New Year's Card Design Breakdown

The Inspiration

Every year I hand make (well, typically, but not always) a New Year's card. See last year's here. I typically use whatever random idea comes to mind or that I just can't get out of my head. This year's card was inspired both by one of Jennifer Daniel's emoji designs that I've been using as my tablet lock screen for a while, and Kelli Anderson's Alphabet in Motion book. Also, I just wanted to send some emotional support sticks to everyone.

The Technical Details

Here are some of the prototypes I made.

First, just to figure out how the mechanism would work. Then to figure out how to make it into something kind of like a pack of fries. There were about three rounds of creating the template, printing, prototyping, and going back to re-adjust. I want to show you the template layout, because of two technical items:

1. I want to put as many on a page as possible to use the paper efficiently. I got 2 out of each 8.5x11 red page, and 6 out of each yellow page. It's great because I can buy less paper, but also the paper I have left over I can use for other stuff.

2. I also want to minimize the number of cuts I'll need to make. To do that, you may notice that I'm pulling some of the straight edges out to the edge of the paper – one less cut. I'm only making 50 of these, but why make more work.

Also, a few of the lines are score lines. It might seem like taking the time to score wastes time, but I assure you it does not.

Design Choices

Clearly this was going to be red and yellow, but I was initially torn on the envelope color. A kraft envelope would certainly be appropriate, although not very snazzy. And really, that would be a throwback, because I can't think of any fast food that still comes in a brown paper bag – they're all white now. But a white envelope is a snooze, so I went with metallic white. Appropriate signifier AND festive.

Et voila:

Colophon

Paper – Brite Hue Red 65lb C and Goldenrod 67lb C from Jam Paper.
Envelope – Crystal White Metallic A7 also from Jam Paper.
Font – Kernit "inspired by the work and characters created by the late Jim Henson."
Stamp – Betty White from USPS.
Adhesives – I love, love, love these Kokuyo glue tape rollers for no mess, no wrinkle, instant stick. I just bought refills. I tried Zip Dry, which worked well. It is a little messier, and there is a short dry time involved, but it's great for really small places. I could write a whole article on my favorite adhesives. 🤔