Too Little Time...

Since my last post, I've been running around town hitting all of my favorite shops--Holiday Shopping Card in hand. You'd think stores were giving away their best goods for free with all the excitement.

I had a great day full of shopping and each purchase was made with my Holiday Shopping Card. I love the savings! First, I started off at Andre's for breakfast. Then I made my way down the shopping center to Carlton House where I bought my niece and nephews some fun Halloween treats. Today was the day I ordered my Christmas Cards at Houston Invitation Service. I did end up with a Page Stationery design, but not the ones I originally thought about---I fell in love with another great one! I'll see if I can find a pic of it online and post it. I got great Christmas Gifts down at River Oaks Bookstore for some of the bookworms on my list and ended up completely losing time in there chatting! Next, I hit West Gray and Luke's Locker where I checked a few more items off my Christmas Gift List! My favorite toy store is also participating so I popped in Fundamentally Toys too!

Wheh. Where to next?

Shopping for a Cause

It's that time of year again! The Holiday Shopping Card Event starts tomorrow! A chance to get discounts at my favorite local merchants AND support the American Cancer Society? Count me in. For a minimum donation of $70, you can save 20% on purchases at participating stores--and some restaurants too!

Every year, The Holiday Shopping Card Event serves as my official Holiday Season Kick-off. This year, with the economic gloom, saving money on Holiday Purchases is even more appealing. I'm making my list and mapping out which stores I need to hit over the next 10 days---the Holiday Shopping Card is valid through November 2nd.

Stay tuned for Great Gift Finds from participating merchants--I'll post them as I see (read: buy) them.

For more information about Victory, our special local branch of The American Cancer Society, click here.

Creative Christmas Cheer

Tired of the sending the same type of Christmas Cards year after year? The designs from Two Punks and a Princess are just the remedy for boring Holiday Invitations, Cards and Photocards. Here are a couple of designs from their latest release. The designs are so creative and all of the illustration is original artwork by the the company's in-house designer (and owner). Such a fresh take on the traditional. Makes me want to start planning a Holiday Soirée--or two!

Desk Doldrums?

Is the doom and gloom of the current economic state getting you down? While you research the stocks you want to buy at a bargain, why not have a fun, vibrant mousepad by Kate Sumner Designs to help you surf your way to success? Get one to complete your office look or pick something fun and fabulous to spice up your desk--and your mood!

And, while you are at it, check out the fun kids' items.

Kate Sumner's got you covered with mousepads, correspondence cards, enclosure cards, and more. So cute. Budget friendly and on-trend? Sign me up.

Printing Process Primer

Will you Engrave, Blind Emboss, or Thermography your stationery? Perhaps Letterpress printing is more your style? With so many options, choosing which one to use can be daunting. Fear not, see below for the ins and outs of some of the more Common Printing Techniques. I suggest sitting down with a local Experienced Stationery Retailer to get a true feel (literally, you want to feel the weight of the paper and appreciate the differences). They can also help walk you through which items are best suited for the different techniques!

Flat
Technically known as Offset/Lithography and is recognized by clean edges and smooth print.
Thermography
Freshly printed inks are dusted with a powder compound. After the excess powder on the non-printing areas is removed by vacuum, the sheet passes under a heater, which fuses the ink and powdered compound. The printing swells or raises to simulate the look of engraving, but shiny.
Engraving
Letters and designs are cut or etched into a copper plate. The plate is inked so that all sub-surfaces are filled with ink, then the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the depressed (or sunken) areas of the plate. The paper is forced against the plate with tremendous pressure, drawing the ink from the depressed areas. This produces the characteristic indented or bruised impression on the back of the paper.
Blind Embossing
Similar to the Engraving process, but without ink. The plate is pressed into the paper creating a raised look to the text or design.
Letterpress--My Personal Fave!
The oldest and most versatile method of printing was originally produced from cast metal type or plates on which the image or printing areas are raised above the non-printing areas of the plate. Ink touches only the top surface of the raised areas; the surrounding (non-printing) areas are lower and do not receive ink. The inked image is transferred directly into the paper. Sometimes a slight embossing (because of denting) appears on the reverse side of the paper. The letterpress image is usually sharp and crisp. A heavier, more substantial paper is typically used.

What are you waiting for? Get out there and get in touch with paper!

Making "Green" Gorgeous

Eco-chic never looked so good. Say farewell to the days of "green" looking drab and way too "recycled." Smock's new line of Letterpressed Wedding Invitations and Social Notes are so beautiful! Smock is the first and only print shop in the U.S. to offer printing on a luxury bamboo paper.

Why bamboo? Bamboo is a truly sustainable and renewable resource. It needs very little water to grow, grows quickly and doesn't require pesticides or fertilizers. It's extremely soft, luxuriously thick, and elegantly textured--the prettiest paper around! I know I've said it before, but this is definitely a paper you've got to feel to believe!

Letterpressed Wedding Invitations are definitely front-and-center in all of the Wedding Magazines. Discerning Brides looking for elegant, distinct invitations are opting for letterpress in droves!