When the RNL National Conference rolled into Atlanta this year, we knew we had something special planned, a hot stamping activation. Held at the bustling Atlanta Marriott Marquis downtown, the event brought together leaders from colleges and universities nationwide — and we brought the heat… literally!

We debuted our bespoke hot-stamped luggage tag activation, and it was a huge hit. RNL, a company that supports higher education through strategic enrollment and fundraising solutions, wanted something meaningful and memorable for attendees. Our answer? Gorgeous, handcrafted luggage tags in dusty blue, navy, and crisp white — each one individually hot stamped with RNL’s logo and personalized with the attendee’s initials. Our hot stamping event activation was the biggest hit at the conference.

With Desiree at the helm of the hot stamping station, we created 300 custom luggage tags in a single day. Yep, 300! And believe it or not, the line didn’t slow down once. Conference coordinator Jennifer Ward told us she was amazed to see a constant line that lasted all day — yet no one waited more than 15 minutes to walk away with a personalized tag.

It wasn’t just a swag item — it was an experience. Attendees were excited to choose their tag color, see their initials get hot embossed right in front of them, and leave with a keepsake that was beautiful, useful, and truly theirs.

The best part? We’ve already been invited to bring the magic to Chicago next year for RNL’s 2026 National Conference. We can’t wait to do it all again — new city, same unforgettable experience.

This activation proved once again that personalization + high-end materials + live interaction = conference gold. Thank you to everyone who came by our table, waited in line, snapped pics, and left with one of our signature luggage tags. See you in the Windy City! 

If you’re interested in hiring us for your next event, please go here or call us at 833 465 9311. We’d love to work with you!

Inkwell Designers brought a cold embossing activation and some heat to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™️ in Atlanta on June 16. An exclusive cold embossing activation was created for Coca-Cola® and it was a branding slam dunk. Held onsite at the luxurious Signia Hotel, right next to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, this VIP event was all about personalization, innovation, and high-energy soccer excitement.

As Chelsea took on Club León in an electrifying match that ended in a win for Chelsea, I was just steps away creating customized leather wallets for Coca-Cola’s VIP guests. This wasn’t just any swag, it was a one-of-a-kind experience made unforgettable by my signature cold embossing technique, a UV ink-based method I pioneered, designed for crisp, clean, permanent personalization on leather without heat. Environmentally friendly, beautiful and fast, learn more about it here.

Each wallet featured the Coca-Cola logo alongside the official FIFA World Cup 2025 emblem, but the true magic happened as I added monogrammed initials on-site using UV DTF and cold embossing. Guests were captivated watching their wallets transform in real time into a branded, bespoke keepsake.

The cold embossing activation wasn’t just a value-add, it was a showstopper. Executives, influencers, and soccer superfans alike were lining up to get their initials inked in metallic gold, silver, or matte black. From the tactile luxury of the leather to the seamless branding integration, the final result was an elevated keepsake that merged global football culture with innovative design.

The buzz inside the Signia Hotel was matched only by the roar of the crowd in the stadium next door as Chelsea dominated the pitch. But while goals were scored outside, brand loyalty was being built inside, one monogrammed wallet at a time.

This cold embossing activation was more than a product customization, it was an immersive experience. Coca-Cola nailed it by offering something deeply personal and share-worthy, creating lasting impressions through tangible, take-home gifts. In a world where event swag often gets tossed, these wallets are already living their second lives in pockets and purses around the world.

Whether it’s sports, luxury, or tech, Inkwell Designers continues to prove that personalization isn’t just a feature, it’s a strategy. Cold embossing is the future of on-site brand engagement. And at FIFA Club World Cup 2025, it was game on.

Want a cold embossing activation at your next high-profile event? We travel worldwide. Let’s make your brand unforgettable. Contact us here or at 833 INK-WE11 (465-9311).

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When Live Nation reached out to us for a one-of-a-kind gift for alt-pop sensation Beabadoobee during her June 13 performance at The Roxy in Atlanta, we knew this wasn’t your average custom job. They wanted something personal, elevated, and worthy of the stage – and we were more than ready. We created custom guitar straps for the entire crew.

We started with two premium Ernie Ball leather guitar straps – soft, durable, and stage-tested. But the real transformation came with the custom touches that made these straps uniquely Beabadoobee.

As a proud cat mom, she’s known for her love of her two feline companions. So naturally, we UV printed vivid, lifelike portraits of her cats directly onto all custom guitar straps. Our UV printing process allowed us to bring out every detail, from the shine in their eyes to the texture of their fur, adding a playful, heartfelt element to each piece without overwhelming the design.

To make the custom guitar straps even more personal, we incorporated the names of her band members using our hot stamping embossing technique. Each name was carefully pressed into the leather using heat and precision, creating a sleek, tactile impression that catches the light just right. It’s a subtle but powerful way to honor the people who make the music come alive with her on tour.

The result? Two custom straps that combine artistry, emotion, and pure indie rock style. Designed not just to look good, but to carry a story of friendship, creativity, and a love for the little things (like cats).

This is the kind of project we live for at Inkwell Designers. We believe personalization should feel intentional and unforgettable whether it’s on a custom guitar strap, a handbag, or a high-profile event activation.

So if you caught Beabadoobee at The Roxy, just know her gear was rocking some serious personality. And we were honored to be a small part of that magic.

When you combine craftsmanship, creativity, and a world-class audience, magic is bound to happen. That’s exactly what unfolded when Inkwell Designers partnered with PTTOW! to deliver a bespoke hot stamping activation at their 2025 Summit — an exclusive, invite-only event held this year at the breathtaking Château Élan in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Summit welcomed 200 of the most influential brand leaders, celebrities, entrepreneurs, and cultural changemakers for an unforgettable few days of connection and inspiration. We were honored to be selected as one of the premier luxury hot stamping experiences on-site. With guests like Ludacris, André 3000, and Dr. Bernice King in attendance — we knew we had to bring our A-game.

Our signature hot stamping activation allowed attendees to personalize premium leather wallets, journals, and keychains. Guests selected their item, chose a foil color, and watched as Desiree Colonna transformed it live using traditional hot stamping techniques — pressing initials into rich leather with shimmering metallic foil.

There’s something timeless about witnessing leather come alive through hot stamping. The gentle sizzle as the foil adheres to the surface. The moment of reveal when a guest sees their initials glowing in gold or silver. It’s a tactile, elegant experience that sparks conversation and creates lasting memories.

Throughout the Summit Dinner, our hot stamping activation became a popular gathering point. Guests connected over their designs, shared stories, and took home a beautiful, custom-crafted keepsake — a true reflection of PTTOW!’s mission to foster meaningful, immersive experiences.

For Inkwell Designers, this was a perfect example of how luxury hot stamping activations can elevate an event. In a digital-first world, handcrafted personalization resonates more than ever — especially with high-profile audiences.

We were thrilled to contribute to the enchantment of the PTTOW! 2025 Summit at Château Élan.

If you’re looking to create magic at your next event — from luxury summits to VIP brand activations — Inkwell Designers is ready to help with bespoke hot stamping activations your guests will never forget. Let’s make it happen. 

Recently, a potential client dismissed my cold embossing activation technique as “arts and crafts” due to cutting the letters out of a sheet. While I’m always open to feedback, that comment gave me pause. As the inventor of this process, I know firsthand that cold embossing is not only innovative, but also a sophisticated, eco-friendly solution that rivals—and in many cases surpasses—traditional hot stamping. Hot stamping still requires cutting foil and a mess around the station including a die box, scissors, the stamping machine and cooling block. Cold embossing stations are much cleaner with only scissors and letters needed. Ours is clean and simple, no mess.

Let’s clarify the difference between hot stamping and cold embossing at events.

Hot stamping, while effective, comes with limitations. It requires expensive metal dies, long setup and heating times, and is restricted to flat, rigid surfaces. My cold embossing activation, on the other hand, uses eco-friendly ink and film to deliver beautiful, raised customizations on a wide range of materials—from leather goods and cosmetics packaging to event giveaways and wearable accessories. It’s portable, fast, and designed specifically for today’s live event and retail environments. You can also decorate in any color under the sun including metallic gold and silver.

This is not a hobby. It’s not a shortcut. It’s a next-generation solution built for efficiency, scalability, and modern aesthetics.

I’ve used this technique at activations for some of the world’s most recognized luxury and lifestyle brands including Marriott, Versace, Morgan Stanley, Nordstrom and many more. The response? Overwhelmingly positive. Clients love the unique, tactile finish and are often surprised at the durability and precision of the results. We were even able to use the Versace font at the event for this high-end retailer.

There’s no noise, no pounding, no fan, no electricity. It’s eco-friendly ink that leaves no carbon footprint. It’s also fast. I can do one item per minute. It’s much safer than hot stamping too. If someone picked up a hot die, they can burn themselves within seconds. Not a good look for your company at a conference or trade show.

Cutting Through the Confusion

The confusion likely comes from unfamiliarity. Because cold embossing doesn’t follow the traditional path of heat and pressure, some may assume it lacks the permanence or refinement of classic methods. In reality, it offers more flexibility, less environmental impact, and a faster turnaround—making it ideal for experiential marketing and high-volume events.

If you’re exploring unique, cutting-edge cold embossing activation for your brand or event, I’d love to show you what cold embossing can truly do. Although I still offer hot stamping, I highly recommend cold embossing due to its portability, eco-friendly nature and innovative application.

Let’s connect and explore what’s possible—beyond the traditional. Contact me at 833 INK-WE11 (465-9311) to find out if this application would work for your event.

When Glean, a dynamic AI technology company rooted in Palo Alto, California, sought to elevate their latest event at Gartner in Dallas, they chose our bespoke personalized leather activation that seamlessly blended sophistication with engagement. This event stood out as a polished success, driven by the expertise of Desiree Colonna, CEO of Inkwell Designers and a renowned figure in the onsite embossing industry. Glean transformed a standard corporate occasion into an impressive showcase of craftsmanship and brand identity.

Desiree Colonna brought her extensive 25-year experience to the forefront, demonstrating her exceptional skill by embossing luggage tags with precision and speed—completing each in under a minute without error. The luggage tags were created in partnership with a company who creates bespoke tags for Inkwell’s leather embossing event. Glean was able to choose the color of the tags and the hardware. Glean’s tags were blue, white and black and the hardware was gold or brass.

Glean aimed to create a personalized leather activation that reflected their innovative ethos, and Desiree delivered flawlessly. She embossed Glean’s logo alongside guests’ initials in gold foil, combining professional artistry with personalized appeal. “The experience was seamless, and the result was a beautifully crafted luggage tag that perfectly represented Glean’s vision,” one attendee noted, highlighting the activation’s impact.

The Dallas Gartner event hummed with activity as guests gathered around Desiree’s station. What began as curiosity turned into admiration as they watched her transform high-quality leather into bespoke luggage tags. Her expertise, honed through years of high-profile projects—including a notable stint embossing hundreds of tags at the Houston Rodeo—ensured every piece was a testament to quality. For Glean, this personalized leather activation was a strategic move: each luggage tag became a subtle yet effective extension of their brand, carried by attendees into their professional and personal travels. Desiree’s cold embossing technique, an eco-friendly and efficient method she perfected, added a layer of sustainability to the process without compromising elegance.

By the event’s close, Glean’s personalized leather activation had solidified its reputation as a standout moment in Dallas Fort Worth. Guests left with finely crafted luggage tags and a renewed appreciation for Glean’s commitment to excellence. Desiree Colonna’s involvement elevated the experience, proving that bespoke leather luggage tag embossing is more than an activation—it’s a sophisticated, memorable touchpoint for corporate branding. For businesses seeking to leave a lasting impression, Glean’s collaboration with Desiree offers a blueprint for success in any setting.