pillow cover, deconstructed the blue blanket and created this throw for a total of $20. Since I still had more fabric left over I made her a footstool as well. My first attempt and I thought it turned out pretty good!
Here is a picture of them in her house!
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Cali Cards Gift Certificates
Are you having trouble finding something to give your friends and family for a special occasion? Why not give them the gift of Cali Cards. Here at Cali Cards I can create custom Party Invitations, Baby Announcements, Holiday Cards, Personal Stationery or even a custom Family logo that can be used on all your correspondence. Plus, the gift certificate will arrive in the mail beautifully created just for your recipient. This one is a 5"x7" pocketfold with an embossed butterfly on the front flap. When it is untied it reveals the gift certificate with a personal note inside. Now this will be something they enjoy getting in the mail!
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Magnetic Invitation Reminders
In todays paperless world we are more likely to create an evite for a big party or celebration than print out personal invitations. It's quick and easy to create and provides a great way to quickly RSVP. I love the evite. But why not after the initial evite responses come through send out a fun magnetic reminder to the guests who have already replied that they will be attending. It's a fun way to build the excitement and they can put it on their refrigerator so they won't forget. Like this custom cork magnet "reminder" (with an actual tack) created for Georgia and Ron for a dinner party they were hosting. Cali Cards can customize this in any colors.
Cali Cards, Tiffany Lord Arnaldo is a stationery designer who specializes in creating custom invitations.
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230
Copyright © 2010 Cali Cards http://www.calicards.com
Cali Cards - Tiffany Lord Arnaldo - tiffany@calicards.com - 858-688-2230