postage stamps — Blog — Hello Muserie

Typography Postage Stamps Featuring the word "Love"
by Melody Watson

When I discovered that you could design your own US postage stamps (see here and here for my own, in two different stores) and people would actually buy them, I was gobsmacked. And that's not even a word I use! But I was... to consider that a self-taught designer could create an image and submit it for approval to someone who has the authority to accept or decline my submission so that, in time, people might use my work on their mailings? Just a very cool thing in my book.

So one day recently, I was deciding which font I wanted to use in a new wedding invitation-themed set I was about to start work on. My eye hit on the simple word "Love" in the string of test words and phrases I'd typed for consideration. I realized that while certain typefaces in the collection might not work all that well for the purpose I'd had in mind, they sure did look nice with the word "love" on them!

When I remembered a recent discovery from one of my Zazzle sales reports, that postage stamps were a proportionally-somewhat-high hitter for me - I opened my first Zazzle store 5 months ago this weekend, and as of this writing, the company has sold 24 sheets of stamps with my designs on them - I started considering the possibilities. Not only could people planning weddings use stamps with the word "love" on them, but other people could too! I mean, not to mention Valentine's Day and other holidays and special events geared toward sharing love, we have our own personal special occasions, too! Sure, you wouldn't want to pay the premium prices charged for custom stamps, for paying your bills. But the price is apparently worth it to a lot of people, for those celebratory times we like to celebrate!

And so I started designing stamps that featured the word "love" and I got a little crazy. Which is to say I could not stop myself. Some of them just had the word. Others of them had a template place holder for a special date, still others had a spot for a bride and groom's names. Some had both. Still others had a gold glitter badge and yet others had a gold glitter (faux, glitter effect - these are all paper, folks,) heart in the middle! But what about white on a solid color? Or on a watercolor wash background that has been so popular for these wedding-themed items from folks who like this particular look?!

You can order stamps from Zazzle in small, medium, and large. They come in vertical or horizontal. And they come in different price points, so you can plan for using them for standard envelopes, or postcards, or even oversized card mailings.

Zazzle sold 6 sheets of this "love" postage stamp from my store just last Sunday! Thank you Zazzle, and thank you to the anonymous person who bought them, as well!

Regardless of the use, the options are ideal, and I went at this project as if it were a serious charge. OHHH the options.

Eventually I had to stop. (For the time being, that is!) I mean... how many typography postage stamps with a single (albeit important) word does one woman need in her collection? Ahem. I have more than 100. All were approved within a few days (this product option is not instant, as most products are in the Zazzle marketplace,) and I continue to be happy I took that time to design these.

Coming up, I'll modify some of the designs you see here for use with some of my newer wedding invitation design suites. Because matching stamps, too, turn out to be quite a biggie. (Example: though they don't say "love", this set has sold 6 times and 3 sheets of these have sold so far.)

There are days on this still-new path that the whole thing grows daunting and my head spins at the numbers of other designers whose work my ideas are up against. I took a peek just now and saw that as of today there are over 700,000 unique postage stamp designs in the Zazzle marketplace. Is it any wonder, then, that it takes so much effort to get some quality traction with a brand new print on demand store?!

And so today I'm celebrating my tenacious personality and my love of fonts. And the way the word "love" looks in just a very few of those fonts. Stay tuned... you never know when I might be ready to give it another go and try my hand at even more of these! Meanwhile if you need some pretty stamps that commemorate a big special date of your own, check out my Love stamps. You'll find quite a few to choose from!

In keeping with the growing tradition of showing what I'm in love with on a random day in this blog, I really dig these designs today. Maybe you'll like them too! You can click the images of the photos to be taken to the shop where they're available for purchase. Lower in the page I've written little blurbs about each; you'll find links there too.

Not actually a gift, but I've been into buying colorful, friendly postcards lately. This one is definitely going on the shopping list for me.

This mug features part of the same artwork as the postcard that says "Hello There!" I want this mug. But not for a friend... I want it for myself. Maybe a gift too, though. One day.

Maybe you have friends turning 50 soon, or recently. Great gift, great party favor and great fun for you, too, if you happen to be the birthday girl. Features rose gold glitter effect. Because yay bling.

A fun piece of digital artwork I created using a Wacom tablet. Abstract, dark, purples and blues with black and pink and gray. I decided to put it on a postage stamp.

More tiny notes for leaving messages on the back. This set says Thank You on the front but you can change that if you want.

People seem to like this black and white design for leggings and so I've sold three pairs before even marketing my new Zazzle store. Brilliantly happy, that's me. I hope the new owners love their Art of Where leggings as much as I love my own.

I use business cards printed on only one side, for leaving sweet little friendly messages for people I love, and for the occasional stranger too. Like this one.

There are two English majors living in my house. We don't mean to be a snob about grammar. It happens by accident. But we will try not to silently judge you as the popular meme declares. Just give us time for coffee then we'll try to find a gentle w

A Few Notes About the Merchandise in this Group

This postcard features a digital art design I created on the fly a few nights ago. The worst part is that I made a really novice mistake and wrote over the file with another design. So I don't have the original artwork on my computer. I can design hundreds - maybe thousands - of different products with this design using Zazzle, but right now, not through anyone else. Why does that bother me so much? a) Mild OCD tendencies, b) I really want this design on a kimono wrap from Art of Where. One day I'm sure I'll cave and see what Zazzle can do to help me get my hands on the high resolution version of the art. For now, I'll just buy some postcards like these to keep it fresh in my mind.
A mug with the same artwork as the postcard. I have several of my designs printed on mugs but don't think I won't eventually cave and get this one, too. Because pretty!
Maybe you have some friends turning 50 soon? This coozie is a fun gift or party favor for the Fifty & Fabulous party!
Last year my honey bought me a sweet little Wacom tablet to try out and see what I could do. This postage stamp is printed with the results of one of the earlier things I did with it. All the circles make me happy. I always think what if river rocks and constellations had a baby.
Another of the tiny, square notes I design on business cards, this one says Thank You on the front. It features a rich pink watercolor background with a subtle, organic mandala over it. I wrote more about a set of these over here.
Somehow this specific design of leggings - out of something like 69 pairs in my Zazzle store alone - became one of two that ended up on the right radar. I've sold 3 pairs of this one. In fact it's one of two different pairs that keeps showing up in my list of royalties. Fun and whimsical and simple. Thank you to those buyers!
Another of the friendly cards for leaving notes. This one has a purple and blue abstract watercolor background.
I kept running into merchandise that said "I am silently correcting your grammar" and one day after a friend who is also a client and I had talked and I'd explained something to her having to do with an improved way to word something on her forthcoming blog post, I realized the original phrase really bugged me. I added the thought of morning snark without coffee and came up with this: "I am not silently correcting your grammar. I just need more coffee and then I'll explain how you need to fix it." The phrase and the design printed on this mug, specifically, made me much happier than the original and my clientfriend who happens to have dyslexia agreed with me. The first sentiment isn't at all friendly, but this one works brilliantly! Yay English majors!