Save That Date

Ok, so on to the big ticket item for invitations--weddings.  I sometimes think that weddings are single-handedly keeping the stationery business afloat, with all their little touches from the first announcement to the table favors to the thank you after the fact.  Almost without exception, when people asked, "do you do invitations?" what they really meant was, "Do you do wedding invitations?"

Well, yes we do.  But wedding invitations are more than just the invitation, so we have to start at the beginning.  Here is a simple save the date for some good friends who have a brilliant color combination for their celebration.  We did a number of sample layouts for this, to try out different colors and fonts and stamps, but this was the winning number.

On the Tempting Turquoise base, we stamped the bride and groom's initials in Basic Black using Lovely Letters, and united the two with our favorite ampersand from Together Forever (a lovely set for your own wedding invitations, in case you're wondering).

For Green Galore, the fonts and printing were again done on a computer and then printed directly onto cardstock.  The watermark you see is done in Versamark with the large flourish from Brocade Basics (now retired).  The great thing about this is that you can stamp it AFTER printing, to make sure that the watermark is centered under the text.  It doesn't show up over the printing, so the effect is perfect.  Everyone should have some Versamark ink--it's so versatile!

The final touch was punching each corner with the ticket corner punch, just to give the text a little more pop.  And the final touch you can't see is pretty important--a magnet on the back so that this save the date can draw attention for a few months on refrigerators across the land.  Nothing like building the excitement for Hitaishi and Stephen's big day!

Cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: Lovely Letters, Together Forever, Brocade Basics (retired)

Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore

Ink: Basic Black, Versamark

Extras: Ticket Corner Punch

You're Invited

Next up in our featured invitation week are invitations for a party I hosted back in October.  I got the idea for a "fall feast" from a former roommate and her college friends, and it was a success.  But this is just about the invitation.

When the 09-10 Idea Book and Catalog came out, I was immediately drawn to the set Compliments to the Chef.  Kiran, however, raised the practical question--when in the world would I use a silverware stamp?  Yes, it looks nifty, but silverware isn't exactly a greeting card staple.  How did I convince Kiran that this was a good way to use my stamping dollars?  Two words.

Silver embossing.

Kiran's eyes lit up, and she abandoned all resistance.  Why?  Because sometimes you have to see things differently than they initially appear...and as elegant as the silverware sample looked in the catalog (a menu with the silverware stamped in Soft Suede), it didn't fit the "I can use that more than once" bill.  But silver embossing is a whole different story.  Combined with one of my favorite Big Shot dies--Leaves #2--this was the perfect combination of fancy and fun for a Fall Feast Invite.  Especially once I discovered that "you're invited" and "bon appetit" fit on those leaves.  The final touch was sponging around the edges to make the leaves look real

The script on this invite--as with all of those we've made--was done in a word processing program and then printed directly onto colored cardstock.  I wasn't doing a lot of invitations, so I didn't worry about using up a ton of my printing ink (but you can get things printed cheaply at any office store, in case you're having a big bash).  To make the Pumpkin Pie side match the fun reverse, I borrowed the retired set With Gratitude from Kiran, and stamped the small leaf in Versamark for a watermark effect.

So there are two lessons here.
1. Think outside the box and you'll find any number of ways to use a stamp set you like.
2. When you like--really, really like--a stamp set that is retiring, you should get it!  I keep kicking myself that the lovely leaves of With Gratitude are not in my collection.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Compliments to the Chef, With Gratitude (retired)
Ink: Versamark, Really Rust
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun
Extras: Big Shot, Leaves #2 Die, Sponges, Silver Embossing Powder

Yes, We Do Invitations...

When I first started sharing my cards, the one question that I got most often--and that most surprised me--was if I made invitations.  Of course I could, but I certainly hadn't tried my hand at it.

No more, I'm proud to share.  Kiran and I have been making a number of invitations for a variety of events, and since we're *not* stamping this week, it seems like a great time to share these invitations with you.

First up is a baby shower we did recently--invitations for a friend of a friend.  It was the perfect chance to use Fox and Friends, and these sweet and simple cards were pretty easy to put together.  And check it out, we used RIBBON!  I rarely use ribbon on cards because I'm not great at tying bows--but thanks to my aunt and upline, I learned this great, no-tying ribbon trick.  Just use the double rectangle punch to make holes wide enough for your ribbon, then thread the ribbon from front to back to front to back to front again.  Obviously this isn't so simple to explain, but what it means is that you loop the ribbon around the middle cardstock, then trim the ends so it looks like a bow...and that takes care of any ribbon tying worries.  Whew!

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Fox and Friends
Paper: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel Marker
Extras: Double Rectangle Punch, Bashful Blue 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Square Punch, 1-1/4" Square Punch

Beautiful Blue Birds

I still need to get ready for all the babies that are on the way...but first, here is a card for two friends that recently got engaged.  I've seen these "love birds" cards in a few places, but the first was Kristin Moore's blog and she's the one who inspired me.

For this card, I used my Extra-Large Two-Step Bird Punch on Very Vanilla paper.  I sponged the birds and wings with Ballet Blue ink, so that they would coordinate with the heart of Bella Bleu DSP, and made them "pop" with dimensionals.  Thank the Full Heart punch for that heart.  Underneath that is a Very Vanilla rectangle, edged with the Scallop Trim Border and Scallop Trim Corner punches.  The final touch is my current favorite stamp set, Well Scripted, which just adds a touch of elegance to any card.  Can't wait to put this on in the mail!

Cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: Well Scripted

Paper: Bella Bleu DSP, Very Vanilla, Brocade Blue

Ink: Basic Black, Ballet Blue

Extras: Dimensionals, Extra Large Two-Step Bird punch, Full Heart punch, Scallop Trim Border punch, Scallop Trim Corner punch, sponges

Spring has Sprung!

At the very least, it is on it's way and I am ready!  The air is warmer, the snow is almost gone, and the sun is out.  Spring colors and ads abound...and I just got my Shades of Spring designer paper in the mail.  

I love this paper.  It's big, bold patterns not only feature my favorite color (purple--Orchid Opulence, in this case), but they're fun and psychedelic in ways that remind me of Beatles' Magic Mystery Tour...and make me want to play Beatles Rock Band.  When is that going to happen?

The other thing I like about this paper is that it makes the cards so easy.  All you have to do is cut, glue, and choose the sentiment you want.  What's not to love about that?

Now it's time to get out the spring wardrobe.

Cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: Sweet Little Sentiments (retired), Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Shades of Spring DSP, Orchid Opulence, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Certainly Celery

Ink: Basic Black

Extras: Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Brads