Thank You x2

Every week there is something new to work on. I rarely blog about thank you cards, but they are another area where people can really set their stationery and event apart. As with other stationery, you have choices. One of those choices is a flimsy pack of TY cards from the store... or... something custom and awesome!

Check out this TY card designed to match a baby shower invitation that I already offered, made just for a customer who wondered if there couldn't be a matching TY card for the invitations. Both cards have a design that is meant to remind one of the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom children's books.



Another recent thank you card project is sports themed. The darker red pattern between the top and bottom is meant to remind you of the stitching on a baseball. Sports themed save the dates and invitations are one of the newer ideas I have seen more people having fun with in recent years. If both the bride and groom have little interest in the frilly, the flowery, or the pretty, and happen to have sports teams that root for, this theme is something that they can have fun with.



Both cards are made of white card stock, and are folded 5.5x4.25 inch cards.

Save the Date Magnets: Tree + Heart

This may very well be my favorite project for February. Two new rounded corner sizes were introduced only about a month ago, and have already proven to be the perfect options for a couple of projects.

One of those projects was a request for a save the date magnet design that would have a heart carved into a tree, along with the couple's first names. Finding a stock photograph of a heart carved into a tree isn't terribly difficult, but finding one with enough room to add in first names certainly narrows down the options.

The photo below is of this design idea on the 3x4 inch magnet size. There was enough room for "Save the date" at the top, and then additional wording- such as the location- at the bottom.



The couple asked be to try to add some texture to their names, which seems to have worked well. The names are still obviously added in via a graphics program, but they also aren't just flat black or brown, which would have looked more artificial.

You have to admit, save the dates with a heart are fitting for a send out in February, given Valentines day.

QR Code on a Save the Date Card

QR codes: Little blocky black and white graphics that you may have seen there and there. Your phone (if it has a camera) can scan and interpret a QR code. Commonly, the QR code will take you to a website. This can be used for a lot of things; Imagine a movie advertisement with a QR code that takes you to a website with a trailer for that movie.

In the same way that website addresses have become a common addition to save the dates and even sometimes invitations, QR codes are just starting to get added in more often to personalized stationery. A good example is that I've had a customer ask me to print a QR code on the back of her holiday card. The QR code took receivers to a blog post that talked about the family happenings for the year.

This time, a customer asked me to put the QR code within their save the dates design. And it wasn't a modern style save the date design, where you could expect to get away with quirky blocky elements.

This one, to be exact:


It's a popular 5x3.5 inch save the date card from my save the date card gallery.

It took me a minute to conceive an idea for this. It turns out that you can change the colors of the QR code graphic without messing up the functionality. So I switched the QR code to cream and brown, then added in into a 4x5.25 inch version of the design:


Their QR code takes guests to their wedding website.

I have to admit, this turned out better than I would have expected for a nice wedding save the date design that has a QR code as actually part of the design. Thus, I declare this my favorite project of the month for January 2012.

*To protect the couple's privacy, the names, website, and QR code on the photographed example have been altered*

Looking forward to 2012

Hello! This is the last STDO blog post for 2011. It's been a good year; More magnet sizes, more designs, product upgrades, and more.



I, Angela Bauter, hereby resolve to keep improving the website and working on new designs.

Portuguese save the dates

Save the Date Originals does save the dates. Cards. Magnets. Themes. Many sizes, many colors. Photographic, non photographic. And also in alternate languages.

Right now the only person on staff is limited to English. If the customer can speak/write English, or they have a friend that can act as a go between, they can work with STDO on a project. The project itself doesn't have to be English! Of course the customer is definitely solely responsible for proof reading in that case.

Check out the popular wedding save the date design now turned into a Portuguese birthday save the date:


Communication with the designer is done via email in English- but the customer can email the text for the design in an alternate language. Spanish is a popular alternative to English for projects.

Sometimes it gets tricky because a lot of the fonts that are available won't have that accents or flourishes needed; But for small things like save the dates, a few of those can be added right in by the designer.

This leads into mentioning that you can get bilingual save the dates and invitations. You can get some # of cards or magnets in one language, some # in another. Another option is to go for double sided printing- one language on one side, another language on the other side.

Why choose Save the Date Originals?

1) Design variety. You can find all manner of styles on the website- from offbeat to elegant, simple to photographic, sports, humor, skylines, cartoons, floral, you name it. And if you don't see it, it can probably be made.

2) Personal attention from a designer. Want some tweaks? Can do. Switch up the colors a bit. Move a design element over a bit. If your photo doesn't fit the design you saw, I'll make some tweaks just to get you what you want. Don't end up with awkward and weird text positioning from an automated service.

3) Quality printing. Magnets are printed with 8 tank printers, versus the old 4 tank printers that many fridge magnet makers are using. Want a bright lime green or a vibrant royal blue, instead of a darker washed out looking version of these colors? Can do.

4) Fridge magnets from STDO have a laminated finish, are made with a 20mil magnet, and, are hand cut. Say no to flimsy magnets that arrive crooked and yes to awesomeness from STDO.

5) Integrity. Your won't be shoved through an ordering process that is full of advertisements, nor will any of your information ever be sold to partner companies just for an extra buck.

6) USA business. Nothing you buy from STDO is going to be made in China. And when you have a problem, you talk directly to STDO employees... not an overseas customer support team.

Happy Slingshot Birds Save the Date Card

How is this for offbeat? A save the date card with two happy birds flying towards... their wedding cake.

No angry birds here! Just some good humor for those engaged couples who love the game "Angry Birds". Have fun with your wedding :-)

PS: This can be made as a fridge magnet.