Blue Agate-Inspired Watercolor Wedding Invitations

A bit of agate-inspired prettiness to brighten your Wednesday! Agate slices and jewel tones are having quite a moment these days, don’t you think? First these gorgeous purple-hued agate-inspired invitations a few weeks ago, and now these vibrant blue agate-inspired watercolor wedding invitations from Debbie Wong Design! The watercolor does a great job of mimicking the unique and varied nature of agate stones. And the hand painted watercolor is even more beautiful when paired with deckle edge paper and modern calligraphy in white ink!

Blue Agate-Inspired Watercolor Wedding Invitations by Debbie Wong Design

From Debbie: The aesthetic and rich jewel tones of agate were the main inspiration for this invitation suite. Blue is incredibly versatile and a beautiful color to use year-round, no matter how seasonal trends may change.

Blue Agate-Inspired Watercolor Wedding Invitations by Debbie Wong Design

Since agate stones come in so many different patterns, the background for the invitation and response card were also unique from one to another, due to the handmade nature of watercolors. Another unique element of agate slices that we wanted to highlight was the unique crystal design at the center of each stone.

Blue Agate-Inspired Watercolor Wedding Invitations by Debbie Wong Design

I decided modern calligraphy was an appropriate style to use for this fun invitation suite, and white ink was the perfect choice to stand out the most against the dark blue tones of the suite. The invitation suite was created on hand deckled cotton rag paper to get a gorgeous texture. Then, the invitation and the response card were tied together with a soft dusty blue silk ribbon from Silk and Willow, before inserting them into a light blue envelope.

Blue Agate-Inspired Watercolor Wedding Invitations by Debbie Wong Design

Vintage stamps were another fun detail we incorporated. Blue stamps fit the theme, but we added a couple of brightly colored stamps to make the envelopes stand out in a fun and vibrant. A blueberry stamp was also incorporated, and this motif tied in with the menu card.

Blue Agate-Inspired Watercolor Wedding Invitations by Debbie Wong Design

The reception was going to be a cocktail style affair, so the menu items were hors d’oeuvres instead of a full seated dinner. The menu was also made on the same hand deckled cotton paper, with a little blueberry painted on the top as the header. We used watercolor to write the appetizer names onto these cards. I knew using watercolor would give the menu cards an organic look with the colors varying slightly from word to word.

Blue Agate-Inspired Watercolor Wedding Invitations by Debbie Wong Design

We used actual agate slices as food labels for the stations at the reception. Brilliant white ink with modern calligraphy was used to match the invitation suite’s calligraphy. I purposely chose three distinctive looking agate stones for the appetizer cards, as no two agates are exact, just like a hand painting. This was such a fun project to orchestrate and I love how it came together!

Blue Agate-Inspired Watercolor Wedding Invitations by Debbie Wong Design

Thanks Debbie!

Design, calligraphy, & hand painting: Debbie Wong Design

Ribbon: Silk and Willow

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

Photo Credits: Debbie Wong

Lucas’s Pokemon Birthday Party Invitations

It’s so fun to see how talented designers interpret their kids birthday party theme requests, especially as they get older! I’ve had the pleasure of featuring every single birthday party invitation that Lisa from Good on Paper has designed for her sons Lucas and Theo, and I’ve loved watching the themes evolve from numbers to superheros to animals to magic. For Lucas’s 7th birthday party (!!!), Lisa put her spin on a Pokemon-themed party! For the Pokemon birthday party invitations, Lisa created her own modern take on a Pikachu design complete with a sunny yellow balloon and envelope liners with a photo of the birthday kid. So fun!

Pokemon Birthday Party Invitations from Good on Paper

Pokemon Birthday Party Invitations from Good on Paper

From Lisa: Lucas asked for a Pokemon themed party for his 7th birthday. As usual, I like to put my own modern spin on the theme. I designed the invitations with a simple and modern take on Pikachu’s face. I initially wanted to mail each invitation with a balloon that had a hand drawing of Pikachu’s face but it didn’t quite work out the way I wanted.

Pokemon Birthday Party Invitations from Good on Paper

Instead, each invitation came with a yellow balloon taped to the yellow backing of the invitation with some black striped washi tape. The custom envelope liner had a photo of Lucas looking at a Pokemon book written in Japanese from our date to the Kinokuniya bookstore in San Francisco’s Japantown. The invitations were mailed in sunny yellow envelopes and sealed with wraparound address labels.

Pokemon Birthday Party Invitations from Good on Paper

Every birthday party we throw includes donut holes and custom paper cones – definitely a big hit with the party guests!

Pokemon Birthday Party Ideas from Good on Paper

Pokemon Birthday Party Ideas from Good on Paper

For the party favors, I made Poke Surprise Balls using white crepe paper streamers, a black Sharpie and red acrylic paint. Each Poke Ball included a few Pokemon figurines, Japanese candy, and a colorful whistle.

Pokemon Birthday Party Ideas from Good on Paper

For the birthday cake, I made a super easy red velvet cake and cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I had seen many Pinterest photos of cupcakes resembling poke balls but I didn’t have the time or energy to go that route. Instead, I just put seven Pokemon figurines on Lucas’s cake and one each on top of the cupcakes. The kids were so excited to get more figurines and negotiated trades.

Pokemon Birthday Party Ideas from Good on Paper

Pokemon Birthday Party Ideas from Good on Paper

We also hired a face painter who specialized in Pokemon drawings. Some kids had their full face painted and others, like Lucas, just had a character drawn on their face or arm.

Pokemon Birthday Party Ideas from Good on Paper

Every year, my husband Nick and I tag team on making the piñata. This year I made a giant Poke Ball using the paper maché method and filled it with Japanese candies and fruit gummies.

Pokemon Birthday Party Ideas from Good on Paper

Thanks so much Lisa! And happy 7th birthday Lucas!

p.s. You can also see the invitations from previous birthdays: 65, 4, 3, 2, and 1.

Photo Credits: Good on Paper

DIY Iridescent Rainbow Vases

Happy Monday everyone! Today I’m excited to share a fun idea for adding some color to your next gathering – DIY iridescent rainbow vases! My friend Christine from Yellow Owl Workshop used this amazing iridescent vinyl in her booth at the National Stationery Show last year, and I’ve been wanting to use it in a DIY project ever since. But you guys, this project is so quick and easy I’m almost reluctant to even call it a DIY. These iridescent rainbow vases are the perfect way to dress up a table or buffet during a party – go with the full rainbow color spectrum, or just choose a couple of hues that fit your party color palette. Wouldn’t they be especially cute at a baby shower or rainbow-themed birthday party??

DIY Iridescent Rainbow Vases

DIY Iridescent Rainbow Vases

Supplies

Glass bud vases or cans in varying sizes

Iridescent vinyl in pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple

Ruler

Pencil or bone folder

Scissors

DIY Iridescent Rainbow Vases

DIY Iridescent Rainbow Vases

DIY Iridescent Rainbow Vases

If you’re using glass bud vases, all you really need to do is measure and cut the vinyl! I wanted all of my vases to have color at different heights, so I measured various lengths in each vinyl color. Then I used my ruler and a bone folder to score the vinyl at the appropriate length and cut along the scored line with scissors. You could also use a pencil to score the vinyl, but since it is transparent I wouldn’t recommend using a pen or permanent marker to draw any lines. Next, remove the protective bottom layer from the vinyl and apply the sticky side to the vase. Work your way slowly around the entire vase and smooth the vinyl down as you go to avoid air bubbles.

DIY Iridescent Rainbow Vases

I also love the idea of repurposing old cans (or even smooth glass jars with straight sides) to make your own vases! I had a bunch of cans around the house from our most recent taco night, so I just removed the labels and spray painted the jars white. The vinyl application is the exact same as the glass bud vases. And if you’re not into painting, you could also wrap the cans with white paper and apply the vinyl over the white paper. So fun and modern!

DIY Iridescent Rainbow Vases

DIY Iridescent Rainbow Vases

If you don’t have much experience with creating floral arrangements, keep things simple by just using one type of flower! I used a few different kinds of flowers, but used only one type of flower in each individual vase. The tall bud vases work best with long, leggy flowers – like sweet peas (my fave!), tulips, or even a single peony stem. For the cans, I used clusters of carnations and garden roses paired with seeded eucalyptus. Here’s a little floral chart so you can find these beauties at your local flower market!

DIY Iridescent Rainbow Vases

Calligraphy by Meant to Be Calligraphy

For those of you planning rainbow-inspired parties, this DIY is for you! I made these vases with my daughter Sophie one afternoon after school, and she immediately claimed the pink and purple vases as her own. YES! Kid approved = job well done.

Photos by Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Oh So Beautiful Paper x Mixbook (and a giveaway!)

Well, this is an exciting day! I’m absolutely thrilled to announce my brand new collaboration with Mixbook: holiday photo cards! I’ve enjoyed working with Mixbook over the last year, including at this year’s Paper Party, and I was completely delighted when they invited me to create two designs as part of their Holiday Photo Card Collection! Today I’m sharing both holiday photo card designs with all of you, AND we’re giving a Mixbook credit to one lucky reader below!

Oh So Beautiful Paper x Mixbook Holiday Photo Cards

I wanted the cards to be able to serve as both holiday cards and New Year’s cards (since I can never get my own cards out before Christmas), and I wanted the design to appeal to those of you who might be looking for a fun and whimsical but decidedly non-traditional design. For the first design, the Mixbook team and I really wanted to capture some of the iridescent and holographic vibe from this year’s Paper Party back in May, with some sparkly gold elements and bold brush lettering for an extra dose of holiday cheer. The second design features a barely-there pink watercolor wash behind the photo with clean and modern type selections. They’re both available for purchase from Mixbook right here!

Oh So Beautiful Paper x Mixbook Holiday Photo Cards

Oh So Beautiful Paper x Mixbook Holiday Photo Cards

The cards are digitally printed on ethically sourced paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and the Rainforest Alliance on your choice of satin finish, signature matte, or premium paper and with the choice of square or rounded corners. You can even add in matching address labels and holiday gift tag stickers!

Oh So Beautiful Paper x Mixbook Holiday Photo Cards

The cards come with Mohawk 70 lb white envelopes with an option for pre-printed envelope addresses, but I couldn’t resist bringing in a few gorgeously calligraphed envelopes by Anne Robin Calligraphy.

Oh So Beautiful Paper x Mixbook Holiday Photo Cards

I had so much fun working with Mixbook to create this mini collection – I hope you love the designs as much as I do! To celebrate the new designs, we’re giving $50 Mixbook credit to one lucky reader that you can use for your own holiday photo cards! Just enter via Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Calligraphy Inspiration: Ettie Kim Calligraphy and Design

Hello everyone! I’m excited to share some pretty calligraphy inspiration from that captures a fluid and organic calligraphy style. Nowadays, it’s easy to find fonts and digital graphics that incorporate fanciful lettering, and I’m all for calligraphy taking over the world. But when you see an artist doing calligraphy in a way that looks so uncalibrated, so imperfectly perfect, with brushstrokes that you simply can’t create with the click of a mouse, that makes me appreciate this art form that much more. So take a peek through the work of Ettie Kim Calligraphy and Design!

Calligraphy Inspiration: Ettie Kim Calligraphy and Design

Ettie, an East Coast native, shared on her Instagram that she took the leap into a full-time creative career after a detour through law school. It’s clear Ettie has a love for handmade papers, and the delicate raw edges feel like the perfect canvas for her delicate calligraphy. I also love all the botanical patterns she mixes in with her work. Ettie Kim’s website includes a just-launched shop where you can hire her for projects from semi-custom invitations to address labels, and she shares her inspiration: “My lettering work is inspired by the asymmetrical, irregular forms found in nature, and I aim for unique design that is organic yet refined.”

organic-calligraphy-program-wedding-ettiekim-osbp

Calligraphy Inspiration: Ettie Kim Calligraphy and Design

organic-calligraphy-savethedate-ettiekim-osbp

Simplicity rules, as you can see in this sweet save-the-date by Ettie.

Calligraphy Inspiration: Ettie Kim Calligraphy and Design

These invitations were designed with a dusty rose ombré to match the bridesmaid dresses.

Calligraphy Inspiration: Ettie Kim Calligraphy and Design

A vintage crate adorned with sweet calligraphy is just about the perfect spot for cards and gifts for a rustic modern wedding.

Calligraphy Inspiration: Ettie Kim Calligraphy and Design

Honey jar wedding favors with custom calligraphy tags. | Photo credit: Nikki Kauzlarich

Calligraphy Inspiration: Ettie Kim Calligraphy and Design

On Ettie’s site, she notes you can contact her “for other bespoke inquiries” (which I love) including non-paper projects like designing a calligraphy tattoo. Let me just say, I have no tattoos and I was not the teenager who was ever pining for a tattoo. But recently (late thirties crisis?!), I’ve had this newfound desire to get inked in part because of all the amazing calligraphy tattoos I’m seeing popping up on inspiration boards. I’m still not sure I’ll ever take that big permanent leap, but if I were to get a tattoo, Ettie would be one of the first artists I’d look to for the design.

Photo Credits: Ettie Kim Design, except where noted

Thanks for following along and be back soon with more calligraphy love!