Short cuts are a necessity in our modern age, no doubt about it. Life moves fast, and you don’t want to miss the important parts because you’re lost in the minutia of a bunch of busy work. So, how important is it to use quality stationery when writing a thank you note? Consider these scenarios:

1. Your aunt has given you a beautiful gift: she thought of a gift idea that matches your taste and desires, purchased it, wrapped it beautifully and presented it to you on your birthday. That was a lot of effort!
2. Your neighbor spent 12 hours of her time watching and feeding your kids for you on no notice when you had a family emergency.
3. Your mother’s friend flew into town for your mother’s funeral, and had a beautiful display of flowers delivered to the service.

In these cases, will a pack of thank you notes from the big box store in your town serve? Um…we think not.

If you want to correctly thank the people important to you — those who show you much consideration and generosity of heart — you’ll want to use superior stationery that befits the occasion: personalized stationery with your name or monogram, precision-crafted to exacting standards.

So how can you know what “good quality” stationery is? How will you know it when you see it? A lot of it has to do with the printing.

Gifts In 24 creates beautiful stationery on high quality papers and designed by professionals. You have your choice of a variety of stationery using 3 main printing methods: embossing, thermography and foil-pressing.

Embossing

Embossing, sometimes called “blind embossing,” is a classic choice. In this process, paper is squeezed between two molds, or dies, to create a raised impression on the top surface of the paper. As in the Henley Traditional Monogram Note, shown above, no ink is used, and so the name or monogram is delineated by the simple change in texture of the paper. Excellent embossing is highly valued and a sign of quality. How can you tell high-quality embossing from poor-quality embossing?

• Look at the front of the paper. The edges of the letters or design should be crisp. This crisp quality is harder to achieve with thicker paper (but, of course, we’ve got that figured out.)
• Now, look at the back of the paper. You should see a deep texture change behind the letters or design. The paper should have been squeezed up and into the embossed pattern or lettering. If there’s just a shallow impression, then the embossing is inferior.

Thermography

Sometimes called thermographic printing or raised-ink printing, thermography uses heat to fuse powder and ink. Thermography creates a shiny, raised personalization. The back of the paper remains smooth, because all of the printing process happens on the top of the paper. Our most popular raised-ink colors are black and navy.

Foil Pressing

Some of our stationery features foil-pressed details, such as a design. Here, as in the Infinity Note shown above, we apply heat to foil during the printing process. There is a subtle texture on the top of the paper, but the main effect is a vibrant, shiny design that beautifully contrasts with the flat, matte paper. If you would like a foil effect for lettering and monograms, choose our silver or gold raised ink.

Thanking your friends and family well is not one of those things to skimp on. If you order a supply of beautiful stationery right now, you’ll always have it on hand. Discover your new thank you notes today.

You can never go wrong with a monogrammed napkin–it’s the uber napkin: classic, stylish and always appropriate. It’s also very easy. Just follow our Monogrammed Napkins 101 guide.

With traditions, sometimes there are rules to follow. You can be as careful or as relaxed as you want to be: it’s your dinner party, wedding reception or family dinner, after all. Here are some of the traditional rules for how to use monogrammed napkins.

Monogram Basics

Let’s start with defining what exactly is a monogram. A monogram can be any combination of letters that symbolize a name. In a typical three-letter monogram, the order goes like this:

• Middle position (center) — last initial
• First position (left) — first initial
• Third position (right) — middle initial

So, Stephen Charles Johnson’s monogram would be S-J-C.

There’s also such a thing as a couple’s monogram. Here, the order goes like this:

• Middle position (center) — shared last name
• First position (left) — husband’s first initial
• Third position (right) — wife’s first initial

Obviously, these rules are modified in the case of a same-sex couple, or if the spouses do not share the same last name. Monograms can also have two letters, four letters or more. Read more about monograms in our 3-part blog series on monograms.

Where do you put the monogram on a napkin?

Traditionally, the monogram can appear in the lower left corner of the folded napkin or in the center third of the napkin. We monogram our napkins in the center third — we like the proportions better. The monogram is front-and-center. Plus, many of our napkins have what’s called a “coin” edge, a horizontal band of embossed lines at the bottom of the napkin. The coin edge gives the napkins a nice touch.

How big should a monogram on a napkin be?

The phrase “the bigger the better” works sometimes, but in the case of a monogrammed napkin, it doesn’t. If you fill up an entire napkin with a monogram, then when you fold it, you’d lose the effect. Looking at random parts of letters is not elegant! You’ll confuse your guests and waste your money. The monogram on a napkin should be a couple of inches wide and tall, but usually no bigger.

Formal Parties

Monogrammed napkins are the classic choice for a very formal dinner party — a wedding reception, memorial dinner, 25th anniversary dinner and so on. According to the definitive guide, Emily Post’s Etiquette, the napkin color should match the tablecloth — white or ivory are typical. The napkins should be folded into a rectangle, similar to our guest towels. Place the napkins on the plate, with the monogram facing the chair.

Informal Parties

The rules loosen at informal parties — things like baby showers and larger birthday celebrations. First of all, Emily Post says that the color scheme can be more relaxed and colorful. Mix a white tablecloth with colorful napkins. Use place mats — any material or texture will do: lace, straw, bamboo, etc. — and choose a coordinating napkin. Or, use a patterned tablecloth, choose a color from it, and make that your napkin color.

Here, the napkin placement is a little different: put the napkin to the left of the forks. (We know…many of us put a fork on the napkin, but that’s not traditionally how “it’s done.”)

Here again, use a dinner-style napkin described above, folded in a rectangle with the monogram in the center third of the folded napkin.

For a casual luncheon — maybe you’re having your a few of your BFFs over to celebrate the kids going back to school — you can use a napkin that’s folded into a square, similar to our napkins. Place it on the plate, diagonally, so that the monogram is pointing toward the chair.

Family Meals

In many families, it’s hard to gather everyone for a meal around the table. But when you do, it’s time to make the most of it. Setting the table is one way to make it special. Spending those few minutes to clear off papers, lay utensils and napkins, place glasses and dishes for every diner can help bring everyone’s stress levels down and look forward to catching up on the day.

Here, monogrammed napkins can be placed on the plate, under the fork, or where-ever you like. Help younger children learn how to unfold the napkin and place it on their laps. Then delve into the topic of the day, some words of gratitude, or however you like to get the conversation going.

Using monogrammed napkins regularly is a wonderful way to build routines and traditions in your life. Your friends will ooh-la-la. Your family will be impressed. And you’ll be pleased that you’ve created one more routine in your life that you won’t have to think about. Check out our selection and get started now.

Planners are nice. Writing journals are sweet to keep. But what if you could have one book that does both? Enter the Bullet Journal. It’s simple to set up, and it’s flexible, too, so you can customize it to capture all of your hopes, dreams and day-to-day plans. The magic starts with a blank journal, a pen and — if you can find them — about 15 free, uninterrupted minutes of your day to think and write, dream and plan.

So what is a bullet journal exactly? You may have heard the term floating around…it’s a cross between a diary and planner. You start with a book of plain paper, like our new personalized journals, and a good pen.

Once you have your book and pen, do these three things:

1. Save a page for a pretty inscription (think: this book belongs to… OR an inspirational quote that fuels you).
2. Create a table of contents on the next one or two pages to help you find information inside the book quickly. 
3. Number all the pages.

Next, think about what kinds of information– or sections of the book — you want. These are some ideas:

1. Pages for dreams, insights, daily observations and/or nightly gratitude lists.
2. Pages that list and explore your values and how you intend to live them. What is important to you and how will you manifest those values in your life? Example: you care about community services, so you can list 3-4 ways you contribute to your community each month.
3. Pages that relate to housekeeping — these could be important account passwords, healthy menus, shopping lists, home improvement projects, and so on.
4. Daily or weekly to-do lists. What are your goals for the day or week? Include check boxes that are oh-so satisfying to tick.
5. Goals and budgets — these tools are indispensable if you are going from point A to point B in your life.
6. Books to read, movies to see, restaurants to try.
7. List of birthdays, a kindness calendar, or other lists that help you reach out to those you love and your greater community.
8. Inspirational or motivational quotes and affirmations, for those low days when you need a boost.
9. Whatever else you come up with…a bullet journal should be a personal reflection of what is important to YOU. Personalize it to your heart’s content…so that your heart can be content.

Above all, a bullet journal can help catapult your life into one that’s more focused on the things that are important to you. It’s so easy to get distracted in our twitter-fueled, over-scheduled world. Spend 10 minutes every days helping your brain be more mindful of your own true goals and aspirations…and see what happens.

It pays to be choosy. Many of our products offer you exciting choices to help you create personalized notes and correspondence cards that are not only pretty but totally, uniquely you.

The thing is, you don’t actually have to pay a lot to create stationery that looks like you paid a lot. By selecting a few special touches, you can create gorgeous effects. But shhhhhh…. no one will know that you spent as little as you did for a high-end look.

Love borders? We’ll add them. Embossing? Done. Or maybe you’re a raised ink type of person? Perfect, we’ve got that too. Whatever you desire, you can create a style that’s all your own. Follow these tips to take your stationery from “does the job” to “a taste of luxury” — without breaking the bank.

Tip #1: Choose a Monogram

Delavan Monogram Note. A monogram is the quickest way to add classic flair to your stationery. Choose a lettering style that speaks to you. The Delavan Monogram Note offers you a range of edgy, of-the-moment monograms, as well as perennial favorites. The end result is sure to impress. If there’s room in your budget, opt for the hand-inserted lining to invoke a high rolling style.

Tip #2: Try a flat card

Highland Card. A flat card or correspondence card is a time-tested way to stand out from the crowd. In use for centuries, this style of stationery is simple and elegant. Dispense with the fluff and make the Highland Card into what you want it to be: bold, brainy, traditional or sweet. Craft two lines of personalization and find a lettering style and thermography ink color. Comes with 25 Pinnacle pointed-flap envelopes. Add a border for a quick, inexpensive way to add another dimension.

Tip #3: Use a foil design or other “bling”

Infinity Note  Shine and shimmer on beautiful paper will make your correspondence stand out. A treat for the senses, the Infinity Note features a distinctive diamond pattern in a gold or silver foil tone. The triple-thick paper is also embellished with a shimmery raised-ink personalization in your choice of color. Opt for a return address on your envelopes for even more luxury.

You’re an original, so let your stationery be, too. Create your new favorite stationery today.

It’s nearly that time of year again — the one day we get to celebrate fathers across the nation for the guidance and advice they so proudly (and regularly) bestow. Shopping for Dad can be challenging, but when you want to express your gratitude and love with a gift that’s as special as he is, there’s no better choice than personalization. Read on to discover the perfect custom gifts for any dad.

• Dear Dad — Tell Dad how much you love and respect him with a handwritten note. Now is a great time to thank him for changing that tire, offering you advice on your first car or showing you the ropes of life. Pour your heart out on one of our best-selling personalized cards, such as our Colonial Card in your choice of colors. Or personalize a box of cards with your dad’s name or initials. Great for both personal and business correspondence, our options feature colored borders and embossed or printed initials or names in sets of 25 cards with matching envelopes. Choose traditional black ink on white paper for a sleek, timeless look.

• Personalized photo frame — Nothing is more sentimental than a photograph. Recognize the father figure in your life with a from-the-heart Father’s Day Picture Frame. Featuring an Alderwood frame that you can personalize with one of six lettering styles, it holds a 4-inch-by-6-inch photograph of a cherished memory.

• Pint glass — Swap out that old set of beer cozies for our Altamira Pint Glass that can hold up to 16 ounces of your dad’s favorite brew. You can customize it to your liking with one of 10 monogram styles. Get a set of matching glasses so your dad can enjoy a drink with his buddies or opt for our Ensenada Shot Glass so he’s always ready for a party. Personalize the 1.5-ounce shot glass with his name and initial. As an additional perk, these glasses are dishwasher safe. Cheers!

• Wall art — Add a statement piece to Dad’s man cave, bar or entertainment room that will be sure to catch his eye. We love this Morelia Wall Sign, which is sure to add a touch of elegance to even the most masculine of hangouts. Featuring one line of text in your choice of lettering style, this sign is available in white, black or neutral MDF. Browse more of our wall sign designs here.

Custom-made presents go the extra mile to make Father’s Day special. Thrill your dad with a personalized creation from Giftsin24. Need a special present ASAP? Our gifts ship within 24 hours via free FedEx ground shipping.

Looking for that special gift to celebrate your favorite lovebirds as they tie the knot? These traditional wedding presents offer a twist…a unique personalization the bride and groom will admire for years to come. Read on to find suggestions for hand-selected wedding gifts for the couple who has everything.

Personalized cutting board

For newlyweds who love cooking together, a personalized cutting board can make the ideal gift. We love the Mr. and Mrs. Cutting Board, which we will engrave with the wedding couple’s last name and wedding date. This gift not only serves as a keepsake but can play an important decorative or functional role in their kitchen. It’s perfect for the couple who love to entertain. Whether they’re hosting Christmas for the first time or a cocktail party for friends, this cutting board can serve up appetizers or cheeses along with beautiful memories of their wedding day. See our selection of cutting boards for more options, such as our Wedded Bliss Cutting Board that happily proclaims “Eat, Drink & Be Married.”

Picture frame

Design a unique memento for your favorite dynamic duo with a personalized frame. Our customizable Loving Couple Picture Frame is the perfect setting for the one-of-a-kind candid photo you captured on their special day. Send us the bride and groom’s initials, wedding month and day, and we’ll add them to the word collage on the natural wood frame. It’s the perfect touch for a nightstand, end table or mantel.

Personalized drinkware

Get the happy couple off to the right start with personalized drinkware. They’ll be thrilled with a Matrimony Wine Glass with Stem that features decorative “Mr. & Mrs.” engraving. Personalize the 11-ounce glass with their names and rest assured that your favorite couple will think of you whenever they relax with a bottle of wine. Or choose the Matrimony Champagne Flute to serve as a beautiful reminder of their wedding day each time they pour a glass of bubbly to ring in the new year or celebrate an anniversary. These glasses aren’t just beautiful — they’re also dishwasher safe.

Wall Sign

Add a sentimental touch to the newlyweds’ home with a customizable art piece like our Forever Wall Sign. Whether they choose to hang it in the living room, bedroom or hallway, this gift declares the special couple’s love in style — and is certain to impress guests. Available in a choice of fonts on black, white or natural MDF board, it is personalized with the lovebirds’ names.

Stand out from the guests who buy straight from the registry by presenting your friends or family members with a personalized wedding gift from Giftsin24. If you’re shopping last minute, no worries! We’ll create your order in one business day and shipped within 24 hours.

A newly minted diploma is cause for celebration. The new graduate is jubilant. Parents beam like the sun with pride. You chose a date for the party and have invited friends, family and fellow students. You’ve dug out your favorite summer outfit and are ready to fête the student of honor and their achievement. Now all you need is the gift!

Here are three of our best gift ideas for grads. Affordable, thoughtful and perfectly befitting this important occasion.

1. Personalized stationery gets the job done

Nothing says “grown up” more than having your own personalized stationery. Particularly for a college grad looking for a new job, personalized stationery will really come in handy, from the interview thank you to keeping key professional connections alive.

Monograms, names, embossed, raised ink … the possibilities are endless. Try the classic good looks of the Highland Card (shown above). Because young people are so mobile these days, skip the optional return address. But a border or envelope lining or even 100% cotton paper could be very nice.

2. A picture frame with their name

A new graduate probably has at least several cherished high school or college photographs. A special prom date. Earning straight A’s. Hanging out with their best buddies. Scoring the winning point. Giving a speech. Crossing a finish line. All of these moments and more make up the memories of cherished school years.

The Treasured Moment Picture Frame can work beautifully — simple, clean and offering plenty of room for a special message. Other frames offer motifs that could work just as beautifully. Personalize it with the graduate’s name, school, graduation date, nickname, small caption, or any other short message.

3. A personalized ornament they’ll cherish

Every year, we open our box of Christmas ornaments to discover a treasure trove of memories, from a birth to family vacations, the school years and much more. Giftsin24 is proud to offer personalized ornaments that mark important occasions. In addition to giving a keepsake the graduate will cherish for years to come, you can also use these engraved glass ornaments as gift tags, table place markers, party favors and more. They will serve to remind your guests of the special celebration you held.

For graduates, we love the Senior Class Keepsake Ornament. It comes in clear or red glass and includes space for the graduate’s name. Presented with a silver ribbon in a velvet pouch, the ornament will serve as a proud reminder of the graduate’s achievement.

Intrigued? You can find many more good gift ideas for graduates. Check out personalized stationery, engraved gifts and notepads. You’ll earn a spot at the head of the class.

You can buy a box of notecards or a picture frame at almost any store, but personalized products are a step above the ordinary. They offer a way to put your own stamp on a design, making it unique. That’s why personalized items make great accessories and wonderful gifts.

If you value the elegance and refinement of custom paper products and engraved glassware, you already understand the appeal of such items. But you may want to learn more about monogramming and engraving — how they’re alike and what makes them different. Both techniques are used to distinguish products and make them unique to the person who purchases or receives them. Whether you’re adding initials or a name to napkins, guest towels, correspondence cards or wine glasses, it’s helpful to understand these techniques and how each one can be a great choice for you.

What Is Monogramming?

Monogramming is the process of adding a monogram, which is a set of entwined initials, to an item. The monogram typically features a person’s first, middle and last initials, with the initial of the last name in the middle. Monograms are an elegant and classic addition to a wide range of objects, from picture frames to cutting boards, wedding napkins and monogrammed stationery. Depending on the material they embellish, monograms can be embossed, foil-pressed, embroidered, printed, stamped or engraved.

What Is Engraving?

Engraving is the process of cutting a design into a surface. That could be a monogram, but it also could be a name, an image, a logo or something else. People create many different kinds of engraved personalized gifts, including ornaments, picture frames, glassware, coasters and more.

How the Two Processes Compare

Both monogramming and engraving are used to add a personal touch to a special item. Monogramming typically is used on materials such as paper or cloth, while engraving generally works best on hard surfaces such as glass and wood, although it’s also possible to engrave card stock. Likewise, engraving can feature many designs besides a monogram. Our customers engrave everything from names to messages to images and are only limited by their imagination. 

Come to Giftsin24 for Personalized Gifts of All Kinds

Any time you’re looking for a beautifully personalized gift for someone in your life, Giftsin24 is at your service. We offer gifts suitable for both engraving and monogramming. Whether you choose engraved coasters or monogrammed notecards, you can count on us for the highest quality at the most competitive prices. For more than 50 years, we’ve built a reputation that is synonymous with quality, speed and affordability. Customers choose us because of our quick turnaround, impeccable order accuracy, classic and on-trend designs, free FedEx ground shipping and tasteful packaging.

Shop our site today and place an order anytime. Most gifts ship out within 24 hours or 1 business day.

This year for Mother’s Day, wow the special mom in your life with a personalized gift. Anyone can buy a bouquet or a box of chocolates, but it takes a little advanced planning to choose a custom gift. Tell Mom she’s worth that extra effort by ordering a personalized present that’s unique to her.

To offer inspiration, here are a few great ideas for personalized Mother’s Day gifts to consider this year:

1. Personalized stationery — Giving a mom personalized stationery is a great way to treat her to something both practical and luxurious. She’ll remember your thoughtfulness every time she writes a note. Plus, she’ll enjoy the luxury of beautiful paper and a customized design, too. At Giftsin24, we offer flat cards, note cards, and notepads in your choice of modern, traditional or floral motifs.
2. Engraved photo frame — For a doting mom or grandma, the only thing better than a new photo of the kids or grandkids is receiving one that’s displayed in an engraved frame. At Giftsin24, you can create a personalized frame with the date and message of your choice. She will be proud to display this heirloom.
3. Monogrammed cutting board — Does your mom love to cook for her family and friends? Add to her joy by creating a custom cutting board she can use to prep the ingredients for her secret recipes. Giftsin24 can customize cutting boards with her engraved monogram, name, favorite saying or whatever sentiment you choose.
4. Framed artwork — Whether it’s a drawing from the grandkids or a finger-painting done by her toddler, every doting mom loves the creations of her children and grandchildren. Choose a special piece and have it beautifully framed for your mom to showcase on a wall or mantel.

The hardest part about finding a great Mother’s Day gift is choosing something that’s special enough to celebrate how much your mom means to you. This year wow your mom or the mother of your children with a gift that’s as unique as she is! A personalized present is sure to make her smile. Browse the custom gift ideas at Giftsin24.com and find something special for your mom.

“A WOMAN is known by the stationery she uses. Paper talks. We read between the lines, along the margin, and across the envelope, the story of good or bad taste which speaks in tone, texture and design.” So opens A Desk Book on the Etiquette of Social Stationery published in 1910 and written by Jean Wilde Clark. What was true then, with a slight tweak, is still true today. Our stationery can speak worlds about us. What’s changed? “The Rules,” or stationery etiquette, are more relaxed: we no longer must use black-bordered mourning stationery after a loved one’s death, for example. In addition, we can all agree that men have just as much of a need for stationery, and that when they choose stationery, it speaks for them too.

What’s more, in this age of fast fashion, speed-of-light communication across the globe, what’s “In Style” changes on a dime. And that makes us lucky: there’s no need to cram our taste into rigid expectations of what’s proper or even what’s in style. Sure, white or ivory paper will always be correct. But if you want to use red, who will care? Citrus paper? Be my guest. The fabulous Jackie O used robin’s egg blue paper. If she could do that in the 1960s, the sky is the limit for us in the late 2010s.

On the one hand, the lack of stylistic expectations is liberating, because it means we have the freedom to choose stationery that suits us. On the other hand, it can be slightly intimidating, because we’ve got almost unlimited choices.

Let it be your style.

There’s one rule to follow in 2019: You be you. Don’t worry about what a friend is doing, or what you saw in a magazine.

Not sure what you like? Look at the furnishings in your home and the clothes you wear.

Do you tend toward traditional (try a 3-letter monogram), primitive country (try a quirky or hand-lettered font), or rustic modern (try your name in block letters)?

Like neat, clean surfaces (look for simple lettering) or do you like to cram every nook and cranny with beloved objects (look for curvy, embellished designs)?

Do you like to follow the rules (center the personalization at the top) or do you like to push them (personalization goes in a corner or at the bottom)?

What colors do you like to surround yourself with? Pastels? Metallics? Jewel Tones? Neutrals?

Take advantage of the preview function when considering lettering styles for your name. Scrutinize the way your initials look – perhaps you like one font’s S better than another?

These are great clues to help you pull together your stationery style. In the end, whatever you choose will be perfect, because you chose it.

Business or personal?

When you’re writing a note to a potential employer, the school principal, or your favorite author, you might want to consider a more formal letter sheet or correspondence card that tends toward business-like. Perhaps it’s embossed. Perhaps it’s on white paper with gray ink. Or ivory paper with coffee ink. This stationery might include your middle initial and the formal version of your first name.

It will work equally well for when you’re sending a gift to your best friend, writing to your brother, or thanking your neighbor for her homemade scones. Or, for those more personal uses, you could purchase a second set that reveals your more relaxed side. Any form — letter sheet, flat card or folded note — will do. Perhaps there is a small illustration, or your nickname, rather than your given name. You might use colored paper with black or metallic ink or a more brightly colored ink on ivory paper.

Raised ink vs. embossing?

It’s really a matter of choice. Raised-ink printing, or thermography, is a more affordable version of engraving. Engraving, a centuries-old printing method, requires the creation of dies, which are expensive to produce and reside at the stationery company until you require more stationery. Raised-ink printing conveys a pleasing texture and a shimmery quality to the ink.

Embossing lends an even more delicious texture because the paper is pressed from below. In that sense embossing resembles traditional engraving, as well. Especially on white or ivory paper, embossing tends to be more formal. It also tends to be more earth-friendly, because the paper recycles easily.

So to recap, when you choose stationery, it can be an enjoyable and fulfilling exercise. Taking time to think about your style and consider your options will reward you each time you sit down to write. See all of our personalized  correspondence cards and folded notes. Happy choosing!