Libby from Byrd + Bleecker in Fort Worth, Texas strikes again! Birth announcements are such a joy to print, particularly when they are original and beautiful in design. Peach and Ocean inks are a great blend for baby announcements and the use of design elements and photo space make this card a one-of-a-kind.

ink: peach + ocean | fonts: clementine + forester | paper: 1-ply white bamboo  | printing: offset | birth announcement |  size: 4.5 x 6.25 | corner rounding

Thanks to Melanie at Salutations in Charlotte, North Carolina for the opportunity to print a beautiful letterpress + offset wedding invitations. Using submitted artwork to combine offset printing for their folio and letterpress printing for their cards, the patterns and designs used in this set were very striking. Seamist compliments taupe very well to begin with, but we were very pleased to see how elegant everything looked when put together. Great work, Melanie!

inks: seamist + taupe| fonts: custom + therese | paper: 1-ply ivory bamboo  | printing: letterpress | folio interior: windemere in taupe| folio exterior: custom in seamist |  invite size: s-7 folio |

At Smock our goal is to ensure that our brides have one of kind invitations for their big day. With that in mind, we often accept custom artwork to pair with our wide variety of fonts and letterpress (or offset) print in our luscious ink on our luxurious bamboo paper. The artwork submitted to us by Peabody Papers in Grandview Heights, OH once compared with all of the above, blew us away!

The 3-color offset invitation was printed on both the front and the back in pewter, slate and gold inks. The juxtaposition of the flat yet colorful imagery with the black letterpress text created such a dignified look. The subtle hint of masculinity is impeccable. Well done Peabody Papers. Well done!

Meg, from Peabody Papers had the pleasure of working with the happy couple and says, “Working with Shawna has been so much fun! She wanted to convey a sense of elegance while evoking thoughts of champagne bubbles. I drew the “bubbles” and decided that I would use the block for their names vs. a more traditional treatment. The last piece to come together was the kalogram – 5 sheets of proofs! It payed off though as she loves it and is using it & the dot design throughout the reception at the Statehouse. I have a degree in printmaking and enthusiastically convinced her that Smock letterpress would be the most beautiful printing option!!! She really loves the invitations – thanks for everything!”

Excellent thinking Meg!!! Champagne kisses and Caviar Dreams to you!

inks: black + pewter + gold + slate | fonts: cameron + indigo  | paper 2-ply white | invite size: S-8 | printing: letterpress + offset | edge painting: pewter | corner rounding

This design won third place in our Smock design competition for the first half of 2011. This twice-a-year competition recognizes outstanding and inspired designs submitted by our beloved dealers.

Our next runner up in our recent Smock Design Contest features a unique combination of custom artwork and signature Smock design, a truly unique customization that came to us from Paper Love in Brooklyn. Showcasing a custom hand-drawn illustration depicting the couple’s wedding venue, this letterpress wedding invitation is undeniably personal and thoughtful. Bright verbena and soft pewter inks make for a combination that is bold yet incredible sophisticated while the pattern backing in our marav pattern provides an unexpected touch. The letterpress reply card is in our Aberdeen design and all of the pieces feature corner rounding for that perfect finishing touch.

Thank you to our friends at Paper Love for sending us this fun and festive customization! It was such a treat for us to print something so unique.