Baer Design Studio

Baer Design Studio has a new blog

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 16:07:00 +0000

If you are reading this message, this blog is no longer active. Baer Design Studio has a whole new blog at https://baerdesignstudio.com/blog-paper-crafing-ideas/. All how-to posts, design inspiration and new products will be introduced exclusively on the new site.

Please come visit the new blog!

Brigitte Baer, Baer Design Studio

In Memory of a Life Well Lived

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 17:59:00 +0000

My therapy for losing a sweet furry member of the family, was creating a photobook. It is one of those daunting tasks that I put ususaly put aside and tell myself that I will get to it later. Since the sweet dog, Nellie, was my parent’s dog, I made myself work on the book immediately AND in the midst of our saddness. I must say that it was sooooo awesome to communicate with my family, encourage them to pen a fond memory, send me photos as we remembered the fun moments of Nellie’s life. By using my png dog word art collection, it made the design process much easier. I just sent off a 40 page book to get printed. The printer is sending it directly to my folk’s house as a surprise. Though it is not an expensive gift, I know it is be deeply cherished and it helped turn my tears of sadness into tears of gratitude for a life well lived.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 14:26:00 +0000

DESIGN YOUR OWN PRINTABLE PLANNER STICKERS

Baer Design Studio Plum Lace Digital Paper Collection

I love planners and all those stickers and accessories. Many folks are creating their own printables, dashboards and coordinating printables. Consider making some of your own! One of my favorite digital paper collections, the Plum Lace Collection, coordinates beautifully with the Erin Condren plum lace planner. Once you purchase and download, you can use the papers over and over again to fill your planner with splashes of plum, eggplant and lavender!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 16:21:00 +0000

DIY HALLOWEEN BAGS

These elegant and whimsical papers bags can be used as party favor bags for Halloween parties and classroom parties, gifts for neighbors, trick-or-treaters, teachers and more!

Gift bags are one of those things that you NEED and use over and over again! Many times, I need them at the last minute and.... the occasion and theme always seems to differ. About 15 years ago, I decided to buy sturdy paper gift bags, in bulk, in a basic color and decorate as needed. This is one DIY decision I have never regretted! Those receiving the custom gift bags are thrilled, and as for me, they were a joy to assemble.

In order to make this a fun, easy experience, I recommend these simple steps:

Purchase all items in advance and keep together, to use as needed. You will need paper bags, printer paper, printable sticker paper, glue dots, scissors or paper cutter, and do not forget ink for your printer (this seems to be the most overlooked and frustrating part).
Generally, I purchase basic colored bags made of thick paper, with handles and around 9 inches tall. This size seems to work well for holding favors, treats, gifts and even gift cards. I find that white, black, kraft and gold bags seem to be the best choice when buying them in bulk. They are a good choice for all ages and all occasions. I have purchased them from Uline, Amazon, Michaels and other hobby stores. Although I am a frequent shopper at the dollar store, I try to avoid using their paper gift bags. I have had the bags tear and the handles fall off at the worst times. However, I am a fan of their plastic treat bags.
To decorate the body of the bag, I love to use instant download printables, quotes, and clip art. The beauty with a digital image or pre-designed printable, is that you can use it over and over again and it is always available.
I find that a 5 inch square label is the perfect size for a 9 inch bag. The fastest way, is to print out the image directly onto printable sticker paper for the body of the bag. Through the years, the quality of printable sticker paper has increased and the price has decreased. I always keep printable sticker paper on hand. HOWEVER, I use glossy or matte photo paper if I need a specific look or if I need the colors to be exact, bright and crisp. Printable sticker paper can change the color integrity of the digital image. Sometimes this matters, and at other times, the color change is not that important.
My latest passion, has been these gorgeous printable bows. I suggest you print onto heavy photo paper. All you need to do is cut out the bow piece with scissors and glue the two outer tabs into the center using a sticker adhesive (my favorite adhesive are the glue dots by Zots). Next, glue the bow onto the ribbon shape. Finally I attach it to the bag using a a glue dot.
Printable gift tags are also a quick, easy and beautiful way to personalize a gift bag. I like to use heavy matte photo paper when printing my tags. Sometimes I bring the tag printable pdf into a software program to add names. I tend to do that for parties. I also keep a tub with pre-cut gift tags on hand and then I just use add a name as needed. I like using Sharpies to add name because the ink does not run. I prefer to use a paper cutter when trimming my tags from their 8.5 x 11 sheet. Sometimes I punch a hole and add ribbon to the tag, but many times, I just add a glue dot to the back of the tag and tuck it near the paper bow.
If you are interested in purchasing the printable designs used in this article, you can purchase them here

STAY TUNED: I will be adding more printable gift bag decor to my shop!

Year of the Rooster

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:08:00 +0000

Labor Day has passed and that means I have to get all my new holiday backgrounds designs added to my Etsy shop!

I just created my new Chinese New Year digital paper collection for 2017. This collection includes touches of Chinese paper lanterns, fans, coins and, of course, roosters!

On Saturday, January 28, 2017, we celebrate the Rooster. A few interesting facts:

People born in a year of the Rooster are very observant. Hardworking, resourceful, courageous and talented, Roosters are very confident about themselves. Roosters are always active, amusing and popular among the crowd. Roosters are talkative, outspoken, frank, open, honest, and loyal individuals. They like to be the center of attention and always appear attractive and beautiful.

Roosters are happiest when they are surrounded by others, whether at a party or just a social gathering. They enjoy the spotlight and will exhibit their charm at any occasion.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 20:06:00 +0000

LAVENDER DIGITAL PAPER

(quatrefoil patterns, moroccan patterns, damask patterns, lace patterns, floral patterns)

Lavender is all around this summer- in weddings, blooming in gardens, making a splash in party themes, fashion, hair color, planner sticker and even paint. Baer Design Studio has a beautiful selection of digital backgrounds in a variety of shades of purple, but this is the latest creation!

LAVENDER COLLECTION

Downton Abbey Lavender Tea Bread

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 21:01:00 +0000

Inspired by the lavender growing in my garden, I baked my first loaf of Lavender Tea Bread! I found this wonderful recipe on Pinterest. It was posted by the Reluctant Entertainer. Since I had lavender in my garden, I was searching for an easy recipe that used fresh instead of dried lavender. During my search, I compiled looks of wonderful uses for Lavender. You can find them on my Pinterest board

Digital Paper available at Baer Design Studio

DOWNTON ABBEY LAVENDER TEA BREAD

YIELD: 4-6

PREP TIME: 10 minutes

COOK TIME: 50 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 1 hour

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup milk
3 Tbsp. fresh lavender, finely chopped (or 2 Tbsp. dried)
6 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 teaspoon water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
Combine the milk and lavender in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat to a simmer, then remove from heat, and allow to cool slightly.
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg until the mixture is light and fluffy; add in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture alternately with the milk and lavender until just blended.
Pour into the prepared pan.
Bake for 45-50 minutes in the preheated oven.
To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar and remaining ingredients. Spread over hot cake. Cool in pan 20 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack

Baer Design Studio: Peach Blossom and Spring Green Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 20:06:00 +0000

Baer Design Studio: Peach Blossom and Spring Green Inspiration

Peach Blossom and Spring Green Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 20:00:00 +0000

I love when I find a beautiful color palette! The peach and green combination from this trending wedding palette inspired a stunning digital paper collection in my Etsy shop. These digital papers are all instant downloads and are designed to be used for wedding stationery, bridal showers projects, card makers, scrapbook layouts and more!

Springtime Collection at Baer Design Studio

Faded Flag Digital Alphabet

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 May 2016 15:17:00 +0000

For those working on patriotic crafting themes, take a look at my Faded Flag Digital Alphabet. All letters, numbers and symbols are pngs and can be used for creating posters, blog posts, cards, scrapbook layout, invites and sooooo much more!

Freebie Friday- Memorial Day Weekend Instant Download

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 May 2016 01:45:00 +0000

In honor of Memorial Day, the freebie download is wood and brick natural surface digital papers in Red, White and Blue. All 10 papers are 8.5 x 11 inches. You can download them here. Have a wonderful weekend! Brigitte

Prom Photography Shoots- Under the Sea Prom- Part One

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 May 2016 19:12:00 +0000

In the spirit of Prom season, my next few posts will share some ideas that can be used not only for proms, but for bridal showers, birthday parties, and special events with the Under the Sea theme.

DIY PHOTO PROPS

My son asked if we could host a pre-prom experience before his actual church prom. One of the main reasons for the pre-prom was to take some fun and casual photos. We wanted elegant props that coordinated with the printable paper party decor I designed. We opted to go with over-sized letters covered in glitter! The 13 inch letters were purchased from Hobby Lobby. They were made of a MDF board.

First we used a metallic gold paint as a base coat on the letters.
Second, we covered the letters with spray adhesive.
Third, we coated the letters with gold glitter.
After they were completely dry, we added 2 coats of Modge Podge. We did not want the glitter to come off on all those beautiful clothes!

A very fun way to add some "under the sea" bubbles to the photos, was by using bubble wands and recruiting the younger siblings to help with the bubble backdrops. It was so much fun seeing bubbles in the air and hearing the laughter from the helpers AND the parents aka the photographers.

The glitter letters were such a hit, that they made their way to the actual prom photo booth. Little did I know that when you rearrange the letters P-R-O-M, they spell Word......leave it to teenagers to teach me a few things!

FREEBIE FRIDAY (on Monday)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 May 2016 17:21:00 +0000

Many of my customers are busy working on Father's Day projects. To assist with your creative process, I am giving you 5 - 8.5 x 11 inch blue and silver textured digital papers! Enjoy!

Download all 5 papers here. For the complete Blue and Silver Damask Collection in both 8.5 x 11 inches and 12 x 12 inches, purchase here.

FREEBIE FRIDAY

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 06 May 2016 15:20:00 +0000

So it is Friday, and it is two days until Mother's Day.....do you have your Mother's Day card? Well, if not, you can download my Freebie Friday giveaway which includes 6 printable cards. Just follow the printing instructions, from my How to Print Digital Paper blog post and your prints will look gorgeous!

What do you do with the printable card images once you have downloaded them? All of the images are JPEG, which is just like a photo. Treat the image as you would a photo. Print one, or print them all. They each come as a single JPEG and measure 5x5 inches.

You can either print and paste onto a larger cardstock to customize your card, add the image to a scrapbook page, create a fridge magnet, make a mixed media project, decoupage the image, make a small poster, post to your Mother's Facebook page, or just email as an attachment (with your personalized message, of course!).

If you do not want to use for Mother's Day, you can share on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, etc. You can also just keep in your personal digital art collection. This artwork can only be used for personal purposes and cannot be sold. (It you want to use for commercial sales, please contact me to purchase a commercial license).

Here is the free download, which expires on May 13, 2016. Download and save on your computer before it expires.

Happy Mother's Day to all those hardworking moms! Brigitte Baer, www.BaerDesignStudio.com

Take a look at this creative use of a digital image

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 02 May 2016 14:44:00 +0000

One of my favorite parts of being a seller on Etsy, is seeing how my customers use the digital images I design. The clever use I am featuring today is from an Etsy shop called La Dolce Vita Cakes located in the United Kingdom. Louise used my Toile Digital Background Collections to create her Wafer Papers.

If you are like me, you are probably wondering "What is wafer paper?" Wafer papers are a clever way of decorating cakes and cookies. La Dolce Vita Cakes printed my toile images onto edible sheets of "wafer". Next, a cake decorator would apply these "papers" to dried royal icing or fondant which can cover a cookie, fondant cupcake topper, or a cake. These wafer papers are also fantastic for making wafer paper flowers, side panels, wraparounds and other decorations for cake and cupcake creations! You can also apply to the smooth underside of a store bought chocolate bar, using corn syrup or Wilton piping gel.

Black and Natural Toile Collection

Pink and Blue Toile Digital Paper Collection

FREEBIE FRIDAY

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 15:19:00 +0000

For all of my weekend crafters, I am giving you a GORGEOUS digital paper collection to keep you motivated and inspired to complete your projects. This is my Pink Burlap and Lace Digital Stationery Collection.

These 8.5x11 papers are free for a short time, so download today here. If you want the 12 x 12 inches papers or if the free download is expired, you can still purchase them in my Etsy shop at here.

Have a wonderful weekend! Happy crafting! Brigitte

Trend Alert: Low Poly Design Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:31:00 +0000

Low poly patterns are showing up everywhere. It can be seen on wedding invitations, photo backgrounds, holiday cards, posters, home décor, clothing, sculptures, costuming and more. Once it catches your eye, you will begin spotting it, too!

What is low poly design? It originates with 3D graphics for animations, movies, models and video games. The formation of sharp angles with simple geometric shapes creates interesting textures with hints of gradients. It has a modern look with a very sophisticated feel.

I also created a board on Pinterest with loads of inspiration http://pin.it/T1IQBMX! Here are a few examples from that board:

Here are a few examples of digital paper collections I designed which are inspired by Low Poly...

Pink and Coral Low Poly Paper Collection

Blue and Purple Low Poly Paper Collection

Black Low Poly Paper Collection

Gold Low Poly Paper Collection

Pantone Rose Quartz Inspired

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 17:13:00 +0000

Whether deciding on the color for your wedding, baby shower, shopping at the mall or looking for inspiration on Pinterest, you will see PINK. More specifically, you will see this beautiful shade of pink called Rose Quartz from Pantone. I created my new pink lace and quatrefoil digital paper collection using this warm and rich shade of pink. I envision my customers using these papers to creating invitations, paper decor, scrapbook layouts, creating cards, posters, and so much more.

This collection comes in both 12 x 12 inches and 8.5 x 11 inches. These papers come in 300 dpi high resolution and are jpgs. These can be purchased here. Thank you so much for stopping by!

How to Print Digital Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 18:54:00 +0000

HOW TO PRINT DIGITAL PAPER AT HOME!?!
      Since this is the number one question I am asked, I will pass along what I have learned over the past 15 years of experimenting on multiple printers/papers/inks (one of my printers has even been gold leafed and is now part of my new branding campaign).
      First off, there is no one size fits all. You have to take into consideration your printer, your printer settings, the paper type and the project itself. I work off of a number of different printers, for different reasons. For the best and most consistent results, I use my Epson Photo Stylus inkjet printer with Epson Premium Presentation Matte Paper. I tend to like photo printers. I also like photo paper and it is available in matte, luster and glossy. Many people assume “glossy” when they hear photo paper, but there are other options.
      I find that it is best to use paper from the manufacturer of the printer you are using, especially when printing photos or need the colors to print accurately. However, my HP Photosmart printer was my go to printer when working with ink jet canvas/fabrics, iron on transfer and inkjet watercolor paper from a variety of manufacturers.
Prefer to work with cardstock? The number one printing problem comes from customers who are trying to print onto scrapbook cardstock. I LOVE cardstock because it is heavyweight and looks beautiful, but it can be a printing nightmare because it is porous and can have a coating. Look for inkjet or laser friendly cardstock/cover paper. Make sure to adjust the printer settings. My latest favorite paper- metallic cover papers. I have found them at Staples and through Jam Papers. I generally use a white pearl version, but I have also used the ivory and gray metallic papers. I use them for gift tags, invitations and my printable doilies. Every year, I find more and more printer friendly cardstock and will keep you posted through my newsletters.
      The most overlooked component of printing at home tends to come with the printer settings. Make sure to adjust the printer settings on our printer. These will vary based on the manufacturer. The majority of the time I use “BORDERLESS PRINTING” and “BEST PHOTO” , even if I am not printing a photo (I find is best to treat any printable image as a photo). These settings are generally under the advanced settings option. Make sure to choose the correct “PAPER TYPE” setting. When you are working with specialty papers, from Avery, etc., they enclose printer instructions which tell you which paper settings to use.
      Should I use generic ink or ink from my printer’s manufacturer? If I am printing a project that requires perfect color and the photos are the main focus, then I use the manufacturer’s ink. If there can be more give on the color, then I use generic ink. Most of the time I use generic ink and adjust my printer settings and paper selections.
      When you find a combination that works for you, keep that paper in stock AND write down the printer settings that you found successful (write it directly on the box). This way, if months pass between printing projects, you will not have to rely on your memory or start over from scratch! Since I like to order online, I always like to keep my favorite papers in stock.
On a final note, I recommend taking into consideration whether it is cost effective to print your project from home, or if it is cheaper to send out your project. I print my gift tags, paper party décor and cards from home. I have found that it is much more cost effective to have all my 12x12 scrapbook pages printed by PersnickityPrints.com and my 4x6 photos and posters printed by Costco.

Baer Design Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 16:20:00 +0000

Baer Design Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 16:17:00 +0000

My latest inspiration for creating fun and elegant digital papers! This is a trending shade of pink that is being used for 2016 weddings. Pink always seems to be a popular choice for weddings, however, the shade of pink can vary greatly. I found this pink and black wedding photo on Pinterest because it inspired me to create my new Pink and Black Quatrefoil and Lace Digital Paper Collection. Quatrefoil and lace are also currently trending patterns and are being used to create wedding and bridal shower invites, table numbers, envelope liners, save the date and thank you notes. The beauty in finding a digital paper collection for your wedding, is that you can re-use the digital background papers for your stationery, paper decor, scrapbooking and photo backgrounds immediately or in the future. Once you own the digital paper collection, it is yours to use for years to come!

DIY Decorated Clipboards using Baer Design Studio Digital Papers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 15:38:00 +0000

My daughter's bedroom is a tween DIY dream room! Hope is constantly surfing Pinterest, Etsy,You Tube, etc in search of inspiration and ideas. We fell in love with the idea of having a dream board station (aka hanging clipboards) above her daybed. The idea is to clip photos, magazine pages, her creative thoughts/ideas, sketches, etc near her dreaming station (aka her bed).

Here are the steps we took to create Hope's Dream Board Station:
1. Cut a board to 56" wide. We used a piece of board left over from house trim. It came in white, so we did not need to paint it.
2. Attach knobs. We love the selection at Hobby Lobby and purchased the same glass knobs that we used for Hope's dresser drawers.
3. Hang the board onto to the wall. We screwed it directly into the wall so that it was secured into wall studs.
4. Purchase clear acrylic clipboards. We found them through an office supply store. The clipboards we used are approx. 8" x 13". We purchased ones that had a moveable clip on top of the board.
5. Next, I printed out 4- 12 x 12 inch Floral Snowflake Papers from www.BaerDesignStudio.etsy.com. I choose these papers because they matched the colors of Hope's room and I wanted 4 coordinating papers. I did not want the same pattern on each clipboard.

6. I have a large format printer, so I printed the papers onto a Premium Photo Paper. If you do not have access to a large format printer, you can have the papers printed at an office supply store such as Staples or you can have them printed as 12 x 12 photos at a photo center such as Cosco Photo. They are 2.99 for a 12 x 12 inch print.
7. I used adhesive dots to attach the paper FACE UP to the BACK of the clipboard. This is why I purchase clear clipboards. I wanted to be able to change the decorative paper as needed and did not want it to get destroyed when using the clipboard. I was careful to line up the paper to the clipboard first and then one by one I attached the adhesive dots to the corner of the clipboard and then pressed the paper FACE UP onto the clipboard.
8. Since my paper was only 12 x 12, I had an inch of clipboard exposed. I used washi tape to create a trim. I attached the tape to the front side of the board.
9. I cut 4 pieces of tulle ribbon to create a thick ribbon. So, in total I cut 16 pieces of ribbon - 4 per clipboard. Next, I threaded them through the movable clip hanger on top of the board. This is specifically why I choose the clipboards I purchased for this project. The moveable clip is not a standard feature on all clipboards.
10. Lastly, I took the ribbon attached to the clipboard and tied a loose bow around the knob. I wanted it to be loose enough so Hope can take down her clipboard and then be able to attach it to the knob again without re-tying the ribbon. I fluffed the 4 ribbons on top of each clipboard and VOILA!

CD holders

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:42:00 +0000

Who doesn't love to give a gift that is fun, thoughtful and easy on the wallet? Well try this gift idea!!! Burn your favorite songs onto a cd and then make your own cd envelope.

1. Use a 5.5" square envelope in either paper or plastic from an office supply store. For this example, I cut my envelope using my Ellison die-cutter.

2. For my black/white/red cd holder, I embellished using the Black and White Paper Flowers from Creative Memories. I stacked them using the foam squares.

3. For the closure, I used sticky velcros adhesive dots located in the sewing section of a craft store.

This idea can also be used if you want to burn photos and give them to your friends or relatives as gifts!

Make your own gift tags

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:46:00 +0000

The Creative Memories tag maker is by far, my favorite tool. I use it for my Everyday Display Boards, cards, school projects and of course to make gift tags!

You can use any paper or cardstock!

This is how I made these tags:

1. I cut my base colored paper with the tag maker punch.

2. I cut my contrast paper with the tag maker. Then I cut off about 1/2" the bottom. I used the Petal Multi-Maker punch.

3. I used the taperunner to adhere the 2 pieces together. Then I used the Petal Multi-maker punch for the corners.

4. For the final bit of pop, I used the Limited Addition snowflake maker pocket punch to cut out a snowflake (This punch is available through the end of December).

5. I used the tiny Creative Memories adhesive foam squares to attach the snowflake to the center of the petal maker cutout.

6. Attach a ribbon!

If you are interested in purchasing the tag maker, it will be 20% off Dec 5. Add it to your wishlist!

Gifts Bags

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:26:00 +0000

Here are some fun new ways to use Creative Memories embellishments Jewel Paper Tags to make gift bags.

The words are die-cuts shapes from the Creative Memories Winter Reflections Accent Pack (which I will be giving out as doorprizes at my December events).

I used kraft paper bags, a staple at any craft store. I tied raffia to the hands for extra texture and pop, this to is available at craft stores. The gift tags was also made with Creative Memories tools! Happy Holidays!