I have finally listed this fun stationery paper in the shop. Each sheet is 5.5×8.5″, or a half sheet of letter sized paper. The top is a pattern I painted in watercolor (I’ve used it for a number of things) and the lines are scanned lines I drew out freehand with pencil and lots of scribbly character.
The stationery is BEAUTIFUL, I’m so pleased with it! While I normally print most of my paper products at home or at print/copy shop, I had the opportunity to print these at my work on a huge four color offset press. I dream of the day that I would be able to design full lines and have them all printed professionally like that.
I created this listing for 20 sheets of paper, but what do you think? Is that enough, too much?
When doing research for the product I found many people are now offering stationery papers as immediate printable downloads. This way a person could print it for themselves at home, for much cheaper. For someone who makes her livelihood in the print industry you wouldn’t suspect I’d be so excited. I definitely want to design products specifically for this purpose in the future. I have been toying with offering this design as immediate download as well. I even created a listing that is draft mode. I just haven’t quite been able to pull the trigger.
I know that if I designed certain things specifically for printable download I would be fine with it. I’ll have my logo on it and disclaimers in the listing. I will have designed it knowing it has wings to fly on its own. But, for some reason on this stationery, although it was a spontaneous design, I don’t think I’m quite ready to just put it out there for people to do whatever they want with it. This design is too close to my heart, if that makes sense. I’d be crushed if I found out someone altered the design or used parts for their own gain. It kind of makes me think of the music industry and how once you have digital files, what keeps people from sharing, and sampling uncredited, etc. ? I may make my livelihood working at a printing company, designing work for other people, but my own heart goes into my personal work offered online and in my etsy shop.
I don’t know, I’m just so torn. What do you think?
Maybe you could test the download idea with a design that you are less attached to? Not that you don’t love ALL of your designs of course. :)
i say stick to the real deal! stationary should be held in hands and if it is close to your heart you should honor that and keep it there. and, yes, maybe make something different with the intention of putting it out there for everyone to use/manipulate/etc. you blow me away with the array and variety of crafty ‘things’ you do!