The Maypole

We’re back with some more infusions this week. I mentioned last week how wonderful it can be to keep an herb garden for your cocktails. But this week I’ll do more than tell: I’ll show. We used two of our homegrown, fresh herbs to turn what could have been a simple Sour into a lush cocktail that tastes like a blooming garden in a glass: the Maypole. – Andrew

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Illustration by Shauna Lynn for Oh So Beautiful Paper

The Maypole

2 oz Apple-Mint White Rye
1 oz Opal Basil St-Germain
3/4 oz Lemon Juice

Combine the apple-mint white rye, opal basil St-Germain, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled about two-thirds with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an apple slice. Enjoy!

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We used green apples and freshly picked mint to infuse our rye. The white rye – unaged rye whiskey – has a sharp, spicy flavor. The infusion mellowed the rye without losing that pungency. It’s more herbaceous than fruity. We also used freshly picked opal basil to infuse our St-Germain, and that combination of savory, spicy opal basil and St-Germain’s floral sweetness is a real knockout.You could definitely try out different whiskeys here, as apple and mint seem like natural parings for whiskeys and not just white rye, but that opal basil feels like it belonged with the St-Germain. Seriously, I’m thinking about infusing an entire bottle because wow this one was good.

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Put them together in a Maypole and you have a drink that’s brightly tart and a bit sweet and richly layered with spice and fruit and herbs. There’s a lot going on but somehow it all comes together. And the freshness of those herbs, straight from our garden, means clean and clear favors in our infusions. Tastes like summer.

(Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, where we’ve been posting our experiments before they make their way onto this column!)

Glassware by Liquorary 

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Printable Hand Lettered Watercolor Wedding Stationery

Wedding season is in full effect y’all. Place cards, escort cards, and wedding details are taking over Instagram – and I love seeing all the pretty! When Avery reached out about partnering on some printable wedding stationery templates using their products, I jumped at the chance! We collaborated with the super-talented Kim of Bright Room Studio on the designs, which feature whimsical watercolor details and hand lettering. You’ll see how we customized each item below, and you can find the free downloads at the bottom of the post!

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We may have gone a wee bit overboard creating options for you! Here are the products that match the printable designs from Bright Room Studio:

Square Tags

Scallop Round Tags

Round Labels

Square Labels

Printable Tags with Strings

Postcards

Tent Cards

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The tags and labels are ideal for wedding favors – can’t you imagine the round labels on jars of homemade jam or local treats for a summer wedding?? We also loved the idea of pairing the printable tags with welcome bags for out of town guests. I just love the gradients in the watercolor lettering and illustrations!

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For the postcards, we wanted to mix things up a bit – we thought they would make a wonderful alternative guestbook! And these postcards are the easiest things in the world to use. Just print and fold along the fine perforated lines – no cutting or measuring required!

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The tent cards make the most perfect place cards and escort cards! And as much as I love calligraphy, I know it’s not always in the budget. And that’s the beauty of these printables – just add your own text using your favorite fonts! I used two fonts from calligrapher Molly Jacques – Brushy (one of my all time faves) and Asterism.

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Kim made all of the designs in ready-to-use formats to match Avery’s templates, but if you’re at all worried about spacing and alignment, just use Avery’s free Design and Print Online tool! Just enter your Avery product number, upload the design – and print! You can even add your own text using Avery’s free tool. SO EASY.

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If you’re like me and you think dessert is the best part of any party – you can also use the tent cards to highlight flavors of a donut, cookie, or macaron bar!

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Grab the free printables right here!

Hand Lettered Watercolor “Just for you” Square Tags

Hand Lettered Watercolor “Enjoy” Scallop Tags

Hand Lettered Watercolor “Made with Love” Round Labels

Hand Lettered Watercolor Square “Enjoy” Labels

Hand Lettered Watercolor “Welcome” Tags with String

Hand Lettered Watercolor “Note to the Happy Couple” Postcards

Illustrated Watercolor Laurel Tent Place Cards

 

Hand Lettering + Design: Bright Room Studio

Photography and Styling: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

This post is sponsored by Avery, a company that makes it easy to create beautiful labels, cards, and tags. Thank you for supporting the brands that help Oh So Beautiful Paper create new and inspiring content!

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Chalkboard Details

I love the versatility of chalkboard details at an event. They can be styled with everything from a rustic theme to something more elegant, but the best part is that they are easily customizable… which includes being able to use those details over and over after your big day. And you aren’t limited to buying boards in specific pieces anymore, there are great papers that can be used in any of these applications! Here are just a few of my favorite day of wedding details executed with chalkboards and chalkboard paper. –Lauren

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Grab some chalkboard paper and create placemats // by giuli & giordi via Green Wedding Shoes

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Use as table numbers // via BHLDN

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Cover votives and number your tables via Barnes & Noble // Place cards and favors in one! via By Stephanie Lynn

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Create your menus on chalkboard paper // via Mary and Jack

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Wrap matchboxes and give away as favors // via Lia Griffith

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Welcome sign by  Chris + Jenn via Wedding Chicks // Framed escort cards by Sandra Fazzino Photography via Style Me Pretty

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Placemats via A Sweet Spot: Home // Colorful welcome sign by GK Photography via Ruffled

What creative ways have you seen chalkboard details used at a wedding?

Party Paper: Valentine’s Day Baking Party

Gather the gals for a Valentine’s Day baking party! Whip up some treats (Cookies? Donuts? Macarons?) and then package them up to send home with guests or to hand out to family, friends or co-workers. Nothing like a party with something extra sweet to take home, eh!? —Kelly

Party Paper: Valentine's Day Baking Party via Oh So Beautiful Paper

1. DIY Lip Patterned Gift Wrap from Sugar & Cloth

2. Red Stripe Cups from Meri Meri at Urbanic

3. Valentine Breakable Heart Favors from Oh Happy Day

4. Pink Heart Doilies from Shop Sweet Lulu

5. XOXO Favor Bags from Shop Sweet Lulu

6. You’re Sweet Tags from Print Smitten

Copper + Navy Holiday Table Inspiration

I’ve already professed my love for the combination of navy/indigo and copper. Michele from Meant to Be Calligraphy and I played around with lots of color combinations for the DIY leather napkin ring tutorial with Sakura of America (psssst! Don’t forget to enter the Pen-touch marker giveaway right here!) last week – but the combination of the copper Pen-touch with navy leather was hands down my favorite. So today I thought I’d share some navy and copper (along with a few other metallics) dinner party inspiration and a few more DIY ideas perfect for Christmas or New Year’s Eve!

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I kept the table itself fairly simple, with one medium size floral centerpiece in a vintage copper compote, a couple of smaller arrangements in copper tumblers, taper candles in vintage brass candlesticks, and this gold foil and kraft paper table runner from Minted. Since we envisioned a fairly intimate table with 6-8 guests, we mixed up a large batch of a signature cocktail – a Persimmon Margarita (recipe coming up in just a bit!) – in our DIY color dipped swing bottles and put them on the table for people to enjoy as they please. For a larger gathering, you could have several drinks available – or mix up a bowl of punch!

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You can find the copper and navy leather napkin ring tutorial right here. Michele and I also created cocktail menus with copper ink on navy leather – Michele did a large version that could be displayed next to a bar for a larger party, while I tried my hand at a smaller menu that could be placed between guests at the table.

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For the flowers, I fell in love with pale lavender anemones at the flower market. I paired the anemones with white and blush ranunculus and seeded eucalyptus. I love the texture of seeded eucalyptus – and you can get a huge bunch without breaking the bank!

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I wanted to see what other surfaces the Pen-touch paint markers could write on. I’m pretty sure I gave Michele her biggest challenge yet when I asked her to write on thin sheets of copper! We used these copper sheets with white Pen-touch markers to create two signs: one inviting guests to take a seat and another to display next to party favors.

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Lauren and I are totally on the same page this week – I used the Pen-touch markers to customize our drinking glasses! I used gold and copper Pen-touch markers in fine weight to write out “cheers!” on some tumblers. It took a couple of coats to get a nice solid line – so if you try this at home just be sure to let each coat dry fully before putting on the second coat. You could use your handwriting (or calligraphy) but Michele was kind enough to offer a template that you can trace onto your glasses! You can download the “cheers!” template here – it comes in a couple of sizes for use on different sized glasses. Just cut out the words, tape to the inside of your glass, and trace over it with your Pen-touch markers!

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Check back soon for the Persimmon Margarita recipe!

Calligraphy: Meant to Be Calligraphy

Leather: Matine

Paint Markers: Sakura Pen-touch Paint Markers

Photos by Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper