01/25/2017

Seasonal Stationery: Romantic Valentine’s Day Cards

Last week’s Valentine’s Day card round up focused onÂ universal designs that worked for anyone and everyone on your list. But what about that really special love (or loves, no judgment here) that you want to convey romantic (or otherwise) affection for? Look no further! From the sweet to the saucy, these romantic Valentine’s Day cards send messages ranging from true love to pure lust. Pick one, two â€“ or even a few to organize a Valentine’s Day card scavenger hunt at home. Here are a variety of options toÂ make sure this February 14th is a resounding success!

From the top right:

1. If you’re lucky enough to have found your true love, shout it from the rooftops withÂ this card from Heart Swell Co.

2. Who wants to spend Valentine’s Day at a crowded restaurant? This Sugar Paper design with sweet pink stripes is straight to the point.

3. You + me = love from Ashkahn

4. A sweet and simple message in gorgeous script lettering (and neon pink envelopes!) from Anne Robin Calligraphy

5.Â Whether you’re browsing Tinder on the daily or in a full-on relationship, this card fromÂ Emily McDowellÂ is just the right amount of brazen humor.

6. I mean, who wouldn’t love to receive this card from Ink Meets Paper?? So sweet!

7. Loving the gorgeous vintage-inspired gold foil patterns and innovative die cut shape of this Valentine’s Day card fromÂ Rifle Paper Co.

8. Dear Bespoke Letterpress: please make a print of this downright gorgeous gold foil, script, and watercolor masterpiece.Â Framer!

9. You really can’t go wrong with a bunny covered in kisses for Valentine’s Day. Such aÂ sweet illustration in thisÂ Dear HancockÂ love bunny card.

10.Â The candy made us do it! A fun ode to the conversation heart in this card from Ghost Academy.

11.Â There’s really nothing more romantic than pink hearts and glittery gold foil. According to Hartland Brooklyn, that is.

12. Definitely no hidden innuendoes here! Simple, saucy and straight to business (illustrated by Barbara Dziadosz for Red Cap Cards).

Next time: No beauÂ this Valentine’s Day? No problem! We’ll be sharing a few friendship-based Valentine’s Day cards for your BFFs in our next installment.

01/23/2017

Cards of Love and Solidarity

Did you march on Saturday? Either here in Washington, DC or in one of the sister marches across the country or around the world? I marched here in DC, with my husband, some close friends, and all of our children. It was a beautiful thing to see so many people (probably more people than I’ve ever seen in one place) marching together for tolerance, respect, inclusion, equal rights for all, and so much more. Making their voices heard in a peaceful way. Everywhere I looked, all I could see was PEOPLE. It gave me so much hope. So many of the signs that I saw involved messages of love and kindness, so I thought I’d start the week with a quick round up of cards to help keep that message going. Cards with simple but powerful messages of love, solidarity, encouragement, and support â€“ all things that I know I’ll be holding dear for the next four years.

1. laLa Grace for Love is Mightier

2.Â Send a message of support with this card fromÂ Heartell Press

3.Â E. Frances Paper

4.Â Love and solidarity in one card fromÂ And Here We Are

5.Â Love is love (is love is love is love) fromÂ Heart Swell Co.

6.Â Love in the prettiest indigo brush letters fromÂ Sycamore Street Press

7.Â + 8. Sweet and simple gold hearts fromÂ Sugar PaperÂ andÂ Parrott Design Studio

9.Â Gorgeous gold foil calligraphy and indigo marbling fromÂ Antiquaria

10. Wild Ink Press

11.Â L-O-V-E fromÂ Idlewild Co.

12.Â One of my favorite cards fromÂ Our Heiday

p.s. Stationers â€“ I think I’ll make this a regular feature throughout the year, or as long as needed. If you have cards that represent the values of love, kindness, inclusiveness, and solidarity, please feel free to send them our way! You can email them to submissions(at)ohsobeautifulpaper.com, and don’t forget to review our submission guidelines here for appropriate image sizes, etc.

01/17/2017

Seasonal Stationery: Valentine’s Day Cards

Love is in the air! At least, it is at all the shops in my neighborhood. Valentine’s Day greeting cards are always a stationers favorite (the seemingly endless puns!), so the bevy of designs can be overwhelming. For those in a committed relationship, the options areÂ truly endless, but what about all the other people you want to express affection to? While many Valentines Day greeting cards focus on romantic love, there are plenty of people in our lives we love in other ways â€“Â your mom, your besties, your work wife. We know it can be easy to dismiss Valentine’s Day, but honestly, the whole world could really use more love these days. In this initial Valentine’s Day card round up, we’re focusing on more universal messaging without any romantic notions (but stay tuned for next weeks round up if you are looking for saucier options). Enjoy!

From top right:

1. AÂ sweet floral wreath in a rustic watercolor style from Little Truths Studio.

2. Share Valentine’s Day greetings with red foil and soft pink paper from Rifle Paper Co.

3. Send a rainbow of affection with this Valentine’s Day card from One Canoe Two.

4. This double heart note from MeeschmoshÂ conveys the perfect dose of platonic affection.

5. It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without at least one food-related pun. The berryÂ nice design (see what we did there?) comes courtesy of Mr. Boddington’s Studio.

6. This doily inspired greeting card is available as an online design (as well as paper). Designed by Hannah Berman for Paperless Post.

7. Keep it short, sweet and to the point with this simple message and hand-lettered text from And Here We Are.

8. Loving this red and pink block print inspired design from the good folks at Kansas City-based Hammerpress.

9. This card definitelyÂ leans more to the romantic side, but still feels appropriate to send to your best friend The red, white and pink roses are so sweet! From Clap Clap Design.

10. This floral die cut comes courtesy of Amy Heitman.

11. Really enjoying the combination of brush lettering with a soft palate from Evermore Paper Co.

Next week: Romantic Valentine’s Day designs for your (romantic) love!

01/13/2017

Happy Weekend!

Happy Friday everyone!Â This was a fairly quiet week for me,Â so I don’t have much to report this week. Sending lots of love and positive vibes to you all for a happy three-day weekend! But in the meantime…

Image by Soil and Stem via Instagram

…a few links for your weekend!

I want every. single. thing. in this gorgeous shop.
Enamel pins for a cause from Hello!Lucky. Just another one of the many reasons I love those ladies. 100% of the proceeds from this pin will go to Planned Parenthood, and 100% of the proceeds from this pin will go to the ACLU.
Did you see this super cute printable wall calendar from Studio DIY?
One of these, please and thank you.
I’ve been wanting to try natural dyeing forever, and this post finally sealed the deal for me. I can’t wait to try avocado skins!
Totally obsessed with this pretty pink planter
Truth.

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

Absolutely gorgeous autum copper foil floral wedding invitations
It’s engagement season! We rounded up a few favorite engagement congratulations cards.
Timeless Southern magnolia wedding invitations
Gorgeous calligraphy inspiration from Pirouette Paper
Seriously cute ocean-inspired baby shower invitations

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.”