Happy Weekend!

Happy Friday everyone! We started with that amazing eclipse on Monday, and as of today we officially made it through our first week of school here in DC. Yay! Next week, Oh So Beautiful Paper will be on our annual summer hiatus – so we’ll be back with fresh new posts after Labor Day. Plus, I have some REALLY exciting news that I can’t wait to share with all of you! But you’ll just have to wait until September 5 to find out what it is! But in the meantime…

Envelopes by Blue Eye Brown Eye Calligraphy

Envelopes by Lauren Essl of Blue Eye Brown Eye Calligraphy via #dailydoseofpaper

…a few links for your weekend!

Grab this free printable editorial calendar to organize your blog and social schedule!

This is fascinating: the slave that taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey

100% adding this sweater to my fall closet

Feeling inspired by these colors and shapes

After years of searching, I finally found my dream raincoat! And it’s pale pink! (It also comes in mint green here.)

How cute is this pom pom tank?

A new online calligraphy class with Bailey of Antiquaria Design!

Card of the week! (by the always hilarious Emily McDowell)

 

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

Fifteen awesome 2017-2018 planners and agendas

We wrapped up our coverage from the 2017 National Stationery Show with two final posts: a party goods round up and a few final favorite products from the show!

Go Behind the Stationery with Egg Press

Make this fun DIY watercolor floral pencil pouch!

Stationery A-Z: Wedding Congratulations Cards

Remember waaaay back in the winter when all your friends were suddenly engaged? Well, wedding season has finally arrived! Which means it’s time for a round up of our favorite wedding congratulations cards! Break out the heels, get your summer suit cleaned up and start writing the world’s least boring, most endearing, tear-inducing wedding speech. And while you are at it, don’t forget to include a meaningful congratulations card that two people you deeply care about have decided to profess their love for each other in front of friends and family. And while you are at it, be sure to say thanks for the open bar. Shauna

Stationery A-Z: Wedding Congratulations Cards

From top left:

1. Love this naive floral illustration (in a bright spring palate) from our friends over at Egg Press.

2. Will you take this peony and wild rose bouquet from Banquet Workshop and Atelier to have and to hold from this day forth?

3. Personally, my favorite part of my wedding was the honeymoon. Celebrate an adventurous couple with a travel-themed design from Idlewild Co.

4. Not a fan of the institution of marriage? Call it like you see it with this foil and letterpress greeting card from Ashkahn.

5. Weddings aren’t just for brides and grooms. Celebrate ladies who love (and commit) with this fashion forward illustration from Ferme A Papierby Cat Seto.

6. Their big day deserves a callout – especially one that is hand lettered with silver foil (from Lionheart Prints).

7. Two misters? Two times the party! Get the celebration started with extra shiny holographic foil from The Social Type.

8. Sometimes life can be a fairytale….give this Antiquaria foiled design to the most romantic couple you know.

9. Marriage requires work and if you’ve made it through the wedding planning process, you’re well on your way to a successful lifetime partnership. From Paperboy London.

10. Did you know that swans mate for life? Anne and Kate do.

p.s. A few more favorite wedding congratulations cards from a couple years ago!

Stationery A-Z: More Graduation Cards

If you saw our post on graduation cards last week, you know that commencement season is in high gear. Before donning that classic polyester robe and mortarboard, take the time to pen a meaningful message of congratulations to celebrate hard-earned success. From food puns to neon typography, we’ve rounded up a wide assortment of cards to congratulate, celebrate and encourage any newly minted graduate on your list. Check out a few more of our selections below! Shauna

Graduation Card Round Up!

From top right:

1. I’m not sure exactly what ‘adulting’ entails, but I’m guessing it starts somewhere between paying bills and eating cookies for breakfast. From Orlando-based The Paper Cub.

2. Go places with this letterpress printed travel inspired graduation design from Wolf & Wren.

3. Animals in sunglasses. (Glitterati illustrated dog courtesy of Alice Bowsher for Wrap Magazine).

4. Saying it with bold typography and bright neon is the definitive way to get any point across. At least, according to Fig. 2 Design.

5. For those who are unfamiliar with letterpress printing, each individual color requires another run through the press. Which means this Parrot Design Studio card is a downright steal at $5 a pop.

6. Share with your hard-working graduate an encouraging message of posterior strength with this watercolor illustration from Antiquaria.

7. Present this diploma inspired greeting to the now legitimately certified college graduate (as well as some petty cash to get their new adult life going). Illustrated and designed by Idlewild Co.

8. If you know me, you know I literally never tire of a good food pun. This seasonally appropriate, BBQ-inspired design by Amy Heitman in no exception.

9. If your graduate is headed into the workforce, business casual will most likely be a part of their sartorial future. Share a precursor with this plaid greeting from One Canoe Two.

10. Your future IS so bright! Please note this card is the perfect size for a generous check (c’mon – they earned it!). From Hartland Brooklyn.

Stationery A-Z: Congratulations Cards

This may sound cheesy but I like to celebrate wins. There’s the obvious: promotion at work, engagement, pregnancy, new home, etc. All totally valid reasons to celebrate… but what are the less obvious? I’m talking about quitting a crappy job, deciding to live abroad for a year, or getting that last box unpacked in a new apartment. Making decisions can be hard, and your loved ones deserve a pat on the back every now and then for pulling the trigger and making things happen. On that note, we’ve selected a collection of congratulations cards sure to be winners! – Shauna

Stationery A-Z: Congratulations Card Round Up

From top right:

1. Niece aced her algebra quiz? Send her this emoji-inspired card from Ladyfingers Letterpress.

2. Neighbor quits their day job to focus full time on their artisanal sour cream company? Check out this abstract number from Moglea.

3. BFF was finally convinced to try online dating? Try this tongue in cheek design from Lionheart Prints.

4. Brother decides to shave that god-awful goatee? Celebrate with this painted crest from Antiquaria.

5. Spouse receives a well-earned promotion to Associate Vice Director of Assistant Management Operations? Commemorate with an anthropomorphic hot dog from Hello!Lucky.

6. Childhood bestie gets into first choice grad school to study the side effects of cell phone usage in circus animals? Tip your hat to them with this fashion-forward greeting from Clap Clap Design.

7. Friends fork over life savings to purchase a two bedroom apartment (no common room)? Subtilely invite yourself over for cocktails with this illustrated card from Ashkahn.

8. Coworker delivers near perfect presentation and receives what could be interpreted as upturned frown from an über boss? Give this message forward card from Smudge Ink.

9. Parent decides to retire from cushy office job to work twice as hard watching grandchild? Send them this octopus wielding champagne from Nicholas John Frith for Wrap Magazine.

10. Work spouse completes month long “Renaissance Painter” diet? Rejoice with burgers and this tv dinner illustration from Lucky Horse Press.

Stationery A-Z: Good Luck Cards

Good luck cards can be a sweet way to send a friend or family member an uplifting message of encouragement before a big event. Whether it’s a second interview for a new job, a meeting for a potential new home, a big date with someone exciting or an impending presentation they’ve been gearing up for months, a reminder that you are rooting for them is always appreciated. With so many fun choices out there, go forth and share that note of hopefulness!

Stationery A-Z: Good Luck Cards

From top left:

1. Send this Idlewild design to your fashionable friend who is en route to being the next Anna Wintour.

2. Really wishing this bandana design from Antiquaria was an actual textile that could be worn on days when a little extra luck is needed.

3. Live vicariously through your friend taking a year off to travel with this message-focused greeting from Ladyfingers Letterpress.

4. Lucky you who gets this ombré papercut design from Yellow Owl Workshop.

5. Big money, no whammies! Just blow on those Rifle Paper Co. dice and head straight for the craps table.

6. A horseshoe card from Zeebendry features a minimalist design and simple messaging.

7. This hand lettered design from Annie Dornan Smith is gesso printed and uses real confetti to add to its textural quality.

8. No surprise that one of our perpetual favorites, Hammerpress, created a beautifully patterned good luck greeting with a fresh color combination and geometric design.

9. Shiny and smiley! Rabbit feet, four leaf clovers, elephants, and wishbones have definitely got all elements of making someone’s lucky day. From Hello!Lucky for Paperless Post.

10. One Canoe Two wishes you the best of luck with a field full of clovers that feels likes its straight out of their Missouri farm.

11. Loving the traditional and occult symbols of luck, not to mention the silver foil, in this Banquet Workshop design.

12. A four leaf clover and hand lettered message make for a sweet sentiment from The Paper Cub.

13. Really want to hit one out of the park? Try one of these hand painted wall charms from The Great Lakes.