Best of 2018: Invitations + Gatherings

Happy New Year! My kids go back to school today, which means I finally get to go back to work – yay! I’m planning some big changes here at Oh So Beautiful Paper this year, so I wanted to start the year off by looking back at some of my favorite features from 2018. And of course, I had to start with some of my favorite invitations and gatherings from the year. It’s also sort of a mini trend round up of the year and a peek forward at some trends I’m anticipating for 2019. Let’s take a look!

Deckle Edge Paper and Vellum

If I had to describe 2018 invitation trends in just two words, it would probably be vellum and handmade paper. Both are incredibly romantic on their own, but are even more powerful in combination. I’m excited to see more of these trends in 2019!

Romantic Calligraphy Wedding Invitations on Handmade Paper by Plume Calligraphy

Romantic Calligraphy Wedding Invitations on Handmade Paper by Plume Calligraphy

Minimalist Type-Driven Deckle Edge Wedding Invitations by Every Little Letter

Minimalist Type-Driven Wedding Invitations on Handmade Paper by Every Little Letter

Soft Neutrals

After several years of really bright color, neutrals made a comeback in a big way this year – along with a return to classic type-driven designs. I’m loving the subtle tone-on-tone effect of mixing several neutral shades together and playing around with different ink colors. 

Modern Minimalist Wedding Invitations by Owl Post Calligraphy

Neutral Modern Minimalist Wedding Invitations by Owl Post Calligraphy

Understated Blush and Teal Wedding Invitations by Designed by Jaclyn

Minimalist Patterns and Colorful Paper

I found myself very drawn to abstract shapes, minimalist design details, and incorporating colorful paper into invitation designs – like the simple hand painted brush stroke on our Friendsgiving invitations and white foil on deep green paper for the Paper Party 2018 invitations. These weren’t big trends in 2018, but I think the colorful paper in particular will be a major trend in 2019. We’ll see!

Minimalist Hand Painted Friendsgiving Invitations by Bare Ink Co.

Minimalist hand painted Friendsgiving invitations by Bare Ink Co. / Styling by Oh So Beautiful Paper

Modern Minimalist Invitations with White Foil on Green Paper

Paper Party 2018 Modern Minimalist Invitations / Design by Ramona & Ruth, Printing by Bella Figura on Legion Paper Colorplan paper, Styling by Oh So Beautiful Paper

Pastel Mudcloth Inspired Wedding Invitations by Twinkle & Toast

Pastel Mudcloth Wedding Invitations by Twinkle & Toast

Those are my favorites for 2018, but let’s talk! What do you think? Did I miss any of your favorite trends? Do you agree with me on the trends going into 2019? If you’re a stationer, are you excited to incorporate colorful paper into some of your designs – either for invitations or other custom stationery? I really want to know!

2018 Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Creatives

We’re kicking off our first official gift guide of the season with some gift ideas for creatives! I did things a bit differently this year and asked for input through Instagram stories – and you guys all had some really great suggestions! We’ve got a little bit of everything below, from books and art supplies to my favorite styling resources. So whether you’re searching for gift ideas for your creative friends or planning to send this gift guide to your well-meaning family and friends, hopefully you’ll find the perfect holiday gift below!

2018 Gift Guide for Creatives / Oh So Beautiful Paper

1 – 4 Styling Supplies: So many of you said you’d love to receive styling supplies and equipment as a gift! My favorite styling boards and backdrops come from One Stone West (I especially love their canvas backdrops) and Woodville Workshop. I also love using small ceramic dishes from Suite One Studio and The Object Enthusiast in photos to hold small things like cute paper clips, wax seals, and vintage postage stamps. Finally, a good telescoping tripod and light diffusers are essential pieces of equipment for taking beautiful photos. Plume Calligraphy and Angela Liguori offer some beautiful styling pieces, including vintage ink wells and glassine envelopes – you can also browse eBay for vintage ink wells! This handmade ceramic watercolor palette is both a beautiful piece of equipment and would look gorgeous in photos!

5 – A desk calendar is a wonderful gift idea! I love this simple black and white calendar from Our Heiday, but you can find even more calendars right here!

6 and 8 – Apple Pencil and Procreate Brushes: I heard from a number of calligraphers and illustrators out there with an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil on their holiday wish list! But if you’re lucky enough to already have those powerful tools in your arsenal, Isidore Augustine just released a brand new set of Procreate brushes just for calligraphers

7 – Scissors: Every creative person needs a beautiful set of scissors, and Angela Liguori makes the most beautiful scissors on the planet! These Fiskars scissors are my go-to for everyday crafting.

9 – Gift Cards! I know gift cards can seem like a lame gift idea, but they have the potential to be a really personal and thoughtful gift if done well! A few gift card ideas: an Airbnb Gift Card to help your favorite creative go on a solo weekend creative retreat, a gift certificate for a manicure at a local nail salon (especially for calligraphers and stationers), And for someone just starting out might really appreciate a gift certificate to a high-end supplier like Artisaire (wax seals) or Pressed Paper (handmade paper), or even to Blick Art Supplies or a local art supply store.

10 – Artist Supplies and Equipment: So many options! Choose from shiny crafting machines like the Minc Foil Applicator or Silhouette Cameo (I have both and LOVE them!), invest in a heavy duty paper trimmer, or keep things simple with paint, paper, and pens. It’s the perfect chance to try something new, like this Artist Pad Collection from Legion Paper with twelve 9×12 drawing and watercolor pads, this Coptic pen set, or this watercolor set from Sakura of America. Oh, and don’t forget a nice bag to carry things with! I’ve had my eye on this Madewell leather tote and this Everlane tote

11 – Books and Magazines: So many great book ideas for artists! Check out the shopping widget below for a few of my favorite suggestions, including The Designer’s Dictionary of Color and The Gift of Calligraphy. A subscription to a cool magazine like Uppercase is also a great gift idea!

12 – Classes and Workshops: Online classes and in-person workshops are a fantastic way to develop creative skills and find new inspiration. Look around for in person workshops in your area, including letterpress printing, screen printing, calligraphy, watercolor painting, paper marbling, weaving, macramé, etc. If in-person classes aren’t an option, look for online classes you can gift – or gift a Skillshare membership! I love the online weaving and natural dyeing classes from Rachel at Smile and Wave, and Simply Jessica Marie offers a range of online watercolor and brush lettering classes.

13 – This amazing Wood Drawing Board and Portable Easel would be such a lovely gift for a painter or illustrator!

14 – This adorable enamel pin by Cami Monet would be a perfect stocking stuffer for your favorite artist!

Inspiring Calligraphers: Frani Matthews of Authentic By Frani

Hey everyone! So I have a beautiful collection of calligraphy to share with you all today. We’re taking a look at the work of Frani Matthews and her take on the art of lettering work and favorite projects she’s worked on with her business Authentic by Frani. Let’s dive in! – Jen

Inspiring Calligraphers: Authentic by Frani

Inspiring Calligraphers: Authentic Frani

Inspiring Calligraphers: Authentic by Frani

On her start as a calligrapher, Frani shares:

“When I started lettering (more seriously than my notebook-doodling days, mind you), I simply mimicked the letter forms and fonts I saw in magazines, on Instagram, in advertisements, etc. I would trace things and break more intricate forms into smaller, more manageable portions; but in the end, my style just looks like the upgraded version of my loose, cursive handwriting. Using a pointed pen and ink amps it up to its characteristic look: effortless, romantic, whimsical. After almost three years of refining, my style is now a part of me. Each stroke carries the tension of my day, the joy, the hunger-shakes. We live (and create) out of the overflow of our hearts, and I’m thankful that this art continues to be a release.”

Inspiring Calligraphers: Authentic by Frani

Photo Credit: Swak Photography

Paper or digital? The answer is clear, according to Frani:

“When designing pieces, I always sketch it out on paper first. I’m kind of a noob at digitizing my work (read: I’m still learning!), and I’d have no idea how to start from the screen. Sometimes, I consider saving up for a fancy iPad or something. Maybe one day. But I definitely feel most connected to my art, the client, and the energy of the piece when creating simply by hand. Is it wrong to say I tend to love my rough pencil sketch more than the crisp, completed piece? I don’t think so.”

Inspiring Calligraphers: Authentic by Frani

This wedding suite that Frani created for an October bride featured so many creative favorites on one wish list: handmade paper, gold foil lettterpress printing, warm and muted tones, silk ribbon, wax seals, and vintage stamps. No surprise why this was a dream project to work on!

Inspiring Calligraphers: Authentic by Frani

Photo Credit: Klaire Dixius

Frani likes to experiment with non-paper surfaces, too. On her favorites, she shares:

“In my spare time, I do some chalkboard lettering. It’s such a fun medium, and it stretches me creatively— between designing interesting layouts and then properly measuring and planning to ensure my ideas are portrayed accurately. I’m amazed by people who have a serious knack for it. I also appreciate lettering on fabric and embroidering my calligraphy as well.”

Inspiring Calligraphers: Authentic by Frani

Inspiring Calligraphers: Authentic by Frani

Another design medium she loves: designing tattoos. Frani shares, “It gives me so much life to illustrate florals and encouraging words as it is, but the fact that people want something I’ve drawn on their bodies permanently totally blows my mind. There really aren’t accurate words for it.”

Thanks so much to Frani for sharing a peek into her work and process as a calligrapher!

Photo Credits: All images via Authentic By Frani, except where noted.

Want to be featured in our calligraphy column? Reach out to us at submissions [at] ohsobeautifulpaper [dot] com with the subject line “Calligraphy Feature” for more details!

Tropical Minimalism Wedding Invitations

For anyone out there that wants tropical vibes with a more minimalist feel, this wedding invitation suite is for you! These tropical minimalism wedding invitations from Swell Press (one of our super talented Designer Rolodex members!) are fresh, modern, and elegant all at the same time. With subtle blind-impression (no ink) letterpress printed palm fronds and stunning calligraphy by Nicole Miyuki printed in rose gold foil, and a vibrant envelope liner, there are so many beautiful details to love in this gorgeous suite!

Tropical Minimalism Wedding Invitations by Swell Press

From BrittWhere do I even begin with this invitation suite! Our ‘tropical minimalism’ suite was actually one of my first designs years ago, when I first started designing and printing. Today, it is still one of my favorites. The original design had a clean sans serif font in black, but when Rachel and Lee reached out to me, they wanted something a little more elegant and softer, with a dash of whimsy for their sophisticated wedding in Florida.

Tropical Minimalism Wedding Invitations by Swell Press

Custom brush calligraphy by Nicole Miyuki was a perfect touch for just that, and rose gold foil took the elegance of the suite to the next level. The main invitation was printed on thick, 100% cotton 220lb Crane’s Lettra in Pearl White, with the insert cards on 110lb.

Tropical Minimalism Wedding Invitations by Swell Press

Tropical Minimalism Wedding Invitations by Swell Press

If anyone needs any evidence of how much an envelope liner can impact a suite, this is a perfect example! The palm frond pattern perfectly complements the suite but definitely adds a pop of boldness when the recipient first opens the envelope, and the subtle rose gold monstera leaf on the flap is the most perfect addition.

Tropical Minimalism Wedding Invitations by Swell Press

Tropical Minimalism Wedding Invitations by Swell Press

As much as I LOVE color, this refined, classic and somewhat minimal design has such a huge piece of my heart.We now offer it as a semi-custom design, which means we’ve done various versions of this suite with different color foils from gold to copper, various colors of letterpress inks for the text, and various fonts.

Tropical Minimalism Wedding Invitations by Swell Press

This particular suite was slightly oversized from your typical A7 size to A9 (5.5″ x 8.5″ instead of 5″ x 7″), allowing room for the various insert cards and even more of a visual impact.

Tropical Minimalism Wedding Invitations by Swell Press

Thanks so much Britt!

Design and printing: Swell Press

Calligraphy: Nicole Miyuki

Swell Press is one of the talented, hand selected members of the Oh So Beautiful Paper Designer Rolodex – you can see more of Britt’s work right here! Or visit our wedding invitations archive for more custom wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Swell Press and Robin Verrir

Neutral Modern Minimalist Wedding Invitations

I’ve been on a bit of a minimalist design kick lately. I first caught sight of the gorgeous save the dates in these neutral modern minimalist wedding invitations from Cindy of Owl Post Calligraphy and fell in love with the way Cindy had played around with the type size and orientation, not to mention the beautiful white foil over a slightly darker neutral paper. I asked Cindy if she’d be willing to share the full suite with all of you, and luckily she agreed! In addition to the fun minimalist type, I love the way Cindy combined slightly different paper colors for a beautiful and tonal neutral color palette. So perfect for fall!

Neutral Modern Minimalist Wedding Invitations by Owl Post Calligraphy

From Cindy: This suite is one of my semi-custom invitation collections called “Sacred Vows.” I was inspired by the traditional vows that are said during the wedding ceremony – hence the name!

Neutral Modern Minimalist Wedding Invitations by Owl Post Calligraphy

Unlike many of my other suites, this one does not contain any calligraphy and was done with all typographical design concepts. The suite is meant for the minimalist but not “boring” couple. Playing with text placement, direction, and size, the element of play is what makes this suite one of my favorites!

Neutral Modern Minimalist Wedding Invitations by Owl Post Calligraphy

The save the date and main invitation card have multiple print processes (foil and letterpress) to add dimension. The details card and reply card are simple and clean so as to not overpower the rest of the suite. The theme of two rings runs throughout the suite as a small emblem on the invitation card and save the date. The age old saying “to have and to hold” is letterpress printed onto the background of the main invitation card.

Neutral Modern Minimalist Wedding Invitations by Owl Post Calligraphy

This suite can be printed in multiple ink and foil colors and paper colors, but the photos I have included represent a beautiful neutral palette that is not the usual eggshell white suite but still neutral enough for timeless elegance. It is the perfect palette for fall weddings! A lot of couples think that all cards and all envelopes have to be the same color but switching it up a bit can really add a lot of intrigue to a suite! If you are afraid of it looking too complicated with all the colors, my favorite this to implement is a tonal palette (like this one) where the papers are only slightly different in the same color family. When creating my semi-custom collections for this year, I really wanted to cater to ALL couples so I made sure that I had same-sex couples represented, including this one!

Neutral Modern Minimalist Wedding Invitations by Owl Post Calligraphy

Thanks Cindy!

Design: Owl Post Calligraphy

Printing: Copper Willow Paper Studio

Looking for more wedding invitation inspiration? Visit our wedding invitations archive for more custom wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Owl Post Calligraphy