Friday, September 16, 2011

BYOB With Label

Our friends, who own a small graphic design firm, have started what I hope will be a tradition for years to come. "Unwined," they call their casual and fun get-together. Guests must bring a bottle of wine sporting a label they designed. At the end of the evening, each guest walks away with someone else's label--and the bottle of wine it's attached to, of course.

Here's the inspiration for my label:


Yep. That's me with my grandpa. A shovel-totin', mud-caked little farm girl. For you city folks who may be unfamiliar with such a scene, we'd just finished the messy job of  leveling irrigation pipe--an irrigation method that preceded the current center-pivot systems.

"Helping" Grandpa in the fields and doing chores around the farm with Grandma comprise some of my most precious memories. As an adult, I'm certain my love for the outdoors and getting my hands dirty in the garden stems, in large part, from those warm summer days spent with my wonderful and hard-working grandparents.

Over the years, friends have referred to me as earthy, down to earth and an earth mother (among other things). So, I took a cue from those references and named my label "Earth Angel."

If you've never used Picnik, you gotta give it a try. This user-friendly site made creation of my label--and my husband's--an absolute snap. It has everything needed: special effects and editing tools, a wide variety of fonts to choose from and a good menu of framing options. It also offers many features I didn't need for this project.


My husband chose a fun vintage image of two guys in Victorian-era prison uniforms from The Graphics Fairy. A master punster, he titled his label "Zinful," as his bottle of wine was a zinfandel.

For a little panache, I created special hang tags for each bottle. Each featured a toast taken from a sweet little 1909 book I found at an estate sale.

Here are the final products:




It could probably go without saying that my husband chose the toast to mediocrity with its silly-looking donkey for his hang tag. Me--I chose one a little more down to earth.

Linking to:
Tuesday's Treasures

24 comments:

  1. I love this idea~ this is perfect for a gift for the holidays!! Would love for you to come share this at Feathered Nest Friday at my blog!

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  2. The labels look great--and so very creative! I love the rhymes. :)

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  3. I love this idea, the labels were wonderful!. And you were so sweet with your Grandpa, a beautiful photo. It is nice to have those memories of being together with him, how special, Laura Cottage and Broome

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  4. You are a real earth angel for sharing the unique creation with everyone! And you hubby is a good sport too! The vintage Toast Book was a neat find!

    Thanks for linking up Potpourri Friday. You are a real asset to the success of this party and I appreciate you! I will look forward to seeing what you create for next week!

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  5. What fun, and I just think you and your gramps look great on the bottle. What memories.
    Hugs,
    Ellen

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  6. Love this!! Just pinned it to my PinInterest! Thanks!

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  7. oh... those are so creative!.. popping over from GF Brag... nice to meet you!

    Maddie

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  8. I love that photo of you and your Grandpa.
    What a treasure and a beautiful label too.
    Keep smiling and creating.

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  9. This is a great idea. So many possibilities. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  10. Both are charming!! WEll DONE ;-)

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  11. Talk about cute Ann, you and your blog name are it! I just love that name. And these labels are great. I have to admit yours is my favorite with that great picture of you and your grandpa, especially after reading the tale behind the label title. Reading your story made me think back to my own simple childhood with my grandparents in the sixties. Thanks for reviving those memories. You're too cute with that little shovel! I've never used picnic. I wish I would find time to play with it.

    Thanks so much for your sweet comments and coming by to visit me. Hope to have you visit again.

    Hugs...Tracy :)(your new follower)

    P.S. I'm having a giveaway for a cute cupcake kit here:
    http://cottonpickincute.blogspot.com/2011/09/betty-crocker-fun-da-middles-cupcake.html. I'd love you to stop by and enter if you haven’t already.

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  12. OMG ~ I'm just drooling over your gardens!!!! They are so pretty. I love flowers. Your hostas, which we have trouble growing here in Fl are so pretty. I love the shape of your garden and hydrangeas are one of my all time favorites but those tulips - OMG, they are just gorgeous. Love your creations too. Your pillows are so pretty and I loved the Christmas ones, the vintage skating girl are awesome.

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  13. What a fun way to get together with friends and be a little creative! I love that. You'll have to show us the bottles you ended up with!

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  14. Ann, thank you so much for visiting and following me!! You are so nice!! Thank you for complimenting me on my lunch box!!
    Your blog is awesome! I am following you back!!
    xxDaniella

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  15. EEK! And you and your husbands labels are fabulous! I use picnic, but you use it far better!
    xxD

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  16. Just stopping back by to say thanks for linking up at Feathered Nest Friday! :)

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  17. I love this idea and what a cute photo of you and your grandpa!

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  18. My favorite is that great picture of you and your grandpa, especially after reading the tale behind the label title. Reading your story made me think back to my own simple childhood with my grandparents in the sixties. Thanks for reviving those memories. You're too cute with that little shovel.
    r4 card

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  19. What a fun idea for a party and a great post. I love this idea!

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  20. I absolutely love, love, love your and your husband's custom wine labels. Your friend's concept for the wine party is brilliant and one that I'll definitely hope to adopt with my group of friends. I loved reading about your memories from your grandparent's farm and how your nostalgia played in to the thoughtful creation of your label. Thank you so much for linking up to "A Little Birdie Told Me..." at Rook No. 17! I'm spotlighting your post on my FB page today.

    Jenn

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  21. Dear Ann, thanks for the comment on my blog.. I could not find a direct email for yo so popped over here to your blog and was so excited that it was actually your wine bottles that gave me in the inspiration!.. I had seen them some time ago ( but had forgotten where!) and they were still whirling around in my memory when I saw that witch image and was wanting to do a quick project!.. so thank you!.. I do love yours so very much!

    Maddie

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  22. I highlighted these wine bottle labels on my blog today and I wanted to give you a heads up!

    http://thehomelessfinch.blogspot.com/2011/10/best-of-halloween-from-around-blogs.html

    Awesome project! Lesley

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  23. You and your husband have a pretty creative taste in making customized wine labels and hang tags. Both are simple but have a symbolic meaning to you. This could also be a perfect gift for occasions, or giveaways for gatherings. Kudos!

    >Jessie Henn

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