Not quite baby, Not quite stationery

I know this blog is supposed to be all about stationery, but sometimes stationery designers create things that aren't just stationery.  When I was working on my new line of products this year, I wanted to try and do something different.  I kept thinking about my kids rooms, baby gifts and letterpress.  What would be a great way to combine all of those into one product?  Here is what I came up with.  Personalized letterpress art prints for babies and kids.  They are great for baby's rooms, but are also sophisticated enough for kids.  They are personalized, 11x14 inch framable artwork.  There will be four different designs with your choice of several typefaces and ink colors for the personalization.  They are truly unique one-of-a-kind pieces.  I will be launching them at the stationery show in May and will hopefully be in stores by June.  Here is a sneak peek.

Staying Connected with Style

Play dates, swim classes, soccer games — oh, my! Being parents can lead to having a very busy social and activity schedule, which means keeping in contact with all of the other parents and their kiddos. As most 21st century families know, it's also a necessity to hand out your contact information as well with all the digits, emails and maybe even social application handles, like Facebook profiles. So, why not do it in style and add some personality — from whimsical and classic to lively and fun & colorful — there are a plethora of designs to choose from. Calling cards aren't just for adults and their mommies or daddies, it can also be a card for the entire family, too! Here is just a sampling of what's out there!

Enjoy the visual feast!
--Cathe (Feterie)


(Whimsical and modern, these personalized calling cards for Feterie can be purchased here)



(Modern and stylish, fin+roe calling cards for mommies and daddies can be found here)



(Fun and colorful, these calling cards from The Paper Menu are sure to brighten any day!)

Trend: The Art of Lettering by Hand

Hand-lettering is a fresh trend with roots firmly planted in the art of calligraphy. The current lettering trend extends beyond the classic scrollwork calligraphy we've admired over the ages, and leans toward a free-form interpretation of the alphabet. The result is a whimsical and often playful reminder of our youth. So it's no surprise that this trend is currently enjoying the spotlight in mainstream design as people look for ways to lighten the overall mood of "the times".

On trend for baby & children, the hand-lettered alphabet makes learning about letters so much fun!

(1) Alphabet by Linzie Hunter (2) Geoff McFetridge for animalphabet.org (3) Mike Perry for animalphabet.org

When used on an announcement or invitation, an artful font speaks about the personality of the couple. Perfect for informal events.

(1) Calligraphy by Love, Jenna (2) Hand-lettering by Sarah Gardner (3) Save-the-date by Float Paperie (4) Wedding Invitation by Linda & Harriett

The hand-lettered notecard is perfectly suited to the hand-written note, which (nowadays) is a gift in itself to receive.

(1) Hello Notecards by Susy Jack (2) Chill Notecard by Artful Sentiments (3) Initial Notecard by baron*cards (4) Letterpress Birthday Notecard by Paper Stories

~ Lianne Tokey, baron*cards

Paper Treats for a Book-Themed Baby Shower

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once said, "It is a great thing to start life with a small number of really good books which are your very own." The family members that hosted a baby shower for me when I was pregnant with my first child couldn't have agreed with that sentiment more. As a result, they threw me a storybook celebration that I (nor my children) will ever forget. Each guest was asked to bring their favorite children's book unwrapped, as a gift for me and my new baby. In addition to the usual load of onesies and baby blankets, I also amassed a not-so-small library that my daughters still enjoy and benefit from today.


Of course, where there are books, there's usually paper! So here are a few designs that just might make an already unique book-themed baby shower, even more festive. Brightly colored bookplates, like these from Just Another Day Designs, are a great way for any reader to keep track of their beloved stories. The peel and stick plates are easy for guests to pop in their book and write a small message letting the family know why they chose it. When the book's new owner officially arrives, Mom can inscribe the child's name. Or she might choose to personalize the plate with the family's last name, since well-loved books are often passed on to new family members or generations over time.

Too many guests with the same favorites? Never fear. Multiple plates can be placed in one copy of the book, and duplicate copies can be donated to a school, children's hospital, or a community organization's library.


The perfect finish to your storybook baby fete? A cute favor that fits with the theme. Custom block-printed bookmarks and notepads like these from Artful Sentiments, will dress up your guests' books long after the party is over, and the pads are ideal for keeping that never-ending list of "must-reads."

~Erin, Bride Design

clever alternative to baby announcements & favors

if handing out cigars or beef sticks after the birth of your baby isn't exactly your thing, try something clever like magnets featuring an image of your baby and all of his/her birth information. (also available for many other occasions such as save-the-date, graduation, birthday announcements, and wedding favors.)



another clever option are custom m&m's. now you can put your own words and photos on those little round chocolates! there are a multitude of colors to choose from, and while they're quite pricey, they certainly are cute! available in bulk or in several favor-sized options!



*magnet image courtesy of fin+roe
*m&m image snagged from m&m website

invitation alternatives :: fill-ins & imprintables

let's face it. while having custom made invitations and announcements made for special occasions like weddings or the birth of a baby is great, sometimes that sort of thing isn't in the budget for certain events like a cocktail party, family barbeque, or bridal shower. this is where two great alternatives come into play.

the first are fill-in invitations. this is the type of invitation (or announcement) that has the pre-printed "who:, what:, where:, when:, why:" information ready for you to plug in your information, stamp, and send on it's way. super simple solution and typically super affordable.

for those of you who are more confident with typing up the wording for your invitation in word processing software, an imprintable gives you more flexible options in that you can write whatever you want, wherever you want! some companies even offer the option to do the custom printing for you. (for a fee of course) so while it's not a custom design, it is customized to your special event.



1. fondu fill-in invitation. in-vita paper studio :: available soon.
2. new puppy fill-in announcements. marzipan inc. (available at shades of violet) :: $6.00/box of 10 (sale price)
3. sophisticated sun party custom printed invitations. rock scissor paper :: $24/box of 10
4. shower invites. available as fill-in or imprintable marzipan inc. (available at shades of violet):: $7.50/box of 10 (sale price)

birth announcements : beyond pink and blue

when it comes to choosing the right announcement for the arrival of your new bundle of joy, the options can be daunting. you're so excited to share the news with friends and family and want to make sure your announcement stands out. one way to do this is with an announcement that doesn't fit the stereotypical pink and blue theme. surprise them with bold burst of bright hues and it will be an announcement that's hard to forget.

the announcements below are from fin+roe. if you want yours to stand among all the other pastel pinks and baby blues, this is your answer! at fin+roe you choose your favorite design layout and then choose from 20 colors and 10 patterns to create your own customized design!


why not try a bright spring green on a baby girl announcement like the one below?


try a cheery orange for a little boy.


this bright red custom announcement from paper zest is a great color option if you're looking for a full-custom design. you can view a great selection of their previous work on their website.


this lovely orange option with pops of magenta comes from feterie. another nice touch: unlike most flat photo announcements, this one is a folded card.


i love the sophisticated and calming feeling that this chocolate brown announcement from paper stories letterpress exudes. brown is such a great color to tie into any color theme. it's gender neutral and is a softer option than black for a baby announcement.


if you're looking for a non-photo based announcement i thought these cards from InVita paper studio would be such a fun way to announce the arrival of a new baby. the colors are bright and cheerful and i love the text based design.

i hope this has given you a few ideas on how to escape the pastel pink and baby blue rut that so many people fall into. there are so many options out there. the possibilities are endless!

photos courtesy of their respective owners.

-lori [marzipan inc.]

First Birthday Bash — A Superhero Theme to the Rescue!

Marking your baby's first birthday with a fabulous bash can be fun when you make the planning less stressful by pulling all the basic elements of a theme together. As an example, let's look at a superhero-themed first birthday party for both boys and girls.

The Invitation
Send friends and family a fun-filled invitation that gives a flavor of the event's theme. Choose a design with bright colors reminiscent of superhero comic books or fonts that have similar characteristics. Another option is to work with a designer to customize every element of the invitation. Include fun wordings in the tone, catch-phrases or words such as, "KaPow!" or "Zap!" and don't forget to give your child a superhero alter ego, too!

The Favors
What are parties without favors? Instead of the traditional favor goodies, involve every boy and girl in making the event a gathering of "super friends" by giving them their own superhero gears — capes for those with the power of flight, power cuffs empowered with amazing strength, or even a mask to hide secret identities.

The Decor
Set the right atmosphere with simple elements from the theme to make it extra special. There are many fun ways to sprinkle superhero elements around the party scene. I love finding old comics and making them into confetti to scatter around tables or printing out action phrases from superhero comics and adding them to all sort of surfaces (walls, doors, etc.) to add to the excitement.

The Cake
The perfect cake for such an event calls for cupcakes dressed with superhero emblems. I love the sight of a sea of cupcakes with different emblems and the kids will love snatching one to "power up" or have them decorate their own sugary sweets! Look out world, here comes some supercharged little superheroes!



{Cathe, Feterie)


Photo credits: Feterie (top), Discovery Denim, BombusCrafts, BiteMeBakery (bottom)

Welcome to the World

Who doesn’t love hearing about a brand new baby’s birth these days? With all the craziness that surrounds us these days we all need a little something to remind us of the “Bigger picture”, LIFE!
Baby announcements have dramatically transformed from a simple snapshot of the “wee little one” and the birth details to breathtaking images of little toes and sweet little grins all put together in a beautifully designed announcement.

Currently I am obsessed with Long Island based Photographer, SummerLyn Photographys’, delicious images that depict the simple beauty that is a newborn baby. Being 33 weeks pregnant myself and waiting for my sweet bundle of joy, seeing these pictures not only enhances my excitement but as a stationery designer has my mind racing with ideas for the “perfect” announcement design for my sweet baby girl.

Whether you choose a fun photo announcement such as this one from Jitterbug Stationery

or a more elaborate and formal announcement, we all know that “a picture is worth a thousand words”!

~Maria, Fleur Creations

Personalized Stationery for Babies and Children

As a stationer I get a fair amount of requests for personalized baby and children's stationery. The average infant or kid might not need letterhead, but as a mother myself, I can attest to the fact that note cards definitely do come in handy. I frequently give correspondence cards, like the ones pictured above, as a gift to new Moms. Complete with the name of their new arrival and an illustration reflecting the baby's budding personality, these cards are perfect for the necessary thank you notes one writes after receiving all those welcome home, baptism or bris gifts. For a special touch you can further personalize the stationery by matching its theme or colors to the baby's nursery. Stationery also makes a great 1st birthday gift, and I always get a chuckle when I receive a thank you note on the very cards that were part of my present to the birthday boy or girl.

Older children who are just starting to write love to choose the color of their note cards, as well as a theme or style that suits them. Animals, princess crowns, fairy wands, trucks, soccer balls, and flowers are some of the most popular choices I see on a regular basis. It's never too early to encourage a love for the art of letter writing, and kids enjoy mailing off their cards to grandparents and far away friends. The style and colors might change, but stationery is still useful for school-aged kids and "tweens" as well. Whether it's a note sent home from sleep-away camp asking Mom and Dad for more treats, or a quick end of the year thank you to their teacher, I think you'll find personalized stationery is something no kid or parent will want to live without.


~Erin, Bride Design

Photos courtesy of Bride Design (top) and Jitterbug Stationery (bottom)