Pretty Paper in the Office: Drawer Storage

Sometimes a workspace doesn’t allow for too much furniture, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Streamlining your space can help increase your productivity, as long as things are well organized. For those times when you just need a spot to tuck things away, like extra supplies or tools, a drawer storage solution will work wonders. Luckily for us, we live in a world with more options than those bulky filing cabinets! So I’ve put together a round up of small, yet stylish, drawer units for your office. – Julie

Pretty Paper in the Office Drawer Storage Round Up

 

No. 1 Three drawer zinc filing cabinet from Cox & Cox; No. 2 Helmer drawer unit from IKEA; No. 3 Vintage wood drawer boxes from Little Dog Vintage; No. 4 Vintage metal box from Present&Correct; No. 5 Bisley 5 drawer cabinet from The Container Store; No. 6 Wooden set of drawers from Cox & Cox

 

{images via their respective sources}

DIY Tutorial: Hot Air Balloon Birth Announcement

Within the past few months, we’ve had babies on the brain. We’ve had numerous requests lately from crafty moms-to-be wanting chic, custom stamps so that they can make their own birth announcements for their new bundles of joy. This balloon announcement design is sweet, feminine and the perfect way to share the birth of a beautiful little girl with family and friends. – Bailey and Emma of Antiquaria

DIY Tutorial: Chic Rubber Stamp Baby Announcements by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

Combining different pink hues (bright peony pink with the more traditional ballet pink) makes the design a bit more modern. And best of all…it’s super simple!

DIY Tutorial: Chic Rubber Stamp Baby Announcements by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

Step One:  Lay an A2 card (4 1/4″x5 1/2″) card down on a firm surface. Ink your stamp (we used our “Hot Air Balloon” Birth Announcement Stamp) thoroughly and center it over your card. Once it is positioned correctly, press down to make a print. Use both hands to ensure even pressure. Lift off and let the print dry. For more information on this process go here.

DIY Tutorial: Chic Rubber Stamp Baby Announcements by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

Step Two: Using the same technique as in Step One, print your return address (we used our Calligraphy Custom Return Address Stamp) on the back flap of an A2 envelope. To jazz up the back of the envelope, we used some adorable pink & gold washi tape!

DIY Tutorial: Chic Rubber Stamp Baby Announcements by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

Step Three: Now all that’s left to do is to address the envelopes, add postage (we used vintage postage from Verde Studio) and send them on their way!

A quick tip for expecting parents: Since you will have your hands full once the baby is born, it is smart to stamp and address the envelopes before the big day arrives. This way, all you will have to do is stamp the announcement (you will need all the baby’s info for this piece), stuff and mail the envelopes, leaving more time to enjoy your new little one!

Materials List:

“Hot Air Balloon” Birth Announcement Stamp

Calligraphy Custom Return Address Stamp

A2 Card in Luxe White

A2 Envelope in Luxe Blush

Stamp Pad Peony

Washi Tape

Verde Studio Vintage Postage

Photo Credits: Antiquaria

Paper Party 2013!

I’d normally wait until the end of my booth recaps to share these photos with you – but this time I just couldn’t wait!! For the past few years I’ve had the pleasure of hosting a party during the week of the National Stationery Show, and since I’m a tornado of activity down the aisles of the Javits Center during the show it’s really my only chance to hang out with many of my favorite stationers, calligraphers, retailers, printers, and fellow stationery enthusiasts! This year’s party was everything I could have hoped for and more!

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (18) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (47)

Since we were at full capacity last year, we found a wonderful new venue with some room to spread around: Hudson Terrace (also just a few blocks north of the Javits Center!). The additional space also gave us some new opportunities when it came to the décor, so I enlisted the help of my friends Janice from Bellwether Events and Kelly from Studio DIY – this year’s party was definitely my favorite yet! We were also lucky to collaborate with some really amazing sponsors this year to make the whole party possible: MohawkMintedSmockLegion PaperChronicle BooksHello! LuckyTradeshow Bootcamp, and the Ladies of Letterpress!

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (101) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (108)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (107) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (102)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (115) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (144)

The first 125 guests received an awesome tote bag screen printed by Fisk & Fern and packed with fantastic stationery from Mohawk Paper, Tattly, Maginating, Anemone Letterpress, Hello! Lucky, Fig. 2 Design Studio, Dear Hancock, Sugar Paper, Egg Press, Kate & Birdie, Katharine Watson, Kelp Designs, Thomas Printers, Old Tom Foolery, Legion Paper, Czar Press, Minted, Paper + Cup Design, Chronicle Books, Pistachio Press, Red Cap Cards, Smudge Ink, Parrott Design Studio, and Envelopments!

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (28) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (27)

Calligraphy sign by Meant to Be Calligraphy // Custom name tags designed by Hello! Lucky

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (100) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (99)

We wanted to incorporate LOTS of color and geometric-inspired patterns into this year’s party. In addition to the invitations (which I’ll share soon!), we created several folded paper displays behind the bar using Britehue paper from Mohawk – one of my favorite details from the whole party! Stay tuned for a full tutorial!

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (98)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (95)

We also created a wall of envelopes from Mohawk in every color imaginable!

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (93) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (62)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (1)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (77) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (87)

Tattly was at the party with their amazing temporary tattoos!

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (78)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (61)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (106)

GORGEOUS floral arrangements from Soirée Floral // Table confetti from Minted!

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (127) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (123)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (26) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (118)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (109)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (23) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (132)

Rose gold foil coasters and stir sticks from For Your Party // Paper Party logo design by Linda & Harriett

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (3) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (22)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography

Cocktail recipe coasters by the Ladies of Letterpress

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (97) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (65)

Coasters from Old Tom Foolery // Signs from Minted

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (110) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (111)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (133) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (134)

Stripey straws and drink flags from Minted // Napkins from For Your Party

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (139) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (136)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (124) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (125)

This year’s Paper Party would not have been possible without the amazing sponsors seen above!

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (35)

Sophie even made an appearance – and somehow ended up wearing a paper crown for most of the evening!

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (2)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (75)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (6)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (7)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (36) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (76)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (10)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (19)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (49)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (54)

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (56)

We partnered with Minted to bring Smilebooth to the party – it was a huge hit! Minted even created a backdrop using custom printed fabric and their tissue paper fans!

Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (90) Paper Party 2013 Hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper, Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography (5)

This year’s party was so much fun! It was so great to see all my favorite paper people all in the same place and having the most wonderful time. I’m still grinning ear to ear just thinking about it! Once again, a huge thanks and much love to our amazing sponsors for making the whole thing possible: Mohawk, Minted, Smock, Legion Paper, Chronicle Books, Hello! LuckyTradeshow Bootcamp, and Ladies of Letterpress â€“ not to mention Hudson Terrace for having us, and to Fisk & Fern, Linda & Harriett, For Your Party, Soirée Floral, Meant to Be Calligraphy, Tattly, and Smilebooth for all being a huge part of the evening!

OSBP + Smilebooth = Paper Party 2013

Finally, a million thanks to Janice and Kelly for their support and help with the party! Could not have pulled this off without these girls.

There was no way I could fit all of the photos from this year’s party into a single post, but you can find the full Paper Party 2013 gallery right here – and all the Smilebooth photos are available right here!

Photo Credits: Charlie Juliet Photography

The Manhattan

Nole reminded me recently that we have been remiss in writing about one of the most basic, and one of the best, cocktails of all time: the Manhattan. Sweet and oaky, spicy and rich, the Manhattan should be a cornerstone of every cocktail repertoire. – Andrew

Signature Cocktail Recipe: The Manhattan via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

Cocktail Recipe Card: The Manhattan, Illustration by Caitlin Keegan for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Illustration by Caitlin Keegan for Oh So Beautiful Paper

The Manhattan

2 oz Rye Whiskey
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
2 Dashes Bitters

Combine everything with lots of ice, stir well, and strain into a chilled tumbler. Enjoy!

Signature Cocktail Recipe: The Manhattan via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

The recipe above is my personal favorite and will serve up a fantastic drink, but treat it as a template rather than a rule. Consider bourbon instead of rye for a smoother, sweeter version. Or Punt-e-Mes instead of sweet vermouth for a bitter, sharper drink. Or try flipping the recipe, with two parts vermouth to one part whiskey, for a lighter and more aromatic drink. Or try adding a dash or two of absinthe or maraschino liqueur, two ingredients that pop up in many of the original versions of this recipe. Over ice or straight up, with a cherry or a lemon twist or no garnish at all, this is a pretty good drink.

Signature Cocktail Recipe: The Manhattan via Oh So Beautiful Paper (13) Signature Cocktail Recipe: The Manhattan via Oh So Beautiful Paper (8)

Just make sure that, whatever permutation you try, you don’t forget the bitters. Bitters make this drink. I’m a fan of a dash of Angostura and a dash of Fee Brothers Black Walnut bitters, but just make sure there are bitters. (I think that, for a long time, bartenders forgot that Manhattans need bitters and served many terrible Manhattans. Fortunately, most have remembered again.)

Signature Cocktail Recipe: The Manhattan via Oh So Beautiful Paper (10) Signature Cocktail Recipe: The Manhattan via Oh So Beautiful Paper (11)

The Manhattan is – for very good reason – one of David Embury’s six basic cocktails that everyone should know. It’s easy to see why: incredibly simple to make, incredibly delicious. If I was limited to just one cocktail for the rest of my life, it would be a close call between the Manhattan and Sazerac.

Signature Cocktail Recipe: The Manhattan via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6)

The Manhattan was almost certainly invented in New York (for reasons that are hopefully obvious). Beyond that, not a lot is known about its origins. The drink probably dates back to the late 1800s, but most stories of its invention don’t pass the smell test. I suspect, without any evidence but taste and a bit of logic, that the Manhattan descends (like the Martini) from the Martinez cocktail, making it the cousin of the Martini.

I like the idea of drinks having family trees.

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Emma + Finn’s Floral New York City Wedding Invitations

I’m always a fan of floral designs, but even more so during this time of year – when flowers and trees are in bloom all over my neighborhood of Capitol Hill. I just can’t resist all the pretty blossoms! Jessica from Moira Design Studio sent over these floral invitations that she designed for a spring wedding at the Central Park Boathouse in New York City. She combined the feminine floral designs with an illustration of the New York City skyline. So pretty!

Floral Wedding Invitations by Moira Design Studio via Oh So Beautiful paper (16)

From Jessica: Feminine details of hand painted spring flowers and leaves are perfect for this spring wedding in Central Park. Emma and Finn wanted to set the tone of romance and spring time, and wanted to focus their invitations with some custom artwork to reflect both their artistic careers. We paired the blush flowers with a simple watercolor of the New York city skyline to further tie the Park and the city together.

Floral Wedding Invitations by Moira Design Studio via Oh So Beautiful paper (9) Floral Wedding Invitations by Moira Design Studio via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Floral Wedding Invitations by Moira Design Studio via Oh So Beautiful paper (5) Floral Wedding Invitations by Moira Design Studio via Oh So Beautiful paper (3)

The skyline lined the mailing envelope, and also was printed on the reverse side of the invitation. The floral pattern adorns the back of the response card as well as the response envelope.  We addressed the envelopes in matching calligraphy for a unified look. We love working with different mediums, this suite was created with gouache and watercolor paint, as well as calligraphy ink.

Floral Wedding Invitations by Moira Design Studio via Oh So Beautiful paper (14)

 Floral Wedding Invitations by Moira Design Studio via Oh So Beautiful paper (8) Floral Wedding Invitations by Moira Design Studio via Oh So Beautiful paper (7)

Thanks Jessica!

Design: Moira Design Studio

Invitation Font: Bombshell Pro

Envelope Calligraphy: Moira Ink

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

Photo Credits: Moira Design Studio