Vale Design : Freelance Package Design & Branding

Quote :: Fred Astaire movie

 

DIY: Free Printable Scrapbook Mexican Wedding Favor Bag Topper

Remember these Mexican Wedding Favor Bag Toppers? I designed them for my brother's wedding reception to top the Mexican Wedding Cookie favors. They have never been available as a free printable download...until now! Use for your Mexican wedding, reception or rehearsal dinner. Here is how we made them:

ITEMS NEEDED

1. Scrapbook paper of your choice

2. Favor/treat bags

** NOTE ** This PDF is designed to fit on a standard 4"x9" plastic bag. We found ours at Hobby Lobby. The brand was Sunny Side Up™ 50 medium clear bags.

DIRECTIONS

1. Buy theme colored or slightly patterned scrapbook paper.

2. {if you need to} Trim your scrapbook paper down to a standard 8.5"x11" sheet of paper.

3. Print free download onto scrapbook paper.

4. Trim on black lines and fold in half.

5. {if you need to} Cut some of the plastic favor bag top off.

** NOTE ** We only had 5 cookies in a bag and we had a lot of extra plastic at the top.

6. Fold favor bag top over. Slip favor bag topper over top of bag and staple twice along the bottom to secure topper to bag and to seal bag shut. {see pictures above for reference}

Click here for MexicanWeddingFavorBagTopper download.

** NOTE ** Download is black type on white paper. Intended for use on colored or patterned scrapbook paper of your choice. 2 toppers per 8.5"x11" sheet.

© Vale Design 

COMMON SENSE RULE: For personal use only. Not for commercial use.  ©erinvaledesign.com

{image credits Vale Design}

Etsy Find :: The Wheatfield

[1] Lg Format Lost Poster [2] Land of Ampersand [3] Lg Format Joy Print [4] Sweet Bird

All images from The Wheatfield Etsy shop.

I just bought this print to include on my bird illustration gallery wall.

{image credits The Wheatfield}

Quote :: Norma Shearer

 

Chicago + Fall Favorite Links

Yikes! Busy week and this weekend is just as jam packed. I am back from a quick Chicago onsite freelance job and my to do list is a mile long! 

// FALL FAVORITE LINKS //

+ new Brand Packaging online mag

+ a necessity for everyone who works

+ latest Vale Design freelance work

+ GREAT visual reference for handwritten logos {using this link myself for a client!}

+ one of the most beautiful songs EVER

+ super cute Halloween invites & cards from Rifle Paper Co {via Paper Crave}

+ new Vale Design site category {these are all over my home & office & now my website!}

+ OBSESSED with this album right now {I smell a Grammy}

+ I am adding this free printable next week! {popular email question lately}

// LOCALS // {Indianapolis}

+ Carmel International Arts Festival - check out Lori of Fresh Picked Whimsy in the Bella Chic tent!

+ Titanic Exhibit opens at the Indiana State Museum this weekend! {I went in Chicago. GREAT exhibit!}

Hope to see everyone at the Carmel Arts Festival! Have a great weekend everyone! See you back here on Monday!

ps Happy Birthday Sonja!

{image credits Vale Design}

Vale Design Work :: Le Dolce Vita Patisserie

I am so excited to share some recent Vale Design portfolio work for Le Dolce Vita Patisserie. Le Dolce Vita Patisserie specializes in sweet treats, wedding favors, French Macarons and custom event work. My client, Kelly, was just as sweet!

I designed the logo, "quick" contact business cards, stickers, website/blog design and programming. We are currently working on the packaging phase of the project. Make sure to check out the website!

If you are in the Indianapolis area, listen to your sweet tooth and contact them. Their holiday schedule is filling up quickly! Good luck Kelly!

© Vale Design

{image credits Vale Design}

Dollar Bill Re-design Project

Ahh...if only US money could look as cool as these! These suggested dollar re-designs, by Dowling Duncan, are part of the Dollar ReDe$ign Project. Click over to check out all 15 of the suggested designs. If only... 

{image credits Dowling Duncan}

Quote :: Kathryn Hepburn

 

Vale Design on Flickr

Vale Design is now on Flickr! Come check out some of my favorite pictures, including this lovely orchid image I photographed on a recent trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory in Indianapolis. {Truly one of the loveliest places I have ever visited. Would be such a romantic place to get engaged!}

You can always use the new quick link in the upper right "Elsewhere" section!

{image credits Vale Design}

Quote :: Mumford & Sons

 

Martha Stewart Measuring Free Printable

When cooking or baking, I am constantly having to look up measurement equivalents. This Martha Stewart free measuring printable will come in so handy. It's free! Download one for yourself and a friend, laminate and keep stashed close to your recipes. 

{image credits Martha Stewart}

mmm...Monday :: Sausage, Peppers and Onions

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound sweet Italian turkey sausage
2 red bell peppers, sliced
2 yellow onions, sliced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup Marsala wine
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
4 to 6 fresh Italian sandwich rolls, optional

DIRECTIONS

Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausages and cook until brown on both sides, about 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and drain.

Keeping the pan over medium heat, add the peppers, onions, salt, and pepper and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the oregano, basil, and garlic and cook 2 more minutes.

Add the tomato paste and stir. Add the Marsala wine, tomatoes, and chili flakes, if using. Stir to combine, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to release all the browned bits. Bring to a simmer.

Cut the sausages into 4 to 6 pieces each, about 1-inch cubes. Add the sausage back to the pan and stir to combine. Cook until the sauce has thickened, about 20 minutes.

Serve in bowls. Or, if serving as a sandwich, split the rolls in half lengthwise. Hollow out the bread from the bottom side of each roll, being careful not to puncture the crust. Fill the bottom half of the roll with sausage mixture. Top and serve sandwiches immediately.

**Oh my goodness. I made this last Thursday for a nice big Italian family dine-in night. Big hit! This is one of my husband's favorite food combination. I figured it would not be that hard to make and I was right! I had a bag mix of frozen peppers and onions and some leftover marinara sauce that I needed to use anyway. These sandwiches were so filling. Great for a Fall/Winter dinner. Also, the sausage, peppers & onion mixture would be so tasty over angel hair pasta! Original recipe found here.

{image credits Food Network}

Blog Love :: Young House Love

It is no secret that I am allergic to decorating my house. Hives. Panic attacks. Do they make a pill for that? I am on a mad mission this year to rectify this problem. {master bedroom/bathroom painted. hardwood flooring bought and paid for this weekend!}

John and Sherry Petersik run Young House Love, a site BURSTING with home inspiration, tutorials and resources. Plain and simple, this site is amazing. I know I am late to this table, but again, allergic. In a short amount of time, this site has inspired me to set home remodel goals, both big and small, and somehow it has begun to alleviate that fear of messing those projects up. They may even inspire me to hang something on my walls. {can you say phobia?} A MUST bookmark site! Make sure to check out their lovely design dilemma inspiration boards.

{image credits Young House Love}

mmm...Monday :: Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables

INGREDIENTS 

2 red peppers, cored and cut into 1-inch wide strips
2 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 summer squash, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-inch cubes
4 cremini mushrooms, halved
1 yellow onion, peeled and sliced into 1-inch strips
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1 tablespoon dried Italian herb mix or herbs de Provence
1 pound penne pasta
3 cups marinara sauce (store bought or homemade)
1 cup grated fontina cheese
1/2 cup grated smoked mozzarella
1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus 1/3 cup for topping
2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

On a baking sheet, toss the peppers, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and onions with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and dried herbs. Roast until tender, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for about 6 minutes. Since you will be cooking the pasta a second time in the oven, you want to make sure the inside is still hard. Drain in a colander.

In a large bowl, toss the drained pasta with the roasted vegetables, marinara sauce, cheeses, peas, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix, until all the pasta is coated with the sauce and the ingredients are combined.

Pour the pasta into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan. Top with the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and butter pieces. Bake until top is golden and cheese melts, about 25 minutes.

**I am going to call this dish "kitchen sink" pasta. I had three boxes of pasta, each a little less than half full, that I wanted to use. I also had a variety of vegetables that needed to be used before they went bad. I decided to throw them all together in this dish. The pastas I used: orzo, penne and farfalle. The vegetables I used: frozen artichokes and mushrooms. I also had some grilled turkey brats that I sliced up and threw in. To save time I just stir fried the mushrooms in some olive oil. Everything tastes good swimming in marinara sauce and baked with gooey cheese! Original recipe found here. Enjoy!

{image credits Food Network}

mmm...Monday :: Marinated Bean Salad

INGREDIENTS 

Choose 3 of the 5 cans below:

1 can peas
1 can cut green beans
1 can kidney or garbanzo beans
1 can lima beans
1 can corn

1 small onion, diced
1 small green bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup pimento

Dressing

1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon paprika

DIRECTIONS

MIx the dressing ingredients well and pour over the drained vegetables. Better is made the day before serving.

**I received the cutest, most thoughtful care package from my husband's Aunt the other day. How cute is that?! She included this recipe. She made this dish for us at a family gathering this summer. I could not get enough of it! So tasty and pretty. This would be a great fall "Indian Summer" party dish. Apparently, this was her mother's recipe. I love recipe hand-me-downs and I am honored to have it passed down to me. Thanks Aunt L! Enjoy!

Sleepy + Summer Lovin' Links

This picture of Daisy pretty much sums up the mood around the Vale household and office. Busy design week. The office was a flurry of contracts, estimates, invoices, blog design sketches, print quotes and millions of Post-it® notes. I am praying my morning coffee kicks in soon! 

// SUMMER LOVIN' LINKS //

+ Design*Sponge Biz Ladies Blog to Grow Business

+ Great video to teach & inspire hanging wall art

+ Jamming out to this song right now

+ and this song

+ Researching this and this for contract e-signatures

+ My office is covered in these

+ Obsessed with the Poster Cabaret {you like design. you want to buy good design. go here.}

+ LOVING all these bird posters

+ Can't wait for him to preform at the VMAs

+ Student suggested Kmart® packaging re-brand

+ Must have this print

+ Loving these surf shots {my ocean obsession is real and its deep people}

// LOCALS // {Indianapolis}

+ Indianapolis Chinese Festival

+ French Market

+ Two Wheels, One City

So so short today! Long work day ahead of me. Enjoy the weekend and see you all back here Monday. Great recipe to share for mmm...Monday!

{image credits Vale Design}

Chad Hagen Nonsensical Infographics

If only all annual report charts and graphs could be as pretty as artist/designer Chad Hagen's illustrations... 

{via ffffound}

{image credits Chad Hagen}

Crate & Barrel Digital Alarm Clock

As I was walking through Crate&Barrel the other day, researching the perfect reading chair, I spotted this little design gem in the form of a digital alarm clock. It spoke to the graphic designer in me. It whispered, "you know you want me to wake you up every morning." If only they had one in white...

{image credits Crate&Barrel}

Jungle + Summer Lovin' Links

It's a jungle in here! My husband has quite the green thumb outside so I figured maybe we should add some of that lush greenery inside! Meet our new kids! {All plants purchased from Lowes in the indoor plant section. ps those three big lovelies in the back were only $9.00 each!}

// SUMMER LOVIN' LINKS //

+ my new favorite home inspiration site {thanks M for the tip!}

+ House plants that make you healthy {inspired my plant shopping trip}

+ How to clean house plants

+ Free DIY hanky printables from Eat Drink Chic {Amy you have done it again! Lovely}

+ Before & After Michael's Farm packaging {via The Dieline}

+ Great free printable round-up {via Paper Crave}

+ Bakery Half Dozen Fall Course open registration {I did this. HIGHLY RECOMMEND}

+ Part II of the copyright and trademark questions {see Part I here}

+ My Beach Bedroom Bathroom inspiration boards

+ Gold mine of professional inspiration boards {via Young House Love}

+ LOVE this logo {combines my love of design and birds}

+ John Derian collection at select Target stores and online starting this weekend {sneak peek}

// LOCALS // {Indianapolis}

+ Get messy at Rib America

+ Check out the new bar Ball & Biscuit on Mass Ave {I have been there. Swanky and Cool!}

+ Bella Chic Interiors in Carmel. {Gorgeous, unique, antique furniture at insanely good prices. Facebook updated with latest auction goodies}

+ Groovin' in the Garden at Easley Winery

+ America We Remember at the Garfield Park Conservatory {conservatory closed Labor Day}

Have a great, safe long weekend everyone! See you back here WEDNESDAY!

Jonathan Adler Pop Candle Packaging

What a great jolt of color from Jonathan Adler's Pop Candle packaging! Simple clean design with a great pattern surprise in the box. Wish more clients would invest in two-sided printed. 

Grapefruit / Tomato / Watercress

{image credits Jonathan Adler}

Vale Design Work :: Moonbug Photography Blog Design Revisions

One of my freelance clients, photographer Sonja Clark of Moonbug Photography, was happy with the blog she had designed and set-up, but she was looking for that little something extra. We had a quick brainstorming session on strengthening the look of her brand, visual organization and legibility. Then I went to work!

I designed a new blog header showcasing her logo {with its sparkly new ® registration! Congrats!} and used the bug as a subliminal arrow to help move the viewer across the top of the site and down the right side to the newly created quick buttons. The side buttons emphasize the brand color and utilize the playful lightening bug graphic to highlight main information. Make sure to check out the reference section with Sonja's helpful hints when preparing yourself or your family for a professional photoshoot. Pop over to check out the new design!

**Note :: Indianapolis Locals :: Her schedule is quickly filling up with school pictures, mini sessions and early holiday card shoots. Be sure to book asap!

{image credits Vale Design and Moonbug Photography}

Beach Bedroom Bathroom Inspiration Boards

Confession: I hate decorating my house. It causes me stress. I have a phobia of hanging pictures. Seriously, I need a support group.

However, two weeks ago I decided that it was time to start finishing up the major projects around the house. We have been in our house 4 years and I am ashamed to say that our master suite has been neglected. White walls. No window treatments. Boring. Side note: I had the office professionally finished with gorgeous built-ins our first year in the house. My priorities might be backwards...Anyway, I am going to be working on the following projects the remainder of the year. [1] Master Bedroom [2] Master Bathroom [3] Dining Room [4] Hardwood floors [downstairs and maybe in the Master].

I have been swimming around the internet non-stop the past couple of weeks and have begun to pull images and make notes. I like neutrals with vintage, antique, snarky and eclectic pieces mixed in. So without further ado, I present my Master Bedroom and Bathroom inspiration boards. Grab your sunscreen and bathing suits! We're going to the beach!

Current bedroom furniture: bed, nightstands, 4 drawer dresser & blue Ball jars [1] Genie Table Lamp [2] Reina Window Panel [3] Surf Days [4] Salty & Awake [5] Hotel Bedding [6] Petrie Chair  //  E Letter / J letter / Keep Calm Poster

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Gossamer Blue

[1] Glass Canisters [2] Ocean Beach [3] Little Fishermen [4] Sponge [5] Towels [6] Teak Bath Collection 

Paint Color: Valspar Au Lait Ole [Lowes 3003-9C]

I will definitely be posting Before and Afters. Keep checking back!