Navy and Gold Foil Agate-Inspired Wedding Invitations

Modern yet classic and geometric yet organic, this wedding invitation suite is full of the very best juxtapositions. Michael Musser of Anticipate Invitations drew inspiration from one of nature’s most beautiful elements when creating these striking navy and gold foil agate-inspired wedding invitations. How beautiful is that gold foil border formed by the agate lines against that gorgeous dark blue paper?! 

Navy and Gold Foil Agate-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Anticipate Invitations

From Michael: Sharla and Nick approached me with their own jumping off point ideas for their wedding stationery design, and I knew they were on to something that could be taken to another level with some carefully well thought-out details.

Navy and Gold Foil Agate-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Anticipate Invitations

Sharla wanted to bring in something modern and abstract, yet also keep the feeling classic and traditional. She also wanted to use the blue hues and metallic golds she would repeat through her other wedding design elements. After some initial designs that were more geometric in nature, we landed on the more organic, yet graphic lines, of an agate slice. It allowed for the invitation to be fully classic and fully modern at the same time. To lean classic, we kept everything in metallic gold foil and printed on Colorplan paper’s dramatic Imperial Blue. The lines of the stone were pulled from a scan of an actual agate slice, and then edited and filled in as necessary to perfectly frame the invitation’s wording.

Navy and Gold Foil Agate-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Anticipate Invitations

Navy and Gold Foil Agate-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Anticipate Invitations

To further mimic the stone, we used graduated shades of blue paper from Colorplan for the remaining details cards, so that when stacked, it would create a beautiful ombré effect. To visually tie the pieces together, the agate lines of the invitation were repeated on all the corners of the smaller cards. When stacked, they formed the complete agate design, but perfectly hid the invitation’s wording.

Navy and Gold Foil Agate-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Anticipate Invitations

The secondary cards included accommodations, a modern map card that mixed simple watercolor lines and gold foil, and the reply card with envelope.

Navy and Gold Foil Agate-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Anticipate Invitations

The cards were tied together with gold string in a random and layered fashion while framing the monogram that was printed on the back of the top details card.

Navy and Gold Foil Agate-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Anticipate Invitations

The suite was slipped into a clear vellum envelope, which was then inserted into a light blue outer envelope and lined with metallic gold paper. The envelope’s finishing touch was the set of four vintage postage stamps, that highlighted the blue tones and the geodes.

Navy and Gold Foil Agate-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Anticipate Invitations

Thanks, Michael!

Design: Anticipate Invitations
Printing: Hodgins Engraving
Paper: Colorplan Papers
Planning: Two Be Wed

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

Photo Credits: Very Robin & Co.

2017 Gift Guide for Creatives

Every year, I try to share a few favorite gift ideas for artists and designers, and this year I thought I’d broaden things a bit to include some gift ideas for all creatives – from aspiring artists to hobbyists to weekend DIYers. There are definitely a few things in this gift guide that I use on a regular basis, along with a few other things that are on my own personal holiday wishlist. So whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for someone who loves dabbling in creative pursuits or maybe just want to forward this on to your significant other to help them in their holiday gift purchases, hopefully there’s a little something for everyone below!

2017 Gift Guide for Creatives

1. Creatives of all types and backgrounds need to photograph their work, and ideally showcase it in the best possible light. Styling boards can seriously elevate the quality of those photos, but they’re definitely an investment. I’m a big fan of the double-sided styling surfaces from Erickson Woodworks and the plaster surfaces of One Stone West

2. I’ve been wanting to try weaving, and the colors in these weaving and roving packs from fiber artist Maryanne Moodie are just gorgeous. Just don’t forget the loom!

3. + 4. If someone is just starting out in a creative field, they might not have the resources to invest in beautiful styling props. I love these silk table runners from Tono & Co – they look absolutely stunning in styled shoots and can even double as a background for product photos. Ribbons also make the most beautiful styling props in photos, and I love these new ribbons with black edges from Angela Liguori!

5. Small dishes, like these gorgeous ring dishes from Suite One Studio, are great for holding ephemera on a desk – or even as props for styled photos!

6. Zojirushi mugs are the perfect way to keep beverages hot or cold throughout the day. Give one for hot beverages, and another to have ice cold water available throughout the day – it’s important to stay hydrated!

7. This adorable zipper pouch from Ban.do is the perfect way to organize pens, pencils, and paint brushes. 

8. + 9. Watercolor supplies make a lovely gift for an aspiring artist. I’m a big fan of this Koi travel watercolor palette for beginner artists, and Jenna from Mon Voir sells kits with professional level supplies that are great for intermediate artists and hobbyists. Don’t forget a pad of high quality watercolor paper. My favorite is Stonehenge by Legion Paper

10. These zippered pouches are a great way to stay organized! They’re basically modern trapper keepers, with tons of pockets both inside and outside, and can even fit up to a 13″ Macbook Pro! Plus, they come in some seriously fantastic colors. 

11. Houseplants are a great gift for someone who works from home. Check your local hardware store, or even Home Depot and Lowe’s for great deals on low-maintenance plants. These googly eye planters totally crack me up – I’d love to have a set for my home office!

12. It took me the longest time to invest in a quality paper trimmer – and it always drove me nuts when I needed to cut something in a straight line for a project! I have this hefty bypass paper trimmer and love it. Of course, this wouldn’t cut it for a professional stationer, but for DIY projects at home it’s absolutely fantastic. 

13. I have this Silhouette CAMEO and use it all the time for DIY projects (like these DIY Matisse-inspired pumpkins!). You can use it to cut out vinyl decals, create custom fabric transfers, and even create custom cut paper pieces!

*Also, creative classes and workshops make a wonderful gift for creatives! You can do some research to find local workshops in your area, or check out online workshops if that isn’t an option. I highly recommend the Modern Calligraphy Summit for aspiring calligraphers, and these online floral workshops from Nicole of Soil + Stem look amazing! If you’re in the DC area, my friend Michele teaches calligraphy and brush lettering workshops – and we’ve got lots of fun workshops planned at Common Room Studio in December and 2018!

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations

Imagine a Downton Abbey era garden party by the ocean. Sounds pretty awesome, right? Well, that’s exactly what Nichole of Coral Pheasant had in mind when creating these classic ocean-inspired wedding invitations! The entire suite is letterpress printed in a restrained slate blue, with classic typography and the most gorgeous envelope liner of painted waves crashing on the shore. So beautiful!

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Coral Pheasant

From NicholeKara and Victor were married by the sea this past August in Groton, Connecticut. Kara grew up spending her summers on the Connecticut shoreline and her love of the ocean and its energy greatly guided the direction of her wedding invitations. The grandeur of the Branford House is what drew them to the venue, but it was important to Kara and Victor that their wedding was formal and sophisticated – and by no means stuffy. A Downton Abbey era garden party by the ocean with clean lines and classic colors.

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Coral Pheasant

Kara shared with me that she wanted her guests to leave their wedding thinking “Wow! That wedding was beautiful, comfortable and fun. And the food was awesome!” While I couldn’t ensure the delicious food, I was totally game to get her guests excited about her wedding – and that’s just what their paper story did!

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Coral Pheasant

The typography of the invitation was classic and very considered, balancing a serif font with a charming script. The suite was letterpress printed in slate blue on 110# Crane’s Lettra and the main invitation and outer envelope flap were edged in the same slate blue, adding a restrained graphic pop. The envelope liner of painted waves crashing on the shore is a nod to Kara’s love of the ocean and the venue’s seaside location.

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Coral Pheasant

Additional, subtle color was layered in through colored envelopes: a light dusty blue for the outer envelope and a soft grey for the reply envelope. Illustrations of lavender sprigs and the printed stamps on the outer envelope add just the right touch of gaiety making this suite extra sweet. If you look closely, you’ll see that the printed stamps relate back to the ocean with illustrations of a shell and a lighthouse, along with their wedding date bordered by lavender sprigs.

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Coral Pheasant

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Coral Pheasant

Thanks Nichole!

Stationery Design and Styling: Coral Pheasant

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: Coral Pheasant

2017 Gift Guide: Small Business Gift Ideas

Well hello there, everyone! And welcome to our first gift guide of the season! I know Small Business Saturday was, well, technically on Saturday, but that shouldn’t stop us from supporting small businesses as much as possible throughout the year, right? So today I’m sharing some special small business gift ideas from some of my favorite makers and shops with a particular focus on home and style gift items!

Small Business Gift Ideas: Home + Style

1. Sunwoven: I’m absolutely LOVING the artist collaboration between Sunwoven and Anthropologie, particularly this throw and this pillow. Yes, this is Anthropologie, but these collaborations definitely support the artists and help them expand into products that they might not have the capacity to produce on their own. You can also find Sunwoven original wall hangings on their website right here and through their collaboration with West Elm here!

2. Beautiful, colorful baskets from 31 Bits that help support fair pay and clean, safe workplaces for artisans around the world.

3. Jill Makes Necklace: I have a couple of necklaces from Jill Makes – and someone compliments me on them literally every single time I wear them. I’m loving this coral and emerald wood bead necklace and this colorful necklace!

4. A beautiful piece from Secret Holiday Co. with a simple and powerful message.

5. Electric Sun Creatives makes the most beautiful metal wall hangings. I can’t stop thinking about this brass and copper piece. 

6. The River Haze: I just can’t get over the woven and macramé wall hangings by The River Haze, and the way she incorporates geometric wood art into some of her pieces. Just gorgeous!

7. When trivets are works of art. Loving these brass rainbow trivets from 31 Bits.

8. Hand painted wood wall charms by The Great Lakes Goods (the pastel rainbows are my current favorite!)

9. Candles make such lovely gifts! This ceramic candle is just gorgeous – and the vessel can be reused once the candle is done!

10. Beautiful nature-inspired ceramic pieces from A Question of Eagles

11. Amy Hamley Ceramics: I’m completely obsessed with all the amazing ceramics by Amy Hamley. These starburst dishes are absolutely incredible, but don’t even get me started on the gorgeous planters and vases. They’re all gorgeous and would make lovely gifts!

12. Paper & Clay Danish Mug: My husband gave me this mug in pink for Christmas last year, and I LOVE IT. This deep blue is so pretty!

DIY Watercolor and Gold Leaf Gift Tags

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cuties. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make Oh So Beautiful Paper possible!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, which means the season of giving is just around the corner! I grew up in Florida, so I always associate the months of December through February with amazing in-season winter citrus. My favorite little citrus fruit, Cuties, is finally back in our local grocery store – yay! Even though the days are shorter and the nights are longer, Cuties is sending us a dose of love and sunshine straight from their California groves right when we need it most. I’m so excited to celebrate both the season of giving and the return of Cuties season with these gorgeous DIY watercolor and gold leaf gift tags!

DIY Watercolor and Gold Leaf Gift Tags

Celebrate the Season of Giving with Cuties Mandarin Oranges

Now that I live in DC and spend most of my holidays with my husband’s family in upstate New York, I’ve learned to embrace the dark coziness of the winter months in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. We wrap ourselves in warm blankets, make tea and hot cocoa in the evening, light lots of candles with the seasonal scents of evergreen, vanilla, and citrus – and of course we snack on delicious, in-season winter citrus. My kids always reach straight for the bowl of Cuties on the kitchen counter: they’re sweet, seedless, easy for little hands to peel apart, and perfectly kid-sized. They’re also the perfect on-the-go snack, and we always bring a handful of Cuties when we’re out exploring on the weekends.

Celebrate the Season of Giving with Cuties Mandarin Oranges

One of the things I love most about being a mom of two little girls is seeing the way they offer love and affection so freely and easily. They’re full of hugs for all their little friends when I drop them off at school in the morning – and then again when I pick them up in the afternoon! Whenever her older sister is having a bad day or falls and scrapes a knee, my youngest daughter, Alice, will bring over her favorite toy or doll to make her older sister feel better. It’s the absolute sweetest thing to see.

DIY Watercolor and Gold Leaf Gift Tags

I wrapped a bunch of Cuties in these watercolor and gold leaf gift tags for my daughters to give to their teachers and school friends as our family’s Cuties Correspondents. I’ve been talking with my girls a lot lately about the concepts of kindness and compassion as we head into the holiday season, and these little treats are the perfect way to bring a smile to their friends’ faces as we head off for the holiday weekend. Even as adults, I’m sure we could all use a surprise treat with a sweet message to brighten our day. Cuties are the perfect snack to share with friends and loved ones, from preschool friends to coworkers, and these sweet gift tags make them even more special. Let’s make some!

DIY Watercolor and Gold Leaf Gift Tags

Supplies

Bag of Cuties!

Gift Tag Maker

Cotton Watercolor Paper

Watercolor Set or Watercolor Brushes

Size 6 Round Paint Brush

Gold Leaf Kit

Scissors

Ribbon

DIY Watercolor and Gold Leaf Gift Tags

To make the DIY watercolor and gold leaf gift tags:

Step 1. Use a gift tag maker to punch gift tags out of 100% cotton watercolor paper and create a small eyelet hole for the ribbon. If you don’t have a gift tag maker, you can use scissors and a standard hole punch. 100% cotton watercolor paper will best absorb the watercolor pigment without warping, so try to avoid lower quality paper or card stock for this project.

Step 2. Use a Size 6 round paint brush to paint a thin line of orange watercolor on one edge of the gift tag. I used this 30-color watercolor set, but these watercolor brush pens would be fun, too!

Step 3. Add a thin strip of gold leaf above the orange watercolor, leaving enough room to write a name above the gold leaf. Each gold leaf kit is different, so follow the instructions on your package for best results. 

Step 4. Wrap a Cutie in your favorite ribbon (or place a few Cuties into a little bag!), then attach a gift tag and write the name of the recipient. Too cute!

DIY Watercolor and Gold Leaf Gift Tags

DIY Watercolor and Gold Leaf Gift Tags

DIY Watercolor and Gold Leaf Gift Tags

I mixed things up with some gift tags that only have gold leaf, some that only have the dash of watercolor, and some that have both – so fun! For older kids, I love the idea of writing a sweet little note on the other side, but since my kids are still very young we kept our gift tags simple. Now that they’re just learning how to write their names and read, the kids in my daughters’ preschool and kindergarten classes just LOVE getting little gifts or notes with their names on them!

DIY Watercolor and Gold Leaf Gift Tags

DIY Watercolor and Gold Leaf Gift Tags

These gift tags are such a fun and easy way to add a dose of color and sparkle to little gifts – and if you have older children, they can even join in on the painting and gilding process!

How will you be celebrating the return of Cuties season? Share your ideas for brightening someone’s day in the comments below!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cuties. All content and opinions are my own. Brighten someone’s day and share the sweetness of the season by sharing Cuties with friends and loved ones during our #100DaysofSunshine!

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper