Search Results for: christmas

Submissions

Oh So Beautiful Paper accepts submissions from independent artists, graphic designers, calligraphers, stationers and invitation studios. Please read the full submission guidelines below before submitting your product or editorial submission for consideration. Any submission that incorrectly spells the word stationery will be automatically rejected.

Oh So Beautiful Paper warmly welcomes submissions in the following areas:

  • Editorial submissions (custom invitations and announcements, calligraphy, behind the stationery, etc.)
  • Stationery Product Submissions (greeting cards, notebooks, art prints, gift wrap, pens, etc.)
  • Holiday Cards + Calendars (please see below for our seasonal product submissions and editorial calendar)

Please note, Oh So Beautiful Paper respectfully does not accept the following for editorial consideration:

  • Press Releases
  • PDFs or digital mock ups
  • Kickstarter campaigns

Oh So Beautiful Paper is dedicated to showcasing fresh and original content, particularly features on custom design projects and real wedding invitations. Editorial priority will be given to products or designs submitted exclusively to Oh So Beautiful Paper. Please indicate in your email if your submission is currently awaiting decision from another blog or media outlet. Oh So Beautiful Paper reserves the right to reject submissions that have already been submitted or featured elsewhere. Exclusivity requirements do not apply to seasonal stationery products such as holiday cards and calendars.

Due to the high volume of submissions, we are currently unable to respond with regrets for product submissions (greeting cards, shop updates, etc.). If necessary, we will contact you for additional information regarding your submission.

 

Product Submissions

  • If you think your product would suit the Oh So Beautiful Paper audience, please email us with a link to your website/shop and 5-8 attached product images.
  • All images should be 1280 pixels wide and 72 dpi. Please do not send links to image folders on Google drive, dropbox folders, or online galleries.
  • Strong preference for product images against a white background. Styled product photos are also acceptable, but may not work for product round up posts.
  • If this is your first submission, please include a short description of your company.

 

Seasonal Product Submissions

Designers are welcome to submit their products for consideration in seasonal stationery product round-ups. Normal image guidelines apply; please submit one photo of each holiday card. Oh So Beautiful Paper currently does seasonal features on the following products:

  • Calendars
  • Planners
  • Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s cards
  • Valentine’s Day cards
  • Easter cards
  • Mother’s Day cards
  • Father’s Day cards
  • Halloween cards

Please submit cards 1-2 months prior to the actual holiday (e.g. Valentine’s Day cards should be submitted no later than early January). I accept Christmas/Hanukkah/New Year’s card submissions beginning in mid-October. I accept calendar and planner submissions for the following year beginning in August.

Designer Rolodex Submissions

The Designer Rolodex is a curated, invitation-only directory of wedding invitation designers.  You can find more information and an application link right here.

For our full editorial policy, please visit my policies page. If you are interested in advertising on Oh So Beautiful Paper, please click here to request a copy of our ad rates.

Note: Oh So Beautiful Paper reserves the right to edit any photos submitted for editorial consideration, including but not limited to: cropping, re-sizing, brightening, and hue/saturation adjustments. Oh So Beautiful Paper also reserves the right to edit descriptive text submitted for editorial consideration, including but not limited to spelling and grammar corrections.

Thank you!

Have you previously been featured on Oh So Beautiful Paper?  Feel free to download one of our badges here!

Printable Family Activity Advent Calendar

Hi! Hello! Long time, huh? I’ve got a lot I’ve been meaning to share with all of you and a lot that I’m still trying to figure out for myself, but for now I have a quick (and time sensitive!) holiday project that I wanted to share. I’ve made a version of this family activity advent calendar for my family for the past five or so years. We use a felt advent calendar that I picked up from Target and I add tiny cards with all of our favorite holiday traditions, activities, and a few silly activities to keep things fun along the way. We also use a store-bought chocolate advent calendar, but this is a really nice way to spread out holiday-related activities throughout the entire month. My children love checking each envelope daily, and it helps me avoid Christmas burnout. Win win!

Printable Family Activity Advent Calendar

To make a family activity advent calendar of your own, just grab the printable files below and print your preferred version (with or without text) on any light color cardstock paper. After printing, I used my paper trimmer to cut the edges off the paper, then used this one inch square punch to make the individual advent calendar insert cards. You could also totally cut them by hand. There are very light squares around each illustration to help serve as guides for scissors or paper trimmers. Then sort the individual cards into your own reusable advent calendar – you can also save and reuse the insert cards every year!

Printable Family Activity Advent Calendar

Printable Family Activity Advent Calendar

I know some of you will have already started your Christmas decorating and activities over the Thanksgiving weekend, and I’m sure some of you will have your own family traditions to add. I made a version of the printable advent calendar with just the illustrations so you can add your own traditions and activities. Or if you prefer, you can use the version with text and pick your favorite activities and traditions to incorporate – there are 30 cards, so you should have at least five extra if you choose to use the version with text!

Printable Family Activity Advent Calendar

Grab the printable files below:

Printable Family Activity Advent Calendar (WITH text)

Printable Family Activity Advent Calendar (NO text)

Printable Family Activity Advent Calendar

Illustrations © 2018 Riley Sheehey Printable advent calendar created exclusively for Oh So Beautiful Paper. All artwork is made available for personal use only. By downloading the advent calendar you agree to the terms of use.

Photos by Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Holiday Cocktail Recipes

Christmas and New Year’s Eve are just around the corner, and I’m thinking about cocktails as we put the finishing touches on our holiday menu. I thought I would quickly share a few favorite holiday cocktail recipes in case you’re in the same situation! We’ve got a few punch recipes, some wine-based cocktail recipes, a couple coffee cocktails, and more. Enjoy!

Holiday Cocktail Recipe Ideas

Punch Recipes

Okay, let’s start with the punches – the large batch cocktails that will keep everyone happy throughout the night. Our Spiced Winter Punch is one of our favorite recipes and can be made with vodka, rum, gin, or whiskey, you can go traditional with a Hot Rum Punch, or mix things up with a tequila-based (!!) Yuletide Punch. If you’re feeling extra theatrical, you can light the Charles Dickens Punch on fire before drinking (please be extra careful). Fish House punch is just a rather strange name for a Caribbean rum punch, while Allspice Punch is warm and spicy.

Spiced Winter Punch Holiday Cocktail Recipe

Spiced Winter Punch

Allspice Punch Cocktail RecipeCharles Dickens Punch Recipe by Liquorary

Allspice Punch // Charles Dickens Punch

Traditional Hot Rum Punch

Rum Punch Holiday Cocktail RecipeYuletide Punch Holiday Cocktail Recipe

Fish House Punch // Yuletide Punch

Wine Cocktails

If you’re not super into spirits, try a mulled wine for the holidays! We love a good Swedish Glögg, which is basically a bottle of wine thrown together with whatever spirits and spices you might already have on hand. We made ours with brandy and white port, but you could easily go with rum, whiskey, or just about anything else. Same goes for the Mulled Winter Sangria, which can be served warm or over ice!

Swedish Mulled Wine Glogg Recipe / Hygge Cocktail Ideas

Traditional Swedish Glögg

Mulled Winter Sangria Recipe / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Mulled Winter Sangria

Warm Coffee Cocktails

Warm cocktails are perfect for cold winter nights, and couldn’t we all use the extra energy from a bit of black coffee?? Our Spiced Irish Coffee and Scotch Coffee recipes are basically just variations on a theme, but we added cardamom and rosewater to the Irish coffee while the vanilla bean Scotch coffee has a smokey warmth that I really love this time of year. 

Irish Coffee Recipe / Liquorary x Bushmills

Spiced Irish Coffee

Scotch Coffee Cocktail Recipe

Vanilla Bean Scotch Coffee

Smashes

If you’re looking for crowd-pleasing small batch cocktail recipes to make over the holidays, these two vanilla-bean smashes – the Pear Vanilla Bean Bourbon Smash and Orange Vanilla Bean Scotch Smash – are my absolute favorites. Even if you don’t think you like Scotch or Bourbon, you’ll love these drinks. Promise!

Bourbon Pear Vanilla Bean Cocktail Recipe

Pear Vanilla Bean Bourbon Smash

Orange Vanilla Bean Scotch Smash Recipe

Orange Vanilla Bean Scotch Smash

Happy holidays everyone!

2019 Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Kids

Our next gift guide is all about the kiddos! I have two girls, age 5 and 7, so this guide is mostly geared towards kids in the 5-9 year old range – but if you have kids in that age range I’ve got a lot of great ideas for you! If you’re looking for gift ideas for younger kids, check out my gift guides from previous years to see our favorite toys for those ages! (Hint: Magnatiles is pretty much always the answer.)

2019 Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Kids 5-8 Years Old

1. I’m kind of obsessed with this wood castle set. It’s completely modular, so your kids can build any castle that comes to mind. I can totally see my kids creating a castle filled with their favorite figurines!

2. This might be pretty specific to my kids, but they play with these Lightfury and Toothless figurines for hours – so I thought I’d include them! I try not to have a million dolls and figurines in the house, but these seem to inspire a lot of imaginative play so they get my stamp of approval.

3. If dragons aren’t your kids’ thing, my kids are also super into all things horses and Spirit. This walking Spirit is at the top of their Christmas list, but they love any horse figurine like this or this with long hair that they can comb and braid.

4. This star projector would be so beautiful as a bedroom nightlight.

5. We discovered these Peaceable Kingdom board games at our local game shop, Labyrinth, over the summer – and we already have three of them! The games are cooperative, meaning everyone wins together and there are no losers (especially tiny younger siblings) with hurt feelings. Feed the Woozle is probably our favorite so far, but we also love Gnomes at Night and this Fairy Game! We also really love this bug building game from Lakeshore Learning.

6. My kids scooter all over the neighborhood – this one folds flat and has light up wheels! 

7. Thank goodness for beautiful wood toys. I love the colors in this Montessori counting toy for younger kids, and this minimalist wood counting toy for kids above first grade.

8. This shapes puzzle set is perfect for visually-oriented kids! Let them build something entirely from their imagination or work on their problem-solving skills by trying to build the designs shown on the cards. Would make a fantastic travel toy, too!

9. I’m thrilled that Polly Pocket is making a comeback! We have a couple sets already and my girls love them – and they’re small enough to be fun stocking stuffers, too! This unicorn set is on my list.

10. My kids are absolutely obsessed with temporary tattoos – especially metallic tattoos! This Melissa & Doug temporary tattoo book would also be a wonderful stocking stuffer.

11. Bracelets with secret messages! So fun!

12. We took the kids to the International Spy Museum a few weeks ago, and they’ve been obsessed with all things secret and sleuthy ever since! I feel like we’d get a lot of mileage out of this Super Sleuth kit â€“ but an invisible ink pen also makes a wonderful stocking stuffer!

13. Give me all the STEM kits! This Snap Circuits kit looks like so much fun, and there’s also a Magic Rocks kit and a build-your-own Robot Spider kit! 

Shop Local: Where to Find Unique Gifts in Washington, DC

You guys! Only four more days until Christmas! How did that happen? I’ll be taking next week off to spend time with my family, including my dad and step-mom who are coming into town from the West Coast, then returning with brand new content in 2019! But since this is the last shopping weekend before Christmas, I thought I’d leave you with a quick round up of some of my favorite local shops in the DC area, including a limited pop-up shop from Matine that ends this weekend! DC retail has come a LONG way in the last couple of years, with a bunch of really cute independent boutiques opening up across the city, and I’m so grateful for each and every one of them. I love being able to look for the perfect little special something in person at these shops discover new brands in the process. So for those of you doing a bit of local shopping this weekend, or if any of you are planning trips in the future, here are a few favorite spots where you can find unique gifts in DC!

Union Market / Washington, DC

SALT & SUNDRY

Two locations in Washington, DC: Union Market (1309 5th St NE) and Logan Circle (1625 14th St NW)

Whenever I’m on the hunt for a unique gift, I always start at the OG Salt & Sundry location at Union Market. They have a fantastic collection of tabletop and home goods, art and wall hangings, some really cute baby and kid items, and lots of fun barware and mixers for cocktail enthusiasts!

SHELTER

1258 5th Street NE, Washington, DC

Shelter is one of DC’s newest boutiques, located just across the street from Union Market. Shelter was founded by DC jewelry designer Mallory Shelter and features a curated selection of jewelry, accessories, and natural objects by independent designers. Mallory has definitely curated the most beautiful and thoughtful selection of gifts, from the Clare Vivier clutches and hand beaded earrings and necklaces by Alchemilla Jewelry to Nightspace candles and ceramics from a local artist.

TAKE CARE

1338 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC

Heading across town to Georgetown and Take Care! Take Care is an all-natural skincare, beauty and lifestyle shop that offers an essential collection of plant-based and independent-label brands for your skin, body and home. I’ve made several trips to Take Care this year to finally get a handle on my skincare routine, and I can’t say enough good things about this beautiful little shop. If you know anyone who loves skincare, essential oils, or natural makeup, definitely stop by to check it out.

MATINE

1810 14th Street NW, Washington, DC – until December 23 only

If you’re looking for beautiful and timeless leather goods, definitely check out the Matine pop-up in Logan Circle – this weekend is the last weekend to check it out in person! After that, you can always visit Matine online!

PENNY POST

1201 King Street Alexandria, VA

Heading across the river to our friends in Old Town, Alexandria! Penny Post is the new stationery store from the owner of Red Barn Mercantile, and it’s seriously the cutest little shop with so many fun gift ideas. Books, notebooks, desk signs, fancy pens, art prints, mugs, and of course the absolute BEST greeting card selection in the DC area!

RED BARN MERCANTILE

1117 King Street, Alexandria, VA

And of course we can’t forget our friends at Penny Posts’s sister store Red Barn Mercantile! Home décor, tabletop pieces, cookbooks, barware, accessories, kid gifts, and lots more. Plus, they also offer home design services!

Happy shopping everyone!