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Archive for May, 2010

May 26

The dinner party invitation, designed by Cardstore artist: Pink Dot Press

NSS: Artist Appreciation Dinner

One of our favorite moments from this year’s Stationery Show was our artist appreciation dinner, a chance for the wide array of Cardstore.com artists in attendence to come together for an evening of wine & merriment.  From industry veterans to fresh new faces, we celebrated our talented stationery artists for their contribution to Cardstore’s vast design selection and vibrant artist community.

Overheard at dinner:

Did you know Great Arrow’s Alan Friedman is an astro-photographer by night?

Milo Paper (pronounced: mee-low) comes from the Greek word for ‘apple,’ as the artist, Maria, is Greek and from The Big Apple.

Masha D’Yans is an alumni of the prestigious Cooper Union art school in NYC  (and — almost as impressive- owner of the domain name: Masha.com)

Rob and Sarah of Paper Loop are getting married in two weeks! Best of luck & a hearty congratulations from the Cardstore.com team!

May 25

My NYC indulgence on Broadway: American Idiot and In the Heights

Stationery Show Highlights

I’ve gone to a lot of trade shows over the years, but the National Stationery Show (NSS) is my favorite. What makes this show special are the stationery artists themselves. It is a kick to experience their creativity, and as a group, stationery folk are the nicest people you will ever meet. And… you can’t beat the location in NYC! Great food, Central Park, and half-price Broadway shows like American Idiot and In the Heights. Ah, that’s the way to travel.

photo 225x300; Stationery Show Highlights

What were the Show Highlights for me this year?

  • First, the mood at the show was noticeably more upbeat. Although the show floor seems smaller than in years past, it held strong at 900 exhibitors and 11,000 attendees. Most artists said sales to retailers were going very well.
  • Second, letterpress artists continue to impress with their compelling alternatives to mass-market greeting cards. There are 100s of amazing artists, with my favorite new greeting card lines coming from Hammerpress, Hello!Lucky, and Delphine Press, (check out the blog reviews and photos of these new lines at PoppyTalk and Oh So Beautiful Paper)
  • Third, it is refreshing to see modern humor cards that are witty yet not mean-spirited. Every year it seems more “shock-value” cards hit the market, nevertheless, it is awesome to see design and sweet humor still expertly played. My favorite in this genre is Old Tom Foolery, and their new Headlines Collection of newspaper-style greeting cards
    • GreetingCards OldTomFoolery 1 473; Stationery Show Highlights

    Old Tom Foolery - Winner of Stationery "Trendies" and Louie Awards

    There are many comprehensive blog reviews of the Stationery Show, complete with stunning pictures. Check them out!

  • Design*Sponge
  • Oh So Beautiful Paper
  • Papercrave
  • Poppytalk
  • simple+pretty
  • A Baby’s Eye View of the Stationery Show by Albertine Press – cutest show recap ever!

    • Old Tom Foolery image courtesy of the artist and Stationery Trends Magazine annual awards, The Trendys.

    May 20

    The 2010 National Stationery Show (image courteousy of Miss 'N Nick)

    National Stationery Show 2010

    The Cardstore.com team just returned from a whirlwind week at the 2010 National Stationery Show, where we visited our many artists exhibiting at the show, scoured the aisles for the newest card trends and trendsetters,  and threw a pretty hoppin’ dinner party if we do say so ourselves.

    The scene: the Javits Convention Center in NYC

    Stay tuned to the Cardstyle blog for more 2010 Stationery Show updates to come!

    May 14

    bark-mitzvah

    Avery’s “Bark Mitzvah”

    Cardstore.com customers have shown yet again why they are the best and most creative out there! We recently received word from one of our customers who hosted a “Bark Mitzvah” for her adorable dog Avery to help raise money for the ASPCA. Michele, the hostess of this fabulously fun event said, “The party was a huge success” and “everyone loved the invitations from Avery’s Bark Mitzvah”. With such fun and beautifully designed Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah invitations, thank you cards, and congratulations cards, they are perfect for animals and humans alike celebrating this special occasion! See the invitation Michele created below for an idea about how you can make your Bar, Bat, or even Bark Mitzvah equally excellent. Who knows, a “Meow Mitzvah” may be next!

    bark mitzvah; Averys Bark Mitzvah

    May 12

    05_11-simple-to-design

    Hello, Simple Te!

    05 11 simple to design; Hello, Simple Te!

    We’re delighted to welcome Simple Te Design to Cardstore.com! Featuring adorable birth announcements, vibrant thank you cards, and elegant holiday cards, Simple Te has the perfect designs for the occassions you cherish most. The designs are each unique and bring a unique warmth to each and every mailbox. Check out their amazing collection here!

    May 11

    take_two_giraffe

    Take 2 Tuesday: It’s a Jungle Out There

    take two giraffe; Take 2 Tuesday: Its a Jungle Out There

    Dive into the jungle with the help of these two beautiful giraffes! Featured on the left is a stunning photograph courtesy of Ben Heine. On the right is the simply adorable and ever-popular Giraffe Dot Blue baby shower invitation from Cardstore.com.

    May 10

    3920660488_8c1e7c09df

    Make way for the Graduate: New Graduation Invitations for 2010

    Graduation season is one of the most exciting times for students and stressed-out parents alike… and it’s finally here! And now that all of your hard work has paid off, it’s finally time to relax and celebrate a wonderful accomplishment. Although we can’t help with family travel arrangements or last minute requests for graduation tickets, we can make your life easier with our easily customizable graduation announcements. There are a variety of designs to choose from so you’ll have no problem finding just the right one for you.

    And if you weren’t already in the graduation spirit, I’ve compiled some items to get you excited. Who knows, maybe you’ll even use one of these at your graduation party or for a gift idea…

    Graduation cupcakes, Graduation card by Cardstore.com, School Days Scrapbook by Martha Stewart, Graduation frame, Personalized wine bottle, Graduation candypops by Hostess with the Mostess.

    May 7

    strawberry

    Delicious Treats for Mother’s Day

    Along with our post about pairing a card with a creation of your own, I thought it would be just as fun to pair a card with a yummy baked good! With so many fun recipes, you can definitely impress your mom this Mother’s Day with your culinary prowess. Here are a couple of recipes I loved and which matched perfectly with one of Cardstore.com’s Photo Mother’s Day Cards. Enjoy!

    Find a Candy Sweetness Mother’s Day card here.

    Find a Molded Chocolates recipe here.

    Find a Mom Takes the Cake card here.

    Find a Strawberry Cream Cake recipe here.

    May 6

    number-patchwork-card

    Saying Thanks is easy as 1, 2, 3…

    number patchwork card; Saying Thanks is easy as 1, 2, 3…

    This week we celebrated National Teacher’s Day, a small tribute to the tremendous men and women who dedicate themselves to educating our youth. This, among a million other reasons, is why I believe teachers deserve the highest accolades for their work. I thought it’d be a great idea to show a special teacher appreciation by sending a thoughtful note. Whether it’s one of your child’s teachers, an old college professor, or a friend who is a teacher—Cardstore.com has the perfect card for that special educator. One of my favorites is the Number Patchwork stationery. Any teacher would fall in love with the quilt patchwork numbers and the wooden background designed by Rubbergob.

    May 4

    take-two-dandelion

    Take 2 Tuesday: Make a Wish

    take two dandelion; Take 2 Tuesday: Make a WishThis week’s Take 2 Tuesday comes just as spring has arrived in full effect. With this glowing dandelion (photograph by a talented Flickr photographer,)  you can’t help but believe in the power of wishes! And if you have any upcoming birthday wishes for your loved ones, try sending this best-selling Magic Wish birthday card designed by february 13 creative.

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