01/12/2017

Calligraphy Inspiration: Pirouette Paper

Hello everyone! And hello to 2017! Here we are already skating fast through January. For today’s dose of calligraphy inspiration we’re featuring the beautiful modern calligraphyÂ ofÂ Kaylyn of Pirouette Paper. HerÂ collection of lettering work shows how calligraphy instantly makesÂ any event, party, wedding, or festive gathering feel special. I’m pretty partial to the Pirouette Paper handmade party signs, but feel free to share your favorite picks below! Â â€“Â Jen

Photo: Kristina Adams Photography

I’ve always loved this idea of using calligraphy on kraft brown paper. It feels modern and not fussy. And in this case, the sign keeps the bubbly bar, with all the antique accents, from looking old-fashioned.

Photo: Mallory Dawn Photography

There’s definitely an organic style to Kaylyn’s work. I love her use ofÂ botanical elements, like leaves, with gold lettering Â for sweet and modern wedding seating tags.

Photo: Savan Photography

With Pirouette Paper, you’ll find invitation suites that mix Â calligraphy with simple type for a beautiful effect.

Photo: Loren Weddings

Here’s the prettiest cocktail menu I ever did see. (I bet AndrewÂ knows how to make all of these fun-sounding cocktails!)

Photo: Mallory Dawn Photography

Letter work too pretty to store in a box (in my opinion). I’d frame a sentimental piece like this and hang in my bedroom.

Photo: Mallory Dawn Photography

This wedding menu features calligraphy letter work with an embellishment of gold foil. I love how the table features rustic wood chargers and skips the tablecloth to balance the golden accents for a more modern, less fussy-fancy table.

Photo: Mallory Dawn Photography

Kaylyn says her inspiration comes from her mood when she’s writing.Â “I love to let anything I’m feeling come through in my writing, whether it’s a more abstract and ethereal font (for those rainy days) or a more straight-forward, curly font if I’m feeling especially fun and youthful,” she says.

Photo: Savan Photography

Kaylyn got into calligraphy after a photographer friend of hers asked her to attend a calligraphy class with her. After that fateful class, sheÂ decided that it’sÂ what she wants to do. “From there I started building my business while I was finishing up school and working at Disneyland â€” lots of styled shoots, small commissions, etc.” says Kaylyn. But this past June, she said goodbye to Disney and jumped into full-time doing Pirouette Paper. “Most of the time it doesn’t even feel like work.”

Photo: The Hearts Haven

Watercolors and calligraphy name tags mixed with rustic woods and fresh garland â€” this is one dreamy entrance to the celebration.

Photo: Natalie Schutt Photography

You can turn a vintage mirror into a standout program for the big day with hand-drawn calligraphy.

Photo: Kristina Adams Photography

I hope this peek into the work of Pirouette Paper has been a pretty kickoff to 2017. Here’s wishing the new year is golden!

01/11/2017

Timeless Southern Magnolia Wedding Invitations

Today we’re practically dripping in beautiful magnolia flowers thanks to these stunning,Â timeless Southern magnolia wedding invitations from Bonnie and Currier ofÂ Tenn Hens Design! And really, is there anything more perfectly suited for a garden wedding in Nashville? Bonnie and Currier incorporated magnolias throughout the save the dates, wedding invitation suite, and day-of stationery, from the envelope liner to small die cut magnolia flowers paired with escort cards for the reception. So lovely!

From Tenn Hens Design:Â Our client had grand magnolia dreams for this wedding, so we created a design that felt Southern, botanical, and timeless. The ceremony was set in a beautiful garden atÂ Cheekwood here in Nashville, and the reception followed inside the art museum located at the historic Cheek estate.

The square save the date was letterpress printed in blush and gray and we drew an illustration of the mansion. They loved the idea of a bookmark so we wrapped the magnolia pattern around the card to become a keepsake for guests. The envelope liner matched in the same pattern.

For the big day we revealed our plans of a custom magnolia wrap that held all the details together. Inside was the invitation with letterpress printed text and illustrations, gold foil, and gold edge painting. The gold foil added a real glam factor against the subtle gray impression along the edges. Such gorgeous details and textures in every piece. Behind the invitation, the wrap had a pocket that tucked all the detail cards and rsvp cards neatly inside. Even the blush from the save the date made an appearance on the rsvp card and envelope. Also we had custom wax seals made with the magnolia tree we created. We really wanted the suite to feel like you were revealing something super special as it all unveiled!

Escort cards were designed with die-cut magnolia blooms tucked inside small pockets and topped with a wax seal of the magnolia tree from the invitation suite. The tree was carried over to the program as well and we used the same gray paper on the cover from the envelope liner. The bloom illustrations also made an appearance on the circular menu. Touches of gold foil adding a bit of sparkle underneath the clear plate.

The magnolia designs really branded the entire event. We loved the impact of the big bold pattern, mixed with the soft color palette in the type and finely detailed illustrations. It was truly a dream to be a part of this incredible wedding with such a fine group of people.

Thanks Bonnie and Currier!

Design: Tenn Hens Design

Wedding Planning: The Social Office

Calligraphy: Val Cole

Tenn Hens DesignÂ is a member of the Designer Rolodex â€“ you can see more of their beautiful work right hereÂ or visit the real invitations gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

PhotoÂ Credits: Mary Craven Dawkins

01/06/2017

Happy Weekend!

Happy Friday everyone! How was your first week of 2017? I spent most of the week cleaning out my office and trying to mentally prepare myself to dive into 2017. The last couple of years have felt VERY chaotic, both personally and professionally, so this year I’m trying to take a step back and focus on building a foundation that will help me grow and move forward in an intentional way. I know we all project a positive, happy, and successful vibe on blogs and social media, but behind the scenes life often feels like the exact opposite! So, last summer, I signed up for Shanna Skidmore’s Blueprint Model program to help me build that foundation. I’m only about two thirds of the way through the 12-week program, but it has been absolutely invaluable in helping me figure out the direction I want to take, both with my business and my life (more on that sometime soon!), and some of the key ingredients missing from my business model. Anyway, I’m looking forward to finishing the final third of the program while things are still fairly quiet in January, and if any of you are interested in doing something similar for your business, I’d definitely encourage you to sign up for the next 12 week round â€“ registration opens today and runs through January 12! And you can even get $100 off your registration with code “THEYTOLDMETOO”Â at checkout. And if that wasn’t enough, Shanna is offering one-on-one sessions for the first 25 people thatÂ sign up. Go NOW!Â But in the meantime…

Don’t Quit Your Daydream Unicorn pin by Little Arrow / Photo by @tokyokittengalaxy

…a few links for your weekend:

How stamps get designed. I think this is just the coolest thing ever.
Just totally obsessed with this vaseÂ â€“ and this matching terrarium
The holidays may be over, but I totally want to try Ashley’s recipe for dairy-free Milk Punch (made with almond milk!)
Have any of you tried a facial cleansing oil? I tend to get really dry skin in the winter months, so I’m very curious!
Can I please get this sweater in my size?? (I’m totally getting one for Sophie â€“ and it’s 40% off with code MUSTSHOP!)
The invisible workload. I found this article super interesting. I’m sure in some homes it’s the husband who does most of the invisible thinking work, not to mention households with couples of the same gender, but I’m guessing in most homes the invisible work generally falls to one person. In my home, my husband helps keep track of our grocery list, but I keep track of pretty much everything else. What do you think? Is it the same for you?

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

Brand new January illustrated wallpaper for your phone and desktop!
These wedding invitations combine soft watercolor illustrations with rustic mountain scenery
Don’t forget to send out your post-holiday thank you notes!
How to bring Pantone’s 2017 Color of the Year into your wedding
A little inspiration for 2017 (courtesy of Mary Poppins) in the fun new brush lettering font Tropical
Elegant blush and gold letterpress wedding invitations

Thatâ€™s it for us this week! Have a fabulous weekend, and Iâ€™ll see you back here next week! xoxo

11/29/2016

Romantic Gold Foil Calligraphy Wedding Invitations

We may be heading into winter, but Spring will always be my favorite season in my heart. I adore the combination of spring floral illustrations and Â whimsical calligraphy in these romantic gold foil calligraphy wedding invitations byÂ Kara Anne Paper. KaraÂ designed this invitation suite for her own wedding and incorporated many meaningful nods to her family, including her new family crest and an illustration of her fatherâ€™s home. What a special invitation suite that will certainly be treasured for a long time to come!

From Kara: Designing my own wedding invitation suite came easy! After finalizing our wedding style and color scheme, the late night invitation doodles began. Staying cohesive with all the paper details was important to me.

William and I wanted a chic backyard wedding filled with beautiful spring colors and a touch of gold accents. I felt introducing an original watercolor invitation cover was just the perfect touch for our gold foil calligraphy invitation. The invitation was printed on 220# Crane’s Pearl White Lettra with gold painted edges. We also included a tri-fold reply card with our new family crest on the front and an illustration of the ceremony location and reception venue. This design was letterpress printed on 110# Pearl White Lettra. Our special wedding suite was all tied together beautifully with silk blue ribbon and placed inside a Crane’s Royalty envelope. The front of the envelope was graced with gold calligraphy to match the invitation.

The wedding program was one of my favorites! The small booklet included a cover page with a pop-up illustration of my father’s house, where I was raised and where William and I first met. To tie the program back in with the wedding suite the cover was a blind embossed printed impression of the same floral pattern used on the invitation cover. Behind the pop-up, on the inside page was the illustration of the pond and dock where William and I exchanged vows. The pages that followed included the ceremony and wedding party details.

Although our rehearsal dinner was indoors we wanted it to have a fresh spring, outdoor feel. We had fresh flowers that matched the watercolor paintings used on both invitations. The invitation was placed inside a wood and glass box with preserved green moss laid nicely on the bottom. The top of the box included the guest names with a pretty blue silk ribbon tied around it. Our closest friends and family were invited so we wanted these invitations to be extra special and personalized.

Thanks Kara!

Design: Kara Anne Paper

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

Photo Credits: Kara Anne PaperÂ andÂ Kim Box Photography

11/10/2016

Calligraphy Inspiration: Ettie Kim Calligraphy and Design

Hello everyone! I’m excited to share some pretty calligraphy inspiration from that capturesÂ a fluid and organic calligraphy style. Nowadays, it’s easy to find fonts and digital graphics that incorporate fanciful lettering, and I’m all for calligraphy taking over the world. But when you see an artist doing calligraphy in a way that looks so uncalibrated, so imperfectly perfect, with brushstrokes that you simply can’t create with the click of a mouse, that makes me appreciate this art form that much more. So take a peek through the work of Ettie Kim Calligraphy and Design!

Ettie, an East Coast native, shared on her Instagram that she took the leap into a full-time creative career after a detour through law school. It’s clear Ettie has a love for handmade papers, and the delicate raw edges feel like the perfect canvas for her delicate calligraphy. I also love all the botanical patterns she mixes in with her work. Ettie Kim’s websiteÂ includes a just-launched shop where you can hire her for projects from semi-custom invitations to address labels, and she shares her inspiration: “My lettering work is inspired by the asymmetrical, irregular forms found in nature, and I aim for unique design that is organic yet refined.”

Simplicity rules, as you can see in this sweet save-the-date by Ettie.

A vintage crate adorned with sweet calligraphy is just about the perfect spot for cards and gifts for a rustic modern wedding.

Honey jar wedding favors with custom calligraphy tags. | Photo credit: Nikki Kauzlarich

On Ettie’s site, she notes you can contact her “for other bespoke inquiries” (which I love) including non-paper projects like designing a calligraphy tattoo. Let me just say, I have no tattoos and I was not the teenager who was ever pining for a tattoo. But recently (late thirties crisis?!), I’ve had this newfound desire to get inked in part because of all the amazing calligraphy tattoos I’mÂ seeing popping up on inspiration boards. I’m still not sure I’ll ever take that big permanent leap, but if I were to get a tattoo, Ettie would be one of the first artists I’d look to for the design.

Photo Credits: Ettie Kim Design, except where noted

Thanks for following along and be back soon with more calligraphy love!

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Calligraphy Inspiration: Pirouette Paper

Timeless Southern Magnolia Wedding Invitations

Happy Weekend!

Romantic Gold Foil Calligraphy Wedding Invitations

Calligraphy Inspiration: Ettie Kim Calligraphy and Design