Greetings and Happy New Year!

Just in time for all of the lovers, Team BLD has been hard at work making new Valentine’s Day cards.  We have a very romantic and traditional offering, and we added TWO cards that are design-neutral and perfect for the guys to send to their favorite snuggle bunny.  Check them out below

Don’t worry, last year’s Typography Valentine’s Day Card is still in stock.  Get it here.

The new cards…

 

Love Cards – Love Note Card
 This card has a very romantic, vintage look and feel thanks to the textured stock and classic red ink.  Minimal and to the point…the best way to convey your message of love.

Next up, our decidedly masculine-esque cards.  For the guys – and gals – that like to tell it like it is, this is the series of cards you have been waiting for this season.  With tact, brevity, and love you can convey your feelings to the one you love…not to mention style with these bright, light humor letterpress cards.  What is more romantic than the truth?

 

Holiday ‘Lovin Valentine’s Day Card
Love and the expression of love is what Valentine’s Day is all about.  So, move things along towards the horizontal refreshments with this lovingly funny Valentine’s Day letterpress card.

 

It’s All About Sex Valentine’s Day Card
For those of you fed up with your loved one thinking Valentine’s Day is NOT about sex, this is your card.  The handwritten font lends itself to the heartfelt message to drop the pretense and start warming the sheets.

The owner of Twin2u2 Designs (who is also my big sister) contacted me this week about designing a free gift/giveaway for customers at craft shows.  Jan creates one-of-a-kind greetings cards and other fine paper goods.

We came up with the idea to re-purpose her business card design and create a business card coaster.

 

The design looks stunning on the coaster stock.  The thick stock (80 pt) made the butterfly image pop and the rich purple color makes the coaster stand out.

 

If you have a need for an extra special card or gift for an important person or event in your life, contact Jan at twin2u2@yahoo.com.

Are you in need of some custom letterpress design and/or print services?  Submit your request here for a quote.

Bloom Letterpress & Design custom project: design and print personalized stationery

Printed on 96# mouldmade Italian cover stock; no ink (blind-embossed)

Are you in need of some custom letterpress design and print services?  Submit your request here for a quote.

Bloom Letterpress & Design custom project: design and print coaster sets for members of the Novel Expressions Book Club

Printed on 80pt, 4″ square coaster stock with rounded courners in burgundy

Are you in need of some custom letterpress design and print services?  Submit your request here for a quote.

Owning a letterpress shop means you have a desire to tinker with old machines…or have a friend/family member that does.  Fortunately for me, I have both.  The other thing owning a letterpress shop brings with it is a need for space.  Right now, our presses are in an enclosed, but non-heated space.  This causes problems on days like today when we are experiencing a thunder snowstorm that includes lightning.

Being in a cold place does not hurt the press, but the cold can cause problems with the ink when printing.  Many parts of the press can be transported into the heated parts of the house temporarily until these items are put to use.  But, the ink disc on a platen press is bolted on, and it is heavy. This means moving it back and forth is possible, just not plausible.

So, this is where you draw upon your extensive knowledge of physics and/or MacGyver reruns.  Many old school press operators use candles mounted just behind the platen to continuously heat the disc.  I, however, have reservations about using an open flame anywhere near paper and chemicals.  It is a quirk of mine I guess.

If you touch the disc when the temperature is cold, it is cold – very cold – through and through.  It seems to hold cold very well.  Reasoning that the opposite is also true, I decided to place a hot water bottle on the disc to see if I could get a heat transfer between the disc and the water.

Voila!

The ink rolls on smooth and I have a relatively low risk of burning down the shop. *happy dance*

Now, whether or not I should be printing during a thunder snowstorm with lightning on a 100+ year old press that is electrified, well, may fortune favor the foolish.