Holiday Schedule: LexJet, UPS and FedEx

Holiday hours for inkjet product shipmentsAs per usual, it seems like only yesterday that the Holidays were upon us, and here they are again. To help you plan for product shipments and production, following is a list of LexJet’s Holiday hours, as well as links to the UPS and FedEx Holiday schedules.

LexJet’s 15 distribution centers will also be closed on the same days as LexJet. If you have any questions or need help with anything, please give us a call at 800-453-9538…

LexJet and LexJet Distribution Centers

Thursday, Nov. 24, Thanksgiving Day: Closed

Friday, Nov. 25: Closed

Monday, Dec. 26, the day after Christmas: Closed

Monday, Jan. 2, the day after New Year’s Day: Closed

UPS Holiday Schedule

FedEx Holiday Schedule

Custom Print Your Own Greeting Cards for the Holiday Season

Custom printing Christmas and holiday cards with an inkjet printerAs sure as the Halloween stuff comes down from the shelves to be replaced with cornucopias and Santas, it’s time to think about custom Christmas cards and other holiday-themed greeting cards. Earlier this year we talked to pro photographer Clay Blackmore, who said the calls start rolling in on Dec. 1. This year, says Blackmore, the calls for cards are already starting and the first order has been made.

Blackmore prints his “high-end, top shelf” cards on LexJet Sunset Etching Greeting Cards and plans to do it again this season. “We have about a dozen customers who want us to do something special, and it’s not about price. So we come up with all kinds of high-end, top-shelf cards,” he said.

The cards are available in two different finished sizes – a 5.813 in. x 9 in. scored card folded to 5.813 in. x 4.5 in., or a 7.375 in. x 11 in. card folded to 7.375 in. x 5.5 in. – and can be printed on both sides. It’s recommended that you use a sheet-fed desktop-sized inkjet printer with a manual feed option, like the Canon iPF5100 and the Epson Stylus Pro 3880.

Photo and fine art inkjet papersMade to the same high-quality fine art standards as LexJet’s line of Sunset Fine Art Papers, LexJet Sunset Etching Greeting Cards have a warm etching-like finish compatible with the latest inkjet printer models from Epson, Canon and HP. The cards can be purchased in bulk or as a kit. The kit includes Type 6 envelopes with a Baronial Style Flap.

The cards are perfect for any special occasion or holiday, including invitations and other announcements. For more information about Sunset Etching Greeting Cards, call a LexJet account specialist at 800-453-9538.

Inkjet Printed Greeting Cards for all Seasons

Inkjet print greeting card holiday special occasionClay Blackmore, owner of Clay & Co. in the Washington, D.C. area, is a yes man. Beyond Blackmore’s well-deserved reputation as a high-end photographer whose work from capture to print is virtually flawless, his number-one specialty is customer service.

Customer service for Blackmore means saying “yes” to odd jobs outside of his normal workflow, like greeting cards. “I’m a portrait photographer, and it’s always around December 1 when the phones go crazy for 4×6 cards,” says Blackmore. “Plus, we have about a dozen customers who want us to do something special, and it’s not about price. So we come up with all kinds of high-end, top-shelf cards.”

This past Christmas season, Blackmore printed these “top-shelf” cards on LexJet Sunset Etching Greeting Cards. The cards are available in two different finished sizes – a 5.813 in. x 9 in. scored card folded to 5.813 in. x 4.5 in., or a 7.375 in. x 11 in. card folded to 7.375 in. x 5.5 in. – and can be printed on both sides.

Made to the same high-quality fine art standards as LexJet’s line of Sunset Fine Art Papers, LexJet Sunset Etching Greeting Cards have a warm etching-like finish compatible with the latest inkjet printer models from Epson, Canon and HP. The cards can be purchased in bulk or as a kit. The kit includes Type 6 envelopes with a Baronial Style Flap.

“If you want to do a nice card, it’s always a lot of work to come up with a nice design, but people come to me for something different and special. If I charge them around $4 a card I can justify someone spending half a day getting them done. It’s a service thing. The product itself is very nice; the paper and envelopes looked really good,” says Blackmore. “They’re also an unusual size, which means they tend to stand out and catch someone’s attention in the mail.”

The cards are perfect for any special occasion or holiday, including invitations and other announcements. For more information about Sunset Etching Greeting Cards, call a LexJet account specialist at 800-453-9538.

Ice Cold Canvas for Inkjet Printing

Every year, Chicago’s Navy Pier turns to ice. While the weather may be frightful around Christmastime in Chicago, less frightful and much more fun is the temporary ice rink at Navy Pier. The rink is installed to coincide with lighting of the annual Christmas tree and thousands skate and soak in the winter atmosphere.

Speaking of soaking in, the logos pictured here were printed on 3P FlagTex from LexJet. The mesh material allows the water that turns to ice to soak in and provide a smooth skating surface over the logo.

Rob Mueller, owner of Mueller’s in Mt. Clemens, Mich., is an old hand at decorating ice rinks with logos and other graphics. He’s been hand-painting them for about 30 years now, and recently added inkjet printing to his ice-rink graphics repertoire.

“Logos are typically painted with a special ice paint, but the latest trend is to print and freeze the printed graphics in with a mesh-like material,” explains Mueller. “It’s a lot like applying wallpaper. You lay it out, completely saturate it with water and it freezes into the ice. That’s why you want to use mesh. If it’s a solid material like vinyl the ice will just push it to the top.”

The main logo for the sponsoring Chicago Blackhawks is approximately 8 ft. x 10 ft., printed in two panels. Mueller hand-painted the bulk of the 10th Anniversary logo, but used FlagTex for the ornament so he could print the fade and the gold top piece instead of trying to print it.

The FlagTex was printed on Mueller’s Canon iPF8000S, originally recommended to him by his LexJet account specialist, Bryce Montisano. “The Canon printer has been working great since I bought it from Bryce about a year ago. Bryce also recommended the FlagTex and it was perfect because it’s real easy to cut thanks to the paper backing. With other materials I tried I had to use a hot knife, but in this case I just lay it out and trim it with scissors.”

LexJet’s Christmas and New Year’s Schedule

It’s only ten days and counting until Christmas, which means it’s a good time to start thinking about how and when you’ll receive shipments through the New Year.

Following is a rundown of LexJet’s holiday hours as well as links to the UPS and FedEx holiday schedules. LexJet’s distribution centers will also be closed on the same days as LexJet. UPS small package deliveries will run as usual on Dec. 23, but if you need freight picked up it must be scheduled on Dec. 22. All freight orders placed on Dec. 23 will not be picked up until Monday, Dec. 27. As always, if you have any questions or need help with anything, give us a call at 800-453-9538…

LexJet and LexJet Distribution Centers

Friday, Nov. 26: Closed

Friday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve: Closed

Friday, Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve: Closed

UPS Holiday Schedule

FedEx Holiday Schedule

LexJet’s Holiday Schedule

It’s hard to believe that we’re already getting into the Holiday season, but here we are. Following is a rundown of LexJet’s holiday hours as well as links to the UPS and FedEx holiday schedules. LexJet’s distribution centers will also be closed on the same days as LexJet. As always, if you have any questions or need help with anything, give us a call…

LexJet and LexJet Distribution Centers

Thursday, Nov. 25, Thanksgiving Day: Closed

Friday, Nov. 26: Closed

Friday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve: Closed

Friday, Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve: Closed

UPS Holiday Schedule

FedEx Holiday Schedule