Many kinds of social events bring friends and families together. The majority of them, like weddings, anniversaries, and birthday parties, are very festive occasions. Few are as significant, however, as a newborn in the family. Defying hospital rules limiting visitors to two at a time, family members and friends flood into the tired but happy mother's hospital room. Packed like sardines, they circle the bed, cooing over the tiny bundle everyone insists on passing around. Sometimes there is a territorial preschooler strutting about showing off "my baby!" The glow in the room in palpable.

Unfortunately, not everyone can be there to see the new arrival, and there are far flung friends and cousins eager to see pictures and get all the details. For decades, baby announcements have been the traditional way of spreading the good news. All the important information is included, and sometimes there is a picture of the precious newborn.

For truly special baby announcements, letterpress is a great choice. This ageless style of printing is over half a millennium old, and while the plate creation technology has been computerized, the printing process is much the same as always. Because it is so hands on, few people offer it now.

For milestone occasions like a baby' arrival or an anniversary party, however, it is well worth the trouble of finding someone who does letterpress. The elegance and distinction of this time-honored style of printing far exceeds any modern printing process.

Though it is old, letterpress is anything but stuffy! There are so many motifs and customization choices for baby announcements. From the fluffy and adorable to the classic, there are a wide range of choices. Colored envelopes and ribbons and clever corner pockets add an individual touch. With letterpress, you can send beautiful cards that will truly stand out and become keepsakes for many years to come.