Etspiration Wednesday: Alphabets

I love letters.  I am a font junkie, can't get enough letterpress blocks.  I obsess over old broadsides and vintage Victorian ads, and all for the letters.  Half of the fun of designing a stencil is finding that perfect letter style to compliment the idea of what we're going for.  We've got a number of complete alphabet sets in our Alphabet category now.   We also have quite a few selections for big 12x12 individual letters in the Alphabet category as well.  We also do some custom monogram stencils!  But as you well know, found letters are also amazing.  Here's a look from Etsy at some amazing alphabets and individual letters that tie in famously with our alphabets!

1A:  Custom Framed Cursive Alphabet Card Image Courtesy Oliverpoodle
1B:  Custom Spencerian Letter Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
1C:  French Decor Alphabet Book Coasters Image Courtesy CheltenhamRoad

 Love this Alphabet card in 1A, takes me right back to grammar school.  Fun fact:  My mom's handwriting actually looks like this.  Mine is basically illegible chicken scratch. 

2A:  French Animal Alphabet Print Image Courtesy ChildsTouch
2B:  Alphabet Softcover Notebook Journal Image Courtesy momentinthesun
2C:  Deco Style Winged Wooden Letter Image Courtesy EdiesLab
2D:  Serif Style 3x3 Alphabet Stencils Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

I dig these winged letters that EdiesLab does.  They can do a whole alphabet that way and I want to buy every single thing in their shop!!

3A:  Deco Red Alphabet Tape Image Courtesy KaynisKreations
3B:  Alphabet With Bird Letterpress Broadside Image Courtesy BigWheelPress
3C:  Ornate Western 4x4 Alphabet Stencils Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3D:  Handmade Embossed Card Set Image Courtesy MichelleMach

 That alphabet tape is Washi tape, which is some of the coolest stuff around.  I'm not much of a scrapbooker, which is one of the primary applications I've seen for Washi tape, but the possibilities are endless! 

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4A:  Custom Gothic Letter Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4B:  Sign Language Custom Tote Bag Image Courtesy lilimandrill
4C:  Vintage German Wax Mold Hornbook Image Courtesy catsandthecradlesoap
4D:  Plastic Acrylic Sign Board Letters Image Courtesy willworkfordecor

This hornbook in 4C is pretty amazing.  This item was my requisite "I learned something" in the making of this blogpost.  So hornbooks were these handheld primers that small children used to learn their letters or religious passages, so called because they were protected with a thin layer of horn or mica.  (mica is a transparent-y sort of mineral).  Now most hornbooks were kept for quite some time, passed down, and are collectible today.  But this particular listing is for a horn book mold, which cake batter was poured into.  So you could have your cake and learn something too!

Thanks as always to the Etsy sellers for use of their images.

We've got a lovely feature coming up on Friday, stay tuned!

Etspiration Wednesday: Numbers

Another Wednesday upon us!

We've been adding some new stencil designs to the website, some of which are new number sets.  We get emails everyday from people asking us if we make this and that, and one of our most popular requests are for number sets.  It's literally been on our to do list forever.  So we put up a serif, san serif, and Western style number set, in addition to our very popular Old World Style number sets.  You can check them out in our Alphabet and Number category.  We also want to do a REALLY  big Ornate Western number set to compliment our REALLY big Ornate Western alphabet.  I have to show you the sign Laura made with that alphabet.  She took an entire butcherblock countertop and stenciled on it.  It's awesome.

Numbers are such a versatile addition to any craft.  They instantly lend age, suggest your item was repurposed.  They make items feel authentic.

Etsy is full of amazing numbers.  House numbers, bingo markers, I just couldn't get enough of them.  Take a look at what I found.

1A:  Antique French Wooden Lottery Numbers Image Courtesy CabArtVintage
1B:  Vintage Enamel House Number Image Courtesy ArtisanetVintage
1C:  Serif Number Set Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
1D:  Vintage French Embroidered Number Trim Ribbon Image Courtesy petitbonheur

Okay the Number trim ribbon in 1D sold in the 24 hour time span between researching and writing this post, so clearly I have good taste.  The good news is petitbonheur has more of it in stock.  Check out that shop, it's fab.

2A:  San Serif Number Set Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

2B:  Vintage French House Number Image Courtesy onemansjunque

2C:  Vintage Cash Register Flags Image Courtesy TheOldTimeJunkShop

2D:  Vintage Hotel Number Tag Image Courtesy kijsa

I think the possibilities for these cash register flags are ENDLESS.  And they're really affordable.  So if I don't go buy them all out, you go buy them and show me what awesome things you can come up with. 

3A:  Antique Letterpress Number Blocks Image Courtesy PreserveCottage

3B:  Vintage Copper or Brass 1/2 House Number Image Courtesy MiTipo

3C:  Laurel Wreath With Crown No 7 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisodestencils

I had to include my letterpress love for these awesome numbers.  PreserveCottage has some really good blocks in their store.  Also, check out MiTipo because all they do are alphabet and number listings.  Great stuff!! 

4A:  Western Number Set Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

4B:  French Enamel Flea Market Sign Image Courtesy RuffbyMargo

4C:  Giant Ceramic Number 4 Sign Image Courtesy EuropeanModern

I really love this 4 in 4C.  Do you remember that Sesame Street bit that the Pointer Sisters did about numbers?  You know, 12345, 678910, 11-12, doo doodee doo dooo?  Okay maybe it's just me that remembers it.  Anyway, I think this 4 was plucked right out of it.  It is so completely cool.

This Etspiration has been brought to you by the number 4 and the letter L.  Stay tuned, great feature for you on Friday!