I love seeing beautiful business cards pop up on Instagram and Pinterest – so I thought I’d round up a few of my favorites from time to time, starting today! Sound good?
1. Belinda Love Lee / Instagram
3. Kirk from Sycamore Street Press / Instagram
Oh my – how pretty are these French-inspired handkerchief wedding invitations from Erin at Lucky Luxe? Originally created for a destination wedding in Paris (so dreamy!), I’m loving the elegant design details on both fabric and paper pieces – and of course the gold foil enclosure cards on warm gray paper! So lovely for any French-inspired affair!
From Erin: Amélie, our newest French-inspired fabric suite, is the epitome of elegance. Commissioned originally by Beth and Steven for their Parisian destination wedding, Amélie is the perfect compliment to any classic event (even if there won’t be a view of the Eiffel Tower). This delicate ivory handkerchief invitation paired with the charming enclosure card designs is an enchanting experience of its own upon delivery.
Thanks Erin!
Lucky Luxe is a member of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of their beautiful work right here or visit the real inviÂtaÂtions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!
Photo Credits:Â Lucky Luxe
Coasters aren’t exactly the sexiest thing on the face of the earth, but I like to think there’s something a little provocative about today’s surprisingly easy tutorial. I’m using scrap leather (or vinyl) to create mini cowhide coasters – definitely worthy of your finest (and most sultry) cocktails. – Mandy Pellegrin
Materials
Scrap white leather or vinyl
Mini Cowhide Templates
Black and brown permanent markers
Scissors
Step One: Trace each of the cowhide templates onto the back of the leather using a fine tip pen or marker.
Step Two: Carefully cut out each mini cowhide using a pair of sharp scissors.
Step Three: Â Add details and spots using black and brown permanent markers. Do a quick internet image search for “cowhide rugs” for inspiration. Begin by outlining your spots and blotches. Then fill them in with a small circular motion. Allow to dry, and apply a second coat if necessary.
Photo Credits: Mandy Pellegrin for Oh So Beautiful Paper
Ah, blush and gray. Such a timeless color combination! And so romantic. I actually think blush pink might be the most romantic color of all time – and it pairs well with pretty much any color in the rainbow and every single metallic known on Earth. Add in some gorgeous whimsical calligraphy from Brown Linen Design, elegant lace-inspired blind (no-ink) impression letterpress printed details, and perfectly coordinated vintage postage stamps, and you’ve got yourself a truly stunning invitation suite. Which is exactly what Nichole from Coral PheasÂant did with these romantic blush and gray wedding invitations!
From Nichole: Erin and Taylor’s romantic and elegant invitation suite let guests know that this was a celebration not to be missed! WorkÂing hand-in-hand with Erin and StaÂcie Shea Events, we creÂated these beauÂtiÂful blush and gray wedding invitations with a fresh spin on clasÂsic eleÂments.
On the main invitation, angled type and calligraphy by Brown Linen Design are framed with a floral border blind debossed on double thick Crane’s Lettra cotton paper. The thick cotton stock allows the blind impression to be deep and visually prominent – but in a subtle way. Blush envelopes with coordinating vintage stamps add a dash of color. The entire invitation suite was wrapped in delicate lace ribbon inspired by the bride’s gown and veil.
The day-of stationery and paper elements came full circle at the wedding and reception, with design details carried over to the programs, place cards, event signage, blanket wraps and foil stamped menus.
Thanks Nichole!
Stationery Design and Styling:Â Coral Pheasant
Calligraphy:Â Brown Linen Design
Coral Pheasant is a member of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of Nichole’s beautiful work right here or visit the real wedding invitations gallery for more invitation inspiration!
Photo Credits: Stationery PhotographyÂ: Athen
You don’t have to put away the champagne after New Year’s Eve. After last week’s Rosemary-Pear French 75, Nole and I decided it would be fun to devote the month of January to Champagne cocktails. So we’re going back to basics with our own twist on a classic: the very first Champagne cocktail was The Champagne Cocktail, one of the oldest and one of the best. – Andrew
Illustration by Shauna Lynn for Oh So Beautiful Paper
Lavender Champagne Cocktail
Champagne or Another Dry Sparkling Wine
1/2 oz St-Germain
2 dashes Lavender Bitters
Add the St-Germain and bitters to a flute, then fill the rest of the glass with chilled Champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist and enjoy!
I must confess: I’m not the biggest fan of Champagne, at least not by itself. Much of the Champagne made these days is very dry and acidic and not at all fun for me to drink. But that’s the beauty of the Champagne Cocktail: it takes a base spirit that can be rough to drink by itself, tempers is a bit with some sweetness, then rounds it out with the complexity of bitters. And the result – here a lightly sweet, deeply floral cocktail – is still wonderfully effervescent. So much fun to drink. (And if you’re not making this drink to impress the ladies in your life, you’re not doing it right.)
Champagne is an excellent showcase for other flavors, especially floral and fruity liqueurs. We used the elderflower-flavored St-Germain, but you might also enjoy Cointreau, Creme de Violette, or blood orange liqueur.
The original Champagne Cocktail goes all the way back to 1850 and looked a little different: a sugar cube dissolved by some aromatic bitters, like Angostura, then topped with Champagne and crushed ice, poured back and forth between two glasses to chill. Mixing with ice meant that the drink would go flat quickly, so you were meant to drink this version very fast, and then order another in quick succession. Not a bad plan.
But it’s a little plain, and Champagne demands partners as ostentatious as itself. Pairing with liqueurs like this also lets you set up a fun DIY cocktail station if you’re serving this drink at a party: set out some bottles of different liqueur, bitters, and some Champagne on ice, with a bowl of lemon peel garnishes, and let guests fix themselves their own Champagne Cocktails.
PS–You can find a set of these vintage silver-rimmed flutes over at our Etsy Shop!
Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper
// Ed Note: I topped our champagne cocktail with a tiny bit of edible gold leaf for a bit of extra sparkle. But you can stick with the traditional lemon peel garnish or even a couple sprigs of lavender if you’re making this at home. –Nole //