Designer Spotlight: Christina Muscato of Brass Bell Design

We’ve decided to add a new kind of post to the mix here on the Bottle Your Brand blog. From time to time, we are going to be featuring a little behind-the-scenes look and Q&A  with our designers that come up with the lovely labels you all enjoy so much! We thought it might be interesting and fun for you guys to see how it all works.

Our first designer is one talented lady – she has been making awesome label and invitation sets for us for some time now, and we couldn’t be happier with her work. Christina Muscato of Brass Bell Design was actually the brains behind our logo re-design a few months ago, and her work is always fun, inspired and playful. Learn a little more about her…

Milk and Cookies Kids Birthday Party, From Bottle Your Brand, Designd by Christina Muscato

BYB: We love the designs you come up with. Can you talk a little bit about your design process?

Why, thank you! My design process always starts with brainstorming.  I’ll take an idea and let it sit in my mind for a bit… Then I’ll sketch out a few different visuals, and scribble down some thoughts next to each. After that, I take it to the computer… I start drawing the graphics in the design program, play with a few different color palettes, choose my fonts, and create the overall layout.

BYB: How do you get inspired and stay motivated when it comes to new projects?

It’s easy to be inspired – I’m always inspired! I find inspiration in almost everything around me, and being in a pretty city like Charleston, SC, it’s even easier.  There are a lot of artists / art events here that keep me feeling creative, and there are beautiful buildings with uniquely designed interiors that always put me in a good design mood too.  Also, a lot of cool-looking event posters in doorways, and great music. All of the above, keep me motivated and hungry for more design.

BYB: Mac or PC?

Definitely a Mac! The design world revolves around Mac computers so they’ve always been the best in my mind.

BYB: Talk about two of your favorite designs you’ve done for Bottle Your Brand and why they are your favorites.

My two favorite designs are the Royal Celebration invite and the Cupcake invite. The Royal Celebration invite because of it’s simplicity – in the illustration and the pattern design. It reminds me of something printed on a letterpress. The Cupcake invite is my other favorite because I like the way the three little cupcake illustrations turned out… And I have a sweet tooth so that’s another big reason!

Princess Kids Birthday Party, From Bottle Your Brand, Designd by Christina Muscato
Cupcake Kids Birthday Party, From Bottle Your Brand, Designd by Christina Muscato
BYB: How did you get into the design business and how long have you been doing it?
I always liked art growing up and my sisters are all creative too, so it has always been around me.  I went to college for Digital Media, and took some courses in Graphic Design… I really liked it so that’s the area I focused on afterward. I’ve been working professionally for the last 5 or 6 years since graduating from school.  

BYB: What do you love most about your job?

I love the freedom and creativity that’s involved in my line of work. It’s fun and inspiring to me.

BYB: What are you favorite types of things to design?

My favorite things to design are invitations, cute greeting cards, and small poster prints / wall art.  I really love typography and quotes so as long as one of two are involved in a design piece, I’ll enjoy it. Some other favorites are recipe cards, calendars, gift tags, and dessert labels.

Bridal Shower Label, from Bottle Your Brand, Designed by Brass Bell Design

BYB: What do you like to do when you aren’t designing/working?

When I’m not designing, I’m usually checking out all the different art or music-related events around town. There are so many artists here and I really enjoy seeing other people’s artwork and supporting them.

A Colorful and Creative Art Party

Creative and Colorful Art or Painting Kids Birthday Party, Custom Water Bottle Label from Bottle Your Brand

Colorful and Creative Painting or Art Kids Birthday Party, Custom Favor Label from Bottle Your Brand

We’ve added a few exciting and fun designs to our website this past week, and these custom water bottle and favor labels for a creative art or painting party are a definite favorite. We can’t help but love the idea of letting the kids work on any kind of crazy art project they can dream up for a birthday party. Help them bring out their creative side and maybe even make a bit of a mess with this colorful party idea.

Creative and Colorful Art or Painting Kids' Birthday Party Inspiration and IdeasHostess Blog, We Heart It, My DIY Wedding Day, Hostess Blog, Amy Atlas Blog, Design Dust, Etsy, U Create Parties, Ashley Ann Photography

Time to light that creative spark!

A Cake Pop for Every Occasion

One of our most recent food obsessions is one tiny bite that comes on a stick -the Cake Pop. These delectable little treats have been taking the world by storm this past year – from party design blogs to Starbucks, every one is getting in on this sweet trend. We rounded up some of the cutest examples we’ve seen so far, so while you think about your next party or event and the theme – don’t forget to accompany your beautiful custom labels with a few tasty treats like these…

From holiday themed versions….

Cake Pops HolidaysBakerella – first three images, Sprinkle Bakes, Catch my Party, Bakerella

 

There are ideas for special occasions – graduations, weddings, maybe even Earth Day!?

Cake Pops Occasions Weddings EventsBakerella – first two, and last images, Earth Cake Pops – Vanilla and Lace

 

Ones that come in adorable animal shapes – perfect for a baby shower!

Cake Pop AnimalsBakerella

 

Adorable cake pops that are ideal for your little one’s next birthday party….

Cake Pops KidsBakerella

 

And let’s not forget the ones that are quite simply, so pretty!

Cake Pops PrettyBakers Royale, Treats SF, Designers Block

Ready to whip up a batch for your next event or party?

Thought so!

Baseball Birthday Party – Invitations and Ideas

Spring has arrived, and with it…baseball season! We recently added a water bottle label and invitation for a baseball-themed birthday party for kids, and then, what should we stumble upon, but a ridiculously cute baseball party dessert table set-up from Mon Tresor over on the incomparable Amy Atlas‘ blog. They are such a perfect compliment to each other, we just had to share!

 

Baseball Themed Invitation from Bottle Your Brand

Have a little slugger that would love to have a baseball party? Send out personalized invites and plan a party at your local park, complete with popcorn, snacks and a rousing game of America’s favorite past time. Plan it for a warm spring or early summer day, and keep the little ones hydrated with bottles of water that are personalized with a matching label.

Baseball Party Themed Water Bottle Label

Complete the party set up with a cute dessert table like this one from Suzanna at Mon Tresor, an Australian based party business with a million and one cute products and ideas.

 

Baseball Party Dessert Table, from Mon Tresor, Amy Atlas

Red, white and blue is a great color scheme for celebrating America’s favorite past time. Topping with table with astro-turf is an added cute bonus.

 

Baseball Party Ideas, from Mon Tresor, Amy Atlas

How cute are these little glass bottles tied with red and white bakers twine?

 

Baseball Party Ideas, from Mon Tresor, Amy Atlas

Make cupcake toppers complete with your little guys’ favorite number.

 

Baseball Party Ideas, from Mon Tresor, Amy Atlas

Making these adorable baseball cookies is easier than you think!

 

Baseball Party Ideas, from Mon Tresor, Amy Atlas

Have you ever seen a cuter cake?

Hope you’re feeling inspired – we are! Check out the rest of the pictures and the whole feature over on Amy’s blog!

Pretty Party Favors from Sweet Lulu

Ok, we will admit it. We have a particular love for pretty party decor and favors, and are always perusing blogs and boutiques for great, inspirational party ideas. When we found Shop Sweet Lulu, it was a match made in heaven. This online shop is stocked full of brightly colored party favors and decor – from striped straws to hot pink cake boxes, damask cupcake holders and polka dot goody bags. Sorting through all of the goodies, we realized some of these favors would be perfect complements to some of our labels. Check it out…

Custom Label from Bottle Your Brand, Party Favors and Decorations from Sweet Lulu

Here, we picked one of our popular wedding labels, “Ribbons and Dots”, and matched it with some pink party accessories from Sweet Lulu. With one of our labels, and some treats from Sweet Lulu, this would be one perfectly coordinated and visually stunning party!

 

 

Custom Label from Bottle Your Brand, Party Favors and Decorations from Sweet Lulu

The purple bakers twine and purple polka dot straws would look great at a party with our “Camelot Dots” label. Fill those cake platters with some pretty purple-frosted cupcakes and you’d have everything you need to host a party people will definitely be ‘ooh’ing and ‘ahh’ing over.

Happy Holidays from Bottle Your Brand!

custom holiday wine labels

We have been working like crazy little elves in Santa’s workshop over the past few weeks here at Bottle Your Brand. Finally, we’ve finished all of your custom labels for the holiday season, and we are taking the next few days off to rest and reboot. We wish you all a very happy holiday with your loved ones, and can’t wait to see the label ideas you have for us in the New Year! Plus, stay tuned for a whole new kind of blog post and lots of exciting new designs and ideas from us, coming up in the next few weeks. Happy Holidays!!

Happy Thanksgiving from Bottle Your Brand!

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We want to wish you the very happiest of Thanksgivings, full of awesome people, fantastic food, and elastic-waisted pants.

Have a terrific holiday, everyone!

Win Free Labels! – A Giveaway on Party Box Design

[singlepic id=316 w=240 h=240 float=center]One of our favorite party planning blogs (Party Box Design) is hosting a giveaway this week: for $50 worth of free labels from Bottle Your Brand!

That’s right, head on over to this post on the Party Box Design blog to enter to win the contest.  She’s given you multiple ways to enter and win, so click over and get cracking!  The giveaway ends October 10, 2010, which means you’ve got oodles of time to enter and win!