Archive | stationery

I used to design custom stationery. It’s really how Jones Design Company began – making wedding invitations, baby announcements, holiday cards. It was my little business that I did from home when my babies were babies. Much of the work was seasonal, which suited our family well. I kinda fell into it and learned along the way. I’ve said it a hundred times before, but I’m a self-taught girl who faked my way through the whole thing.

While creating stationery is no longer my main passion or the direction my business has gone, it has been such a big part of my creative story so far. I have boxes and boxes of samples, proofs, final drafts sitting on the shelves in my office and I thought it would be fun to pull them down, open them up and share a few of my favorites with you. Many of them are old; like from parties or weddings or babies born nearly 10 years ago. Others are projects I’ve worked on more recently for friends or cousins I just can’t say no to. And then there’s a whole stack of cards done for my kids’ birthdays or events we’ve hosted over the years. It’s always fun to look through and see how my style has changed, what trends have passed, and remember these sweet moments.

Have a look at a few favorite designs:

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All this week I’ll be sharing graphic design related posts (a freebie, a tutorial, favorite tips & tricks in Illustrator) as a lead up to my brand new class: Simplified Graphic Design (registration will open next monday).

More details will come, but I’ll just say it is for beginners who want to learn the basics of Adobe Illustrator from a non-techie teacher (that’s me).  I think you’ll love the class and I’m excited about this fun week of posts!

P.S. if you have any graphic design-y questions or tutorials you’d like to see, please post in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them this week.

Today’s pleated project was originally seen on the invitations I created for Audrey’s first birthday.

I’ve been meaning to do a tutorial for, oh, two years, so I’m glad to finally keep my word.

Would you like to learn how to make pleated stationery?

Here’s what you’ll need:

:: tissue paper
:: card stock
:: paper cutter
:: corner punch
:: coordinating thread

 Start by trimming a piece of card stock into your desired size. My favorite stationery is 5 x 7.

Round the corners with a corner punch, if you wish.

Cut a long strip of tissue paper {approximately 1.25″ wide}

Hand fold little pleats in the tissue paper.

Then stitch using a contrasting thread through the center of the pleat.

There is no need to back stitch – just start at the top and go all the way off the edge of the paper.

Trim the excess tissue paper.

 It makes for a unique way to decorate a plain piece of stationery.

You can vary where you stitch {this time along the top on a folded note card} for a different look.

Or maybe make a fancy bookmark for a reader in your life.

Sewing pleats to paper is unexpected and adds a feminine touch in a subtle way.