The Process
Design
Once you fill out our tattoo request form through "Book Now", we will be in contact with you within a few days to discuss the design further and to book. We will take your ideas and work them into a unique design that both complements our style of art and your vision for your piece.
We provide a draft 3-7 days prior to your appointment so you can sit with it, provide your feedback and we can make the edits. We work together on your design until you absolutely love it. It is important to Gratitude Tattoos and the tattoo industry, to provide you with something unique and custom, not a direct image off the internet. We welcome inspiration images in this process, but we will not repeat it. If you want an exact design from an artist you found online, you must contact them yourself and ask for their permission as many artists have tattoo tokens where you can purchase the design for this purpose. This supports the artist and ensures everyone feels valued in the process.
We truly love what we do and are humbled to be able to make a permanent and meaningful mark on your skin. We are grateful for your trust in choosing us as your tattoo artist.
Booking Fee and Cancellations
Once we choose a date, there is a non-refundable booking fee of $100 to confirm and hold that date. This will be subtracted from the total tattoo amount during your tattoo. We charge $160/hour +gst. We can provide rough estimates for the cost of our tattoo once we have a confirmed design and approximate size.
The booking fee guarantees your appointment and in the case of a cancellation it becomes the cancellation fee
Please read our cancellation policy carefully:
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If you are more than 15 minutes late, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to complete the appointment that day and the appointment will be considered cancelled. If you are running late, please inform us immediately so we can adjust our day - gratitudetattoos@gmail.com
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If you need to reschedule, please provide at least 7 days notice in order to transfer the booking fee to the new date, otherwise it is non-refundable.
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If you are sick leading up to the appointment please provide as much warning as possible in order to reschedule your appointment and transfer your deposit.
The booking fee corresponds to the design concept you have provided the artist. If you decide to completely change the entire design concept after the artist provides the design draft, another deposit is required for a new design concept. We make as many edits to the original design concept as required to get it just right. However an additional deposit is ONLY for a complete design change as the artist may have spent hours on the original design already.
Prepare
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PREPARE WITH WAIVER: Please review the waiver HERE to go over all the information beforehand. Once you have reviewed it, please sign the waiver online anytime prior to your appointment.
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PREPARE SKIN: Begin hydrating by drinking plenty of water the week leading up to your tattoo. Ensure you are using sun protection, so that your skin is not burned or overly dry. Our skin is an organ and tattoos react to how healthy our body is. Please come with the area(s) you want tattooed shaved, even if you think you have no hair in that area (you do!). Use soap and water so you don’t get razor burn. We do this to streamline your appointment time and reduce our waste impact (disposable razors are horrible for the environment). Ensure you have no major issues like eczema, small broken capillaries or open wounds for the location of choice. We will assess the area prior to tattooing as well and if we do not feel comfortable tattooing that location due to issues with the skin, we will have to adjust the location.
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PREPARE CLOTHES: Please wear appropriate clothing for your tattoo location. For example, wear a cardigan for a sternum piece and shorts for a thigh piece. We suggest wearing black to avoid ruining any clothes if ink happens to get on your clothing. Bring layers so you can adjust appropriately.
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WHAT TO BRING: Bring a full water bottle, snacks and layers for clothes. If your tattoo is over lunch or you skipped breakfast, please feel free to bring a full meal or get skip the dishes during your appointment. We want to ensure you are fed and comfortable throughout your appointment. We play chill acoustic style background music during appointments to encourage conversation and a relaxing environment.
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PREPARE SCHEDULE: After the tattoo, you will need to avoid soaking the skin (showers are totally fine), getting it dirty, or have excessive rubbing on the tattooed area so please consider this when booking your appointment around your activities. If you have concerns about future activities, please make sure to let us know before you book so we can schedule your tattoo around important activities in your life.
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PREPARE MOON CYCLE: As a woman, consider avoiding booking your appointment while on the first few days of your period as you tend to experience more pain and are taxing the body more with a tattoo during this gentle moon cycle time.
Touch-ups
If your tattoo needs a touch up, this comes at no extra cost for up to 45 minutes of touch-up time. If it requires more than 45 minutes, there is a fee of $50. Any additional touch up after the first one, also costs $50.
Touch-ups are necessary if there has been some fading or inconsistency in the lines. Taking your aftercare regime seriously is important for the longevity of your tattoo.
Location and Arrival
Our studio is located in a beautiful Yurt (traditional Mongolian circular building) on gorgeos prairie lands with views of the mountain and wildlife all around.
The address is 254121 Towers Trail, Cochrane AB.
Please follow entrance signs to The Yurt, park in the large parking lot, and enjoy the wooden boardwalk that leads you to the studio!
When you arrive, we will review your design, provide several size options and scope out the best location for the tattoo. We will then place the design as a stencil on your skin. If there are adjustments to the size or location, we will adjust as many times as needed to make sure you are 100% happy! We are happy to provide our expertise in helping you nail the perfect look.
We are very intentional about making you feel comfortable and supported through this process. Please never hesitate to ask questions or request adjustments, even if it's the slightest change, because this tattoo is forever and should be exactly what you want. This is a very important part of the process itself.
THE LAND:
We acknowledge that The Yurt is situated on the traditional lands of Treaty 7. Marni’s family are committed stewards over this land, deeply rooted in a profound respect and admiration for its beauty. We recognize the resilience of those who once called this valley home with evidence of where teepees once stood on the valley floor, as silent witnesses to their stories.
We must also confront the dark legacy of colonization, which has inflicted deep wounds and injustices on our indigenous neighbours. We acknowledge the struggles they have faced, including the loss of land, culture, and lives, which is a painful part of our history.
The creation of The Yurt is driven by a desire to share this sacred space, fostering connections between people and the land. We invite everyone who visits, to reflect on this land's past, present, and future and to join us in taking care of it together.