A perfect holiday invitation or card deserves to arrive in the perfect package, not a plain-Jane white envelope with the standard liberty stamp. Here are some great resources to help you get creative with your shipping.
STAMPS:
• Verde Studio on Etsy offers expertly curated sets of unused vintage stamps (image 1).
• It might seem obvious, but at the USPS online shop you can find a range of stamps that aren't always available in your local post office. Check out some of the additional postage for less-common options (image 2).
• Upload your own photos and artwork at Stamps.com to create custom limited edition stamps (image 3).
ENVELOPES:
• Paper Presentation sells a range of envelopes in beautiful papers, including the unique glassine options shown above (image 4).
• For almost any color and size of envelope you can imagine, check out envelopemall.com, where you can also have your envelopes custom printed (image 5).
• Paper manufacturers offer envelope samples, sometimes for free in small quantities, or in packs of larger quantities. For envelopes made from top-of-the-line quality papers, visit Mohawk Fine Papers — which includes Strathmore papers as well as their own eponymous collection — or Neenah Papers, maker of the gorgeous Cranes and Eames paper lines.
Images: 3, Custom Stamp Designs by Sarah Rainwater; others as linked above
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Comments (10)
Who actually does this besides bridzillas? Evite, saves paper.
Evite is great for everyday but for special things -thick card stock, lined envelopes, personalized address stamp and the perfect stamp make it so fun. I used the cowboy series for my son's birth announcements and I just got the Winslow Homer for thank you notes both from usps.gov. Now for Holiday cards . . .
What's wrong with a standard white envelope and just normal stamps?
Evite makes me insane. If you are going to spend the hours it takes to put together a really special event, why not take a little more time to send out an actual invitation? Beer, football, and hotdogs; evite away...but for other things a bit of effort is appreciated. The tasteless evite I got to a wedding went right into my junk mail. If they can't take the time to peoperly invite me why should I take the time to attend or send a gift?
I have been known to send personal cards in homemade envelopes made from photographs and packing tape. I send things in the mail so infrequently, but still like to buy some of the more creative stamps at the post office. Just buy a sheet of 1 cent stamps, and you can still use your old stamps when the rates go up. You might be wasting a few pennies here and there, but its fun to have a variety of stamps rather than just the generic Forever stamp.
Make sure to check out Felt & Wire blog for their week of celebrating envelopes, starting today!
Last year I used the Polar Bear and Big Horn Sheep from USPS for my holiday cards. Nice wintry colors, same artist (so they match!), and only 1c more than the price of a regular letter stamp (this year).
Why do people think that using paper makes you the devil? I would rather use paper from a renewable tree farm (yes that is a real thing... not everything comes from old growth rainforests!), than this computer which was made with heavy metals and toxic chemicals that will eventually leech back into our gardens and water sources. Technology isn't "green".
To really personalize, make your own stamps at stamps.com! You can upload your own photos or images (ie: I have my paintings made into stamps for all my fine art gallery and client mailings). Yes, it costs more. But for special occasions or marketing, it's well worth it.
JAM Paper & Envelope caries over 1 million different variations of specialty envelopes, mailing envelopes in different sizes and colors. Visit Jampaper.com is the right place to get every kind of envelopes.