01/17/2019

The Blueprint Model 2019

Hey friends! Last week, I shared a little bit about The Blueprint Model business coaching program and how it’s helped me gain clarity in my own business. Registration for this year’s program is now open â€“ in fact, today is the LAST day to sign up if you want to participate this year!

The Blueprint Model is a 12-week business coaching program designed specifically for creative entrepreneurs, with 10+ hours of coaching and advice from other creative entrepreneurs, more than 25 ready-to-use templates, a 60-page workbook, and tons of other extras. Over those twelve weeks, Shanna covers everything you need to start, grow, and eventually scale a thriving creative business â€“ from figuring out how YOU personally define success (which was totally eye opening) to pricing and spending plans, including how to pay yourself a salary and set up a cash flow that will help cover slow months. I really canâ€™t say enough good things about this program. Fellow alums include fine artist Britt Bass, flower farmer Erin Benzakein Floret Flower, creative director Megan Gonzalez of Mae Mae Co., and lots more.

One of the things that I love most about The Blueprint Model is Shanna’s beautiful way of giving creative entrepreneurs permission to build a business around the lifestyle we want. What motivates you? Why are you in your business as a stationer, calligrapher, artist, etc.? Defining what success looks like for YOU individually and figuring out the balance that you need to be happy is powerful stuff. I thought I knew before the program, but I ended up surprising myself â€“ and gave myself the ability to make adjustments as needed as a result. The program has been life changing for me in so many ways!

For the first few years of my business I was pretty much just winging it. I never took the time to define what “success” looked like to me or come up with a sustainable business plan. I mean, I set some early financial goals (like replacing my former salary or earning a certain amount each year), but that didn’t reflect what I truly wanted from my future. When I enrolled in The Blueprint Model, I took Shanna’s Core Motivators assessment and everything started to come together. I was able to better define my big picture and the things that motivate me, then factor those motivators into my pricing so that I didn’t feel like I was constantly spinning my wheels and working 24/7.

Registration for the Blueprint Model is only open ONCE per year, and thatâ€™s right now! So if youâ€™re feeling stressed and overworked â€“ or if youâ€™re just starting out and want to get your business off the ground in a sustainable way â€“ this is such a valuable program for you. Plus, you get lifetime access to the course materials, so you can continue to revisit the program as your business grows and develops. Registration closes at 11:59 pm today, January 17, so donâ€™t wait!

01/07/2019

The Blueprint Model 2019 + Bringing Basics Back Workshop

Happy Monday everyone! Are we all starting to come out of our holiday fog? I spent a good part of the holiday break reflecting on 2018 and thinking about what I want from 2019 (and beyond), both personally and professionally (and I’m working on a post to share with you later this week). Did any of you do the same thing? This past year felt especially overwhelming, and I definitely felt like I needed the break to just slow down and think about things a bit. If you follow me on social media, it might look like I have everything together, but there is SO much going on behind the scenes that I don’t talk about in public â€“ or at least I haven’t, yet. I’m sure the same is true for you, and it’s also true for everyone you look up to. We all have different circumstances that shape how we build our businesses in this particular season of life. The way I want to run my business now, as a mom of two young girls, is different than the way I was able to run my business before I had kids.

Anyway, if you’re a creative entrepreneur with the same feeling of overwhelm, I wanted to share a resource that has helped me figure out all the financial aspects of my business and eliminate some of the mental and business clutter that was holding me back. I talked about The Blueprint Model a bit last year, which is an amazing twelve week business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs. The Blueprint Model is only open ONCE a year, and the new session is coming up soon! But first, my friend Shanna (the mastermind behind The Blueprint Model) is hosting a FREE mini workshop called “Bringing Basics Back” â€“ with two hours of online training â€“ prior to reopening the doors to the longer coaching program.

When I started Oh So Beautiful Paper I had no idea what I was getting into. I never went to business school or design school, and the blog was just meant to be a creative hobby at the beginning! I never took the time to establish goals, define what success meant to me, or write out a business plan (oops). I had no idea how to price a sidebar ad, much less a sponsored post, and blogging was still so new that there wasn’t really enough data out there to use as a model. I relied on friends to help figure things out and honestly just made a lot of stuff up, but I was never really sure of what my prices should be and it was hard to feel confident in what I was charging. Once I found The Blueprint Model, it taught me to think about things differently and how to price things in a way that matched the kind of life that I want to lead.

I know there is a lot of education on the market today, and I’m honestly so glad that there are online resources that didn’t exist when I was first getting started. If you run a service-based business and are struggling to make ends meet, feel like you’re constantly spinning your wheels, and want to build something that will last the long haul â€“ The Blueprint Model can help you SO much. Shanna taught me the fundamentals, like:

How to price for profit
How to be a steward of my finances (instead of wondering where it all went)
How to not emotionally price and stand up for the value of my work
How to create systems and routines to reduce chaos and use time wisely

So if youâ€™ve got big plans for your business in 2019, I encourage you to start with Shanna’s Bringing Basics Back Mini Workshop, and sheâ€™s going to walk you through her Core Motivators assessment. The week-long (and totally free) workshop kicks off today, so don’t wait! Sign up right here.

12/11/2018

Deep Blue Modern Ocean Wedding Invitations

Anyone else majorly feeling bold and deep blue tones right now? It’s just such a fantastically moody hue, and it pairs so well with all of my other favorite colors, from mustard yellow to our color of the moment coral. These deep blue modern ocean wedding invitations from Lustre Theory make quite the bold statement with imperial blue envelopes, a hand painted watercolor jellyfish envelope liner, and watercolor hand lettering! Gorgeous calligraphy by Seniman Calligraphy is the perfect finishing touch.

From Kristin: I live and breathe the details whenever I design an invitation suite, and this one is no different. For me, it’s a chance to put a piece of detailed art directly into someone’s hands and make them feel special, even if just for a moment. It’s so personal! This wedding invitation embodies a modern ocean design theme. We chose a strong, deep blue for the design, which was printed on Moab Entrada Rag Bright 300 paper stock and paired with a dark Imperial Blue square with euro flap from Cards & Pockets for the envelopes.

We chose white calligraphy ink with a modern flair by Seniman Calligraphy for the main envelope, main envelope back flap, and RSVP envelope. A perfect white wax seal completes the main envelope. We chose stamps with modern ocean designs and a connection to the downtown Norfolk, Virginia waterfront location. You will see a shell, a tug boat, and an Oscar de la Renta fashion stamp that looked too much like deep blue water to not include.

The watercolor jellyfish on the envelope liner was hand painted and digitally reproduced by me to match both the color and sea theme. You’ll see black, shades of gray, blue, and purple within the watercolor. The lettering on the invitation and RSVP card mirrors the watercolor texture on the liner. I wanted the invitations to be simple and clean but also bold and well designed.

Thanks Kristin!

Design: Lustre Theory
Calligraphy: Seniman Calligraphy
Envelopes: Cards & Pockets
Stamps: Vintage Postage Shop
Paper: Moab Paper

Looking for more wedding invitation inspiration? Visit our wedding invitations archive for more custom wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Angela Elise Photography

11/16/2018

Friendsgiving 2018

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Are you hosting this year? What about Friendsgiving? We always go up to my in-laws for Thanksgiving, but I have dreams of hosting my entire family someday. And now that my kids are a bit older, we might even be able to pull off hosting a small Friendsgiving gathering! Today I’m teaming up with Wheatley Vodka and a few seriously talented DC-area creatives to dream up my ideal cozy Friendsgiving celebration. And in addition to table inspiration, we’re sharing printable stationery and a couple of holiday cocktail recipes that you can make this holiday season!

I imagine an informal potluck style dinner with cozy candles, delicious cocktails, and of course some of our closest friends for company. And whether I’m planning a birthday party or a small dinner gathering, I always start by choosing the color palette. Neutrals are perfect any time of year, but I also brought in a few seasonal pops of color like burgundy, rust, and mustard yellow in the flowers and a few of the details. So cozy and welcoming!

The table settings are pretty simple, which is perfect for an informal gathering. Light gray ceramic plates, woven placemats for texture, some of our favorite glassware, and a couple of vintage brass candlesticks. Lori and Colleen from Wld Wst, a local floral design studio here in the DC area, made the most beautiful fall floral arrangement for our table. I also made a few DIY pom-poms in our fall color palette and wrapped them around knotted dinner napkins in mismatched colors (we used white, light blue, and pink). One of these days I’ll learn how to properly fold a napkin, but for now I’m really liking the napkins this way!

You know we’re all about the signature cocktail, and the holidays are no exception. Wheatley Vodka is made by the same folks behind Buffalo Trace Distillery, which has been making bourbon whiskey along the banks of the Kentucky River for more than 200 years. That’s more than two centuries of spirit-making knowledge! Wheatley Vodka is crafted in small batches using a one of a kind micro-still, using the same red winter wheat grain used for Weller and Pappy Van Winkle bourbons. The red winter wheat grain gives Wheatley Vodka a smooth, delicate finish that is pure and crisp on the nose, with hints of soft vanilla. It’s pretty much perfect for crafting holiday cocktails!

We made two holiday cocktail recipes with Wheatley Vodka for this Friendsgiving celebration: a bright and fizzy take on the classic French 75 (served in the coupe glass above and garnished with fresh herbs) and a winter punch that you can make in a huge batch for larger gatherings!

Cocktail illustration by Bright Room Studio

Wheatley 75

2 oz Wheatley Vodka
1 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
1/2 oz Orange Liqueur
1/4 oz Aquavit

Shake the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and strain into a coupe glass. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with a sprig of rosemary or thyme. Enjoy!

The Wheatley 75 is bright, effervescent, and a little bit tart â€“ absolutely perfect for this season! If you’re making this cocktail for a group of people, you can even mix up 2-3 at a time in your cocktail shaker, then just top with sparkling wine in the glass. We used prosecco, but any sparkling wine should work!

Cocktail illustration by Bright Room Studio

Spiced Winter Punch

1 bottle Wheatley Vodka
1 bottle Apple Cider (about 64 oz)
3 cups Lemon Juice
1 1/2 cups Cinnamon Syrup
1 1/2 cups Orange Liqueur
6 oz Allspice Dram
48 dashes Cardamom Bitters

Combine all the ingredients in a punch bowl and fill with ice and citrus slices. Serve in punch glasses and garnish with seasonal herbs or a cinnamon stick. Enjoy!

We’ve gotten so many requests over the years for an easy winter punch, and I’m beyond thrilled with how this recipe turned out! It’s basically all of my favorite fall flavors in one cocktail. Feel free to adjust the quantities depending on how many people you’re expecting â€“ this recipe will definitely fill up a punch bowl, so cut the ingredients in half if you’re expecting a smaller gathering.

Another favorite party tip: I always a drink station where friends and family can gather and chat before sitting down for dinner. All you need is a big punch bowl filled with spiced winter punch, a cheese board for snacking, and a floral arrangement â€“ or a vase filled with eucalyptus or foraged greenery. A little bit of greenery can go a long way and helps to balance bottles or punch bowls on the other side of the credenza.

Lindsey from Bare Ink Co. created these absolutely stunning invitations for our Friendsgiving. I love the way Lindsey’s lettering feels both a bit fancy but also relaxed and informal â€“ perfect for a Friendsgiving potluck!

Lindsey also made food and drink menus and the sweetest little conversation cards that you can place on each plate in lieu of place cards! I’m so excited to offer the menus and conversation cards as a printable download for all of you. Just download the files at the bottom of this post, print on regular letter-sized card stock, then cut out around the black outline! You can add your own text in Adobe programs if you have them, or just drop the entire file into Word. Easy peasy. We printed our menus on both vellum and card stock, and it’s absolutely impossible for me to pick a favorite!

We also personalized the invitations and menus with a single brushstroke of dark green paint on the left hand side. It makes every invitation and menu feel personalized, and it’s such an easy way to bring more of your color palette into your stationery!

I know the food is the heart of the holiday season, but it’s definitely more our style to make a signature drink or two instead of a traditional Thanksgiving dish. I love the idea of giving your guests drink menus instead of food menus at a holiday gathering â€“ especially if you’re doing a potluck style dinner! We placed our drink menus right on the plate so guests could keep them as a reference while trying the different cocktails.

And seriously, how cute are these little conversation cards? You can download them through the links at the bottom of the post! We placed them on custom engraved wood coasters by Michele from Meant to Be Calligraphy. Michele also engraved one of the Wheatley Vodka bottles with the word “gather” and I can’t think of a better sentiment for this upcoming holiday season.

I hope you all have a wonderful Friendsgiving weekend and Thanksgiving holiday! If you make any of our holiday cocktail recipes, please be sure to tag @beautifulpaper and @wheatleyvodka on Instagram so we can see how they turn out!

PRINTABLE FOOD MENU

PRINTABLE DRINK MENU

PRINTABLE CONVERSATION CARDS

Creative Direction and Styling: Nole Garey of Oh So Beautiful Paper

Prop Styling: Joanna Carden

Stationery and Calligraphy: Lindsey Swink of Bare Ink Co.

Cocktail Recipes and Vintage Glassware: Liquorary

Florals: Lori Tran and Colleen Rogin-West of Wld West

Wood and Glass Engraving: Meant to Be Calligraphy

Cocktail Recipe Illustrations: Bright Room Studio

Venue: Common Room Studio

Photography: Lauren Louise Collective

This post was created in partnership with Wheatley Vodka. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make Oh So Beautiful Paper possible!

11/13/2018

Bonus November Wallpapers + Workshops at Common Room Studio!

Happy Tuesday friends! I have some fun holiday gathering inspiration coming up this week, but first I wanted to share a couple of upcoming events at my studio space â€“ Common Room Studio! This weekend we’ll be learning all about making wall mounted vines (!!), or come learn paper marbling and bookbinding just in time to make some handmade holiday gifts. Itâ€™ll be so fun â€“ if youâ€™re in the DC area, weâ€™d absolutely love for you to join us!

If you saw the tour of Common Room Studio’s living room area a few months back, you may have seen just a few houseplants hanging out in the corner by our south-facing windows â€“ and a few more over by our favorite Article sofa. We probably have around two dozen plants around the studio at this point! I don’t have quite as many at home thanks to the kids and cats, but I’m a big fan of bringing houseplants into your living space, from small potted plants to larger indoor trees. Not only do they help soften a space and improve indoor air quality, but they also bring in color and texture. I’ve been wanting to learn how to create wall-mounted vines and ferns, so I’m thrilled that the ladies of Rock Paper Plant will be joining us at Common Room Studio for a living wall hangings workshop this Saturday, November 17 from 11 am – noon!

Wall Mounted Plant Workshop

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to make a beautiful living wall hanging with easy-to-care-for philodendron vines â€“ and go home with your very own wall mounted plant! In their natural environment, these plants grow on rocks or trees, not in the pots you see at the garden store. You’ll learn how to grow these plants vertically with a little bit of moss and tree bark. No experience or green thumbs needed! All materials, including plants and care instructions, will be provided. Sign up right here!

Paper Marbling Workshop

I’m also thrilled to be hosting a paper marbling workshop with Kelly Laughlin of Odette Press on Sunday, December 9 from 10 am – noon! If you haven’t ever done paper marbling before, it’s basically magic and SO much fun. And also kind of meditative and soothing? We held our first marbling workshop back in April and I loved every second of it! You’ll create your own collection of marbled paper, either for yourself or to give as a handmade holiday gift! The class is $55, with all materials provided and no previous experience necessary. Sign up right here!

Bookbinding Workshop

After the magic of paper marbling in the morning, Kelly will teach a bookbinding workshop on Sunday, December 9 from 1 – 3 pm. If you’re looking for a fun handmade holiday gift idea, I can’t imagine anything better than giving someone a handmade notebook or journal! We’ll learn all about bookbinding tools and processes and head home with two hand stitched journals made with our very own hands. Tickets are $70 and include all materials needed to make two notebooks in class, along with a take-home tool kit for creating your own journals at home. You can sign up right here!

Desktop | iPad | iPhone

Finally â€“ now that the election is behind us, I have a bonus November wallpaper from Kim of Bright Room Studio for you! Kim created this fun watercolor pattern of gourds and fall leaves, which we turned into wallpaper for your desktop, iPad, and phone! Just download the appropriate size through the links above, and enjoy!

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The Blueprint Model 2019

The Blueprint Model 2019 + Bringing Basics Back Workshop

Deep Blue Modern Ocean Wedding Invitations

Friendsgiving 2018

Bonus November Wallpapers + Workshops at Common Room Studio!