DIY Tutorial: Hot Air Balloon Birth Announcement

Within the past few months, we’ve had babies on the brain. We’ve had numerous requests lately from crafty moms-to-be wanting chic, custom stamps so that they can make their own birth announcements for their new bundles of joy. This balloon announcement design is sweet, feminine and the perfect way to share the birth of a beautiful little girl with family and friends. – Bailey and Emma of Antiquaria

DIY Tutorial: Chic Rubber Stamp Baby Announcements by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

Combining different pink hues (bright peony pink with the more traditional ballet pink) makes the design a bit more modern. And best of all…it’s super simple!

DIY Tutorial: Chic Rubber Stamp Baby Announcements by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

Step One:  Lay an A2 card (4 1/4″x5 1/2″) card down on a firm surface. Ink your stamp (we used our “Hot Air Balloon” Birth Announcement Stamp) thoroughly and center it over your card. Once it is positioned correctly, press down to make a print. Use both hands to ensure even pressure. Lift off and let the print dry. For more information on this process go here.

DIY Tutorial: Chic Rubber Stamp Baby Announcements by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

Step Two: Using the same technique as in Step One, print your return address (we used our Calligraphy Custom Return Address Stamp) on the back flap of an A2 envelope. To jazz up the back of the envelope, we used some adorable pink & gold washi tape!

DIY Tutorial: Chic Rubber Stamp Baby Announcements by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

Step Three: Now all that’s left to do is to address the envelopes, add postage (we used vintage postage from Verde Studio) and send them on their way!

A quick tip for expecting parents: Since you will have your hands full once the baby is born, it is smart to stamp and address the envelopes before the big day arrives. This way, all you will have to do is stamp the announcement (you will need all the baby’s info for this piece), stuff and mail the envelopes, leaving more time to enjoy your new little one!

Materials List:

“Hot Air Balloon” Birth Announcement Stamp

Calligraphy Custom Return Address Stamp

A2 Card in Luxe White

A2 Envelope in Luxe Blush

Stamp Pad Peony

Washi Tape

Verde Studio Vintage Postage

Photo Credits: Antiquaria

Emma’s Sweet Pink “Coming Home” Baby Announcements

As a new mom, I was in tears when Jackie from Believe Notes shared the story of new mom Karen and her twin girls – Emma Claire and Gabriella Hope – born 16 weeks premature last summer. Gabriella sadly passed away a couple hours after birth, but her sister Emma fought and grew stronger each day. Emma finally came home after six months in the NICU and her parents decided to send announcements to friends and family. I’m honored to share Karen’s story and Emma’s announcements today.

Pink "Coming Home" Baby Announcements by Believe Notes via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

From Emma’s mom, Karen: Emma Claire and her identical twin sister, Gabriella Hope, were born 16 weeks premature at 24 weeks gestation on Friday, July 13th, 2012. Gabriella’s lungs were too immature to survive and she passed away 2 hours after she was born in our arms. We were told it was not likely that Emma would make it, but she continued to defy all odds with each day she spent in the NICU. After 6 months in the NICU, Emma came home on January 11th, 2013. Since we were so consumed with having her in the hospital when she was first born, we didn’t get a chance to send out birth announcements. When she started getting close to coming home, we decided we would send out a coming home announcement.

Pink "Coming Home" Baby Announcements by Believe Notes via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

It was important to us that the announcement illustrated how far she had come in her first 6 months so we knew we wanted to include her birth stats as well as her coming home stats. Jackie took our ideas and created the perfect announcement to celebrate our brave little girl!

Pink "Coming Home" Baby Announcements by Believe Notes via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

Thanks so much Karen and Jackie, and big hugs to sweet Emma Claire!

Photo Credits: Believe Notes

{happy weekend!}

Happy Friday everyone! It’s been another crazy week over here, but we’re slowly digging out from all of our boxes! Sadly, Sophie came down with a bad cold this week, so we’ve been spending a lot of time trying to help our poor congested baby feel better. After what feels like a lifetime of packing, moving, and now unpacking, we’re determined to do something fun this weekend! But in the meantime…

Focus by Molly Jacques via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Image via Molly Jacques

…a few links for your weekend:

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

Check back soon for this week’s cocktail!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Monday!  xoxo

William’s Hospital Bracelet Baby Announcements

I couldn’t resist rounding out the week with one more baby announcement! I have all of our hospital bracelets saved in Sophie’s baby book at home, so these hospital bracelet baby announcements from Sarah Jane Winter seem like such a great idea! The bracelet opens to reveal a photo of baby William and his loving parents. So sweet.

Hospital Bracelet Baby Announcement by Sarah Jane Winter via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

From Sarah Jane: William’s father is a pediatrician that specializes in Neonatology (newborns) so I played with the idea of the new baby coming home from the hospital. A baby hospital bracelet was mimicked with the ‘vitals’ including name, date of birth, length, and weight. This was wrapped around the card and fastened with a button brad. A blue vellum sleeve wrapped the card.

Hospital Bracelet Baby Announcement by Sarah Jane Winter via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

The card was printed front and back with the photos I took of the family and a simple greeting.

Hospital Bracelet Baby Announcement by Sarah Jane Winter via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2) Hospital Bracelet Baby Announcement by Sarah Jane Winter via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

Hospital Bracelet Baby Announcement by Sarah Jane Winter via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

Thanks Sarah Jane!

Photo Credits: Sarah Jane Winter

Ari’s Modern Lion Birth Announcements

It’s been quite a baby-filled week so far, and I’m loving all of this beautiful baby-related stationery! Next up, these fun and modern baby boy birth announcements from Stephanie of Pink Orchid Press. Stephanie worked with Ari’s mama to come up with a lion theme to help give the new baby some additional strength to keep up with his older brother, pairing the lion motif with a modern sans serif font and pops of yellow.

Lion Letterpress Baby Announcements by Pink Orchid Press via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

From Stephanie: This announcement was designed for a sweet family just before their second son was born. They decided to wait until his birth to find out the gender, so we actually worked long and hard to create two very different – but equally beautiful – announcement designs. Mom Amanda knew that if her little one were to be a boy, he would need to be “strong and bold” to keep up with big brother Eli, and chose a simple lion motif.

Lion Letterpress Baby Announcements by Pink Orchid Press via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3) Lion Letterpress Baby Announcements by Pink Orchid Press via Oh So Beautiful Paper (7)

Lion Letterpress Baby Announcements by Pink Orchid Press via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

The colors chosen were equally strong and bold: curry yellow for a pop of color and chocolate brown for a solid, masculine feel. A simple sans serif font perfectly compliments the minimalist design, and both are reflected on an equally-adorable stationery set. Add a chocolate envelope liner and a perfect print of the sleepy little one (with his fists up and ready, no less) and this has become on of our favorite birth announcement projects yet.

Lion Letterpress Baby Announcements by Pink Orchid Press via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6) Lion Letterpress Baby Announcements by Pink Orchid Press via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

Thanks Stephanie!

Photo Credits: Andrea Sumner Photography