Skillshare: The Best Resource for Creatives & Entrepreneurs on a Budget

May 22, 2020 Brittany Russell

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Interested in learning something new?

Well, I want to tell you about one of my absolute favorite resources for doing just that - and it’s at a totally affordable price! Plus you can get two months FO’ FREE right here :)

I’ve had a Skillshare subscription from the very beginning of my business, and I can honestly say that a lot of the skills I’ve learned throughout my five years of Letter Lane have been from taking a variety of classes on Skillshare.

I’ve taken classes ranging from topics of business and entrepreneurship to learning hand lettering and calligraphy to creative writing to watercolor, and so much more.

And the best part? It’s SO. AFFORDABLE!

Moving from Mailchimp to Flodesk: 4 Reasons Why I Switched Email Marketing Platforms!

May 4, 2020 Brittany Russell

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If you are looking for a new email marketing platform that is easy to use, affordable and also beautifully designed, then I have FANTASTIC news for you!

I recently switched from Mailchimp to Flodesk, and I wanted to share a few of the main reasons why I made the switch, along with why I think you should consider it too. Sending emails to my list used to feel like a chore, but now I am SO EXCITED to be sending emails to my lovely subscribers again! And friends, I want that for you, too. So read on to learn about why I love Flodesk so much!

Are Wedding Invitations Really THAT Important?

March 22, 2018 Brittany Russell

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If you're planning a wedding and working on your wedding budget, you've most likely realized that weddings are EXPENSIVE. After booking the venue, the florist, the caterer and more, you may start wondering, are wedding invitations really THAT important?

Short answer: YES!

Hello, 2018!

February 13, 2018 Brittany Russell

As I reflect on the past year, I can't help but feel immense gratitude for all the amazing projects and collaborations I was able to be a part of.

Here are some of the highlights:

A Helpful Timeline for Working With a Stationery Designer for Your Wedding

December 6, 2016 Brittany Russell

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Now that your sweetheart has popped the big question (yay!) it's time to start planning your wedding. You've told all your family and friends, selected the perfect venue and reserved a date, it's time to start thinking about your wedding invitations. Don't know where or how to start? No worries! I'm sharing a helpful timeline for when and how to work with a custom stationery designer for your invitations.

My Envelope Calligraphy Process

November 29, 2016 Brittany Russell

Envelope calligraphy is one my absolute favorite things to offer my clients, and when someone contacts me for envelope calligraphy, my heart does a little happy dance. And I can almost guarantee that your recipients' hearts will do that same little happy dance when they pull a beautiful, hand-calligraphed envelope out of their mailbox (especially if it's stuck between a bunch of bills and junk mail!).

I often get asked what the process is like for envelope calligraphy, so that is what I am going to share with you today!

4 Reasons to Hire a Calligrapher for Your Wedding Invitations

November 15, 2016 Brittany Russell

Calligraphy is something that has really taken the wedding world by storm in past few years, and is something that is truly treasured when combined with wedding stationery and decor. From each piece of your invitation suite to the envelope addressing, I'm covering my top four reasons for why a calligrapher should be included in your wedding budget.

Learn Calligraphy: My Favorite Supplies + Where to Buy Them

November 8, 2016 Brittany Russell

Interested in learning calligraphy?

Then I have EXCITING NEWS for you! I'll be launching my first Skillshare at the end of this month, which will be all about learning the foundations of calligraphy, my favorite supplies, basic warm-up strokes and the calligraphy alphabet. By the end of the class, you will be able to write a short quote or phrase in calligraphy.

I am so, so excited to share this class with you, and it will be the first of many more to come! In later classes, we will learn how to connect letters, write long-form calligraphy, envelope calligraphy, digitizing your calligraphy, how to mix custom ink colors, brush calligraphy, and more! Make sure to sign up for my VIP list to be the first to know when my courses go live :)

Check out the list below for my favorite calligraphy supplies!

How to Choose the Right Stationery Designer for Your Wedding Invitations →

November 1, 2016 Brittany Russell

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Last week, I discussed my top three reasons for hiring a stationery designer for your wedding invitations, as opposed to choosing a template off of a pre-made invitation site, and why it is truly worth the investment for custom wedding invitations. You want your invitations to be unique and one-of-a-kind, just like your wedding will be, so investing in custom stationery is the cherry on top for making your big day extra special. You also want your invitations to reflect you and your fiance' as a couple, not just that they are pretty.

Today, I am sharing my advice for how to choose the right designer for your wedding stationery. Custom stationery for your wedding is an investment, so you want to put that money toward someone that will create invitations you absolutely adore and want to cherish forever.

3 Reasons to Hire a Stationery Designer for Your Wedding Invitations →

October 25, 2016 Brittany Russell

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While I do believe in DIY-ing certain things for your wedding, I fully believe that your wedding invitations should not be one of them. Your Save the Dates and invitations are the first glimpse your guests get to see of your wedding before the big day, and you want to impress them! Your wedding stationery should account for 7-10% of your wedding budget, so you want to get it right! For example, if your total wedding budget is $15,000, your budget for wedding stationery would be between $1,000-$1,500.

You wedding stationery should be considered an investment in the biggest day of your life, and my advice is to leave it to the professionals. Below you'll find a few other reasons to hire a professional stationery designer for your wedding invitations and why it's worth the investment.

How to Include Calligraphy in Your Wedding →

May 5, 2016 Brittany Russell

From your invitations to your envelopes to your decor, there are so many beautiful ways to add calligraphy to your wedding! I recently wrote a post on this very subject for my friend. Amanda Saturday's blog. Click through to read my favorite ways to add the beautiful touch of calligraphy to your special event, and download the FREE envelope addressing guide I created for you! :)

The Letter Lane Etsy Shop is NOW OPEN! :)

April 25, 2016 Brittany Russell

I'm excited to announce that my Etsy shop is now open for business! :)

I've got lots of hand lettered art prints for you to download and easily print at home. There are also custom hand lettered logos that will really make your brand stand out from the rest!

I've also included a listing for envelope calligraphy and envelope hand lettering, which starts at my standard price of $2.50 per main envelope.

There are also custom listings if you don't see something that strikes your fancy - I will be happy to create something totally unique for you!

In the coming weeks, I've got lots more stuff lined up to add to the shop, such as watercolor art, custom wedding invitations, and so much more!

Head to the shop right here to grab some goodies: LetterLaneDesigns.etsy.com

And to say thank you, I've got a discount code to celebrate the launch of my shop! Use the code SHOPLAUNCH2016 for 10% off your first order! :)

Enjoy!

xoxo, Brittany

Mother's Day Brunch: Part Two

April 22, 2016 Brittany Russell

Photography by Katie Williamsen of Twin Stripe | www.twinstripe.com

On Tuesday she shared Part One, where she shows you how to recreate this setup on your own, and maybe inspire you to surprise your Mom with a beautiful brunch this Mother's Day! :)

Interested in collaborating? Feel free to reach out! I would love to know your ideas for how we can work together :)

xoxo, Brittany

Mother's Day Brunch: Part One

April 20, 2016 Brittany Russell

I recently collaborated with Katie Williamsen of Twin Stripe to bring her vision of a Mother's Day Brunch to life. I was so happy provide some hand lettered place cards and menus for the shoot, and we both felt it added a very special touch to the place settings. Head to Katie's blog right here where she shows you how to recreate this setup on your own, and maybe inspire you to surprise your Mom with a beautiful brunch this Mother's Day! :) Be sure to tune in to Katie's blog tomorrow, where she'll be sharing Part Two of this beautiful shoot, complete with more photos and lots of recipes!

Interested in collaborating? Feel free to reach out! I would love to know your ideas for how we can work together :)

xoxo, Brittany

How to Source and Coordinate Your Event Vendors

April 19, 2016 Brittany Russell

Planning a wedding or event and don't know where to start? One of the biggest first steps is finding your vendors! Today, I am welcoming my friend, Kristin Glass of Kristin Glass Events, to the blog to discuss everything you need to know about how to source and coordinate all of the vendors for your special event.

Steps for Digitizing Hand Lettering: From Sketch to Vector + A Free Checklist!

April 5, 2016 Brittany Russell

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Have you been learning hand lettering and are now wondering how to digitize it? Well, today, I’m going to show you how to do exactly that! I’m going to walk you through the process, step by step, which, once you get the hang of it, is very simple and won’t take you long at all.

I will say this, first; this process is what works best for me, and other hand lettering artists have other processes and programs that they prefer to use instead of the ones I’m sharing with you today.

Current Wishlist for Letter Lane Design Studio

March 29, 2016 Brittany Russell

Today, I'm starting a new series for the blog! Each month, I'll be sharing my top 5 wishlist items for the next month, and they will be in five categories: something that will grow my blog or business, something tech-y, something educational, something for my home office and something to inspire me. I will be including the cost of each item, and how I plan to budget for it for the upcoming month.

The Difference Between Hand Lettering, Calligraphy and Typography (+ Why It Truly Matters)

March 22, 2016 Brittany Russell

Have you ever wondered what is considered hand lettering and what is considered calligraphy? Or what is classified as typography? I've often seen these terms used interchangeably, which can definitely cause some confusion for those who don't have any experience with them. While other hand letterers and calligraphers may have different definitions for these, I'm going to share with my own definitions, and also provide some visual examples to help you remember their differences!

How to Market Yourself As An Artist | PART TWO

March 21, 2016 Brittany Russell

This is part two of my guest post for The Higgins Creative, where I'm giving solid advice and tips on how to market yourself as an artist. Read PART ONE here.

Selling yourself (and your business) is hard.

However, as an artist (and a business owner, in general) you need to be able to do exactly that in order to make sales. For new artists and business owners, it’s hard to even know where to start or what options are available for making yourself and your business known. Luckily, I’m here to help! I’m going to break down a list of ways for you to market yourself and your business, and how you can start reaching your audience and potential customers today!

7 Pro Tips for Getting Past Your Creative Blocks and Start Making Amazing Stuff + A Free Workbook!

March 15, 2016 Brittany Russell

7 Pro Tips For Getting Past Your Creative Blocks + A Free Workbook!

Have you been feeling burnt out lately? Constantly burning both ends of the stick? I know I have. I've been busy with collaborations and guest posting and organizing my business finances and so much more, but all I really want to be doing is to be creating.

Unfortunately, when I'm working so hard at the other things in my business, I'm not making time for me to slow down and to be truly creative. I know I'm not the only one out there that suffers from lack of creativity due to a never-ending to-do list.

Luckily, I've found some things that work quite well for me when I get stuck in a creative rut, and I'm really excited about sharing them with you.