06/07/2013

{happy weekend}

Hello friends. It was a sad week here in my Capitol Hill neighborhood of DC: Frager’s,Â our beloved hardware store (and 93-year old community institution), was destroyedÂ in a huge fire on Wednesday night. Thankfully everyone made it out of the store okay and the brick facade of the building survived the fire.Â The owners plan to rebuild and neighborhood businesses have offered temporary work for displaced employees, but I’m still reeling from the destruction.Â My husband and I moved to Capitol Hill in 2009, and Frager’s quickly became one of my favorite places on the Hill. That probably seems weird, but it’s so much more than a hardware store: my husband and I bought our first Christmas tree together from Frager’s. I’ve purchased enough paint that the guys behind the counter know Sophie by name. Frager’s supports local sports teams, employs neighborhood teens during the summer, and even hosts an egg hunt for little kids during Easter. I look forward to a future teenage Sophie getting her first part-time job there. I just can’t imagine Capitol Hill without Frager’s. Thankfully our neighborhood has a history of rallying together to help local families and businesses in need, and I’m looking forward to helping in any way that I can.

OSBP-Instagram-Fragers

In honor of Frager’s. Photo by me via Instragram from back in 2011.

A few links for your weekend:

Mini instagram projectors? What what?!?
LOVE these watercolor party hats from Jordan
The fascinating history behind one of my favorite songs (via Mara)
MAKE: Raspberry chocolate fudge pops
Congratulations to Kathryn on her baby girl and Michele on Meant to Be Calligraphy’s 4th anniversary!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

National Stationery Show 2013, Part 10: Bison Bookbinding and Letterpress, Papersheep, Smarty Pants Paper Co., Sugarcube Press, Sesame Letterpress, Fisk & Fern, Penelope’s Press, McBitterson’s, Happy Cactus, Grey Cardigan
National Stationery Show 2013, Part 11: An Open Sketchbook, Ilee Papergoods, Power & Light Press, L2 Design Collective, Chewing the Cud, La Familia Green, Tutta Lou, Orange Twist, Papillon Press, Paper Boat Studios, Kelp Designs
National Stationery Show 2013, Part 12: Avie Designs, Holstee, Plane Paper, Pancake & Franks, Cardtorial, Girls Can Tell, Max & Bunny, Martha Celebrations, Russell + Hazel, Mara Mi
National Stationery Show 2013, Part 13: Riverdog Prints, Paper Freckles, Oddball Press, Everything Little Miss, Ornament Letterpress, Dolce Press, Viva Greetings, The Permanent Collection
Time to pick out your Father’s Day Cards! Check outÂ Part 1 and Part 2Â of our round up!
Lovely whimsical illustrated Paris-inspired wedding invitations
Honor + Daniel’s rustic barn wedding invitations
Reorganizing your office? Check out our favorite drawer storage options!
DIY Tutorial: Cute hot air balloon baby announcements
Well Said Type: Gemmadonati

Check back soon for this weekâ€™s cocktail! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and Iâ€™ll see you back here next week.Â xoxo

03/27/2013

Kristy + Peter’s DIY Die Cut Save the Dates

Oh man you guys, after moving to our new house on Monday and trying to wrap up some loose ends at our old apartment â€“ not to mention get settled in the new house! â€“ I’m just completely wiped out. Luckily for me, these DIY die cut save the dates from designer Peter HootmanÂ are bringing a smile to my face today! I love the peekaboo effect of the engagement photos behind the cut out letters on the cover. So fun!

From Peter:Â These are the save the dates I made for our wedding. They went out during Christmas so they had a kinda holiday flare to them with the string lights. I designed them and got the inspiration from some die cut stuff I saw on Pinterest. I wasn’t sure how we were going to actually make them till I found aÂ Silhouette CameoÂ die cut machine on Amazon.

I ordered one and I ordered the paper and envelops from Paper Source, then I designed and ordered a custom rubber stamp for the back of the envelope. Â We had a lot of fun playing with different fonts, but we had to modify a lot of them so they wouldn’t just fall out.Â It took way more work then I expected and a lot of time to cut out all the letters but it was worth it.

Thanks Peter!

Check out theÂ Designer RolodexÂ for more talÂented wedÂding inviÂtaÂtion designÂers andÂ theÂ save the date galleryÂ for more beauÂtiÂful cusÂtom save the dates!

Photo Credits: Peter Hootman | Be Brave

12/20/2012

Chris + Sally’s Ikat Letterpress Holiday Cards

Sally from La HappyÂ sent over her personal holiday cards â€“ and I just couldn’t resist sharing them! In addition to the adorable photo, I’m loving the bright and cheerful color palette, quirky calligraphy, and the ikat envelope liners (wrapping paper from Mr. Boddington’s Studio!) are just the perfect finishing touch!

From Sally: These are the Christmas cards that my husband and I sent out to friends and family this year. The cardsÂ were letterpress printed on heavyweight cotton Savoy 236lb brilliant white paper in cherry red ink. I mounted a photo of my husband and myself from a tree farm photo shoot onto the front of the cards. The envelopes are soft cotton brilliant white, addressed with cherry red calligraphy and lined with red ikat wrapping paper.

Thanks Sally!

Design + Calligraphy: La Happy

Letterpress Printing: Ilfant Press

Portrait Photo:Â Kate Price Photography

Envelope Liners: Mr. Boddington’s Studio Ikat Wrapping Paper

Photo Credits: La Happy

12/19/2012

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Confetti

With Christmas just around the bend, your mind might not quite be focused on New Years yet, but mine is! Anyone out there planning a New Year’s Eve wedding? It might be worth it just because you can have that much more confetti to throw around. Now’s the time to break out all the confetti you can find for your wedding, or just use it as a motif if you’d like the festivity without the mess! I personally prefer both, so I bring you… Confetti! (Disclaimer: Confetti should always be followed by an exclamation point!) â€” Kelly

Photo by nbarrett photography, Sign by Southern Fried Paper via Green Wedding Shoes

Photo by Magnolia Pair, Wedding Program by Tupelo Honey Design via Snippet & Ink

Photo by Chenin Boutwell, Ceremony Program by Bella Figura via Francis-Orr on Wedding Chicks

Watercolor Confetti via Oh Happy Day

Confetti Favor Jars via Sugar & Cloth

Photo by Edyta Szyszlo, Menu and Place Card by Cheree Berry Paper

Ceremony Programs via Martha Stewart Weddings (left), Escort Cards via Martha Stewart Weddings (right)

Photo by Carmen Santorelli Photography, Confetti and Paper Goods by Ten Four Paper via Style Me Pretty

Photo by Carmen Santorelli Photography, Menu by Ten Four Paper via Style Me Pretty

Advice Cards by Sugar Paper for BHLDN (left), Placemats by Cake Vintage for Anthropologie (right)

Confetti Wedding Suite by Sugar Paper

Menu by Kayden Ashley Printable Designs

{images via their respective sources}

12/18/2012

DIY Holiday Gift Wrap Ideas

As prepared as I think I am for Christmas each year, it always manages to sneak up on me and now we are in the final stretch! If you’ve finished purchasing your gifts, you’re already ahead of me and it’s certainly time to get to wrapping them. Gift wrapping is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season and I always try to get my DIY on with creative toppers, tags and wrapping solutions. Whether you’re a simple, kraft paper type or a glitzy glam gifter, here are a few crafty ways to package those presents that you can whip up at the very last minute. Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us! â€” Kelly