07/21/2011

DIY Embossed Custom Stationery

Itâ€™s the ladies ofÂ AntiÂquaria, back with another fabÂuÂlous and creÂativeÂ DIYÂ project for you all! Â This week they show us how to use rubber stamps to create beautiful custom stationery!

How on Earth can you achieve the high end look of engraving on a shoestring budget?? Â Answer: Embossing!

When we first launched our rubber stamp collection, we tried everything we could think of to achieve a legible white ink on dark (or kraft) paper and we quickly found out that regular inks don’t do a very good job. Â We were thrilled when one of our clever customers used this technique on the cover of her wedding programs, embossing white on navy paper. Â From there we started experimenting and found it looked awesome on all sorts of colorful paper!

You can use this embossing technique on lots of different projects, such as these fabulous and simple gift tags. Â We also used it to create a set of custom stationery, perfect for thank you notes!! Â For the gift tags, we used our Calligraphy Names Stamp.

Step One: Get your supplies ready. Â Unscrew the top to the embossing powder and uncover the stamp pad. Â Make sure your envelope is set on a (really) hard surface, with a piece of scrap paper set underneath (to catch excess powder). Â Using the embossing (clear) stamp pad, ink the stamp thoroughly. Â Center the stamp and press down with even pressure. Â We used ourÂ Calligraphy Return Address Stamp on this envelope.

Step Two: Immediately following stamping the image, pour on a healthy amount of embossing powder. Â Shift powder around a bit to ensure your image is completely covered. Â When you are satisfied, pour the excess onto the piece of paper underneath and lightly tap off any excess (not too hard or the powder will loose hold of the sticky ink). Â Pour the powder back into the jar.

Step Three: Â Using your embossing heat tool, heat image (holding the gun 3-5 inches from the surface) until the powder has melted into a solid, approximately 30 seconds. Â Let cool.

*Be careful not to burn yourself on this very hot tool. Â Also, if you hold the embossing heat tool too close to the paper, it could scorch or warp.

Materials:

Rubber Stamps: We used Calligraphy Names Stamp and Calligraphy Return Address to create the personal stationery and gift tags.

Clear Embossing Stamp Pad

A2 Envelopes in Navy

For Gift Tags:

Photo Credits: Antiquaria

07/18/2011

Amy + Blake’s Classic Black and White Letterpress Wedding Invitations

Some things just never go out of style â€“ and elegant calligraphy wedding invitations are first and foremost on my list. Â Melissa and Amy from Atheneum Creative sent over these beautiful black and white calligraphy invitations that they designed for Amy’s own wedding, along with some of the corresponding day of wedding stationery. Â They partnered with PenDance for the gorgeous calligraphy and Sideshow Press for the letterpress printing â€“ the entire suite is just lovely!

From Melissa and Amy: The invitation design was inspired by the texture and ornate details of the architecture inside the reception venue, the Corinthian. Â We wanted something elegant and traditional. Â Each piece in the set was uniquely designed using only black ink and texture. Â TheÂ full bleed,Â blindÂ press detail was a perfect complement to Crane’s cotton Lettra paper. Â The script is beautiful hand calligraphy fromÂ PenDance, rendered even more stunning withÂ letterpress printing byÂ Sideshow Press. Â The beauty of this design was all in the details.

We wanted the ceremony program to be simple and beautiful. Â The intent was toÂ notÂ overdo the design or distract from the church or ceremony. Â The names on the cover were printed with a gold foil stamp which was inspired by the gold details throughout the church. Â The design of the menu came together after picking out the china for the dinner. Â I used a gold foil stamp to pick up the gold rimmed china.

Thanks Melissa and Amy!

Design: Atheneum Creative

Calligraphy: PenDance

Letterpress Printing: Sideshow Press

Photo Credits: J. Cogliandro Photography and Chelsea Davis Photography

07/06/2011

Whitney + A.K.’s Colorful Letterpress Wedding Invitations

Today I’m super excited to feature the wedding invitations from Whitney of Gus & Ruby Letterpress! Â Whitney and Samantha are two seriously talented stationers, so when it came time for Whitney’s own wedding I was dying to see the invitations! Â Whitney worked with Love*Jenna Calligraphy, incorporatingÂ Jenna’s beautiful script into a bright and colorful invitation suite inspired by dahlias and the bridesmaids’ wedding attire. Â Cyd from The Sweetest Occasion is featuring the full wedding today, so check out all the beautiful details right here. Â But now, time for the invitations and coordinating wedding stationery!

From Whitney: Â The entire wedding was planned around the color of the bridesmaid’s dresses (a vibrant, warm purple shade) and shoes (a bright shade somewhere between peach and coral) and the invitations were no exception. Â I felt strongly that while I wanted our invitations to be different, I didn’t want to do something so over the top that it didn’t mesh with my and A.K.’s personalities, which are laid back and fun, but not flashy. Â This was a struggle for me as a designer, printer and owner of a stationery boutique, but I think I succeeded in the end. Â Overall I wanted the invitation suite to set the tone for the wedding: a fun, backyard garden-party with saturated mid-August colors.

We used dahlias as our main flower and I created abstract versions of them to use as the design for the paper goods. Â I didn’t want them to be obvious flowers so I spread them around the invitation at varying sizes and heights so they would feel celebratory â€“ almost in the way fireworks do. Â We chose Jenna Hein from Love*Jenna Calligraphy to write choice words for each piece because of her playful, whimsical style that also has traditional undertones. Â The muslin bag came into play because I have never been a big fan of opening an invitation envelope and having numerous pieces fall into my hands. Â The bag housed all of the pieces and also tied in to the numerous textures we used throughout the wedding.

The biggest challenge aside from the number of runs through the press (most pieces were 4-color) was hand-mixing the inks to match the fabrics. Â None of the colors I ended up with were actual PMS colors!

In addition to beautiful wedding and rehearsal dinner invitations, Whitney created several coordinating day-of stationery elements, including letterpress ceremony programs that honored the memories of family members, beautiful table numbers, and fun cake menus. Â And of course, as a stationer, Whitney couldn’t forget to print herself some matching thank you cards!

So pretty! Â Congratulations again to Whitney, and don’t forget to check out her beautiful wedding right here!

Design and Letterpress Printing: Gus & Ruby Letterpress

Calligraphy: Love *Jenna Calligraphy

Photo CredÂits:Â Brea McDonÂald Photography

06/16/2011

Wedding Details: Escort Cards and Place Cards

You already know how much I love wedding invitations, but I also love day-of wedding stationery â€“ place cards, ceremony programs, menus, and all sorts of other fun papery goodness. Â Today we’re rounding up some of the prettiest and most creative ideas as inspiration for all of you, starting with escort card and place card ideas! Â There are so many ways to get creative with escort and place cards for your wedding that everyone can find something that fits in withÂ their style or theme.

You can’t go wrong with a silhouette escort card for a classic wedding (left), and this “seating cards in a bottle” idea is so creative! Â Both from Martha Stewart Weddings

Beautiful calligraphy and neutral cards by Neither Snow

I want to go to a wedding that features these adorable button escort cards! (left) Â Equally adorable is using a typewriter to type each person’s name and then attaching a vintage typewriter key (right). Â Both viaÂ Martha Stewart Weddings.

AnotherÂ button idea, perfect for a rustic wedding. Photo by Max Wanger via Elizabeth Anne Designs.

This escort booklet idea is so versatile – featured in Martha Stewart Weddings (left). Â Photo of cupcake escort card by Jill Thomas, card by Posh Paperie via 100 Layer Cake (right).

How cute are these pinwheels for a whimsical, outdoor wedding? Photo by Jessica Stout via Style Me Pretty.

Love the color and types used in these cards.Â Ruby and Willow via Oh So Beautiful Paper.

Great color and visual impact in this example; perfect for a casual wedding. Â Photo by Studio Nouveau, escort cards by Strong Studio via Ruffled.

These fabric escort cards (left) were DIY’d by the bride and groom â€“ so creative! Â Photo by Brett Buchanan viaÂ Style Me Pretty. Â I also love the idea of beautiful calligraphy on green apples for a fall wedding (right). Â Photo by Meg Perotti, calligraphy by Calligraphy Katrina via Style Me Pretty.

These wrapped succulents are perfect for weddings, showers, Sunday brunches… Â Photo by Mary Swenson via Somewhere Splendid.

Skeleton keys and satin ribbon – so romantic! Â Photo by Kate Headley via United With Love.

Stay tuned for moreÂ beautiful escort and place cards!

p.s. Do you know the difference between place cards and escort cards? Â Simply put, escort cards guide your guest to their designated table, while place cards help guests find their assigned seat. Â Escort cards are typically placed at a central location at the entrance to the reception. Â Guests will find their card, then locate their table based on the number indicated on the card. Â Place cards, which are only necessary if you have assigned seating at your reception, sit at each individual place setting â€“ hence the name!

{images via their respective sources}

05/31/2011

Lauren + Joel’s Old Timey Letterpress Wedding Invitations

I love it when designers get married â€“ I get practically giddy in anticipation of the awesome wedding stationery. Â So when Lauren and Joel from Old Tom Foolery got married last summer, I couldn’t wait to see what they came up with for their invitations and save the dates. Â The result is an old-timey-meets-classic wedding invitation suite that perfectly suits both Lauren and Joel’s personalities as well as the cool venue where they were married â€“ all with a total sense of fun, fun, and fun.

From Lauren and Joel:Â We wanted the event to feel fun, with a hint of old-timey-ness. Â After all, we were trying to convince friends and family from around the country to come to Toledo, Ohio. (Not a destination on everyone’s ideal vacation list.) Â We tried to get people excited with an oversized theater poster-type save the date. Â This is really where we had our fun with the printed pieces. Â The save the dates were then followed up with a more toned-down invitation that still retained the look and feel of the first piece. Â We kept the look going with ceremony programs, thank you notes, place cards, and cookie jar labels for my mom’s famous homemade cookies.

The invites were printed byÂ Norman Clayton of Classic Letterpress in Emeryville, CAÂ on Crane’s Lettra and the envelopes were from Paper Source. Â We also tried to find vintage stamps that fit our personality, like a funny guy with a mustache, a printing press, Ohio stamps, and a retro film stamp since we got married at an historic theater. Â Tor Weeks did the hand lettering on the outside of our envelopes (she is also the designer of our Typestache poster).

The whole look of our event was based on the colors and vibe of two things: The Dahlia Dell in Golden Gate Park, which we used to walk to when we lived in San Francisco, and the gigantic mural of historic performers at theÂ Valentine Theatre, where we were married. Â We pulled rich magenta and plum colors from the garden and mural and accented them with a variety of reds, oranges, greens, and neutral browns. Â But the best part of the night was really the awesomeÂ Motown band we brought in from Detroit.