Design Spotlight: Ernestine Grindal

Today’s Design Spotlight is on Ernestine Grindal, who shares a very sweet story with us about her Mother’s Day card. It’s also a lesson in spontaneity for all  you photographers out there. If you would like to see your favorite and/or bestselling card spotlighted here, get in touch!

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Outside: I suppose you'll be expecting breakfast in bed? Inside: No problem, you deserve it! Kibbles or bits? Have a great day, Mom. You're the best!

My Jack Russell Terrier, Phoebe, is my muse, my buddy and a source of great entertainment for the last 12 years.  She’s been a true inspiration (and model) for many of my cards.  When she’s not jumping around on her hind legs  she’s such a “prima donna,” always looking for the cushiest spot in the house, burying herself in the pillows.

I had just gotten a digital camera – pretty late in the game, I must admit it was difficult to pry my hands off of my 35mm Nikon.  Phoebe was just peeking out from under the covers and I saw a great chance to test my new camera.  Now I’m not a photographer, and don’t claim to be, but I thought the shot was pretty cute.  Mother’s Day was coming up and being a designer and illustrator, I loaded it into the old Mac, did a little pattern magic in Photoshop with the clone tool for the background . . . added borders, a little cropping and pulled in some Victorian ephemera, it all came together.

I’d picked out a pretty but casual font, now to come up with some copy for the text.  As an artist, that’s always hard for me, but I thought I couldn’t go wrong with a little bit of humor — not the rolling on the floor laughing kind, just a little warm and fuzzy smile.

Phoebe always makes me happy with her warm little fuzzy smile, and sharing her on my cards has proved to be a great hit.