The Lettered Set

DIY Hand-stitched Fabric Valentine's Day Cards

2012-02-06T08:00:00.002-05:00

I love combining fabric and paper in my handmade notecards. This project is a really simple way to create a decorative and elaborate-looking Valentine's Day card. You don't need a sewing machine but it does help in the creation of uniform lines.

Without thread, I used my sewing machine to pierce a line of holes down the right side of a piece of card stock. I chose the zig zag stitch line but straight would look nice too. I ran the holes down the length of the paper, leaving about a half inch at the top and bottom. I did the same thing on the left side of the paper.

Next, I cut a heart shape out of a swatch of fabric using my pinking shears. Then I separated two strands of embroidery thread from their original 6 pack and threaded my needle.

After tying the ends of the thread together in a knot, I began to stitch my paper by starting from the back and using a back-stitch technique.

When I got about a quarter of the way down the paper, I placed my fabric heart onto the paper and included it in my stitching. Once I reached the bottom of the card, I tied a knot on the back side of the paper.

After I finished the stitching on both sides, I trimmed my card to be a little smaller and glued it on top of a yellow piece of paper. I then glued that onto a blank folded card and my Valentine's Day card was ready for action.

Is This Really Your Book? on Hoda and Kathy Lee

2012-01-25T14:17:00.000-05:00

I'm excited to share that a book I designed was mentioned on The Today Show this morning! Click here to read all about Is This Really Your Book?. I'm busy working on some new cover designs for the authors as they head into their 2nd edition. This is the second time my work has been connected with The Today Show. I feel so lucky! (Hoda starts cracking up over her favorite covers at the 2:19 mark.)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Block printing weekend

2012-01-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

I'm a little behind with my Valentine's Day preparations but this weekend I did manage to get into my basement studio for some serious block printing. Well, not that I was feeling serious but I was seriously motivated! I'll share my new cards throughout the week but in the mean time, here are some of my favorite "heart" cards just in time for Valentine's Day. They're in my Etsy shop right now and if you order by February 3rd, you'll have plenty of time to share the love!

DIY Mini Accordion Photo Book

2012-01-04T08:00:00.003-05:00

I was on the hunt for really cute baby brag books to give to the grandmothers for Christmas this year. I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for so I decided to make my own.

Supplies:
Chipboard, 2 pieces cut in 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" rectangles
Fabric, 2 pieces cut in 3-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangles (approximate)
Yes Stikflat Glue
11 x 17 cover stock paper, cut in strips measuring 3-1/4" H x 13-1/2" W (This measurement will hold 10 photos. Can make longer or shorter by 2-1/4" inches for more or fewer photos. ). Fold into accordion sections measuring 2-1/4" x 3-1/4"
Kolo brand Allegro Paper Photo Corners
2" x 3" wallet-size photos (can order in sets of 4 from Snapfish)

Tools:
Paint brush (an old/cheap one that you don't mind ruining) or popsicle stick
Ruler
Utility knife
Self-healing mat

1. With the wrong side of the fabric facing up, center the chipboard on the fabric.
2. Grab a pea-size glob of paste with your paint brush or popsicle stick. Note that whatever brush you use will be ruined by the glue. It can be used again for this purpose, however. Smear the paste along the top edge of the chipboard.
3. Fold the top edge of the fabric over and press to seal along the top edge of the chipboard.

4. Similar to wrapping a present, fold the corners of the fabric over as shown. Use a small dab of paste to keep the corners folded.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 at the bottom of the chipboard.

6. Smear paste along one side edge of the chipboard, including some of the fabric area where the corners will be folded. Fold the fabric onto the chipboard and press to seal.
7. Repeat step 6 for the opposite side of the chipboard.
8. Flip over the chipboard to admire your handy work.

9. Smear paste all over the back of one fold of the paper strip. Center it onto the exposed side of the chip board and press to seal.
10. Repeat step 9 for the other end of the folded paper strip. Your book should look like an accordion.

11. Slide a photo corner onto one corner of your 2" x 3" photo.
12. Center photo on a page of the accordion book and press to seal the first photo corner. Insert the 3 remaining photo corners onto the photo after you have centered the photo and secured it onto the page with the first photo corner. Repeat steps 11 and 12 for all photos.

Happy crafting!

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

2011-11-07T10:44:00.001-05:00

As we enter November, it's time to start thinking about our Christmas gift lists. Here is a perfectly miniature gift card to add the finishing touches to your holiday packages. The artwork on the front of the card is a scan of my original oil painting of a snoozing mouse and his treasured candy cane. The cards are blank inside and fold to 2" x 3.5". Each pack includes 10 cards and 10 holly red envelopes. Click here for more photos and purchasing information.

The Great Pumpkins

2011-10-31T09:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Halloween! To add to the spooky spirit of today, I'm sharing photos of some really adorable, silly, and scary pumpkins painted by our good family friend, Brook. Brook has been painting these pumpkins for years! My husband received his first painted pumpkin from him in college. Now, (a few) years later, little George is the recipient of his very own painted gourd! Photos of Brook's complete collection are below.

George's Adventure Birth Announcements

2011-10-27T07:00:00.007-04:00

At long last, I am able to share photos of George's birth announcements! I'm so happy with the way they came out. They were letterpress printed on velvety smooth, bright white, 140# acid free paper in midnight blue and light cyan inks. Along with photos of baby George, I placed them in custom-lined tangerine envelopes. Each envelope was sealed with a custom, decorative fold-over mailing label. They were printed by Cranky Pressman in Salem, OH. Update: these are featured on Invitation Crush!

New cards in the shop: festive fill-in-the-blank thank you notes

2011-10-19T08:00:00.004-04:00

I ALWAYS send a thank you note when someone gives me a gift. It's how I was raised (thanks, Mom). Of course everyone understands that sometimes life gets a little hectic and it's hard to find the time to sit down and write a letter - especially multiple thank you letters for a big event like a baby or wedding shower. I have recently found myself in such a time crunch while on my maternity leave. In comes my need for "fill-in-the-blank" thank you cards. Okay, YES, I had time to design these cards. However, since they arrived from the printer, I have found them extremely useful and I think you will too. 4 cards and 4 kraft envelopes come in a set for only $6.50 at my Etsy shop. Fill-in-the-blank thank you notes are perfect for the new mom, busy birthday gal, and bride-to-be with little time but lots of love. These unique, hand-drawn cards will help you send a quick but heartfelt thank you note for those wonderful new gifts. Click here to purchase.

Personalize your stationery on a time and money budget

2011-10-13T08:00:00.002-04:00

How awesome is this idea for personalized stationery on a time and money budget? My mother-in-law received this thank you note from a new mom and shared it with me: blank folded cards with dot stickers and one personalized sticker in the middle. You can either order these from a vendor like this one or you can print them at home using Avery labels and templates.

A Crafty October

2011-10-11T09:21:00.000-04:00

Hello from mommyland! I really thought I would be able to start blogging again in September (insert laugh track of new moms everywhere) but now it's almost the middle of October and I just figured out how to shower and eat something before 2pm.

As baby George naps on this lovely Tuesday, I am finally brainstorming blog entry ideas. While I gather my thoughts, I decided to share two of my favorite craft posts from last fall. You still have time to make your own candy corn stamps or print and send a cute Halloween card. Happy crafting!

Free Printable Download: All Hallow's Eve Illustration

DIY "Candy Corn" Stamps and Cards

See you in September!

2011-07-29T08:00:00.001-04:00

I can hardly believe the time has come to write this post. I am taking a brief blog break between now and September while I prepare for the birth of our little baby boy and stumble through the first months of parenthood. Here is a sneak peek at the beginnings of our birth announcement design for the little guy. Super heroes, wizards, cowboys, soccer players, pirates, and knights - unite!

Favorite book cover of the week: The Secret Garden

2011-07-27T07:38:00.000-04:00

I've recently discovered how to use Pinterist and I don't think I will ever stop! It's very addictive and a really good way to find visual inspiration on the web. In a basic search for "illustrated book covers" I came across a plethora of beautiful pieces. My search results introduced me to new designs and reminded me of past favorites. These embroidered book covers by Jillian Tamaki were all over the blog world a couple of months ago but I wanted to share again in case some of you hadn't seen them. Everything about these embroidered covers is exquisite. The Penguin Threads series is due to be released with Penguin's Fall 2011 collection.

Rustic Rehearsal Dinner Invitations

2011-07-25T07:29:00.000-04:00

Design © Kate Holeman

Friends of mine recently commissioned me to create their rehearsal dinner invitations. Because these have not been mailed yet, I am just going to show a couple detailed cropped images. The couple knew they wanted white ink on brown paper as well as an organic, artistic vibe. I loosely drew a knife and fork for the top of the card and a matching decorative line for the middle of the card. I used Business Penmanship for the display font and Univers for matching body text. The card stock is 100lb Recycled Speckletone Kraft from French Paper Co. The cards were printed using a silkscreen process and plastisol inks. One of my initial challenges was finding an opaque white ink that would "pop" on the brown paper. I tried offset printing but the white was too translucent. Silkscreen with plastisol (a thick, heat-set ink) ended up being the solution. I also like the textured look of the silkscreen printing method. Bon Appétit!

Design © Kate Holeman

Summertime Sailboat Birth Announcements

2011-07-22T08:00:00.005-04:00

Design © Kate Holeman

Nothing says "summer baby" better than sailboats and seersucker stripes. I was recently commissioned to create these cute yet classic birth announcements and matching thank you cards. The announcements are square and tuck into matching blue envelopes. The thank you notes are a petite 4bar size, folded and blank on the inside. They also fit into matching blue envelopes. Both cards were printed on luxuriously thick Mohawk paper using a digital offset technique. This inkjet process is a wonderful low cost alternative to traditional offset printing.

Favorite book cover of the week: A Wrinkle in Time

2011-07-20T08:00:00.003-04:00

There are certain books from my childhood reading list that will remain lifelong favorites. One such book is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. While perusing the internet for pretty book covers, I came across this illustrated cover from the 1971 Puffin edition. Can't you just feel the magic? I love all of the colors, different mark-making techniques, and the hand-drawn title. It looks like the artist, Antony Maitland, used a mix of pastels and watercolors. Two of my favorite mediums!

Destination: Cartagena

2011-07-18T08:00:00.003-04:00

My husband and his brother went on a trip to Cartagena, Colombia in June. Unfortunately, being 7 months pregnant in a 3rd world country did not comply with my doctors wishes so I had to stay put. Sigh. Their photographs make me jealous but they are too beautiful not to share. One day I will get there too!

Building Blocks Baby Shower Invitation

2011-07-15T08:00:00.006-04:00

Design by Kate Holeman

A few weeks ago I shared that I was working on a baby shower invitation for an engineer. I ended up using my building block illustrations in a simple background pattern. To add some cuteness to the card, I also designed letter blocks for display text at the top. The nursery room colors are going to be red, white and blue so I incorporated that idea by combining a cherry red with a baby blue and cool grey tones. We ended up with a clean, modern design with a kid-friendly feel.

Design by Kate Holeman

Birthday pop-up card

2011-07-13T08:00:00.002-04:00

I can't get enough of this pop-up card tutorial! I make them all the time now. This is one I did for my sister-in-law's birthday. Have you tried to make a pop-up card yet?

Wedding favors for Philly animal lovers

2011-07-11T08:00:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine recently received this donation card in lieu of a favor at a Philadelphia wedding. Designed by local artist, Andrea Lewandowski, these cards creatively combine the interests of the animal- and Philadelphia-loving couple. I especially like the souvenir penny glued between the guinea pig and the dog.

Design your own race car

2011-07-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

My husband introduced me to this fun challenge over at Toyota Racing. It's a lot like what you can do on the Adidas shoe site. This is my car design - pretty snazzy, huh? I feel like pirate symbols always make for a good race car design. The actual site for the challenge is: www.sponsafier.com/#/home. It's a nice way to procrastinate from real work and, who knows, you could win!

Greeting Cards from On the Tudor Trail

2011-07-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

In May I shared a note about my greeting card line designed exclusively for On the Tudor Trail. Well, the store is live and she's shipping her cards all over the world. It's very exciting to have such a global audience! To help with sales, I designed this animated web button for her to advertise the cards on her site.

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-04T08:00:00.001-04:00

Happy 4th of July! Here are some tasty and refreshing patriotic recipes for your celebrations.

Fresh Fruit Flag

Red, White and Blue Parfaits

Blueberry Cobbler Cocktail

Patriotic pop-up card

2011-07-01T08:00:00.004-04:00

I actually created this card for my dad for father's day. He was working on a big project in my home town called "Field of Flags." The big dedication event happened to be father's day weekend and I wanted to show him my support with a handmade card. This would also work for a 4th of July card!

The original instructions can be found over at Oh Happy Day blog. This project is so easy and the result is always fun! Below are some of the photos from my own process.

Field of Flags Memorial in Granby, CT

Wedding Stationery by The Lettered Set

2011-06-29T08:00:00.001-04:00

It has been an exciting couple of years for my wedding invitation portfolio. I've been challenged in wonderful ways and enjoyed the happy reactions of all of my clients. Below is a summary of my wedding design work from 2010 and 2011.

"Love Tree" Wedding Invitations

"Big Band Balloon" Save the Dates

"The Elysian" Wedding Invitations

"Snowflakes and Daisies" Wedding Invitations

"April Showers" Bridal Shower Invitations

"Summer Flowers" Wedding Invitations

"Elegant Baroque" Wedding Invitations

And of course, even though these are from 2008, I must include my own wedding invitations in my wedding roundup!

Melissa and Glenn's rehearsal dinner invitations

2011-06-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

Friends of ours hired me to design their rehearsal dinner invitations. They wanted something modern and clean using their wedding colors: black and "spring" green. I created a bold icon at the top of the card with their initials and a cute little knife and fork "plus" sign. For the body text, I used the Archer font family. To add another level of design, I added a grey grid background behind the green box. For an extra flair, the grid also appears on the back of the card.