I’ve been on a shopping spree lately, work wise, ordering tons of new stuff for the store, merchandise that I’m excited to share with out shoppers. Our greeting card racks now boast a few new brands that are eye-catching and lovely. Papaya is probably the most unusual addition. These large-format greeting cards (folded size = 5 by 7 inches) feature reproductions of vibrant, girly collages, and sparkle with touches of glitter. We also have Papaya hard-bound journals and 2008 calendars. I think they’re all very beautiful.

Another newcomer: Seraph. I can’t even keep track of all the letterpress-printed greeting card lines out there anymore, and a lot of them look the same. But Seraph stands out with their diverse selection of styles, all nicely printed on plush cotton card stock. Sometimes they’re cheeky, sometimes they’re hip, sometimes they’re old-fashioned. From Utah, of all places!

And finally, Wiley Valentine. These cards range from soft floral condolences to skull-and-crossbones birthday greetings. All beautiful designs, offset printed. The coolest part? Each card is paired with a printed envelope that gives a little tease of the design inside. They’re sure to make a real splash in the mailbox.

Cigar boxes are made in an amazing array of shapes and designs, each ornate and magical. I can attest to this because my boyfriend Mark and I have about 100 of them at home, filled with assorted art supplies, coffee-table clutter, cat nip and other Important Things. One style of box, which is essentially a 5.5-inch cube with one side cut out, is not so great as a holder of things. But it does make a perfect desktop paper caddy.

Now in the Lunalux store, you’ll find these peek-a-boo cigar boxes filled with letterpress-printed note paper, ideal for the holiday shoppers searching for an impressive, unique gift that is as beautiful as it is useful. The two shown here (click on the image for a larger view) feature floral motifs, and each box contains 300-500 imprinted sheets (the quantity depends on the thickness of the paper used). They’re very limited edition, as the supply is based on my personal stash of boxes.

When you have a baby, you want nothing more than to show off your new progeny to the world. Well, that and a good night’s sleep. And a sweater without baby barf on it. But showing off, that’s a priority. Our favorite way to brag? Custom-designed letterpress-printed birth announcements, of course. We recently printed the one shown here (click on the picture for a larger view) for a returning customer. Mommy Michelle also runs a high-end clothing consignment business, and I worked with her last fall on business stationery. So it was a treat to see her again, just a couple weeks before her due date, eager to plan announcements for her soon-to-be new born. We created a card that reflected her romantic, girly style, with an ornate floral graphic and delicate gold type. We also printed some cards with just the floral design, to be used as thank-you notes.

Many new parents want to include a picture with the bundle of joy’s vital stats, so our customized birth announcements are often designed to showcase photographs. This is the second photo birth announcement we’ve created for Laura and Mike, and this time (like the first time) we went simple-simple-simple. Copperplate type is letterpress-printed on 130# natural white cover stock, and paired with a matching blue envelope – a classic design with little flourish to distract from the picture.

We often work with moms and dads before the baby is born, developing and then fine-tuning the design. When the baby is born, dad calls (or mom, still in the hospital bed, e-mails from her iPhone) with the date and weight; sometimes we get the announcements printed before the exhausted new parents have had time to capture the perfect first portrait.

We recently restocked our candy shelf, now it’s piled high with sweets that are sure to stir memories of sugar-coated days of yore. Mike and Ikes, Snaps, Fruit Slices, Smarties, Pixie Sticks and Candy Cigarettes are among the old-fashioned treats available in our shop. Toblerone, Toggi Bars and Panda Licorice are also available to satisfy more grown-up tastes. For the first time ever, we’re also selling chocolate-filled advent calendars, so you can count down “24 Chocolate Days ’til Christmas” (TM) starting on December first. Almost everyone who comes into the shop cannot resist a little snack. Keep these in mind for stocking-stuffers too!