03/03/2016

Vibrant Pink Hand Lettered Birthday Party Invitations

Oooh, these vibrant pink hand lettered birthday party invitations from Meg at Pour L’Amour Creative are so fun! Inspired by colorful Otomi textiles, the bright fuchsia pink and playful hand lettering are the perfect ingredients for a third birthday party invitation. Meg even added a watercolor splash in a lighter rose pink to add some texture to the invitation. So cute!

From Meg:Â The concept behind this invitation was simple, yet fun and vibrant: mixing hand lettering with type.Â The production process started with the colors that we wanted to incorporate â€“ fuchsia and orange (the birthday girl’s favorite). Though the birthday party did not have a specific theme, we were playing off the Mexican Otomi linens and colors that were going to be present throughout the party dÃ©cor. Otomi linens are known for their vibrant and rich colors and we wanted the invitation colors to incorporate that vibrancy.

Secondly, I wanted to highlight the hand lettering on the invitation. The art of the design is the lettering itself. I started with the a few different styles, and then narrowed down the lettering style to have an irregular feel to it. SinceÂ these invitations were for a third birthdayÂ party, the lettering style I choose to use was a non-formal style with a lot of â€œbounceâ€ to it â€“ playful and youthful.

The invitations were printed on 110lb cotton Lettra paper.Â Post printing, I added a watercolor splash in a rose pink to add to the overall design. Since it was hand done after printing, no two invitations were alike and that uniqueness made for a beautiful collection of pieces going out in the mail.Â Lastly, IÂ hand lettered the envelope addresses using a bright pink pen to match the lettering style of the invitation. I wanted the excitement of the party to begin once the guestÂ received the envelope in the mail.

Thanks Meg!

Design and Hand Lettering: Pour L’Amour Creative

Photo Credits:Â Bonnie Bakhtiari

03/03/2016

Navy and White Calligraphy Wedding Invitations

Navy blue and white is such a classic combination â€“ and with good reason! It works for everything from a classic nautical design to sleek and modern wedding invitation suite. These beautiful navy and white calligraphy wedding invitations from Brianne ofÂ Brown Fox Calligraphy walk the line between classic and modern, with an elegant bridge illustration, playful calligraphy script, and (my personal favorite), white ink on navy envelopes!

From Brianne:Â Marie and Andrew have been friends of mine for years, and I was excited to design the invitation suite for their Rhode Island wedding. They knew they wanted me to illustrate the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge, showcasing the beautiful landmark that served as the backdrop to their reception site. They also wanted a classic navy blue design with modern calligraphy elements to make their invitation suite unique. Past that, they trusted me to design a suite that would set an elegant tone for their big day.

I illustrated the bridge and water details, and did the calligraphy elements first by hand. I then worked in Illustrator to add typed details and design the layout. Marie and Andrew had multiple events that had information that needed to be included, but everything managed to fit nicely on the standard invitation suite piece sizes.Â To finish the theme, I chose navy blue envelopes with white calligraphy for contrast.

Thanks Brianne!

Calligraphy/Design:Â Brown Fox Calligraphy

Letterpress Printing:Â Mercurio Brothers

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

Photo Credits:Â Anna Wu Photography

03/02/2016

Well Said Type | 143

INKHEART

03/02/2016

DIY Lettered Dinner Plates

I’m a sucker for any piece of flatware, glassware, or dinnerware that makes for a pretty styled tabletop, or just steps up your everyday kale salad. Sometimes you want to add your own touch though. Maybe for a birthday or to brighten your neighbor’s day with a plate of cookies that ends with a surprise note. These customized plates will look great stacked on wood and dark linens, and will most likely make the rest of your table dÃ©cor a simple task. So pick your favorite fonts and what you want on each plate and follow along to make your own. – Lauren

Supplies

Glass plates (I purchase mine at the dollar store for projects like this)
Printer paper
Chalk Marker
White acrylic paint pen
Scissors
Tape

Step 1. You can either letter your words/phrases yourself, or create them digitally and print them from your home computer. This is a great way to incorporate your favorite fonts into some entertaining dÃ©cor without needingÂ any lettering skills! I also created a printable of my phrases for you to try first! Download them here.

Step 2. Cut and tape to the bottoms of your plates so they are centered, or where you’d like the final lettering to be.

Step 3. Trace, on the front of the plate, over your lettering with the chalk marker.

Step 4. Remove the guide on the back and turn the plates over. Trace, on the back now, with your white acrylic paint pen, to finish of the design. Wash the front of the plate and you’re done! If you’re looking for extra protection for your lettering, you can tape off the front of the plate and spray the back with a few coats of polyurethane (available at your hardware store). If it’s just for a party or decor, the acrylic will hold up on it’s own though.

Round up your chargers and linens to contrast the bright white marker, and set your table.Â I love the idea of adding quotes, names for place cards, or even theÂ menu for the night. What would you use them to display at your dinner party?

And if you missed it, download the printable of the words I used above if you need some inspiration for making your own!

Printable artwork Â© Lauren Saylor of A Fabulous Fete and created exclusively for Oh So Beautiful Paper. All artwork is created for personal use only and may not be altered, reproduced, or sold in any way without prior written consent.

03/01/2016

Spring Botanical Letterpress Wedding Invitations

Spring is most definitely in the air here in DC. We’ve had several warm days, and I’m starting to see spring blossoms out in my neighborhood! I’m always a fan of botanical design motifs, but even more so for spring and summer weddings. Becca fromÂ Suite Paperie sent over these beautiful spring botanical letterpress wedding invitations that she created for a late spring wedding at the New York Botanical Garden. Such a dreamy venue for a May wedding!

FromÂ Becca: For this fun couple, we went with a design that felt like a breath of fresh, late spring / early summerÂ air. Letterpress printed with thin lines in a delicate gray, this design paired clean and simple fonts with natural touches. We carried the playful font into a monogram that is centered inside a hand-drawn wreath, and sprigs of that same wreath are present throughout the invitation suite.

The letterpress printed invitation is complemented by matching inserts digitally printed on soft white stock. As for the blue floral touches? The dinner party card is framed by a pretty collage, which was dreamed up and sketched in our studio in the same style as the monogram wreath, and the RSVP card features small floral touches in the same blue as the liner. The airy feel of the invitation suite shined through in finishing touches, like a tied raffia belly band. Cornflower blue edge painting on the double-thick invitation added an irresistible touch.

ThanksÂ Becca!

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

Photo Credits:Â Lindsay Nathanson