Search Results for: blue

Anastasia’s Paint Drip Birthday Party Invitations

You might remember Anastasia’s bright and colorful Kate Spade-inspired birthday party invitations from last year, and today Anastasia is back to share the invitations for this year’s birthday party!  I love the simple inspiration behind these invitations: Anastasia simply dipped into her personal paint supply and let a few drips run down a trimmed sheet of paper!  Anastasia printed all the relevant details on a yellow belly band, using kraft paper tape to secure the two pieces.

From Anastasia: I found some super thick paper that I had lying around and picked out four colors of paint (sunny yellow, ocean blue, pink, and metallic gold) from my craft box.  I squeezed the paint onto the trimmed thick paper, letting the excess roll down the invitation.  All the party info was printed on yellow paper and trimmed just so I could wrap it around the invitation.

I secured the yellow strip with super sticky kraft tape on the back.  I also added puff tape underneath the front portion of the strip to give it a bit of lift.

So fun!  Thanks Anastasia – and happy birthday!

Photo Credits: Anastasia Marie

New Giveaway – Holiday Gift Wrap from Felt + Wire!

So while we’re on the subject of holiday gift wrap inspiration – I have a fun new giveaway for you!   The folks at Felt + Wire and Midori are offering a selection of gift wrap and ribbon to one lucky reader, including a beautiful red and white striped ribbon, green dupioni silk ribbon, midnight blue paisley gift wrap, and beautiful black and gold rose gift wrap!  For those of you who like to get creative when wrapping gifts, the handmade rolled gift wrap features a thick texture that can be ironed and sewn.  Fun!

To enter, simply visit Midori at Felt + Wire to browse their collection of gift wrap and ribbon.  Then come back here and leave a comment with your favorite wrap and ribbon combination!  We’ll chose a winner randomly, and you’ll have until 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, December 9 to enter – bonne chance!

Photo Credits: Midori/Felt + Wire

Pretty Paper in the Office: Inspired by Red

With the holiday season in full swing I, much like everyone else, have been seeing red.  It’s such an infectious colour; it grabs hold of your attention and won’t let go.  Naturally, I thought it best to cultivate my holiday spirit and let the colour of the season be the inspiration.  So while you’re busy decking the halls, don’t forget about spreading some cheer to your workspace.  A little red can go a long way; pair it with gray or winter white for a perfect winter color combination.  I rounded up dashes of this bold hue to bring to life even the most dreary desk.

Red inspired office stationery

No. 1 Little notes, holiday edition by Paper & Type; No. 2 2012 Fleurs des lys day planner by Nauli; No. 3 5 Piece recycled paper pencils by Write With Moxie; No. 4 Action organizing clips by Mateo Ilasco; No. 5 Bespoke boxed correspondence cards by Mr. Boddington’s Studio

Blue Sparrow Press red office inspiration

 

Artist Heather Smith Jones put her 1930’s era Vandercook press to good use and recently launched Blue Sparrow Press, just in time for this heavy correspondence season.  She offers a simple and classic personalized note set that comes in four different styles and colours.  I love it when you can get custom, professional (and not to mention sophisticated) stationery that will leave your holiday gift budget intact.

{images via their respective sources}

Wood + Foil NASCAR Invitations from Lettered Olive

I’m used to gushing over the beautiful wedding invitations from the ladies of Lettered Olive, but today they’re sharing something a bit different – NASCAR invitations!  These gorgeous mixed media invitations were created for a celebratory party for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.  Inspired by the industrial event space in Chicago, these invitations combine wood, etched metal, and beautiful metallic foils.

From Christine at Lettered Olive: We recently worked with NASCAR to create an invitation for a celebratory evening kicking off the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.  This event was at a fabulous space in Chicago called Salvage One.  The space is industrial, with wood beams, brick walls, and exposed metal.  We just loved the space and found it so inspiring!  So we created the invitation for a “Legendary” evening (the dinner entertainment was John Legend!).

The invitation was metallic blue and silver foil on wood, backed with etched metal.  The great thing about this job is that it allowed us to get in touch with our “masculine side” – this invitation was all about clean lines, the mixed materials, and total sophistication.  To add another luxe element to the invitation, we foil stamped the envelope and created a teal velvet envelope flap to mimic the amazing vintage velvet sofas at the venue.

So amazing!  Thanks ladies!

Lettered Olive is a mem­ber of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of their beau­ti­ful work right here!

Photo Credits: Melanie Mauer for Lettered Olive

p.s. I have an awesome giveaway coming up a bit later, so check back soon!

 

Friday Happy Hour: The Aviation

Today’s cocktail, the Aviation, involves an obscure but fascinating liqueur – Creme de Violette, which went out of production following Prohibition but recently resurfaced.  This is a really interesting drink, not like anything I’d had before.  It’s sour and sweet with a strong hint of almond from the Maraschino liqueur (made from Marasca cherries and their pits), and a floral finish from the Creme de Violette (literally flowery – the Creme de Violette is made from violets).  It also has the really unique color of a cloudy blue sky, from which I’m sure it got its name.

This is a drink that could star in its own soap opera.  A hit before the First World War, it disappeared in the 1920s and was replaced by another cocktail masquerading under the same name, only to reappear years later with no memory of where it had been all that time.  Ok, so maybe I’m overselling it a bit, but this fantastic drink has a really interesting history.

Read below for the full recipe!

The Aviation

2 oz Gin
1/2 oz Maraschino Liqueur
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1/4 oz Creme de Violette

Combine and shake over ice, then strain into a cocktail glass.  Garnish with a cherry and enjoy.

 

The first mention of the Aviation was in 1911, when flying still had a tremendous air of glamor, adventure, and sophistication (some things have not been improved by progress).  But, by 1930, the Aviation appeared in recipe guides missing an ingredient: the Creme de Violette.  What happened?  Prohibition.  I suspect Creme de Violette was just too obscure an ingredient to justify the risk of smuggling it in from Europe.  Everyone seems to have forgotten that it was ever part of the recipe.  Recipes have described the impostor for decades, and it has been impossible to enjoy a true Aviation.

Until now!  A few years ago, Haus Alpenz started importing a Creme de Violette by Rothman and Winter from Austria, and suddenly all sorts of vanished drinks started reappearing.  This Creme de Violette is a rich dark purple that gives the drink its color and sweet, floral finish.

The Maraschino liqueur and, especially, the Creme de Violette may be hard to find in a lot of places.  Keep looking!  It’s worth it.