04/28/2017

Happy Weekend!

Happy Friday everyone! It’s peony season here in DC! Our Spring arrived a bit early, so the peonies are about three weeks ahead of their normal schedule. But I usually miss half of my peonies while I’m away at the National Stationery Show, so I’m not complaining! Speaking of NSS, I’ll be starting sneak peeks from some exhibitors next week. I can’t believe this year’s show is only a few weeks away! But in the meantime…

…a few links for your weekend!

Crying all the tears after reading this letter (and resolving to write down every single thing my 4 year old and 2 year old say from here on out)

Feeling inspired to also write down my bucket list

Loving these wall-mounted planters (and they’re 20% off right now!)

Nicely Noted is celebrating their 5th anniversary with a HUGE stationery giveaway â€“ but hurry, it ends soon!

YES to holographic foil!

A few favorites from the Anthro sale section: this silver and gold pleated skirt, this off-the-shoulder gingham dress, this thermal turtleneck (to save for next fall), this iridescent travel mug, and these gorgeous gold leaf coasters â€“ plus, all sale items are an extra 25% off!

MAKE: Maple Bacon Grilled Cheese

Pin of the week!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

Dress up your envelopes and stationery with these DIY mud cloth-inspired patterns using Sakura of America pens!

Loving these vibrant and tropical Hawaiian wedding invitations (those vintage postage stamps!)

Mother’s Day cards for grandmothers, step-moms, and other moms

Cabo San Lucas destination wedding invitations with a gorgeous floral lasercut enclosure

Some favorite wooden gifts and keepsake stationery from Cardtorial

Check back this afternoon for a delicious cocktail recipe â€“ it’s perfect for this warm weather! I hope you have a great weekend, and Iâ€™ll see you back here on Monday! xoxo

04/27/2017

Cabo San Lucas Lasercut Destination Wedding Invitations

We’re on a roll with tropical destination weddings this week! First these tropical Hawaiian wedding invitations, now a beach wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! These lasercut destination wedding invitations from Clara of Goldie Design Co. feature a beautiful watercolor crest with tropical greenery, a gorgeous envelope liner with a hand painted watercolor pattern, and a seriously stunning floral lasercut enclosure. A custom watercolor map and address calligraphy in navy ink complete the invitation suite!

From Clara: This wedding invitation suite was designed for a couple having a gorgeous, luxurious, traditional summer wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Their wedding will be filled with lush florals, greenery, lots of white and ivory, and hints of blush pink. We wanted the invitations to give off a grand and classic feel while having some fun accents since it will be set on a beach with gorgeous ocean views!

The custom watercolor crest was designed to coordinate with a crest that was used in their save the dates, but brings in tropical greenery accents with a hand-painted watercolor look. This watercolor crest would also tie in with the custom watercolor wedding map. The map is a wonderful pop of color amongst the otherwise quite neutral invitation pieces! The map shows the island of Cabo San Lucas with their wedding venues and hotel, as well their custom wedding crest. By tying that familiar piece of the crest throughout several pieces of the suite, it gives a uniform look that keeps it classic and traditional.

The envelope liner also coordinates with the belly band pattern from their save the dates, but has been transformed into a beautiful hand-painted watercolor version. The soft colors bring a gorgeous subtle texture to the entire suite! This same tiled pattern is used in other pieces throughout the invitation suite, such as the RSVP card and the wedding timeline. By bringing in little familiar pieces from the save the dates, it gives an overall sense of coordination and purpose in the design of the wedding invitations.

The invitation card itself has very simple design, again utilizing that custom wedding crest, gorgeous and clean modern calligraphy, and a traditional serif font. The simplicity pairs perfectly with the intricate and lavish laser cut enclosure. The laser cut enclosure has a gorgeous floral pattern that ties in with the white and ivory florals that will be used throughout the ceremony itself. The enclosure is cut out of a metallic ivory paper to give it an extra little shine. All of the pieces are placed within the enclosure, and the whole set is tied with a simple white satin ribbon. The outer envelope is a classic white envelope adorned with navy blue modern calligraphy to match the pieces of the invitation suite.

Thanks Clara!

Design and Calligraphy: Goldie Design Co.

Laser Cut Enclosures: Simply Scripted Design

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.

04/26/2017

Quick Pick: Cardtorial

It’s been a while since I checked in with the ladies of Cardtorial â€“ they make the prettiest laser cut and engraved wooden gifts and keepsake stationery! Each item is crafted from certified sustainable wood and is built to last, so it can be treasured by the recipient for years to come. Maybe it’s the explosion of Spring flowers all around me, but I’m particularly loving some of their new floral-inspired pieces, including journals, coasters, keepsake boxes, and greeting cards. Here are a few favorites!

From top right:

1. This Love Always card is just so beautiful â€“ and perfect for sending love to friends and family on a variety of occasions!

2. Looking for an elegant, yet modern wedding guest book? I’m loving this option with a sweet and simple message.

3. + 4. These floral journals are just ridiculously gorgeous, and there are so many designs to choose from! The traditional rose branch illustration and the modern and tropical Plumeria are my two favorites.

5. This wood clipboard and notepad is the perfect place for jotting down quick reminders. Hang it by your bedside for late night inspiration, or by the door for a quick memory jogger before you head out for the day.

6. Oh, HELLO there, floral laser engraved wood coasters.

7. A laser cut wood art print with one of my favorite mottos in beautiful script lettering.

8. Even the most beautiful thank you card is better with flowers!

9. Is this not the prettiest keepsake box you’ve ever seen? I love this as a gift for brides and grooms or for new parents!

You can check out more from Cardtorial right here!

04/25/2017

Vibrant Tropical Hawaiian Wedding Invitations

It feels like everyone is going to Hawaii right now! Just last week, a large chunk of my Instagram feed was filled with Hawaiian sunsets, acai smoothie bowls, and oversized sun hats. Until I can make it out to the beach, these vibrant tropical Hawaiian wedding invitations from Jill of Shindig Bespoke will have to feed my wanderlust! The texture created from layering moss, wood veneer, and gold foil printing is so fun! And the playful tropical motif is woven throughout the invitation suite all the way down to the festive mailer and curated vintage stamps. Aloha friends!

From Jill: This extra special invitation was designed for an intimate wedding on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii. From tip to tail, the bride, whose is a florist, encouraged our team to push the creative â€œenvelope” as much as possible and gave us almost no boundaries except for requesting that we make the suite colorful and unique.

We created a visual theme that spanned a broad arrangement of media, from paper and wood to moss. We also incorporated a variety of color and contrast; mixing patterns and pinks, texture and type. It was so fun to have extensive creative freedom with this design!

The main card’s back side is the focal point of the suite. A curly maple wood veneer card was laser cut with the couple’s names in a bold and modern type treatment and then inlaid with real moss. A hot pink screen printed heart finishes the pop art installation! On the front, a lightly textured magenta card was foil printed in gold with wedding information framed by vintage palm trees.

Two patterns were created to back the two foil printed reply cards. One, a subtle vintage toile, the other a bold tropical number inspired by Hawaiian printed shirts, the common thread being tropical imagery. With multiple events spanning a week, one reply card provided a chart where guests could select the activities in which they wanted to participate; from an afternoon sail to a hike along the Na Pali Coast. The main reply card, with playful language supporting the Hawaiian destination, provided guests a fun question and answer format.

The entire suite was tied with a light green paper yarn and popped in a mailing box cushioned with straw excelsior.

For the save the date, a custom wood mailer was backed with grass paper. Inside, a save the date card with poster style illustration was tied to a telegram style note from Jackie and Harry to their guests.

A vibrant collection of collateral pieces were created for the week and day of the wedding. From place cards and signage festooned with hand-painted lush tropical flora, to the dinner menu and itinerary which reused the toile pattern we created for the invitation suite! There truly was a plethora of stationery goodness!

Thanks Jill!

Design: Shindig Bespoke

Photo Styling and florals: Belovely

Printing: Thomas Printers & Atmosphere Printing Company

Laser: Venture Laser

Planner: Moana Events

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

Photo Credits: Carina Romano & Love Me Do

04/25/2017

Seasonal Stationery: Mother’s Day Cards for Grandmothers, Step-moms, and other Moms

Last week, we featured a roundup of our favorite Mother’s Day cards for moms. But what about all the other amazing mothers or mother figures in your life? I’m talking about grandmothers, step-moms, and women that have been like a mom to you. Today we’re rounding up a few Mother’s Day Cards for grandmothers, step-moms, and other moms. If they’re important to you, they deserve a sincere gesture of appreciation for all their support and encouragement over the years. There’s even a shout-out for dads that took on both roles!

From top right:

1. Maybe she isn’t your mom, but she provided a shoulder to cry on and taught you important life lessons. Send her this card from Ink Meets Paper!

2. Grandmas ARE the best! Send this charming floral illustration from Hartland Brooklyn to your own grandma â€“ or, if you have your own kids, to your mom to show how much you value her love for your kids. (Side note: Be sure to check out our recent feature and behind the scenes with Emily here!)

3. If your sense of humor runs towards snarky, check out the Mother’s Day selection from Farewell Paperie. We love this card for your favorite pseudo-mom!

4. Grammy, MÃ©mÃ©, Nana, Gramma. Whatever you call her, treat your grandmother to some delicious sugar-filled snacks and this elegant pink card from Sugar Paper.

5. Maybe you were raised by a super hero single dad (like me!). Or maybe you have two dads (lucky you!). Send him (or them) this jungle-inspired design from acclaimed wordsmith Emily McDowell.

6. Also from Emily McDowell, this is the perfect card for expressing your thanks to a woman who might not be your biological mom but definitely helped you become who you are today.

7. Step-moms can get a bad rap. Show your amazing step-mom how much she means to you with this silver foil medal card from Egg Press.

8. Loving all the elements of this ode to step-moms from Hello!Lucky â€“ from the gold foil to the whimsical hand lettering and floral illustrations.

9. The cutest illustrated dominoes from Mr. Boddington’s Studio in this Mother’s Day card for Grandma.

10. Grandma â€“ the original mom! Love this sunny yellow gingham design from Wild Ink Press.

p.s. Mother’s Day cards for your mom here!