02/15/2017

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Vintage Inspired Wedding Details

Anyone planning a vintage-inspired affair for their wedding? Vintage inspired wedding details can be adapted to suit all types of wedding â€“ from laid back bohemian weddings to classic black tie weddings. And if you’re looking to bring DIY elements into your wedding, we’ve got plenty of ideas for you! From wax seals to hand-painted signs, here are some ideas for adding vintage charm to your wedding day. – Annie

Use collectedÂ vintage postcards as escort cards. | Photography: Readyluck via The Knot

Make your send-off memorable withÂ a “Just Married” sign in beautiful and whimsical calligraphy. | Photography:Â Lauren Balingit, Calligraphy:Â Rebeca Lynn Calligraphy via Style Me Pretty

Use wax seals on paper details like escort cards and table numbers.Â | Photography: Sylvie Gil,Â Invitations:Â Little Miss Press Â via Sylvie Gil

DirectÂ guests to the bar withÂ a hand-painted sign.Â | Photography:Â Pat FureyÂ via Green Wedding Shoes

Display your program, menu, and other signage in ornate gold frames.Â | Photography: Adam AlexÂ via Adam Alex

Repurpose vintage books as table centerpieces (top) and a backdrop (bottom).Â | Photography:Â Lara Hotz Photography, Paper Goods: Deciduous PressÂ via Green Wedding Shoes

Attach your escort cards toÂ vintage horseshoes with beautiful ribbon.Â | Photography:Â Elizabeth Wells Photography, Event Design:Â Manmade + SageÂ via Green Wedding Shoes

Using calligraphy and a wooden barrel, invite guests to submit ideas toÂ your couple bucket list! | Photography:Â Carmen Santorelli Photography, Wedding Planning:Â Amorology, Calligraphy: Twinkle And ToastÂ via Style Me Pretty

Chalkboard signs and vintage tea cups in fancy china patterns add plenty of charm. | Photography:Â Anna Delores Photography, Coordination: WINK!Â via Style Me Pretty

This is more nostalgic for summer sleepaway camps than vintage-inspired, but we couldn’t resist! How creative are these arrowÂ escort cards around a hand painted bullseye? | Photography:Â Phil Chester, Seating Chart and Arrows Made by Bride and GroomÂ via Green Wedding Shoes

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

02/14/2017

Stationery A-Z: Good Luck Cards

Good luck cards can be a sweet way to send a friend or family member an uplifting message of encouragement before a big event. Whether it’s a second interview for a new job, a meeting for a potential new home, a big date with someone exciting or an impending presentation they’ve been gearing up forÂ months, a reminder that you are rooting for them is always appreciated. With so many fun choices out there, go forth and share that note of hopefulness!

From top left:

1. Send this Idlewild design to your fashionable friend who is en route to being the next Anna Wintour.

2. Really wishing this bandana design from AntiquariaÂ was an actual textile that could be worn on days when a little extra luck is needed.

3. Live vicariously through your friend taking a year off to travel with this message-focused greeting from Ladyfingers Letterpress.

4. Lucky you who gets this ombrÃ© papercut design from Yellow Owl Workshop.

5. Big money, no whammies! Just blow on those Rifle Paper Co. dice and head straight for the craps table.

6. AÂ horseshoe card from ZeebendryÂ features a minimalist design and simple messaging.

7. This hand letteredÂ design from Annie Dornan SmithÂ is gesso printed and uses real confetti to add to its textural quality.

8. No surprise that one of our perpetualÂ favorites, Hammerpress, created a beautifully patterned good luck greeting with a fresh color combination and geometric design.

9. Shiny and smiley! RabbitÂ feet, four leaf clovers, elephants, and wishbones have definitelyÂ got all elements of making someone’s lucky day. From Hello!Lucky for Paperless Post.

10.Â One Canoe Two wishes you the best of luck with a field full of clovers that feels likes itsÂ straight out of their Missouri farm.

11. Loving the traditional and occult symbols of luck, not to mention the silver foil, in this Banquet Workshop design.

12. A four leaf clover and hand lettered message make for a sweet sentiment from The Paper Cub.

13. Really want to hit one out of the park? Try one of these hand painted wall charms from The Great Lakes.

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.

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Glassware byÂ Liquorary

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper