Rubber Stamp Memorial Day Summer Kick Off Invitations

I absolutely LOVE the idea of using large scale rubber stamps to create party invitations – particularly a fun and informal summer kick-off party!  Lindsay from McMillian + Furlow used a single rubber stamp with black ink on kraft paper to create the invitations for her family’s annual Memorial Day event.  I love the modern but rustic feel, not to mention the unique texture of each individual invitation!

Rubber Stamp Memorial Day Kick Off Party Invitations by McMillian + Furlow via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

From Lindsay: I designed these invitations for my family’s annual Memorial Day Pig Roast.  Each year I try and come up with a new look and feel for the same event, which proves to be quite challenging, but I think this year’s design was quite a success!

Rubber Stamp Memorial Day Kick Off Party Invitations by McMillian + Furlow via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

I love how the stamp created such a nice texture with the ink on the kraft paper, making each invitation entirely unique.  The rustic feel really suits this outdoor upstate New York event.

Rubber Stamp Memorial Day Kick Off Party Invitations by McMillian + Furlow via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

Rubber Stamp Memorial Day Kick Off Party Invitations by McMillian + Furlow via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

Thanks Lindsay!

p.s. You can see some of Lindsay’s other fun projects right here and check out some fun rubber stamp DIY projects here!

Photo Credits: McMillian + Furlow

Lauren + Josh’s Pacific Northwest Summer Wedding Invitations

I’ll always be a huge fan of outdoor weddings – my own wedding took place on a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend evening four years ago.  Lauren from Balue/Co. sent over these beautiful save the dates and wedding invitations that she designed for her best friend’s outdoor summer wedding in the Pacific Northwest.  Lauren chose a natural color palette of blue and green with kraft paper elements to reflect the bride and groom’s love for fishing and the outdoors, along with sophisticated details perfect for an evening wedding.

From Lauren: When one of my best friends, also named Lauren, told me she was getting married this summer, I immediately knew I wanted to design their wedding suite.  Lauren and Josh are true Pacific Northwesterners and share a love for fishing and the outdoors.  Their wedding invitation design needed to reflect that love in a tasteful, subtle way.

Using soft tones of grass green and kraft paper, the color palette and design unifies the playful elements of the summer in the Northwest while remaining elegant for an outdoor evening July wedding.

Working with Seattle letterpress shop Pike Street Press, we created two-color wedding invitations complemented by a more informal save the date featuring a beautiful portrait by Kristin Boyett.

That same lighthearted feeling is carried through to the RSVP cards, which encourage guests to write a handwritten note to the couple on the back.

Thanks Lauren!

Design: Lauren Wallace of Balue/Co.
Letterpress Printing: Pike Street Press
Save the Date Portrait: Kristin Boyett Photography

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

Photo Credits: Balue/Co.

Friday Happy Hour: Orange-Mint Smash

Summer is coming up fast, and the mint in our little herb garden is growing like the weed it is.  Today we’re featuring a descendent of the classic Mint Julep, but with some citrus and fruit thrown in for a refreshing summer cocktail.  So grab some mint and enjoy this great (but little remembered) classic drink – the Smash! – Andrew

Cocktail Recipe: Orange Mint Smash via Oh So Beautiful Paper (8)

Read below for the full recipe!

Orange Mint Smash

2 oz Whiskey, Genever, or Brandy
1/4 oz Simple Syrup
Orange Slice
Handful of Mint Leaves

In a rocks glass or tumbler, add the orange slice, mint, and simple syrup.  There are two ways of doing the next step: if you’re going to drink this quickly, as an aperitif before a meal, go ahead and muddle everything together, being careful to avoid crushing the orange’s bitter white pith.  If you’re going to sip this one slowly, don’t muddle the mint; muddle the orange slice well, slap the mint leaves a few times to bruise them gently, then add them to the glass.  Fill the glass with lots of crushed ice, add your spirits, and give it a gentle stir.  Garnish with more mint and fruit, then enjoy! 

Cocktail Recipe: Orange Mint Smash via Oh So Beautiful Paper (7) Cocktail Recipe: Orange Mint Smash via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

The Smash is an old drink, going back to the mid-19th Century as a separate drink but descending from the much older Julep.  In its original form, the Smash was basically a miniature Julep, what Jerry Thomas called in 1862 “a julep on a small plan.”  You could get away with mashing up all that mint because the Smash was meant to be imbibed quickly, before the mint grew bitter and vegetal.  This is why it’s so important to be gentle with the mint if you plan to drink this one slowly.

Cocktail Recipe: Orange Mint Smash via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6) Cocktail Recipe: Orange Mint Smash via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

The original recipe plops the orange slice (plus berries and whatever other fruit is handy) on top as a garnish.  But I like my garnishes to earn their keep, so I build my Smash like an Old Fashioned, muddling the fruit along with the mint leaves to give the drink a great layered effect – starting out strong and crisp from the spirit, then getting sweeter, fruitier, and mintier as you work your way down.  Some people shake their Smashes, then strain over fresh ice and sprigs of mint; you could give that a try too.

Cocktail Recipe: Orange Mint Smash via Oh So Beautiful Paper (14) Cocktail Recipe: Orange Mint Smash via Oh So Beautiful Paper (11)

Back in the day, the Brandy Smash was the most popular version, but Whiskey (I like Rye’s spiciness here over Bourbon’s sweetness) and Genever work really well too.  Whichever you choose, it’s sure to be delicious.

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

{happy weekend!}

Happy Friday everyone!  It’s really starting to feel like summer here in DC – which kind of freaks me out when I think about everything that I need to get done between now and the baby’s arrival in early October.  We passed the halfway mark a couple of weeks ago, and all of a sudden time seems to be moving so much faster – eek!  Off I go to tackle the next item on my to do list.  But in the meantime…

Pretty new nautical prints by Scout’s Honor Co.

…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

DIY Tutorial: Wax Seal + Ribbon Belly Band

Hi Everyone!  Today is going to be a full DIY Day – with another fun tutorial from the ladies of Ladyfingers Letterpress!  Like many of you, I’ve fallen in love with wax seal details on wedding invitations and other custom paper projects.  Janie + David’s oversize wedding invitations from a few weeks back featured a really fun wax seal and ribbon closure, so today Arley-Rose and Morgan are here to walk us through the step-by-step process of applying a wax seal!

Using a wax seal to secure a belly band around your invitations is a great way to excite your guests and keep your pieces an orderly and presentable fashion. Here are some guidelines to creating a great looking wax-sealed ribbon around a set of invitations. – Arley-Rose and Morgan of Ladyfingers Letterpress

(FYI: It can be helpful to have a friend or honey around to lend an extra set of hands for this project. )

Step 1: Gather Supplies

You will need the following: Wax paper, Ribbon (we used Carta wide weave ribbon which allowed the wax to create a bond between the overlapping ribbon), Sealing wax, wax stamp, lighter, palate knife.

Step 2: Tear your Wax Paper Down

The wax paper will be placed between the invitation and the ribbon to protect the invitation from the wax sealing directly to the paper.  Cut the wax paper down to slightly smaller than the size of your invitation or card.  You can reuse the wax paper, a quantity of 20 torn sheets is perfect.

Step 3: Cut your ribbon to length 

Measure your ribbon, allowing for a few inches of overlap. Cut one piece for each invitation.

Step 4: Prepare Ribbon

Place the wax paper on top of your invitation or card. Wrap the ribbon around the invitation, holding it snug and allowing for the ribbon to overlap in the center.

Step 5: Drip the wax

Using a lighter (a match will burn out too quickly), light the sealing wax and allow it to drip onto the ribbon. The larger the pool of wax the larger your seal will be.  Practice once or twice before you start to see how much wax you will need for your seal.

Step 6: Apply Seal

Count to five before applying the seal to the wax!

Step 7: Let it cool 

Allow the wax to cool for a few seconds – 10 or so – and gently rock the seal back and forth to free it from the wax.

Step 8: Almost done! 

Your seal is there…

Step 9: Free the Wax from the Protective Wax Paper

Place your palate knife between the ribbon and the wax paper and break its bond to free the wax seal from the wax paper.  This is best accomplished when the wax is still warm but not hot.

Step 10: Trim Ribbon

Finish off your invitation by trimming the tails of the ribbon down to size.

Alright, off you go to seal up the world’s lose ends!

Ladyfingers Letterpress is a member of the Designer Rolodex â€“ check out more of their beautiful work right here or visit the real invi­ta­tions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Ladyfingers Letterpress