11/01/2012

Calligraphy Inspiration: Feast Fine Art & Calligraphy

Something that never ceases to amaze me about calligraphy is its powerful yet delicate nature. A prime example is the work of Alissa Mazzenga ofÂ Feast Fine Art & Calligraphy. I’m not sure how else to describe it other than to relate her fluid wisps of ink to watching spun sugar transforming into cotton candy. It’s kind of like magic. You can hardly believe that such curvaceous, soft lines can actually create letterforms. It’s truly lovely!Â â€“ Julie

I adore the contrast of Alissa’s feather-light writing to the bold, graphic stripes and shot of red. There’s no doubt this would catch someone’s eye in a pile of ho-hum mail.

It’s definitely all in the details when it comes to calligraphy. Simple yet highly effective, Alissa’s style is all the ornament you need.

With the holidays right around the corner, I’m sure many of you are considering a return address stamp for all the card and letter writing ahead. Luckily for us,Â Alissa also has a shop, FeastMade,Â that offers a number of beautiful custom calligraphy stamps.

Photo Credits: photography by Aimee Mazzenga; 2 invitation design:Â Cheree Berry Paper;Â 3 (right) invitation design:Â Baumbirdy, 4 invitation design:Â August Blume Custom Design Studio

10/25/2012

Laura + Ben’s Traditional Letterpress Wedding Invitations

There’s something just inherently romantic about a pink and dove gray wedding invitation, and these classic letterpress invitations from Fabienne atÂ Nuage DesignsÂ are no exception. Fabienne was inspired by the bride’s love of tea parties and feminine things, incorporating a subtle floral pattern and script font to complement the traditional invitation wording.

From Fabienne: Laura was like a sister to me growing up: we’ve known each other since before I could tie my shoes. When I discovered she was getting married, I was so excited to help create her wedding invitations.Â Laura and Ben asked me to create a traditional invitation that included a honey bee â€“ which was symbolic of a memory they shared together in England.

Laura and I share an attraction to feminine-looking objects. We enjoyed each others company as children, setting up for tea parties with our dolls in one hand and our cucumber sandwiches in the other. Her taste hasn’t really changed from her youth and I knew right away what kind of invitation she was looking for.

Laura sent me images of vintage tea tins, invitations with shades of pinks and floral wreaths, and illustrations of honeybees. I knew right away we needed to include all of theseÂ details into one invitation without making it look too over the top. I was excited to offer her a blind deboss of a floral border and round cut edges for a softer look. The invitation text moves your eye to a honey bee printed in a blossom pink at the bottom.

Laura felt it was important that we keep some traditional elements. It was necessary that we use the proper wording and the traditional inner/outer envelope concept. She also requested that I design two monograms â€“ one for before and one for after the wedding. The monogram for pre-marriage was used on the reverse side of the RSVP card and the monogram for post-marriage was made into a stamp to be used for Thank You cards.

Thanks Fabienne!

Design and Printing: Nuage Designs, printed at Lala Press

Calligraphy: Calligraphy by Katrina

Stamp: Antiquaria Design Studio

Check out theÂ Designer RolodexÂ for more talÂentedÂ wedÂding inviÂtaÂtion designÂersÂ andÂ theÂ real inviÂtaÂtions galleryÂ for moreÂ wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Damon Biviano

10/17/2012

Cristina’s DIY Under Construction House Warming Party Invitations

Ah, the joys of moving. Â As much as I love decorating a new space, it always takes me several months before I feel comfortable enough in a new space to invite guests over. Â Designer Cristina Pandol (you might remember her creative map moving announcements) decided to take advantage of this transitional period and her new apartment’s industrial feel when planning her house warming party. Â She created invitations with an “under construction” theme using rubber stamps and leftover wallpaper from her decorating adventures.

From Cristina: After 3 months of being at my new place, I finally was getting my act together and having a house warming party. Â Naturally, I needed an invitation. Â Even though my place wasn’t completely put together, I figured “under construction” could be the theme for the party and my downtown Los Angeles loft would serve as the inspiration for the entire project.

Since I had painted, hung wallpaper, and sewn throw pillows all myself, I knew that the invitation had to be completely handmade. Â I also wanted them to complement the very industrial and urban aesthetic of my apartment.

I drew the little tools and used Neutraface and AW Conqueror Slab for the type. Â Once the design was finalized, I sent the stamp to be made and while I was waiting for that I set off to buy a ZAP! heat gun and Adirondack powder. Â I stamped each invitation with clear watermark ink, then covered the wet ink with the powder, removed the extra powder by flipping the card over on a large piece of scrap paper, and then used the heat gun to melt the powder.

I decided on a light gray envelopes to match my cement floors and to use the extra wallpaper that I had hung as envelope liners so every envelope was different.Â I picked a forever stamp of Gregory Peck since he’s such a Los Angeles icon and the coloring of the stamp worked with the aesthetic and color palette of the invitation.

Thanks so much Cristina!

Design: Cristina Pandol

Rubber Stamp: Hollywood Rubber Stamp Company

Photo Credits: Garrett Shannon

10/10/2012

Sarah + Ryan’s Bright Hand-Lettered Wedding Invitations

This bright and colorful wedding invitation suite from Alison of Love CitronÂ features two of my favorite things â€“ watercolor and whimsical hand lettering. Â Alison began by creating the lettering for the invitation suite, then added watercolor washes on both the invitation elements and accompanying ceremony programs. Alison selected bright pink and orange envelopes and patterned liners to complete the design. Â So pretty!

From Alison: Everything in this wedding suite is handmade. I hand lettered all of the text and edge painted the programs. We used bright accents, like hot pink envelopes lined with patterned paper and bright orange vellum response envelopes.

I also wanted to include watercolor elements, so I painted the lettering on the RSVP. I also did watercolor washes on the ceremony programs and each individual element of the invitation suite.

Thanks so much Alison!

Check out theÂ Designer RolodexÂ for more talÂentedÂ wedÂding inviÂtaÂtion designÂersÂ andÂ theÂ real inviÂtaÂtions galleryÂ for moreÂ wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Love Citron

09/27/2012

Krysta + Brian’s Pattern Filled Wedding Invitations

Annemarie from Scout’s Honor Co. here again… I had so much fun creating these wedding invitations and day of paper goods for Krysta + Brian. This Ohio wedding was held outdoors next to a log cabin and was meant to feel like one big backyard dinner party. The couple incorporated tons of handmade elements and wanted the paper goods to be filled with color, pattern, and chalkboard lettering. To pull off their vision, I hand-lettered the main invitation and menus using white charcoal pencils on black paper, then scanned them into Photoshop for the final layout. The patterns were hand-drawn and layered over watercolor backgrounds. I really enjoyed working in the red/coral/black/white palette and especially love that K + B chose two envelope colors for the main invites (why not?!).