See more of her inspiring work at her here and here.  I would love to own an original piece but it’s pricey as you can imagine. Check her Etsy shop for more wallet friendly prints.

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Post Tags: art, Etsy
Post Categories: All Things Paper, Inspiring Eye Candy

The happy couple had settled on a Portland, Maine wedding – perfect since the bride grew up there. The groom’s family, all from New Jersey, had never been to Maine.  They wanted the invitation to present iconic Maine imagery that would get all their guests excited about the idea of traveling north for their nuptials, but also wanted the overall look to remain classy and a bit more traditional.

A stately lighthouse image graced the invitation, while cute sand pipers and of course, the ubiquitous lobster were used to tie the whole “Maine” theme together on accompanying cards.  To keep the overall look subtle and more traditional, I used a soft gray and sharp black color palette against thick cotton paper.  Even the simplest design looks regal in the letterpress printing medium, don’t you think?

Perhaps my favorite part of this invite though was the quote provided by the couple.  Emblazoned right across the top of the invitation, it reads “You work, you play and then one day…love just happens!”  – the perfect sentiment for a couple who’d been friends and worked together for years before Cupid struck!

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Post Tags: letterpress, my designs
Post Categories: All Things Paper, Inspiring Eye Candy

Whitney English is offering a fab giveaway package that includes 50 flat personalized stationery cards, 50 calling cards and 80 return address labels.  That’s over $200 of free stuff.  YAY!  I love free! Whether you need to announce a new address after your wedding or want to personalize with your new surname (or both?), believe me you WILL find a use for these cards and return address stickers.

So…interested?  Head over to their flat stationery designs and peruse the cuteness for yourself.  Then come back and leave a comment on this post and let me know which design is your favorite and why.  One winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Tuesday, Nov. 24th.

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Post Tags: giveaway, Whitney English
Post Categories: All Things Paper, Giveaways

Now if I could only get my grubby little hands on the rest of these wedding images to share with you…must work on that.

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Post Tags: invitations
Post Categories: All Things Paper, Inspiring Eye Candy

Check out the full post with template here.

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Post Tags: DIY, shower invitations
Post Categories: All Things Paper, DIY

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Post Tags: giveaway
Post Categories: All Things Paper, Inspiring Eye Candy

I’m not  a fan of those stale looking, satin wrapped guest books.  Sure they serve the purpose of collecting your guests’ signatures but then what? It’s destined to end up in a shoe box at the back of your closet somewhere…something you can’t part with but don’t quite know what to do with.

For a modern alternative, consider a lovely hardcover coffee table book that showcases your wedding location.  Artistically laid out and often with minimal text, photography books offer amble space for guests to leave you and your sweetie messages and well-wishes. Provide guests with an array of Sharpies (hint: include a metallic option to allow for easy writing on pages with dark backgrounds).

A quick search of Amazon will turn up lots of options to consider.  Getting married in a smaller town?  The local library or historical society is a terrific resource for tracking down more obscure, but equally beautiful books.  And best of all, after the wedding you’ll be proud to display this personal memento in your newlywed nest.  A lovely alternative that most certainly WILL NOT end up at the back of your closet!

{Top row:  Outer Banks Edge: A Photographic Portfolio, Charleston: Then and Now}
{Middle row:  Blue Ridge Mountains: America’s First Frontier, Historic Photos of Winston-Salem}
{Bottom row:  Historic Wilmington and The Lower Cape Fear, A History of Hilton Head Island}

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Post Tags: guest books
Post Categories: All Things Paper, Inspiring Eye Candy

I can’t pinpoint exactly how or when I found Maggie’s blog Eat, Drink, Marry.  I just know that when I did, I was giddy because:

A.  she was getting married in the Outer Banks as I did

B. she was meticulously chronicling every element of her wedding planning adventure and the “bridal voyeur” in me couldn’t get enough

C. she is a terrifically talented writer and reading her posts were just plain fun

Perhaps my favorite post of the bunch is this one where she shares the birth of the colors, design elements and overall “feel” that would guide all subsequent wedding planning decisions.  Needless to say, I was hooked at this post…I HAD to see how this all came together.

And see we will!!  Today we’re starting with the wedding stationery wardrobe, designed by Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo of ABCD Designs Bespoke Stationery, inc.  Apart from being a ridiculously talented stationery designer, Amy is also a stylist and interior designer.  Her blog “sketchbook” is one of my absolute daily must reads and I’m not ashamed to admit that I have sat in awe over the images of her own NYC loft renovation more than once.

Literally every element of Maggie & Trevor’s election themed invites were true to their vision – from the adorable campaign button style logo to the creative banner messages to the perfectly coordinated paper lining…there is nothing I don’t love about this paper suite.

And of course this post wouldn’t be complete with some yummy close up shots to really showcase the letterpress details.  I wish I’d been invited to this wedding!!!  I just know these felt beautiful in addition to looking beautiful.

You can see more shots of this paper suite as well as follow the inspiring progression of all the pieces on Amy’s blog here.  And please do pop over to her full portfolio for so much stationery goodness, I can’t stand it.

Tomorrow I’ll be sharing Maggie & Trevor’s gorgeous, personal and totally unique wedding that followed this invitation.  There are so many perfect images to choose from, I better get busy!!!

xoxo

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Post Tags: ABCD Designs, invitations, letterpress
Post Categories: All Things Paper, Inspiring Eye Candy

With the bride’s hometown of Southport, NC selected as the wedding location, groom Cleve and bride Brooke set out to create an invitation that would celebrate the port town’s long established place in seafaring history while staying away from the traditional nautical imagery of anchors, sailor’s knots and seashells.  The two found their inspiration in antique nautical maps filled with intricate typefaces and elaborate woodcut frames.

Armed with this imagery (and some incredible graphic design skills), Cleve created a custom basket weave pattern to frame the invitation and response cards.  A perfectly balanced collection of typefaces and flourishes complimented the design, while the adorable birds and their “chirp” messages added a touch of personality and whimsy.  The result – a decidedly modern interpretation of an incredibly old-world look.

As if I wasn’t already swooning over these, Cleve then pointed out that he had customized the basket weave pattern with a Latin phrase and their wedding date:

Um…ok…almost too much awesomeness for one invitation set.

{Photo credit:  Studio on Fire}

I don’t really know what to say about these invitations other than they are INCREDIBLE.  I am a total lettepress groupie but I can’t remember the last time I saw a design that made such perfect use of the letterpress printing medium.  Huge props to Studio on Fire for expertly printing such an intricate design. The ink coverage and tight registration (told you I was a groupie!) had to have made this challenging, but the result is just exquisite.  Be sure to check out their blog for more letterpress goodness.

I love the idea that Cleve and Brooke collaborated on what I know will be a memento in their family for many years.  For more from this talented duo, take a look at Brooke’s portfolio and Cleve’s portfolio.

So now aren’t you a teensy bit curios what the event that followed these phenomenal invitations looked like?  I know I sure was.  Yay!  We get to see! I’m featuring Cleve and Brooke’s lovely wedding tomorrow.  See you then!

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Post Tags: invitations, letterpress, Studio on Fire
Post Categories: All Things Paper, Inspiring Eye Candy

A beautiful hand written note is certainly the least you can do. This one throws in a bit of nostalgia with these adorable paper-chain people we all made as school children. A little handy work with some scissors and construction paper allows you to customize each paper-girl into mini versions of your bridesmaids.  The example showcases an all brunette bridal party but I love the idea of customizing hair lengths and colors to go along with your girls!  An added insert detailing everyone’s names and contact information will be much appreciated by your maid of honor when party coordination comes around.

{Photo credit:  Once Wed If you’re not following that blog, you really need to be!}

Seriously, how cute are these?!  What a great idea from Anna Bond, the creative queen behind Rifle Design.  See more pictures of this project and a step-by-step how to HERE.

Not feeling up to all that cutting/gluing adorableness?  The DIY mavens at Martha Stewart have this handy little template that lets you communicate useful facts like dress style and color along with everyone’s contact information.  Bonus points if you staple on a swatch of dress fabric to allow for trouble free accessory coordination!

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Post Tags: DIY, paper, Rifle
Post Categories: All Things Paper, DIY, Inspiring Eye Candy