Happy Valentine // Share the love and send out a romantic gesture

Little Smilemakers designs are available at several postcard and stationary companies all around the world. There is one company in Holland we are working for directly. Kaartje2Go is an online website from which you can send out a postcard to your loved one, friends or family. You can choose a design, add images and you can even upload text in your own handwriting.

Since social media took over there are not many people sending out paper postcards anymore but digital mailing services have grown ever since. It is all about that little sweet gesture. Who doesn't want to receive a little note from their loved one with Valentine's Day? I must say it has been a few years, well maybe even 10. Yes, I know how to pick some very unromantic boyfriends (working on that!) No, seriously, I am not a very big fan of the commercial Valentine's Day. But any gesture is welcome right, when you love someone? You just want to take some time and think about how to make that special one actually feel special, so we have a whole bunch of cards inspired on love available. To send to your significant other, your best friend or family member who should know they are lover.

Last year typical red and pink prints were hot sellers. Popular trends this year are minimalistic designs. Basic black and whites with color pops. A more simplistic style related to the Scandinavian trend going on in surface pattern design. But also typography is trending this year. Hand lettering with sweet notes with a little quirky touch. With a background in typography it is always nice to step aside from our daily surface pattern design routine. These hand lettered designs were made in ink and pencil. For this post we featured our less common love prints and we wanted to show you our Panda postcard. I am celebrating not having any panda point today! Yay!



So here we are featuring some of this years new trending designs for Valentine. So have your pick, browse around this years most popular postcard designs and send one to your BFF or love of your life. Not sure what to write to your loved one, family member or friend? Hallmark has come up with a series of sentences if you lack inspiration or don't know what message is appropriate. So if you do not know what to write check out Hallmark's blogpost about what to write to your valentine this year.

Be my valentine // new postcard & print designs // lovely mail

Little Smilemakers designs are available at several postcard and stationary companies all around the world. There is one company in Holland we are working for directly. Kaartje2Go is an online website from which you can send out a postcard to your loved one. You can choose a designs, add images and can even upload text in your own handwriting.

Since social media took over there are not many people sending out postcards anymore but digital mailing services have grown ever since. It is all about that little sweet gesture. Who doesn't want to receive a little note from their loved one with Valentine's Day? I must say it has been a few years, well maybe even 10. Yes, I know how to pick some very unromantic boyfriends (working on that!) Hopefully my Valentine knows how to surprise me this year. No need for a big present. Just a little note is more that enough.

Last year typical red and pink prints were hot sellers. Popular trends this year are minimalistic designs. Basic black and whites with color pops. A more simplistic style related to the Scandinavian trend going on in surface pattern design. But also typography in trending this year. Hand lettering with sweet notes with a little quirky touch. With a background in typography it is always nice to step aside from our daily surface pattern design routine. These hand lettered designs were made in ink and pencil.

So here we are featuring some of this years new trending designs for Valentine. So have your pick, browse around this years most popular postcard designs and send one to your BFF or love of your life. Not sure what to write to your loved one, family member or friend? Hallmark has come up with a series of sentences if you lack inspiration or don't know what message is appropriate. So if you do not know what to write check out Hallmark's blogpost about what to write to your valentine this year.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas // Kaartje2Go

It is that time of the year again. Time to send your friends and family a little sweet message for the holidays and wish them an awesome new year. This year I have added some cute woodland themed illustrations and Christmas song hand lettering postcards to my Kaartje2Go shop.

Last year around 170 million Christmas cards were sent out in the Netherlands only. Nothing can beat a personal message coming through your mailbox. So check out all Christmas cards and pick your fave. Looking forward to see this years designs on my doormat. I have been working for Kaartje2Go for a few years now and every year I add a couple of new winter, Christmas and December holiday designs. This years series of seasonal postcard designs were inspired by the top 10 all time favorite Christmas songs. Like Michael Bublé's version of It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and Frank Sinatra's Let it snow. Ofcourse Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You is included. The cards are a mix of hand lettering and woodland animals. Cute geometric shaped owls, foxes and grizzly bears in trendy pastel colors all in Scandinavian style. Take a look in the Kaartje2Go shop and take a look at all new designs.

Hup Holland Hup // Cool Dutch Fifa World Cup illustrations & patterns

Yes, time for Dutch to go crazy over the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. I am not a big socces fan myself but after seeing all these awesfull ugly orange merch I decided it was about time to add some fun Holland designs to my portfolio. What do you think aof this cute little Dutch Lion? Illustration is also available via Kaartje2Go.

> Daddy cool | Hipster hairy mustache and more fun father's day postcards

New father's day cards for sale now! Send you daddy a sweet little note via Kaartje2Go. Check out the entire father's day collection in the Little Smilemakers - designalicious shop!

> Condoleance voor kinderen | condolance postcards for kids | Girls & Boys

Een vrolijk onderwerp is het niet maar al een aantal mensen hebben me gevraagd of ik ook condoleance kaarten in mijn collectie had. Niet een algemene kaart voor een oma of tante, maar bij overlijden van een baby of jonge kinderen. Toen ik pas geleden helaas zelf op zoek was naar een gepast kaartje bij overlijden van een kindje uit mijn eigen omgeving ontdekte ik dat er niet veel ontwerpen te vinden waren.

De bestaande designs waren ontzettend deprimerend en bij het bekijken van de kaart alleen barst je in snikken uit. De condoleance kaartjes zijn veelal niet gericht op kinderen maar oudere mensen. Daarom besloot ik dat het tijd was voor wat meer keuze. Ik heb een aantal kaartjes ontworpen voor mijn online Kaartje2Go portfolio. Deze worden deze week aan mijn kaartjes webshop toegevoegd. Nee, niet leuk om even door te struinen maar wel ontwerpen die passend zijn voor een hele trieste situatie als overlijden van een kind of baby. Mocht je op zoek zijn naar een vrolijker thema, die zijn er gelukkig volop.

> New baby announcement | birthday invitations | father's day | online postcards | Kaartje2Go

Father's day is coming up so it was about time to add some cool hipster daddy designs to Little Smilemakers postcard webshop at Kaartje2Go. New Volkswagen Bus, mustache and typography designs are up! So all dutchies can send out a sweet note to their dad or father in law.

Because there were so many requests on kids birthday invitations i have been working on some new ones for these little people as well. Baby announcments, kids birthday invitations will be available this week. So take a look and check all postcard collections.

> World travel | mindful typography | online postcards | Kaartje2Go

There is nothing more special than receiving a postcard from family or a loved one when you least expect it. Old & new typography designs from Little Smilemakers Studio are now available online at Kaartje2Go. If you would like to send your friend or loved one a small inspirational message take look around and pick your favorite quote to send out.

> Finished project | New collection of illustrations | spring & easter 2013

I have been designing quite a few themes for Kaartje2Go already. For party invitations, christmas, new years and Valentines Day for instance. This week I have finished some new illustrations and photo frames and borders for Kaartje2Go for spring and easter. Cute spring animals, easter eggs, typography badges, fruit and garden illustrations in both bright colors and pastels. All illustrations and frames are now available online for Kaartje2Go customers.

by Maaike Boot - Little Smilemakers Studio

> Finished project | New birthday illustrations and photo frames for Kaartje2Go

Another series of illustrations, patterns and photo frames is now finished. All birthday themed artwork will be available soon via Kaartje2Go. So if you send out e personal photo card, decorate your card with these cute Little Smilemakers illustrations and photo borders. These series are also available for Valentine's day, Party invitations and as we speak we are working on some colorful Easter and spring themed designs.

> Happy christmas decoration | pimp your online cards for the holidays

by Maaike Boot

Christmas is the time of the year to dust of and use your good old mailbox! Send out some personalised christmas cards via Kaartje2Go and add some Little Smilemaker Studio xmas illustrations or holiday frames. Enjoy!

> All party! Designing invitation templates & another interview coming up! Movember time!

New things are coming up! I finished another interview last week with Zazzle's Amanda. Talking about how i keep inspired and how my travels influence my work. About India, Costa Rica, Cuba, Nepal and lots of other places. Another series of fabric are waiting to be designed for Spoonflower and i started designing templates and illustrations for Kaartje2Go today. Decorations to pimp and customize peeps online card designs with movember theme! So keep checking in to see all results soon!

> Interview & New stuff up!

by Maaike Boot

Kaartje2Go is a website where you can send amazing postcards with cute retro prints, beautiful photography and inspirational quotations and mindfulness cards by Little Smilemakers Studio. Cards to celebrate a new home, birthday, christmas and congratulations on pregnancy. But also neutral designs to send your loved ones. Check them out!

> Sinterklaas, zwarte piet and christmas patterns are up!

For most graphic designers that work for commercial products and companies the holiday season starts in the summer. Little Smilemakers Studio is always working six months ahead. To post my new christmas home deco projects and patterns here on the Little Smilemakers blog during the summer feels kinda strange so i always wait till i see a first sign in the shops. I was amazed to see the first signs of our typical Dutch holiday 'Sinterklaas' and 'pepernoten' in my local grocery this week already!

I have been working on several holiday patterns as you can see above. The top pattern was made for a Sinterklaas wrapping paper collection but you can also order this print as online postcard. Could be an invitation for friends to celebrate this holiday together or just a cute note for a Dutch friend or family member overseas. I love the Sinterklaas tradition.

If you would like to send one of those christmas patterns and designs as a merry christmas card to you friends or family just check out my online cards at Kaartje2Go.

> Cute owl forrest pattern online

by Maaike Boot

New patterns for kids online. This pattern is for sale at Shutterstock or as postcard at Kaartje2Go. Also available for boys! So if you have a bithday coming up and want to send out invitations. Have fun sending one by Little Smilemakers Studio!

> New online little smilemakers cards

by Maaike Boot

New card online at Kaartje2Go. Having a birthday coming up, need invitations for your housewarming party or just want to send a sweet note to a special one? Check out my new online card portfolio.