**Reminder:  Don’t forget that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day.  So today is a great day to get a small treat or card for your sweetie .**

I know this is old-fashioned, but I love having a stationery wardrobe. You know, stationery for every occasion.  Mine includes personalized calling cards, fold-over cards, and flat cards all with matching envelopes.

What does one do with all this paper?  There are uses for each in a modern person’s correspondence arsenal.

Calling cards are great for using as gift enclosures.  I like to jot a quick message of well wishes and tuck it under the ribbon or inside the box.  They are also meant to leave with an assistant or spouse if you call on someone who is not home or available. Many of us would use our business card for the work related purposes, but the calling card is perfect for social visits.  Calling cards may just have the person’s name or name and contact information, such as address and/or phone number.

Fold-over cards are intended for thank you notes.  However, when I worked at a university, they sent all invitations on a fold-over card.  It actually looked very nice, even if it pushed the boundary of appropriate use.  When opened, the message should be written on the lower half of the sheet.   If necessary, you may continue your message on the top half of that page.

Flat cards are pretty universal.  They can be used for invitations, thank you notes or any type of correspondence.  Is there such thing as a stationery powerhouse?

Correspondence sheets are what one writes an old-fashioned letter on.  One may write on the front and back, and extend with additional plain sheets of the same paper.  They are usually about 6 x 8 1/2″ in size; about a half sheet of typing paper.    These make me think of Jackie Kennedy and her trademark blue paper.

I do not have a need for personalized correspondence sheets, so I just keep a few generic sheets on hand in the event I do want to write a letter.

Most of those who write notes and messages these days use purchased decorative cards.  Personalized social stationary is growing more rare. Those who invest in engraved Crane Paper and an engraving plate for future orders are even more rare.  But those who receive a message on just such paper know that they are receiving a special message.

Bonus Information:  Did you know that it is acceptable to use personalized and monogrammed items that have a woman’s maiden name or initials on them after marrying?  For stationery, once the old items are used up, the new order should reflect a woman’s new name.  For other items, such as bathrobes, luggage, handkerchiefs, tissue box, silver hair brush, etc., it is appropriate to continue to use them with the former monogram.