Oh So Beautiful Paper

These bridal shower invitations from Kara Anne Design combine three of my favorite things: beautiful calligraphy, kraft paper, and a colorful floral pattern. What could be better for a summer bridal shower in the South? I’m also loving the lace-inspired inner envelopes made from doilies. Such a sweet and feminine detail!

From Kara: For my life long friend, Haley, I wanted to create a beautiful and tasteful bridal shower invitation. The envelope liners are a custom watercolor painting that gave the invitation the perfect pop of color for a summer wedding.

The inner lace envelopes were hand made using paper doilies and silk ribbon that enclosed the invitation.

The invitation was printed on a bright white laid paper to add a little texture to the paper suite. For the final touch I used white calligraphy ink on kraft envelopes. The invitation set the tone for the party! For Haley’s special event, Lulu’s Cake Shop in Montgomery, Alabama created a delicious and beautiful cake that embodied exactly what I had in mind: lace and flowers!

We made a cake banner with kraft paper, little wooden sticks, and white calligraphy ink to match the invitation envelopes.

Thanks Kara!

Photo Credits: Jessie Barksdale Photography

After sharing the photos from Paper Party 2013 the other week, I’m so excited to finally share the invitations for the party! I was lucky to work with a really amazing team this year, including Linda & Harriett, Smock, Mohawk, and Meant to Be Calligraphy – it was definitely a group effort from start to finish! The invitations involve pops of bright neon pink, hand lettering, and a fun pattern. I couldn’t love them more!

I was beyond thrilled to work with Liz from Linda & Harriett on the invitation design; I’ve been dying for an excuse to work with her for years! Liz no longer offers custom design services, but you can her beautiful designs on Minted and Paperless Post. I gave Liz our general inspiration – lots of bright color and geometric shapes – and just trusted Liz to do the rest. I love the resulting design,which features her gorgeous hand lettering and a background pattern of illustrated envelopes. Liz also used her hand lettering to create the envelope return address.

 

The invitations were letterpress printed by Smock on Mohawk Loop Smooth 160 lb White paper in two colors: a light pink for the background and a bright fluorescent pink for the main text (Pantone 812 for those of you interested in such things). I love the texture of the neon pink printed over the light pink envelope pattern background!

The envelopes were printed on Mohawk Via Smooth A7 envelopes in Light Gray, and we used the same neon pink for the return addresses. I love the way the neon pink pops against the light gray envelopes, but oh boy are neon colors hard to photograph!

The talented Michele of Meant to Be Calligraphy addressed the envelopes in her Edwards style in charcoal gray ink. We mailed approximately one hundred invitations before the show, then distributed the rest in person at the Stationery Show.

I hope you all love the invitations as much as I do!

Design: Linda & Harriett

Letterpress Printing: Smock

Paper: Mohawk

Calligraphy: Meant to Be Calligraphy

You can see the rest of the photos from Paper Party 2013 right here!

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Warm and sunny days mean that it’s finally BBQ season! I’m looking forward to lots of BBQs this summer, and I’m absolutely loving these 70th birthday party BBQ invitations and day-of materials from Melissa of Atheneum Creative. Every detail is just too cute, from the pig table numbers to the kraft paper bag menus. Love!

From Melissa: The party was held in a restored barn on the couple’s plantation home, so all the day of materials were rustic to fit the look. The invitations were printed with silver foil on navy paper die cut in the shape of a belt buckle. The menus were printed on a kraft paper bag that held silverware for guests.

 

The table numbers were custom wood veneer pigs, stained and then screen printed. The escort cards were wetnaps attached to a kraft board and bound with twine. As favors, each guest received mini pies that were wrapped in bandanas along with screen printed tote bags filled with southern goodies.

So creative! Thanks Melissa!

Photo Credits: Chelsea Davis Photography

Happy Monday everyone! I’m feeling refreshed after spending the weekend working in our garden, enjoying the beautiful spring weather, and visiting one of my favorite spring spots, the Mount Vernon estate just outside of DC. We’re starting the week with some really fun nautical and travel-inspired party invitations from Bonnie at Tenn Hens Design. I’m particularly loving the amazing map envelopes and gold wax seal!

From Bonnie: An event planner in Nashville that we’ve partnered with over the years, Elizabeth James, came to us with a very special project this past winter. Her client was hosting an intimate party at sea. And not just on any old boat, but a ship. They wanted to treat their guests to a truly unique affair. There were various parties tied around this weekend so we designed two different looks that still complemented one another.

Each invitation was hand delivered in an envelope made from map paper and secured with a gold wax seal. The first invitation was letterpressed on both sides and duplexed (just to make the cotton paper even more luxurious). We ended up adding an addendum tag at the last hour when Hurricane Sandy came into the picture, but mother nature certainly has a way of being unpredictable!

 

The main invitation was a more subdued palette of warm grey letterpress + gold foil. I adore the look of the foil and the texture it adds.

Thanks Bonnie!

Photo Credits: Tenn Hens Design

These whimsical baby shower invitations are beyond adorable – but I’d expect nothing less from the ladies of Wiley Valentine! Rachelle designed the invitations for a shower in honor of her business partner, Emily. Rachelle incorporated Emily’s love of animals throughout the design while also mixing in vintage-inspired elements and soft pastel colors. So pretty!

From Rachelle: Emily is not only my business partner of 11 years, but also one of my dearest and closest friends. I really wanted to capture her love for animals, her subtle “vintagey” style, and the muted color palette that is just so her. I was inspired by hand drawn fonts, old children’s books, and a small touch of whimsy.

The color palette was soft pastels: subtle aqua tones mixed with neutrals and a tiny hint of blush. The invitations were letterpress printed by Czar Press on extra thick cotton paper, with pale blush painted edges.

I had fun with the wording too, starting off with “We are Wildly Excited”, and including “it’s a girl” on a flag at the bottom of the invitation. The invitations really set the tone for the shower, where the elements of animals and the tag line “We are Wildly Excited” appeared.

Thanks Rachelle – and a big congrats to Emily!!

Design: Wiley Valentine

Letterpress Printing: Czar Press

Wiley Valentine is a member of the Designer Rolodex – check out more of their beautiful work right here!

Photo Credits: Wiley Valentine

*Wiley Valentine is a sponsor of Oh So Beautiful Paper