Unexpected Business Card Ideas

As far as I’m concerned, business cards are tiny works of art. A beautiful business card makes a huge impression, and I would argue that the business card is even more relevant in today’s world of email, cell phones, and social media. Here are a few unexpected business card ideas for creating a beautiful – and unforgettable – business card!

Unexpected Business Card Ideas

Oh So Beautiful Paper Watercolor and Letterpress Business Cards / Design and Printing by Gus & Ruby Letterpress

A Bit of Shine

Metallics are the new neutral. And they look amazing on a business card! The options are endless – from shiny metallic foil logos and type to more abstract applications. And the metallic foils themselves come in every hue imaginable, from classic gold to of-the-moment rose gold and copper to trendy hologram silver!

En Route Photography Gold Foil Business Cards / Design by Belinda Love Lee

En Route Photography Gold Foil Business Cards / Design by Belinda Love Lee

Hand Painted Details

What could possibly be more unique than a hand painted business card? A splash of semi-transparent watercolor pairs perfectly with letterpress printed type, whether layered over blind impression (no color) text or as a modern swash underneath the key details. You could even DIY your own business cards using a custom rubber stamp over a watercolor painted background!

Satsuki Shibuya Watercolor and Blind Impression Letterpress Business Cards / Printed by PresshausLA

Satsuki Shibuya Watercolor and Blind Impression Letterpress Business Cards / Printed by PresshausLA

Akula Kreative Rubber Stamp and Watercolor Business Cards

Akula Kreative Rubber Stamp and Watercolor Business Cards

Colorful Edges

The edge is the perfect place to incorporate a bright pop of color – or even stripes of different colors! You’ll want to use double-thick paper ( at least 220lb) to maximize the visual effect, but it’s well worth the extra effort!

Oh Happy Day Stripe Edge Painted Business Cards

Oh Happy Day Stripe Edge Painted Business Cards

Or Shiny Edges!

Did you know that you can put shiny metallic foil on the edges of business cards and wedding invitations? Well, you can! It’s a very specialized printing method, but perfect for a card that is already full of color or wants an even bigger visual impact.

Oh So Beautiful Paper Gold Foil Edge Business Cards / Foil Edging by Boxcar Press

Oh So Beautiful Paper Gold Foil Edge Business Cards / Foil Edging by Boxcar Press

Unique Shapes and Layouts

Who said that a business card has to be rectangular? I’m a big fan of square business cards, circular business cards, even hexagon cards! Or stick with the rectangular shape but go with a vertical layout. Anything goes!

Trentina Navy and Gold Foil Business Cards / Design by Christine Wisnieski

Trentina Navy and Gold Foil Business Cards / Design by Christine Wisnieski

Go Double Sided

A double sided business card is a great way to create visual impact while keeping all of your contact information in one place. You can have the reverse side printed or adhere patterned papers – like vintage wallpaper, gift wrap, and scrapbooking paper – to the reverse side using spray adhesive.

Jessica Comingore Floral Double Sided Business Cards / Printed by PresshausLA

Jessica Comingore Floral Double Sided Business Cards / Printed by PresshausLA

Jessica Comingore Floral Double Sided Business Cards / Printed by PresshausLA

Light on Dark

I love the look of light text against a dark background – so unexpected! Metallic foils and matte white foil look amazing against dark navy blue and black paper.

Clementine Rose Gold and Navy Business Cards / Design by Sara Jensen / Printed by Iron Curtain Press

Clementine Rose Gold and Navy Business Cards / Design by Sara Jensen / Printed by Iron Curtain Press

Unique Materials

I thought I had seen everything – but then I saw a leather business card and thought it was the most amazing idea! You can letterpress print, foil stamp, and screen print on leather, making it as versatile a medium as paper. I’ve also seen paper business cards that incorporated embroidery and fabric. The sky’s the limit!

Arnsdorf Leather Business Card

p.s. More creative business card ideas right here!

This post was created in partnership with eBay. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make Oh So Beautiful Paper possible!

Happy Weekend!

Happy Friday everyone! Fall is definitely in the air here in DC and I’m kind of loving it! I’m so excited to wear my sweaters and boots again! DC summers are usually too hot to spend much time out in the garden, so I’m also looking forward to getting my hands back into the dirt this weekend. I’m planning to move my backyard roses to my front foundation garden (where they’ll get more sun), and move the hellebores and peonies currently in the front yard out to the backyard garden. But in the meantime…

Ali Makes Things (Alexandra Nelson) Watercolor Lettering via Instagram / Oh So Beautiful Paper

YES / Lettering by Ali Makes Things via Instagram

…a few links for your weekend!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

That’s it for me this week! Check back later for this week’s cocktail recipe – I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Monday! xoxo

How to Send Beautiful Mail

I’m all about sending beautiful mail. And this goes beyond the adorable card on the inside (which, ahem, I’m assuming you already found the perfect card right here on OSBP) to include the actual envelope as a way of brightening someone’s mailbox. With the holiday season – and holiday cards – right around the corner, I thought we could all use a few tips on how to send beautiful mail, from colorful envelopes and envelope liners to quirky off-center address alignments! Let’s all step up our envelope game this year!

How to Send Beautiful Mail / Oh So Beautiful Paper for eBay

Sugar Paper / Love You

Card by Sugar Paper

1. Colorful Envelopes

I’m going to assume that you already have a super cute card picked out – or that you made your own. But if you can, ditch the white envelope in favor of a bright colorful envelope. It becomes a literal bright spot in an otherwise dreary mailbox.

Rose Gold Foil Envelope Liner by Bella Figura / Photo Credit: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Rose Gold Foil Envelope Liners by Bella Figura from Alice’s Birth Announcements

 

2. Envelope Liners

Envelope liners are a great way to signal that the contents of that envelope are particularly special. I like to use envelope liners for milestone stationery like birth announcements and wedding invitations – as well as our annual holiday cards. Vintage wallpaper and gift wrap sheets make fantastic DIY envelope liners!

Creative Envelope Address Ideas by Antiquaria for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo Credit: Antiquaria Design for Oh So Beautiful Paper

3. Creative Addresses

Now that you have the inside of the envelope sorted out it’s time to think about the outside of the envelope! It can be fun to think creatively when writing out the address – from asymmetrical alignments to incorporating brush pens (or even actual brushes!).

Brush Lettered Envelope Address by Anne Robin Calligraphy

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

This envelope features brush watercolor lettering for the name combined with a fine tip pen for the street address. Brush lettering requires a bit of practice to get a hang of the technique but isn’t as hard as you might think!

Hand Lettered Envelope Address Ideas by Ladyfingers Letterpress

Hand Lettered Envelope Address Ideas by Ladyfingers Letterpress

This envelope was addressed with paint pens – a wonderful way to add even more color to an envelope! A white paint pen is also the best way to address in white ink on a dark colored envelope.

DIY Colorful Rubber Stamped Envelopes by Oh So Beautiful Paper

DIY Colorful Rubber Stamped Envelopes

4. Adorn the Envelope

Add a bit of decoration to your addressed envelope! Playful polka dots. Bold lines. Even an illustration or two! Rubber stamps (and pencil erasers in a pinch) work well for adding a colorful pattern to any envelope.

Dip Dyed Envelopes by Oh So Beautiful Paper

Dip dyed envelopes by Oh So Beautiful Paper with gold address calligraphy by Meant to Be Calligraphy

If you are working with white envelopes, dip dyeing is a quick and easy way to add a pop of color to your envelopes! You can use anything from food coloring and Kool-Aid to Rit Dye, so the colors are completely customizable!

Calligraphy by Letter Love Studio / Photo Credit: Sarah Carpenter Photography

Calligraphy by Letter Love Studio / Photo Credit: Sarah Carpenter Photography

5. Pretty Stamps

The final step! Pretty postage stamps are a surefire way to elevate any envelope into a work of art. Vintage postage stamps are readily available in large quantities and look amazing when grouped together – but you can also find some really beautiful stamps from USPS these days.

Now stick your beautiful card in the mail and make someone’s day instantly brighter! Isn’t sending (and receiving) mail the absolute best?!?

This post was created in partnership with eBay. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make Oh So Beautiful Paper possible!

Party Paper: Technicolor Party

As we say farewell to summer, let’s say it in technicolor!!! I’ve been feeling all things bold and vibrant lately and would love to throw an all-technicolor party, wouldn’t you? Bright marbled paper to wrap gifts, saturated watercolor cards for dessert bar signs, and some confetti to sprinkle in any and every corner that needs a little more of a POP! The real question is: How much color can you handle!? — Kelly

Party Paper: Technicolor Party Ideas / StudioDIY for Oh So Beautiful Paper

1. DIY Marbled Paper from PROPER

2. Triangle Party Cups from Oh Happy Day Shop

3. DIY Rainbow Triangle Bunting from Oh Happy Day

4. Confetti from Oh Happy Day Shop

5. Unicorn Card from Ashkahn

6. Watercolor Stationery Set from Violet Tinder

Happy Weekend!

Happy Friday everyone! Today marks a big milestone – Sophie’s first day at preschool! Sophie has been in daycare since just after her first birthday, which after a rough transition period turned out to be an amazing experience for our entire family. She had some fantastic teachers and made her first real friends there, so we’re all feeling pretty emotional with this transition. But I keep telling myself that we’re not really saying goodbye since Alice will hopefully start at the same daycare soon. And we’re feeling good about Sophie’s preschool – we like her teachers and have already met some of the other kids in her class. My big girl is growing up so fast! Can we just ask the world to stop turning for a bit please? Well, in the meantime…

Autumn Clematis / Gossamer Vintage via Instagram

Photo by Gossamer Vintage via Instagram

…a few links for your weekend!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper: