my church will be opening a new building in september, and i have been commissioned to make the invitations.

i would like to do linolium (sp?) cuts, and i have all my supplies, except for the cards. i bought some in packs of 50 at the art store, but they were $7.00 each! does anyone know where i can get large numbers of blank cards? (preferably with envelopes) i'm talking like a thousand or so here, i just don't want to have to pay so much for something that seems so simple.

i'm so excited about doing it though, if i get a good reception to them, i think i might try and sell lino-cut stationary for money.

What are lino cut cards?

I don't know if you have one near where you live, but you could try a store called If It's Paper. Also look in the yellow pages under paper wholesalers.

favorgrl

Lino cut is a techinique using linoleum (sp?). I *think* (someone correct me, I heard this from a friend) that the linoleum you use is actually the same used on the floors in battle ships, hence the term "battleship grey" linoleum. You can find it mounted on different sizes squares of wood, or unmounted, and you use special carving tools to carve and image...very much like a stamp, actually. You apply ink or paint using a braier...it looks like a wee paint roller. I read an article about a women...I can't remember her name...E.Q. Something...that designed fabric in the forties or fifties. She would carve lino cut images and apply them to fabric. Those patterns would then be sent to a company to get woven into "actual" fabric. I have the article stashed in my files as inspiration. I hope that wasn't too confusing.

buy regular old 8 1/2 x 11 paper (card weight or less than) at an office supply store and have them cut the stack in half. Fold in half, perfect cards on which to print.

My mom used this for years when she did her own linocuts and silk screen.

Wish i had money to put into a new craft like that, cos it sounds awesome! Starkittn, i hope we'll get to see the finished product....:)

-S

I second the "If It's Paper" idea! Have you checked at an office supply store? They usually have a wide selection of blank papers to print on, and resume paper. Surely there'll be some notecards in there somewhere! My other suggestion would be to ask a local printing company for ideas. Maybe they could special-order some blank notecards and envelopes from their regular source, or tell you where to go. Good luck!

I did that as a side project in art..I did a guitar, and a star..I made a set of thank you cards. They turned out really awsome.

linocut prints are fun to do! I've never tried them without putting it through a press, though.

How well does the image turn out without being rolled through the press?

:)
--punky

I took printmaking in college and I did all my lino prints without a press. You can use the back of a wooden spoon or a roller or whatever you want. Actually, it's kind of nice to experiment because it changes the look of the print.
PS-Punky I just remembered I have to send you a scan of your postcard!!! I'm so sorry I forgot, life has been crazy.

i've never even tried it with a press, so i wouldn't know how it's different. :) it *is* going to be kind of a pain in the butt to hand stamp hundreds of cards. i'll have to have helpers.

i like to use a lot (probably too much) ink on mine, so they end up being kind of textured. i'll have to go easy on these cards for the church though.

thanks for everyone's help! when i'm finished, i'll try to scan one, or if anyone wants me to send them one in the mail, just send your address to joelgillian@msn.com