Hello Print fans,

I know I have been a little slack recently with updating this blog, I was in the middle of exams for my masters, but luckily that is all finished now, and I have nothing to worry about, (at least until the results are published). This is last weeks blog, I hope you find it helpful.

With the spring/summer collections just finished and summer almost upon us I thought I would take some time to discuss what’s hot in the world of stationery. So here are my tips, advice and ideas on what’s in for the coming season.

Bright colours are in: - This summer forget the boring shades and be bold! Bright colours are in. Choose them for your paper, choose them for your ink and choose them for your envelopes. Think shocking pinks, electric blues, and mandarin oranges. There are so many different options when it comes to colour, from brightly printed images to colour blocking. A particular favourite of the moment is Jade green

Funky fonts/motifs: - after years of traditional fonts the alternative is moving back in to the mainstream. Go wild with the fonts and motifs that you choose. Big bold shapes are the key, when they are printed in bright attention grabbing colours. Look for intricate patterns with lots of detail for the must have styles.

2 tone invitations: - these invitations can really look stunning if printed properly. Lets go over an example in black and white to show you what I mean. A sheet of what paper would be split in to 2 (or more) sections from the 2 section one will be flat printed in black ink and the other will be left as he plain white paper. When the text is printed all the text in the white box would be printed in black ink and all the text in the black bow would be printed in white ink. This can look stunning if done properly. Of course personally I wouldn’t recommend using black and white as its just a bit dated but using some of the other concepts that I have mentioned on here could give you an unforgettable invitation.

Designed tissue lining: - Designed tissue linings are all the rage at the moment. They can be the perfect way to liven up what might otherwise be boring stationery. Look for optical prints, modern computer generated effects can look amazing in the right situation. Whether dizzying brights or start monochrome, graphic patterns are making printing modern.

Think of things like:

Remember the garden party invitation I mentioned earlier imagine what it would like if the envelope you sent it in was tissue lined with something like this:

If you a going to be looking at a printed tissue lining remember that stripes are in:

Go as crazy as you want for your tissue lining there are a wealth of options

Hand bordered stationery: - This is making a comeback mainly on business stationery but I have seen it used to good effect on some personal stationery. This looks best when the card or paper has to be kept fairly plain. Go for bright bold colours and consider getting a tissue lining that will match.

Designed paper/printed borders: - designed paper is in at the moment think of something like a correspondence card printed in a sky blue, with a Hawaiian floral image flat printed in a slightly darker shade of blue as you base then having your name, engraved printed in an electric blue at he top centre.

Alternatively think of an invitation for a summer garden party on a white card with a green vine creeping up on one side of the card. Again the vine would be flat printed and this means that you could have your main text engraved printed in another bold colour.

Blue moods: - From aqua to electric blue this year blue is the new black. Shades of blue are creating quite a stir. The spring/summer 2009 collection definitely saw the rise of this sombre shade. Everyone from Alexander Wang to Veronique Branquinho included blues in their collections

Colour blocking: - There are 2 different routes to go down using this particular technique

Complimentary colours: - Team colours from the same family together for a harmonious look you could mix bright pinks with vivid fuchsias or turquoises with royal blue. Keep warmer tones like orange and red together and the same applies for the cooler colours like the blues and greens.

Mix it up: - Choose contrasting colours that will make the most impression, this is my personal favourite as it allows you the most expression go wild, with regal purples with fiery oranges or lime green with a melon or rosebud pink.

Stay tuned as a little later today I will be adding another entry and I have some news I need to tell everyone about.