So many of us have wonderful childhood memories of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein – and today we get to see that book re-imagined in wedding invitation form! Clayton Beltran is the in-house illustrator at Smudge Ink and created these invitations for his sister’s wedding. The entire team at Smudge Ink helped bring these invitations to life, from design guidance to letterpress printing!

From Clayton: My sister’s favorite children’s book growing up, and surely still to this day, would hands down be none other than beloved Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree.” Our Uncle (and her godfather) gifted her first and only copy when she was just a wee little whipper snapper still rocking the Punky-Brooster-esque pig tails. Flash forward 28 plus years… one of her most sentimental possessions has now become the inspiration for her wedding and her wedding invitations.

The designing and execution of these invitations has definitely been a family affair involving my blood-related family on the West Coast and my new family of creatives here on the East Coast here at Smudge Ink. Sabrina and Emily at Smudge provided guidance and an injection of realism into my initial overly ambitious layout — especially given the stingy two-week time frame I allotted myself. My bosses at Smudge, Deb and Kate, were so understanding as to let me take last minute half days during the crunch time of production!

Thanks Clayton!

Invitation Design: Clayton Beltran of Smudge Ink

Letterpress Printing: Margaret and Emily of Smudge Ink

Die Cutting: Classic Letterpress in Billerica Massachusetts

Calligraphy: Marilyn Sarasqueta

Paper: Soho Paper

Envelopes: letterpresspaper.com

Custom Postage Stamps: Zazzle

Coral Baker’s Twine: Whisker Graphics

Smudge Ink is a member of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of their beautiful work right here or visit the real invi­ta­tions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Clayton Beltran