Oh So Beautiful Paper

As promised, we’re back with some of the day-of wedding stationery that Melissa and Amy from Atheneum Creative put together for Mary and Ben’s wedding.  As with the save the dates and wedding invitations, Melissa and Amy continued to incorporate wood veneer elements to complement the elegant and rustic wedding style – from ceremony programs and escort cards to menus and table numbers.

 

From Melissa + Amy: The ceremony program reflected the rustic element, with a wood veneer cover and letterpress printed pages mounted inside.  The wood veneer cover was also letterpress printed with Mary and Ben’s names and the wedding location.

 

We also created cocktail napkins and bathroom towels with Mary and Ben’s wedding logo.  The escort cards were a combination custom pocket envelope and digitally printed slip-in card with the table number.  Guest names were calligraphed on the outside of each envelope.

 

For the table numbers, we wanted to continue with wood as our material but do something a little different in the production process.  We used hand written calligraphy numerals and laser die cut each table number.

So cool!  Thanks Melissa + Amy!

Design: Atheneum Creative

Letterpress Printing: Sideshow Press

Photo Credits: Chelsea Davis Photography

Today I’m thrilled to feature these wedding invitations by the talented ladies at Gus & Ruby Letterpress!  Samantha and Whitney worked with the bride and groom to create invitations and day-of wedding stationery inspired by one of my favorite cities, Boston!  I love the illustrations of local landmarks combined with fun details like subway map envelope liners.  So great!

From Samantha and Whitney:  The suite was designed for a sweet couple getting married in downtown Boston.  They wanted their stationery to reflect their love of the city while combining both the contemporary, urban sides of Boston with the rich history of the city.  We played off photographs that Whitney turned into line-illustrations of the Boston Common and Zakim bridge (blending a Boston historical landmark with modern engineering).

We then used bold jewel-tone and autumn colors, color backing papers, and contemporary fonts to punch up the look.  Each invitation had blind-printed cobblestone patterning on the back side, which paid homage to the city’s oldest streets, while a custom MBTA subway map envelope liner spoke to the modern transportation of Boston.

The beautiful envelopes were calligraphed by the uber-talented Jenna of Love, Jenna Calligraphy.  Of course, all the pieces were lovingly letterpress printed by hand on our antique press (c. 1896) on beautiful, textural, super thick 220# 100% cotton paper.

 

The couple named each table after a T stop, so day-of pieces featured MBTA sub-way stop inspired graphics, more cobblestone and the Zakim bridge graphic to tie it all together.

Thanks Sam and Whit!

Design and Letterpress Printing: Gus & Ruby Letterpress

Calligraphy: Love, Jenna Calligraphy

Gus & Ruby Letterpress is a member of the Designer Rolodex – check out more of their beautiful work right here or visit the real invi­ta­tions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Brea McDonald Photography for Gus & Ruby Letterpress

It’s the ladies of Anti­quaria, back with another cre­ative DIY project for you!  Today they’re sharing a fun tutorial on how to make DIY envelope liners using rubber stamps!

The finishing touches make your stationery special and unique.  It’s the little things – like vintage postage, twine, washi tape, calligraphy and envelope liners – that can turn a basic invitation, card or letter into a show stopper.  At Antiquaria, we love envelope liners… but they can be mighty expensive, so we figured out a way to get the look of decorative paper on a shoestring budget.  Plus it’s super easy!

Step 1: Lay your sheet of text weight paper out on a hard surface.  Choose your stamp (we used our Mod Fern Pattern stamp), and ink it well.  Print your pattern stamp in an orderly fashion on the paper, making sure you stamp enough area so that the images will bleed off once the liner is cut.  In general, you will not want to overlap the stamped images (but don’t worry if they do).

Step 2: Cutting your liner… the technique will all depend on what style of envelope you choose.  You can find envelope liner template kits at Paper Source to fit their envelopes.  To use these, trace the template and cut along the line.  If you’re using square envelopes, you can have your local print shop cut paper down to your envelope specifications or draw out the dimensions and cut your own!

Step 3:  To insert your liner,  place a line of double stick tape or stick glue across the top (or around the top triangle), slide them into position and press to secure.  Fold at the crease with a bone folder to get a nice, crisp edge.

Materials

Pattern Stamps – we used Mod Fern Pattern stamp (in turquoise), Repeat Leave Pattern Stamp (in ochre)

Stamp Pad

Envelopes

Double Stick Tape or Stick Glue

Bone Folder

Anti­quaria is a mem­ber of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of their beau­ti­ful work right here!

Photo Credits: Intertwyned for Antiquaria

Each month, we’ve been showcasing a calligrapher here on Oh So Beautiful Paper.  This month, I’m delighted to share the work of none other than the creator of OSBP’s logo!  Computer scientist turned calligrapher Bryn Chernoff started Paperfinger in 2008 and offers full service invitation design and production.  (She even supports green and eco-friendly projects)  Bryn’s calligraphy style and hand drawn text are some of the most beautiful and charming I’ve seen.  You may have seen it too, at Anthropologie, on TV, or even tattooed on a passerby.  - Julie

Even Bryn’s illustrations are lovely; simple yet striking.  I love this invitation suite and its mix of hand lettering and calligraphy with illustration.

Thinking of having your own photo/smilebooth for an event?  Paperfinger can supply you with custom props to make those photos even more memorable!

Written on Italian stationery and with an option to be wax sealed, Paperfinger offers a love letter transcribing service, bringing a bit of the old world to this technological age.  Currently available in her shop along with stamps and customizable ribbons.

In addition to custom calligraphy services, the brand new Paperfinger invitation collection will be launching in May!  Bryn will also be starting a workshop series in New York and Portland, Oregon.  To stay up to date on these and other visual goodies from paper to food, head over to her daily blog Papertastebuds.

Photo Credits: Red invitations and illustrated invitations, photobooth prop (left), addressed envelope: Jen Huang Photography; Photobooth prop (right): Les Loups; Love letter: StudioAlex; Escort cards: Emilie, Inc