We stopped by the Spotlight on Stationery panel discussion at Top Drawer S/S 18 to see what Laura Jane Boast of LJB Studio, Lucy Edmunds of Quill, Audrey Woollen of Urbanic and Neal Whittington of Present and Correct, think is heading our way for Greeting Cards and Stationery in 2018…

First up, it’s all about Foiling…

Foiling has been growing as a trend for around five years, but only now is it really becoming mainstream. This could be due to the availability of Foiling, the ease and simplicity of creating it digitally, or just simply because we really, really like shiny things.

We’ve seen rich golds and shiny coppers easing their way into homeware, fashion and retail spaces over the last 12 months, and in 2018, it’s the stationery industry’s chance to give it a go.

But, instead of choosing what’s already out there, why not branch out into bronze, copper or rose gold to break the mould? Or even try coloured metallic foil (like we have here at Printed.com). Shiny doesn’t show any signs of stopping so get creative in the ways you dazzle this year.

1. Turn the simplest of designs into works of art

It’s amazing what a touch of foil can do. Add a little, (or a lot – the shinier, the better in our opinion) and you’ll see that even the simplest of designs can be totally transformed.

Image credit: Foiled Notebooks by The Curious Department

2. It looks expensive (but it’s really not!)

Want to give your Business Cards, Greeting Cards, Invitations, or Wedding Stationery (including RSVPs, Save the Dates and Invites) an extra injection of luxe sophistication? Add an expensive feel, without the expensive price tag by highlighting your designs with your choice of foil. You’ll be amazed at the difference a touch of metallic can make.

3. It comes in not one, but six colours at Printed.com

Whatever your project, adding foiling is easy. Whether it’s delicate red foiled hearts for those romantic prints or classy copper for a contemporary rose gold feel, we’ve got the solution. Choose from Red, Green, Blue, Silver, Gold or Copper foil at Printed.com.

4. It’s really easy to do

No, really. With our free video tutorial and handy quick reference guide you can get started right away. New to it all? Don’t worry, if you need a hand just give our friendly Customer Service Team a call on 0800 840 1430, or chat with them live on site. They’re here every weekday between 8.30am and 6pm. They’ll be happy to help you get your shine on!

5. Digital Foiling is more affordable than ever

At Printed.com, we print our Foiled stationery using digital presses. Unlike traditional block Foiling, which uses metal blocks to press foil onto your chosen paper stock, digital Foiling doesn’t require the use of plates. This makes it far more cost effective and allows for more freedom when it comes to choosing which areas you’d like foiled on your designs.

Digital foiling is available in six colours, silver, gold, copper, red, blue and green – on Silk, Uncoated and Trucard paper stocks. All of our foiled print is finished in velvet lamination, which means that your foil won’t slip, scratch or damage.

If you’re after traditional Block Foiling (which will leave your design slightly debossed) on one of our luxury paper stocks, get in touch with our Bespoke Team.

Already riding the Foil wave? Don’t forget to show off your creations on social media, and tag us in too. Tweet @printed_com, check us out on Instagram printedcom, and visit our Facebook page to give us a like.