Search Results for: blue

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation

We love the challenge of creating an invitation suite based off of a unique theme, venue or color palette.  For this DIY tutorial, we were inspired by a fabulous vintage firework postcard (that we found while hunting at a local thrift shop)!  This combo would be so perfect for New Years Eve or July 4th nuptials – or even a Fourth of July party!  The mixture of colors and patterns is sure to make a statement to all of your guests. – Bailey and Emma of Antiquaria

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation by Antiquaria

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation by Antiquaria

Step One: Lay a 4.25 x 6″ card (preferably a heavyweight card stock) on a stable and hard surface.  Ink your invitation stamp (we used our Calligraphy Accent Invitation Stamp) and center it over card.  Press down firmly with moderate pressure, using the handle as the anchor point.  Lift off the stamp and set card aside to dry.

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation by Antiquaria

Step Two: Cut a navy sheet of paper into a 4.5 x 6.25″ rectangle.  Once the printed invitation piece is dry, flip over and adhere double stick tape to each edge.  Center over the navy card and stick it down pressing the edges to make sure that the two pieces are stuck together properly.

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation by Antiquaria

Step Three: In order to use our found postcard for all of our guests, we scanned the front image into the computer and printed out enough cards to suit our quantity.  (The cards ended up being 3.5 x 5.5″ rectangles).  We stamped the back of each card using our Calligraphy Accent Reply Postcard Stamp.  Of course, let the cards dry after inking.

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation by Antiquaria

Step Four: To make the belly band, cut a fun, patterned paper into 2 x 11″ or 2 x 12″ (depending on the length of your paper) strips.  Stamp a monogram (we used our Banner Name Monogram Stamp) in the middle and wrap the band around your invitation suite, securing it in the back with double sided or decorative washi tape.  Now all of your pieces will stay together and look cute at the same time!

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation by Antiquaria

Step Five: Stamp an A6 envelope with your return address (we used our Calligraphy Ampersand Return Address stamp), address the front, pick out your postage and send them on their way!

Materials:

Calligraphy Accent Invitation Stamp

Calligraphy Accent Reply Card Stamp

Calligraphy Ampersand Return Address Stamp

Banner Name Stamp

Stamp Pad (we used Midnight)

Cream Cardstock cut to 4.25 x 6 inches

Vintage Postcard measuring 3.5 x 5.5 inches, found locally

Navy Blue Cardstock cut to 4.5 x 6.25 inches

Patterned Paper (ours was custom designed and printed by Antiquaria)

A6 Envelope (we used Curry)

Double sided tape

Washi Tape

Tape Gun (optional but definitely helpful in taping on the navy backers)

Photo Credits: Jamie of Intertwyned

Calligraphy Inspiration: Nancy Hopkins Handlettering

Ed Note: Hi Everyone! I’m taking a quick break from National Stationery Show coverage today to get more photos and posts ready to share with you.  I’ll be back with more from the show tomorrow! – Nole

The thing I love most about calligraphy is its emotive qualities.  Sometimes, it seems we have enough trouble trying to put thoughts and feelings into words.  But to then have those words illustrate these things, simply through line and form, is pretty amazing; it’s quite the challenge.  Nancy of Nancy Hopkins Handlettering seems to enjoy the challenge by the looks of her portfolio.  With 15 years of experience specializing in commercial and event calligraphy, and clients like Saks Fifth Avenue, Bank of America, and Martha Stewart Magazine, she has certainly made a name for herself transforming the written word. – Julie

Nancy Hopkins invitation suite

Nancy Hopkins blue addressed envelopes

A mix of calligraphy and hand lettering along with a great use of space adds charm to addressed envelopes.

Nancy Hopkins warm invitation suite

Nancy Hopkins detail

The perfectly imperfect line quality of some of her styles are swoon-worthy.  The words are given such personality and texture, don’t you think?

Nancy Hopkins addressed and illustrated envelopes

Nancy Hopkins kraft envelopes

Nancy Hopkins grey lettered envelope and place cards

Don’t forget to visit Nancy’s website for more of her work.  She recently updated the website – and with many fantastic examples and with 26 lettering styles available, it’s almost guaranteed that she has a style perfectly suited for your needs.

Letterpress printing: Olivia San Mateo

Photo Credits: Sabine Elser

National Stationery Show 2012, Part 1

It’s finally here!  And oh boy, you guys, the National Stationery Show has barely even started and I can already tell it’s going to be a fantastic show – I have so much to share with you over the next week!  I’m still working my way through the booths and aisles, but I thought I’d start off with a few booths that caught my eye on the opening day.  First up, Alee + Press, with an awesome industrial-inspired booth design that was chock full of colorful greeting cards and gorgeous wedding invitations.

 

Alee and Press

Next up, a new stationery company that isn’t even a year old but is already creating some really fun designs – the Brooklyn-based Left Field Cards.  Designer Amelie loves baseball and decided to create an entire line around the sport.  She started with designs that are illustrated and hand carved into linoleum blocks, then created plates based on those designs and letterpress printed the entire collection.  Very cool!

 

 

Left Field Cards

I absolutely loved the sneak peek from Meg at Belle & Union, so it was no surprise that I also loved her debut at the Stationery Show.  Her booth was full of adorable letterpress printed cards, screen printed tea towels and gift wrap sheets, recipe cards, and lots of other fun little touches.  So cute!

 

 

 

 

 

Belle + Union

I practically made a beeline for the Sugar Paper booth at the show, and I love everything in the new collection – from the greeting cards to the art prints.  There was so much color and joy reflected in the new cards and prints, yet everything felt classic and sophisticated.  Such a great combination!

 

Sugar Paper

I still in awe of the ombré blue walls that Rebekah from Wild Ink Press created for her booth this year, not to mention her beautiful stationery!  So many pretty patterns and colors throughout the entire collection…

Wild Ink Press

Liz from Linda + Harriett completely knocked my socks off with her fabulous graphic booth design, gorgeous new 2013 letterpress calendar, and the seriously amazing (and GIANT) large-scale calendar with designs inspired by quilted paper.  I’ve always considered calendars to be a form of wall art, but Liz took it to a whole new level.  So amazing!

 

Linda + Harriett

Finally (for now), the team from The Social Type made a fantastic Stationery Show debut with a modern collection full of sweet and colorful greeting cards and patterned gift wrap sheets.  So pretty!

 

The Social Type

I’ll be back soon with more from the show!

Photo Credits: Stephen Michael Garey and Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper, please ask permission prior to reposting any images

Nick + Lindsey’s Creative Wedding and Rehearsal Dinner Invitations

Multi-talented photographer Brooke Courtney created the wedding invitations for her brother-in-law’s recent wedding – including some of the most adorable rehearsal dinner invitations I’ve ever seen!  The bride and groom wanted to keep things clean and modern, with a focus on text and contrast.  In addition to the main invitation, Brooke created a “Best Day Ever” rehearsal dinner kit with photobooth tips and a list of phone numbers to make sure nobody bothered the bride on the wedding day.  Genius!

From Brooke: Nick + Lindsey asked me to create all of their paper goods using their blue and yellow color scheme, with their only other instructions being “No flowers.  Nothing girly.  Nothing swirly.”  Ha!  They kept using the words “text” and “contrasty” when describing what they wanted everything to look like.  I feel as though I matched their wedding invitation suite to their photos really well – clean and simple.

I made Rehearsal Dinner Kits, including a wedding day schedule, bride + groom mad lib, Smilebooth basics and tips, and a list of phone numbers that people might need on the wedding day.  The “Best Day Ever” kits are my favorite thing I created for their wedding weekend.

 

You can purchase a printable version of the “Best Day Ever” PDF that Brooke used on the paper bags in her Etsy shop right here!

Thanks so much Brooke!  Check out Nick and Lindsey’s wedding photos right here for more inspiration from this fabulous wedding!

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

Photo Credits: Brooke Courtney

Stationery Show Sneak Peek: Studio Carta + Moontree Letterpress

It’s officially less than two weeks before the National Stationery Show!  I can’t wait to walk around Javits Center and see what many of my favorite designers have been up to over the last year.  In the meantime, over the next couple of weeks I’ll be sharing a few sneak peeks into some of the new collections making their debuts at this year’s show.  First up, the brand new line of Leaf and Straw notecards from Moontree Letterpress and Studio Carta!

The Leaf and Straw collaboration began with a 2012 calendar, expanded to a collection of hand bound notebooks, and now these beautiful notecards!  The cards are letterpress printed in two colors on cotton paper and come with a matching envelope.  Available as single cards or in a set of six packaged in a glassine envelope, the cards are available in three lovely color combinations: red and gray, chartreuse and gray, and marigold and blue.  So pretty!

You’ll see lots more in a couple of weeks, but in the meantime you can check out Studio Carta and Moontree Letterpress!

Photo Credits: Studio Carta