martha stewart has a gift wrapping challenge going on, and when i saw the something’s hiding in here submission, i about flipped my lid! these lovely ladies are the most clever bits of vintage-inspired diy wrapping paper i’ve seen in a while, and you know i love my vintage portrait paintings. so these, well these are right up my alley. shauna & stephen from something’s hiding in here have another variation on this them, which is also pretty awesome, and also a diy tutorial on how you can make your own portrait wrapping paper. if you want to vote for them (or any of the other very lovely contenders) pop on over to martha stewart.

• all photos courtesy of something’s hiding in here.

i know it’s almost christmas now…because one of my very favorite designers, shanna murray has opened her little holiday shop. if you did not know, shanna designed my logo, so i get pretty excited when she launches pretty new cards and wall decal designs for us. let’s just say, i’m a huge fan.

The holiday shop is full of simple little details for your home at holiday time. from simple Holly Wreaths, a perfect spot for pinning up your favorite holiday cards and photos, to her ‘good will to men‘ cards – i quite love her sentimental designs. and this year shanna’s introducing seven choices of holiday cards, including one in neon pink! Love.

the very lovely cartolina app that allows you send the prettiest text messages around has branched out, and has created an app that actually allows you to send personalized paper postcards. The new Cartolina Postale app lets you combine their pretty, vintage images with your own photography – genius!

There are 32 postcard designs to choose from, including some perfectly timed holiday designs. You can take a photograph using your phone or you can choose a picture from your photo gallery and it pops right onto your postcard. After you’ve customized your card and you’re happy with how it looks, you can write a message on the back, and from there you can address your card and it will be actually printed and mailed. The Cartolina Postale app is FREE and the cost of printing and mailing a 4 x 6 postcard in the US is just $1.99. for a bit more information just visit the Cartolina Postale website.

this is a super fun giveaway, because it gives you the chance to get personal. my very lovely sponsor fabulous stationery has kindly invited me to giveaway a set of personalized social business cards — which means you get to personalize your own card, based on which design best represents your aesthetic.

there’s nothing like a personalized social business card to make a lasting impression, so show the world how fabulous you are — and how to find you. to enter to win, simply head on over to fabulous stationery, pick your favorite social business card and share with us by commenting back here by september 16th! we’ll pick someone at random and announce the winner on twitter!

ok, so who wants to go on a road trip to the sign graveyard in vegas? yes! me too – i’ll meet you there!  ~ the jealous curator xo

{1. collage ~ greg lamarche 2. gouache on paper ~ mike monteiro 3. installations ~ archie scott gobber 4. icey photographs ~ kotama bouabane 5. repurposed sign lettering ~ jack pierson 6. mixed media ~ ben skinner 7. graphite on paper ~ charmaine olivia 8. photographs ~ erin hanson 9. paintings ~ trey speegle}

i just love these very clever typographical maps from tüt. these prints are hand-screened on recycled paper in the United Kingdom, in two very handsome colors – a slate blue, and a pale eggshell blue. makes geography oh so much more fun! choose from the us of a, and the british isles!

oh yay! anthology issue numero two is out on newsstands. yep, ink on paper. you heard me…a magazine you can hold. not that i’m not loving all the new online pubs, because indeed i am. but if per chance i didn’t mind dampening the precious paper pages of the new anthology, i could pour myself a glass of wine, add some suds to the tub, and slip into that warm water to read anthology, old school style! the current issue, Where the Past Meets the Present, includes a visit with mrs. lilien, an interview with amsterdam-based artist Leslie Oschmann of Swarm, Photographer Jen Siska’s Palm Springs travelogue, and a whole lot more. for a sneak peek online, visit anthology.

simon walker.

i love the clever creativity of really good graphic design. and all kinds of type. i’m working on a site redesign (be forewarned, it’s gonna be way different…i hope you like it!). anyhow, i save bits of type i like all the time, and grain edit always inspires. grain edit shares good design from all over the world, right here in our own internet backyard. here’s some fun ink on paper i found over there.

a journey around my skull.

Áron Jancsó.

ilovedust.

yehteh.

Andrio Abero.

Deanne Cheuk.

herb lubalin.

Esther Aarts Illustration.

if you admire the design of sfgirlbybay at all, then you should know it could never have happened without hijiri shepherd. originally from toyko, hiji and i worked together in advertising here in san francisco, until she left to continue her adventures in brooklyn, where she helps me endlessly via email with all my blog design questions (with the patience of a saint!). hijiri has got to be hands down, one of the nicest people and most talented designers i have ever worked with. if you ever happen to meet her, you will understand my enthusiasm and love for her.

and now, i couldn’t be happier to share the launch of her latest creative endeavor, heartfish press. her beautifully crafted line of cards and prints are all letterpressed by hand using vintage wood type blocks on heavy, 100% cotton white paper with soy-based ink – which means it’s very eco-friendly (and, with nice, deep impressions!). heartfish launched in January and will be at the National Stationery Show in New York this May, and is also included in the latest issue of uppercase magazine. here’s a peek at hijiri’s heartfish line, available in her new shop. be sure to check out and follow her beautiful heartfish blog, too. yay, hijiri!

fluxus.

oh yay it’s almost valentines day. my enthusiasm for this day knows no bounds. it never fails to remind me of the time my ex-boyfriend sent me roses to the office and added the note “eat these if you get hungry”. way to shine, passive-aggressive nut job and completely diss the gift (at a whopping 110 lbs., he always wanted me to diet). so yay, valentines day is coming. here’s about as enthused as i’m going to get. woop fab friday.

this card is super romantic, from those crazy kids at old tom foolery.

maybe i’ll write myself a love poem, via design milk; or just be lazy and get one written for me at the poetry store.

these pink organza shopping bags by artist lauren dicioccio are just the kind of roses i’d like to receive, as seen on the jealous curator.

this is just so sentimental – via reform school; maybe i’ll just stick to mixed tapes, via ferm living. i don’t mind leaving those behind – after the break-up you never wanna hear those songs again, anyway.

this cute pin is dedicated to one of my ex’s, by michelle kaffko from renegade handmade.

none of that hallmark stuff for me (they’re the folks behind this bloody holiday!). if i really cared, i might attend the Valentine’s Day Card Making Party, hosted by The Bold Italic, Of Hearty Stock and Anthem Screen Printing .

i’m going to go all out and paint my toes bright red, via the candy shop. even if nobody does see ‘em.