What the L is That?

(image from Envelopments blog)

I've been back from the Stationery Show in NYC for a little over a week and a half now. I think the show went really well, and the product and L brand got a lot of attention and support. There are so many fun products and ideas I want to share with you on the blog.

At the show we were lucky enough to be right across from Envelopments. Envelopments is a great company with fantastic products and even better people (both of my sisters used their products for their wedding invitations). Mark, one of the owners at Envelopments, has been a long time supporter of QuicKutz and the products we create. I've had several opportunities to meet with him and collaborate on new ideas and concepts. He wrote a really nice post about the letterpress on his blog. Check it out and visit their website to see their product line. You'll definitely want to incorporate their products into your next invitation, announcement or event!

busy...

I've been crazy busy getting ready for this. Lifestyle Crafts will be at booth #2558, and I'll be doing one of the show's Daily Demos on Sunday at 2:30. If you're going, be sure to come to the Daily Demo and stop by the booth. I think the National Stationery Show is one of the coolest tradeshows out there. Not only is it held in NYC each year (which I love any chance I get to go back and visit), but it is full of such fun, creative, inspiring products and people. Other than the fact that I've still got a lot to do before the show, I can't wait!

Studio 5: L Letterpress and Baby Liv

Megan Hoeppner from Creating Keepsakes featured the L Letterpress and Epic Tool as one of the "hot techniques in paper crafting" on Studio 5. Best of all, baby Liv's picture was shown on a baby announcement I created for her using the L Letterpress. Check it out here.

- Thanks Brock and Julie for reminding me to go watch the clip online!

black eiffel

Do you read Black Eiffel? A few months ago I met with Rachel Jones to show her the L Letterpress. She has a fun blog that features posts on design, style, inspiration and more. Her blog is even part of Martha's Circle!

Luckily she lives right here in Utah so we could easily meet in person. It's always fun to get to demo and talk about the tool to new people. Right now, she's giving away an L Letterpress. Enter here!

pics from alt summit

I had a great time at alt summit!  It was so fun to meet some of my favorite bloggers in real life, listen to great speakers and discussions, and demo and talk about the L Letterpress.  It was chaotic getting everything ready for the event, but it reminded me how much fun I have creating with the L Letterpress  Here are some pics from the event:

Opening Party: Old Hollywood Theme

Me, Andrea and Jennifer on 

the red carpet entry.

They had a corner of the room with vintage glamour clothes and jewelry 

where you could dress up in and get your picture taken.

Talking with other attendees at the party.

L Letterpress Demo Tables in the Alt Summit Lounge

letterpress giveaway

We're giving away an L Letterpress Combo Kit and a custom printing plate at the L Blog ($190 value)! Click here to find out how you can win.

thanksgiving table

This Thanksgiving, I went with a natural theme for the table decor so I focused on natural textures and elements in neutral colors with green accents.

I printed the menus and placecards on L Letterpress paper in cream and then used the L Letterpress to blind emboss the matching design on both pieces. 

For additional table conversation, I printed Thanksgiving trivia on L Letterpress paper and then die cut it using a QuicKutz leaf die cut.  The leaf has a fun pop up element that added extra texture and dimension to the decor.

I had originally anticipated going with a more modern design theme, but found these harvest -themed ceramic dinner and salad plates at Shopko for only $.50 each.  Secretly I had wanted to purchase plates for the dinner, but hadn't figure out how I could justify it. I had been thinking white square dinnerware, but at only $.50 each for this style, it was a deal I couldn't pass up.  I ended up loving the way the plates turned out.

The pictures below show how the finished product. There were 31 people seated at the table (my mother-in-law's dinner table combined with two fold up tables next to each other). I used branches, pumpkins (painted off-white), floral greenery for the centerpieces, votives, cream candles, bronze candle holders, twine and twig balls, wire twig garland, stick placemats and burlap.

baby O shower

My friend Laura threw an amazing baby shower for her sister. Lucky for me, she made the invitations at my house so I got to watch the creativity in action.  She incorporated several letterpress elements into the party using the L Letterpress.  See more at Lucyisms.

another L giveaway

My Favorite Things is giving away an L Letterpress Combo Kit! Enter now!

excitement

I ran into Archiver's tonight to purchase a few items. When I was checking out, one of the Archiver's employee, Megan, found out that I had developed the L Letterpress. She was so enthusiastic about the product and excited that she actually was talking to someone that had created it. She even wanted to go get her L Letterpress box so I could sign it. While there is definitely room to grow and improve with the line, I love that people are excited about the product and its potential. Thanks Megan - you made my night.

happy halloween

I've been busy testing each of the final production printing plates for the L Letterpress product line. Here some projects I made with the Halloween printing plate set. Product started shipping this week and should be arriving in stores next week!

ps - the hard drive on my mac crashed about three weeks ago and I just got it back last night...upcoming is a bunch of posts.

so excited...

On Friday, I got production samples of the L Letterpress Starter Kit. Tonight I tested each of the components of the kit, and I'm so happy with how it is turning out! I can't wait for the product to hit stores (looks like beginning of November). It's been a lot of work - especially these past several months - but I think it's going to all pay off. So excited...

cha summer

image from here

I just got back from CHA (Craft and Hobby Tradeshow) in Orlando late last night. We had a great time demoing the L Letterpress and the new QuicKutz products.

Here are some of the things people are saying about the product....

Craft Critique (click to see the full review)

Here's something that has everybody buzzing... a letterpress machine for the crafter. That's right. Letterpress. At home. QuickKutz has launched a new brand: Lifestyle Crafts (also known as L), and is about to release what crafters have been clamoring for: elegant letterpress....

Scrapbook Trends Blog (click to see the full review)

So one of the most exciting products is the “L” from Quickutz. It is a home letterpress kit. The letterpress kit is part of the Lifestyle Craft brand....

The Scrap Review (click to see the full review)

My fave product of the day was imPRESSive. (Sorry, I'm a little slap happy from not sleeping for more than 6 hours total since I've been in Florida!) Yes, QuicKutz has come up with the new amazing product that will do letterpress (printing & debossing), called... wait for it... Letterpress....

How to Use the L Letterpress

I've had a lot of people ask me how the L Letterpress works. It's easy! Here's a basic tutorial...

Step 1: Place printing plate on clear lid of L Letterpress tool. There are currently 15 printing plate sets with fantastic designs that can be mixed and matched to create an unlimited number of projects!


Step 2: Use the ink brayer to ink the printing plate. There are currently 20 ink colors available which can also be mixed to create additional custom colors!


Step 3: Place paper on the base of the tool. The L Letterpress paper is specifically designed for the L Letterpress tool to achieve that fantastic impression and soft texture.


Step 4: Close the lid of the L Letterpress tool and roll through the Epic Six tool to simultaneously print and deboss your image.

here it is...

Introducing L - a brand new lifestyle craft brand focused on developing products that enable creativity! With L products, you can add that personal handmade touch to all of life's events from simple everyday occurances to special occasions like weddings and babies.


I'm really excited about the first product launch in the L brand...the L Letterpress line. This collection of products is desigend to let the home crafter create elegant letterpress projects with an easy-to-use, convenient and affordable method.


Below is a picture of the L Letterpress Combo Kit which includes everything you need to start creating letterpress projects. Check out the L website - lifestylecraft.com - to see all of the products in this initial launch, and be sure to check out the 15 printing plate sets. The designs really turned out great!

If you're not familiar with letterpress, below is a quick explanation. The photo on the left shows the design pressed into the paper with no ink so you can easily see the debossed element of letterpress. The photo on the right is that same design pressed into paper with ink. The letterpress result has a fantastic texture and feel.

Here are a few projects made with the L Letterpress...

happy father's day

Remember how I thought it would be fun to make a tie that matched outfits for Elle and Liv?  Well, it pays to have your sister (a fashion design major at Auburn) living with you.  We made a tie, two skirts and an applique/embroidery onesie yesterday as a gift for Adam.  I thought it would be fun to get some pictures of him with his girls on Father's Day.  Unfortunately, the picture taking didn't go so well (the one below is the only one with Elle smiling and looking at the camera - she looks like she is choking Liv in at least 1/2 of them).  I also made a card to coordinate.

The card is letterpressed with QuicKutz die cuts embellished with Glossy Accents.

letterpress cards

elum creates amazing lettepress products. The detail and intricacy of their designs are unbelievable and create such beautiful inked impressions. With the letterpress technique, I'm sure they feel as amazing as they look.

happy holidays...

Happy Holidays! Here a pictures of the four letterpress Christmas cards I sent this year. Hope you had a great Christmas!