Browsing Tag

nate berkus

Our Favorite Designs of 2014

12.29.2014

2014 was such an incredibly awesome year for us here at Elum. We beefed up our shop with three new letterpress machines, added six new employees to our team, and started foil stamping everything we could get our hands on. On top of all that growth, we checked some boxes off our designer bucket list by launching our Same Sex Greeting Card Collection and designing invitations to impress awe-inspiring designers like Tom Ford International and Nate Berkus. We’re not worthy. . . (ok, maybe we are)!

HERE ARE OUR DESIGNERS’ PICKS FOR OUR FAVORITE DESIGNS OF 2014

Favorite Letterpress Projects

[typography font=”Montserrat” size=”16″ size_format=”px” color=”#8d8580″]ART DIRECTOR AMY’S PICKS:[/typography]

In looking back on 2014, I have two favorites. The first was a custom B’not Mitzvah invitation we worked on with our lovely custom dealer, Elyse Fuerth at E.A.F. Fine Papers. Her clients came in, two young girls with a sense of high fashion style wanting something to wow their guests. The final invite included a shimmery gold peek-a-boo pocket that revealed just their names. Upon opening, a chic monogram, created just for the twins and hand-dusted in our fine Tahitian gold pixie dust filled the page. Accompanied by hot pink edge painting, gold foil-stamping, hot pink letterpress and a shimmery gold backer, this was a true stand-out piece.

how_can_you_choose

Art Directors favorite letterpress projects

The second project that was near and dear to me was on the other end of the spectrum of what we do here at Elum. It was our line of Father’s Day cards made exclusively for Papyrus/Clinton’s in the UK. The cards explored all of the relationships we have with fathers and had just the right balance of the funny dad-humor and the sweet sentimental stuff. Each card was paired with incredible art by our talented group of designers here.

favorite letterpress projects

[typography font=”Montserrat” size=”16″ size_format=”px” color=”#8d8580″]ELUM FOUNDER MELISSA’S PICKS:[/typography]

When I found out that Elum had been selected to design the wedding invitation for Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, I had to pinch myself. I mean, this invitation project was monumental in its importance. And not only because it was the very first gay marriage to take place at the New York Public Library, but because as a tween, I used to race home from school on the days Nate was going to be featured on Oprah so I could gather around the TV with my mom and sisters. Nate was, and still is, a design hero to me personally. Over the years his design ingenuity, creative influence, and impeccable taste level has been an inspiration. So, needless to say, this is a project I called home about. It was an honor of a lifetime.

DESIGNER'S favorite letterpress project

[typography font=”Montserrat” size=”16″ size_format=”px” color=”#8d8580″]APRIL’S PICKS:[/typography]

Our new letterpress  Galactic card combines two of my all-time favorite things: clever, witty messaging and hand drawn lettering. With an awesome message from Melissa and Amy as a starting point, we pulled together some celestial inspiration (including some crazy galaxy leggings!) and decided to go with a casual hand drawn feel. After seeing the card printed in its interstellar color palette, it’s definitely my favorite greeting card I’ve worked on this year.

designer shannon's favorite letterpress project

[typography font=”Montserrat” size=”16″ size_format=”px” color=”#8d8580″]SHANNON’S PICKS:[/typography]

My favorite letterpress card has to be the Bacon & Eggs card, for so many reasons. Besides the fact that I loved spending my work day drawing bacon & eggs in a romantic setting, I really love the concept behind this card (props to April for this one)! It’s subtle yet hilarious, and manages to be romantic without being nauseating.

The Bacon & Eggs card is a great example of what I love about our creative team at Elum; we take sentiments that could feel cliché and find new ways to express them that feel honest and that will (hopefully) resonate with our customers. This was one of the first cards I worked on at Elum, and it was a great collaborative experience.

 

Hostess Gifts for the Holidays

11.04.2014

Whether you’re headed to a holiday party with co-workers, a White Elephant gift exchange or an Ugly Christmas Sweater rager, bringing a hostess gift shows good party-going form. Instead of turning to the usual hostess gifts for the holidays, like wine, flowers or scented candles, first consider these en vogue alternatives:

Letterpress holiday gifts

[typography font=”Oswald” size=”18″ size_format=”px” color=”#8d8580″]BIG STACK NOTE BARS[/typography]

Our line of Big Stack Note Bars (our fancy way of saying uber-thick & totally awesome note pads) is a fan favorite, particularly this time of year when shopping lists, To-Do lists and Honey-Do lists are in abundance. We have a spectacular “Butterscotch” metallic gold dipped version or you can go with our fun new  “Naughty or Nice” Big Stack with bold red painted edges, offered especially for the holidays.

 

Hostess gift ideas for

Nate Berkus Gold Scissors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[typography font=”Oswald” size=”18″ size_format=”px” color=”#8d8580″]GOLD SHEARS BY NATE BERKUS[/typography]

These high style Nate Berkus brassy gold tone scissors are a shear genius gift, especially now, with the holiday wrapping madness that is about to begin. And? They’re offered at Target. Win-win.

 

Ice Kit

Photo Credit: Studio Neat

[typography font=”Oswald” size=”18″ size_format=”px” color=”#8d8580″]NEAT ICE KIT[/typography]

We are in love with this item (family and friends, don’t be surprised if you see this under your tree this year). With this Neat Ice Kit, you can chisel your own giant ice cubes or any custom size cube for that matter.

[box]IT’S CERTAINLY A [highlight]GREAT CONVERSATION PIECE[/highlight] AND IF YOU GIVE THE GIFT PRE-FROZEN, THE HOSTESS (and party guests) CAN HAVE THE IMMEDIATE SATISFACTION OF WATCHING THIS SUPER COOL GADGET IN ACTION![/box]

 

Journal Hostess Gift

[typography font=”Oswald” size=”18″ size_format=”px” color=”#8d8580″]REFLECTING JOURNAL[/typography]

A gorgeous linen wrapped journal with super soft cotton rag paper is an awesome for gift for any hostess. She can use it for memoirs, recipes or daily planning. Or, put a creative spin on it by scribing “Deep Thoughts” provoking questions on a few of the inside pages, then leave it out at the party for guests to comment. For example: Red or White Wine? or If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be? Or, What I really want from for Christmas this year is . . . Your hostess will get a kick out of reading through the responses the next morning.

 

Mixed Metallic Barware

[typography font=”Oswald” size=”18″ size_format=”px” color=”#8d8580″]ORB COPPER SHAKER[/typography]

Metallics are where it’s at this Holiday Season so consider giving the hostess with the mostess one of these uber-cool metallic shot glasses or a  copper martini shaker from Crate and Barrel. All season long she can channel her inner Don Draper and prepare martinis in style.