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Illustrated European-Inspired Watercolor Save The Dates

Well, these save the dates are quite romantic! Created for her own upcoming wedding by Erin of Grace + Ardor Co., these illustrated European-inspired watercolor save the dates feature a gorgeous custom watercolor illustration of the reception venue, hand-torn deckle edges, and a gorgeous wax seal. And I love that Erin chose to go with a large scale format for her save the dates – all the better to show off that beautiful illustration!

Illustrated European-Inspired Watercolor Save the Dates by Grace + Ardor / Oh So Beautiful Paper

From Erin: My fiancé, John, and I are getting married this September, and planning and designing a wedding has been something I’ve dreamed of doing since I was a little girl. I spent the first few months of our engagement really researching and refining my aesthetic. Once I had that in place, I decided to collaborate with a fellow designer (and one of my bridesmaids), Tracey, to create my Save the Dates.

Illustrated European-Inspired Watercolor Save the Dates by Grace + Ardor / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Illustrated European-Inspired Watercolor Save the Dates by Grace + Ardor / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Our wedding is going to be very soft, romantic, and European-inspired. Blush pinks and neutrals, lots of foliage, some deep merlot tones, and mixed metals are in the palette. The ceremony will be held at Bryn Athyn Cathedral in Pennsylvania: a gorgeous Early Gothic style structure set amongst beautiful gardens. Located next to that is the stunning Cairnwood Estate, in which our reception will take place.

Illustrated European-Inspired Watercolor Save the Dates by Grace + Ardor / Oh So Beautiful Paper

I also collaborated with an illustrator, Cheryl Geiger Sheeler, for the beautiful watercolor painting of Cairnwood Estate. This was scanned in to the computer and printed on Epson Watercolor Paper. We tore the edges of the paper by hand to give it a deckled edge, and the illustration bled off the edge to add to the natural, handmade feel.

Illustrated European-Inspired Watercolor Save the Dates by Grace + Ardor / Oh So Beautiful Paper

For impact, the scale was larger than a traditional Save the Date at 8.75 x 15 inches, folding down into a Crane Lettra A9 envelope. The fold was secured with an antique gold olive branch wax seal. I wanted to save the beautiful impression that calligraphy gives for our main wedding stationery, so I decided to create address labels that wrapped around the side of the envelope as an elegant alternative. Everything came together so wonderfully, and I especially love the handcrafted details. I cannot wait until our big day in September to celebrate our love for each other!

Illustrated European-Inspired Watercolor Save the Dates by Grace + Ardor / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Illustrated European-Inspired Watercolor Save the Dates by Grace + Ardor / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Thanks Erin!

Design: Grace + Ardor Co.

Watercolor Illustration: Cheryl Geiger Sheeler

Check out the Designer Rolodex for more tal­ented wed­ding invi­ta­tion design­ers and the real invi­ta­tions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Erin Doyle, Grace + Ardor Co.

Calligraphy Inspiration: Linen and Leaf

I came across the work of Katie Roden of Linen and Leaf while searching for inspiration on Instagram. The lovely tones, textures, and utter beauty of her feed kept me scrolling for more. Katie’s gorgeous work isn’t merely reserved for weddings, as she provides calligraphy for a variety of projects, including branding. Has your interest been piqued? Stop by her portfolio for more!  – Julie

Calligraphy Inspiration: Linen and Leaf / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Calligraphy Inspiration: Linen and Leaf / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Calligraphy Inspiration: Linen and Leaf / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Calligraphy Inspiration: Linen and Leaf / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Calligraphy Inspiration: Linen and Leaf / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Calligraphy Inspiration: Linen and Leaf / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Follow along with Katie and her most recent projects over on her Instagram feed. And if any of you lucky readers are in the Alabama area, you can also register for a modern calligraphy workshop with Katie in the new year!

Photo credits: 1 Joel and Amber Photography; 2 Katie Rogen; 3 left, 4, 5, 6 right Sleepy Fox Photography; 3 right, 6 left Paul Simon 

2015 Gift Guide: For Stationery Enthusiasts

You didn’t think I could resist the opportunity, did you?? I mean, this entire blog is basically one big gift guide for anyone who loves stationery, but there are a few things that make especially great gifts for the holidays. So here are a few gift ideas for stationery enthusiasts!

2015 Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Stationery Enthusiasts / Oh So Beautiful Paper

1. This Letterclub message board from Three Potato Four is basically the coolest thing ever. Use it in the office, to display party menus, or even just to display a favorite quote at home!

2 + 3. Stationery subscriptions are a fantastic gift for the paper obsessed. We put a full list of stationery subscriptions together over in the Market List, from this fun collaborative subscription from Ali Makes Things to the curated print and paper samples from Parse and Parcel.

4 + 5. Art is a wonderful gift any time of year. I’m obviously partial to my limited edition floral and calligraphy print collaboration with Mon Voir, and I’m also totally in love with the gorgeous new prints from Snow & Graham.

6. Keep track of correspondence with the Letter Ledger.

7. Because your favorite photos deserve to be printed.

8. The cutest business card holder stand from Kate Spade.

9. Paper people are all list makers, right? Help them stay organized with weekly desk jotters, like this jungle-inspired version from Idlewild Co.

10. I’m obsessed with the wall charms from The Great Lakes Goods. This arrow charm is one of my favorites.

11. Moglea makes the prettiest notebooks and jotters – with hand painted details and gold foil!

12. Take the guesswork out of envelope addresses with the Lettermate

13. The pin + post series from The Good Twin is so fun  – card and gift in one! Choose from thematic sets, the Zodiac series, or City sets – and she just released a new set of city pins that includes my home town of DC!

2015 Gift Guide: For Preschoolers

Every year I like to pull together a few gift guides, and this year I’m starting with one of my favorite subjects: preschoolers! Sophie turned 3 years old in September and started preschool at the end of August. And man, this stage is SO much fun! I mean, there are plenty of frustrations – we have tantrums and meltdowns and all kinds of defiance happening all over the place – but it’s also just a ton of fun. We’re still going strong with manipulative play (blocks, Magna Tiles, play-doh), getting into more physical activities, and starting to really get into pretend play. So for those of you looking for some ideas for 3 and 4 year old girls (or boys) – here are a few gift ideas for preschoolers!

Gift Ideas for Preschoolers / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Clockwise from the top left:

1. A tricycle! Sophie inherited a hand-me-down tricycle from her cousins a couple of months ago and LOVES it. She wants to ride it anywhere and everywhere, even in cold weather. Balance bikes are also great gift ideas for preschoolers.

2 + 3. PJs are always a fun holiday gift, and this nightgown and set of fuzzy slippers looks super cozy!

4 + 5. Sophie has always been interested in books, but now that she’s learning her letters she’s downright obsessed. These are a few of our current favorite books – and a cozy bean bag to practice reading:

Katy and the Big Snow

Such a Little Mouse

Little Blue Truck

6. + 7. Play kitchens and dollhouses are perfect for endless hours of pretend play. And little sisters can join in on the fun! Alice loves banging the pots and pans of Sophie’s play kitchen and even acts like she’s washing her hands in the sink!

8. We have a vintage map puzzle that Sophie loves to do over and over again (with some parental assistance). This version is similar to the one we have!

9. I’m a big fan of this art easel – and the priceless works of preschooler art that come out of it!

10. Play-Doh is so fun for toddlers! You can make your own if you’re so inclined, but I’m still a fan of the store-bought version. We also bought some cookie cutters and toy rollers so that Sophie can practice rolling the dough and cutting out her favorite shapes. We also continue to love our Magna Tiles for manipulative play – and the best part is that you can just keep adding to the collection each year!

This post contains affiliate links. By clicking on these links, you’ll help support Oh So Beautiful Paper while also purchasing some wonderful gifts. I only recommend products that I truly love and trust that you’ll love, too. My full disclosure policy can be found here.

DIY Spray Painted Gift Wrap

When it comes to DIY supplies, I tend to play favorites: paint pens, paper (naturally), gold leaf, and acrylic paint are all at the top of my go-to supply list. Also at the top of that list? Spray paint! I’m completely addicted to making these DIY spray painted acrylic signs for parties (like this year’s Paper Party!), and I’ve spray painted many a chair and table for home DIY projects. So when The Home Depot asked me to create DIY wrapping paper as part of their annual Holiday Style Challenge, I knew I wanted to use spray paint as part of my project!

DIY Spray Painted Gift Wrap / Oh So Beautiful Paper

The final DIY spray painted gift wrap project incorporates newsprint packing paper, various shades of Rust-Oleum spray paint, copper wire, nylon neon twine, and gift tags made from paint chips! So basically, I raided the paint aisle to create my ideal subtle, whimsical, shimmery, painterly-meets-ombré wrapping paper! You can find the full tutorial over on The Home Depot blog right here – and of course all of the materials used are available right at The Home Depot!

DIY Spray Painted Gift Wrap / Oh So Beautiful Paper

DIY Spray Painted Gift Wrap / Oh So Beautiful Paper

I tried at least a dozen different color combinations, each combining one or two color spray paints with a metallic spray paint. The pink versions are my favorite; I love the subtle ombré from mixing shades of pink with the metallic spray paint! But I also love the high contrast black and shimmery pastel blue. I found that a thin layer of metallic spray paint over any color helped blend everything together, and my favorite metallic ended up being this subtle pearl spray paint called Champagne Mist. It left the perfect amount of shimmer without changing the color of the wrapping paper. Another favorite combination involved bright coral and gold spray paint. So many great options!

DIY Spray Painted Gift Wrap / Oh So Beautiful Paper

DIY Spray Painted Gift Wrap / Oh So Beautiful Paper

The paint chip gift tags also received a layer of metallic spray paint, which is really lovely in person but kind of subtle in photos. Next time I’d love to try pairing two bright colors together for more contrast! I wrapped the gift boxes with the spray painted gift wrap and copper hobby wire with the paint chip gift tags. For smaller gift boxes I also used ribbons made of strips ripped from cotton painter’s rags. I love the additional texture of the loose cotton weave and frayed edges!

DIY Spray Painted Gift Wrap / Oh So Beautiful Paper

DIY Spray Painted Gift Wrap / Oh So Beautiful Paper

A huge thanks to The Home Depot for inviting me to be part of this year’s Holiday Style Challenge! I had a BLAST! You can find the full tutorial for this DIY Spray Painted Gift Wrap here, and more holiday ideas on The Home Depot’s Holiday Style Challenge Pinterest board!

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper