Just got an email from Jenn at Ice Cream Social. They are hosting a Kate’s Paperie Trunk Show this weekend in New York City. Go say hi if you’re in the area.
May 2nd from 1-3pm
Kate’s Paperie Soho
72 Spring Street
New York, NY 10012
Archive for April, 2009
Ice Cream Social in NYC
Thursday, April 30th, 2009Letterpress wedding invitations for how much?
Thursday, April 30th, 2009This is my first post with Paper Shop Ink. Very exciting! It feels like a first date, not sure what to say and not sure what to show. At the 9SpotMonk Studio, we’re busy working on a new eco friendly custom wedding album, launching in May. We’re focusing on themes that are more nature based (naturally) and trying to bring that smell of the first day of Spring on to paper. So with that said our first post will focus on that theme.
A second theme for this post – price. We’ve been doing letterpress invitations for some time now with pricing all over the spectrum but have noticed in the past year brides and grooms looking for still beautiful invitations but have been more budget conscious. There are many ways to keep within your budget and still bring the wow effect to announce your wedding day. Doing 1 colour instead of two colours, printing 2 colours on the invite but staying with one colour for the rest of the pieces – response, reception, thank yous, etc. Size can also be a determining factor as well. A smaller invitation still can pack a punch, both on the receiver and the wallet. Don’t forget, a smaller invitation will need less postage as well.
Call on your local stationery stores that carry custom designs. Sales staff are always happy to work with you to bring your idea to paper and meet your budget needs. Call on your local letterpress stationers. Many of these studios are run by the owners/designers themselves. They are the champions of assisting you bringing your wedding theme into paper. They know first hand paper selections, envelope choices, all things to help you again – keeping within your budget.
Etsy! Etsy is a great resource if you cannot find a local printer/designer to meet your needs. Everyone I have ever spoken to who has a shop there is helpful and knowledgeable on their craft.
This week I’m highlighting some spring themed invites, all letterpress printed from small studios. The goal is to find a set of 100 invites and response cards for around $1000. Let’s see how well we do…
This beautiful very simple and modern invitation comes from our friends at Bella Figura. A 5 by 7 inch size, it is one of my favorites.
For our package -
100 2 colour invitations 5 by 7 size
100 1 colour invite envelopes
100 1 colour response cards
100 1 colour response envelopes
———–
$1030
They offer free 2 day shipping, this is definitely a perk. Shipping for 100 sets can get very costly with Fedex Ground getting to upwards of $50 (depending on how many pieces are ordered).
If I wanted to cut costs down on this suite even more, I’d opt for a one colour invitation. That would bring my price down to $930, which is under my $1000 budget.
To see this suite, visit Bella Figura
From Hello Lucky, this smaller rectangular invitation has a great balance of artwork to text ratio. What do I mean by this? Well, sometimes the text can overpower the artwork and vice versa. But I love how the beautifully laid out leaves, swashes and the little perched canary work all together.
For our package -
100 1 colour invitations 7 by 4.125 size
100 1 colour invite envelopes
100 1 colour response cards
100 1 colour response envelopes
———–
$989.50
Hello Lucky also free ground shipping!
Have a little more to spend? Get your printed envelopes sent ahead for an additional charge of $40. Make sure you have plenty of time to address those envelopes. Remember you friend who does calligraphy on the side? It’s time to call in a favor.
To see this suite, visit Hello Lucky
I heart Inky Lips Press! Casey McGarr runs a design and printing studio in McKinney, Texas. His work to me, is the ultimate letterpress inspiration. Old school linoleum cutting and letterpress printing paired with modern graphic design, to us, it’s a pretty cool match. Inky Lips is known for their letterpress posters. Check out the amazing linoleum carvings done by Casey himself.
I like the use of type in this wedding invitation, it’s uber creative and brides and grooms, it takes a lot of time and patience to get those tree branches just right.
For our package -
100 1 colour invitations 5 by 7 size
100 1 colour invite envelopes
100 1 colour response postcards
———–
$910.00
We opted for a 1 colour invitation on this one. Two colour brought it up $88.00. For an additional colour without adding printing cost, think about doing a coloured envelope for this one. The set will have a 2 colour feel with a 1 colour pricing. How can you be eco friendly on this set? Response postcards! No envelope needed, you save on costs and save a few trees.
To see this suite, visit Inky Lips Press. They are super friendly and experienced, we love working with Casey.
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Sometimes you need minimalism. There’s not a lot of minimalism in weddings these days but for those who opt for a clean line, check out Bird on a Branch from Pistachio Press. We found Rachel’s work on Etsy, on our quest for the budget invitation.
I like the clean lines this invitation offers. It’s simple, evokes a feeling of spring and would be perfect for just about any spring wedding. She uses Crane Lettra stock, which is 100% cotton so it’s uber eco friendly.
For our package -
100 2 colour invitations 5 by 7 size
100 1 colour invite envelopes
100 1 colour response cards
100 1 colour response envelopes
———–
$700.00
Pricing on Pistachio Press’ Etsy page says ‘pricing generally starts at $700′. I am assuming that what she shows in the photo is what you’ll be paying for in regards to number of colours on the invite, response, etc.
To see this suite, visit the Pistachio Press Etsy site.
Thanks for reading my first post on PaperShopInk and thanks to Candis for inviting me to be a contributor to her great site. I am already busy working on next week’s post.
Have a great week! – Vivian
A paper vase? No way!
Monday, April 27th, 2009I was out shopping the other day and made a trip to my local bookstore. Like always, I headed straight for the card section for some store inspiration. However, something caught my eye along the way – a paper vase! It was beyond awesome and such a new idea for me. What can I say, I’m known for falling under a rock once in a while.
Sadly, I can’t show you the actual product as there was NO branding on it – tut tut! But, it somewhat looked like this only taller. 
Recycled Paper Vase: Pumpkin by wishingfish.com
Of course, these paper home accessories are all over Etsy too. Here are some of my favorites.
Magazine Bowl by Rubbish Remade
Recycle Magazine Paper Vase by Too Crafty for my Shirt
Paper Bowl by Nico Papergoods
Understandably, being a paper addict, I am now obsessed with these inventive creations. As one to jump in at the deep end, I had to go on a hunt to find a tutorial to make my own. Check out this tutorial from Patricia over at A Little Hut – Recycle Project No. 7 – Magazine Bowl.
Guess what I’m doing this weekend?
What a great way to use up all those magazines that are collecting dust in your home. Come on, you know you have a stack just like me. Get creative!
Mother’s Day {May 10, 2009}
Monday, April 27th, 2009Mother’s day is quickly approaching. Cards make a great gift. Every mother appreciates a hand made card from their children no matter how old they are. However, if you’re not feeling crafty at the moment etsy is a great place to find that special card for mom. Here are a few of my favorites.
A portion of the proceeds from this card made by byvikINK will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
The simplicity of this card from Perieau Designs is beautiful.
I thought this card by Molly Lee was cool. You can fill in your reasons on why you think your mom is awesome.
Beautiful letterpress flowers that will last forever. This card is from Sycamore Street Press and available here.
Egg Press has a great selection of Mother’s Day cards. I love their designs and these are definitely my favorite. Check out the rest of their cards here.
Summer Party Invitations
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009It’s hard to believe the summer party season is just around the corner. If you have a passion for paper goods, an invitation makes the perfect inspiration piece for your party’s theme. Below are several invitations that are sure to help kick start your party planning.
Who could say no to these oh-so-inviting invitations from Serendity? Pair the Fiesta Cantina Party Invitation with margaritas and friends and you’re party is sure to be a hit!
The Yellow Summer BBQ Invitations from Paper & Canvas are ideal for a casual backyard fling. The fill-in invitation style offers flexibility and is fabulous for a last minute invite with a personal touch.
It’s not summer without a pool party. The Personalized Sea Turtle Invitations from Jumping Jack Designs will make a splash with even the littlest party goers. Personalize your invitations with a name and see your guest of honor’s face light up.
I love paper decorations so I had to share this fabulous Daisy Birthday Banner from Earmark Gathering’s Esty Shop. Never underestimate the wow factor of a party banner.
Don’t forget place cards for your summer party. Traditionally used for formal events such as wedding receptions, place cards at a casual summer affair will leave your guests feeling special as they run around barefoot in your back yard.
Because it’s just not a party without a refreshing beverage, I want to share a family favorite. Pineapple Sangria, ahhhhh! Now go out and play!
Tropical Sangria
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup lime juice
1 (11.5-oz.) can mango nectar
1/3 cup sugar
1 (750-ml.) bottle fruity white wine
Lime slices, peeled pineapple and mango slices
1 1/2 cups lime flavored sparkling water
Directions
1. Stir together juices, liqueur and sugar until sugar has dissolved.
2. Place all ingredients, except sparkling water or champagne, in a pitcher or jug and chill until ready to serve.
3. Just before serving, add sparkling water or champagne.
4. Pour over ice-filled glasses and garnish with fruit slices.
Tip: Make your sangrias ahead and let them steep for a few hours for maximum flavor.
Tip: Everyone’s taste buds are different. Adjust the sweetness level by adding more sugar and/or lime juice.
Shower Invitations
Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
My sister’s wedding is approaching quickly. Last night I made over 80 shower invitations and she helped me stuff the envelopes. I like how everything is coming together though. These invites followed the same look as the Save the Date cards. The wedding invites are next.
Recycled? Post-Consumer? Pre-Consumer? What?
Monday, April 20th, 2009Wow, my first post on Paper Shop Ink. It kind of feels like the first page of a new notebook where you don’t know what to say or where to start. Isn’t the first page always the hardest?
As you can read in my bio, my company modernemotive focuses on producing paper goods using eco-friendly materials. Rest assured, today’s recycled papers are available in a myriad of colors, including the brightest whites and are meeting, if not exceeding, the technical standards when compared to virgin papers. With so many high-quality and accessible alternatives, there really is no reason for us not to consider these earth-friendly papers.
So, as Candis invited me to talk about eco-friendly stationery, for my first post, I thought I would demystify some of the words you may come across when you’re sourcing stationery or papers for your projects. For today, I’m going to focus on some of the key features I looked for when sourcing my materials. Let’s get on with it shall we?
Recycled Content
Recycled content consists of materials that have been recovered or diverted from the solid waste stream. This occurs during either manufacturing (pre-consumer content) or after consumption (post-consumer content).
Post-consumer content – Post-consumer fibers are primarily derived from local recycling programs, meaning they are re-used after consumers discard and recycle them. Obviously, the higher the percentage of post-consumer content within a paper the better. My primary paper is 100% post-consumer content which I absolutely love and the quality is superb. Yes, I see ‘flecks’ here and there but for me, it just simply adds character to my work.
Pre-consumer content – These fibers are recovered from manufacturing waste so never land in the hands of the consumer. Therefore, this term should only be used for waste that typically would of been disposed of and not reused such as paper trimmings.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Papers
All of my papers (except my colored envelopes – for now) are FSC certified. What does this mean? Obviously, most papers contain wood fiber. However, if you choose FSC certified papers, you can rest assured that the paper has been harvested from a well-managed forest. The benefits of FSC certified forests extend to people, the wildlife and the environment. Even better, by choosing these options, you help reduce the amount of illegal logging, deforestation and other irresponsible social practices that can be prevalent in unregulated and non-FSC certified forests throughout the world.
Chlorine Free Paper
Thankfully, most paper mills today are protecting our water by choosing chlorine free manufacturing processes. Originally, the purpose of chlorine in the paper making process was to generate whiter paper by brightening the pulp. However, today paper mills are finding alternative options at their fingertips to get the same (or perhaps even better) results.
The three most common processes used for chlorine free whitening are:
Totally Chlorine Free Paper (TCF) – all chlorine processing is removed from the bleaching system, Instead, the paper is whitened using processes that include oxygen, peroxide and ozone bleaching systems. If a paper is made up of recycled content, the term TCF cannot be applied as it is impossible to know if the paper is TCF or not.
Process Chlorine Free Paper (PCF) – all chlorine has been removed from the secondary whitening process. This means no chlorine was added during the manufacturing. As the paper may contain recycled content, it cannot be labelled TCF, and therefore PCF is used in its place.
Elemental Chlorine Free Paper (ECF) - these papers have been whitened without “elemental chlorine” (gas) which is the worst of all chlorine. That said, some chlorine (likely dioxide) may of been used. Despite this, there are some benefits as by removing the elemental chlorine from the process they are also reducing dioxins and improving water quality. Every little bit helps.
Hmm, I think that’s enough demystifying for today don’t you? This was actually a great educational process for me and I hope for you too. You are still there aren’t you?
Okay, so no post is complete without some visual eye-candy. So, on a Etsy hunt I went to seek out some eco-friendly paper goodies.
In perfect time for Mother’s Day, check out this lovely card from Smock Paper. Don’t you just love the punch of pink atop the grey? It’s printed on 100% bamboo paper and to go one step further, 1% of your sale will go towards an environmental cause via the 1% For The Planet project. Yah for Smock Paper I say.
Perfect for decorating the nursery of a new baby or bedroom of a toddler, this poster from sweetbeets is sure to get the little ones (okay, maybe not the babies) counting in no time. Printed on 100% recycled cotton paper. Available in boys colors too!
Ah, I always love the work of Wendy from dozi, especially her notebooks. The cover of this lovely notebook is made from cardstock that is 80% recycled and 30% post-consumer content. The inner papers go a step further as they are 100% post-consumer content. Woot!
And lastly, by yours truly, some Hi notecards that are perfect for everyday use (various colors available). Printed on FSC certified 100% post-consumer paper and partnered with a FSC certified 30% post-consumer kraft envelope. It comes protected earth-friendly too as the cello sleeve is biodegradable and compostable.
Okay, the first page in my new “notebook” is written on – let the messy scribbles now begin. See you next Tuesday.
Welcome, New Weekly Contributors
Monday, April 20th, 2009I’d like to introduce you to three new contributors. Beginning this week these three women will be posting on this site about their expertise. On Tuesdays you will find posts from Adele Miller. Adele is the woman behind modernemotive and she will be posting about eco-friendly stationery. Vivian Leung from 9SpotMonk will be posting on Thursdays. Her entries will be about letterpress. On Fridays Angie Allen will be contributing to the blog. Angie’s company is Jumping Jack Designs. Angie will be posting about invitations.
I’m very excited to have these three bloggers as part of the team. I hope you enjoy their posts and find them useful, inspirational and useful. I’ll be continuing to blog as often as I can about multiple topics and products as I have in the past.
If you’d like to learn more about us you can visit the bio page. We enjoy to hear feedback. If you have any questions or opinions on our posts we would love to hear from you.
Looking for Contributors
Sunday, April 5th, 2009
Sorry for the lack of posts. I’ve been doing some behind the scenes planning. Things will pick up again soon. If you are interested in more details about being a contributor email me. Thanks!
