Christmas Giving: A box full of letters.

My Grandma is notoriously difficult to buy for at Christmas. She is such a treasured member of the family that I always try to find something special for her. Most years, I end up failing in doing so. She claims to only need/want gift cards for eating out, but I tend to avoid gift cards as much as possible. As a result, I end up purchasing books or sweet treats for her. Some years, I make a gift for her.

This year, I was inspired by Design*Sponge to write a stack of letters to her. I scribbled some notes before I started the project, so I wouldn't get stuck trying to think of topics to write about along the way. I decided I would write one letter to open each day between Christmas and New Year's Day, making for a total of eight letters. I reminisced about visiting her when I was little, revealed some secrets and insecurities, told stories from recent travels and local adventures, and shared New Year's resolutions with her. I included photos and an article I thought she might find interesting.

I decided to go the extra mile with packaging these letters primarily because, as a stationery designer, I have a healthy stock of envelopes available. I stamped on both the envelopes and cards and tied everything together with baker's twine. I hope these letters will not only make her smile each day, but that they give her a glimpse of how much she is loved.

Are you creating any handmade gifts this Christmas? Happy Holidays!

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As seen on...

Hi everyone! Today, you can see Maida Vale's Scandinavian-inspired holiday cards on Paper Crave. Kristen put together a fun collection of geometric cards and I am proud to be part of it. Enjoy!

Holiday 2012: Gift tags galore.

For this final post of holiday goodies, I'd like to share some gift tags with you! These tags will pretty up simple packages (think kraft or solid metallic wrap). The bird and peppermint stripe tags were both printed on my vintage letterpress, and can be used as a bookmark after the holidays. The other two styles are die cut from woodgrain embossed cardstock. All tags are now listed in the Maida Vale Etsy shop. Here's hoping for a delightful holiday season!

Holiday 2012: Classic holiday cards.

Hi again! I'm back to share some favorite holiday cards that are now in stock in the Maida Vale Etsy shop. These are all yummy letterpress cards that have been printed on 100% cotton, tree-free cardstock. If you'd like to order more or less than you see listed, just send me a email with the quantity you desire. Thanks!

Holiday 2012: Chalkboard cards + more.

The Maida Vale Etsy shop is all prettied up for the holidays! Stop by to see new chalkboard and abstract tree cards, as well as old favorites. I'll be sharing more goodies throughout the week. Here's a peek at what's listed:

Budget-friendly monogram stationery.

Looking for a gift that is less than $20, but still feels like a custom item?  These lovely new flat-printed stationery sets are more than budget-friendly. Because they are printed on 100% cotton, tree-free cardstock, they feel luxurious too. Each set is sold in a pack of 8 with your choice of envelope color (see below). Enjoy!