My PC valentine for 2010

I letter-folded the Rose Quartz (70t) as a wrapper (lovey-mauvey notegay) for all the enclosures, including a foldover card of Strathmore Grandee Kimono Red (80c), a rich burgundy shade … and a pair of Via Scarlet cards (80c). My alphagram wasn’t able to reference the fourth stock, French-folded Via Pink (70t), a perfectly pale ballerina shade.

To prepare my mailing, I sent my text to Paper Culture, the sublime online invitation gurus who produced my Toastday invitation back in December. The design department offered to let me preview a new as-yet unnamed design, and I heartily accepted. I e-mailed back my completed Paper Culture template (names, addresses, personal salutation and valentine wishes for each recipient), and three days later, I received my valentines, each inserted into its addressed envelope. For someone who used to type her very limited-edition valentines, Paper Culture is truly x-o-xtraordinaire.

While Paper Culture was printing my valentines and envelopes, I typed little labels that logically said “lovely little labels” to apply to the flap of a No. 2 glassine. Everyone received three or four vintage red-bordered labels … and a quartet of tiny rhin-ies (frou-frou gembellishments).

All Paper Culture invitations and announcements are printed on heavy, 100% PCW stocks: Mohawk Options and Strathmore Script, in 100t for envelopes and 130dtc for cards. So, my PC valentine is also PCW!

Photographer Alex Tobin lent her stylish scissors to our shoot. They had been her grandfather’s, and Tobin inherited them when her grandmother passed away last year at the age of 101. I asked her if she uses them, and she replied, “Actually, yes I do! They’re Solingens and are still sharp as can be. They make a fabulously straight cut!”