05/17/2017

Blue Agate-Inspired Watercolor Wedding Invitations

A bit of agate-inspired prettiness to brighten your Wednesday! Agate slices and jewel tones are having quite a moment these days, don’t you think? First these gorgeous purple-hued agate-inspired invitations a few weeks ago, and now these vibrant blue agate-inspired watercolor wedding invitations from Debbie Wong Design! The watercolor does a great job of mimicking the unique and varied nature of agate stones. And the hand painted watercolor is even more beautiful when paired with deckle edge paper and modern calligraphy in white ink!

From Debbie: The aesthetic and rich jewel tones of agate were the main inspiration for this invitation suite. Blue is incredibly versatile and a beautiful color to use year-round, no matter how seasonal trends may change.

Since agate stones come in so many different patterns, the background for the invitation and response card were also unique from one to another, due to the handmade nature of watercolors. Another unique element of agate slices that we wanted to highlight was the unique crystal design at the center of each stone.

I decided modern calligraphy was an appropriate style to use for this fun invitation suite, and white ink was the perfect choice to stand out the most against the dark blue tones of the suite. The invitation suite was created on hand deckled cotton rag paper to get a gorgeous texture. Then, the invitation and the response card were tied together with a soft dusty blue silk ribbon from Silk and Willow, before inserting them into a light blue envelope.

Vintage stamps were another fun detail we incorporated. Blue stamps fit the theme, but we added a couple of brightly colored stamps to make the envelopes stand out in a fun and vibrant. A blueberry stamp was also incorporated, and this motif tied in with the menu card.

The reception was going to be a cocktail style affair, so the menu items were hors dâ€™oeuvres instead of a full seated dinner. The menu was also made on the same hand deckled cotton paper, with a little blueberry painted on the top as the header. We used watercolor to write the appetizer names onto these cards. I knew using watercolor would give the menu cards an organic look with the colors varying slightly from word to word.

We used actual agate slices as food labels for the stations at the reception. Brilliant white ink with modern calligraphy was used to match the invitation suiteâ€™s calligraphy. I purposely chose three distinctive looking agate stones for the appetizer cards, as no two agates are exact, just like a hand painting. This was such a fun project to orchestrate and I love how it came together!

Thanks Debbie!

Design, calligraphy, & hand painting: Debbie Wong Design

Ribbon: Silk and Willow

Check out the Designer Rolodex for more talÂented wedÂding inviÂtaÂtion designÂers and the real inviÂtaÂtions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Debbie Wong

05/16/2017

NSS 2017 Sneak Peek: Inclosed

Our next sneak peek from NSS 2017 comes from returning exhibitor Inclosed out of Omaha, Nebraska (Booth 1926!). I always love Lesley’s wedding invitation designs (she has an album available for retailers!) and her letterpress and foil printed greeting cards are super cute. Along with new greeting cards making their debut at this year’s show, Lesley is adding colorful new gift wrap inspired by her letterpress cleanup rags, and she’s expanding her gold foil Charmpad line to include all 50 states, hand-drawn dog illustrations, and fun seasonal designs! Oh, and ten new wedding invitation suites, including some printed on handmade paper! Only a few more days left people!

NSS 2017 Sneak Peek: Wild Ink Press

Less than a week to go until the 2017 National Stationery Show! Our next sneak peek comes from a familiar name around OSBP: Wild Ink Press (Booth 1633)! New releases include a gorgeous brand new line of Birthday Gemstone cards â€“ one for each month of the year and printed in more than 12 different foils and paired with iridescent envelopes (what?!?!) â€“ and 25 new greeting cards ranging from Halloween to Thanksgiving to bridesmaid and wedding party cards. There are also new notebooks and journals, including a lined journal, notebook, and list jotter, with each sentiment also available as a pencil (sold individually or in a set of three). Finally, six new happy gift tags with fun sentiments from â€œitâ€™s returnableâ€ to â€œitâ€™s late because good things take timeâ€ â€“ all in a new rainbow of happy colors!

Playful Floral Pinwheel Wedding Invitations

I’m a huge fan of interactive wedding invitations, and these playful floral pinwheel wedding invitations from Clara of Goldie Design Co. are SO much fun! With a hand painted floral motif, funky hand lettering, and blush pink color palette, what’s not to love? The die cut window rotated through different sections, sharing all the pertinent details in a unique and spirited way. So cute!

From Clara: This wedding invitation was designed for a client that is having a spunky, outdoor, food-truck and dancing celebration! When she came to me to design her wedding invitations, the first thing she said is that she didn’t want it to be like a typical wedding invitation suite! She loved the idea of having an interactive wedding invitation that would get the guests really excited for this fun event, while still being beautiful and classy! I loved how this wedding wheel portrayed the fun and spirited nature of the couple, and was totally unique to them.

By incorporating a hand-painted watercolor floral look in the background of the wheel, although quite spunky in nature, the invitation still looks classy, traditional, and beautiful! The wheel itself features hand lettered text inviting guests to come celebrate the marriage of the bride and groom. The circular wheel portion of the invitation was custom die cut to have a window that could be rotated around to show all of the details about the wedding that the guests would typically find on an information or accommodations card in a wedding suite.

The die cut wheel was then assembled onto the watercolor backer card by a small gold brad that held the two pieces together, but allowed the wheel to still turn easily. I loved how this invitation was to the point and easy to understand, but was still so personal and unique to the bride and groom.

This project shows couples that you don’t always have to follow the rule book when it comes to planning your wedding! If you have an idea that’s outside of the box and not spelled out in the wedding etiquette books, go for it! This is your special day, do it just how you want and have fun with it!

Thanks Clara!

Design and Calligraphy: Goldie Design Co.

Printing/Custom Die Cut Printing: Jupiter and Juno

Check out the Designer Rolodex for more talÂented wedÂding inviÂtaÂtion designÂers and the real inviÂtaÂtions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Goldie Design Co.

05/12/2017

Mother’s Day Mint and Lime Riesling Sangria

Mother’s Day is almost here! (You all remembered, right?) This Sunday, we’ll be celebrating with a light and airy Mint and Lime Riesling Sangria, one that works like a low-proof Mojito that’s perfect for sipping in polite company. â€“ Andrew

Mint and Lime Riesling Sangria

1 bottle Riesling
4 oz Rum
4 oz Lime Juice
4 oz Mint Syrup
1 oz Vanilla Bean Syrup
2 bottles Elderflower Tonic
2 Limes, Sliced
2-3 Mint Sprigs

To make the mint syrup: blanch six sprigs of mint in boiling water for about 15 seconds, then plunge them into a bowl of ice water for about a minute. Then, combine a cup of water and a cup of sugar (I use white, which preserves the mint’s color) in a saucepan. Simmer over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Add the blanched mint and sugar syrup into a blender and blend the mint into a pulp. Strain through cheesecloth to remove the mint pulp and bottle.

To make the vanilla bean syrup: take one whole vanilla bean and split it lengthwise. Combine the vanilla bean with a cup of raw sugar and a cup of water in a saucepan. Muddle the vanilla bean to release its pulp. Simmer over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Strain through cheesecloth to remove the vanilla pup and bottle.

To make the Sangria: combine the Riesling, rum, lime juice, and syrups in a pitcher with the lime slices and give it a stir. Let everything combine overnight in the refrigerator. Shortly before you’re ready to serve, add the mint sprigs and top with the tonic water. Garnish each glass with a slice of lime and some mint leaves and enjoy!

This Sangria came about when Nole challenged me to make her something like a Mojito, just with a lower proof so we could sip it during an afternoon party without getting too buzzed. We settled on Riesling â€“ a little oaky, a little sweet, a little floral â€“ as a good alternative to the Mojito’s rum.

I went with a mint syrup, because I really wanted this Sangria to pack a minty punch, but when I first tried this recipe the mint flavor kept disappearing. Then I landed on the idea of adding a bit of vanilla syrup, which both makes the mint pop and adds a note of warm spice. That extra ounce of syrup also helps balance out the bitterness of the tonic, which gives this Sangria some extra floral notes and a crisp effervescence.

So get ready for Sunday and start a batch early!

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Glassware by Liquorary

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

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