DIY Tutorial: Gold Embossed Save the Dates

We’re huge fans of gold in pretty much all arenas: housewares, fashion, jewelry, and stationery just to name a few! That’s why this week’s gold on gold embossed save the date tutorial is so awesome. Plus, with this simple and affordable technique, you can create a custom invitation with a high end look on a budget. – Bailey and Emma of Antiquaria

DIY Tutorial: Gold Rubber Stamp Save the Dates by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

DIY Tutorial: Gold Rubber Stamp Save the Dates by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step One: Unlike most of our stamping tutorials, this week’s embossing technique  is done one piece at a time. Start by inking your stamp (we used our Vintage Calligraphy Save the Date) with a gold metallic stamp pad. For specifics on how to ink your oversized stamp check out step one of this tutorial. Next, you’ll center the stamp over your A6 (4 1/2″ x 6 1/4″) card. Press down firmly to make the print. Lift the stamp off of the card and move quickly to step two.

DIY Tutorial: Gold Rubber Stamp Save the Dates by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Two: While the ink is still wet (using pigment ink such as Colorbox is going to be your best bet for this project), sprinkle embossing powder over the print. Shift powder around the card until it is solidly covering all of the text and graphics. Gently tap the excess off onto a piece of loose leaf computer paper for reuse. If there are still specs of powder on the card, remove them very carefully with a small paint brush. Any powder left will solidify if exposed to the heat.

DIY Tutorial: Gold Rubber Stamp Save the Dates by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Three: Using an embossing heat tool, set the powder by heating it (not too close or you’ll burn the paper) until the powder has solidified. You will want to do a small area at a time to ensure proper solidification. When you’re done, double check you handiwork to make sure all of the areas have been set.

DIY Tutorial: Gold Rubber Stamp Save the Dates by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Four: You’ll want to repeat steps 1 – 3 for your return address (we used our Bow Return Address stamp). How amazing is the gold embossing on the gold envelope?! Swoon. We’re in love.

Finish them off with more gold – a fabulous piece of gold glitter washi tape on the back flap of the envelope!

Materials

Stamps:

“Vintage Calligraphy” Save the Date

Bow Return Address

Paper and Tools:

A6 Cards in Luxe White

A6 Envelopes in Stardream Antique Gold

Stamp Pad in Gold

Embossing Powder in Superfine Gold

Heat Tool

Washi Tape Gold Glitter

Anti­quaria is a mem­ber of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of their beau­ti­ful work right here or visit the real wedding invitations gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Antiquaria

Tere + César’s 1920s Inspired Letterpress Wedding Invitations

When it came time to design her own wedding invitations, Monterrey, Mexico-based designer Tere Hinojosa was inspired by her love of all things romantic and 1920s-era Paris.  The resulting wedding invitation suite uses classic fonts and vintage-inspired ornaments in a sophisticated gray and blue color palette.  I’m particularly fond of the unique invitation layout, which – given Tere’s old-fashioned inspiration – was appropriately sealed with gold wax.

1920s Inspired Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Tere Hinojosa Creative via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

From Tere: I’m an artsy and hopeless romantic in love with Alice in Wonderland, whimsy, and Paris in the 1920s. With this mixed inspiration in mind, I spent a lot of time making sure I had found the perfect mix of vintage, rustic, and whimsical design for my wedding invitations.

1920s Inspired Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Tere Hinojosa Creative via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

The design theme revolved around 1920s inspired graphics and the elegant palette of soft blue and dark gray with accents of silver and gold. The invitation suite was letterpress printed on off-white cotton textured paper and sealed with a wax monogram.

1920s Inspired Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Tere Hinojosa Creative via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

1920s Inspired Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Tere Hinojosa Creative via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6)

1920s Inspired Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Tere Hinojosa Creative via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

Thanks so much Tere!

Design: Tere Hinojosa Creative

Printing: Micheline

Check out the Designer Rolodex for more tal­ented wed­ding invi­ta­tion design­ers and the real invitations gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Tere Hinojosa Creative

Amritha + Josh’s Red and Gold Letterpress Wedding Invitations

You might remember these purple and gold foil wedding invitations from a couple weeks ago, and today designer Rashi Birla is back with another stunning wedding invitation suite!  The combination of a red and gold color palette and graphic elements inspired by the wedding’s floral designs help create an invitation design that is both elegant and modern.  Love!

Red and Gold Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Rashi Birla via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

From Rashi: Amritha and Josh wanted their wedding invitations to be elegant and fun.  Their wedding was full of bold and bright flowers, so I wanted to play off of that motif and make the invitations very graphic with floral illustrations.  Amritha loves the color red, so we chose to letterpress print the invitation design in gold and red ink.

Red and Gold Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Rashi Birla via Oh So Beautiful Paper (7)

Red and Gold Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Rashi Birla via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

Red and Gold Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Rashi Birla via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6)

We were able to keep the invitation sophisticated by keeping most of the graphic elements and type in red, and adding hits of gold in the right places. The invitation was held in place with a letterpress printed bellyband that had a Sanskrit proverb on the front.

Red and Gold Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Rashi Birla via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

Red and Gold Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Rashi Birla via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

Red and Gold Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Rashi Birla via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

Thanks so much Rashi!

Design: Rashi Birla

Letterpress Printing: Studio on Fire

Check out the Designer Rolodex for more tal­ented wed­ding invi­ta­tion design­ers and the real invi­ta­tions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Rashi Birla

Leah + Adam’s Calligraphy and Kraft Paper Wedding Invitations

Good morning everyone!  The past few days have been cold and rather dreary, so I’m happily brightening my morning with these gorgeous save the dates and wedding invitations from Kathryn at Black­bird Letterpress.  For this invitation suite, Kathryn combined two of my favorite things – romantic calligraphy and rustic kraft paper.  So perfect for a backyard fall wedding!

Blackbird Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

From Kathryn: Leah and Adam’s wedding was held outside in a beautiful backyard, with lots of lights strung about in the tall trees.  We used strings of lights as the main illustration for the invitation suite, which was accented with the elegance of Betsy Dunlap‘s calligraphy.

Blackbird Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6) Blackbird Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

Leah was first inspired by Laura’s kraft paper save the dates.  We took that as inspiration to start and used the tri-fold with photo idea and made it fit her style.  The entire suite was printed on a combination of fluorescent white cotton paper, kraft chipboard and envelopes, steel gray ink.

Blackbird Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

We also printed CD sleeves for the mix CDs that Leah and Adam made for guests as wedding favors.  And thank you notes were important for the post-wedding etiquette.

Blackbird Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

Thanks so much Kathryn!

Design and Print­ing: Black­bird Letterpress

Cal­lig­ra­phy: Betsy Dun­lap

Black­bird Let­ter­press is a mem­ber of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of Kathryn’s beau­ti­ful work right here (including a version of this suite that is now part of Kathryn’s permanent collection!) or visit the real invi­ta­tions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Invitation and save the date photos by Black­bird Letterpress; Leah + Adam’s engagement photo by Bonnie Sen

{happy weekend!}

What. A. Week. While we weathered the storm pretty well here in DC, my thoughts have been with those in New York and New Jersey affected by Hurricane Sandy.  The images and stories of the destruction are completely overwhelming and I know the road to recovery, much less the restoration of power, will be a long one.  When I haven’t been completely glued to the news, somewhere between last weekend and today, my little Sophie suddenly stopped looking like a newborn and started looking like a real baby.  She’s getting bigger each and every day, even though she’s still smaller at 7 weeks than some newborns, she’s paying closer attention to objects, and she’s smiling at us!  The smiles just make my heart melt.  This weekend we’re planning to visit our favorite flea market and relax at home, but in the meantime…

…a few links for your weekend!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

That’s it for me this week!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Monday – when I’ll start sharing some of my favorite holiday cards! xoxo