There is not much sweeter than a country wedding! The creative team had so much fun helping Kristen Jackson, niece of owners Sheila and Steven Ruff, plan her perfect country wedding! The blue Mason jar logo was where it all began and the entire wedding was themed around it! A logo is not just for your business it can also be used to brand any special event. The bride-to-be also wanted to incorporate burlap and lace to her theme. The theme was carried out from the Save-the-Dates, to the Bridal Shower, the Wedding Invitation Stationary and even the favors. Having your theme carried out across the board can make even the simplest wedding seem high end without spending a ton of money.

Don’t waste your money on the typical wedding favors that will just get thrown away. For the Clark wedding we found custom printed double sided Mason jar glasses. They were a huge hit with the guest and if you have a bunch left over after the wedding you can use them at home! We also jazzed up the candy bar with a custom self-inking stamp used to customize the candy bags. Self-inking stamps come in many shapes, sizes, ink colors and almost any design can be made into a stamp!

To help the guest find the remote location we made direction signs that are weather proof. These signs could be made for any event! We also made a sign for one of the boys to carry down the aisle for that added a special touch as the bride walked down the aisle! Remember all of our designs are custom so we will design your sign just for your special event!

Don’t forget to Get Creative for your next special event!

Our small business spotlight for the month of May is on one of our favorite local entrepreneurs Byron Chism, the creator of Bad Byron Butt Rub as well as many other great products.

He created Butt Rub in the Spring of 1997, shortly after moving from Texas to the Florida Panhandle. At the time, Byron had just graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and was cooking professionally. Butt Rub was first sold at Cocoon's Fine Foods in Seagrove Beach, Florida on May 31, 1997.

Steve, Sheila and the Creative Team are honored once again, to be a part of The Warrior Beach Retreat. Twice a year Wounded Warriors and their families from all across our country are brought to Panama City Beach to enjoy a week long retreat. This is all made possible by the many generous donations from the Northwest Florida community. We hope you join us to honor our troops tomorrow, by lining the streets with flags along the Welcome route below.

Welcome Route: The warriors will be passing by the following locations on Thurs, April 24th, starting at the Laketown Wharf Resort at 4:15pm and ending at the First Baptist Church around 5:15-5:20pm. You can show your support by lining the streets of the route with signs and flags.

Opening Ceremony: Thursday, April 24th at 5:45 pm. Location – First Baptist Church, 640 Grace Ave, Panama City, Florida. The public is invited to attend – please come and show your support for the Warriors!

Our son, Sgt. Joshua Cope (retired) and his wife, Erica... are our Hero’s. They have turned a tragedy into a triumph. It hasn’t been an easy journey... they have chosen to preserve amidst unimaginable hardships...their lives are an inspiration to us all.

On November 12, 2006 Joshua was severely wounded by an IED blast in Baghdad, Iraq. He lost both of his legs above the knee and both hands were injured. We have witnessed first hand, the tenacity of the American Soldier. We’ve also witnessed firsthand, the love and compassion of a soldier’s wife through Erica.

When a soldier goes to war, a family goes to war... Lest we forget!

Let us all come together and bring hope and healing to so many heroes and their families. We all have something to give. We can make a difference... together.

Linda Cope, Founder & President

If you would like to donate to help the Warrior Beach Retreat click here. Any donations are greatly appreciated. Are you interested in being one of the honored participants for a future Warrior Beach Retreat? Find out more information here.

We are absolutely honored to be a part of the 2014 Warrior Beach Retreat. We understand the importance of our soldiers and the huge sacrifices they make for our freedoms and want to do anything we can to help our men and their families. It was a pleasure working with the Cope family and we thank them for all they do with and for the soldiers and their families. We hope our great community does their best to show their support to these great men by donating to the retreat or just come and show your support on parade day. A list of activities, how to donate, and the parade route/time are all on the Warrior Beach Retreat website.

Graduation is just around the corner, mark this important milestone with a custom graduation announcement to share the news with friends and family. Our graduation announcements and graduation invitations are custom designed for your unique graduate. Any style, any color, add pictures, school logos, poems… the possibilities are endless! We can also print coordinating name cards. Below are a few new designs to help spark an idea for your graduate!

Just in time for Spring Cleaning our small business spotlight for this month is Carpet Care Specialist and sister company Disaster Response Team. Both companies are locally owned and operated.

Spring is in the air and babies are everywhere! Whether you are planning a baby shower for a Mom-To-Be or announcing the birth of your own bundle, let us help you share this special moment with your family and friends. All of our baby shower invitations are custom designed just for you! And do not forget we don’t just print invitations; we can also help with banners, posters, labels, thank you cards, napkins, custom favors and much more!

Check Out Just a Few of Our Custom Baby Shower Invitations Designed This Spring

Wanting to try something new, fresh and fun for lunch? At Diego’s Burrito Factory & Margarita Bar you create your meal just the way you like it! They offer a wide range of fresh choices for you to choose from to build your own burrito. The word on the street is it is the best new Mexican restaurant on the beach.

They are located at 15514 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
Phone: (850) 249-7373
Hours: Mon-Sun 11 am - 10 pm
Make sure you check them out on Facebook and give them a like!

We have had the pleasure of printing brochures, flyers and doing artwork for their signage inside the restaurant and we look forward to doing more business with them in the future!

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. So why would you settle for a cookie cutter invitation? After all it is the first glimpse at the wedding to come! At Creative Printing we design your wedding stationary just for you and your special day. Take a look at a few spring design ideas.

Blue Mason Jar

Roy Zenner is a local artist that comes into the print shop from time to time to get prints of his amazing artwork. On one of his last trips he decided to paint some of the (willing) Creative team and our pet’s! If you would like to contact Mr. Zenner you can reach him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Printer: Stephen Ruff, one of our owners of 32 years and the shops production manager and estimator.

Want to improve your quality of life? Everyone does. So this month the Small Business Spotlight is on Culligan Water because they have some terrific ways to put quality into your life. And, they’re located right here in Panama City. At Culligan Water, they’re experts at making you feel better and making your home more enjoyable. And as a Panama City business, they’ve been doing so for over 55 years.

How do they do it?  Through their high-end, cost-effective treatment systems that convert your hard water problems into luxurious, clean, soft water solutions.

Feeling Better All Over

One way to be kind to yourself is through soft water, because soft water is kind to your skin and hair. And when you feel skin deep comfortable, you’ve taken a step forward toward enjoying life.

Less Work; More Fun

Another benefit of soft water is less household toil because soft water keeps things clean. Minerals such as calcium and iron make cleaning bathrooms a lot of work. Soft water solves the problem and really reduces the toil of bathroom maintenance. In addition, the folks at Culligan can get any sulfur out of your water. Sulfur-free water doesn’t smell and tastes better. Finally, soft water leaves your clothes brighter and cleaner.

Let’s Raise a Glass to Our Culligan Partner

Finally, there’s nothing better than a cool, clean glass of water, especially during that warm Florida summer. And Culligan has the answer. Their bottled water, delivered to your business or home, is the final touch for improving your quality of life. We have enjoyed drinking their refreshing water for many years.

The African Christian Training Institute

The Institute is a word and deed ministry serving Uganda and other areas of Africa. And Culligan Water has been a supportive international partner. As a member of our community, they’ve been doing something good and giving something back.  At Creative Printing we were honored to help them design the brochure and banner for the African Christian Training Institute.

Creative Printing and Culligan – A Productive Partnership

Emerald Coast Culligan has been doing business with Creative Printing for over 15 years. We’ve been pleased to meet their printing needs including business cards, handbooks, flyers, brochures, certificates, labels, signs, and much more.. They are a wonderful member of our Panama City community. They make the lives of the people they serve more enjoyable.

So let’s raise a refreshing glass of their good, clean water in thanks to Culligan Water. We invite you to contact them at 315 East 15th Street or give them a call at: (850) 792-2573. Here’s wishing them continued success because they are so important to our Panama City friends and neighbors.

At Creative Printing our graphic designers work closely with all of our business partners to assure their success. We invite you to contact us at Creative because we’re a one-stop shop for all of your printing needs. Your success is our success.

Stay tuned next month for another Small Business Spotlight from here in Panama City, Florida. And thank so much you for your support.

Terms & Conditions:

1. The promoter is Creative Printing of Bay County whose registered office is located in Panama City, Florida.
2. Employees of Creative Printing of Bay County, or their family members, or anyone else connected in any way with the competition or helping to set up the competition, shall not be permitted to enter.
3. There is no entry fee and no purchase is necessary to enter this competition.
4. Route to entry for the competition and details of how to enter are listed above.
5. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
6. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition, and these terms and conditions, without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God, or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Contestants will be notified of any changes to the competition by the promoter as soon as is possible.
7. The promoter is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any contestant by any third party connected with this competition.
8. The prize is 1000 4/0 14pt C2S Cover UV Coated Business Cards. Upgrade may incur additional expense. Prize includes basic setup. Basic Setup requires contestant to supply logo and information that is to be printed on the business cards. Creative Printing of Bay County is not responsible for the quality of the logo that is supplied by the contestant. A Proof will be supplied to the contestant before printing.
9. No cash alternative to the prize will be offered. The prize is not transferable. The Prize is subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
10. The winner will be chosen randomly after we reach 425 fans on Facebook.
11. The winner will be notified by email within 28 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 14 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
12. The promoter will notify the winner when and where the prize can be collected.
13. The promoter’s decisions in all aspects and  matters having to do with the competition are  final and no correspondence with any contestant will be entered into.
14. By entering this competition, a contestant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
15. The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the winner, or any other contestant, will be used solely in accordance with current [US] data protection laws and will not be disclosed to a third party without the contestant’s prior consent.
16. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.
17. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Network. You are providing your information to Creative Printing of Bay County and not to any other party.

Your Business Logo – A Critical Component of Your Business Strategy

Let Us Get Creative

You want your business to succeed and to prosper. We do too. If you succeed, and we help you in some way, then we will both go on to do more business independently and as partners. It’s the win:win scenario all of us are looking for.

And when it comes to your business logo, we can help. Your logo is a critical component of your business plan. Furthermore, an effective logo must be credibility-based. If it is, it will have power to influence your company messages. You need a good logo because a bad or indifferent one can actually undermine your attempts at success.

Logo Research, Study and Evaluation

Here at Creative Printing we’ve studied and researched logos for a long time. We’ve been influenced by a lot of professionals including the late graphic design legend, Saul Bass. He created, among other logos, the logos for AT&T, United Airlines, United Way, Rockwell International, and Alcoa.

The Credibility-based Logo

So what is a credibility-based logo? As individuals, we realize that credibility is based on competence, reliability, and forward thinking. Likewise, a company high in expertise, trustworthiness, and forward thinking will be viewed as credible. This is because people relate to companies the same way they relate to people. These are brand-customer relationships. Thus, your company logo plays an important role in an integrated marketing communication system.

Your logo is the “symbol” of your company. As such, its role is to project your company’s unique credibility attributes.

At Creative Printing, How Do We Create a Credibility-based Logo?

We agree with, and adopt, Saul Bass’s basic logo planning approach. He said:

“Each program begins with the formulation of a set of objectives and a verbal description of what the client logo should say. These are the design attributes we want to portray in the new logo. We study the company, visit its offices, interview and meet with its people and come to a very clear definition of what attributes are to be symbolized before any designing is done. Intent has to be articulated before you begin, or you just get sucked into a process where everything you do is self-justifying. Logo planning is ninety percent of the design effort.” -Saul Bass

The Team Effort

At Creative Printing, we work with you. We listen to understand your business and your goals and objectives. We want to receive your input and to feel your passion for your business. We put that ninety percent of logo planning into the design effort. Then – and only then – do our graphic artists go to work to produce your critical, credibility-based logo.

If you’re ready for a new logo – or to redesign an old logo – please contact us. We want your business to succeed, and we can help. At Creative Printing of Bay County it’s a team effort. Your success is our success.

Want to get in a little better shape for the summer of 2014? Then think about getting in touch with the fitness specialists at ABSolute Fitness. They’re located right here in Panama City, Florida. They found us online, and we recently had the pleasure of designing their logo. We are proud to share their testimony of promoting physical fitness for everyone.

ABSolute Fitness provides solid exercise and nutrition programs that can help you meet your fitness goals. Whether you want to loss or gain weight, tone up, or build muscle, they can create a plan just for you. They’ve got a New Year Fit You challenge that will help you get in condition for those summer activities like volleyball, golf, swimming, surfing, diving, kayaking, sailing, hiking, biking, or just working on your tan on beautiful Panama City Beach.

We hope you enjoy the fun found in Florida, and we’re pleased to have ABSolute Fitness as a business partner.

This is awesome. You guys all did such a great job with this! We look forward to working with you again in the future!
Respectfully,
Sheneese T.

Here at Creative Printing our graphic designers work closely with you to get the logo that you envisioned and help your brand stand out. Call or stop by to get started and we will gladly assist you throughout the entire process. Remember, here at Creative, we are a one stop shop, for all of your printing needs.

Stay tuned next month as we share another Small Business Spotlight from here in Panama City, Florida. Thank you for your support.

Glancing back over 2013, we’re so grateful for everything it held and all that we accomplished. We know that any success we experienced was because of our loyal customers, dedicated co-workers, supportive family, and encouraging friends. We thank all of you for making the past year a very special time.

Now we envision that first sunrise of 2014 and all of the days that will follow. We’re eager to realize the full potential of this bright new year. We encourage you to believe in your dreams, as we believe in ours. And we wish each and every one of you success in whatever you undertake. Bay County is a wonderful place for business; Panama City is a special town with special people. We’re thankful for the quality of life we experience here, and we’re proud to have all of you as our neighbors.

Here’s a little quote that’s reflects our view of this wonderful area.

“In Panama City, Florida, each New Year is very close to another year in paradise: beautiful beaches, balmy days on bayous and bays, pleasant people, and priceless potential.”

Best wishes to you and your family.

Happy New Year!

Steve, Sheila, and the Print Shop Family

As 2013 draws to a close, we all enjoy the happiest and most optimistic time of the year. It’s a time when we pause, gather family and friends close to us, and appreciate all that we have. And, as we gaze at the horizon of 2014, we have hopes and dreams to be fulfilled through dedication and hard work. At this time, we reflect on our good fortune to live in America, a land of unlimited opportunities.

The past year in Bay County has been prosperous for Creative Printing. Our business team has worked long and hard. Our clients have been helpful and loyal. Working together, our family, friends, co-workers and customers have made 2013 a great year!

And so, as we take a little time off to celebrate this special season and everything that it means, we wish all of you, and your families, a very Merry Christmas filled with peace and joy.

Happy Holidays and God Bless,
Steve, Sheila, and the Print Shop Family

A lot of advanced technology and professional expertise are required to produce the product you expect. And that’s particularly true when you desire an archival-quality canvas print. At Creative Printing, we start and finish your canvas here in the print shop to ensure the highest quality.

However, before we get into the critical details, you should know that all of the products we use on our canvas prints meet the archival standards set by the Fine Art Trade Guild. Now, here is how we assure a product you’re pleased with.

First, to produce your canvas print with ultra-high-quality imaging, we use a state-of-the-art wide format printer.

Printed posters are like the rainbow. The possibilities – and the colors – are unlimited. Everyone loves posters, particularly if they’re personalized. Posters are used for marketing, movies, and meetings. They find their way into children’s rooms, Dad’s den, or a teen’s strictly off-limits bedroom. Framed posters are present where writers speak, musicians play, and artists display their wares.

 
Personalized posters are created from treasured photographs. Remember that photo of your happy child at Disney World with Cinderella, Mickey, or Pluto? What a smile! How about that favorite fishing trip with those four great friends? Look at the size of that whopper! Maybe that picture you “photo-shopped” of your daughter and Johnny Depp would be a big surprise. And then, there are those photos of that enchanting place you visited on your last vacation.

While we’re exploring poster possibilities, let’s not forget the family pet or a collage of pet pictures. And posters centered around family history, our revered war veteran, or that nerve-wracking high school football win of 1982, make memories come to life in a big poster way. Maybe the poster is a cherished quote with an attractive design, like that warm invitation from Grandma each time you entered her kitchen. It’s easy to get great ideas. Just look over those family photos.  We promise that your mind will be catalyzed with creativity!

So if you’re looking for a personalized, quick-turn-around, last-minute gift, we invite you to contact us at Creative Printing. We can customize your poster for that special person, place or promotion. Whether framed or tacked on the wall, a poster is a unique way to say: “I took the time to create something special, just for you.” And that’s why we’re Creative Printing.

We invite you to visit our website for more poster information. Just click this link:
Banners, Posters and Signs, Oh My!

Have a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday Season, and a Productive New Year!

Are you looking for that unique holiday gift? We suggest checking out The Mole Hole. They’re centrally located at 2421 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just across the street from Target. The Mole Hole has been a Bay County small business for thirty-two years. Inside you’ll find Southern hospitality, a comfortable atmosphere, pleasing fragrances, and interesting gifts. The selection to choose from is truly eclectic and diverse.

All year round but often during the holiday season people come in to our Print Shop here in Panama City, Florida looking for a way to personalize gifts for friends, family and coworkers. Today we look at Two ways to have a Creative Christmas!

“The heart of the giver makes the gift dear and precious.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Custom Canvas Prints

Custom printed artwork? Yes. This is a gift for any age. The possibilities are endless!

Here are a few of the canvas ideas we have seen:

1. Ancestral photos – Grandparents, great grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles. Do you have a picture of your grandmother in front of her old home or classic car?
2. Family photos – Whether it is the whole family or just printing portraits of babies and children this is a great gift option.
3. Landscapes – Sunsets, lakes, mountains, forests, birds, sea life and more!  These are popular prints.
4. Community – Do you have pictures of Downtown Panama City? How about the beach before the condos? People choose to print these images as well as older homesteads, schools, churches and communities.
5. Artwork – have an artist in the family? Let’s print their creations!

Remember, we can print any high quality image on canvas prints. So if you have a niece who loves butterflies … let’s print a canvas with butterflies! What about the grandson who loves tractors?  Yep we can print him with his favorite big green tractor.

Life on the Gulf Coast is beautiful!   A local carpentry company is a great resource to keep your home maintained and beautiful!  In need of home repairs? Home remodel? Maybe just in need of a trusted company to perform home maintenance on your vacation home? Young Carpentry & Home Maintenance is for you. They have been proudly serving 30A and surrounding areas since 2006 and look forward to meeting new home owners. 

They offer a wide variety of services:

• Home Cleaning Services
• Kitchen/Bathroom Remodels
• Home Watches
• Hurricane Preparedness Deployments
• And many more

Christmas is 7 weeks away! This year is definitely flying by. Are you looking for Christmas gifts for your employees? Promotional items always make great gifts, and they help get your logo and brand out there. We want to share several Christmas gift ideas in which are unique, but you can also incorporate your logo, company name, etc.

When you are ready to Get Creative, come on by our print shop and we can help you. Our friendly staff is always ready to help you get the most “bang for your buck.” Don’t procrastinate any longer, because Christmas will be here before you know it. Happy Shopping!

While ordering off the internet can be convenient it can quickly turn into nightmare. When trying to save money, many companies are turning online for their printing needs only to find it can end up being a costly and frustrating decision. Businesses especially, should think twice before ordering their professional print material off the web. Just like your website, your print material is the face of your company and should be high quality and professional. Unlike a local print shop, online printers do not care about the individual client. They serve thousands of customers and gang print jobs together to save them money, sacrificing your job in the process. Many online companies (not just in the print industry) have offices in the US, but the actual printing or manufacturing is done overseas hurting the US economy.

Do you have a design idea in mind and are not sure how to create it? Are you starting your own business and need a logo? You know that you need a graphic designer to create your vision. Hold on a minute before running out and just using any designer! It is important to do your “homework” and find a graphic designer that knows what they are doing. We have customers come in all the time with graphics that needs to be re-designed in order for them to print properly or the designer they originally went to did not get the design right. Our Panama City Print Shop wants to help you get quality work without incurring extra costs. Take a look at these 6 questions to ask a graphic designer before hiring.

Our permanent vinyl adhesive is perfect for indoor use and can even be used outdoors temporarily. It has a matte finish that renders beautiful results when combined with our state of the art, wide format printer. Our vinyl adhesive is water resistant and durable enough to be used for many applications, including outdoor advertising. Keep in mind it has a permanent adhesive and can be very difficult to remove from some surfaces once applied. We do not recommend applying this vinyl adhesive over textured surfaces. For the best results we recommend only applying to smooth, flat surfaces. We can also laminate the vinyl adhesive for extra protection or to add a gloss finish.

Have you heard about the new local business “A Taste of Panama City Food Tours?” Now you can receive a guided tour of historic downtown Panama City or take a stroll down Beck Avenue in St. Andrews, exploring and learning all about the history of several of the finest historic restaurants.  While on either tour you are treated to many culinary delights and learning local history. This is a fantastic way to give back to the local community as well as enjoy some unique family time.

Did you know our graphics department can restore your old photos? That’s right, we can make your photo look new again. If you do not have a digital copy, that is just fine, we can scan your photo and then restore it from there, creating a photo that looks just like the original.

We can repair photos that have any of the following damage:

• Water damage
• Torn
• Molded
• Faded or discolored

Steve, Sheila and the Creative Team are honored to be a part of a wonderful local event here in Panama City, Florida. The Warrior Beach Retreat Fall 2013 will be held Tuesday, September 17 through Tuesday, September 24 2013.  

WARRIOR BEACH RETREAT, INC

We became a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation on September 03, 2009 to provide a forum for combat wounded warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan war and their families to bring honor and respect to those who have served our great nation. Wounded warriors and their families from all across our country are brought to Panama City Beach twice a year to enjoy a week long retreat sponsored by local businesses. These retreats are made possible by the many generous donations from the Northwest Florida community.

Here at Creative Printing we have many customers that like to create their own artwork or design and email it to us for printing. This is a great way to save you money; however, it is important for the print job to be production ready, meaning the file has to be appropriately set up in order to print.

Our goal is to prevent problems that may delay your production schedule, incur additional expense or produce an unexpected product. To see our full guide to setting up your own print job, take a look at “Submitting Print Ready Artwork.”

1. Call Your Printer First - All printers have different production ready requirements, so call before you start.
2. Resolution - Always use high quality images and graphics. Image resolution should be no less than 300 dpi, and re-sampling does not count!
3. Bleed - If your final artwork has an image that goes to the edge of the paper, you will need to have bleed around the final piece.
4. Color - If your job is printing offset all colors should be converted to CMYK.
5. File Type - Submitting a high quality PDF with fonts embedded or converted to outlines is the best way to submit your artwork.

If you have any question regarding this checklist please call or email us. Our goal here at Creative Printing of Bay County is to help you submit your own files and have them print perfectly!

Do you have a sweet tooth, but are trying to eat more healthy? You are in luck! This month we share another small business spotlight,  our very own local Sweet Frog of Panama City. They serve premium frozen yogurt and other sweet treats sure to entice anyone with a sweet tooth! They are located at 748 West 23^rd street in the Stanford Station Shopping Center.

Summer is coming to an end. Fall is right around the corner. Many "brides-to-be" are busy planning their weddings. If you are dreaming of a fall wedding, these invitations just may be the inspiration you need! Our graphic designer has put together a display of wedding colors and trends for this Fall. See her new designs for 2013 Fall Wedding Invitations below.

Fall Wedding Invitation Sample
Carafe, Koi and Linden Green

Are you looking for a local print shop that provides copy services for an upcoming event or the new school year? Here at Creative Printing of Bay County we offer copy services for a wide variety of items.

Copies and Documents

Our print shop offers a wide variety of paper choices, colors and more. Worried about your budget? Don’t be, we have a solution for any budget.

Sheila, Steve and the staff of Creative Printing of Bay County want to send out a big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our contest and helped us reach our goal of 350 Facebook fans. We are thankful for a great community and all the individuals who stay connected with us. Our website and our Facebook page are places where you can connect with us and learn about Panama City's  "One Stop Print Shop" and how we can help you with all your design and print projects.

We are excited about adding the ability to print and wrap canvases here at your local printing company. Learn more about our canvas prints and how they can be a great addition to your home or office. For yourself or as a gift.

Who is ready to Get Creative?

The WINNER of our Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print is Teresa Roberts. Congratulations Teresa! Check your inbox for details on how to redeem your prize.

More contests? Yes, we think so. Comment below with any ideas you have for future posts or contests.

Update: The Winner of the Canvas Contest

Teresa chose and sent us the image she wished to have as a canvas. We created her beautiful canvas and mailed it out to her. After she received her Canvas she took this photo. Thank you to everyone who participated and we look forward the having another contest soon so keep a look out and you could be the next winner. Thank You Teresa for you participation in our Canvas Giveaway and your continued support. 

As a small locally owned business we understand how difficult it can be to compete with big chains and the internet so we are going to start a local campaign to help other local small businesses. We will begin spotlightlighting new businesses or an existing local businesses in our area as well as inform our community on the benefits of shopping local.

It’s that time of year, as summer slowly comes to an end and fall begins, event planning is in motion for many businesses, schools and organizations. Many events take several months of preparation that is why it is important to begin now, especially if you have an event coming up in October.

Here at Creative Printing of Bay County, we are a One Stop Shop for all of your printing needs. We can help you prepare for any event or occasion. Below we share several items and products to help you prepare for your next event and provide tips in which to get started. Enjoy!

Fall is just around the corner and many “brides to be” are busy preparing for the wedding of their dreams. Sometimes wedding themes and color schemes are hard to choose from, that is why Creative Printing of Bay County would like to help. Here we will share several new fall wedding trends and colors.

Pantone has recently shared their new fall colors and they would make wonderful wedding themes. What do you think? Our favorite is Emerald.

Are you in need of banners for an upcoming event? Do you want to catch the attention of those passing by? Creative Printing has you covered! We offer a wide variety of banners for any occasion and the best part is, we offer custom design. Banners are perfect for advertising or announcing events.

Do you use brochures as a marketing tool for your business? If not, you should, because this type of marketing material is a great way to provide important information about your company, products or services. Brochures are a great way to get your business brand in the hands of potential and current customers.

Terms & Conditions:

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You are providing your information to Creative Printing of Bay County and not to Facebook. The information you provide will be used in order for you to receive Creative Printing of Bay County’s emails related to the contest and our once a month eNewsletter. Unsubscribe at any time.

When we hit the 350 Facebook fans milestone Creative Printing will conduct a random drawing to determine the winner of the canvas. The winner will be notified via the provided email address. The winner will be announced via our blog to publish to social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, etc. The winner will receive a gift certificate valued at $75.00 to go towards a canvas of their choice. The winner may provide any image or art that has no copyright, any current professional photographs will need a print release from the photographer to reproduce. Creative Printing reserves the right to determine if the image is suitable for reproduction on canvas print. Creative Printing also reserves the right to use Images or content about the winner and the canvas as marketing material. The issued gift certificate expires 90 days from the day of the drawing.

Use this image for sharing and pinning to your favorite site!

Update:

Click here to find out who is the Winner of the Summer Canvas Contest.

Summer is finally here! Do you have your promotional items ready to hand out? If not, now is a great time to get your name/brand out into the public. With vacationers here on Panama City Beach, you can hand out promo items big or small quite easily.

Here are several unique promotional items that can help you get your name out into the community.

1. Beach Spike Cup Holders

• Whether you’re headed to the world’s most beautiful beaches (Panama City Beach)  or any beach for that matter, these spike cup holders will come in quite handy. Simply lay out your blanket and stick your cup holder in the sand. That’s it, no more sandy cups, cans or sunscreen for that matter! Have your logo and contact information printed on the side and these unique promo items are ready to hand out.

Did you know that font actually has a psychology of its own? When working on a project, whether it is for the web or print, the fonts need to be legible. Some fonts tend to be more legible on the web rather than printed, therefore it is important for designers and local print shops to know which font is best.

For instance, Verdana is a clean font used more for conferences or seminars, where Eurostyle is more fashionable and used for private events. Remember, fonts have a psychological side and should be chosen carefully and wisely.

When preparing for your next event contact us here at Creative Printing and we will gladly assist you. Our designers will work closely with you to ensure you have the right font.

Below is a graphic to help you decide which font to use for your website or event and why.

Do you have a special little one having a birthday soon? Are you having trouble deciding what kind of birthday party theme to help make the day “extra” special? You’re in luck, over the next couple of months we are going to share several creative, fun birthday party themes. Here at Creative Printing we just LOVE getting creative. This month we are sharing 2 birthday party themes one of our wonderful team members has used. These are just adorable!

Remember here at Creative we offer custom birthday party invitations, posters and banners that can be designed to match any theme. Give us a call or stop by and our friendly team will gladly help you get started. Don’t you feel like getting creative?  

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Who doesn’t just adore this sweet story? This theme is a great way to incorporate reading and bring the story to life! For an added touch serve food from the story.

Recently we had to honor of printing a couple posters for Master Sergeant (MSgt) Aguilera’s  room dedication at Tyndall Air Force Base  Panama City, Florida.  MSgt Aguilera is “amazed” to have this room dedicated to him.

Creative Printing of Bay County worked with Mr. Wolf to help finalize and print this project. Mr. Scott Wolf owner of Wolf Designs, designed the posters and did a magnificent job.

We want to wish you all a Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all the military, past, present and future that have served to protect the United States of America.

Do you recognize Apple, Nike, Pepsi, and McDonalds logos every time you see them? Why is that? A lot of time and work are put into the logo design process to get it just right so it makes a big impact on consumers. Logos need to be distinctive and stand out among the others. Branding your company begins with the development of your company logo.

So what goes into the Logo Design Process? Below the process is explained and you can visually see how much work it takes to get the logo desired for your business. From client meetings, to sketches, editing and digital design, this is a tedious process.

Here at Creative Printing our graphic designers work closely with you to get the logo that you envisioned and help your brand stand out. Call or stop by to get started and we will gladly assist you throughout the entire process. Remember, here at Creative, we are a one stop shop, for all of your printing needs.

Spring is in the air and there are babies everywhere! Do you have a friend or family member expecting a sweet bundle of joy? If so, you are going to need invitations for their shower. Have you thought about what type of shower to throw or has “mommy to be” mentioned what she would like? Here at Creative Printing our graphic designers will create a custom designed baby shower invitation to correspond with any theme. No theme yet? We also have samples ready for you to choose from.

Take a look at some of our newest designs.

Modern Baby Shower Invitations

A+ Smiles,a Pediatric Dental Office in Panama City is now open! Dr. Eric Berry and Dr. Matthew Ticola are experts in their field of dentistry and look forward to serving the dental needs of children in our area.

From logo design, business stationary, office décor, signage, door vinyl, outdoor signs and everything in between .... A+ Smiles chose to Get Creative! They are a great example of how to utilize our graphic designer and printing services to create and keep a professional consistent image. Large format prints make great décor and can be mounted to either black or white foam board or printed on canvas to give your office a new look. Use large format prints as an easy way to display your logo at the office!

Logo

Our Print Shop in Panama City, Florida sees a lot of customers, many of which do not know or understand the difference between digital and offset printing. We want to share the difference and help you better understand so that you can decide along with your local print shop which is best for your print project.

Digital Printing – Is a toner based printing method using high-speed copiers. Copied Type Printing has had some major advancement since it was introduced in the early 80’s. The image quality from our modern machines is as good as offset printing.

Graduation is right around the corner! Do you have a special senior in your life? Are you looking for custom graduation invitations that will stand out from the other classmates? Here at Creative Printing of Bay County we offer custom, affordable graduation invitations. Custom invitations are a great way to display your graduate’s senior portrait, creating a unique style. In need of name cards as well? You’re in luck, we design custom name cards to match your custom graduation invitations.

Here are a few of our newest designs to get your creative juices flowing.

Graphic Design is everywhere! We see it on street signs, billboards, television, online, in restaurant menus, business cards, books, and many other places. Graphic design combines text and images in a creative manner in order to reach a particular audience visually. They make things “look pretty” in order to grab the target audiences’ attention.

A logo is not just something that is visually appealing it is creating a brand and communicating what a company is/does without much needed explanation. The first stages do not involve much designing at all, but more so research.

Wedding Season is quickly approaching and "many brides to be" are busy planning the wedding of their dreams. At Creative Printing, our designers stay on top of the latest design and color trends so we can create your custom designed wedding invitations and RSVP cards. With all of our designs you can change anything from colors to fonts, or we can create a unique design to meet your theme and budget. The possibilities are truly endless! Why worry about going through store after store to find a wedding invitation you “might” like, when you can have them designed to match your wedding perfectly!

By the Sea

Arranging a funeral or a memorial service for a loved one can be an emotional and overwhelming task. There are so many details to consider before your final goodbyes. Here at Creative Printing we can help ease this difficult time by helping you create programs, large prints or collages, book marks, prayer cards or any other mementoes can be personalized to remember your loved one. You can choose to turn this time into a celebration of life and recall all the good times through the use of these keepsakes that will honour the memory of your loved one.

Several months ago, we shared a 2 part series regarding How Color Makes You Feel. Now we would like to share what brand colors say about your business. As we all know branding is crucial for your business and how customers/clients recognize you.  Did you know that color is the most noticed and remembered part of your business? It is important to have a matching color scheme across the board, from your logo, website, business cards and more.  Here at Creative Printing we have a wonderful graphics department that will help you develop your brand and have a matching scheme from online to print. Contact us for more information. Feel free to comment below to share how your brand color has helped your business.

Are you preparing a shower for a special “Mommy-to-be?” Are you trying to decide on the perfect theme to shower her in love? We want to help you get creative by sharing several unique and creative baby shower ideas.

Rubber Ducky Theme

At one point or another, you have all most likely played with a rubber duck in the bathtub as a child or with your children. Why not take this cute little toy and have an adorable, fun baby shower. Then the baby will have plenty of bath toys!

As spring approaches many “brides to be” are busy planning the wedding of their dreams. Trends change from year to year and with each season. We would like to share several popular wedding trends for 2013. These trends can be used for both spring and summer weddings.

1.  Wedding Colors

Right now Mint appears to be the most popular wedding color for 2013. It is calm and can be  used in a variety of ways that make your wedding look elegant.

Image from Wedding Paper Divas  

Creative Printing is celebrating a special birthday this month. We would like to wish Stephen (aka Papa), owner of Creative, a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Do you want to save money? We all do! Creative Printing is here to help you get the results you want for the right price. Before placing your next print order, take a look at these tips to make sure you get the best price possible.

1. Talk to your local print shop

• Communication is key to carrying out a successful project. Remember, that local printing companies like our own, are here to help you through any type of project. Give us a call before you begin your project and tell us what you want/need and what your budget is and we will help you get started.

Did you know that 75 million Americans believe having pets in the workplace makes people happier?  Have you ever been to an office or work environment that allowed pets? Here at Creative Printing we have two very special print shop pups, Pepper and Polly Ruff. Have you met them yet?

Our print shop pups were born in December 2009 and have been joining their proud parents, Steve and Sheila Ruff, for the past 3 years. These two cuddly and spoiled dachshunds are often found curled up in Steve’s lap while he is working at his desk or waddling around the shop looking for friends with food.  Our customers sure love to see our furry friends and they have truly become a part of the Creative Team.

Purrina is an advocate of pets at work. They created a video to share how their employees feel about bringing their dogs to the office.  Want to learn more about bring animals to work? Here are some tips for preparing your workplace for pets. We invite you to share your pet story with us and the next time you are at Creative Printing of Bay County say hi to Pepper and Polly.

VIVO Spa Salon is located in Rosemary Beach, Florida. They are a great example of a customer creating their own artwork and then having us print it for them.

Hi guys,

     " I got your message, thanks for knocking out the menus for me so quickly. That’s why you guys are the best!! I would love it if you could mail them to me."

Thanks!

Michael J.

As you can see, it is fine to create your own artwork and send it in to be printed here at Creative Printing of Bay County. It is important to make sure the files are set up properly and then there is little design expense, if any. If you have any artwork you would like printed, feel free to contact us and our friendly staff will assist you.   

Graphic designers create visual materials that effectively communicate information for advertising, publications, movies, posters, signs, websites and many more. They use a creative process that combines art and technology to efficiently communicate ideas. The designer works with a variety of communication tools in order to express a message from a client to a particular audience.

In today’s technology driven world, a Graphic Designer is a “must have” for a business. Most people do not use the phone book to look up your number or address anymore. They go straight to Google via their phone, tablet or computer. Graphic designers help your brand stand out; whether it is on paper or online.

Have you visited our NEW website? Creative Printing of Bay County is very excited about the new website and would love to hear your thoughts! In 2012 we celebrated 30 years of business. We are proud to be a part of the Panama City community for so many years and look forward to many years to come.

To our friends and customers,

Warm wishes for a Joy-filled Christmas Season and a Peaceful and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas from our fantastic team at Creative Printing!

We are looking forward to 2013 and getting CREATIVE!

As we all know, our first impression are often the last impression. This is why it is extremely important to have a professional, yet creative letterhead that will make a huge impact. Letterheads and envelopes are important for sending letters, invoices, receipts, and much more. These are essentials for any business, no matter the size. You want to make sure that your stationary matches and are of professional quality.

So what do you include on your letterhead and envelopes?

Are your menus beginning to look torn and ragged? Have you wanted to change the items on your menu and add something new? Now is the time to consider these changes and put a plan into action. With the New Year approaching, why not go ahead and have new menus printed! This is the perfect time of year to update prices.

It is important to keep branding and consistency in mind when discussing your menu options with your local print shop. Take a look at some tips to help your menu be a success.

• Include your logo
• Describe the look or feel of your restaurant in 2-3 words
• Choose a font that is easy to read
• Don’t forget the price of each item
• Categorize items appropriately

Receiving mail, that is not a bill, is always exciting! Why not bring a smile to your family, friends, and co-workers faces by sending them custom Christmas cards? It’s not too late to get them out before Christmas.

Take a look at these custom samples to get your creative juices flowing!

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? We didn’t think so. Thanks to American Express, small businesses now have their own day. Small Business Saturday is November 24^th. The day is dedicated to supporting small businesses by shopping locally. Small Business Saturday falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, perfect for getting more shopping done, if not completed. Last year approximately 103 million consumers participated in this event!

To Steve and the staff of Creative Printing:

            I cannot begin to thank you enough for the absolute outstanding and timely job your team did on the design and printing of our Annual Report! It was such a pleasure to work with your fine staff and you have done Creative Printing and CARE proud. Thank you for your attention to every detail and for making this a great Annual Report we can present to our community with pride. May your business always be blessed and thanks for your patience, professionalism and every kind thing you did for me and CARE!

Warmly,

Jude G.

Tis the season to be jolly…!  Christmas is right around the corner. Have you started shopping yet? If not, we have 10 ideas to help you get started. All the items below are customizable and that makes them extra special.

1.     Custom Calendars

Christmas is the perfect time to give the gift of custom calendars. The New Year is coming and everyone is going to need a new calendar. Why not spend the time selecting pictures for each month? This makes the calendar extra special. You can also include birthdays and special days to remember on each calendar you have printed. Don’t forget you can add your business information as well as friends and family.

Do you have several old boxes or signs lying around your office? Not sure what you should do with them? Why not re-purpose your signs? Permanent Vinyl Adhesive is appropriate for a broad range of indoor applications. Vinyl adhesive can be used on flat surfaces, simple curves and simple contours. It is perfect for covering the OLD! If you want to cover a low quantity of large containers, PSA is the perfect material to use. It turns a plain cardboard box into something NEW and extraordinary!

We hope your enjoying our series on Promomotional Items for Your Industry. Our goal in this series is to provide you with examples of promotional items that meet your business needs and help gain brand recognition in your community. Let’s take a look at several promo items for business professionals.

Jump Drive/USB Drive

In today’s technology driven world, these USB drives are a great portable storage device for documents. pictures, presentations or videos. What a better way to help out your existing clients and business prospects than a USB drive. You can have your business logo, website, or phone number printed right on the front. It is important not to have too much information on something so small, causing it to look cluttered and not professional.

Have you ever written a book or thought about writing a book? Do you have trouble deciding which type of book binding you need? Now is time to consider your binding options. There are a wide variety of options when having a book or booklet bound. We want to inform you about the choices available and which is the most common choice for your project.

Plastic Spiral or Coil Binding

This binding method is a punch and bind system that uses plastic spiral that is coiled through the punched holes on the binding edge. Books can be bound up to 1 ½” thick, are very strong and crust resistant. The book lies flat when opened and can be folded back. Spiral or coil binding is often used for notebooks, technical manuals, presentations, calendars, and more.