Oh So Beautiful Paper

The ladies of Anti­quaria took a quick break to relocate to California (congrats ladies!), but today they’re back with another fab­u­lous and cre­ative DIY project!  This week they’re here with three options for DIY rubber stamp calling cards!

After a studio relocation and move…we are back with more DIY stamp tutorials!!  This week, we are exploring the world of calling cards, a fun and unique way to make a lasting impression on someone you’ve just met.  By using a calling card rubber stamp, you can customize and really make them reflect you!  Also, because you can make them in small batches, you can change their design on a whim and reflect your current mood & style.

To create these three calling cards, we adapted techniques from our previous DIY posts (and one sneak peek).

Our Geek Chic tutorial, is super easy and uses very inexpensive and resourceful materials!!

1. Find vintage, or download & print (we used Hex Dot for this calling card) graph paper. Cut into 2×3″ rectangles.

2. Cut kraft colored card stock into 3.5 x 2.5″ rectangles.

3. Ink stamp (we used our Calligraphy Accent Calling Card stamp) with desired color and make print using even pressure on a hard surface.

4. Using fun colored or patterned washi tape, affix the stamped graph paper to the kraft paper backing. (If more security is desired, use double stick tape to affix the two together and use the washi tape as decoration)

As a teaser for our next Save the Date tutorial, this calling card uses stamp pad edge painting to make the cards really pop.  This technique is so simple, you won’t believe it!

1. Using a heavy cotton paper, cut into 2.5×3″ rectangles.

2. To make the mixed ombre stamp image, use 2 different but similarly shaded colors (we used a mix of orange & red, one dark, one light).  Ink the stamp (we used our Navajo Calling Card stamp) lightly in the darker of the two, then ink over it in the lighter shade.  Stamp image with even pressure on a hard work surface.  Let the images dry overnight.

3. To paint the edges, grasp each card in the middle.  Drag the edges through your stamp pad, applying even pressure to ensure an even border…it’s that simple!!!

By far one of the most popular DIY posts we’ve done, this calling card uses the techniques from the Hand Watercolor Save the Dates & Thank You Card tutorial.  It astounds us how many different looks you can achieve with this technique!

1. Choose the colors you desire to paint with (a few similar shades and one contrasting always looks nice).

2. Paint random and uneven lines on sheets of watercolor paper. When dry, cut each sheet into 2 x 3.5″ rectangles. Admire how lovely and unique each one is!

3. Ink stamp (we used our Typewriter Calling Cardstamp) and print, pressing evenly on a hard work surface.

So, get stamping and be creative with the most important brand you represent….you!!

Photo Credits: Antiquaria for Oh So Beautiful Paper

These embroidered business cards from designer and illustrator Nina Gregier are so incredibly cool – simple in design, but with a huge impact!  I couldn’t resist checking out Nina’s website; she has a number of additional embroidered typography projects in her portfolio, including a beautiful embroidered alphabet and art prints.

Check out lots more over on Nina’s website right here.

Photo Credits: Nina Gregier, found via Lovely Stationery

This morning I’m returning to one of my absolute favorite subjects – business cards!  I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite business cards from the last few weeks, and you can check out previous business card round ups right here!

The coolest card I’ve seen in a long time: black with white knockout (raised) text from Mama’s Sauce

Love the overprinting and texture in this business card, designed by Popcorn Initiative and printed by Cranky Pressman via FPO

More cool knockout text letterpress cards, this time in white on white, from Dolce Press

Cute blue and white striped double-sided business cards by Truly Smitten Studio

Silver foil on gray business cards by Andfold via Francesco Mugnai

Beautiful illustration and hand lettering by Stitch Design Co. via Lovely Stationery

Colorful orange and turquoise business cards with blind impression illustrations by Meg Gleason via Design Work Life

Simple and modern woodgrain business cards by Sona Hovhannisyan for Tereasa Surratt via Francesco Mugnai

Pretty pastel business cards by Foreign Policy Design Group via Lovely Stationery

As always, if you’d like to sub­mit your own busi­ness cards, you can e-mail me right here!

{images via their respec­tive sources}

These letterpress business cards from Bobbie at Burnthebook, a creative studio in the UK, are all kinds of awesome – from the beautiful logo to the crisp red and white color palette.  Burnthebook has a background in publishing, so they incorporated red edge painting in a nod to the painted edges of antique books, which just makes me love the use of this particular technique even more!

From Bobbie:  Our studio is called Burnthebook. We’re a full service creative agency in the UK with a background in publishing.  So when we created our new branding and stationery, it made sense to develop ideas surrounding bookbinding and traditional printing techniques.  Our branding is based on traditional publishing marks, whilst the business cards themselves are letterpress printed.  The coloured edges are reminiscent of the painted edges found on antique books, but we’ve used a bold crimson and white for a contemporary twist.

Thanks Bobbie!

Photo Credits: Burnthebook

I absolutely love these business cards from Ice Cream Social for writer Caitlin Hall.  Growing up, my Dad always used to cite this quote from playwright David Belasco: ”If you can’t write your idea on the back of my calling card, you don’t have a clear idea” – and these cards put the concept behind that quote to great use!  Plus I’m loving the bright colors, which seems to be a theme here this week.  Nicely done!

Photo Credits: Ice Cream Social