Welcome to Print Lust. Celebrating the world of print design with a print design showcase, tutorials, free printables and lots more. We hope you enjoy!

I have loads of bookmarks but I’m always losing them and they’re never anywhere to be found when I need one! I thought it might be useful to have one you could print out whenever it was needed, and these would also make a nice gift alongside a book maybe?  Here you go…

You will need
Printable template
White card
Craft knife and metal ruler (recommended) or scissors
Suitable cutting surface
Hole punch and ribbon (optional)

Firstly print out the bookmarks onto white card using suitable printer settings. Cut out using the crop marks as a guide.

Your bookmark is now ready to use, but for an extra detail you could add some ribbon. Just punch a hole at the top of the bookmark, roughly in the centre.

Add your chosen ribbon.

There you go, happy reading!

Firstly I have to apologise for the lack of blog posts last week, I spent most of the week in bushes photographing my new wedding invitation collections, and the remainder of it in Photoshop editing the pictures. To make up for it I have a nice printable gift tag for you this week, just in time for Mother’s Day.

You Will Need
Printable Template
White card
Scissors or craft knife and metal ruler
Suitable cutting surface
Hole punch
Wrapping paper and ribbon/string
Michael Buble CD (optional)

Firstly download the printable template and print out on white card (selecting suitable printer settings). Cut out just inside the black outline, using a craft knife and metal ruler (recommended) or some scissors.

Using a hole punch, make a hole using the inner white circle as a guide.

Wrap up the latest offering from Michael Buble, attach the tag and away you go.

P.S. (shameless plug alert) If you still need a Mother’s Day card, check out my Etsy shop, I can get cards to you by the weekend if you order by Wednesday.

This week I thought I’d make some cupcake wrappers, you can buy these online but the styles are sometimes quite limited, and they’re so easy to make yourself.

You will need
Printable template
White card
Scissors or craft knife and eatable cutting surface
Cupcakes!

Firstly print off as many copies of the printable template as you need.

Cut out the wrappers, I always use scissors for curved edges and a craft knife and metal ruler for straight ones, but you could cut these out with just scissors.

It’s easier if you assemble the wrapper first and then slot your cupcake into it, just pop the tab into the slit to secure.

Then add your cupcake! These fit the larger style cases, and I’ve used banoffee cupcakes (which were yummy).

I hope you enjoy!

This week’s DIY is a bit different, as it doesn’t involve any printing, but I hope you like. Last week I created some patterned iPhone wallpapers, they’re really easy and look pretty cool, you can download mine below, or create your own. Here’s how:

My wallpapers
Black and white spotty
Black and white chevron
Black and white stripes

Or to create your own you will need
Photoshop/Illutrator or other graphics program
iPhone
iPhoto
iTunes

Start by creating your graphics, I used Illustrator and created some simple vector spots, stripes and chevrons. If you’re using the wallpaper behind your icons, as opposed to on the lock screen, it’s probably best to stick to a simple design so it doesn’t look too busy.

I then created a document in Photoshop, this needs to be 320px wide by 480px high, 72dpi and RGB.

Paste in your graphics and move around until you’re happy.

Save for web and devices… choose Jpeg with a quality of 75, and make sure ‘Optimised’ is ticked.

Now you’ve created your backgrounds, you need to get them onto your phone. I did this by importing into iPhoto, just open it up and click ‘File>Import to library’, find your saved file and import.

Open iTunes, connect your phone and select it from the devices panel. Click ‘photos’ from the top menu, select your last import, and click ‘sync’.

Your background will now be in your photos folder on your phone. Select it, press the icon in the bottom left corner and select ‘use as wallpaper’.

All done, enjoy your new wallpaper!

I thought I’d better do a Valentines DIY this week, with it being tomorrow and all. I’m not sure if I’m terrible for saying this (as someone in their first year of marriage who designs wedding invitations and greeting cards) but I’m not a massive fan of Valentines Day, it’s all a bit too commercial and forced for me. I much prefer a nice bunch of daffodils and a Toffee Crisp when I’m having a bad day than a bunch of roses on a day that everyone else is getting them, or a Saturday pub lunch than an overpriced meal on a school night.

Anyway if you’re like me and want a not-too-cheesy, creative gift that didn’t cost a fortune, then I have just the thing…

You will need
Printable template (finished card size is A6, to fit a C6 envelope)
White card
Cutting board
Craft knife
Metal ruler

Print out the template onto your white card. Score down the (dotted) fold marks using a craft knife and a metal ruler, on a suitable cutting surface.

Cut out card using the crop marks.

Fold in half, pop into an envelope and give to your loved one.

So my to-do-list usually looks something like this:

It’s a bit messy, and there’s not much room, so I usually end up writing things down the sides/on the back, then using it as a coaster so everything gets wet and merges together. Anyway, I thought I’d create a to-do-list template, with space for lots of tasks, little tick boxes so you know what’s been completed, and a space for notes. There are also some little messages to help um… motivate you. I’ll be using this from now on, I hope you like!

You will need
Printable template
Paper

If you’re making the cover too: 
Cover template
Card
A stapler

Firstly print out as many copies of the to-do list as you need, double sided.

If you’re making the cover, print this out using thicker paper/card.

Fold everything in half and assemble. Then staple the middle (if you’re stapler won’t reach, you could make holes and tie together with string instead).

Ta da – a slightly prettier to-do-list!

Welcome to another DIY of the week post, this week it’s Birthday party invitations! You could use these for a kids party, but I’m also quite sure they’re sophisticated enough for adults too!  Just download the printable to get started, and follow the instructions below.

You will need:
Printable bands
Coloured paper
White or cream paper – A6 size
Cutting board, or suitable cutting surface
Scalpel or craft knife
Metal ruler
Glue
Pencils with an eraser on the end
Paint or ink
Envelopes (optional)

Print as many of the invitation bands onto the coloured paper as required.

First score along the (dotted) fold marks, using the metal ruler and craft knife, then cut out using the crop marks.

Fold where you have scored, and wrap the band around the A6 white or cream paper, and secure at the back with glue.

Take your pencils, and using the eraser end, dip into the paint and then onto the card (you might want to test this first on scrap paper to get the required coverage). Repeat with as many different colours as you like.

Ta-da, you have party invitations!

Welcome to another DIY of the week. This week we’re celebrating the humble potato, (no it’s not just for making chips and mash) and capturing the childhood nostalgia of potato printing, but with ever so slightly more class.

Just download the printable font template below to get started. I’ve picked good old Helvetica Neue Black for this, didn’t think we’d want to be messing with serifs for this one, so it’s a nice simple font to cut out and will make a lovely bold print.

You will need
Printable template
Some potatoes (4cm or larger widthways)
A craft knife or small kitchen knife
Ink pad or paint
Paper

Take a potato and chop it in half widthways. Cut out the required letter and place the template onto the flat side of the potato, you may want to secure with tape.

I’m using a craft scalpel, but a craft knife or any small kitchen knife will work (be careful). Start with the cutout of the centre of the letter, if this applies. Cut down about 5mm. Then cut down around the outside of the letter. After your letter is completely cut out, carefully cut horizontally from the edge of the potato to your original cut marks. Ta-da, your first letter.

Repeat process for subsequent letters.

Dip your potato in ink or paint, if using paint I’d recommend blotting onto some scrap paper before using on your final piece.

And there you have it, this can be used for greeting cards, gift tags, postcards, prints… and much more. I’d love to see some pictures of your finished results. My first attempt was slightly rubbish but it does improve with practice!

Since today is Monday (boo) let’s kick things off with a DIY. To celebrate the start of new year it’s a mini calendar, I always forget the date, so it’s a nice little thing to have handy to view when you’re on the phone or emailing. The design features a set of famous quotes, a different one for ever month.

Just download the printable template to begin.

You will need:
Printable template
White or cream card
Cutting board or suitable cutting surface
Scalpel or craft knife (you can use scissors but it might be a bit more tricky to get the straight lines)
Metal ruler
Hole punch
Ribbon

Print out the template onto the card (make sure you select the correct printer settings for type of card), and cut out using metal ruler and craft knife.

Punch two holes through each piece, using the dots as a guide.

Thread ribbon through both holes, and tie in a loop. Hang calendar on notice board, fridge or anywhere else you fancy.

Ta da – you have your own mini quotes calendar!