JSIM Unused Design No. 1: Cowgirl Up

As a graphic designer, I have zillions of (what I think are) perfectly good designs created for clients that, once passed over for another choice, were left behind with no chance of being seen, let alone used. Well, it’s time I gave a some of these designs new life by sharing them with readers. I will be posting unused designs from time to time for you to grab, use, modify or just to be inspired by. Use them however you would like in your projects, personal and commercial. FREE! (Just please don’t sell the art as digital downloads or clip art for purchase.) Click on Image To Enlarge


The first free image in my Unused Design series was actually for a project I was toying with last year for my own Western themed apparel company. I never got the biz idea off the ground, (read: What was I thinking?) but thought it was still a fun design for Posters, T-shirts, greeting cards and more.

To download the PDF version, click HERE!

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Design: Grid Lettering

You’ve seen those fun hand-drawn typefaces making the circuit lately, a little bit robotic, a little bit indie, but definitely fun! Here’s an easy way to achieve those styles for your own projects with grid lettering.I found several resources of lettering from a book circa 1890. Yes, 1890! I’ve included some specimens of various alphabets below that you can either print and trace, or using grid paper, reproduce yourself.
Or, maybe you’d like to create your own! What? You don’t have grid paper on hand? Problem solved:For my “GRID” lettering, I traced over an alphabet using semi-transparent white paper and a fine point sharpie.You can add darkness to shadows either digitally or like I did by scribbling same-direction lines into the shadow areas.I took a photo of the drawing with my little digital camera, uploaded it into Photoshop Elements and had a little fun. You can create wording for greeting cards, blog headers, to place over your favorite photos, or just about anything you can imagine.This example should teach my son not to get goofy with my camera when I’m not looking! HA!

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Food Linens and Baskets

I stitched a nice fat stack of fabric into linens for lining food baskets. Read my post at SC Johnson’s Family Economics {HERE} for more about it!By the way, that’s my favorite little cheesy-meatball-potluck crock that I found on Etsy, isn’t it the sweetest?

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