Purple Raincoat - Personalized Keepsakes for Life's Special Memories

 

Special Event Framed Keepsakes

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Surprise Birthday Framed Keepsake 16x20/Platinum

12x16 artwork framed with mat

When giving a surprise party for a milestone birthday, a framed invitation is a wonderful keepsake for the guest of honor (who hasn’t seen the invitation if everything has gone as planned). The large square pieces at the top of this collage are the front and inside of the folded invitation. We also included the reply card, because of its clever wording (“I promise not to post the invitation on my refrigerator”), and the “no gifts” card, to demonstrate the spirit behind the party. The front of the invitation (upper left-hand corner of the collage) is layered with dark blue, metallic pomegranate and textured marine blue papers. Light blue brads decorate the four corners. The inside of the invitation is layered with the same pomegranate and marine blue papers, with a textured silver-white pearlized paper on the bottom; raspberry snaps serve as accents. The response and “no gifts” cards are mounted first on white oxford vellum, plus pomegranate metallic paper for the response card and teal textured paper for the “no gifts” card. The center of the background is the custom-printed paper used to line the invitation envelope. The background layer includes a blue floral printed paper, a pink sponged paper, a textured royal blue paper, a pearlized raspberry brocade printed paper, silver-white metallic paper and raspberry colorwashed paper. Blue mesh and buttons add texture and dimension. The circular mat accents add visual interest, complementing the straight lines of the design and tying the colors together in the pearlized white frame of this keepsake.

 

Milestone Birthday Framed Keepsake 16x20/Platinum

12x16 artwork framed with mat

To celebrate her mother’s 80th birthday, our client brought in her parents’ wedding album and asked us to select a photograph to use as the focal point for a framed milestone birthday keepsake. We loved this “getting ready for the wedding” photograph both for its composition and the personality it communicates. We scanned the somewhat faded black-and-white original photo and printed it in sepia tones on matte paper. The photo is mounted on layers of cream moiré, peach paisley, and tan crackle printed papers. The background incorporates two tan floral printed papers, two ivory printed papers, a beige-and-bronze brocade printed paper and a subtle sepia-tinged rose printed paper. Copper skeleton leaves, pearls, and buttons add visual interest. Bronze ribbon accents the mat and balances the design, which is completed by the elegant cream and tan frame of this special event keepsake.

 

Valentine’s Day Card Framed Keepsake 12x12/Silver

12x12 artwork framed with no mat

This focal point of this keepsake collage is a greeting card with this beautiful quote from Herman Hesse: “If I know what love is, it is because of you.” The card is mounted on black-on-black striped cardstock, pink vellum layered over lilac sponge print paper and attached with black brads, and black embossed striped cardstock. The background was created by layering translucent black-vine-printed vellum onto hot pink cardstock. Vertical stripes of hot pink and pink swirl printed paper, and a horizontal stripe of shiny black embossed raindrop paper, continue the black and pink theme. Black satin ribbon and skeleton leaves add texture and richness to the design. This would also make a wonderful framed wedding keepsake or framed anniversary keepsake from a groom to his bride, or a bride to her groom. 

 

Keepsake Photo Collage 16x20/Platinum

16x20 artwork framed without mat

The background of this custom keepsake is pieced together from papers with subtle, weathered patterns in faded greens, blues, tans, grays, and reds. These papers reflect the casual outdoorsy feel of the photographs, which so beautifully capture the personalities of both children. Each of the photographs is mounted first on corrugated ivory paper for a consistent look. Bronze brads anchor the corrugated paper to the bottom layers. Skeleton leaves and gold mesh balance the design, which is complemented by the champagne scoop frame. Framed photo collages make wonderful special event keepsakes. 

 

Special Event Framed Keepsake 12x12/Silver

12x12 artwork framed with no mat

This invitation to a retirement ceremony required careful attention to the subtle and unusual colors used in the floral design. The invitation, which is printed in black ink on white paper with a thin gold border, is layered with pink mulberry paper, textured gold paper, and green paper that exactly matches the color of the leaves. The foundation is composed of two prints that blend the dusty pinks and greens of the invitation’s flower.  A thin strip of translucent floral cream vellum, topped off by ribbon and skeleton leaves, adds balance and texture to the design.  The cherry frame adds warmth and sophistication.

 

Special Event Framed Keepsake 11x14/Gold

11x14 artwork framed with no mat

When I had my adult bat mitzvah in 2002, I wanted to include my close friends and family in the celebration. I printed the inside portion of these invitations at home; the inside piece slips into slots behind the scrolls onto the outer portion of the invitation. The entire invitation is mounted on an artic gold metallic paper with navy blue faux eyelets in the four corners. This layer is accented by a strip of navy ripple textured paper behind the center of the invitation. A strip of translucent gold vellum paper is mounted vertically behind the arctic gold paper; horizontally, there is a strip of cream and gold swirl print paper. The background paper is cream with a dotted gold floral design. A mesh textured navy metallic paper is set directly on top of the background layer, adhered on the diagonal. Sheer gold ribbon and skeleton leaves add texture to the design. The gold textured frame is the finishing touch.

 

Special Event Framed Keepsake 18x24/Custom

18x24 artwork framed with no mat

In September 2007, the Jewish Home and Aging Services of metropolitan Detroit celebrated its 100th anniversary with a gala honoring its Executive Director. I donated this keepsake collage in honor of the wonderful work done by this organization. The large event invitation itself had eight panels, two of which included the names of donor and community leaders participating in the event. I used the other six panels individually to build this 18”x24” collage. I wanted to keep the focus on the invitation pieces, so the background for the whole piece is a white paper with a dotted silver swirl pattern. The focal point invitation panel (top center) is mounted on silver stardust paper, silver mesh paper, silver leaf-printed translucent vellum, grape cardstock, and then a final layer of the silver leaf vellum. The lower center panel is mounted on the silver leaf velum, white metallic mesh paper, and grape cardstock. Square silver brads accent the corners of the two center panels. All of the other invitation panels are mounted on the silver leaf-printed translucent vellum and grape cardstock. Pulling the panels together are silver and purple embossed paper mounted on the diagonal.

 

Birth Announcement Framed Keepsakes

Double Birth Announcement Framed Keepsake 16x20/Platinum

12x16 artwork framed with mat

For this custom keepsake, which showcases the birth announcements of this family’s daughter and son, we created a design that incorporates both masculine and feminine design elements. The common elements were the white paper, black ink and the shade of blue used in both birth announcements. The bottom layer under both birth announcements was black translucent vellum. The girl’s birth announcement was mounted first on a paper printed in two shades of pink; a similar paper in blue was used for the boy’s  birth announcement. Metal elements in pink and blue accent the individual birth announcements in this framed keepsake. The background paper includes two different rainbow striped papers as well as subtle prints of pale pinks and blues. The keepsake background also includes a yellow paper incorporating both blue and pink in its print. Translucent buttons, skeleton leaves in blue, pink and white, and blue mesh bring the design together and complement the fresh, modern feel of the birth announcements in this custom baby keepsake. White metal accents on the mat complete the design of this personalized gift. In addition to this keepsake, individual baby keepsakes were created for each of the birth announcements. So one set of birth announcement keepsakes will stay with the parents, and each of the children will have their own framed baby keepsake.

 

Framed Birth Announcement Keepsake 12x12/Silver

12x12 artwork framed without mat

For this keepsake, the birth announcement is layered on translucent blue vellum, textured sky blue paper, and white paper with embossed stripes. Immediately underneath is a piece of textured black ribbon, providing a strong vertical element that echoes the bold stripes of the multicolored vellum and the narrow pinstriped paper just beneath the ribbon. Round black brads anchor both pieces of vellum to the collage. The black ribbon also is used as a horizontal element, along with the textured black horizontal strip. Blue mesh also is used both horizontally and vertically in this birth announcement keepsake. The cloud paper used as the background is a nod to the cloud design in the keepsake itself. The black frame adds a strong masculine finish to this baby keepsake.

 

Framed Birth Announcement Keepsake 12x12/Silver

12x12 artwork framed without mat

Circles and polka dots were the main design elements for this baby keepsake. The birth announcement is layered on pink mulberry paper, white circle-embossed paper, blue and white antique flowered paper, and a pink-on-pink printed paper. Texture is added to this custom keepsake by the vertical strip of white eyelet paper, as well as the blue skeleton leaves and ribbon. The two-toned pink swirl background paper is perfectly matched by the pink-on-pink polka dotted horizontal strip. The two-toned blue polka dotted horizontal strip and pink-on-pink dotted papers balance the predominantly pink design while echoing the blue dots of the birth announcement. The white frame is the finishing touch for this framed birth announcement keepsake. 

 

Birth Announcement Framed Keepsake 12x16/Gold

12x16 artwork framed with no mat

For my daughter Zoe’s birth announcement, I designed a background to bring out the bright colors and complement the graphics included in the original design. The announcement itself is layered on metallic purple paper, multi-colored circle patterned paper, white oxford vellum, and tangerine vellum mounted on white cardstock. The background includes mango metallic paper; green textured paper; three different purple floral papers, two with glitter accents; and a tone-on-tone raspberry print to complement the raspberry ink. The announcement and its layers are anchored on a textured Aegean blue paper accented by raspberry snaps

 

Birth Announcement Framed Keepsake 12x12/Silver

12x12 artwork framed with no mat

It’s a girl, but this turquoise announcement could be used for a boy or a girl; my challenge was to turn this lovely gender-neutral announcement into a sophisticated but feminine design by using subtle patterns and a hint of pink. The announcement is mounted on turquoise tone-on-tone striped paper, followed by a patterned paper incorporating turquoise, dusty pink, cream, and chartreuse. A textured turquoise paper forms the next layer. A swirled translucent vellum paper is anchored by white silk flowers. Underneath, a pink tone-on-tone block print adds vertical interest to the turquoise tone-on-tone print background paper. A strip of subtle pink patterned paper is topped by pale pink ribbon. Silver skeleton leaves pick up the silver rattle in the announcement. 

 

Birth Announcement Framed Keepsake 12x12/Silver

12x12 artwork framed with no mat

This very sophisticated announcement has strong circular design elements and an unusual mix of color. Under the announcement is a layer of pink translucent vellum, followed by white circular embossed paper and a circle-patterned paper in brown, green, and two shades of pink. A striped paper in the same mix of colors plus white anchors the design vertically. An oxford translucent white vellum, which softens the design is anchored by two pink brads and a square of white mesh to the subtle pink background paper. White mesh also accents the horizontal green stripe of textured paper. In the lower right corner, the large pink flower with a green brad center makes a strong statement, echoing the wide-open mouth in the announcement.

 

 

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