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Social Stationery                                                                            

5/28/2015

4 Comments

 
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Crane & Co. Engraved Parlor Monogram Note
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 M​aterial 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.
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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 C​olor ​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.

Engrav​ing 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.

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Crane & Co. Engraved Hot Air Balloon Card
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.  
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Crane & Co. Blind Embossed Beach Glass Note
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.
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Crane & Co. Engraved Silk Road Monogram Note
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. 
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Crane & Co. Derbyshire Monogram Regent Blue Bordered Correspondence Card
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.
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Crane & Co. Lily Note with Embossed Monogram
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​. 
4 Comments
Randy Chorvack link
8/27/2019 08:15:26 am

I didn't know that paper could be made out of cotton. I knew that some canvases could be made of cotton, but it surprises me that paper can be. What does that kind of paper feel like?

Reply
K link
8/27/2019 08:56:33 am

Hi Randy,
Cotton stock that is used for invitations is usually soft to the touch versus the wood pulp paper that is quite stiff and rigid. We have just received a handmade, full deckle-edge cotton stock from Bella Figura and it resembles what I would describe as the feel of a cotton ball. It is available in 5 colors white, ivory, soft gray, soft blue and soft pink.
Let us know if we can assist you with personalized printing in the future.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
3/30/2021 10:00:43 pm

I do appreciate that this post underlined that one of the benefits of monogram note cards is that it gives a touch of personalization. My wife is planning to start her own business and she is thinking how she can show her customers that she appreciates them. I think having a personalized thank you card can be a fine touch to it.

Reply
Adam Golightly link
8/4/2021 11:55:23 am

My cousin has been thinking about getting the right kind of stationery to mail letters to her friends in order to be better. She would really like to get the materials from a professional in order to be more effective. I liked what you said about how long personal letters should be written on monarch sheets with the name, and address at the top of the sheet.

Reply



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