I am always drawn to mixed types, and the typeface of the milk party “logo” is incorporated well in other areas along with some cursive.

The milk theme is represented a few times with the cow print but is also present in a newer and less country way with the polka dots and even stripes. The black and while lends itself well to either sex, the blue could easily be pink or even yellow or green if you didn’t know the sex yet.

Having some fun by playing with the notions of the ever-present alcohol at parties is tastefully done at this party where the mom (and maybe some other young party guests) would definitely not be drinking.

Find other great baby shower themes at http://www.bumpsmitten.com/.

Congrats Ali!

Based in Milan, Paola Mirai creates one of a kind handmade contemporary jewelry from old technology. I love anything that has been repurposed, it’s part my love of being “green” and the fact that it’s recycling and part my love vintage objects–Give me a vintage stone ring over a diamond ring any day! This Cirkuita Jewelry has old charm and new beauty all wrapped up in one.

Check out how it’s made or visit http://paolamirai.myshopify.com/

The whole concept behind Creampuffs are girlie, feminine, strong, carefree, comfortable and fun. These qualities can be applied to the designer, the product and the energy of these things is truly coming through in these photos!

Thanks to the whole team for putting this together!

Check out more lovely creampuffs at http://www.creampuffsbygg.com/.

I had forgotten about this project until I was recently emailed by Jason Rewald of the freshly squeezed www.jfrewald.com asking to share what I came up with. Well here ya go Jason! Some inspiration from our friend Google and some of the options I had originally come up with.

This one works well for a Graphic Design graduate but I don’t think it would be applicable to much else:

This is not a diploma but a Spa Gift Certificate, I pulled some inspiration from this one in one of my options:

And here are three that I had come up with, not too far off the norm but in my opinion still professional looking. I will include the logo here as well which I didn’t create but mirrored the shape of in the borders to create something cohesive.

I hope this can inspire some creative diplomas from you!

The container itself is attractive with the clear glass revealing the goodies inside as well as large cork stoppers for added texture.

Echoing the label shape inside the label is a great way to strengthen the concept and keep everything uniform.

And then there’s the sassy “Bitter Stories”. What an appropriate medium to place the stories with, aren’t you going to wish this was a real product next time  you need a chocolate pick-me-up? I know I am…

“Designed for anyone who has far too much money and loose change, this is the piggy bank of all piggy banks. It’s a real piglet that has been taxidermied and inserted with what all piglets probably dream of as babies, a coin storage unit and a cork plug. Make your plush overpriced apartment complete with this little guy…”

It’s time to lighten up people! Don’t take like so seriously. Have a little fun with your imaginations!

{If you are easily offended, stop reading}

Ok so lets take a step back and explain what the stickers depict; torn luggage revealing packages of cocaine, wads of US money, sex toys, and a bound flight attendent. While I find these stickers funny, I do see their offensive nature. However, banning offensice nature from airports is a bit big-brother to me. I see rude bumper stickers all the time and they’re not being pulled over becuase I might have a child in my backseat who could see it. T-shirts, posters, bumper stickers, music–they can all be rude and offensive to some poeople but that doesn’t mean the intent of them is anything other than amusement.

If I have a T-shirt saying “crack is for plumbers” should I be searched at the airport for falsely declaring I am carrying an illegal substance? Do I now make the airline unsafe for other passengers? Do you really think an actual smuggler or terrorist is going to advertise themselves like that?

And yes, I think the stickers are funny but I also think they are offensive. So of the best jokes you hate to laugh at right? I wouldn’t put the stickers on my luggage but I don’t think if you do you should be treated any differently.

Very cheeky, and very funny here are a few more  ideas from Colin Hart that mock convention and challenge pointlessness.

Famous Marks to mark your pages:

Mr Potato Head’s unfortunate brother, Mr Baked Potato Head who was actually wrapped in tin foil and baked at 400 degrees for 40 minutes:

Rocking Chair Cushions:

To see more cheekiness, check out www.thecheeky.com

I really like the simplicity in this year’s Let It Out campaign. Weather it’s a small leak or a bellowing horn, these faces are screaming for Playland. I first noticed them on the skytrain and they really jumped out at me because there is so much going on at each skytrain station that it’s hard to focus. All the people, colours, movement. The black figure on a solid coloured background really grabbed my attention and I tried to pay attention at each station to see the whole campaign.

The 2009 ads used the organs of the rider in everyday objects that mimicked how your insides felt after a Playland ride. I like the concept but the muted colours while consistent with feeling motion sick, don’t convey the fun part of the ride. Brightly coloured backgrounds would have said “Ya, you might get sick, but you’ll have a lot of fun doing it!”

The 2007 ads were cute and creepy at the same time. Fun and stomach losing–just like some of the playland rides. The cute stuffies that you can win posed in front of the iconic Playland rides with their guts spilled in front of them get the point across while saving the viewers lunch-spoiling until they get there.

The turtle looks a bit off. The rest of the stuffies look like they had a good time before losing it, the turtle just looks sad. It might be the lack of tongue sticking out to make it playful, but I think it’s just the way his eyes are.

The 2006 ads were the most creative. Taking everyday objects that mimic the feeling that one has while on the rides. I think the boomerang and the slingshot are cop outs, they aren’t exactly everyday objects and they already have that sense of a ride or a game in them naturally. The egg beaters and the fire alarm however, have a great Playland feeling to them but were never looked at as fun or exhilarating before.

In 2002 the Playland ads stood out because of their lack of colour. This was a great concept, you don’t need colour to recognize the Playland rides but then you notice this little blue icon. Clever. And as always, funny and gross.

Check out more of Rethink Canada’s great ads at www.rethinkcanada.com

Most of these felt buddies are created in conjunction with Jonathon Edwards and his illustrations.

Even though I love the vibrant colours, the black and white photography brings more life into these guys.

Find out who the Felt Mistress is at http://www.feltmistress.com .