Minted stationery + A HUGE GIVEAWAY!!

I struck it lucky a few weeks ago when I was offered some personalised stationery from US stationery company, Minted. I had of course already wandered through their extensive online collection but didn't know their whole story. For example, I didn't realise that every design that is sold is submitted by an independent designer and selected by a voting system (isn't that great!)... which basically means that designers all over the world have a chance to create and make money from fabulously crafted stationery (that's a personal dream of mine in fact)... and in turn a whole stationery community has been created. Insanely genius for all involved idea, right?!



So I decided some notecards would be fun and handy too. It took me a few days of serious decision making before I made my selections (I kid you not... there was a rather extensive shortlist!) as there are hundreds of really great designs to chose from. Once you've chosen and personalised you then can go on to select backing image/pattern, envelope kind, sticker labels and paper thickness (the Triple Thick stock is incredible and unbendable!)... you see, this is serious stationery business!

I finally chose the three designs pictured below...
+ Happy Hello by Susan
+ Indio (in Triple Thick) by Amber Barkley
+ Flags and Stripes by Mariel Schmitt

And then a couple for the little cub to write his letters on too...
+ Quirky Thankyou by Eray
+ Little Alligator by Emily Ranneby



Minted also do wedding invites, birth announcements and all manner of occasion cards. Basically they've got it all covered! Their new range of foil cards for Christmas as especially nice. I've got my eye on a few designs to get our beaming faces onto... just need to whittle down that shortlist again!



The very kind folks at Minted have extended their love to you, dear readers, so that you too can send fabulous looking mail...

THEY ARE GIVING AWAY $200 WORTH OF PERSONALISED STATIONERY to one lucky person (winner to select and customise their own)... that's a pretty hefty supply of wonderful!

You can enter (multiple/separate times) the following ways:

1 - Visit the Minted site then leave a comment below stating one design that you would love to get your name/face on.

2 - 'Like' The Daily Smudge on Facebook (then comment to say so below)

3 - 'Like' Minted on Facebook (then comment to say so below)

4 - Tweet, Pin or Instagram about this giveaway (then comment to say each time below)

The more times you enter, obviously the better your chance is.
Entries close midnight Friday 29th November. Good Luck!!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW CLOSED

Congratulations to our winner Megan Mckean #7 - Happy choosing!

DISCLAIMER: Though I was given these products for no cost, I was under no obligation to review them. I love everything about the company and the quality of their products so I wholeheartedly support their brand and subsequently chose to write this post. 

Poppies for Grace // Party paradise

Have you met Poppies for Grace? They make the loveliest paper decorations that could turn even the most unlikely of things into a party paradise. Giant balloons filled with confetti and pop-out character cards... makes for a cuteness overload!!



I especially love the paper pom pom garlands and the idea of the 'party in a box' sets. Bring on silly season!

Christmas // New cards from Hammerpress

Whoa... is it really nearly that time again?!! eek. New Christmas cards in my inbox this morning from stationery superstars, Hammerpress. The badge shaped cards are especially nice (for all occasions in fact!)





and the overprinted colours in these cut corner varieties are ace too!

Origami Notes // Lollipop Shop

Cutie pompootie! What a way to send a note to someone... in the core of an apple, in a little foxes snout or behind the eyes of a glamorous geisha. Edible! (they're not really/literally though)

Rocket Ink Stationers

I've just discovered the cards of Rocket Ink and am so far loving their collection. The bespoke paper company comes out of Brooklyn and is the work of artist and designer, Katie Gastley. Those two rainbow cards below really take me back to oil pastel/water wash paintings from primary school (only mine were not nearly so nice looking) Such happy memories. ahh!

Wedding invitation lettering // Drew Melton

Drew Melton is something of a superstar when it comes to lettering. I was lucky enough to have him submit some amazing work for my book last year which was a great treat. When I spied this gorgeous invitation, I knew instantly that it was his lettering magicianship! The format of this little newspaper is just gorgeous too... makes me want to renew my vows just so I can design a new invite. Would that be excessive do you think?!



Such a sucker for process shots am I. Aren't these amazing?! I'm so in awe of people that have this skill!

Tattoo-it greeting cards

I love seeing people with an armful of tattoos (except the old haggard green kind) but am only brave enough to have one little one myself. These cards are great for tattoo dreamers or those already sporting a selection. Either way, any greeting card that you can get all interactive with is good in my books.

Lady and Gent tattoo-it yourself cards by illustrator Andrew Kolb





(found via Frankie) 

Loving these links

This week entailed a fair amount of National Stationery Show stalking on twitter... golly gosh there are some talented stationer folks out there. One day (dreamy moment here) I will see it all for reals.

+ Loved the Yellow Owl Workshop hand painted booth. See more of their instagram photies here

+ Chuckle-worthy, cute and typographic cards as selected by Design Sponge
(Love that 'Tired Thankful ' birth announcement. hehe)

+ These incredible watermelon worshipping socks - there's even a patter for the crafty knitter!

+ A so fresh and so clean selection of desktop downloads (of which I have just pinched the spotty one)

+ Great quote from a great article by an excellent lady (via another fabulous blog)

“Don’t have a favorite font. Do have a favorite type designer.” 

- Jessica Hische 

Vivid Sydney starts this eve which is a super exciting date on the winter calendar  Three weeks of lights, ideas and action! Hurrah!!

Looking forward to sneaking in to see some speakers at Semi-Permanent tomorrow. It's a welcome treat as my brain needs watering. Also headed to the annual Zine Fair at the MCA, Sydney on Sunday - always hectic but worth the effort. Have a jolly one too lovely readers x

NSS fever // Uppercase Stationery Guide

If you love stationery, wish that you were going to the National Stationery Show or even (lucky duckies) are going to go, then you need to read the Uppercase Magazine Stationery Guide. It's available as a digital file and contains loads of good stuff - profiles of 50 companies, q&a's for those interested in getting into the business and other excerpts from their latest magazine (which is ace in its own right btw)

A few of my personal faves...









Jessica Nielsen / Present and Correct / Nancy and Betty Studio / The Paper Cub co.

Subscribe to the fabulousness here (& long live print!! hip hip)

National Stationery Show Teasers

As I start to see some trickles of goodness set for the National Stationery Show (19-22nd May), I turn a little bit green... but with a healthy serving of excitement on the side. These two sneaky peaky previews are already setting the bar pretty high.

Hammerpress's hand drawn badge series is all kinds of fabulous...



And as usual Hello Lucky! is cute and fun and pretty near perfect...



Looking forward to seeing more during and after the show from those lucky enough to be rolling in the papery aisles.



+ Hello Lucky! photos via Poppytalk. See more there if you like it here

Miniature treehouses and more // Ontwerpduo

I just discovered the fabulous world that is Ontwerpduo - A dutch duo of designers who dream up  wildly original creations (and then make them all themselves too!) Their cottage town project converts your potplants into magical little worlds fit for the most fussy fairy or elf. They are made of waterproof paper and come flatpacked to build yourself. Divine, oui?







In actual fact, everything this duo has on it's website is damn tooting excellent. I love the twisted grids of this 'unstationery' set too. Go forth and check it all out. You will leave feeling like your mind has been twisted ever so slightly!



Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Zed and Bee // The Collection

Last weekend, design super-sisters, Zed & Bee showcased their new collection of invitations at the Tate Gallery, Sydney. I posted about their bespoke designs back here so was very excited to hear of new things in the air. I couldn't make it to the event sadly (sniff sniff) but on seeing the pictures just sent over, I am smitten all the same.



The collection is designed for the more budget savvy folks who still seek the elegance and detail of a bespoke piece. Through clever little features like the adjusting of only one letterpress plate, Zed and Bee have created a whole array of gorgeous solutions. These below were my very favourites - shimmery and elegant to the core.... and isn't the photography styling divine too?! pat on the back ladies. Beautiful work!



The full collection will be available for perousing on their website from next week.

Stationery online // Quill, London

Online stationery wonderland, Quill - London, is the passion (& stationery sleuthing) of Lucy Edmonds. Quill stocks the products of some of my very favourite studios (Rifle Paper Co, Darling Clementine, In Haus Press etc etc) aswell as a bundle of new and exciting independent designers that are new to my ears and eyes.



These cards make me excited about christmas being nearly here again (instead of the 'eeek' feeling I usually have)... bring on that festive spirit!



Some pretty amazing calendars on the horizon for 2013 too...  Spring Once More / Pawling Design Studio/ Rifle Paper Co. / Sebastian Bergne

Darling Clementine // The new harvest

Loving the new Harvest range from the Darling company, Darling Clementine. They have even made their own tea! Looks delicious if the box is anything to go by.



The folk and flora colours too are quite delicious...



Their Tumblr is full of other found treasures too... I just now got abit lost in that lovely forest... for an hour... oops!

p.s. Did I get away without mentioning how long it's been between posts? Thing is, I have found I was not built to be a juggler (or maybe only a juggler of a couple of balls at once) I'm hoping however that I'll get better at the juggling, not worse. Don't give up on me... not yet anyway!