Category Archives: Handwritten Happiness

NSS 2015 Mailers

INK MEETS PAPER® pre-show mailer for the National Stationery Show
INK MEETS PAPER® pre-show mailer for the National Stationery Show

We’re NYC bound for the National Stationery Show in just a few short days (!!!) and can’t wait to share all of the new products that we’ve been working on over the past months. Designing and printing our pre-show mailer inviting retailers to visit our booth is always so much fun, and we loved how this year’s piece turned out.

This year’s mailer included a gray envelope with a letterpress-printed liner in our custom ink splatter pattern (which also coordinates with the pattern on our new business cards). As an extra detail, we included a hidden message that could be found if you looked further into the envelope.

Detail of letterpress-printed envelope liner
Detail of letterpress-printed envelope liner

The 5×7 letterpress art print (“Life is best shared”) features a hand-lettered design, and it also serves as an introduction to our new product line, Gatherings. 

The invitation is letterpress printed in two colors on shimmery teal paper and highlights the key information about the show (booth no. 1453!), and the hand-drawn envelopes reiterate our love of snail mail and handwritten correspondence.

Close-up of pre-show mailer
Close-up of pre-show mailer

See you in NYC!

New Letterpress Business Cards and Stationery for INK MEETS PAPER

This year’s domain change from inkmeetspaperpress.com to inkmeetspaper.com (hooray!) also meant that it was time for a bit of a refresh for our business cards and stationery. We kept our classic color palette of black/white/kraft throughout all of the pieces and used the ink splatter elements to tie the business cards and stationery together. 

I especially love how these smaller A2 note cards turned out, and they’re the perfect size for quick notes. The line at the bottom for the writer’s signature and email address not only makes them versatile for all of our team members, but it also subtly includes our social media handle (@inkmeetspaper) within the website address for another connection point. 

Our business cards are printed on super thick kraft chipboard with a classic black ink. The simple and classic design highlights the details like black edge painting, and I’m pretty smitten with the ink splatters (in two different patterns) on the backs of the cards. 

Color Everywhere: New Year’s Card Responses

We shared a look at our New Year’s cards last month, and I’m excited to share a few of the responses that our stockists and friends have shared. Everyone received a “blank slate” style card that we designed by hand and then letterpress-printed onto duplexed smooth paper. 

It’s been really fun to see the variety and colorful designs, and we love how everyone really made it their own. 2015 really is going to be a colorful (and incredible) year!

P.S. We’ll continue adding to the collection of colorful pieces, so feel free to send us an email or tag us on Instagram with your photo: #inkmeetspaper. 

Happy New Year and Happy Mail

Happy New Year, friends! It’s hard to believe we’re already into the second month of 2015. The year has already been off to a whirlwind start, and we’re excited to announce the first bit of excitement for the new year: the addition of Alison as the newest member of the INK MEETS PAPER team. Alison was our intern/apprentice in 2013, and we couldn’t be happier to have her back as our Studio and Production Assistant. She’s already been a tremendous help, and we’re excited for what else is in store for the new year.

In the mean time, I thought I’d share our 2015 new year’s card. We’ve taken to sending these out (both as personal and company cards) rather than a traditional Christmas card with the hope that they can be used as a bit of inspiration throughout the year (rather than being so holiday focused).

INK MEETS PAPER® New Year's Card for 2015 INK MEETS PAPER New Year’s Card for 2015

This year’s piece was a one-color, double-sided print (the back included a message from us and wording was adjusted depending on whether it was for the business or personal). We used classic black ink on 200-lb smooth stock. While not as textured as cotton paper, this paper was super easy to color on, which is what we wanted the recipient to do– make it theirs.

Letterpress printed onto 200-lb smooth stock Letterpress printed onto 200-lb smooth stock Detail view with neon edge painting Detail view with neon edge painting

We used metallic silver ink for the return address. It actually looks like it was foil stamped since the envelope is a metallic black coated paper.

Neon edge painting in five alternating colors added a subtle pop of color (especially when tucked into the envelope) and coordinated with the Celebrate stamps.

Neon edge painting in five alternating colors Neon edge painting in five alternating colors

It’s been fun to see how the different pieces have turned out, like this one from our stockist Kristina of Crumple + Toss.

It was a definitely a season for receiving beautiful and inspiring pieces of mail too. As much as we love sending mail, it’s just as fun to open the mailbox and find it filled with happy handwritten messages.

Foil stamped and hand-lettered prettiness from our friends at Oh So Beautiful Paper, Urbanic, and Etsy Wholesale.

Andrea of Inkwell Boutique is not only a shop owner (and one of our stockists), but she’s also a letterpress printer. Her “Sweet Season’s Eatings” card was such a treat to open!  Poppins’ owner Kate sent a charming illustrated card of the shopfront, complete with a sprinkling of glitter snow.

More holiday loveliness from our friends Adam & Halligan, Boxcar Press, and Hope of Gutwrench Press.

We first connected with Rin of Papered Thoughts through Instagram, and she’s another snail mail, letter writing enthusiast who sends the most thoughtful cards and letters. Her New Year’s card included confetti and little sparkly party pick as well as a fortune telling fish (so fun!)

More festive handwritten holiday cheer from in-person and online friends (Lexie and Bobbie)– both of whom share a love of handwritten correspondence.

And to wrap up this post, we couldn’t resist highlighting the January collection from letterpress stationery subscription service Nicely Noted, which included our “Hooray Dots” card, along with hot pink “Hello” flat card from Steel Petal Press, and “Diamonds” card by Greenwich Letterpress.

Cheers to an amazing year! We hope it’s filled with great things, adventures, and, of course, lots of handwritten correspondence!