CasaSugar

Nice and New: Charles & Ray Eames Stamps

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:45:32 -0700

Back in January, I wrote that the United States Postal Service would release Charles and Ray Eames stamps featuring the Eames Wire-Base Table, the Hang-It-All, the Lounge Chair and Ottoman, the House of Cards, the Molded Plywood Lounge Chair, the Aluminum Side Chair, the Molded Plastic Side Chair, the Storage Unit, the Wire Chair, and the La Chaise. Well, the time has come folks. You can pick up your own pane of 16, self-adhesive 42–cent Charles and Ray Eames stamps ($6.72) at your local post office. That's right, if Eames furniture wasn't already out of your budget, stamps now cost 42 cents. I plan on framing one sheet, and saving another for letters to my favorite design-fiend friends.

This Just In: USPS to Release Charles & Ray Eames Stamps

CasaSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:00:26 -0800

Next Summer, the United States Postal Service will release a pane of 16 stamps honoring and recognizing husband and wife design partners Charles and Ray Eames for "their groundbreaking contributions to architecture, furniture design, manufacturing and photographic arts." To get all the details, read more.

The designs featured include the Wire-Base Table, the Hang-it-All, the Lounge Chair and Ottoman, the House of Cards, the Molded Plywood Lounge Chair, the Aluminum Side Chair, the Molded Plastic Side Chair, the Storage Unit, the Wire Chair, and the La Chaise. Design Notes writes that "it may also be the only time you can get an Eames La Chaise for 41 cents." It's interesting (and fun!) to see these designs in a new form (much like the coasters). It's also fitting to use the designs as stamps, since as the USPS points out, "Charles and Ray Eames used new materials and technology to create high-quality products that addressed everyday problems and made modern design available to the American public."

Wedding Planner: Make Your Own Stamps

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:00:08 -0700

One place where I splurged when planning my wedding was designing and ordering custom postage stamps. Since I'd put so much time into designing my invitations, I didn't want to muck up the pretty envelopes with the pink, overly saccharine Love stamps that were my option from the USPS (plus the pink stamps would clash horribly with my celedon green envelopes). Instead, I decided to design postage stamps through Zazzle, which has partnered with the USPS to provide stamps to folks who are interested in designing them to mark special occasions or to just add a little bit of fun to a letter.

To see how to make your own stamps, just read more.

The process is very simple. Just upload a photo, add text, and then click and drag the image or text until you have it perfectly placed. You can even choose between a wide range of font sizes and styles, and also choose the size of your stamp. Stamps are also available in a number of postal rates, from Postcard to Priority. I think this is a great way to add a little something extra to an invitation and a bit of a couple's personality to the envelope or RSVP card. Granted, it will cost you a bit more. A sheet of 20 first-class stamps in the small size on Zazzle is $14.95, while a sheet of 20 at the post office would only run you $8.40. Still, if you order more than one sheet, you get $2 taken off each order. I figured that I ended up paying an extra $75 for all of my postage, and even though we're trying to keep a tight rein on our budget, my fiancé and I both agreed that this was one place we were happy to splurge.

To get started, just go here, and for all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.