Each year, I have the immense privilege of hosting a party during the National Stationery Show – and today I’m so excited to share the photos from this year’s party! The stationery community is full of some of the most wonderful and talented people, many of whom I’m honored to consider friends, and it makes me indescribably happy to see all of them in the same (big) room together and having a great time. Such an incredible evening!
This year’s party was again held at Hudson Terrace. My talented friend (and professional event planner) Janice from Bellwether Events helped me plan the party and kept the entire evening running smoothly. We chose a floral theme for this year’s party, with a color palette of black, white, pink, and gold paired with shades of peach, mint, and other pastels. We also partnered with an incredible team of sponsors to bring the party to life: Minted, Mohawk, Etsy Wholesale, Smock, Hester & Cook Design Group, Postable, Mailchimp, Snow & Graham, Legion Paper, Gilah Press & Design, Ladies of Letterpress, Zazzle, and Balloon Time Helium Tanks.
I wanted to find a way of thanking our amazing team of sponsors – without which this party would seriously not have been possible – and Minted was kind enough to print this large scale (8′ long!) welcome banner using a modified horizontal version of their Botanical Wreath photo backdrop. Alexis Mattox created a beautiful gold and cream botanical paper garland to string around the banner. So pretty!
The first 125 party guests received tote gift bags provided by Zazzle and designed by Mr. Boddington’s Studio – and packed to the brim with AMAZING stationery goodies. All 125 gift bags disappeared in less than 15 minutes! But you guys are in luck: I set aside five tote bags just to give away to a few lucky readers. Check back tomorrow for the giveaway!
Calligraphy signs by Meant to Be Calligraphy
It has become a bit of a tradition for us to have a large decoration spelling out “Paper Party” near the venue entrance. Ashley from Fine Day Press created the letters and giant paper flowers using Mohawk Britehue, Opaque, and Strathmore paper and Smock gift wrap, with assembly help from Barbara of Double Bravo. The botanical garland was made by Alexis Mattox Design. I absolutely LOVE the way it turned out!
I like to incorporate an interactive element into the party each year. Hester & Cook Design Group provided this fantastic chalkboard paper table runner, which we used as a guest book! It was so fun to see what everyone wrote once the party was over!
Calligraphy sign by Meant to Be Calligraphy on Hester & Cook banner signs
Gorgeous floral arrangements from Soirée Floral!
Last year’s folded paper shadowbox decorations were a big hit, so I knew I wanted to do something creative again this year! To fit our floral inspiration, we scattered individual paper flowers from these peony and succulent wreath kits from Paper Source across foam core boards cut to the specific size of each shadowbox.
Paper straws and botanical wreath flag stickers from Minted
Cocktail menus printed on Mohawk Strathmore paper // Floral cocktail napkins from Hester & Cook Design Group and Botanical Wreath table confetti from Minted
Gold foil cocktail stir sticks and coasters from For Your Party
Botanical wreath bunting and kraft paper favor boxes from Minted
On the outdoor terrace, we set up a special lounge just for our friends at Etsy Wholesale! They commissioned a gorgeous custom sign and filled the lounge with some information about and goodies from Etsy Wholesale sellers. The lounge was full of retailers and sellers all night! I’m so excited to see what’s in store for this wonderful new wholesale platform.
We filled the rest of the outdoor terrace with pink tissue paper bunting and several giant 3′ confetti-filled balloons from Shop Sweet Lulu and honeycomb tissue paper balls in shades of peach and mint. We paired the balloons and honeycombs with pastel DIY tissue paper tassels that Mandy carefully transported all the way from Nashville to New York!
Tissue paper bunting and balloons from Shop Sweet Lulu (paired with DIY tissue paper tassels)Â // Many thanks to Balloon Time Helium Tanks for helping us out with the helium!
Once again, we partnered with Minted to bring Smilebooth to the Paper Party – and I still can’t get over this amazing backdrop! We used a pink version of their Botanical Wreath backdrop paired with pink, peach, and white tissue paper fans and custom paper flowers commissioned from artist David Holland (aka Old City Artmaker). So gorgeous!
The Smilebooth photos are some of my favorite from the entire party! It makes me so happy to see some of my favorite people having fun together – even with babies and toddlers in tow!
Finally, a HUGE thank you to the wonderful sponsors and people who made the evening possible: Mohawk, Minted, Etsy Wholesale, Smock, Hester & Cook Design Group, Legion Paper, Postable, Mailchimp, Snow & Graham, Gilah Press & Design, Ladies of Letterpress, Zazzle, Balloon Time Helium Tanks, Foryourparty.com, Soirée Floral, Meant to Be Calligraphy, La Tavola, Mr. Boddington’s Studio, Ashley from Fine Day Press, Alexis Mattox, Smilebooth – and of course Janice, Mandy, and Megan for all of their invaluable help throughout the evening – and to Hudson Terrace for having us! See you all next year!
There was no way I could fit all of the photos from this year’s party into a single post, but you can find the full Paper Party 2014 gallery right here – and all the Smilebooth photos are available right here!
Party Sources
Event Coordination: Bellwether Events
Gift Tote Bags: c/o Zazzle, designed by Mr. Boddington’s Studio
Smilebooth Backdrop + Welcome Banner: c/o Minted
Floral Arrangements: Soirée Floral
Calligraphy:Â Meant to Be Calligraphy
Coasters + Stir Sticks: c/o For Your Party
Botanical Wreath Table Confetti, Garland, and Bunting: c/o Minted
Shadowbox Paper Flowers: c/o Paper Source
Balloons + Helium: c/o Shop Sweet Lulu and Balloon Time Helium Tanks
Chalkboard Table Runner, Confetti Placemats, Blooms Serving Papers, Banner Signs, and Cocktail Napkins: c/o Hester & Cook Design Group
Linens: La Tavola
Venue: Hudson Terrace
Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography
I HEART this party so much! For me it is the highlight of your NSS coverage and I look forward to it each year. Bravo on ALL of the lovely details Nole. This looks like so much work and coordination–wow! Beautiful.
Thank you so much Linnette! It does take a lot of work to put on this party, but it’s so worth it to see the stationery community come together like this!
Thank you so much for putting on such a great party! I had a blast and I’m already looking forward to next year. It was such a great chance to mingle with so many folks in the industry that I work with throughout the year.
Thanks Erin! I’m so glad you had a good time – and I’m already excited for next year, too!
Everything looks so bright and beautiful!
there is so much inspiration here!
Thank you Corina!
I love this so much!! I love your blog! It’s the only one I follow because it always has the best roundup of design!
Thank you so much Natalie – it means so much to hear that!