Stationery + Gifts | KID independent

Colour me vintage...

If I had to name one thing that inspires me about vintage design, it would be the innocence and whimsy of the illustrations. All of the kids graphics from the 40s, 50s and 60s have beaming faces and a sense of adventure. Looking at them takes me back to a simpler time, when kids used phrases like “Boy Howdy” and “Gee Willikers!” {or so I hear, I wasn’t actually alive then…}

Vintage Inspired Art Supplies and Pencils

This collection of crafty goodies is from the Real {pretend vintage} collection by Jodie Holdman. Jodie creates vintage inspired art supplies, toys and accessories. I’m crazy in love with her pencil sets. How cool is the spaceman set above? A cool item for kids, or a fabulous collectors item for the space enthusiast.

Vintage Inspired Art Supplies and Pencils

Vintage Inspired Art Supplies and Crayons

Vintage Inspired Art Supplies and Chalk Board

You can find the Real {pretend vintage} collection online at Etsy.

Stella Grace Christmas Giveaway!

Only 38 sleeps till Christmas my friends; time to spruce up the kids, put on your Sunday best and pose for your family Christmas photo. I always find great joy in receiving Christmas cards in the post each year, sporting the cute smiling faces of nieces, nephews, godchildren and friends. Scroll down for fun Christmas greeting ideas and a fabulous giveaway from Stella Grace.

Say no to Grinches this Christmas!

Stella Grace Personalised Photo Christmas Cards

Stella Grace is a collection of stylish announcements and greetings for special occasions such as births, christenings, birthdays and Christmas. The festive creations that you see here are from their Christmas 2010 collection. Each one may be personalised with your family photo ($1.50 each, minimum order of 20 cards, with free delivery Australia wide).

Stella Grace Personalised Photo Christmas Cards

Congratulations to Vanessa Portors, Tess Howard and Melissa Maxey,
the very lucky winners of our Stella Grace giveaway!

Competition Win one of three gift packs from Stella Grace, each containing 30 customized Christmas greetings + envelopes (value $51 per pack). To enter, head over to the Stella Grace facebook page, find the “Grinchy Girl” picture in the photo album and post a comment on the photo telling us if you’re on the nice list or the naughty list this Christmas. Three winners will be chosen on Thursday 25 November, 2010.

Designer Spotlight - Invite with Style

It won’t come as any surprise to you when I say that I love the opportunity to showcase some beautiful creations from a local designer. Today I’ve got a few snaps from the kids collection by Invite with Style. It’s whimsical, it’s colourful and it’s full of character.

Invite with Style Birthday Party Invitations

Invite with Style is the creative project of Brisbane based graphic designer and mum Anna Matjasec. Anna started Invite with Style in early 2009 and has grown her range to include groovy birthday invitations for both kids and grown-ups, baby shower and christening stationery, thank you cards, and also a collection of wedding stationery.

Invite with Style Children's Invitations

Invite with Style Children's Party Invitations

I’ve picked out a few of my favourite designs for this post, but you can view the full range online at the Invite with Style website. Anna loves a challenge, so if you have something specific in mind, custom projects are also welcome. I must admit that the ‘birthday girl’ and ‘birthday boy’ section of Anna’s website is my favourite. I particularly adore the Maya Enchanted Party design pictured below.

Invite with Style Children's Party Invitations

Invite with Style Designer Stationery

The Invite with Style collection is 100% designed and made in Australia. Anna also has a special offer running at the moment for Brisbane and Gold Coast customers. Make your purchase before the end of September and receive a $150 photography voucher. Click here to view the offer, along with a couple of adorable shots of Anna’s daughter Sofia.

Dr. Seuss.. All Wrapped Up!

From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere! {Dr. Seuss}… As I sit here wondering to myself what it means to be 30ish and infatuated with Dr. Seuss, I’d like to share with you my spectacular Saturday morning discovery, a collection of recycled stationery made from vintage Dr. Seuss storybooks!

Dr. Seuss Vintage Storybook Gift Tags

This superb collection by 42 Things is recycled from vintage books and other salvaged paper sources. Each piece is handmade by a Mum and (12yo) daughter team from Alberta, Canada. As well as the incomparable Dr. Seuss, you’ll find various vintage designs from the Berenstain Bears, Richard Scarry and Mary Poppins.

Dr. Seuss Vintage Storybook Envelopes

My favourites are the Dr. Seuss gift tags, which would look particularly awesome on favours or loot bags for a Dr. Seuss themed kids party. Imagine all the fabulously fun party games you could come up with! Then, after the kids are all tuckered out and fast asleep in bed you can drink a bottle {or three} of wine and challenge your friends to readings of Fox in Socks tongue twisters.

When tweetle beetles fight, it’s called a tweetle beetle battle. And when they battle in a puddle, it’s a tweetle beetle puddle battle…. AND when tweetle beetles battle with paddles in a puddle they call it a tweetle beetle puddle paddle battle…. simple, right?

Dr. Seuss Vintage Storybook Envelopes

Before I leave you today, I thought I’d share one more Seussical treat; a vintage Dr. Seuss storybook garland from le Jeune. It’s made from an original 1965 copy of Fox in Socks and is approx. 1.5m in length. There are two available… uh, make that one, the other one was jut snapped up… by me!

Dr. Seuss Vintage Storybook Garland Bunting