Search Results for: letterpress stationery

Backyard Black Tie Wedding Invitations

Sophisticated yet laid back. These backyard black tie wedding invitations from Ashling of Lotus & Ash welcomed guests to a barefoot, relaxed, and formal wedding celebration. We love the juxtaposition of high fashion and low-key relatability! This is such a fun suite, including nods to the couple’s collegiate days where they first met. The modern calligraphy by Nicole Miyuki and classic serif typefaces make the perfect final detail of juxtaposition to pull it all together!

Backyard Black Tie Wedding Invitations by Lotus & Ash

From Ashling: As a wedding invitation designer, it’s what I’ve come to call the “triple crown” – a collaborative bride with impeccable taste, a film-worthy love story over a decade in the making, and a shared goal to design a suite that was traditional and timeless, but didn’t take itself too seriously.

Backyard Black Tie Wedding Invitations by Lotus & Ash

The mature, edgy, and meaningful invitation suite was such a trifecta. The thread for their wedding weekend was “Black Tie and Barefoot,” and it lived every bit up to its promise. The couple was married in front of the groom’s childhood home, followed by an elegant black tie reception held in the backyard. The celebration ended with an after party in the pool house, and the bride and groom jumping, fully clothed, into the pool.

Backyard Black Tie Wedding Invitations by Lotus & Ash

When Steph and Mark first came to us to design their full wedding stationery suite in less than 5 months, we were beyond excited for the opportunity, but needed to get their save the dates out quickly. Still unsure of what their exact wedding aesthetics would be, we celebrated their days as Stanford students with a save the date that incorporated watercolor university ephemera and a portrait of the fraternity house where they first met. We incorporated a vintage map of Stanford from the couple’s collection as a personal, colorful envelope liner.

Backyard Black Tie Wedding Invitations by Lotus & Ash

As the details came together for Steph and Mark’s backyard, black tie wedding, we knew we wanted to create something that was both sophisticated and formal, yet fun and modern. Aubergine envelopes with brush calligraphy opened to reveal a Carrara marble liner and foil-stamped pocket, inspired by the wedding decor.

Backyard Black Tie Wedding Invitations by Lotus & Ash

The letterpress announcement, printed on the ever gorgeous 2-ply Crane’s Lettra, featured modern calligraphy paired with a classic serif typeface and a blind deboss detail on both the front (the couple’s monogram) and back (a rose pattern). The suite also included weekend details and reply cards with arresting typography, dark floral photography, and haphazard black watercolor swashes, digitally printed on an Indigo press on #130 Classic Crest.

Backyard Black Tie Wedding Invitations by Lotus & Ash

Backyard Black Tie Wedding Invitations by Lotus & Ash

Our personal favorite element from the suite? It’s nearly impossible to choose, but the attire card takes the crown. It featured glassine envelopes filled with colorful swatches to inspire guests attire and the instructions “black tie invited, shoes optional.” In our dream world, that would be the requested dress code for all weddings!

Backyard Black Tie Wedding Invitations by Lotus & Ash

Thanks Ashling!

Design and Illustration: Lotus & Ash

Calligraphy: Nicole Miyuki

Letterpress Printing: Dependable Letterpress

Foil Printing: JR Press

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

Photo Credits: Katrina Jayne Photo

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 for 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!

Stationery A-Z: Good Luck Cards

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 Antiquaria 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 ombré 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. A horseshoe card from Zeebendry features a minimalist design and simple messaging.

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

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

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

10. One Canoe Two wishes you the best of luck with a field full of clovers that feels likes its 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.

Seasonal Stationery: Valentine’s Day cards for friends

If you missed our first two Valentine’s Day greeting card round-ups, be sure to check out our traditional and romantic selections. It’s common to celebrate romantic love with a spouse or life partner but less so to celebrate the love between friends… so let’s change that! A good friend can be the best support system, the most fun, and a real joy to spend time with. Why not let them know how much you really do care about them? If a sentimental expression of affection isn’t your thing, what about a shared message of joint distaste for the holiday? There’s plenty of love to go around for both Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day (if that’s more your speed). Here are a few favorite Valentine’s Day cards for friends!

osbp-friendship-valentines-roundup2017From top right:

1. Remember on Parks and Rec (RIP) when Leslie Knope describes her Galentine’s Day breakfast tradition as “Lilith Fair minus the angst and plus frittatas”? Yeah, this Lark + Raven card is kinda like that.

2. This People I’ve Loved design seems especially relevant in our current political climate. Let’s celebrate love people!

3. Valentine’s Day IS cheesy. Let’s just call a spade a spade, shall we? From Hello!Lucky.

4. Celebrate all your wonderful friends on this Valentine’s day with 9th Letterpress’s gold foil message and abstract design.

5. What better way to let your BFF know how much you love her than with sparkles?! From Farewell Paperie.

6. Have a “Romy and Michele” day by sharing this sentiment of friendship from Chalkscribe.

7. Valentine’s day isn’t for all people (or all cats), so share your distaste with this illustration by Anke Weckmann for Red Cap Cards.

8. So many pop culture references in here! Tell your person how important they are to you with this design from UK-based I Am Nat.

9. We tend to feature Emily McDowell a lot here, but her copywriting is a) phenomenal, and b) couldn’t be more on point. Also, kittens.

10. Let’s say Valentine’s Day really isn’t your thing. But drinking is. Phoenix Paper Co has got you covered.

11. Why fight it? Make them laugh with this red foil die cut shark card from The Social Type.

Rustic Illustrated Carrot Coaster Save The Dates

Eat your veggies, folks! With carrots this adorable, I will happily eat twice my portion. Amanda of Wide Eyes Paper Co. created these rustic illustrated carrot coaster save the dates for a wedding on a farm in New York’s Hudson Valley. The dainty cuddling carrot illustration is paired with a classic serif typeface with a sweet and simple save the date message. So perfect for a farm wedding!

Rustic Illustrated Carrot Coaster Save The Dates by Wide Eyes Paper Co.

From Amanda: As designers, we are always on the lookout for new avenues for creativity within the wedding stationery industry. We derive inspiration from tackling new projects like these rustic, farm-inspired, save the date coasters. This custom letterpress design was a downright fun project and a chance to offer a new product to future clients.

Rustic Illustrated Carrot Coaster Save The Dates by Wide Eyes Paper Co.

Lucy’s custom order brought our team into new territory and gave us a chance for innovation, but what was really great about it was that it was such a fruitful collaboration of different skills. As she was actually living on the breathtaking Stonegate Farm that was to be her wedding venue, Lucy was truly a well of agrarian inspiration. She had done her own illustration of what she wanted – two carrots growing together in a sweet, twisting embrace. It was great to get that running start on the creative vision and then head to work within our individual expertise.

Rustic Illustrated Carrot Coaster Save The Dates by Wide Eyes Paper Co.

First, we hand-illustrated the cuddling carrots in a style inspired by woodblock printing. Then, we paired the intricate line drawing with some graphic design magic. Creating organic-inspired pieces is often a balancing act; to counter the playful whimsy of the embracing carrots, we chose a serif font with a more stately feel to ground the design as a whole. The beauty of these coasters is really born from this delicate interplay of styles. The whole is definitely greater than the sum of its parts, in this case! Once we found a harmony between text and line, we fired it off to our letterpress printer.

Rustic Illustrated Carrot Coaster Save The Dates by Wide Eyes Paper Co.

For letterpress printed designs with multiple colors like these coasters, each color requires a separate plate. The metal plates are fabricated, coated in ink, and then run through the letterpress printing machine one by one. These hearty coasters were printed on 220 lb 2-ply Pearl White Crane’s Electra Cotton Letterpress stock; basically, the finest, ultra-thick letterpress stock available.

Rustic Illustrated Carrot Coaster Save The Dates by Wide Eyes Paper Co.

Thanks Amanda!

Design: Wide Eyes Paper Co.

Letterpress Printing: Clove St. Press

Wide Eyes Paper Co. is a member of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of Amanda’s work right here or visit the real invitations gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Kelly Wilde

Seasonal Stationery: Romantic Valentine’s Day Cards

Last week’s Valentine’s Day card round up focused on 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 – or even a few to organize a Valentine’s Day card scavenger hunt at home. Here are a variety of options to make sure this February 14th is a resounding success!

Romantic Valentine's Day Cards

From the top right:

1. If you’re lucky enough to have found your true love, shout it from the rooftops with 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. Whether you’re browsing Tinder on the daily or in a full-on relationship, this card from Emily McDowell 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 from Rifle Paper Co.

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

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

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

11. 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 beau 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.