Classic Gray Birth Announcements

These classic gray birth announcements from Lauren Chism Fine Papers are so refreshing! Not a speck of pink or blue in sight! I love how the neutral tones and clean, classic design allow the sweet baby photo to shine – and of course I’m partial to the name Alice. Such a wonderful keepsake for a beautiful new baby!

Classic Gray Birth Announcements by Lauren Chism Fine Papers / Oh So Beautiful Paper

From Lauren: Now that my husband and I are expecting, designing anything baby related just makes my heart skip a beat. I can’t get enough! I have been wanting to expand my letterpress birth announcement collection, so this is all working out very well 😉

Classic Gray Birth Announcements by Lauren Chism Fine Papers / Oh So Beautiful Paper

These announcements are extra special to me because Laura was my very first wedding client when I launched my business full time. Over the years, I have gotten to design some holiday cards and baby shower invitations for her… and then, this beautiful sweet girl arrived and I had the honor of designing her birth announcements. Birth announcements, much like wedding invitations, are such a special keepsake and something special for the family to look back on for a long time. I love how certain pieces of stationery, to those who love it, are so much more than just pieces of paper.

Classic Gray Birth Announcements by Lauren Chism Fine Papers / Oh So Beautiful Paper 

Back to the design! Once Laura chose the photo, the neutral tones of the image really leant themselves to a more muted ink color. She wasn’t into pink, so we tried out some shades of grays, tans and blues and landed on this pale gray. We paired it with gray envelopes in a lighter shade. This neutral color lover thought they were perfect. They are just so classic and chic, which really is fits Laura’s style.

Classic Gray Birth Announcements by Lauren Chism Fine Papers / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Thanks Lauren!

Design: Lauren Chism Fine Papers

Letterpress Printing: Elefant Press

Lauren Chism Fine Papers is a member of the Designer Rolodex – you can check out more of Lauren’s beautiful work right here!

Photo Credits: Lauren Chism Fine Papers

Elegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations

Pink and gold. It’s just such a great combination. Gold looks great with just about anything, but especially with the gorgeous shade of petal pink used in these invitations from Allie Ruth Bridal. Allie created these elegant dip dyed pink and gold wedding invitations for a summer wedding in Texas, with plenty of cactus and succulent illustrations included throughout the wedding stationery. In addition to the gorgeous wedding invitations, Allie also shared some of the day-of details from this beautiful wedding!

Elegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful Paper

From Allie: Catye and Trey’s wedding was absolutely stunning, with florals that would make anyone swoon. Each card of the invitation suite was dip-dyed in graduated shades of pink from the small info card to the main invitation. The package was tied with natural twine and a hand-stamped custom monogram. The suite came together with an illustrated succulent motif, which found its way into the day-of wedding details, as well! 

Elegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Elegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Elegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful PaperElegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful Paper

The pocket envelopes were show-stopping. Each one got letterpress printed on the back in matte gold with my full succulent illustration, and then I hand-painted the watercolor to fill in each one. They were lined with a matte gold-printed illustrated pattern. I then addressed them all and affixed Texas inspired vintage postage and finished them off with a band of pink masking tape and a custom-designed “mailed with love” sticker, with their return address stamped on the back.

Elegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Elegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful Paper

The day-of design was so much fun. All of their food—menu, desserts and cocktails sounded amazing, so my mouth was totally watering as I was calligraphing the cards and created the stamp that you see on those pretty pink napkins. I dip-dyed all of the escort cards to match the invitation suite, and even designed large program and welcome signs for the ceremony.

Elegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Elegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful PaperElegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Elegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful PaperElegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Elegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Elegant Dip Dyed Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations by Allie Ruth Bridal / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Thanks Allie!

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

Photo Credits: Mustard Seed Photography

The Daiquiri

I like a lot of drinks. Some people like boozy drinks or bitter drinks or sweet drinks, but I like pretty much anything. Which makes picking a favorite pretty tough. But if I were stuck with just two drinks (because I couldn’t ever pick just one), one would be the Sazerac, and the other would be the Daiquiri. If I’m ever feeling lazy and don’t want to put together something elaborate, I throw together a Daiquiri because I know, no matter what, that it will be awesome and I will love it. – Andrew

The Daiquiri Classic Cocktail Recipe / Liquorary for Oh So Beautiful Paper

The Daiquiri

2 oz Aged Rum
1 oz Lime Juice
1 oz Cane Syrup

Shake everything with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. That’s it. No garnish, no fancy footwork needed. Just enjoy!

The Daiquiri Classic Cocktail Recipe / Liquorary for Oh So Beautiful Paper

The Daiquiri is a beautifully simple combination of rum, lime, and sugar. Which means that this classic cocktail is tremendously versatile. In the summer, use silver rum; in winter, use dark rum. You can throw in other citrus, like grapefruit or pineapple; you can mess around with the sugar, getting fancy with falernum or cinnamon syrup; you can even throw in some orange curacao or another liqueur. It’s a simple, classic template that allows for lots of great experimenting.

The Daiquiri Classic Cocktail Recipe / Liquorary for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Or you can just keep it simple, like the original. Rum: smooth and dark this time of year. Lime: fresh squeezed is always best, but no one will judge you if you’re in a hurry. Sugar: there are a lot of ways you can do this, but cane syrup – a deep and rich syrup made from boiling down sugar cane juice – adds a wonderfully flavorful, rustic layer to the Daiquiri. So: sweet, tart, rich, delicious. Go make one.

(Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, where we’ve been posting our experiments before they make their way onto this column!)

Glassware by Liquorary

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Happy Weekend!

Happy Friday everyone! And guess what? Today my husband and I are celebrating the ten year anniversary of our very first date! Ten years! We’ve been through grad school together, major career developments and changes, several cat adoptions and rescues, not to mention a wedding and two kids. It’s been a wild and crazy first ten years, but I’m so excited for the next ten and beyond. But in the meantime…

OSBP Office Sneak Peek / Instagram

A favorite corner of my office in late afternoon light, from my Instagram

…a few links for your weekend!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

That’s it for me this week! Check back a bit later for this week’s cocktail recipe – and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I’ll see you back here on Monday! xoxo

2015 Gift Guide: My Favorite Things

This week we’ve covered gift ideas for preschoolers, cocktail enthusiasts, artists and calligraphers, and stationery enthusiasts – and today I thought I’d wrap up our week of gift guides with a few of my favorite products that just didn’t quite fit into any of the other gift guides. It’s basically my own personal wish list, and I hope it helps any of you still trying to find that one perfect gift!

2015 Gift Guide: Favorite Things / Oh So Beautiful Paper

1. Suite One Studio makes my absolute favorite ceramic dishes. I covet her larger entertaining pieces, but these gorgeous ring dishes are perfect for holding treasured accessories – or even to hold stamps and paperclips on a desk. I want one in every single color!

2. I’m obsessed with the gorgeous Mrs. Box velvet ring boxes. This pink velvet version is so dreamy, and the gray velvet is just completely classic.

3. Beautiful cuffs in modern geometric shapes – and the proceeds help support humanitarian response efforts around the world.

4. These brass planters are the perfect desktop size and would be lovely in an office!

5 + 6. I have a major weakness for leather clutches. I love the scalloped edge on the Tilly baguette from Matine and the deep navy blue suede from Baggu.

7. The rose gold watch of my dreams.

8. This pie plate from AHeirloom is just the cutest – and features pretty lettering from Molly Jacques!

9. My daily motto in sweatshirt form. The thermal travel mug also makes a great gift!

10. Pink linen napkins – perfect for anyone who likes to entertain! I’m also crazy about this well-wrinkled linen tablecloth.

11 + 12. I’ve amassed quite a collection of vases, but I’m always on the hunt for pretty new shapes and patterns. This striped vase from Jill Rosenwald comes in a literal rainbow of colors and is perfect for small, delicate floral arrangements, and I’ve been eyeing this brass hexagon vase for taller floral arrangements.

This post contains affiliate links. By clicking on these links, you’ll help support Oh So Beautiful Paper while also purchasing some wonderful gifts. I only recommend products that I truly love and trust that you’ll love, too. My full disclosure policy can be found here.