Search Results for: baby announcement

Emery’s Wood Alphabet Block Birth Announcements

Okay, these wood alphabet block birth announcements by Melissa of Atheneum Creative for her daughter Emery are just TOO CUTE. And such a unique idea! Inspired by classic wood blocks, Melissa created a wood block baby announcement with Emery’s initial engraved in the wood in classic alphabet block style. Melissa also engraved Emery’s birth details on the side in a combination of classic serif text and calligraphy script by Meant to Be Calligraphy. So pretty!

Wood Alphabet Block Birth Announcements by Atheneum Creative / Oh So Beautiful Paper

From Melissa: Someone once told me when I had my son, “You did not have a baby, you had a client.” And I just think that line is so funny… because it’s so true. I push the design is so many different directions, present them to my husband, then come up with a whole different range of designs and make the decision so difficult on myself.

Wood Alphabet Block Birth Announcements by Atheneum Creative / Oh So Beautiful Paper

I really wanted to create something really special for this birth announcement – something that showed the “building” of our family. My son, who was just over two when Emery was born, was stacking blocks in his room one night. And as I sat there and helped him stack and stack, I felt the concept of sending a block for our little girl was just too perfect.

Wood Alphabet Block Birth Announcements by Atheneum Creative / Oh So Beautiful Paper

As I worked on the design, I kept pulling back saying this was just not “girly” enough for me. I knew that it needed some calligraphy from Michele from Meant to be Calligraphy to soften the look. We also used a chalkboard paint to give the wood block a soft blush color before engraving the design. The block announcement was mailed in a white box with some wood filler and a small little accordion folded card with family photos.

Wood Alphabet Block Birth Announcements by Atheneum Creative / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Thanks Melissa!

Design: Atheneum Creative

Calligraphy: Meant to Be Calligraphy

Atheneum Creative is a member of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of their beautiful work right here!

Photo Credits: Chelsea Davis Photography

Best of 2015: My Favorites

Oh So Beautiful Paper: The Best of 2015 / Calligraphy by Cast Calligraphy

Image by Cast Calligraphy

Today I’m wrapping up my 2015 recap posts with some of my personal favorite posts from the year! 2015 was, for me, kind of a chaotic year. I feel like I spent most of the year chasing deadlines and constantly running around in an effort to just keep up, which didn’t leave much time to think about the future or how I want to grow my business. So while I’m still trying to wrap my head around my thoughts and goals for 2016, I know that at least part of what I want for the new year is to slow down, simplify, and focus on doing things intentionally rather than constantly reacting to everything around me. In the meantime, I’ve been looking back at 2015 to figure out what worked, what brought me joy (like the posts below), what I want to change, and what I want to do MORE of in 2016.

Hand Painted Rose Gold Foil Baby Announcements / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Alice’s Hand Painted Rose Gold Foil Baby Announcements

Okay, so I’m obviously totally biased, but I’m still completely nuts for Alice’s birth announcements! Each individual announcement was hand painted by Jenna of Mon Voir, meaning no two announcements are the same, and feature Jenna’s calligraphy and text printed in rose gold foil by Bella Figura on their gorgeous smooth cotton paper.

Brick + Mortar: All About NSS Mailers / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Brick + Mortar: All About NSS Mailers

Emily‘s Brick + Mortar column continues to be one of my favorite bright spots on OSBP! Two of my favorite installments from 2015 are the post that Emily and I co-wrote in March about NSS mailers and Emily’s post in September about the importance of the word “no” in growing your business.

Brick + Mortar: How Saying No Can Help You Grow Your Business / Art by the Dancing Cat / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Brick + Mortar: How “No” Can Help You Grow Your Business / Artwork by The Dancing Cat

Paper Party 2015! / Oh So Beautiful Paper / Photo by Charlie-Juliet Photography

Paper Party 2015!

This year’s Paper Party was a huge undertaking and SO much fun! We went with a subtle tropical theme with a color palette of cobalt blue, gold, and shades of pink, and plenty of tropical details like palm fronds, flamingos, and tropical fruit. The invitations were designed by Moglea with a hand painted background, hand painted envelope liner pattern, and text printed in matte gold foil by Bella Figura. Michele of Meant to Be Calligraphy addressed the envelopes in gold ink, and I dip dyed them in pink Kool-Aid!

Hand Painted and Matte Gold Foil Invitations for Paper Party 2015 / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Paper Party 2015 Invitations!

Tips for Working from Home / Bright Room Studio for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Tips for Working from Home from Bright Room Studio

Love these tips from Kim of Bright Room Studio for anyone working from home!

The Earth Laughs in Flowers / Oh So Beautiful Paper + Mon Voir Calligraphy Collaboration

The Earth Laughs in Flowers Art Print

Our very first limited edition art print! I collaborated with Jenna of Mon Voir on these gorgeous art prints featuring her floral watercolor artwork and calligraphy printed in matte gold foil. I can’t wait to do more of these collaborations in 2016, and in the meantime you can pick up your very own print right here!

Best of 2015: Babies + Kids

Oh So Beautiful Paper: The Best of 2015 / Calligraphy by Cast Calligraphy

Image by Cast Calligraphy

Nothing makes me happier than a beautiful baby announcement or colorful birthday party invitation. It’s hard to resist anything that involves an adorable photo of a newborn baby, and birthday party invitations can be so much fun – especially in those first few years when you can really do whatever you want! Ha! Baby announcements and birthday party invitations are a fabulous opportunity to create beautiful stationery (but without the added pressure that can come with creating a wedding invitation). My favorite baby announcements and birthday party invitations are those that manage to be whimsical, sophisticated, and kid-appropriate all at the same time while somehow not being overly cutesy. Some favorites from the year include a simple and modern hand lettered birth announcement, woodland critter birthday party invitations, gold foil polka dot baby announcements, watercolor popsicle birthday party invitations, and some SUPER fun invitations for a 5th birthday party!

The Best Birthday Party Invitations of 2015: Watercolor Calligraphy Popsicle Birthday Party Invitations by Maison Everett / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Watercolor Calligraphy Popsicle Birthday Party Invitations by Maison Everett

The Best Baby Announcements of 2015: Hand Lettered Letterpress Birth Announcements by The Good Twin and Power and Light Press / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Modern Hand Lettered Letterpress Baby Announcements by The Good Twin and Power and Light Press

The Best Birthday Party Invitations of 2015: Wild Kratts Birthday Party Invitations by Good on Paper / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Wild Kratts Animal-Inspired Birthday Party Invitations by Good on Paper

The Best Baby Announcements of 2015: Gold Foil Polka Dot Birth Announcements by Lauren Chism / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Gold Foil Polka Dot Baby Announcements by Lauren Chism

The Best Birthday Party Invitations of 2015: Woodland Fall Harvest Birthday Party Invitations by Swiss Cottage Designs, Photo by Sweet Root Village / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Woodland Critter Fall Harvest Birthday Party Invitations by Swiss Cottage Designs / Photo by Sweet Root Village

More baby announcements and birthday party invitation ideas right here!

Classic Gray Birth Announcements

These classic gray birth announcements from Lauren Chism Fine Papers are so refreshing! Not a speck of pink or blue in sight! I love how the neutral tones and clean, classic design allow the sweet baby photo to shine – and of course I’m partial to the name Alice. Such a wonderful keepsake for a beautiful new baby!

Classic Gray Birth Announcements by Lauren Chism Fine Papers / Oh So Beautiful Paper

From Lauren: Now that my husband and I are expecting, designing anything baby related just makes my heart skip a beat. I can’t get enough! I have been wanting to expand my letterpress birth announcement collection, so this is all working out very well 😉

Classic Gray Birth Announcements by Lauren Chism Fine Papers / Oh So Beautiful Paper

These announcements are extra special to me because Laura was my very first wedding client when I launched my business full time. Over the years, I have gotten to design some holiday cards and baby shower invitations for her… and then, this beautiful sweet girl arrived and I had the honor of designing her birth announcements. Birth announcements, much like wedding invitations, are such a special keepsake and something special for the family to look back on for a long time. I love how certain pieces of stationery, to those who love it, are so much more than just pieces of paper.

Classic Gray Birth Announcements by Lauren Chism Fine Papers / Oh So Beautiful Paper 

Back to the design! Once Laura chose the photo, the neutral tones of the image really leant themselves to a more muted ink color. She wasn’t into pink, so we tried out some shades of grays, tans and blues and landed on this pale gray. We paired it with gray envelopes in a lighter shade. This neutral color lover thought they were perfect. They are just so classic and chic, which really is fits Laura’s style.

Classic Gray Birth Announcements by Lauren Chism Fine Papers / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Thanks Lauren!

Design: Lauren Chism Fine Papers

Letterpress Printing: Elefant Press

Lauren Chism Fine Papers is a member of the Designer Rolodex – you can check out more of Lauren’s beautiful work right here!

Photo Credits: Lauren Chism Fine Papers

How to Use Vintage Stamps

I love, love, LOVE using vintage postage stamps on envelopes. They add a little something special to everything from wedding invitations to dinner and cocktail party invitations to baby announcements. Vintage stamps offer a wonderful opportunity to represent your personal style, whether chosen thematically or by color palette. And since unused postage never expires, there are endless options to suit every type of occasion – from a formal black tie wedding to a casual backyard gathering. Here are a few of my tips for how to use vintage stamps – plus, I put a collection together with some of my favorite vintage stamps that you can use in your own projects!

How to Use Vintage Stamps / Oh So Beautiful Paper for eBay

How to Use Vintage Stamps / La Happy

Photo Credit: La Happy Design & Calligraphy

1. Add it Up

First things first: vintage postage must add up to current postage rates. While searching and shopping for stamps, make sure that you have one stamp worth at least 25¢ (or more!). Wedding invitations and birth announcements mailed in a larger envelope usually require a minimum of 71¢ postage. The 3¢ and 8¢ stamps are great for rounding out a color palette or subject theme, but you’ll need a 29¢ or 33¢ stamp in the mix to make up the difference in the total postage amount.

How to Use Vintage Stamps / Wondrous Whimsy

Photo Credit: Diana McGregor Photography / Calligraphy by Wondrous Whimsy

How to Use Vintage Stamps / Anne Robin Calligraphy and Underwood Letterpress

Photo Credit: Stephanie Collins Photography / Calligraphy by Anne Robin / Vintage Postage by Underwood Letterpress

2. Plan it Out

Plan your stamp arrangement ahead of time to make sure you leave room for an address – and to maximize visual impact. Some stamps look best in a straight row across the top of an envelope, while others look best in a puzzle piece arrangement in the corner. It all depends on the stamps you select!

How to Use Vintage Stamps

Calligraphy: The Weekend Type / Floral Styling: The Moss & Rose / Styling: Two Be Wed / Photo Credits: Korie Lynn Photography

How to Use Vintage Stamps / Anne Robin Calligraphy and Underwood Letterpress

Photo Credit: Stephanie Collins Photography / Calligraphy by Anne Robin / Vintage Postage by Underwood Letterpress

3. Color Theory

The easiest way to group vintage stamps together? By color! Let your wedding color palette guide your vintage stamp selections and your envelopes will shine! You can even address the envelopes using ink in a complementary color to make your envelopes even more special and complete the overall look.

How to Use Vintage Stamps / Antiquaria Design

Photo Credit: Antiquaria Design Studio

4. Personal Geography

I love it when couples share a glimpse of their personal history – and geography! – in their vintage stamp selections. It can be as simple as a stamp with the city or state where the couple met, along with stamps of their home state. Perhaps they grew up in Montana and Texas but met in college in DC. When placed together on an envelope, these stamps tell such a fun story!

How to Use Vintage Stamps / Coral Pheasant

Photo Credit: Coral Pheasant

How to Use Vintage Stamps / Lauren Chism Fine Papers

Photo Credit: Lauren Chism Fine Papers

5. Stick to a Theme

Love science? Have a passion for architecture? Maybe you’re both crazy for horses, or you met while working on a political campaign. Whatever your interests, let them shine in your envelope postage! You can find vintage postage stamps for practically any topic or theme, from travel to modern art.

How to Use Vintage Stamps / Blue Eye Brown Eye Calligraphy

Photo Credit: Blue Eye Brown Eye Calligraphy

6. Pretty Botanicals

If themes aren’t your thing, go with flowers! My favorite vintage stamps feature floral designs – and they look so incredibly beautiful when grouped together on a wedding invitation envelope! My favorite floral stamps are the Mississippi and Alabama statehood stamps, along with this love stamp.

p.s. Where to find (and buy) vintage stamps and more inspiration for mixing vintage stamps

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