Simply Noted in Baltimore: Custom Stationery and Letterpress in Canton
Simply Noted is a custom stationery studio and letterpress print shop in Canton that designs and produces personalized cards, invitations, and printed goods on-site, ranging from affordable flat-printed options to hand-pressed letterpress pieces at higher price points.
What Simply Noted actually is
Simply Noted operates as a hybrid retail and production space. The studio handles design consultation, stock selection, and printing under one roof, which means you can walk in with an idea and leave with a sample or finished order without working through a website or waiting for samples to arrive by mail. The business focuses on occasions (weddings, births, events) and everyday stationery rather than commercial bulk printing. Their letterpress work, done on vintage equipment, produces the tactile impression and crisp detail that offset printing cannot match. The scale is small enough that orders receive individual attention but large enough to keep multiple printing methods in stock.
Services, pricing, and what drives the cost
Simply Noted offers three main price tiers. Flat-printed cards start around $75 to $150 for 100 cards, depending on design complexity and card stock choice. Letterpress cards, which involve hand-feeding paper into a cast-iron press and require custom plates or type setup, run $200 to $400 for 100 cards. Custom design and consultation typically add $75 to $150 if you do not arrive with artwork ready. Envelope addressing by hand or custom calligraphy, common for wedding suites, costs $0.50 to $1.50 per envelope depending on complexity.
What makes pricing transparent here: you choose your card stock first (weight, finish, color), which anchors the base price, then add services. This prevents surprise costs. Letterpress pieces cost more because the setup is labor-intensive and the materials are premium, but customers understand that trade-off. Turnaround is typically 2 to 3 weeks for custom letterpress orders; rush service incurs a surcharge. Verify current pricing and rush fees before ordering.
How Simply Noted compares to other Baltimore stationery options
Baltimore has three distinct stationery paths. Chain retailers like Target and Michaels offer templates and in-store printing with low minimums ($25 to $50) but generic design and inferior card stock. Online services such as Minted or Artifact Uprising provide design variety and reasonable pricing ($60 to $200 per 100) but require shipping time and no local consultation.
Simply Noted occupies the middle ground with a premium local alternative. Choose this studio if you want a real person to discuss your vision, prefer to see and feel paper samples before committing, or value the finished letterpress look that no digital printer replicates. Its price is higher than Michaels but often lower than fully custom letterpress studios in New York or Philadelphia that charge $500 to $800 for similar runs. If your budget is under $100 and deadline is under one week, a big-box retailer serves you better. If you want to walk out with proofs the same day, Simply Noted's on-site production wins.
Who this suits and who it does not
This studio works best for engaged couples choosing wedding invitations, new parents commissioning birth announcements, and anyone hosting an event who wants stationery that feels intentional. It also suits people building a personal stationery collection (thank-you notes, letterhead) where quality matters more than speed or cost. Business owners needing bulk business cards are better served by faster, cheaper digital printers.
Simply Noted does not suit rush jobs under one week or orders of 500+ cards, where economies of scale at a commercial print shop apply.
What the first visit involves
Arrive with a rough idea: occasion, color preference, and tone (formal, playful, minimalist). If you do not have artwork, the studio will sketch concepts with you and refine them across 1 to 2 visits. You will see and handle paper samples; this tactile step is why visiting in person matters. For letterpress, you can request a small sample printed to gauge impression depth and ink color before committing to the full order. Plan 30 to 45 minutes for consultation. If you are ready to order the same day, proofs can begin within a week.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Simply Noted operates Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Verification note: hours shift seasonally around holidays; confirm before visiting. The studio is located in Canton on Baltimore Street with street parking available, though availability is typical for the neighborhood (tighter on weekends). There is no dedicated lot. Payment is accepted in cash and card.
Simply Noted fills a gap between mass-market stationery and far-flung custom letterpress studios, making it the practical choice for Baltimoreans who want professional, tactile printed goods without leaving the city or sacrificing local expertise.
