Oh So Beautiful Paper

Sally from La Happy sent over her personal holiday cards – and I just couldn’t resist sharing them! In addition to the adorable photo, I’m loving the bright and cheerful color palette, quirky calligraphy, and the ikat envelope liners (wrapping paper from Mr. Boddington’s Studio!) are just the perfect finishing touch!

From Sally: These are the Christmas cards that my husband and I sent out to friends and family this year. The cards were letterpress printed on heavyweight cotton Savoy 236lb brilliant white paper in cherry red ink. I mounted a photo of my husband and myself from a tree farm photo shoot onto the front of the cards. The envelopes are soft cotton brilliant white, addressed with cherry red calligraphy and lined with red ikat wrapping paper.

 

Thanks Sally!

Design + Calligraphy: La Happy

Letterpress Printing: Ilfant Press

Portrait Photo: Kate Price Photography

Envelope Liners: Mr. Boddington’s Studio Ikat Wrapping Paper

Photo Credits: La Happy

I’m a big fan of Year in Review cards – particularly for families that have undergone major changes that year, from big moves to welcoming a new family member. Camden from Studio Ephemera recently relocated her family to the Bay Area in California, so she combined her annual holiday card with a moving announcement and big update on her family’s recent changes. For the design, Camden chose a mix of fun typefaces with a few graphic icons scattered throughout to help anchor the text.

From Camden: Our family has had a really busy year. We went through a long period of transition from the East Coast to the West Coast, as well as to new careers, so there was a lot to catch people up on. I decided to make our card two sided: the front a recap of the past year and hints for what awaits us next year, and the back an apology for falling out of touch and a summary of our new address and contact information.

I used lyrics from the Bob Dylan song “The Times They Are A ‘Changin’” to tie both sides together thematically. Because there was so much information to convey, I decided to keep the card typographic in nature, using graphic icons and symbols to create visual interest and break up/balance the text.

For the type, I wanted something lighthearted but easy to read with a bit of a retro feel, so I used a combination of typefaces that I felt complemented one another (albeit in a quirky/non traditional way): KG Two is Better than One and KG All Things New, by Kimberly Geswein, Carton by Nick McCosker, and VAG Rounded by Gerry Barney.

 

For the color, I chose a deep teal on white to keep things streamlined, clean and fresh – a good way to recap the old and welcome the new! Matching envelopes kept everything tied together. Because I really wanted the cards to convey a handmade, quality feel, I letterpress printed them onto Rives BFK using a Vandercook (special thanks to Peter of Peter Koch Printers for letting me use his press!)

Thanks Camden!

Photo Credits: Studio Ephemera

With only two weeks to go until Christmas, we’ve got time for just one more peek into the 2012 holiday card round up! If you haven’t already, now is the time to finalize your address lists, place your orders, and start addressing and stamping. Happy mailing!

1. Satsuma Press; 2. Scout’s Honor Co.; 3. Hartland Brooklyn; 4. Yours Is The Earth; 5. Shanna Murray; 6. Farewell Paperie

7. Prickle Press; 8. Inclosed Studio; 9. Julie Song Ink; 10. Thimble Press; 11. Sarah + Bendrix; 12. Banquet Atelier and Workshop

Check out the full holiday card round up right here!

{images via their respective sources}

Happy December everyone!  The holiday countdown is officially on, so I thought I’d help kick off the week with another peek into this year’s holiday card round up.  You can check out the full round up right here, and see past highlight posts here!

1. We Heart Paper, 2. Two Trick Pony, 3. Ladyfingers Letterpress, 4. One Canoe Two, 5. Gilah Press, 6. Rocket Ink

Check out the full holiday card round up right here!

{images via their respective sources}

After falling in love with stationery before her June 2011 wedding with Karson Butler Events, Heather decided to infuse her wedding stationery style into a beautiful holiday card. Heather worked with calligrapher Betsy Dunlap to create her wedding invitations, then letterpress printed them herself at a local art studio. For her first holiday card as a newlywed, Heather once again incorporated Betsy’s beautiful calligraphy along with one of her favorite wedding photos from Katie Stoops. Both suites were accented with toile envelope liners and vintage stamps inspired by their historic wedding venue.

From Heather: Our wedding took place at Tuckahoe Plantation in Richmond, Virginia, where my husband – and also Thomas Jefferson – grew up.  With the help of Karson Butler Events, we took wedding inspiration from Tuckahoe itself and, in particular, the blue toile fabric decorating my favorite bedroom in the main house – the toile became the envelope liners and table linens at the wedding.  I learned to letterpress print so that I could create my own invitations using Betsy Dunlap’s lovely calligraphy, which is reminiscent of Thomas Jefferson’s handwriting!

Our wedding was so lovely, I wanted to recreate the feeling (and reuse my new printing skills) in our holiday cards.  So we used the same beautiful “Jeffersonian” script, but this time with red toile liners and a photograph of our wedding from our photographer Katie Stoops.  I had collected vintage stamps from ebay for our wedding and had plenty of Christmas ones left over, which was perfect for our holiday mailing.

From Amber and Emily of Karson Butler Events: When Heather learned how to letterpress print for her June 2011 wedding, we were in awe!  Heather worked with calligrapher Betsy Dunlap to create her custom invitation suite.  Heather then printed her invitations at local art studio Pyramid Atlantic in Silver Spring. Finished with hand-selected vintage stamps and blue toile envelope liners, Heather and Addison’s guests were invited to a gorgeous Southern wedding held at the groom’s childhood home.  To date, it has been one of our favorite weddings to help design.

Such a wonderful idea! Thank you ladies!

Design and Printing: DIY by Heather at Pyramid Atlantic

Calligraphy: Betsy Dunlap

Wedding Photography: Katie Stoops

Wedding Design: Karson Butler Events

p.s. You can see more of Heather and Addison’s beautiful wedding right here!

Photo Credits: Katie Stoops Photography