Search Results for: navy

{happy weekend!}

Woah.  How is it the last week of June already??  Slow down summer!  We’re preparing for another scorcher of a weekend here in DC, but I’m planning to spend most of the weekend indoors with nursery projects – from painting to putting the crib together!  After thinking about the layout for weeks, I’m so excited to see the room finally come together.  But in the meantime…

…a few links for your weekend!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

As usual, we have a fun cocktail coming up for you this afternoon, so check back a bit later for the recipe!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Monday!  xoxo

Photo Credit: Still An Oldie

Nancy + Guy’s Modern Navy and White Wedding Invitations

It’s so fun to see designers expand their horizons with each new project.  Virginia and Mishayla of Plane Paper specialize in laser-cut greeting cards and stationery, but recently took on a custom wedding invitation design project.  They created a modern chevron-inspired design for both the invitation and laser-cut envelope, partnering with their studiomate Repeat Press to letterpress print the invitation suite.

Modern Navy Wedding Invitations by Plane Paper via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6)

From Virginia and Mishayla: Nancy and Guy wanted a wedding suite that would remain timeless, yet have a modern edge.  We combined a bold, graphic chevron pattern with a serif font and traditional wording – all in classic navy blue.

Modern Navy Wedding Invitations by Plane Paper via Oh So Beautiful Paper (7)

Modern Navy Wedding Invitations by Plane Paper via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

We designed a laser-cut envelope, our signature element, again incorporating the chevron pattern.  The envelope was tied with a letterpress tag with the reception location and wedding website.  Yellow baker’s twine added a pop of summer color and sense of playfulness to the suite. 

Modern Navy Wedding Invitations by Plane Paper via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

We also designed ‘day-of’ elements, specifically flags wrapped around yellow and white paper straws.  Both the flag and tag used the ‘v’ of the chevron to allude to their respective, familiar silhouettes.

Modern Navy Wedding Invitations by Plane Paper via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

Thanks Virginia and Mishayla!

Design and Envelope: Plane Paper

Letterpress Printing: Repeat Press

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

Photo Credits: Plane Paper

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation

We love the challenge of creating an invitation suite based off of a unique theme, venue or color palette.  For this DIY tutorial, we were inspired by a fabulous vintage firework postcard (that we found while hunting at a local thrift shop)!  This combo would be so perfect for New Years Eve or July 4th nuptials – or even a Fourth of July party!  The mixture of colors and patterns is sure to make a statement to all of your guests. – Bailey and Emma of Antiquaria

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation by Antiquaria

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation by Antiquaria

Step One: Lay a 4.25 x 6″ card (preferably a heavyweight card stock) on a stable and hard surface.  Ink your invitation stamp (we used our Calligraphy Accent Invitation Stamp) and center it over card.  Press down firmly with moderate pressure, using the handle as the anchor point.  Lift off the stamp and set card aside to dry.

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation by Antiquaria

Step Two: Cut a navy sheet of paper into a 4.5 x 6.25″ rectangle.  Once the printed invitation piece is dry, flip over and adhere double stick tape to each edge.  Center over the navy card and stick it down pressing the edges to make sure that the two pieces are stuck together properly.

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation by Antiquaria

Step Three: In order to use our found postcard for all of our guests, we scanned the front image into the computer and printed out enough cards to suit our quantity.  (The cards ended up being 3.5 x 5.5″ rectangles).  We stamped the back of each card using our Calligraphy Accent Reply Postcard Stamp.  Of course, let the cards dry after inking.

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation by Antiquaria

Step Four: To make the belly band, cut a fun, patterned paper into 2 x 11″ or 2 x 12″ (depending on the length of your paper) strips.  Stamp a monogram (we used our Banner Name Monogram Stamp) in the middle and wrap the band around your invitation suite, securing it in the back with double sided or decorative washi tape.  Now all of your pieces will stay together and look cute at the same time!

DIY Tutorial: Rubber Stamp Fireworks Invitation by Antiquaria

Step Five: Stamp an A6 envelope with your return address (we used our Calligraphy Ampersand Return Address stamp), address the front, pick out your postage and send them on their way!

Materials:

Calligraphy Accent Invitation Stamp

Calligraphy Accent Reply Card Stamp

Calligraphy Ampersand Return Address Stamp

Banner Name Stamp

Stamp Pad (we used Midnight)

Cream Cardstock cut to 4.25 x 6 inches

Vintage Postcard measuring 3.5 x 5.5 inches, found locally

Navy Blue Cardstock cut to 4.5 x 6.25 inches

Patterned Paper (ours was custom designed and printed by Antiquaria)

A6 Envelope (we used Curry)

Double sided tape

Washi Tape

Tape Gun (optional but definitely helpful in taping on the navy backers)

Photo Credits: Jamie of Intertwyned

DC Guide: Where to Eat

Illustration by Molly Jacques for Oh So Beautiful Paper

We really, really love to go out to eat, and over the past few years DC has become quite the foodie town!  There are a gazillion amazing restaurants and it seems like a new restaurant opens every other week.  There’s no way I could cover everything, but here is a quick list (in no particular order) of our favorite restaurants in DC:

Photo Credits: Birch & Barley (Left); Star Chefs (right)

Birch & Barley (14th Street/Logan Circle)  Truly fantastic German-inspired nouveau cuisine, and one of our long-time favorite restaurants in DC.  If it were just about the food, Birch & Barley would still be one of our favorite spots, but they also have a wonderful beer director who really knows his stuff and a huge beer list with amazing rotation on tap.  I took my husband here for his first nice dinner after returning from a 6-month deployment in Iraq, and for special occasions we love to order the tasting menu – which comes with beer pairings selected by the beer director that truly enhance each course.

Photo Credit: Standard via Leo Schmidt

Standard (14th Street)  With outdoor-only dining, Standard is a perfect way to spend a warm summer evening with a group of friends.  Somewhere between a BBQ joint and a beer garden, Standard has fantastic sandwiches, hot dogs and bratwurst (my husband had a fabulous mustard currywurst), and a plethora of battered and fried sides, along with a long list of American and German craft beers.  A quick head’s up: they run out of the brisket really early, particularly on busy nights – so plan ahead!

Photo Credits: Eater DC

Fiola (Penn Quarter)  Fiola has quickly become one of our favorite places to both eat and drink in DC.  Everything is amazing, from the antipasti (we love the charcuterie and cheese plate) to the secondi.  We’re huge fans of the gnocchi and pappardelle, and definitely don’t forget to save room for dessert!

Photo Credits: Toki Underground (left) and Thrillist (right)

Toki Underground (H Street) They serve the most amazing Taiwanese-style ramen noodle bowls – and it’s the best ramen you’ll ever have.  Seriously.  The restaurant is very small, so expect a wait even on weekday evenings, but you won’t be disappointed.

Photo Credit: Smith Commons

Smith Commons (H Street) A fun bistro-style restaurant, we’re big fans of both the food and cocktails at Smith Commons – and the dessert menu is simply amazing.  They offer outdoor dining in nice weather and a cozy indoor dining room that is perfect for date nights or larger functions – we brought our in-laws here with us during their last visit and they loved it!

Photo Credits: Washington Post

Seventh Hill (Eastern Market)  For a casual Friday night out, we love the terrific Neapolitan-style pizza made with super-fresh ingredients.  I also love that the pizzas are named for Capitol Hill locales, like the Navy Yard, Potomac Ave, and Lincoln Park.

Photo Credit: Washingtonian

DC-3 (Barracks Row)  I’m probably the only person who would count an aviation-inspired casual restaurant dedicated to gourmet hot dogs as one of my favorite spots, but it really just is that good.  From traditional Coney Island hot dogs with mustard and chili to a California-inspired falafel dog with avocado and tzatziki sauce, you really just can’t go wrong here.  Also, BEST FRIED PICKLES in all of DC.  Sooo good…

Read below for more a few more restaurant recommendations!
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Megan + Kevin’s Illustrated Family Crest Wedding Invitations

I love the idea of having a family crest – and there’s nothing to say that you can’t develop your own crest to pass down to future children and grandchildren.  That’s exactly what bride and groom Megan and Kevin decided to do for their wedding invitations!  They worked with Richele from Richie Designs to design the invitation suite, which includes a custom family crest created by illustrator Serena Chang.  So cool!

From Richele:  Megan and Kevin wanted to develop a custom family crest.  Each item in the illustration has special meaning for them, and the Latin term means “better together.”  We worked with illustrator Serena Chang to develop the family crest.  We chose to digitally print the invitation due to time constraints, while the thank you cards and envelopes were letterpress printed.

We brought Megan’s orange and blue color palette into play by using formal outer, inner, and rsvp envelopes.  The outer envelope was white with a letterpress printed fleur pattern, while the inner envelope was orange with a custom envelope liner.  Finally, the rsvp envelope was navy blue – a color used throughout the invitation suite – and was letterpress printed with silver ink.

Thanks Richele!

Design and Printing: Richie Designs

Illustration: Serena Chang

Richie Designs is a member of the Designer Rolodex – you can check out more of Richele’s work right here or visit the real invi­ta­tions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Richie Designs