Custom Creation : 1968-style Jerry Kramer

[Bob Lemke]

My last-weekend project . . .

3365

[Myachelydra]

Awesome Bob!

[Jay Wolt]

Bob another great job

[geor952]

Bob,
I thank you for sharing these with us. I always enjoyed them when I had my SCD subscription and love it when you post them on here.

[Bob Lemke]

I'm sometimes hesitant to post my new creations because I don't want to look like I'm "bragging."

I do these custom cards principally because I enjoy the mental exercise of trying to make a physical reality of the cards I see in mind's eye; that is, trying to get the job done with my limited computer graphics skills.

Secondarily, I still like to share with other collectors just as much as I did back in the day if I was the first in the neighborhood to get a particular Milwaukee Braves card out of a wax pack.

[mojorob]

Bob,

Another really nice effort on your part.

I especially like your last couple as the 68's are my favorite football issue.

[Bob Lemke]

It's ironic, but by the late 1960s I had long since quite collecting football (and baseball cards).

By then, though, my little brother was buying cards, so I was exposed to all the classic designs of that era. I always liked the Jack Davis-cartoon Packers and Raiders from 1968.

I just finished putting all of my future card project artworks, photos, etc., on a flash drive so I have a backup in case of another hard drive crash. I have enough stuff on my to-do list to keep me busy for years.

I'm trying to get to a 1959-style John Madden, but I spent all this weekend working on a custom card for a fellow forum member's father-in-law, so Madden will have to wait.

[slantycouch]

I'm sometimes hesitant to post my new creations because I don't want to look like I'm "bragging."

I don't think anyone sees it that way. This is great - thanks for posting!

[mojorob]

Bob,
Were you able to find a color picture of John Madden in a Eagles uniform?

Didn't he have a brief cup of coffee with them?

[Bob Lemke]

I do not have a color photo of Madden in an Eagles uniform, but did find a very sharp, chest-up portrait black-and-white that should "colorize" very nicely.

Topps has a color three-point stance photo of Madden in their NFS goodies section, but it is way out of focus.

[Rich Blackburn]

great cards, how do you go about making these cards? there are two cards that i'd really like to be made. one card is of harry wilson running back for nebraska and the philadelphia eagles in the 60's. i have two original negatives of harry wilson from the topps archives.

the second card that i would love to make is a card of calvin jones from the university of iowa. calvin only appeared on one card a 1956 parkhurst football, card #33. this card is my white whale, my father and i have searched for this card for years and years. calvin was the outland trophy winner in 1955 the first african american, he also appeared on the 7th issue of sports illustrated. he was tragically killed in a plane crash december 9th, 1956 returning from an all star game in the canadian football league. the university of iowa dedicated their 1957 rose bowl victory to calvin.

if there are ways to make these cards please let me know. thanks rich

[Bob Lemke]

Hello Rich,

I've been at this for about six years now.

A big part of custom card making is having the time to devote to each project. Besides the hours at the computer working with the graphics, there is usually a fair amount of time needed to generate the data for the card backs. Since I no longer get around like I used to, I find that I have the time to devote to this "hobby". I probably average two cards a month.

The tools include not only a good computer graphics program, printer, cutter, etc., but the "raw materials" such as the photo to be used and examplars of the style of card to be copied.

Technique is the necessary trial and error process that comes from years of working on these. The more you do, the better you get.

Doing a Harry Wilson card would be a breeze because of the availability of a nice Topps photo. It could be done in any desired 1960s style.

The Calvin Jones couldn't proceed without a reproduction quality photo, but that shouldn't be insurmountable.

I have accepted commissions to make custom cards for a few collectors. If you want to look at that possibility, PM me for details.