Search Results for: valentines

Calligraphy Inspiration: Nikki Ornopia

Hello everyone! September feels even more like a happy beginning and a new rhythm now that I’m a mama to school-age kiddos. So I thought I’d start here with this pretty print by a favorite calligrapher who’s new to the scene — and full of fresh inspiration. Here’s a peek into the work of Los Angeles-based calligrapher Nikki Ornopia. – Jen

Calligraphy Inspiration: Nikki Ornopia

Calligraphy Inspiration: Nikki Ornopia

Nikki is a self-taught calligrapher and she’s also ambidextrous! So all the work she’s shared here was done with her right hand, yet she’s a true lefty. How amazing is that! Nikki said, “I found in the beginning how difficult it was to letter with my left hand. I wanted to control the brush. I then thought, hey I’ve written with my right hand before let’s try that! The rest was history. Using my right hand for lettering allowed me the freedom of being more relaxed when I letter, and I noticed the letters were coming out SO much better.”

Calligraphy Inspiration: Nikki Ornopia

I love how Nikki incorporates watercolor into her calligraphy! Those watercolor garlands above are so sweet and these place cards have such a dreamy vibe to them. Nikki shares that her lettering style mixes simple and modern bouncy cursive and handwritten letters.

Calligraphy Inspiration: Nikki Ornopia

Look at how adorable these baby milestone cards are that Nikki created! So fun and unique.

Calligraphy Inspiration: Nikki Ornopia

Here’s a peek at Nikki’s favorite project that she’s worked on so far — a first day of school sign! This canvas piece was done for a kiddo who had just begun kindergarten. Nikki shares, “It took about 3 hours to finish with waiting for the watercolor to dry in between, but it was just an overall amazing project.” What a sweet keepsake!

Calligraphy Inspiration: Nikki Ornopia

Calligraphy Inspiration: Nikki Ornopia

Nikki works on traditional wedding calligraphy projects, too. (Of course!) I’m always a fan of the white lettering on brown paper look.

Calligraphy Inspiration: Nikki Ornopia

Calligraphy Inspiration: Nikki Ornopia

What are her favorite calligraphy tools? Nikki shares: “My main tools that I use are fine tip brushes. I also love using fine tip brushes for painting leaves. I love the precision details I can create with those types of brushes.”

Calligraphy Inspiration: Nikki Ornopia

Many thanks to Nikki for sharing her work with us! I hope your September is off to a happy start!

Photo Credits: Nikki Ornopia

Stationery A-Z: Love and Romance Greeting Cards

If you are one of those people who often declares “every day is Valentine’s Day” then this roundup is for you. Love IS grand and there is no need to hold all that emotion for only one day a year. Whether you just started dating or you’ve been married for years, a little romance can go a long way. A beautifully designed card and a thoughtful message is an easy (and cheap) way to show someone that you’re smitten, enamored or downright swooning for them. And who wouldn’t want that?! –Shauna

Love and Romance Card Round Up

From top right:

1. Vampires may be passè, but a Bloody Mary is always a good choice for both brunch and professing your undying love. From Wild Hart Paper.

2. For when nothing else but a horizontal cartoon dog will do. Illustrated by Alice Bowsher for Wrap Magazine.

3. Apparently these hot for each other lattes drop their sleeves on the reverse side of this card. Rawr! From E. Frances Paper.

4. Remember that Buster Poindexter song “Hot Hot Hot”? Yeah, this card is kinda like that. From My Darlin.

5. Add a line about coffee to this agenda and you’ve got a close to perfect day. From Ashkahn. 

6. This anatomically correct(ish) heart from Hammerpress is a winner and a lover. 

7. They’re the apple of your eye, so why not let them know with this honeycomb enhanced card from Inklings Paperie?

8. Mysticism, rites of passage and love go together like naive illustrations, clever messaging and Great Lakes Goods.

9. Pucker up! This smooch-y number comes courtesy of Canadian-based Paperole. Illustrated by Maxime Francout.

10. Say it with neon pink or don’t say it at all. The neon pink liner is an extra bang for your buck. From Los Angeles-based Sugar Paper.

11. Me-ow! Enough said. From Huckleberry Press. 

12. Sometimes, the quickest way to the heart is also the simplest. This modern calligraphy comes courtesy of Evermore Paper Co.

Stationery A-Z: Thinking of You

It’s no secret that we love greeting cards here. No matter what the occasion, we’ve got the perfect birthday, congratulations, apologies or good luck card just waiting for you. Same goes for sanctioned holidays like Valentine’s Day, mothers day, Easter, etc. But what if there is no particular occasion or holiday? What if you simply want to reach out to a friend to say I miss you, you’re OK, or I’m here for you? Look no further! We’ve got those too, and they aren’t called Thinking of You cards for no reason. Friends need our thoughts and love just as much as spouses and parents, so make up your own occasion and send one of these beauties below. –Shauna

Thinking of You CardsFrom top right:

1. A good friend deserves the limelight (just as much as they deserve a well-designed card from One Canoe Two).

2. I’d be smiling if I received this Sgt. Pepper inspired Lucky Horse Press design.

3. The best of ships ARE friendships! From Great Lakes Goods.

4. As if you need a reason to send an image of a fish riding a bicycle. Here’s one – it’s a FISH riding a BICYCLE. From Hello!Lucky.

5. Know someone going through a hard time? Show your support in a way that only granny panties can illuminate. From Lark + Raven.

6. Not sure what to say? Start with the basics with this wood type inspired design from My Darlin’.

7. Send this extra shiny Emily McDowell design to a pal who just, you know, gets it.

8. I’ve asked this question so many times. But seriously, how come all my best friends can’t just move in next door? We can share wi-fi. From Farewell Paperie.

9. I like veggies. You like veggies. Let’s be friends. From Clap Clap Design.

10. If they’ve been a good friend, why not let them know how much you truly appreciate it? From Hollow Brooklyn.

11. Best friends are magic – remind yours why they matter with this caffeinated pun from Amy Heitman.

12. Miss someone? Let them know! From Anemone Letterpress.

Happy Weekend!

Nevertheless / And Here We Are via Instagram

Image by And Here We Are via Instagram

Happy Friday everyone! How was your week? Are you covered in snow right now? We had a few flurries yesterday, but nothing compared to the many inches a bit further up north! This week was a bit of a whirlwind for me, since I spent most of last weekend and the early part of this week at the semi-annual NYNOW trade show in New York before coming home to DC. If you like, you can see some of my favorite finds from the show here. It’s always a fun show, with lots of great things to see.

Everyday Watercolor from Jenna of Mon Voir is officially available for pre order!

Tips for penning the perfect love letter

This year, I’ll be planting all my houseplants in pink pots

Super cute DIY classroom valentines without the candy (and with free printables!)

How cute are these aqua-dipped ceramic canisters?

These chocolate-dipped wafers would be fun to make for a birthday party!

Absolutely in love with this glam velvet settee (that brass base!)

 

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

Enrollment for the Modern Calligraphy Summit 2.0 is NOW OPEN!

Copper and burgundy baby shower invitations

Even more examples of our love affair with copper foil!

Calligraphy inspiration from Rachel Anne Design

Fun black and gold foil surprise birthday party invitations

Have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here next week! xoxo

Stationery A-Z: Copper Foil

We’ve often waxed poetic about our love of gold, holographic, and rose gold foil on wedding invitations and greeting cards, but today we thought we’d sing the praises of copper foil! Copper has a striking beauty all its own (case in point: this stunning skirt from Proenza Schouler or this sleek light fixture from Anthropologie), and is quickly making a home for itself in the stationery world. I’m especially loving the use of copper on dark backgrounds (so modern!). Here is a collection of some recent favorites:

Trendspotting: Copper Foil

From top left:

1. A copper foil cocktail on gorgeous blush pink paper from Fox & Fallow

2. Fun striped copper foil party plates from Bash Party Goods!

3. The combination of hand lettering and copper foil in this birthday card from Hello!Lucky is the perfect balance of elegance and fun

4. If you’re behind on your Valentine’s day greetings (or missed all three of our earlier posts), might you consider this simple, yet direct, message from The Social Type.

5. The copper is the whiskey…get it? This clever usage comes courtesy of Idlewild Co.

6. Stunning metallic cotton ribbon from Angela Liguori

7. Toss some of this copper confetti from Knot & Bow into a greeting card for a fun surprise – or sprinkle it on a table at your next party!

8. I’ve been a fan of printmaker Katharine Watson’s work for awhile now and I love that she moved in the foil space.

9. Meg from Moglea always comes up with the most amazing color stories and combinations, so it’s not surprising that she was an early adopter of this metallic trend.

10. Now, this is what I’m talking about: copper foil on gray paper is so fresh. Add some illustrated flowers and you’ve got yourself a winner. By Kelsey Garrity Riley for Red Cap Cards.

What’s your favorite metallic foil these days? Classic silver or modern gold? Are you loving copper foil, or feeling all things holographic? Let us know in the comments below!