This Plus Membership Guide from AAA uses a silver metallic paper stock for the cover and both matte and gloss varnish on the cover images. When it’s opened there’s white stepped pages with gold metallic ink used for headlines, subheads and border trim. There’s also a sticker with three AAA decals for my car window glued to the inside front page. What an elegant piece, it can’t be fully appreciated unless you actually hold it in your own hand. I’m a paper addict, what can I say?

If this is the first you’ve heard of my 28-Day Creative Challenge, you may want to learn what it’s all about by reading: My Challenge: 28 Days To Clean Up My Creative Morgue. It’s a short post, only one paragraph.

Day 14 of my 28-Day Creative Challenge.

I love foil labels and this is my favorite! They’re a great way to add an additional message to your promotional material. This one arrived in my mailbox in 2003 on an envelope from Warren Printing. Isn’t it attractive?

Would you like to be part of my 28-Day Creative Challenge? Send  me your links to download or printed samples of creative work that inspires you, and if it inspires me as well, I’ll feature it here along with a link to your blog or website.

Day 12 of my 28-Day Creative Challenge.

Thank goodness I’m taking the time to sort through my creative morgue, keeping only the very best, because this direct mailer was filed so deep that I’d forgotten all about it.

This brown paper bag has a message on one side and the address label, return address and postal indicia printed and glued to the other side. It serves as a visual aid and complements a concept designed to tug at the heart strings and loosen the purse strings of it’s recipient. It’s a keeper!

Today is Day 11 of my 28-Day Creative Challenge.

This is one of my all-time favorite ads. I’ve had it for 10 to 15 years and from the looks of the holes in it, it’s even been push pinned to my wall at some time. The photo itself speaks volumes. Both ladies are school students wearing dresses and carrying metal lunch boxes. Gertrude is the Senior Adult Student of the Year and is 105 years old. What a touching human interest story and what a powerful photo. There’s minimal copy and lots of white space too, wonderful!!

This business card from Neenah Paper does it all! It represents the account manager, the company and the paper that it’s printed on. It shows how the paper performs with metallic ink and when die-cut, perforated and folded. It’s two-sided and uses the back to promote the paper and other papers that this company sells. It does all this while still keeping the design clean and airy.

This is Day 9 of my 28-Day Creative Challenge and I’m keeping this card to remind me that business cards can be mini brochures too!

This Lord & Taylor ad may be old but it’s not outdated. I love the whimsical, hand-drawn, black and white artwork that I see so little of today. I’m keeping this ad to remind me that in this digital world of computer graphics and photos, smart hand-drawn artwork will always stand out from the crowd.

See how the headline becomes part of the fun and helps to turn this ad into a real eye-catcher? I can almost hear those yappy dogs now!

If this is the first you’ve heard of my 28-Day Creative Challenge, you may want to learn what it’s all about by reading: My Challenge: 28 Days To Clean Up My Creative Morgue. It’s a short post, only one paragraph – I promise.

I tore this ad from a magazine ages ago and am keeping it because a lot of thought went into this concept. It’s a concept that can be used in ads for just about anything visual – from eye surgery to optics to anti-drunk driving campaigns.

Make this creative ad concept your own by selecting a different subject for comparison. The Northern Cardinal and rosebud work well for binoculars. What would you suggest for an anti-drunk driving campaign?

You can be part of my 28-Day Creative Challenge by sending me links to download or printed samples of creative work that you find inspiring. If it inspires me too I’ll feature it here along with a link to your blog or website.

Technorati.com seems to be having trouble finding me and my claim token number: CZDYB8SCUJBT. Can you find me now?

By showing a single row of shoes falling off the edge of an unusually narrow postcard, the designer has implied that DSW has plenty of these stylish heels to choose from. They’ve also used copper ink as an accent color which gives this piece an air of quality that translates to the merchandise.

The barcode at the bottom almost hides the text “Unleash your passion for shoes.” I wonder if the United States Postal Service charged DSW extra for this postal infraction? Always leave room for that barcode and if you’re not sure, check with the USPS Mailpiece Design Analyst assigned to your area.

I’m keeping this cleverly designed postcard in my creative morgue. This completes Day 5 of my 28-Day Creative Challenge.

Today I selected the 2009 Annual Report of Fortune Brands. What better way to showcase the company’s 67 logos? They’re crisp and clean on a bright white background and form an interesting pattern all their own.

Would you like to be part of my 28-Day Creative Challenge? Send  me links to download or printed samples of creative work that inspires you, and if it inspires me as well, I’ll feature it here along with a link to your blog or website.

Have a great day!

I’ve finally thrown away a handful of old and outdated pieces and it feels GOOD!  I think it will get easier as my 28-Day Creative Challenge moves along.

Today is Day 3 and I’m keeping this attractive brochure that exudes serenity. It does an excellent job of promoting and explaining a very delicate business – a Nature Preserve Cemetery. By skillful color and photo selection and good copy and design, this brochure gets it’s message across in a dignified and respectful manner. The matching website carries it off as well. This brochure can be downloaded from the website for closer inspection and while you’re there check out the video as well.

Remember, you can help me with my 28-Day Creative Challenge by letting me know if you agree or disagree with my selection. If you’d like to share something that you find inspirational, and if I decide to add it to my creative morgue, I’ll feature it here along with a link to your blog or website.

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