Meet one of our newest LISTmembers, Kristen with CRY BABY INK.

Cry Baby Ink
303.931.0606
email: info@crybabyink.com
www.crybabyink.com

When and why did you start your business?

Cry Baby Ink started in Seattle in 2007. Like many invitation designers, I was looking for an invitation for my own wedding. I wanted the look of a custom invite without the high price tag.

My corporate background as a print & packaging buyer for 10 years gave me experience working with printers and negotiating the best price.

After scouring every invitation book I could get my hands on and being frustrated that I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted, I finally just designed my own invitations and worked with a wholesale printer to get them printed.

Before I knew it, I had friends asking me to help design their invitations and Cry Baby Ink was born.

Describe your service/product you provide and how are you different from the rest?

At Cry Baby Ink we have many stock designs to choose from and we also love to do custom work. We offer beautiful letterpress printing, thermography and budget friendly flat printing. We will gladly combine the different printing methods to offer brides the luxury invitation they want in a cost combination they are happy with.

No need to stop at the invitations, we can also create an entire wedding paper suite so the bride’s vision is carried through the place cards, tables numbers, menus, gift tags and thank you cards.

How did you learn your craft?

Before moving back to Denver, we lived in Seattle which is a fantastic place if you’re an artist or design minded. I took a letterpress class and once I got my hands covered in ink from setting type, I was hooked! Art and design classes soon followed and are an ongoing part of my life.

Describe your style/approach.

It really starts with the bride’s vision. Cry Baby Ink’s stock designs have something to cover what many brides look for; either the classic style of the Monogram and Calligraphy suites, the whimsy of the Botanical suite, the opulence of the Ornate suite or the beachy feel of the Destination suite.

For the bride who has looked through 100’s of invitations books only to be frustrated because they STILL cannot find the perfect invitation, we start from scratch. What does their dream invitation look like? What does their dream wedding look like? Once we get some ideas on paper, a custom design is crafted. We want the invitation to be the perfect precursor to their event and one that they’re guests will talk about long after the last dance.

Any awards or features/publications?

Although my invitations have not been featured, my design ideas have been published in Better Homes & Gardens as well as Apartment Therapy.

Where did you grow up and how did you end up in Colorado?

I grew up on the East Coast in New Jersey. After graduating from college and working as a buyer for a large retailer, it was time for a change. I had family in the Denver area and knew it was a great place for a new adventure. After living in Denver for a few years, I met the love of my life and we moved to Seattle and were married a few years later. When it was time for us to start a family, we knew Denver was where we’d make our home.

When you are not working on a wedding, what do you like to do for fun?

My husband and I are big hikers and love the outdoors. When we lived in Seattle, we spent many weekends sea kayaking around the Puget Sound. This past summer we took out first river kayaking class and can’t wait to get in the water again! Our little girl keeps us VERY busy and has been the greatest joy we could have ever wished for.

image credit: black and whites by krista