A love letter to letterpress printing

Dear letterpress printing,

How are you? I know, it has been a while since we last spent time together. I hope you are not feeling neglected since I have been hanging out with Digital Printing so much lately. I assure you our relationship is strictly business. DP could never mean to me what you do - your texture, your technique, the craft of printing with you, your ability to print fine lines & bold designs in the turn of a handle or wheel. Ahhhhh...(sigh)...how I have missed it.

That is why I'm writing actually. As we've discussed before, it's just not possible for me to own a piece of your equipment at this time. Husband still thinks that extra room in the back is a "guest bedroom." But, I am committing July to you here on the blog. I hope that will be enough for us both - for now.

Fondly,
K. B.

P.S. Your good friend Pistachio Press kicks things off for me tomorrow. Hope you'll stop by!

Cards of the Week - Letterpress follow up

Hi all! A few weeks ago, I posted about a great card from Letterpress Delicacies {real name: Heather}, a fellow-Etsy seller. She asked me to include her contact info for Facebook & Twitter - and I spaced! Shame on me!!

So, here it is, along with a look at a few other cards in her shop...

{Super smart card set!! Letterpress Matryoshka (Nesting Doll) Card Set}

{Can you hear the Barry White playing when you see this card? Circle Pattern Letterpress Card I Love You in Pink, Magenta, and Gray}

{Letterpress stickers! Fun! Choose from 14 options...Letterpress Stickers Envelope Seals set of 15}

Heather! Great shop! Keep up the fabulous (and highly creative) work. You guys go check her out, not just in her shop, but at the following:

Twitter.com
Flickr.com
Facebook.com

Cards of the Week - Crane's Summer Stationery Promotion

Hi y'all! Every one's favorite stationer is having a SALE! {OK, no, not me - but aren't you sweet for thinking that...ha, ha!}

It's Crane! For a limited time you can get 50 notes, cards, or stationery sheets with matching envelopes for $59. 24 styles are available - trust me when I say there is something for everyone.

Let's start with a classic...

Navy Blue on Ecruwhite Correspondence Cards - a traditional, classic & timeless design featuring a 3 letter monogram. You can send this card for business or personal correspondence and with any message written on the card. Great for all occasions! If you like the classic look but want to use your full name, check out this card, also included in the sale.

Crane has certainly updated their design selection with this correspondence card - Watermelon on Pearl White Correspondence Cards. Keep it funky & write your note in the orientation seen above, or make your name the top of the card & write your note that way. Options! Love it! Simple, clean - 2 things I look for in everything. Plus I am really into these juicy colors...


...or maybe just this watermelon color? Crane designed another fun take on a classic with this card, Watermelon on Pearl White Monogram Notes. With it's lower case monogram & fun sun-like border, it's a great card for the summer. It's a folded note card this time. Do you like these over correspondence cards?? I like both, though if the note needs to have more formality, I like the folded notes, even if the design on the front is a bit whimsical.

And we'll finish with another classic. This is why Crane has endured - they own timeless & classic. This folded note - Peacock on Ecruwhite Monogram Notes - has a semi-art deco monogram front & center on the outside of the card. There is a similar design with a different monogram style here to check out as well.

This is a great opportunity to get yourself set up with a proper, adult set of stationery. All of the sets are printed by thermography, a technique that heats the ink so it is raised above the paper. Love it! You can also upgrade your set with an envelope liner or printed return address on the envelope.

So, what are you waiting for? Go!! Order & get writing!!

Father's Day cards by K. Batty

{Happy Father's Day, Dad!}

I barely got it done, but!! This is what I sent to my dads (all 3 of them: 2 fathers-in-law & Dr. McC. my dad) for Father's Day. Get it?? Remember the candy? The final product was on a 4.25 x 5.5 inch 80lb white card stock with a white envelope. Gotta concept on an envelope liner...

Why did I barely get this out? Each day seems to be rushing by, faster than the last. The good news is that it's because the Batty household has been hard at work. Plus party decorations & custom work have been keeping me busy as well.

Can't wait to share more of those! Have a great week!

Cards of the Week - Stationery Fit for a Man!

Hi all! Since today is Father's Day, stationery for guys has been on my brain. Let's take a look at a few things...

Today's cards are all from Red Stamp.com. Haven't been back there in a while, but I've had a BLAST playing with their iPhone app. I highly recommend it for fun birthday messages, plus it's one of the few greeting card apps you can add photos too (that I've found, anyway.)

{Bow Tie Icon Personalized Stationery :: Large Flat Card}

Mr. B would love these, as do I. Kinda giddy about them actually. Perfect for anything, though it seems to me they would be great for thank you notes after a dinner party. Or to dash off a quick invite to one - they are for a somewhat traditional man with a great sense of humor. Perhaps I am just describing my husband...

{Trophy Buck Men's Modern Personalized Stationery :: Large Flat Card}

For the outdoors man in all males, this is a cool take on a trophy. Even if taxidermy isn't your thing.

{Modern Diagonal Block Personalized Stationery :: Large Flat Card}

Per the usual, these are just a smattering of the offerings at RedStamp. Etsy has some interesting things as well, including return address stamps that look very manly. Check out my search here.

Guys - what do you think? Any of this suit your fancy? Seriously if there are any men reading, I'd love to know if you have stationery & what it looks like. Or if you don't have any, what would convince you to use some. Inquiring minds want to know!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Cupcake Toppers galore - a party at the Urban Meadow

{My oldest niece, Margaux, getting ready for her 4th birthday party at the Urban Meadow in Brooklyn, NY}

Last week my niece turned 4. I can hardly believe it. She seems so grown up already!! My sister-in-law asked me to create cupcake toppers & a birthday banner to coordinate with the favors she ordered on Etsy. "No problem." I said! I am becoming old hat at these birthday party items. :)

Here are some pics from the fete...

{A Happy Birthday Margaux banner greeted guests over the refreshment table}

{The aforementioned cupcake toppers. Cupcakes are from One Girl Cookie...yum!}

{Libby, my SIL, had a FABULOUS face painter, Sharon, come. The kids kept her busy all afternoon & the results were magnificent.}

M had a great time, as did her friends, as did her friends. We had the sprinklers on, bugs for the kids to find (some real, but mostly plastic ones). I'm flattered that Libby asked to be create these pieces for the party. They seem to be taking off! Now, how to include them in my Etsy shop...

Happy Friday!

Cards of the Week - Dad's Day

{Dad Since 2011 - Personalized With Any Year - Charcoal Cotton T-shirt - Father's Day Sale by Pamela Fugate Designs}

Hi all! Happy Saturday! Raining here. Perfect time to figure out what you're doing for Dad for next weekend if you haven't already. My brother & I took care of our dad last week, I'm proud to say. I have a card planned for him too, but I learned after posting this for Dad's birthday that if I tell you, dear readers, about my plans for my parents here on the blog, they find out about it. My parents read my blog. They are the best!! I'll share the card AFTER he gets it this time.

So, a few cool cards for your dads...

{Father Daughter Father's Day Card by Amy Walters}

Great illustration, plus what looks like hand-done type on this card! I get that the daughter is delivering the message to her dad without any corny talk bubbles. If you're a redhead, there's a version for you too.

{Funny Hilarious Father's Day Card / for Father, Dad / "I Need Money" by Neat Things}

{Funny Clever Father's Day Card / for Father, Dad / "Best or Worst Dad Ever" also by Neat Things}

ROTFLMAO! These 2 cards by Neat Things from Denver, CO are great. Normally I do not send serious cards & the funny ones these days are seriously pushing the cheesey limit. But, these...there is not a block of cheese in site. Just good ol' laughs. And there are more good ones in their shop.

{Letterpress Notecard - Father's Day by Presse Dufour on the left, Father's Day Letterpress Card by Parrot Design Studio on the right}

Unless this is your first time reading my blog, you know I have to get some letterpress in here somewhere. The card on the left, by Karen Dufour of Presse Dufour, looks very manly, with vintage illustrations on kraft paper. On the right, by Parrot Design Studio, this more modern card is for a preppier dad (or card giver) with its swanky chevron print. Love the gray with the chartreuse!

Usually putting this post together takes a while. Searching the internet for cards in whatever theme I've concocted for the week is sometimes a pill - but not this week. Tons of great stuff on Etsy. So much so that this week I didn't even look anywhere else. Check out my search here if you're interested in more.

Hope you're having a great weekend! If you're in Brooklyn & don't mind the rain, head to McCarren Park for the Renegade Craft fair!

PS How fun is that T at the top??

Packaging in the 'burbs

Happy Friday from the road!

This weekend some of my best friends & I are in Tennessee for a charity golf tournament. One of our friend's fathers was diagnosed with ALS a few years ago & her family has declared war. I think few families would take on this disease the way they have. They ate amazing! You can check them out here if you'd like:

http://steffenalsgolf.org/

My girlfriends & I are amazed by the fun packaging we've seen. Sorry if I sound like we're behind the times here but in NYC we just have regular ol' ketchup packets - so these dipper packs that we saw at Chick-Fil-A kinda blew our minds.

Why didn't someone think if this sooner?

KBatty Studio Tour on PaperNStitch

{Workspace Wednesday at the PNS blog!}

This afternoon, run over to the PaperNStitch blog for Brittni's Workspace Wednesday studio tour. It's about me! Holy cow!! My little (and I don't just mean size-size. Check the pictures.) studio/office/laundry room is on the PaperNStitch blog.

I am flattered! Thank you Brittni for the post. Dear readers, I hope you will check it out: Wednesday Workspace: In Your Home Studio with Kerry McCashin.