11/10/2016

Calligraphy Inspiration: Ettie Kim Calligraphy and Design

Hello everyone! I’m excited to share some pretty calligraphy inspiration from that capturesÂ a fluid and organic calligraphy style. Nowadays, it’s easy to find fonts and digital graphics that incorporate fanciful lettering, and I’m all for calligraphy taking over the world. But when you see an artist doing calligraphy in a way that looks so uncalibrated, so imperfectly perfect, with brushstrokes that you simply can’t create with the click of a mouse, that makes me appreciate this art form that much more. So take a peek through the work of Ettie Kim Calligraphy and Design!

Ettie, an East Coast native, shared on her Instagram that she took the leap into a full-time creative career after a detour through law school. It’s clear Ettie has a love for handmade papers, and the delicate raw edges feel like the perfect canvas for her delicate calligraphy. I also love all the botanical patterns she mixes in with her work. Ettie Kim’s websiteÂ includes a just-launched shop where you can hire her for projects from semi-custom invitations to address labels, and she shares her inspiration: “My lettering work is inspired by the asymmetrical, irregular forms found in nature, and I aim for unique design that is organic yet refined.”

Simplicity rules, as you can see in this sweet save-the-date by Ettie.

These invitations were designed with a dusty rose ombrÃ© to match the bridesmaid dresses.

A vintage crate adorned with sweet calligraphy is just about the perfect spot for cards and gifts for a rustic modern wedding.

Honey jar wedding favors with custom calligraphy tags. | Photo credit: Nikki Kauzlarich

On Ettie’s site, she notes you can contact her “for other bespoke inquiries” (which I love) including non-paper projects like designing a calligraphy tattoo. Let me just say, I have no tattoos and I was not the teenager who was ever pining for a tattoo. But recently (late thirties crisis?!), I’ve had this newfound desire to get inked in part because of all the amazing calligraphy tattoos I’mÂ seeing popping up on inspiration boards. I’m still not sure I’ll ever take that big permanent leap, but if I were to get a tattoo, Ettie would be one of the first artists I’d look to for the design.

Photo Credits: Ettie Kim Design, except where noted

Thanks for following along and be back soon with more calligraphy love!

11/10/2016

Well Said Type | 168

ZOOJA

11/08/2016

Vibrant Blue and Red Watercolor Wedding Invitations

What do elephants, lemons, and stained glass windows have in common?? They’re all sources of inspiration for these vibrant blue and red watercolor wedding invitations by Caroline of Lovely Paper Things. The couple drew inspiration from various components of their relationship for their invitations, including odes to where they were engaged, where they went on dates, and what they received as an engagement present! We absolutely love how Caroline artfully crafted all these elements into a cohesive and festive design for their wedding guests to enjoy!

From Caroline: Elephants, lemons, and stained glass windows, oh my!! Over the years Iâ€™ve had the delight of working with some pretty amazing couples, and after getting to know each of them Iâ€™ve had the joy of finding at least one special element that was important to their relationship, which we have woven into their suite in one way or another. From colors and symbols, to subtle shapes, textures, and florals, these elements can take many forms. However, itâ€™s not every day that I receive a request for a wedding suite to incorporate art, elephants, lemons, Korean and Chinese details, swords, rocks, and flowers! So, when Maria and Paulâ€™s sweet email came through wanting to incorporate these goodies from their love story, I knew this was going to be one special couple and one amazing wedding suite! Oh my goodness it was a blast!

We started by creating their circle die cut, stained glass window save the date, which was inspired by the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. where Paul proposed. And we wove lemons and flowers into the watercolor painted window as a teaser to the rest of the the fun to come in the other pieces of their suite!

Then we created a custom crest which brought in Mariaâ€™s romantic and whimsical side, and Paulâ€™s love for classic details. It included a dancing elephant (representing both their love song and one of their favorite dates at the zoo) wearing a Korean Hambock, a Chinese quail (to represent Paulâ€™s military service and travel around Asia), lemon branches galore (his father gave his mother a lemon tree as a symbol of good luck and years later they gave Maria and Paul a basket of lemons from the tree as an engagement present!), flowers, and all sorts of goodies the couple collects! Even their bold color palette represented their love for Washington D.C. in the fall!

Each piece of the suite incorporated at least one of their special love story details, making them super vibrant, personal, and oh so inviting! This is one of my all time favorite suites because Maria and Paul were such sweethearts and it was so fun to create something so personal for them!

Thanks Caroline!

Design and Lettering: Lovely Paper Things

Styling: To La Lune

Printer: Czar Press

Check out theÂ Designer RolodexÂ for more talÂentedÂ wedÂding inviÂtaÂtion designÂersÂ andÂ theÂ real inviÂtaÂtions galleryÂ for moreÂ wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Jen Wojcik Photography

11/08/2016

Quick Pick: Sugar Paper for Target 2016

You guys, these Sugar Paper for Target collections just keep getting better and better! The newest collection just arrived in stores and I’m absolutely LOVING all the new holiday gift wrap, gift bags and gift boxes, and ribbon! Plus adorable gift tags, wax seal kits for dressing up your holiday card envelopes, gold washi tape, and so much more. Oh, and some fantastic gift ideas for the stationery obsessed (like us!), including document folders, new planners and agendas, desk accessories, even a gold business card holder. Here are just a few favorites!

1. I’m seriously obsessed with these new wax seal kits â€“ choose between “xo” or a heart, or use both!

2. Super cute gold foil gift tags with matching gold and white baker’s twine

3. Modern black and white pens for all your holiday correspondence needs

4. Love the subtle dove gray of this document folder

5. Festive kraft and gold foil wrapping paper

6. One of the brand new 2017 Sugar Paper for Target agendas!

7. These round gift boxesÂ in the most lovely shade of holiday red

8. I love the scalloped edges on these gift boxes

9. Gold washi tape in super cute patterns

10. + 11. Gorgeous blush pink and gold star gift wrap with matching blush pink grosgrain ribbon

Lots more right here! What are your favorites from the new collection??

This post contains affiliate links. By clicking onÂ these links, youâ€™ll help support Oh So Beautiful Paper while also purchasing some gorgeous paper goods. I only recommend products that I truly love and trust that youâ€™ll love, too. My full disclosure policy can be found here.

11/07/2016

Election Night 2016 Bingo!

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been feeling some major election-related anxiety over the past few months. Well, the good news is that the election is finally coming to a close tomorrow, but I thought a fun little game might help calm nerves while we’re all watching the results come in on Tuesday night. Introducing: Election Night 2016 Bingo!

So here’s my plan for election night: put the kids to bed after dinner, grab a glass of wine (or get the husband to make up some cocktails), and sit down to watch the returns with my bingo board in hand. There are four different game boards, so you can play with a small group if you’re hosting an election night party with friends â€“ or play twice with your significant other if it’s just the two of you. You can grab the printable bingo boards right here, print them out on letter size cover weight or text weight paper, then trim down to size using scissors or a paper trimmer. I printed mine on pastel card stock because that’s just how I roll these days!

My version of Election Night 2016 Bingo is meant to be totally bipartisan so you can play along regardless of your political affiliation. I tried to incorporate words that you might hear from the pundits on any network, including the names of key swing states, election terms, policy terms, and keywords from some of the more recent election-related scandals (sigh) â€“ all with a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek humor. Also, a big thanks to Courtney of Swiss Cottage Designs for the flag illustration for the center free space!

My husband said this is probably the nerdiest thing I’ve ever posted, but that’s okay with me. We’re lucky enough to live in a place where we get to choose our own leaders and help determine the kind of country we live in, and that’s something to celebrate. If you voted early, good for you! Otherwise, let’s all go vote tomorrow and play Election Night 2016 Bingo together in the evening!