Designing A Handfasting Certificate

Well, it has been a busy time; I'd even go as far as to say it has been the best of times! My little summer handfasting card is hopping out as quick as I can make them and the huge pom pom orders are still coming in for the Christmas costumers. The reason this week has been so fabulous is that I have found my creativity at last, having lost it at the start of the year. I don't know where it went, why it has come back, nor what it was up to whilst it was gone, but my recent drawings have been rubbish, my colour palettes have been an embarrassment and my inspiration dried up altogether. This week a creative firework exploded to the point where I couldn't get my ideas on paper quick enough. I had been asked to draw and design a handfasting certificate and it is the prettiest thing I have drawn.

The Idea

This week, when a lady ordered one of the handfasting cards and loved it so much, she asked if I had a handfasting certificate and if I didn't, could I draw her one. Having responded to her message, I spent the day thinking of all the different ways I could approach this.

1. I could use one of my many existing drawings as a template for the certificate.

2. Use a free template from the internet and add some of my existing drawings.

3. Draw a fit-for-purpose design, using the backbones of my handfasting cards, which could then go on Etsy.

   
   

The first idea would have worked if there was a short deadline. I knew from the words I had been asked to print in the card that the certificate wouldn't be needed until the 25th of July, so I had time to draw something specific. The only problem here is that to draw a certificate from scratch was a two-day task and would be over £150. The second idea of using a free template was a no-go from the start, as I never use other people's work, but I wanted to explore all possibilities. Whilst I had plenty of time to donate to this, there was also the cost to the customer to consider. The final idea was perfect and was very well received when suggested. The handfasting certificate would feature parts from each of my handfasting cards, so it would be compatible with each.

The Research

Before I start with any new idea, I research to see if it is already available and if it is, can I add a niche that would focus on a certain audience, making the item more unique? A simple skim through the handfasting certificates already available on Etsy, I noticed several things straight away:

1. Most weren't very Pagan-y. I found around four certificates that had been hand-drawn with original imagery instead of stock art, which were very nice, using the tree of life, Celtic knot work and various combinations of them.

2. The font styles were mostly ghastly, heavy, black and just wrong. Many had the classic heavy English font, inherent with swimming certificates or school qualifications. Not to mention the heavy black lines used to denote where names could be written in or where people would sign.

3. They were nearly all sold as files to be downloaded, not actual items. This baffled me, as a printout can vary on different setups, which is fine for a book download or a pie recipe, but for something as important as a wedding certificate, surely you would want it printed on high-quality 200 gsm paper and a professional printer? I had envisaged my certificate sent out in a clear cello bag with a firm board for protection, held together with an organza ribbon, wrapped in hand-stamped paper for the post.

The Design

My handfasting cards are full of pagan wedding symbolism, from the infinity symbol to the kissing hares forming a heart under the moon. I took all of these key elements and drew the basic shape of the left-hand side of the certificate, which was then traced, reversed and then lined up to the centre, retraced a faint outline to mimic a perfect mirror image. Whilst about 40% of the design is exactly the same on both sides, the rest of the design is deliberately different, but with some similarities to tie the two halves together. Each half had to be of an equal 'weight,' meaning the colour, composition and detail couldn't be patchy, too overworked, or too sparse.

I was very picky over the flowers I drew and wanted to have a completed design that represented all of the seasons, something that wasn't out of place no matter what the time of year. I drew blue forget-me-nots, white mistletoe berries and autumnal poppies. The stems of the flowers, accented with silhouetted leaves for contrast, denote a cathedral of vegetation crowned by the moon, a perfect representation of a traditional tree grove handfasting ceremony.

Once I had the idea in my mind's eye, I felt it needed something to hang from or sit on, rather than just being a sheet of paper. I researched certificates on Pinterest and found links to drawn scrolls. What could be better than my certificate looking like an old wooden scroll?

The Colours

Until I came up with the scroll idea, I had no clue how to colour the design. The colour palette was limited to my chosen hues: the blue of oceans and the sky, the green of plants, the yellow of the sun and browns of different earths, all dirtied with some dark blue or brown, but which colour where, was a real conundrum. With the introduction of the scroll, I decided the paper needed to be old parchment browns with the scroll ends coloured to look like wood. I knew I wanted star-dotted dark cerulean blue around the moon so it stood out, therefore I decided to put the blue forget-me-nots at the top too, meaning the yellows, ochres and rusts went in poppies at the bottom. I used olive and moss greens in the middle to join the top and bottom, with the centre blank for the wording to be added.

The Wording

During my research into the correct wording to put onto a handfasting certificate, I found many 'Who would buy that?' certificates! Again, are we recognising the ancient Rite of Handfasting, or are we picking a brick up in our PJs from the bottom of the pool? I was shocked by 'This is to certify that...' used on the available handfasting certificates. Seriously? Imagine standing in an oak grove surrounded by wildlife and wildflowers, glorious skies above and family all around. The moment should be cherished with words such as "joyful," "love," and "light," as the handfasting concludes with a certificate signing. I came up with 'Joyful blessings to...' to keep within the mood of my design.

I wrote the certificate declaration and asked the lady who'd asked for the certificate what she thought. She really liked it but had a word change suggestion that was absolutely perfect. Where I had put 'Joining hearts together,' we changed it to 'Binding hands and hearts together.' Working as we did was a real treat; I really enjoyed myself. It was a true collaboration, just what I do my Etsy for.

I had been asked to create a certificate with just one spot for the witness signing, but I noticed during my research that some had two or even three witness lines. I chose to offer four options: 1, 2, or 3 witnesses, plus 'custom,' where the whole thing can be rewritten as requested.

One thing I really didn't like with available certificates was the heavy black lines used to mark where names are added or signatures placed. Although my wording was printed in rich brown, as were my dotted lines, I still didn't like the prominent signing lines. I therefore took the colours from the centre and used greens and creams, resulting in the signing lines being subtle and delicate, exactly what I was after.

Footnote: When I first embarked on this project, I thought it was going to be one of many, with a lot of similar certificates to compete with mine. I know some folks like the formal, traditional look and luckily for them there are many certificates to choose from, but I was genuinely surprised by the lack of creativity in a genre oozing with symbolism, colour and ancient traditions.