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Do you know what your Zazzle invitation paper looks like?

By on July 31, 2013 in Zazzle
Recycled Desert Environment paper

Recycled Desert Environment paper

New invitation paper at Zazzle

The Zazzle invitation paper selection has been increased to eight different types (not counting Speckled since it’s been out of stock for ages). I don’t know if there are new suppliers or what – this change happened last week. The textures have gotten much more interesting! I ordered a selection of all of them and can’t wait to get my hands on them. For us tactile people, new paper is exciting!

I created color swatch / photograph samples of all the variations and ordered them so I will be able to see exactly how the colors and textures affect designs. In the bottom right corner of each invite is the paper type and color name. Trust me, none of us will recognize each of them for sure for a long time. You probably want to get your hands on at least some of these as well!

Zazzle invitation paper menu

Zazzle invitation paper menu

Papers range from an affordable smooth basic paper to textured, art paper style, watermarked and shimmery metallic. There are also two choices of recycled paper. The Desert Environment option (top image) looks beautiful to me! Wouldn’t it look great with a line drawing and minimal colors?

Tip: The drop down menu for color choices is all the way at the bottom – you have to SCROLL! It only shows if there is a choice of colors available.

Zazzle Invitation Paper Styles and Colors

Paper Type: Basic in White

A crisp professional paper with a smooth matte finish designed for vibrant full-color printing. 110lb cover-weight. 50% recycled content (10% post-consumer and 40% pre-consumer waste).

Color Sample Basic Announcements

Paper Type: Delicate in Grooved White and Champagne

(edited to add this descripton 8/5/13)

Grooved: A bright, delicate paper made with embossed horizontal grooves and a matte finish. Elegant, yet lightweight enough to be incorporated easily into DIY wedding, birthday, and event invitations. 80lb text-weight.

Champagne: A warm, delicate paper made with smooth texture and matte finish. Elegant, yet lightweight enough to be incorporated easily into DIY wedding, birthday, and event invitations. 80lb text-weight.

Color Sample Delicate Grooved White Personalized Invite Color Sample Delicate Champagne Announcements

Paper Type: Recycled in White and Desert Environmental

A smooth finished matte paper made with 100% post-consumer paper content. 100lb cover-weight. A cost effective and eco-friendly choice for any invitation or announcement.
Color Sample Recycled White Cards Color Sample Recycled Desert Environmental Announcement

Paper Type: Felt in Bright, Warm and Cream

A warm, buff-toned paper featuring an embossed finish that feels just like fine art paper. 100lb cover-weight. Perfect for wedding invitations or party invitations.
Color Sample Felt Bright Custom Invitations Color Sample Felt Warm Invite Color Sample Felt Cream Custom Invites

Paper Type: Columned in White

A sustainable cotton blended paper featuring vertical columns texture and a matte finish. Always a classic choice, this paper’s texture and thickness is great for formal weddings and parties. 110lb cover-weight. 25% cotton, 50% post-consumer content. (note: the columns are vertical on the vertical invitations and horizontal on horizontal. 🙂 )
Color Sample Columned Invitations

Paper Type: Laid in Ivory and Speckled

Designed to harken back to the first hand-made papers, this paper features a laid watermark and matte finish. This luxury paper is great for creating invitations and announcements with an ageless, bespoke look and feel. 80lb cover-weight. 30% post-consumer content.
Color Sample Laid Ivory Personalized Announcements Color Sample Laid Speckled Announcements

Paper Type: Linen in White, Bright, Warm and Pearl

An elegant paper made with beautiful linen texture of embossed lines and a matte finish. 90lb cover-weight. Perfect for wedding invitations and most formal occasions. (note: Pearl is a premium color)
Color Sample Linen White Custom Invitations Color Sample Linen Bright Announcements Color Sample Linen Warm Personalized Invites Color Sample Linen Pearl Custom Invites

Paper Type: Metallic in Ice, Silver, Champagne and Gold

A shimmery paper featuring a distinctive tint and smooth finish. 110lb cover-weight. Perfect for adding a bright shine to your invitations and announcements.
Color Sample Metallic Ice Invites Color Sample Metallic Silver Custom Announcements Color Sample Metallic Champagne Personalized Invitations Color Sample Metallic Gold Personalized Announcement
The total available variety of paper and color combination is now 19 choices!

So, what does this mean to you as a designer or buyer of custom invitations?

Well, it might mean you are designing in the dark – and buying likewise – if you don’t have samples of the paper choices and an idea how they change the colors and might affect how a very fine line font appears on the paper. If you are a designer, you could make a set of papers for yourself with a selection of colors. This is time-consuming, but worthwhile. Or you can order a selection of these and save yourself some of the work.

Some of the colors change significantly when you change the paper.

And white disappears!

White takes on the color of the paper, so if you want white, plan ahead. You can see on the back of one of these invites that there is no difference between clear and white. However, there are still many choices for white papers:

  • Basic White
  • Delicate Grooved White
  • Recycled White
  • Felt Bright
  • Columned
  • Linen (all four choices are pretty close to white, just warmer and cooler shades)

What about the prices of the new invitation papers?

Pricing depends on so many things!

  1. Invitation size – the eight sizes of paper have different prices
  2. Paper style and color – six tiers (see below)
  3. Quantity – volume or bulk discount available
  4. Designer – designers may set prices based upon the design style
  5. Promotions – available sales or coupons

There are six tiers of price of invitation papers. From least expensive to the most premium price:

  • Basic White
  • Delicate Champagne / Grooved White
  • Recycled White
  • Recycled Desert Environment, Laid, Felt, Columned, Linen White / Warm/Bright
  • Linen Pearl
  • Metallic Ice / Silver / Gold / Champagne

New invitation policy at Zazzle

Customers and designers can now order just one invitation as a sample. In the past, everyone had to order at least ten invitations. You could always return them if you didn’t like them, but it was still a bit of a hassle. Now designers, brides, moms, party-givers and anyone else can order sample invitations. You still get a volume discount even if you order different invitations!

Are there sample-samples or kits available?

Zazzle used to offer a wedding kit with sample papers and stickers and such, but it has been discontinued. You can make your own samples as I have done here, order one of your invitations on a variety of papers or order a selection of these. You may want to order different sizes as well. It’s surprising how small the 3.5 x 5″ invite really is, for example, when you actually see it. That size is popular for RSVP cards, but not so much for invitations.

If you make your own, be sure to include a labeled selection of colors, some fine text AND the name of the paper type. Also, add a photograph if any of your designs include them! An image that includes a person’s face will tell you how you’d like that paper. This would be important especially for Save the Date or Graduation announcements where photos template designs are very popular.

Or you can order these already done from my Beachwalker store’s color samples– I won’t mind! LOL

Variation among papers on a photograph

Variation among papers on a photograph

 

New on Zazzle! Custom Photo Bags by Bagettes

By on June 5, 2012 in News

Did you ever think you could give the same gift to your seven year old daughter, her teacher, yourself (or your wife or girlfriend), your mother, your teenage niece, the choir director at church and the neighbor next door who babysits for you? And it wouldn’t be chocolate? And no one would say it doesn’t fit them?

[OK, probably this works better if we assume that all the above (except maybe YOU) are female.]

No, not a silly gift certificate to the mall! How about a custom photo gift? It could be a coin

New Product Introduction

Bagettes Custom Photo Bags have got to be the easiest product ever for photographers and snapshot lovers! And they are so darned cute! You will want to have – or gift – several of them. Bagettes was begun by mompreneur Felice Azorsky in 2003 and has taken off since.

Without fanfare, a few days ago Zazzle.com added an nine bag line-up of Bagettes for designers and customers to create beautiful, fun, interesting, or gothic designs on. Or just to add that photograph of a bunch of friends together, an engagement photo, a new baby or all the grandkids.

Here’s what was introduced in the Bagette line:

  1. Small cosmetic bag
  2. Medium cosmetic bag
  3. Sueded medium cosmetic bag
  4. Key coin clutch
  5. Sueded mini clutch
  6. Small Wristlet or Mini Clutch
  7. Medium Wristlet
  8. Clip on accessory bag
  9. Travel accessory bag

BTW, you may notice that the names of the bags get a little confused (and confusing!) sometimes. Just check the descriptions. I think there’s some Google love-seeking going on as well as the organizational pains of a new product line.

A few Gift Ideas

Want a special gift for Mom or Grandma?
Create a bag with photos of her baby, kids or grandkids. And the family pet!

Want custom gifts for your bridesmaids?
Create cosmetic bags that coordinate with your wedding colors, or flowers, or have photographs from a girl get-together!

Want a special gift for a recent graduate?
A photo of her and her friends on graduation day on one side and kindergarten on the other would be fun!

There are so many possibilities to create cool bags with photos of family and friends, pets, flowers, food (think cupcakes!), schools, houses, vacations, birthdays, weddings, parties, hobbies, sports and more! And then add all the myriad artwork that would be enjoyed!

Zazzle Designers

I’ve started designing on these in my Beachwalker and Woodswalker stores already. Some people have wondered whether it makes sense to design on just one bag or on all eight of them. Because of the format, customers can easily switch from wristlets to cosmetic bags or coin purses.

However, Zazzle’s search design does go by specific products. If someone is looking for a Key Coin Clutch specifically, a Mini-Clutch that COULD be turned into a Key Coin Clutch will not show up in the search. Personally, I set up some templates to quickly design a set of eight bags at once.

How are you handling it?

Zazzle Customers

If you are a customer looking to design some custom gifts for friends and family, these little bags will be pretty easy!

Click on the links to create Custom Accessories Bags, Custom Cosmetic Bags, Custom Coin Purses, and Custom Wristlets.

Just make sure:

  1. Use a photo that is clear and nicely colored
  2. Check the design view to make sure your photo will go to the edges
  3. Check both sides of the bag before you buy
  4. Consider adding a name or date or greeting

Or, want to shop some of the new designs? These are pretty new to have all the typical pages, but you’ll find already-designed Bagettes wristlets and coin purses here. I think some designers may have gotten a head start! 🙂  In a few days, I should have some summer beach designs in the Beachwalker store and the Woodswalker store. If you’re looking for a design you like and don’t see it, just use the Send Message option in the sidebar of either store. Or leave a comment on this post.

What’s next?

I wondered when – if – Zazzlers will have access to the entire lineup of Bagettes. My crystal ball is cloudy! How’s yours?

I’m planning a coin purse for my mom with photos of her two brand new great-grandbabies. It’s a bit late for Mother’s Day, but never too late to give mom a gift!

What will you design? For whom?

New product launch on Zazzle! Pillows, kitchen towels, placemats and napkins!

By on February 3, 2012 in News

A low key announcement by Zazzle.com late tonight has got the late-night designers firing up the coffee pots! Zazzle has released four new products in connection with a new partnership with American Mojo.

American MoJo products are produced by sustainably employed single moms in the USA and contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty for single moms and their children.

Introduced tonight are

  • square and lumbar cotton couch pillows
  • cotton kitchen towels
  • cotton dinner and cocktail napkins (in sets of 4 each)
  • cotton placemats

Here’s what the new products look like with coordinating dots & lines designs:

Kitchen Towels starting at $15.95

American Mojo custom kitchen towelPlacemats, starting at $19.95
American Mojo custom placematNapkins, dinner sets starting at $44.95 and cocktail sets starting at $34.95.
American Mojo custom dinner napkinAmerican Mojo custom cocktail napkin

Pillows, square starting at $59.95 and lumbar starting at $49.95

American Mojo custom square pillowAmerican Mojo custom lumbar pillow

Are these prices a bit high? Not so much when you consider that each is custom made in America and there are NO MINIMUM orders. And these prices, truthfully, are just the starting prices. Many designers will choose to set their prices much higher. But you will be able to get really custom home decor items that you not only don’t have to sew yourself, but with a custom design as well!

I would like to feel the weight and “hand” of these myself. Eventually!

Also worth noting, all items are printed edge to edge, giving you the most design flexibility and the pillows, which are a good size compared to others on the market, are printed on both sides.

Here’s my first pillow to show you that!

Front side:
Teddy Bear I Love You and Bear Hug throwpillow
Reverse side:
Teddy Bear I Love You and Bear Hug throwpillowNow I’m off to design a few more before going to bed!

If you want to try your hand at, click on any of the dots & lines images above to be taken to create pages (affiliate links).  Give it a shot! It’s fun and – you never know – you could be Zazzle-happy yourself in no time!