Choosing fonts for your Etsy banner

Fonts. People get emotional over them and people get overwhelmed by them. There are so many to choose from, so where do you start? Here are a few questions to ask yourself before jumping into pages and pages of font browsing:

1. What kind of shop do I own?

2. Who is my target audience?

3. Will my Etsy banner have large or small text or both?

When trying to decide on a font for your shop, if you don't already have a logo for your "brand" just think in terms of how you want text to display on your Etsy banner. Your shop banner on Etsy is limited to 760 pixels (width) by 100 pixels (height) — that's really not a lot of space, but it is enough to get the job done.

It's ok to have more than one font in your banner (I'd recommend sticking to one or two only), but how do you know if they match or clash? Below are some basic design rules 

when trying to choose "font pairs".

AVOID HAVING TWINS

Have two fonts that look alike? Most people either won't care about the difference between Helvetica and Arial or won't even notice if you use them right next to each other or one on top of the other. There is no point in using two separate items that do the same job unless you are intentionally trying to annoy a designer that gets picky about that kind of minor detail (in that case, don't sacrifice your Etsy banner for that and get mixed up in the font mumbo jumbo — you're there to sell your work!)

This rule also includes mixing two fonts that are similar but you can still tell the difference between them — don't, they'll clash. Sibling rivalry is no fun.

KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY

There's an easy way to avoid looking for more than one font. Use a typeface. People often mix-up the two terms, so here's some clarification: a typeface is a "family" of fonts, while a font is one set of letters, numbers, and other glyphs or characters (sometimes just referred to as one "weight" of a typeface). For example, Helvetica is a typeface; it may include three (or more) different weights such as Light, Regular, and Bold. However, if you say "Helvetica Bold", then you are referring to a font. When you want to have two different fonts in your Etsy banner — one for your shop name and another for a brief description underneath — it's easy to use two fonts from the same typeface. When you keep your fonts in the same family, it makes the design of your banner look clean and professional. And it makes life simpler.

IT'S OK TO PAIR A SERIF AND A SANS-SERIF

Serifs are a little "brackets" or "feet" at the ends of the letters (e.g. Garamond is a serif font) and a sans-serif font is one without these little feet and hands (e.g. Helvetica or Gill Sans are sans-serif fonts). If you're going to be matchmaking these two types of fonts, go ahead and experiment.

IF YOU'RE USING A SCRIPT FONT…

Keep in mind that there are fonts that work well at bigger sizes, but not so well at smaller sizes. If you're planning on using a script or cursive font for your shop name, and you see that it looks great at a big display size on your banner, don't think that you'll get away with that elegance when writing a small shop description beneath your name in the same font. The readability decreases with size for some fonts, such as scripts or decorative fonts. In these cases, if you're planning on having a brief description in your banner, pair your script font with a serif or sans serif font.

Have questions? Looking forward to next Sunday's Design Tips and want to know or learn something specific? Comment!


Cheese & butter,
Mayene Design

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Deadline, schmedline

How many times have you heard about an event that would be *perfect* for crafty wares, only to find that you missed the application deadline by a day or two, or maybe a week, or maybe even a couple months? Well, I've got a secret for you... it's rarely ever too late.

This was my first year of doing the craft festival circuit. I've heard that, generally speaking, the festival world has been hurt by the economic downfall. As a result, there seem to be more openings (whether this is a result of artisans not being able to afford the fees, or finding the experience to be not as worthwhile is unknown to me...), which means that you, as a crafter, have a bit of leverage.  I've had the luck of being let in to festivals on three occasions whose deadlines were way past. I just found out yesterday that I was able to get into the Celebration of Craftswomen's festival, and I applied 4 months past the deadline!

The thing to do is just send a polite email expressing your interest. You never know! But don't let something as simple as a little deadline be a deterrent.

***Oh, one more thing: many festivals are open to lowering their fee for new or first time vendors. So, if there's an event you're excited about, but nervous about the investment, just ask if they'd be willing to lower the fee a bit.***

Wednesday Item Feature: Glowing spider webs

It's that month for spook and spices, jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin pies. In a few weeks, parents will be worrying about cavities and kids will be running around for candies. But here's a find that will warm the hearts of parents and the rooms of kids. Crooked Sister on Etsy offers glowing Halloween-themed paper lanterns without being scary; in fact, these paper lanterns are a nice and affordable decoration for the upcoming holiday.

Dimly lit through hand-poked black cardstock, the image of a spider and its web will provide a faint fascination for kids or adult lovers of Halloween (or spiders in general). Two of the panels on this paper lantern are decorated with this eight-legged creature; let your kids enjoy the sight of a spider without worrying that it'll be crawling up your arm at night or your hand might accidentally sweep through a web in a long untouched corner somewhere.

Measuring about 3" wide by 6" tall when set up, this octagonal pair of lanterns (yes, you get two!) will look best when lit with smaller candles (such as tea lights) inside mason jars. It is advised to use jars since the glass will help disperse the light and will create a more luminescent lantern — plus, it is a much safer way to give this treat a glow without worrying the paper will burn! While the paper lanterns do not come with candles or jars, these are easy to find items (and if you have a jar of pasta sauce sitting around, make some spaghetti, wash out the jar, take off the label, and you got some glass to use).

Check out CrookedSister's listing on Etsy now: Halloween Spider Web Lantern 2 Pack!

Tune in next week for the Wednesday Item Feature!

Love & donuts,
Mayene

Monthly Positive Dose: Steve Jobs

I did this in honor of Steve Jobs'. The inspiring life he lived. for us "to do what you love and love what you do". Somehow, I couldn't even work knowing that this man who had a remarkable contribution to society passed. If you have this inner desire and an awesome out of this world ideas - continue. You are uniquely made. Check-out http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2011/10/6/steve-jobs-a-tribute-by-the-dieline.html

Wednesday Item Feature: Money to burn

In the best way possible do I combine "money" and "burn" in the same phrase. Ever feel the need to just clear out your wallet or a coin purse? Are those loose bills and clinking pieces of metal at the bottom of your bag or in your pockets itching to get out? Instead of spending your spare change on something small, dedicate yourself to putting it away somewhere in your room. If you want something special to put it in, consider a piggy bank. Too cliché? Not this one.

Diana Petty (also known as SouthpawPolymer on Etsy) has created a fiery little piggy bank for you to put those extra dollar bills burning a hole in your pocket. This little one can take the heat — it says, "Keep those monies coming!" Maybe you're kid or little nephew is trying to save up for that toy he's been dying to get; place this on his desk and its red hot "scales" will show him to stay tough and to not touch that money until he's absolutely sure he can afford that new gadget! If you think pink is too cute for you, this is a far step from the common pink or silver oink.

Crafted by layering 175 polymer clay petals on a ceramic piggy bank protects your money with a gradient of rich colors from bright translucent amber to an intense orange and a deep garnet red. Carefully cut and placed by hand, each fiery petal is embossed with tiny stitch details accented with russet red pigment powder. Finally, this little one is finely sanded, decorated with neutral-tone alcohol inks, and drip glazed for a mottled glossy finish, shining with a craving for saving money. Perhaps you'd like to save money for a new BBQ so you can roast a real pig that you've really been craving or glaze some ham for the holidays.

Whatever the purpose — gift, small personal savings, little goals, or even just home decor — Diane's little pig comes tissue wrapped in a lidded gift box tied with fabric ribbon ready to do its job.

Check out SouthpawPolymer's listing on Etsy now: Fireflower Piggy Bank Amber Orange Crimson!

Tune in next week for the Wednesday Item Feature!

Love & donuts,
Mayene