02/14/2017

Iridescent Pastel Gem-Inspired Wedding Invitations

Aaaahhh! You already know how much I’ve been loving all things iridescent for the last year and a half, so I was beyond thrilled when these iridescent pastel gem-inspired wedding invitations from Erin ofÂ BerinMade arrived in our inbox. Crisp and modern, with fun hints of sparkle and iridescent foil, these invitations are kind of my everything!

From Erin: A few months ago, I was asked by Holly Poulter of Revelry Events to design for a wedding styled shoot she was planning. Centered around one of the biggest, hottest trends â€“ Urban Mermaid â€“ I just couldn’t say no!Â The inspiration behind this was all about the mystical and magical. Mother of pearl, mermaid scales, pastel rainbows, gemstones, shells and glass textures were all part of the initial brainstorm. It was amazing!

We wanted a clean, modern aesthetic to the stationery pieces, with a strong gemstone theme running throughout. So, setting to work, I found a handful of gem shapes which we loved and translated well into stationery pieces. Because we were only producing sample pieces, we didn’t use any gem shapes that required a curved die-cut, but only shapes which we could hand cut to bevel shape. My favorite idea was turning a square card into a diamond, as seen on the table number. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best!

We kept the typeface very clean and contemporary, and white-only, so as not to distract from the gems. Working to a strict pastel color palette, all the pieces were different “cuts” and colors. We applied an iridescent foil finish on some of the facets to give them an extra wow! I really love the finished pieces and they set the tone wonderfully for the rest of the dÃ©cor.

Thanks Erin!

Design: BerinMade

Styling: Holly Poulter

BerinMade is a member of the Designer Rolodex â€“ you can see more of their beautiful work right here or visit the real inviÂtaÂtions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: BerinMade and Xander and Thea

02/13/2017

DIY Iridescent Rainbow Vases

Happy Monday everyone! Today I’m excited to share a fun idea for adding some color to your next gathering â€“ DIY iridescent rainbow vases! My friend Christine from Yellow Owl Workshop used this amazing iridescent vinyl in her booth at the National Stationery Show last year, and I’ve been wanting to use it in a DIY project ever since. But you guys,Â this project is so quick and easy I’m almost reluctant to even call it a DIY. These iridescent rainbow vases are the perfect way to dress up a table or buffet during a party â€“ go with the full rainbow color spectrum, or just choose a couple of huesÂ that fit your party color palette. Wouldn’t theyÂ be especially cute at a baby shower or rainbow-themed birthday party??

Supplies

Glass bud vases or cans in varying sizes

Iridescent vinyl in pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple

Ruler

Pencil or bone folder

Scissors

If you’re using glass bud vases, all you really need to do is measure and cut the vinyl! I wanted all of my vases to have color at different heights, so I measured various lengths in each vinyl color. Then I used my ruler and a bone folder to score the vinyl at the appropriate length and cut along the scored line with scissors. You could also use a pencil to score the vinyl, but since it is transparent I wouldn’t recommend using a pen or permanent marker to draw any lines. Next, remove the protective bottom layer from the vinyl and apply the sticky side to the vase. Work your way slowly around the entire vase and smooth the vinyl down as you go to avoid air bubbles.

I also love the idea of repurposing old cans (or even smooth glass jars with straight sides) to make your own vases! I had a bunch of cans around the house from our most recent taco night, so I just removed the labels and spray painted the jars white. The vinyl application is the exact same as the glass bud vases. And if you’re not into painting, you could also wrap the cans with white paper and apply the vinyl over the white paper. So fun and modern!

If you don’t have much experience with creating floral arrangements, keep things simple by just using one type of flower! I used a few different kinds of flowers, but used only one type of flower in each individual vase. The tall bud vases work best with long, leggy flowers â€“ like sweet peas (my fave!), tulips, or even a single peony stem. For the cans, I used clustersÂ of carnations and garden roses paired with seeded eucalyptus. Here’s a little floral chart so you can find these beauties at your local flower market!

Calligraphy by Meant to Be Calligraphy

For those of you planning rainbow-inspired parties, this DIY is for you! I made these vases with my daughter Sophie one afternoon after school, and she immediately claimed the pink and purple vases as her own. YES! Kid approved = job well done.

Photos by Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

02/10/2017

Scotch Whisky Coffee

We’re still in the mood for keeping warm and cozy, as we’re in the midst of a cold snap here in DC. So we decided to take an already-warm drink, the Irish Coffee, and bump up the warmth a bit with some smokey Scotch whisky.Â â€“Andrew

Scotch Coffee Cocktail Recipe

2 oz Blended Scotch Whisky
1 oz Vanilla Bean Syrup
6 oz Hot Black Coffee

To make the vanilla bean syrup: combine a cup of sugar, a cup of water, and one whole vanilla bean, split down the middle, in a sauce pan over low heat. Stir frequently until all the sugar is melted into the water. Remove the pan from the heat and cover to allow the vanilla to infuse â€“ at least 20 minutes, but the longer the better. Then strain the syrup through cheesecloth or a fine-meshed sieve to remove the vanilla bean solids (don’t worry about catching all the black flecks of vanilla bean). Bottle and refrigerate.

To make the Scotch Coffee: combine the Scotch, vanilla syrup, and fresh hot coffee in a mug. Top with whipped cream and, optionally, garnish with freshly grated nutmeg. Enjoy!

I wasn’t sure how this one would turn out when I first made it. Irish Coffee is such a classic drink, with a smooth, rich flavor profile, that I was worried the smokiness of the Scotch would overpower the other flavors in my mug. But it turned out much, much better than I had even expected. This drink is warm and rich, with lots of notes of earthy peat from the Scotch â€“ and none of the smokey sharpness I was worried about. Vanilla is a perfect match for Scotch, rounding out any rough edges and helping the whisky’s warmer notes pop. Together with the coffee, they’re pretty magic.

As with any Scotch cocktail, your final drink’s flavors will depend on the Scotch you use. A single malt brimming with peat or brine can dominate your drink, but a milder blended Scotch â€“ we used Monkey Shoulder â€“ will blend and merge more easily with the other flavors in your mug.

Oh, and that vanilla bean syrup â€“ it’s super easy to make at home and is worth keeping around for more than just this one cocktail. It’s amazing in regular coffee and is perfect for a wide array of cocktails, including Tiki drinks that play up vanilla’s origins as a tropical orchid.

(Donâ€™t forget to follow us onÂ Instagram!)

Glassware byÂ Liquorary

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

02/10/2017

Happy Weekend!

Image by And Here We Are via Instagram

Happy Friday everyone! How was your week? Are you covered in snow right now? We had a few flurries yesterday, but nothing compared to the many inches a bit further up north! This week was a bit of a whirlwind for me, since I spent most of last weekend and the early part of this week at the semi-annual NYNOW trade show in New York before coming home to DC. If you like, you can see some of my favorite finds from the show here.Â It’s always a fun show, with lots of great things to see.

Everyday Watercolor from Jenna of Mon Voir is officially available for pre order!

Tips for penning the perfect love letter

This year, I’ll be planting all my houseplants in pink pots

Super cute DIY classroom valentines without the candy (and with free printables!)

How cute are these aqua-dipped ceramic canisters?

These chocolate-dipped wafers would be fun to make for a birthday party!

Absolutely in love with this glam velvet setteeÂ (that brass base!)

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

Enrollment for the Modern Calligraphy Summit 2.0 is NOW OPEN!

Copper and burgundy baby shower invitations

Even more examples of ourÂ love affair with copper foil!

Calligraphy inspiration from Rachel Anne Design

Fun black and gold foil surprise birthday party invitations

Have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here next week! xoxo

02/09/2017

Calligraphy Inspiration: Rachel Anne Design

Hello everyone! Here we are in February seeking something lighter than the 5 layers of clothing we need here in Maine. My yoga instructor said something to me last week that stuck â€” how lightness comes with control. And no truer example of that than when you look at the art of calligraphy.Â To write a name, an invitation, any wording with such lightness that looks effortless; it’s a skill that requires the utmost control. Rachel Anne is an Atlanta-based calligrapher whose work captures that magical light hand in calligraphy. Her lettering looks so modern and airy. Let’s take a look! â€“Â Jen

Photo Credit: Four Corners Photography

Rachel shares how she had not dreamed aboutÂ working in the paper world. “I definitely wasn’t the girl who grew up loving paper or drawing letters, and I didn’t really care for writing that much either, so it’s kind of funny that I would end up where I am today!”

So how did she stumble on calligraphy? “In 2014 I was working as a wedding photographer which was something that I absolutely loved, though I felt like I needed a creative outlet that wasn’t a job and I didn’t have to please anyone with, I could just learn and create what brought me joy personally. I had been eyeing calligraphy for a while (and being in the wedding industry was always in awe of the pretty wedding stationery) and decided to take an online course because it was so pretty and everyone on Instagram made it look so easy,” adds Rachel.

Photo Credit: Four Corners Photography

The story doesn’t end there! At first, she didn’t click with calligraphy. “One week in I gave up because I thought it was just too hard!” says Rachel. “Over the next few months I completely put it out of my mind, but then as a New Year resolution decided to finally stick to it and actually make myself learn (mostly because I didn’t want to be a quitter). For some reason that time around it just clicked and I became obsessed with learning and practicing!” Persistence for the win!

Photo Credit: Tulle & Grace Photography

Photo Credit: Hannah Forsberg

Rachel calls her style “modern, romantic and effortless while still having a polished feel.” And she adds, “I like to gather inspiration from lots of different sources and keep an ever growing style board of images that inspire and speak to me. These images can be anything from fabric textures and surface patterns to color schemes in flower arrangements.”

Photo Credit: Rachel Anne

Thanks for sharing your work Rachel Anne and for the inspiration to keep trying at something you really love to do!