a birth announcement for baby m
Since sweet Baby M arrived early, I thought a postal theme might be nice for her baby announcements. Just a little postmark with her name and birthday (I've changed some information here for privacy, including her name). I kept it simple.. letterpressed in gray, with a lined red and blue striped envelope.
My friend Sue Corral at Page Stationery printed these for me. Back when we were both art directors at Martha Stewart, Sue showed me the ropes, and then she left to do what every art director dreams of doing: starting her own stationery company. Page Stationery is now 11 years old, and Sue has perfected the art of letterpress printing. I love the nice thick card they use, so the letterpress makes a nice deep impression. (You can see their pretty holiday cards here..)
Lining envelopes always makes things feel special. I printed this striped pattern myself, but you can line an envelope with wrapping paper, colored glassine, old maps, copies of blown up photos, etc. I always use this tutorial, which uses a glue stick (I like to use a spare catalog for scrap paper, turning a page for each envelope so you don't get any glue residue on the next one).
So when is it too late to send out baby announcements? I always like to wait a few months to take a birth announcement photo. My babies tend to look like scrawny old men for the first few weeks, then get progressively cuter as they put a little chub on. Three months is my favorite age for pictures... you can get them to smile on cue, yet they still have that sweet new baby feel. I got these announcements out the door when Baby M was 4 months old, and they are mostly sent to friends and family who live far away and have not seen her, so I'm calling it good.
Now on to the Christmas cards!
11.19.2010
Reader Comments (25)
Oh I love them - cute but classy too! What a brilliant idea for a birth announcement!
brooke, i simply adore your style + elizabeth's announcements are full of charm.
congratulations to you and your family.
What kind of printer do you have? Your striped paper looks so crisp and professionally printed. Neither of my home printers give me that result.
so wonderful!!!
These are perfect! I love the colors and postal theme for the announcement. So classic looking!
5 weeks early and over 6 pounds, good work mama! Adorable annoicements. Mine were nowhere as beautiful.
How beautiful, baby M's announcements look adorable.
I find it so mysterious when people don't use their children's real names on the web. I totally understand the privacy thing, but it definitely makes me wonder.. for example if M is the first letter of her name, and what it stands for.. not that I'm asking of course, it just makes me smile.
They are wonderful and beautifully simple. Congrats once again on the birth of baby M!
Clever idea! I waited a few months to send our announcements, too. I like to have a little chub and that goofy first grin captured : )
Congrats again!
I was so happy to receive baby M's announcement last week. It is beautiful and well designed as is everything you do. I couldn't believe how thick the paper was- so luxurious!
Baby M is beautiful! I can't believe that she was six pounds being that she was five weeks early! She would have been HUGE if you had made it to 40 weeks!
Oh, those are gorgeous. I love how clean they look... and what is better than letterpress? !
Congratulations, again!
i forgot to say that i love those stamps you have pictured.
I never thought about lining envelopes myself. Interesting. MY birthday is the 24th! I might have shared that in a previous post if you already did as well as this.....check out the book The Secret Language of Birthdays. Your sweetheart was born on The Day of the Blissful Wizard! :)
So Brooke I'm curious how do you incorporate the photo with these announcements? Is it on the reverse side of the announcement or a loose photo on it's own accord? I love the stamp with her "name" and birthday. Beautiful.
Of all the blogs, yours is my favorite.
Every post is completely thoughtful and brilliant. Thanks for sharing your talents!
these are so beautiful!!! perfectly and simple and lovely (just like Baby M, i'm sure:) congratulations again :) xoxo joanna
what a clever idea, those envelope liners! :::
I am so going to try these. What a great idea. Thank you!
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really fantastic one too .
congratulations! this is just awesome!