Lucky Friday # 76, Gallant Birthday

Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the 76th edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway.  Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress greeting cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The winners from last week are (drum roll, please): Chelsea, Debbie Cotton and Cat! We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your Hog Wild card.

Artist: Esther Aarts
Inspiration: We'd been listening to a lot of Dubstep around the office. Wondering why "Dub" step. We figured it must have something to do with knights.
Who to send it to: Anyone named Arthur, Lance, Gawain or Guinevere; or any virtuous vassal or chivalrous cavalier you dub worthy of birthday accolades.
Ideas we scrapped in favor of this one: No one expected the Spanish Inquisition themed surprise birthday card would be nixed... and the other ideas were a bit quixotic.
Favorite detail: Love the graceful gesture of his hand holding the reins.
Why letterpress? Rumor has it that Gutenberg was a knight. If he wasn't, he should have been.

Don’t forget to post your comment and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

Babies First Birthday

Happy first birthday Soren! Here we have a few images of our friend baby Soren enjoying our delicious 1st Birthday letterpress card designed by Esther Aarts while rocking our original Darling Fawn Onesie. Soren has been a fan of Hello!Lucky since birth and is known to be quite a ladies man. His Uncle Stewey keeps him up to date on all our new designs, and this card turned out to be a real treat!

Lucky Friday # 73, Birdy Birthday!

Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the 73rd edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway.  Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress greeting cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The winners from last week are (drum roll, please): Shay B, Diana D and Harper! We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your Très Chic card.

Design: Birdy Birthday Artist: Esther Aarts Inspiration: "Happy Bird-day" is a common alternate pronunciation, particularly after a few bird-day cocktails. Who to send it to: A hero of herons, a champion of chickadees, a protector of parrots— basically a bird's best bud. Ideas we scrapped in favor of this one: We were too chicken to print the Valentine's card "Ornithologists Make Me Orni." Favorite detail: The itty bitty birdie with the bowtie. Why letterpress? Any other printing method is, erm, for the birds.

Don’t forget to post your comment and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

Lucky Friday # 71, 1st Birthday

Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the 71st edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway.  Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress greeting cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The winners from last week are (drum roll, please): Derek Rigby, Nicky, and Sierra Catherine! We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your Hipster Party card.

Design: 1st Birthday Artist: Esther Aarts Inspiration: We had a little block about this one— our train of thought didn't have rails, but then we got on the ball and it ended up being a real bunny of a design. Who to send it to: We can think of some one, one for whom it's perfect, the one and only, the sweetest one of all! Ideas we scrapped in favor of this one: The text "One Is the Loneliest Number" didn't suit the occasion— not one bit. Favorite detail: Ooh, that's a tough one... Why letterpress: We can give you one good reason... it's one-derful.

Don’t forget to post your comment and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

 

Lucky Friday #70, Hipster Party

Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the 70th edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway.  Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress greeting cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The winners from last week are (drum roll, please): Richelle, Martha and Ashley W! We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your You're a Peach card.

Design: Hipster Party Artist: Esther Aarts Inspiration: Esther was hip to the idea long before the idea was hip. Who to send it to: Someone who is Indie or die, who makes wardrobe and facial hair decisions based on "what he can get away with," or who's so new and fresh she hasn't even been born yet. Ideas we scrapped in favor of this one: We had a birthday card that was so unimaginably funny—the joke was so raw and wrong and real and right-on that we didn't get it. Favorite detail: Sweet how you can see the dude's hand through the green glass of his micro-brew. Why letterpress? Why? Really, sister, stay with us here. Need we explain why the sky is blue like an orange?

Don’t forget to post your comment and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

New Greeting Cards!

Our brand new letterpress greeting cards are hot off the presses and arrived just in time for spring! We've got smashing new designs by Esther Aarts, Julia Rothman, and yours truly. We've taken a new spin off our popular BBQ Parade Father's Day card and created Thanks a Brunch, and Julia's Better With Age card speaks simply the truth - we are especially fond of this card being so close to wine country!

Our wedding Skyline series is such a hit we couldn't wait to offer letterpress skyline cards for all our favorite cities! San Francisco, New York City, and London are all available now but there are more to come! Also making it's big debut is our bright and cheerful Visit Seattle card.

To view the entire collection of new letterpress greeting cards, click here!

On Press: 2012 Trade Releases

This week Max is working hard and printing all of the upcoming trade releases for 2012. Along with Eunice's and Anna's fun and beautiful new designs,  we have an armful of great new cards from our friends and favorite designers: Esther Aarts,  Lab Partners, and Julia Rothman.

Lucky Friday # 60, Dad, You Rock!

Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the 60th edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway.  Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress greeting cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The three winners from last week are (drum roll, please): Ann, Kate Purdy and Kayla King! We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your Love You Bunches card.

Design: Dad, You Rock Artist: Esther Aarts Inspiration: Many of our dear dads have gone on a tunes binge in recent years, and are surprising us with their alternately hip or horrible tastes. Who to send it to: Fathers who've got the Funk, and DJ dads who dig it. Favorite detail: We like how Esther spans the generations, and includes the old-style analog audiophile and the MP3 file technophile digital dads. Ideas we scrapped in favor of this one: The Hippie version, with an 8-track and cassette saying to an LP "Dad, You're Groovy." Why letterpress? Letterpress is classic. It transcends genres and generations.

Don’t forget to post your comment and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

Lucky Friday # 58, Tea Time: Mother's Day

Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the 58th edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway.  Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress greeting cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The three winners from last week are (drum roll, please): Katie J, Katie & Jessica@TWB! We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your Peanut card. Design: Tea Time Artist: Esther Aarts Inspiration: The scent of bergamot on an Earl Grey kind-of-a day made us miss Mum's tea and her marvelous marmalade! Who to send it to: Well, whom else? All moms in flesh or spirit deserve a day's recognition. Ideas we scrapped in favor of this one:  The diapers idea was dear, but a little too funky/retro, and the Milk and Honey card made the men squirm. Favorite detail: Love how the teabag tag is personalized. Hrmm, that's a great idea, actually... Why letterpress? Make mom proud that she raised you to have such impeccable taste!

Don’t forget to post your comment and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

Lucky Friday # 54, Esther Aarts Love Birds

Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the 54th edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway.  Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress greeting cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The three winners from last week are (drum roll, please): Lauren, Loretta and Leah! We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your Thinking of You card.

Design: Love Birds Artist: Esther Aarts Inspiration: We suppose she just had a rosy, bubbly, layered and lovely, golden day! Who to send it to: A pair of proud peacocks, a new pink and bluesome—twosome, the toasts of the town, or a gifted and gorgeous guy and gal! Favorite detail: So hard to choose one, but we can't say enough about how Esther knows how to rock her fab fonts! Why letterpress? It's the icing on the cake!

Don’t forget to post your comment and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

Lucky Friday # 52, Esther Aarts, Just Married

Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the 52nd edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway.  Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress greeting cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The three winners from last week are (drum roll, please): Naomi A, Laura H and Matthew Duerksen! We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your Nuts for You card.

Design: Just Married Artist: Esther Aarts Inspiration: A euro-retro-boho moment of brilliance! Who to send it to: Any adorable young couple, of course... Ideas we scrapped in favor of this one: Esther thought the Hummer didn't quite fit. Favorite detail: We love how they're both steering! Why letterpress? Only the best for the newlyweds!

Don’t forget to post your comment and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

Lucky Friday #44, Esther Aarts' Happy New Year

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Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the 44th edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway! Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress greeting cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The three winners from last week are (drum roll, please): Mirabelle, Jo and Agata! We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your Cozy Gifts card!

Now for this week’s timely card:

Design: Happy New Year Artist: Esther Aarts Inspiration: It was about time for Esther Aarts to do something really Cuckoo! Who to send it to: A fine fräulein with time on her side or a handsome herr with just a minute to spare. Ideas we scrapped in favor of this one: Perhaps it's a sign of the times, but the grandfather clock design felt little old and tired. Favorite detail: How fun to ring in the new year swinging on a pendulum! Why letterpress? Like other handiwork from German engineers, our Heidelberg presses run like clockwork for years and years!

Don’t forget to post your comment and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

Lucky Friday # 40, Esther Aarts Christmastime

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Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the 40th edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway! Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress greeting cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The three winners from last week are (drum roll, please): Margaret, Scarlett and Linda! We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your Woodland Cheer card!

Now for this week’s wintry edition:

Design: Christmastime Artist: Esther Aarts Inspiration: Everything old, new, red, white, icy blue and beautiful about Christmas. Who to send it to: Anyone— everyone on your list! Ideas we scrapped in favor of this one: The festivus version's feats of strength were funny, but it was a little tricky to illustrate the airing of grievances. Favorite detail: The sinuous snow covered branch on which the sparrows sit. Why letterpress: The color on the little birds heads are pressed with 2 translucent inks, creating a 3rd color. Nifty, huh?

Don’t forget to post your comment and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

Featuring Esther Aarts and Giveaway!

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Today we're featuring our friend Esther Aarts! Esther lives in Nijmegen, Netherlands, and runs an illustration and design studio called Esta. We love the playful stories her designs tell and her use of bold color combinations. In addition to illustration and hand lettering, Esther also enjoys experimenting with "small press" projects, like making mimeograph and Gocco prints. We've had the pleasure of working with Esther over the years and always admire the designs she dreams up. Her retro cards are sure to make your friends and family smile this season!

What inspired your design for the holiday collection?

Dutch graphic design from the 50s and 60s mixed with contemporary illustration styles and my tendency to stick eyes on non-living things.

What are you currently working on?

Some cool client work, and I'm working on a new set of prints containing 4 dueling characters. They're a bit different than my usual prints, and I'll be working with overprints a lot (when two colours printed on top of each other create a new third colour), which makes the project a bit unpredictable in an exciting way.

What influences your style the most?

I'm a total sucker for traditional print with a limited amount of colours. Hello!Lucky is a great fit for me with the letterpress! Even when doing work for offset or web, that old school aesthetic influences me on a subconscious level. There's also a lot of seriously good work from other designers to look at—which has a continually butt-kicking effect!

What's your favorite holiday tradition?

We've got our typical Dutch variation on Santa Claus, called Sinterklaas. He celebrates his birthday on December 5 by giving lots of presents and candy (typically marzipan, chocolate and gingerbread-like mini cookies). Tradition is giving and receiving the first letter of your name as a chunky chocolate letter. If your Sinterklaas is very generous, you get your entire first name in Chocolate Letters!

Best holiday memory?

New years eves, playing records with friends and selecting all sorts of silly tunes and generally having a good time!

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To enter to win an assortment of 20 letterpress cards by Esther Aarts (assorted occasions) head over to Esther’s blog today where she’s hosting a giveaway! Gooood luck!

**A winner has been chosen! Thanks for participating!**

Lucky Friday # 37, Esther Aarts Holiday Delivery

Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the 37th edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway! Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress greeting cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The three winners from last week are (drum roll, please):

Harper, Sara P and Jessica!

We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your Flying Bouquet card!

Now for this week’s snowy selection:

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Design: Holiday Delivery Artist: Esther Aarts Inspiration: Postmen on ice? How perfectly pre-post-erous! Who to send it to: Any cute critter needing a particularly special, speedy delivery this holiday. Favorite detail: Oh my, how Esther works wonders with her winding, sinuous, skate-drawn script! Why letterpress? For sending beautiful letters with such beautifully pressed letters, how could you have it any other way?

Don’t forget to post your comment and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

Lucky Friday #29! Esther Aarts is our Cup of Tea!

Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the twenty-ninth edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway! Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The three winners from last week are (drum roll, please):

Emily Masters, Whitney and Ayana!

We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your Good Show card.

Now for this week’s edition:

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Design: Cup of Tea Artist: Esther Aarts Inspiration: Two cups Cubism and a dash of Deco, steeped deeply in Esther's brew of brilliance. Who to send it to: A friend with whom you'd love to share a cup, a potter you wish to invite to sup, an herbalist on your list, or a tea lover you hope will be THE lover. Ideas we scrapped in favor of this one: "You're the cream in my coffee, the spice in my cider, the lime in my lager, the malt in my milk, the rocks in my scotch, the twist in my tonic, the juniper in my gin..." we couldn't figure out how to end it (let alone, draw it!?) Favorite detail: We're tickled pink by how many hearts she has hidden. Why Letterpress? Such fine stationery suits Esther's style to a tea.

Don’t forget to post your comment, and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

Lucky Friday #21: Esther Aarts Good Luck Card!

Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the twenty-first edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway! Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The three winners from last week are (drum roll, please):

Stephanie, Monique and Amy Marie Wingate!

We’ll contact you early next week to arrange sending your Rock On! card.

Now for this week’s edition:

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Design: Good Luck

Artist: Esther Aarts

Inspiration: Hello!Lucky knows a thing or two about the subject at hand.

Who to send it to: A fella hoping luck will be a lady, a woman in want of a wishbone, a chap you wish to charm and cheer on.

Ideas we scrapped in favor of this one: Two chickens pulling on the ends of a wishbone, reading “Good Cluck.”

Favorite detail: Love the Raggedy Ann face on the first place ribbon.

Why letterpress? Sometimes you really should press your luck.

Don’t forget to post your comment, and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

Hello!Lucky featured in French Paper Sample Room!

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The French Paper Sample Room, a site dedicated to designs printed on their various papers, featured a couple of our greeting cards by Esther Aarts!

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We use French Paper Construction Cover White Wash for almost all of our trade cards - it's 100% recycled and really makes our inks pop! They've also got a great assortment of colorful envelopes to complement every design. Thanks French!