{happy weekend!}

Oh, you guys… this was a rough week.  Just lots of stress from start to finish, including a semi-emergency vet visit for one of our cats (fingers crossed he’s going to be just fine) – but it’s the kind of week that makes me want to turn off all phones/computers and hibernate for a few days.  So I’m signing off for the weekend and hoping for a fresh start next week.  But in the meantime…

Quote Illustration by The Indigo Bunting for Real SImple (1)

Quote Design by The Indigo Bunting for Real Simple

…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

Shannon’s Dual Citizenship Party Invitations

Any cause for celebration is the perfect reason to throw a party – and designer Shannon DeCock decided to do just that when she was granted dual U.S.-British citizenship this past spring!  Shannon drew inspiration from the two Durhams – her current home town of Durham, North Carolina and her mom’s birthplace of County Durham in England – and incorporated a custom plaid in shades of red and blue.  So fun!

Dual Citizenship Party Invitations via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

From Shannon: My mom was born in England and moved here when she was 20.  Due to the laws in place at the time, I did not receive dual citizenship at birth – so I applied for my dual citizenship last summer.  I took the oath this spring and thought it was the perfect excuse to throw a party!

Dual Citizenship Party Invitations via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

I live in Durham, North Carolina, the Bull City, and, coincidentally, my mom is from County Durham, England.  I thought it fitting for the two Durhams to collide — giving the Durham Bull a bowler hat and a monocle.

Dual Citizenship Party Invitations via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

I also created a custom plaid for the back of the invitation.  Although tartan is typically Scottish, I thought the pattern added a colorful pop to the back, and County Durham is pretty far north.

Dual Citizenship Party Invitations via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

Thanks so much Shannon – and congratulations!

Photo Credits: DeCock Designs

DIY Tutorial: Rustic Monogram Rubber Stamp Wedding Invitations

This week we’re showing you how to create a rustic twist on a classic wedding invitation using a palette of eggplant, ivory, and kraft – a beautiful color combination for late summer and fall weddings!  Using a variety of papers, ink colors, and stamps, we gave some additional depth to an otherwise classic invitation.  – Bailey and Emma of Antiquaria

DIY Tutorial: Kraft Paper Rubber Stamp Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

DIY Tutorial: Kraft Paper Rubber Stamp Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

DIY Tutorial: Kraft Paper Rubber Stamp Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step One: Set an A7 (5″x7″) piece of card stock on a hard, clean surface.  Ink your invitation stamp (we used our Classic Invitation Stamp) thoroughly with a black stamp pad.  Center stamp over card stock, leaving room for your monogram.  Carefully set the stamp down.  Press moderately on the stamp.  Too firm and it will smudge and too softly will not give a clear print.  Remove stamp and let the ink dry.  Repeat, using eggplant ink, with the monogram stamp (we used our Crest Monogram stamp) centering it at the top.

DIY Tutorial: Kraft Paper Rubber Stamp Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Two: Using the same technique as in step one, stamp your reply card (we used our Classic Reply Card stamp) & reply address (we used our Baroque Frame return address stamp).  You’ll want to use a 4 bar card (3 1/2 x 4 7/8″) and a 4 bar envelope (3 5/8 x 5 1/8″) for these pieces.

DIY Tutorial: Kraft Paper Rubber Stamp Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Three: Nowadays, it is increasingly important to include your wedding website within your invitation suite.  Guests rely on the wedding website for travel info, locations, and addresses – not to mention your registry!  We stamped our website card (we used our Calligraphy Accent Web Card stamp) on grommeted gift tags to add some interest to the suite.  We then tied some decorative gold ribbon through the hole to finish it off!

DIY Tutorial: Kraft Paper Rubber Stamp Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Four: We love to used things unexpectedly within an invitation suite… so when we ran across these tiny kraft sacks, we knew they would be perfect to incorporate into our next design!  Using the same monogram from your invitations (our Crest Monogram rubber stamp) – see budget savings!! – stamp it horizontally onto your tiny kraft bag.  Let dry.

Anti­quaria is a mem­ber of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of their beau­ti­ful work right here or visit the real wedding invitations gallery for more wedding invitation ideas or to inquire about custom design services!

Materials:

Classic Invitation Stamp

Crest Monogram Stamp

Classic Reply Card Stamp

Baroque Frame Return Address Stamp

Calligraphy Accent Web Card Stamp

A7 Cards

4Bar Cards

A7 Envelopes

4Bar Envelopes

Paper Bags

Metal Eyelet Tags

Photo Credits: Intertwyned for Antiquaria

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Pinwheels

Happy first day of summer!  It’s hard to believe my favorite time of the year is officially upon us, but I’m certainly not complaining.  In honor of the season change, I’m talking pinwheels today!  If you’re holding a summer wedding, incorporating a few of these fun, nostalgic summer signifiers is sure to please guests of all ages.  And for all you true paper lovers out there, it’s a great excuse to bring paper elements into so many more day-of items.  Not only can you have pinwheel place cards and table numbers, but they make great boutonnieres, cake toppers and oh so much more, too! — Kelly

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by The Why We Love, Pinwheels by Smock via 100 Layer Cake

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Three Photographers, Boutonniere by Twirlie Whirlies via Ruffled (left), Photo by Sara Gray Photography (right)

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Cocktail Napkins by Reflections by Lola

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Elyse Hall Photography via Style Me Pretty

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Escort Cards by Rule42 (left), Escort Cards by Lisa Leonard Designs via Kitchen Belleicious (right)

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Hyer Images via Delightfully Engaged

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Escort Cards by Jordan Ferney for Project Wedding (left), Table Number by Rule42 (right)

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Favors by Estefi Machado for Dotcoms for Moms

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Food Label and Photo by A Subtle Revelry

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper Pinwheel-Wedding-Cake-Topper-Marianne-Wilson-Photography

Photo by Sewell Photography via Style Me Pretty (left), Photo by Marianne Wilson Photography via Wedding Chicks (right)

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Favor Bags by Bahana Splits Boutique

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Pinwheels via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Thank You Card by Jill Means at Minted

Will you be incorporating the fun and whimsical pinwheel into your summer wedding?  Let us know how!

{images via their respective sources}

Margaret + Patrick’s Understated Letterpress Wedding Invitations

I love the classic and understated elegance of these wedding invitations, sent over by Courtney from Sideshow Press.  Courtney worked with the couple to develop a type-driven design approach in a neutral gray and white color palette.  In addition to the beautiful design, I love the use of non-traditional materials like whitewashed wood veneer and raw cotton!

Understated Gray + White Wedding Invitations by Sideshow Press via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

From Courtney: Margaret and Pat’s invitations and save the dates were inspired by the event space, Durham Ranch in California, and the simple, understated vibe that the bride and groom were trying to create.  To integrate the pieces seamlessly with the surroundings, we chose a neutral palette of gray and white.

Understated Gray + White Wedding Invitations by Sideshow Press via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

Understated Gray + White Wedding Invitations by Sideshow Press via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6)

We chose a type driven approach to the materials, all of which were printed on various textures that represented Durham Ranch.  The invitation suite was letterpress printed on 100% cotton paper and white washed wood veneer paper, then packaged in letterpress printed muslin bags and hand stuffed in a custom box with raw cotton.

Understated Gray + White Wedding Invitations by Sideshow Press via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

Understated Gray + White Wedding Invitations by Sideshow Press via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

Gorgeous – thanks Courtney!

Design and Printing: Sideshow Press

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

Photo Credits: Sideshow Press