Calligraphy Inspiration: Brown Linen

I first saw the work of Brown Linen‘s Abany Bauer right here on OSBP a little while ago and took note. Then she popped up again. And again. Suffice it to say, I had to find out more about Brown Linen Calligraphy & Design! I was pleased to see that Abany also designs beautiful wedding stationery in addition to her custom calligraphy. With a gorgeous portfolio of work that only keeps growing, I hope you take some time to admire it for yourself! – Julie

Calligraphy Inspiration: Brown Linen Calligraphy & Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Calligraphy Inspiration: Brown Linen Calligraphy & Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper

I love how Abany’s style dances across the paper; it’s so dynamic and fluid. Just lovely!

Calligraphy Inspiration: Brown Linen Calligraphy & Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Calligraphy Inspiration: Brown Linen Calligraphy & Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper

If Abany’s style is suited for your event, you can expect guests to treat these escort cards like the little works of art they truly are! (And how amazing is that ink color?)

Calligraphy Inspiration: Brown Linen Calligraphy & Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Calligraphy Inspiration: Brown Linen Calligraphy & Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Also be sure to check out Brown Linen’s blog, and Abany’s sister company Abany Bauer – Styling & Floral Design. (Is there anything she can’t do?) A big thank you to Abany for sharing a few fresh images for this post!

Photo credits: 1 Ozzy Garcia Photography; 2, 3 (right), 5  Heather Payne, 4  Candice Capin; 3 (left), 6 (l+r)  Rylee Hitchner

DIY Tutorial: Savannah-Inspired Floral Wedding Invitations

Ever since we designed our Savannah invitation suite for this inspiration shoot in collaboration with Camille Styles, it’s been one of our most popular invitations to date. This adaptation of the Savannah design is for the DIY couple that wants a custom suite on a budget. This design is soft and elegant with gorgeous floral accents: our version of a traditional invitation! – Bailey and Emma of Antiquaria

DIY Tutorial: Savannah-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

For the foundation of the suite, we used our Letterpress Printed “Savannah” Invitation design. Adding in one piece of letterpress stationery really helps elevate the entire suite. While the single piece is still a bit of a splurge, your savings comes from all of the special DIY details that help complete the look and make it special and unique.

DIY Tutorial: Savannah-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step One: Since the invitation piece is ready to go…the first step is to cut your cards for the reply postcard and monogram tag that you will be using. With a self sealing mat, ruler and craft knife (X-acto), cut cards to 4 x 6″ (postcard) and 2 x 3.5″ (tag). You should get 2 postcards and 10 tags out of 1 sheet of patterned 8.5 x 11″ paper (we used our Magnolia Branch Patterned Card Stock).

DIY Tutorial: Savannah-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Two: We added a cute little corner detail to the monogram tag! To do this, simply line up the corner of the card on your mat in the 45 degree triangle and make the cut with your knife against the ruler. Flip and repeat the cut on the other side. It may take a little time to get all the corners trimmed but it’s definitely worth the effort!

DIY Tutorial: Savannah-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Three: Lay your  4 x 6″ patterned postcard down on a firm surface (pattern facing down). Ink your stamp (we used our Calligraphy Accent Reply Postcard stamp) thoroughly and center it over your card. Once it is positioned correctly, press down to make a print. Use both hands to ensure even pressure. Lift off and let the print dry. For a step-by-step video tutorial about this printing process go here.

DIY Tutorial: Savannah-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Four: How cute are these little tags! Not only are they adorable with this suite but the extras would be great to use as gift tags as well! To make them, punch a 1/8″ hole in the top center of the 2.5 x 3″ card. Then you will print your monogram stamp (we used our Antique Monogram stamp) using the same print technique as in Step 3. Lastly, add those adorable kraft hole reinforcements to your hole punch and the tags are done!

DIY Tutorial: Savannah-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Five: One great way to save money with your wedding stationery is to stamp your return address! For this design, we embossed our Wildflowers Return Address Stamp with white so that it would be super opaque and “pop” on the kraft envelope. Place your A7 envelope on a stable and firm surface with the flap facing you. Ink your return address and center the stamp over the flap. When ready, press the stamp down with moderate pressure to make the print. Lift the stamp off and quickly move on to adding your embossing powder.

Once you’ve made your print, immediately cover it with embossing powder by sprinkling it across the envelope. Shift the powder around until you have covered the entire image. Now, you will pour the excess powder off of the envelope onto a scrap piece of paper so that you can reuse it for future prints. Heat set the print, using an Embossing Heat Tool. You will be able to see the powder melt into an opaque and solid color when it’s done. For more information about how to emboss using stamps, please watch this instructional video.

Note: One key thing about embossing is that it is wise to try to closely match your ink color with your powder color. By doing this, you will get much more crisp and opaque results. For example, we used a white pad with white embossing powder on this envelope.

DIY Tutorial: Savannah-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Six: While not crucial, adding an envelope liner can really pull your invitation suite together. We kept this liner traditional by using solid tan text weight paper and simply stamping the same monogram on it that we used on our tag. Trace the envelope liner template on your paper, cut it out, stamp it (we used our Antique Monogram stamp) and use double sided tape or stick glue to affix it to your envelope. It’s that simple!

DIY Tutorial: Savannah-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Seven: Now all that’s left is the finishing touches! We tied the suite together with tailors ribbon, addressed the envelope with opaque white ink and affixed our postage (we love these new vintage inspired seed packet stamps). Now they’re ready to send on their way!

DIY Tutorial: Savannah-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Materials

Savannah Letterpress Invitation on Pearl White with Kraft Envelopes, colors: Warm Grey & Nude

Calligraphy Accent Reply Postcard

Antique Monogram Stamp

Wildflowers Return Address Stamp

Magnolia Branch Patterned Paper in Cover weight

Text Weight Liner Paper

Envelope Liner Templates

Stamp Pads in Antique Pewter and Frost White

Ribbon

Embossing Powder

Heat Embossing Tool

1/8″ Hole Punch

Kraft Hole Reinforcements

Self healing mat, Ruler, Craft Knife, Pencil & Scissors

Postage Stamps

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

Seasonal Stationery: Graduation

Summer is upon us, which means the school year is over! I remember looking forward to each level of graduation as a kid: elementary school, middle school, and of course high school and college. If you’re on the hunt for a card to congratulate a recent graduate of any age, I’ve rounded up a bunch of options for you! You can check out the full round up right here, along with a few special favorites below:

The Best Graduation Cards via Oh So Beautiful Paper

1. 9th Letter Press; 2. Sugar Paper; 3. Anemone Letterpress; 4. Snow & Graham; 5. Ink Meets Paper; 6. Sideshow Press

The Best Graduation Cards via Oh So Beautiful Paper

7. Rocket Ink; 8. Wild Ink Press; 9. Rifle Paper Co.; 10. McBitterson’s; 11. Smock; 12. 55 Hi’s

Many many more right here!

{images via their respective sources}