Archive for December, 2009
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
Happy New Year Papertastic People! Since we’ve only just launched Papertastic at the beginning of December we’re very excited to see what 2010 brings. The last month has seen a focus on all things Christmassy, but in the coming months we hope to let you know about more stunning work from independent designers working in the UK and launch the papertastic shop where you can buy the pieces. We’re looking forward to Valentines Day, Spring inspired gifts, the wedding season, party pieces, birthdays and cards for every occassion… and then it will be Christmas again!
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
Say thank you for those lovely Christmas presents this year by taking the time to write Thankyou cards. Friends and family will really appreciate the extra effort and these cards would be a joy to receive.
Work from Pumpkin’s Putnik, Pocket Studio, and The Card Tree
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Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
Being in the stationery business we obviously use alot of paper, but like everyone else, we try to think of the environment wherever we can. Christmas is a very environmentaly unfriendly time of year, with everyone travelling to family, buying up supermarkets of food, and sending cards and wrapping gifts. But you can help by being conscious of what you do with old wrapping paper and christmas cards and make sure you recycle as much as you can.
Reuse wrapping paper you like by ironing out any creases, or really special designs can be put in small frames to make cute pictures. Shred paper and use the brightly coloured shreddings as packing around future presents. Children can use scraps of paper in scrapbooking and to make collages – why note get them to make thankyou cards with a montage of different papers. Stick small sections to card to make new gift tags, or get really creative and make christmas decorations using paper mache. Even more eco friendly is to use gift boxes and gift bags that can be used again and again – thrifty and green!
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Monday, December 28th, 2009
Ok, so the big day is officially over but its still Christmas for at least another 9 days according to the tradition of the 12 days of Christmas. And its cold and rainy so lets brighten things up abit with some gorgeous gold. Gold can bring a touch of elegance and class to any gift whether its on a card, thankyou note, gift tag, or the gift itself. Heres our favourites
Work from Ditzy Creations, Gemma with a G, Ink Me Up, Bad Books, and Belle and Boo.
Posted in COLOUR THEMES | No Comments »
Thursday, December 24th, 2009
This weekend its pretty obvious what we’ll be doing – eating too much, arguing with brothers and sisters, and trying to look pleased when opening yet another pair of socks. Merry Christmas to everyone out there in blog land! I hope you all have a wonderful day, whether with friends or family or celebrating alone. I think someone once said that Christmas isn’t a single day, but a state of mind – and I hope to keep all those Chrsitmassy feelings of good will and festive spirit well into next year after the last of the turkey has been finally eaten. And don’t worry, we’re just taking a few days off – we’ll be back after Boxing day with tips on using old wrapping paper and writing those all important thankyou cards.
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Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Perfect finishing touches for presents this Christmas with these great little gift tags including Letterfest’s personalised tags where you can have any name cut out of an assortment of coloured cards. You’ll have to get one for each of your family so no one misses out!
Work from Letterfest, Belle and Boo, Happy Kimono, and Darling Dilly Dilly
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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
with a little touch of silver! Monochromes are very on trend this season with striking Black and White decorations, gift wrap and ornaments.
Gift Tags from Sweet Pea pattern and print
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Monday, December 21st, 2009
Red is the colour of holly berries, mulled wine, christmas stockings and of course, the man himself – Santa Claus. So celebrate this Christmas with our pick of whats red and recommended by us!
Work from Something Wonderful UK, Summersville, Hello Marine, Gemma Bear, Ruby Recycled
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Saturday, December 19th, 2009
Putting up our christmas tree. I love this tradition, it gets me all christmassy, topped with baking mince pies, drinking mulled wine and watching my favourite Chrsitmas DVDs (Scrooged, Love Actually, and Its a Wonderful Life). This is our tree last year – we always go to the local village shop who sells real trees, and decorate with some treasures we’ve collected over the years, including some beautiful glass baubles, handmade and blown by a glass-maker friend of ours. Its great in the evening when the twinkly lights come on and we always miss it when it coms down in January. Until then, this is the official start of Chrsitmas for us!
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Friday, December 18th, 2009
I seem to collect journals and notebooks. Not only are they super useful for jotting down ideas when I’m out and about, but there is something so lovely about a little bound book that I just want to touch and flick through them. And they make perfect stocking fillers this Christmas. You get get some really unique designs from UK artists, and the handfinishing and craftsmanship is always so good. Heres my wish list for my stocking this year!
Work from Bad books, Bookity, and Champignons
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Thursday, December 17th, 2009
If you’re throwing a party this festive season or hosting Christmas dinner itself, accessorise your table with unique place cards, decorations and floral arrangements. Choose a colour theme, like red and white, or silver, and decorate with ribbons, baubles, and evergreens.
These cute Robin place cards from Pocket Studio would be a great personal touch to any gathering, and the white “christmas tree” style cone could make a contemporary centre piece to your festive table.
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Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Last Posting date for First Class Mail in the UK is Monday Dec 21st, so theres still plenty of time to find that perfect card for someone special. Heres my pick of what I like and its all christmassy and red.
Cards from Heidi Burton, Parsy, Ruby Recycled, Sweet Pea Pattern and Print, Quite Contrary 2, and Something Wonderful UK.
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Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
As of today we’ll be adding all our blog posts to our Facebook fan page and Twitter stream. Make sure you check us out and add us to your favs or followus. Many thanks
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Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
Half the fun of giving and receiving christmas presents is wrapping them in gorgeous and creative ways. When I wrap my presents I always choose a theme across all of them, so when they’re nestled under the tree they look so stylish, like a photo from a magazine! This all goes to pot when other people give me their presents and they clash horribly, but it looks good for a few days at least! And giving your friends and family gifts that are really thoughtfully wrapped makes them even more special. 
You can take inspiration from your environment and accessorize presents with natural touches such as berries, fir cones, holly, and sprigs of cinammon. If you want them to last longer you can always opt for fake berries and silk flowers.
Choose a color theme across your presents thats suitable for both men and women. I choose a different one each year so it never gets boring, and a quick flick through interiors magazines will help you with inspiration and what’s on-trend this year.
Keep it simple with clean colour combinations of Black and White or White and Red. Simple brown craft paper can be brught to life with assorted brightly coloured ribbons and gift tags.
Add bows and ribbons, and unique touches such as stamps, stickers, buttons and christmas decorations. V V Rouleaux have unique ribbons and finishing touches for sewing projects that can be perfect for sprucing up a boring present.
Use Gift Boxes for difficult to wrap presents and irregular shapes. These are great as they can be re-used again and again, so help save on waste paper.
Posted in CRAFTY | No Comments »
Monday, December 14th, 2009
A cool, winter palette of whites. Who’d have though white can come in so many subtle shades, yet you need only look at a paint chart to see the variations – pure, chalk, sail, milk, antique, lime wash, aged, snow… White can feel crisp and clean, or soft and warm, and is never boring as some colour-junkies might think. 
Work includes Mr Yen, Paper Paper, 100% Delicate, Sarah and Bendrix
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Saturday, December 12th, 2009
Frantically christmas shopping, writing christmas cards, trying to think of gift ideas for ourselves (if Santa can’t come up with anything) and stocking the drinks cabinet for yuletide drinks (and probably drinking some of it – one glass of sherry is never enough!). Also I’m going to try and drag the husband to see “Where the Wild Things are” under the premise it was directed “by that same bloke who did Being John Malkovich”.
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Friday, December 11th, 2009
Give something beautiful this Christmas with these contemporary art prints from the best illustrators and graphic designers working in the UK today. Monochrome prints with highlights of scarlet and berry make perfect gifts.
“Big Smoke” by Cut, Copy, Create
“Butterfly Dreams” by Lottie Frank
“Grey Rose” by Askey Illustration
“London” Art Print by Taylors Typographic Art Posters
“Upper St Giles Street” Original Wood Engraving, by the Lapwing Printworks
“Home” Typographic print by Letterfest
Posted in ART, GIFT GUIDES | No Comments »
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
If you’re doing a bit of festive entertaining this year, try this cute paper angels. They make cute place cards for christmas dinners or can even decorate a tree or be strung together for a unique banner.
Posted in INSPIRATIONS | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Instead of sending the same Christmas Cards as everyone else, choose one of these unique, limited edition designs from small, independent producers within the UK. Here’s our pick of the best Christmas Cards to buy at the moment.
Cards from Mr Yen, Asking for trouble, Pocket Studio, Ruby recycled, Gemma Bear and Belle and Boo.
Posted in GIFT GUIDES, SPECIAL DAYS | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
Some very talented people at have come up with some truly unique ways or recycling pages from old books. I’ll be showcasing some more of their later, but meanwhile here’s some decorations that would be perfect for Christmas.
Gorgeous Bird decorations made from recycled poetry books from Cotton Bird Designs.
These beautiful paper garlands catch the light in an amazing way and are made from pages from Shakespeare’s plays, by Bookity.
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