The Stationers Guild

Right now is a great time to save money and reserve your Christmas cards or holiday photo cards from William Arthur. William Arthur, one the leading designers and printers of fine stationery and custom invitations, has just prolonged it’s holiday card and photo card promotion until October 24th. Save 10% on all holiday cards or photo cards purchased at William Arthur’s online store or at any authorized William Arthur dealers in your neighborhood.

William Arthur offers a full range of printing choices. Print your pictures digitally on William Arthur’s luxurious papers or apply your photos using adhesive tape that has already been placed on their cardstock.

Sheila May is a founding member of the Stationers Guild and writes regularly about holiday greeting cards and photo cards.

Because of the ease of digital photography and breakthroughs in offset printing, this season a great number of households plan to digitally print family photos right on their annual holiday card. What can be more convenient? Just simply upload your picture to an internet printer, choose a design template, edit your picture, click on the print option and your printed holiday cards will be sent to your residence.

This appears to be an idyllic state of affairs, but photography purists insist that digitally-printed Christmas photo cards aren’t nearly as attractive as photographs mounted on the greeting card. One experienced stationery store owner and amateur photographer remarked, “Digitally reproduced holiday greeting cards simply do not have the quality and print image resolution of photographs developed at a commercial printer. Some digital holiday photo cards can be quite appealing, however, if you compare them side-by-side, the actual difference is apparent: Photomount holiday photo cards win hands-down.”

Not everybody would agree with this analysis, but clearly if you factor in the “efficiency factor” and reduced price tag, it is no shock that customers have migrated toward digital holiday cards. “Let’s be realistic,” remarked this knowledgeable stationer, “you receive a nice quality photo card – perhaps not the best – but you avoid the need for mounting the pictures with adhesive tape.”

Given this change in consumer buying habits, main-stream printing firms have shifted quickly to enhance their digital printing abilities. In fact, market leaders, Crane & Co. and William Arthur now provide customers a choice of printing their photo on the Christmas photo card or placing their photographs on beautifully designed greeting cards – often embossed – with pre-applied adhesive tape.

To see the differences in both printing processes, it is wise to visit a qualified stationery store in your area to see printed samples in person. Whichever printing option feels like a fit, a number of printing companies are typically in the middle of their holiday card sale. Save anywhere for 20% to 50% by ordering your holiday photo cards before the end of September.

Sheila May is the owner of Therese Saint Clair, a stationery store located in Greenwich, CT. She writes frequently about photo greeting cards and holiday greeting card trends.

Today is a terrific time to save money and reserve your Christmas cards or Christmas photo cards from William Arthur. William Arthur, one the leading designers and printers of fine stationery and custom invitations, has just extended it’s holiday card and photo card promotion until October 24th. Save 10% on all holiday greeting cards or holiday photo cards purchased at William Arthur’s online store or at any authorized William Arthur dealers in your neighborhood.

William Arthur offers a full range of printing alternatives. Print your photos digitally on William Arthur’s luxurious papers or apply your photos using adhesive tape that has already been positioned on their cardstock.

Sheila May is a founding member of the Stationers Guild and writes often about holiday greeting cards and photo cards.

Readers of the Stationers Guild news are aware that I have great regard for D’Arconte’s beautiful engraved Christmas cards. Bob D’Arconte is, perhaps, the only craftsman in the United States that designs and engraves his own Christmas cards, invitations and fine stationery. Clearly an expert of his profession, his cutting-edge designs on exquisite papers are simply little works of art.

Over the past several years, I have been overwhelmed by requests from customers trying to locate D’Arconte’s holiday greeting cards at retailers in their town. Sadly, his line of stationery and Christmas cards are not well represented outside of New York City. Other than our own shop in Greenwich, CT, I know that D’Arconte’s holiday cards may be purchased at Gumps in San Francisco, Francis Orr in Corona del Mar (California) and Tabala Rasa in Salt Lake City.

D’Arconte stationery products are not sold on the internet. Mr. D’Arconte has been hesitant to promote his Christmas cards on the internet because online image resolutions are very poor and it is unlikely to capture the subtleties of engraving, particularly on the bright white papers he uses. This season, I acquired his agreement to offer you 18 D’Arconte Christmas cards which may be viewed and acquired online. Image resolutions do not do justice to the intrinsic beauty of these greeting cards; however, those familiar with D’Arconte’s designs will now have a chance to indulge their desire for these beautiful works of art.

A thing about D’Arconte’s designs. First, the online images don’t do his Christmas cards justice. Engraved paper prints are three-dimensional and both the daring and subdued shapes of his engraved creations and embossed frames are often missing in most Online browsers. Secondly, the lack of color or distinct “white space” only elevates the charm and balance of his artistic designs. Viewed on a “white” Internet background, the artistic impression and sophistication is unfortunately lost. Thirdly, D’Arconte “bumps” metallic inks (primarily gold and silver) two times to provide them a rich burnished touch. D’Arconte’s flair and workmanship is – in my opinion – many steps ahead of the rest of the field that appears to have problems finding their brand identity and printing quality which simply lacks energy.

View and purchase D’Arconte holiday cards online or find a qualified D’Arconte dealer in your neighborhood.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair Holiday Card

As a stationer, I am repeatedly asked by our clientele whether or not they should choose digital photo cards this Christmas season. Most of these patrons have typically used photo mount holiday greeting cards to show family pictures.

This is a complicated question to answer, considering that it is determined by on your goals. Digital Christmas photo cards are certainly more practical, despite the fact that the color reproduction of digitally printed holiday photo cards is not as crisp and clean as regular photographs. While great progress has been made in improving the high quality of digital printing, one has to be thorough in deciding upon the printing company and the design and style alternatives.

One artist who has a long background of beautiful styles and designs is Stacy Claire Boyd. Stacy has long been styling eye-catching Christmas photo greeting card themes for years. She recently joined with Printswell, a quality printing company, and currently has the possibility of reproducing high quality photo holiday cards at very affordable prices.

Stacy Claire’s 2011 holiday card collection showcases her long-established emphasis on new families and young ones. Her styles find a way to catch the joy of a care free childhood and her holiday photo cards are a huge favorite among our clients. Choose from a assortment of card sizes and orientation with multiple or a single picture of your family.

If you determine that digital photo card printing is the proper choice for you this holiday season, please have a look at Stacy’s fashionable holiday photo card designs and styles. Pricing for Stacy’s photo cards range from $2.50 to $4.00 a photo card according to the number of cards you select to buy and the printing or design and style choices.

Richard W. May
Therese Saint Clair

Readers of the Stationers Guild news are mindful that I have great admiration for D’Arconte’s beautiful engraved holiday cards. Bob D’Arconte is, perhaps, the only artisan in the United States that designs and engraves his own Christmas cards, invitations and stationery. Plainly an expert of his craft, his cutting-edge designs on beautiful papers are plainly little works of art.

Over the past several years, I have been overwhelmed by requests from followers trying to obtain D’Arconte’s holiday cards at stores in their community. Sadly, his line of stationery and holiday greeting cards are not well represented outside of New York City. Other than our own store in Greenwich, CT, I know that D’Arconte’s holiday cards may be purchased at Gumps in San Francisco, Francis Orr in Corona del Mar (California) and Tabala Rasa in Salt Lake City.

D’Arconte stationery products are not sold online. Mr. D’Arconte has been unwilling to promote his holiday cards on the internet because internet image resolutions are very poor and it is not possible to capture the subtleties of engraving, especially on the vibrant white papers he uses. This year, I secured his agreement to offer you 18 D’Arconte Christmas cards which may be viewed and bought online. Picture resolutions do not do justice to the intrinsic charm of these cards; however, those familiar with D’Arconte’s designs will now have an opportunity to indulge their desire for these lovely works of art.

A word about D’Arconte’s card designs. To begin with, the internet images don’t do his holiday cards justice. Engraved paper prints are three-dimensional and both the bold and subtle contours of his engraved motifs and embossed frames are often lost in most Internet browsers. Secondly, the lack of color or shade or distinct “white space” only increases the charm and proportion of his designs. Viewed on a “white” Internet background, the visual effect and sophistication is unfortunately lost. Thirdly, D’Arconte “bumps” metallic inks (primarily gold and silver) a second time to provide them a luxuriant burnished touch. D’Arconte’s talent and workmanship is – in my opinion – several steps in front of the remainder of the field that seems to have problems finding their brand identity and printing quality which simply lacks inspiration.

Take a look at and purchase D’Arconte holiday cards online or find a qualified D’Arconte dealer in your neighborhood.

Sheila P. May
Founding Member Holiday Greeting Cards

Together with the simplicity of digital photography and advances in offset printing, this Christmas quite a few households plan to digitally print family photographs right on their annual Christmas card. What can be less demanding? Just upload your photograph to an online printer, pick a design template, crop your photograph, click on the print option and your printed Christmas cards will be sent to your residence.

This sounds like an idyllic situation, but photography enthusiasts are adamant that digitally-printed holiday photo cards aren’t nearly as captivating as photos attached to the card. One seasoned stationer and amateur photographer remarked, “Electronically produced holiday photo cards simply lack the high-quality and print image resolution of photographs developed by a commercial printer. Some digital photo greeting cards may be appealing, however, if you compare them side-by-side, the actual difference is apparent: Photomount holiday cards win hands-down.”

Not every person would go along with this assessment, but plainly if you consider the “convenience factor” and reduced price tag, it is no shock that customers have migrated toward digital holiday photo cards. “Let’s face it,” remarked this knowledgeable stationery store owner, “you receive a good quality holiday photo card – perhaps not the best quality – however, you avoid the hassle of mounting the photographs with adhesive tape.”

Due to this difference in consumer buying behavior, the leading printing firms have moved rapidly to enhance their digital printing capabilities. The fact is, market leaders, Crane & Co. and William Arthur now offer buyers the option of imprinting their picture directly on the holiday photo card or mounting their photographs on beautifully designed greeting cards – often embossed – with pre-applied adhesive tape.

To see the differences in both printing techniques, it’s wise to go to an experienced stationery store in your area to check out printed samples personally. Regardless of what option feels like a fit, several printing companies happen to be in the middle of their holiday card sale. Save anywhere for 20% to 50% by purchasing your photo greeting cards prior to the end of September.

Sheila May is the owner of Therese Saint Clair, a stationery store located in Greenwich, CT. She writes frequently about photo greeting cards and holiday greeting card trends.

When one conjures an image of the Winter Holidays in a major city, New York often comes to mind. It is hard to imagine a more photogenic city very often looks best having a light coating of snowfall covering its buildings and parks.

Local organizations, large and small, frequently employ a New York landmark as a backdrop for its annual greeting card. Common scenarios might range from the New York City public library on 5th Avenue, the Empire State Building or many of the ponds in Central Park. The fact is, businesses will frequently use holiday greeting cards showcasing New York City scenes drawn by American artists. One printer that has a substantial selection of Nyc themed cards is Birchcraft.

Pulling from traditional winter scenes from several well-known painters, Birchcraft captures the essence of NYC during the holiday season. Those New York City based companies seeking a greeting card which catches the substance of the winter holiday in the Big Apple might wish to consider Birchcraft’s collection of cost-effective holiday greeting cards.

When customizing your business holiday greeting card, small companies will frequently include the names of company principals as opposed to the name of the company. Custom greetings can be changed on most holiday greeting cards, so companies are well-advised to spend some time selecting a standardized greeting or making a unique greeting.

For whatever reason, holiday greeting cards with NYC winter images mirror the spirit of the year and are a good vehicle to show off your business in a positive way, particularly if you have a NYC-based organization.

Due to the sluggish economy, many printers are offering a variety of promotional offers. Many firms will provide promotional savings of any where from 20% to 50% off business greeting cards through September 30th. Other companies offer free shipping and other promotional discounts.

This season, if you are searching for a holiday greeting card with New York winter scenes, Birchcraft is certainly a good option.

Sheila May owns Therese Saint Clair and writes frequently about business holiday cards and holiday greeting cards.

Crane & Co. has just released their 2011 Christmas Card and Holiday Greeting Card line. These refined designs and styles feature Crane’s classic engraved Christmas tree and many other marvelous styles that capture the beauty of the Christmas season. No matter if you are shopping for a corporate holiday greeting card or personalized Christmas card, Crane has a plethora of distinctive designs and styles that are sure to please.

Take action now prior to September 30th and help save 10% on your customized holiday card order. Also to Crane’s holiday greeting cards, they also have a fine assortment of digital holiday photo cards and photomount Xmas cards printed on specially-treated papers to faithfully record your family photograph.

Crane Christmas Greeting Cards are reproduced on 64#, 100% cotton paper. These holiday greeting cards measure 5 1/2″x 7 3/8″ and can quite easily be customized by including your own greeting or sentiment in addition to your family names and return address. Pick the greeting, font style, ink colors and envelope lining to create your own personalized holiday card.

While we highly suggest that you visit a retailer in your neighborhood to see Crane’s 2011 holiday greeting card collection in person, Crane & Co. is currently featuring their holiday greeting cards online. As one of the leading designers and printers of engraved holiday cards, Crane continues to respect the custom of making unforgettable greeting cards that are most likely to be treasured for generations.

Regardless of whether you choose to order your holiday greeting card on the web or at an experienced Crane dealer, you will receive the same marketing discounts and superb service that has been a Crane tradition.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair Holiday Card

Crane & Co. has just introduced their 2011 Christmas Card and Holiday Greeting Card Collection. These refined designs showcase Crane’s vintage engraved Christmas tree and a great many other splendid styles and designs that capture the splendor of the holiday season. Whether or not you are searching for a corporate holiday card or your own Christmas card, Crane has an abundance of splendid designs and styles that are sure to please.

Take action now prior to September 30th and save 10% on your customized holiday card order. In addition to Crane’s holiday greeting cards, they even have a great assortment of digital holiday photo cards and photomount Holiday cards printed on specially-treated papers to faithfully capture your family photo.

Crane Holiday Greeting Cards are imprinted on 64#, 100% cotton paper. These Christmas greeting cards measure 5 1/2″x 7 3/8″ and can quite easily be personalized by including your own seasonal greeting or sentiment in addition to your family names and return address. Choose the greeting, font style, ink colors and envelope lining to create your own unique holiday card.

While we strongly advocate that you visit a store in your neighborhood to see Crane’s 2011 holiday greeting card collection personally, Crane & Co. is at present offering their cards online. As one of the leading designers and printers of engraved Christmas cards, Crane continues to pay tribute to the custom of creating unique greeting cards that are likely to be loved for many years.

No matter if you decide to buy your Christmas greeting card on the internet or at a knowledgeable Crane store, you will get the same promotional rewards and superb support that has long been a Crane tradition.

Richard W. May

Founding Member Holiday Greeting Cards