Every couple’s invitation ordering process is a unique experience. While some may prefer to order them online from the comfort of their couch, others would rather spend time browsing invitation albums in a store, where they can touch the paper, see the details of each design up close and have the professional guidance of a retailer. Most, however, choose a combination of the two. They’ll peruse various wedding invitation sites online, discover what they like (and don’t like) and then head to our studio to see samples and place their order. Fleming's Printed Affair is an authorized dealer for Crane, William Arthur, Vera Wang, Bella Figura, Checkerboard, and b.t. elements, to name a few. Call or schedule your appointment online. We look forward to meeting with you!
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Now that summer is officially here, invitations from friends to various cozy retreats are beginning to arrive and thus we are reminded of the loveliness of house stationery as a host/hostess gift. Commonly placed in a country or beach home, house stationery may be used by any resident of the house or by any guest during their stay. It typically features the name of the house or the address but can also be designed to fit the mood of the location. A graphic of a lake, a palm tree or mountains are all nice ways to convey the feeling and spirit of the place. House stationery, of course, is different from family stationery. The latter features the family surname and/or the given names of all the family members, and thus is not appropriate for guests.
A hand painted edge on one's personalized stationery or invitations adds an exquisite touch. See how the Crane & Co. artisans create painted edges. As with the clothes you wear, the stationery you use makes a statement. When you create and assemble your stationery wardrobe, keep in mind the impression you hope to make. Your stationery should reflect both your personality and the type of correspondence you’re sending. With that in mind, there are three questions you should ask yourself when creating your perfect stationery wardrobe. Let’s dive in, shall we? What Kind of Paper Should I Use? This is actually a three-part question, as you need to choose the material from which the paper is made, the color and the types of stationery. Paper Material Paper is made from either cotton or wood. The first true papers were made from cotton almost 2,000 years ago. Wood-pulp papers came into being in the 1800s during the Industrial Revolution. They supplanted cotton-fiber papers for many uses because of their lower cost and the seemingly endless supply of trees. Some of the finest paper, though, is made from cotton. Before you order your stationery, run your fingers across the paper. Stationery made from cotton will have a soft, rich feel. You’ll undoubtedly recognize the quality inherent in cotton-fiber papers. Crane’s 100% cotton fiber papers have the touch and feel of uncommonly beautiful papers. Paper Color Stationery comes in many different colors. Ecru (also known as buff, cream, ivory or eggshell) and white are the most popular, but grey, blue, pink, yellow and other colors are also available. Type of Stationery You can order several different types of stationery. The two most basic are one for writing notes and one for writing long letters. While these two items are essential, you may wish to add variations of these two as you build your stationery wardrobe. How Should My Stationery Be Printed? Stationery can be engraved, blind embossed, thermographed or flat printed. Engraving Engraving is one of the oldest and most beautiful processes for reproducing images on paper. The appeal of engraving lies in the exquisite detail created by its three-dimensional impression. Engraving is produced when the copy is etched in reverse into a copper plate. Ink is deposited in the resulting cavity. The engraving press then forces the paper into the cavity, creating a raised impression. The paper is literally raised, with the ink adhering to the raised surface. The fact that the paper is raised is what distinguishes engraving from thermography and flat-printing. It’s easy to tell if a piece of stationery is engraved. Simply turn it over. If there’s an indentation (caused by the pressure from the engraving press), it is engraved. You can also tell by looking closely at the impression on the front. The paper will be smoother there, and the sheet may have a little ripple. This is called the “bruise” and is a natural part of the process. Engraved stationery is more expensive than thermographed or flat-printed stationery. However, much of the price difference lies in the initial cost of the engraving plate. Since engraving plates can be used over and over again, subsequent orders of engraved stationery cost only a little more than other types of stationery. Blind Embossing Blind embossing is the same process as engraving minus the ink. The image is simply the raised paper. You might recognize blind embossing as the raised address on the flap of a wedding envelope. Thermography is sometimes called “raised printing,” although the printing is not raised at all. Unlike engraving, where the paper is actually raised, the raise in thermography is created by a resinous powder that is melted over the flat-printed ink. Thermography is less expensive than engraving but, while quite handsome, is not quite as luxurious as engraving. Flat Printing Flat printing, as its name implies, is simply ink applied to a flat surface with no raise. Back to top SOCIAL STATIONERY WARDROBE ELEMENTS Half Sheets Half sheets are single sheets of stationery that fold in half to fit their envelopes. They may be embellished with your monogram, name, address, or name and address. Write only on the front of a half sheet, never the back. If you need additional space, use blank second sheets. Monarch Sheets Monarch sheets are used for longer personal letters and for personal business letters. They measure 7 1/4 x 10 1/2 inches and fold into thirds to fit their envelopes. A name, address or name and address appear at the top of the sheet. Write only on the front of the sheet, never the back. If you need additional space, use blank second sheets. Folded Notes are used to write thank-you notes, extend informal invitations and send short messages to friends and acquaintances. Your monogram or your name may appear on the notes. The monogram or lettering style that will work best for you is the one that best reflects your personality. Folded notes may begin on page one when the imprint is at the top of the note. The note may continue on page three. When the imprint is in the center of the note, the entire message is written on page three, and pages two and four are not used. If you need more space, use a different type of stationery, perhaps a half sheet. Correspondence Cards One of the most useful items in a stationery wardrobe is the correspondence card. Less formal than notes, these increasingly popular items are used for thank yous, informal invitations and short notes. Correspondence cards are flat, heavy cards that usually measure 4 1/4 x 6 1/2 inches and are mailed in matching envelopes. They can be plain or bordered, depending on your tastes. A name or a small monogram may appear at the top of the card. Write only on the front of the card, never the back. If you need more space, use a different type of stationery, perhaps a half sheet. House Stationery House stationery may be properly used by any resident of your house or by any guest staying at your house. Many people keep house stationery at their country and beach homes so that stationery is always available for their guests and for themselves. Only the name of your house or your address appears on the stationery. Couples Stationery A folded note or correspondence card, couple's stationery features either the couple's names or a monogram. This stationery is used for correspondence that should come from both parties, such as a thank-you to the hostess of a cocktail party you both attended. Couple's stationery makes a lovely wedding gift. For assistance in building your business stationery wardrobe, please browse the Crane & Co. Business Essentials Guide.
Whatever your job title may be, you will almost certainly find yourself at some point needing to pen a handwritten note. From our Business Essentials guide, a primary on the differences between correspondence cards, monarch cards and jotter cards—and when to use which.While the executive sheet is the basic stationery used by most businesses, the monarch sheet is slightly smaller and therefore more personal. From our Business Essentials guide, a primary on letterhead. For more guidance on your business stationery wardrobe, please read our Business Essentials guide.
One should consider his or her paper as he or she would consider any wardrobe piece: with thoughtful attention to detail, quality and style. From our Business Essentials guide, a primary on printing processes and our 100% cotton stock.
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Fleming's Printed Affair
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March 2021
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