Opinions on Monogram Stationery

[Lori M]

This is another case where I had more guts that skill, but I really wanted to make custom monogrammed stationery for my mom's 80th birthday.

First off, the monogram(cipher?) itself:  Is this a design where 'drawing' it may have worked better than using a pointed nib? (The initials are VMS -- S is used reversed to make the design symmetrical.) Or do I just need to get more skill to make the curves smoother and more uniform? Any comments on the design itself?



I put some borders around it on the stationery (mockup below), I think to help distract from some of the imperfections. But now I am wondering whether it enhances the monogram or takes away from it. Any opinions on that? If a border, do you prefer the heavier or lighter?

[Nickkih]

Lori - I'm not a expert in fact I'm just a beginner but I love the boarder around it ~ I also love what you did with the initials. I think the imperfections that you pointed out are perfect. I'm so intimated by monograms.

[joi]

i'm no expert either, but my first thought when i saw them was WOW!!!  could the lines be smoother and the curves be more uniform? yeah sure a bit.  but overall i LOVE the design, the mirror S is wonderful.  GREAT JOB!!!

[Lori M]

Thanks! Any "wow" factor is a huge success for me. The nice thing about doing it for your mom is you know she'll like it just because you did it. 

I should add that I can't take credit for the borders -- they're some freebies I found on the internet. Pretty nice for freebies though!

[Linda Y.]

It's so pretty! Your mom is going to love it.

[tintenfuchs]

I like it! And I don't think you have to distract from it with the borders, I'd leave it like it is.

[Starlee]

This is so pretty! And I agree with sisterofadream, no border is needed. It's classy on its own.

[Erica McPhee]

Lori, It's so beautiful! Your mom is going to be thrilled! I really like the last boarder (the darker one). I think it draws your eye into the monogram and enhances it. But either way is beautiful.

I really like how you designed this, too. The backward S gives it nice balance and the V and M balance each other as well. And the compilation hints at heart shapes which just gives it a nice warm feel. Bravo!

[dailyletterings]

i actually like it by itself - without the border best, but if i were to choose one of the borders, i'd say the middle one.  i also love how balanced the monogram looks, but i'm personally more of a stickler when it comes to what it should actually say: VMS vs VMSS, so i'd be interested in seeing it with just one 'S' to see if it can also look balanced with just one.  -  however i still really like it the way it is and it's CLEVER! and i love clever! haha   great job!

[Salman Khattak]

Lori - what a lovely idea and what a beautiful monogram.

I would suggest tracing over your rendering using bezier curves in a vector drawing program (Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape). This will allow you to iron over any imperfections and play around with the composition a bit more. If you want to stick with the hand rendered version, there is nothing wrong with making a much larger version and then reducing it on the computer.

Keep an eye on the overall size. The proportions you show on your roughs is good for the one without a border, play with a smaller size for the ones with borders as they seem a bit too big for the size of the page.

Please do share your final version if its ok with you.

- Salman

[emaccreative]

Lori, beautiful work! I agree with Erica... I like the last version with the heavier border the best. It turns it into a unit and it has weight.

If you want the emphasis on just the calligraphy itself, then you don't need the border, however, if you want this to be more of a logo, then the border ties it all together nicely. It reminds me of an old wax seal. Love it!

[Lori M]

Here's how the stationery turned out, for those of you who did not see it on Instagram. 

I made a folder out of cardstock to store it in. Scroll at top of folder is not mine, but probably could be done with pointed pen.

[Nickkih]

Wow Lori that turned out Beautiful! Your mom is going to love this.

[AndyT]

That looks super, Lori - bravo!  I always liked that heavier border, but was shy of saying so before. 

[Moya]

Lori, that's so gorgeous!

How did you get it produced?  Letterpress?