originals :: paper art & design

Brides all over the U.S. are finding Originals Paper Art booklet invitations and loving them.  Here’s another beautiful invitation I designed for an adorable couple in Albertson, New York.  They’re getting married in Puerto Rico this fall.  The words casual and elegant often surface in pre-design discussions… so I used a cover stock that has fabulous texture, I hand-tore each edge, bound the booklet together with natural cord and incorporated metallic envelopes.

The booklet invitation has three different monochromatic styles of paper inside, it’s truly the paper-lover’s dream invitation.

As with all destination weddings, there’s a lot of information that needs to be incorporated into one easy-to-handle piece. We successfully included the weekend line-up of events, ceremony and reception, travel accommodations and RSVP postcard in one divine package.

And here they are, 100 destination wedding invitations ready to ship off to New York. Best wishes to my new friends, Melodie and Joe!  I wish you lots of luck on your wedding day and a future full of love and laughter!  Cheers.

A few words from Melodie:

We got them!  We love them!  We love you!  Thank you.

Are you as crazy over paper as I am? If so, get a look at these new swatch books that arrived yesterday from Envelopments! It’s like Christmas in April here at the Originals Paper Art studio. I can hardly wait to make samples with the new colors and prints.

A great new addition to their line of paper is a selection of LETTERPRESS papers. They’re beautiful, heavy weight and have fabulous texture.  If you’re in the market for custom letterpress invitations, announcements or stationery… we need to talk!

But wait, that’s not all… they added a bunch of new patterns and color combos to their already incredible paper selection.  Not only do these papers come in card stock, they have complimentary light weight papers, envelopes, envelope liners and their infamous pockets!  Be sure to visit their website to see all they have to offer.

Once you’re done surfing the net for ideas, contact me to discuss how we can make your dream stationery come to life! You’ll be happy you did.

Elizabeth found me during one of her online invitation searches. She’s in New York. I’m in Missouri. Distance is no longer a client issue with the internet, email and telephone! Below are Save the Date cards for  Elizabeth and John.  They’re getting married in September, their colors are red and brown, and her descriptive wedding words were contemporary, yet old and warm.

This is a playful Save the Date design. The concept of reading between the lines makes it interactive and fun for the recipient. Font choice is key when designing this style… there is a lot to consider with leading, kearning, ascenders, descenders and stroke weight.

The ceremony is taking place at the Alger House in New York.  Elizabeth gave me a link to the website (check it out) to get a feel for the venue.  This was the perfect way for me to gather info, take a virtual tour and get an overall feel of the surroundings. She mentioned using a lion as a wedding graphic and after viewing the website I found this lion head and Elizabeth loved it!

The icing on the cake was the red envelope that I hand addressed in white ink. They turned out fabulous. I’m so excited to get started on the invitation ensemble next.

A few words from the bride:

Hi Brooke, I wanted to let you know that I am so pleased about the way the Save the Dates turned out.  The white writing on the envelopes contrasts really well with the red envelopes.  They look wonderful!  Thanks, Elizabeth

My Booklet Invitations have become a favorite with my bridal clients.  Here’s another version using chocolate brown and aqua blue (some call it Tiffany Blue).  I designed the custom monogram using the script font used in the invitation and dots from the filigree graphic we incorporated throughout the ensemble.  I’m very proud of this invitation!

Here’s a shot from above to give you an idea of the overall booklet concept.

The RSVP postcard and FRIDAY rehearsal dinner invitation are held in place with a colorful wrap and wax seal… my brides love this option, it keeps the cards in place with purpose.  Love it!

This Booklet Invitation design really gives the bride a lot of room for various blocks of information.  On the left side of this version is the reception information and graphic element and on the right side is the formal invitation.

I couldn’t pass up this final snapshot!… 150 bound Booklet Invitations ready to ship.  It took Allen and I a combined 40 hours to assemble these invitations.  Never underestimate the time involved and attention to detail when it comes to assembling a project like this!

A few words from the bride:

Hello Brooke,
This is Cristina (Jonathan Levy’s Fiancée). I finally saw the invitation, and it looks beautiful! I love everything about it. The graphics, monogram, embroidery floss, wax seal, it all looked great! Our family and friends have also been telling us how much they love the invitations. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that we are very satisfied with them and are glad that we were able to arrange it all from long-distance (with a little help from Skype!).
Thanks again,
Cristina

These invitations (pieces) just arrived from my printer and I couldn’t wait to share the finished ensemble with you, so here it is in pieces.  You can count on seeing it fully assembled next week, but for now, just admire the pieces with me.  In this shapshot is the printed invitation, monogram element, RSVP postcard and Friday night rehearsal dinner.

Here’s a closer look at the monogram I designed to compliment the whimsical graphic.  The graphic was the first thing we decided upon, then I chose the font combination to compliment the graphic, and finally… I designed the monogram incorporating the two.  I’m so pleased with the monogram.  Your thoughts?

OH! and the stacked cards with continuous flowing graphic – it worked!  These are tiered cards and I designed them so the graphic appears seamless.  This is an element the bride and groom mentioned liking during our consultation… and it worked.  It’s so rewarding when everything comes together so beautifully.

That’s it for now. You’ll have to check back next week to see how these pieces all go together. It’s one of my favorites… I can tell you that. Back to work. Have a great afternoon.

Are you familiar with Envelopments? I fell in love with their product years ago before I became an invitation designer. It’s only appropriate that I became an Envelopments Dealer and Designer. If you’re not familiar with their line of paper products, be sure to check out their website next!

I designed this sample using an Envelopments Pocket Fold, their yummy colored papers, exclusive artwork and my fabulous laser printer.  I love making samples!

Envelopments is well known for their Pocket Folds.  Many brides love the fact that all their extra cards can be nestled nice and neat into the pocket which adds elegance to the overall design of the invitation.  So say goodbye to the days of photocopied maps and directions! Yikes!

When cropped down, the spiral graphic adds a nice border on the additional cards, ie: travel details (map, hotel, directions), rsvp postcard and Friday night rehearsal dinner.

It’s very busy here in the Originals Paper Art studio and my blog has suffered. I apologize. I skipped my spinning class tonight to get caught up… but not to worry, I’m making up for it tomorrow by running the Frostbite 5K. And it ought to live up to its name tomorrow morning… they’re forecasting 24 degrees at the time the race starts. Wish me luck and have a great weekend.

The 2010 Northeast Missouri Bridal Expo (brought to you by Tailor-Made Events) is this Sunday, January 31st and I’m getting my booth layout figured out this week.  Here is one of my display towers.  Each will present four original invitation ensembles.

Originals Paper Art & Design invitations do not come from an overflowing catalog or electronic template, but from a creative session between the bridal couple and me!  They are truly original and designed to represent the couple and their special day.

Whether your budget is average or ample, I can design an invitation for you. I must be honest, if you have a strict budget, Originals is not your best option. A set budget is beneficial prior to the creative session… it helps us stay on track when discussion your invitation options.

I’ll have hundreds of invitation samples at the Expo for you to look at and get ideas.  Your invitation is the first thing your guests see and it indicates what they can expect the day of your wedding.  Represent yourselves well.

Originals has a rainbow of paper colors, tactile textures and fancy finishes available in hot pink, rich red or chocolate brown, you name it, we’ve got your color scheme covered!

I’m an Envelopments dealer/designer and have access to their entire line of paper, dimensional pockets and original graphics.  Check out their website and let me know if I can be of assistance with your Envelopments needs.

See you at the Bridal Expo this Sunday! Be sure to drop by my booth and register to win a variety of Originals Paper Art & Design prizes!

Cheers to another happy bride! Beth called me yesterday, in lieu of an email (she said), to tell me in person how much she loved her invitations. She continued to say they were all that she wanted and more. As you can imagine… I love receiving this kind of phone call. Rewind four months: Beth contacted me with her wedding theme, colors and concept right from the beginning. We had a nice long conversation over the phone and from that day forward we worked through various situations one email at a time. So for those interested in my work, but not in my neighborhood, not to worry… we can make it work.

Beth and I both researched pine cones and agreed on this one. It complimented the script font I chose for their names that was already in place and well-liked!

I used her favorite color, eggplant purple, as the anchor card and kept it classy with a black layer, black satin ribbon wrap, ecru invitation and a splash of metallic silver in the pine cone. It’s very striking in person and oh, SO tactile.  Love it!

The black satin ribbon wraps around the invitation and holds her information cards in place.  I like this option because once the information cards have been removed, the ribbon doesn’t lose it’s purpose… it simply becomes one with the invitation itself.  Follow me on that?

Beth needed three additional cards:  (1) an Information card that included hotel information, travel suggestions and a schedule of events for the entire weekend; (2) an RSVP card with Return Envelope; and (3) a Dinner Reception card detailing the celebration that followed the ceremony. All three cards included the same design specs and pine cone graphic.

The above snapshot showcases her Friday night Hot Chocolate, Coffee & Confections invitation, mailing envelope and RSVP postcard. And the final piece I designed for Beth and Tyler was a Thank You note to match. Whew! How’s that for a stationery suite. Nice.

Here’s a nice message I received from Claudia (mother of the bride) as well. Toot! Toot!

Dear Brooke,

The invitations arrived today and we (Beth, her Dad and me) were so pleased with them…..thank you for doing such a wonderful job and also your input that helped Beth put her ideas into them.

Many thanks,
Claudia

I met Andrea years ago when I still had my paper store in Kirksville.  She now lives in California and planned on getting married in Columbia, Missouri.  She contacted me to see if we could work together on creative invitation ensemble… and that we did!

Guests received their invitation in a vellum envelope that was sealed closed with a hand addressed label designed to match the invitation ensemble.

The Envelopment was wrapped with burgundy & gold handmade paper and bound together with gold embroidery floss.

Here’s a better angle showing you how the handmade paper, Envelopment {Pocket Fold} and embroidery floss interact.

Inside on the right is the invitation, on the left a pocket with the RSVP postcard and map & accommodations card.  A piece of the handmade paper lines the left pocket and creates a splash of color inside the invitation.

Here’s a better look at the map & accommodations card, RSVP postcard and handmade paper liner.

Another creative invitation ensemble inspired by Originals Paper Art!  I’ve been saying this for ten {plus} years… we can design just about anything you want or need for your wedding invitation ensemble.  Every wedding is different and requires its own unique information packet (aka: invitation).  Originals is here to accommodate you and your wedding.  Contact me today to get started on your wedding invitations.

Happy Friday!

Last weekend was a first.  The first time I’ve attended a wedding that I designed the invitations, programs and place cards.  It was very rewarding on many levels.  Here is a picture of Beth’s bouquet on the Bride + Groom table… aren’t they stunning?  The wedding stationery complimented their outdoor wedding and natural decor perfectly.  Take a look.

You may recall her booklet invitations that I wrote about a month (or so) ago.  Handmade floral paper coupled with warm white and chocolate brown, bound with a twig and hemp cord, and the use of a timber graphic throughout. Perfect.

Beth’s place cards were square and included the timber graphic, guest name and table number. As always, I design entire wedding ensembles to compliment one another. I call it wedding branding… it adds a touch of class to your wedding.

I wish I would’ve taken a picture of the place cards at the wedding… darn it! Beth made a bed of rocks by gluing small rocks to a standard bulletin board, laid it flat on a table, and stuck T pins between the rocks, into the board, that held up the place cards for guests to take. It was so cute. I’m hoping their photographer (our friends at SilverBox Photographers) captured it and will share.

If you’re new to the blog… Originals Paper Art helps you envision your wedding day, designs your wedding stationery to match your vision, and creates the final product right here in our midwest design studio! How cool is that? Made in the USA! Here’s a visual of the process we went through to make the programs.  The handmade paper comes in large sheets…

Allen hand cut the deckle edge off 12 sheets of handmade paper.  We love to use the deckle edge if possible, but it didn’t work out this time.

He also hand cuts the large sheet into smaller strips so that he can then use the rotary cutter to cut it down to final size.

While Allen cut all the paper down to size, I designed the inside of the program with information from Beth.  Once approved, I printed, folded, cut and collated 100 programs.

Allen threaded the hemp cord through the program insert and handmade paper layers using an over-sized, blunt needle and I finished them off by tying 100 knots.  Almost done.

The final step was creating the title card and adhering it to the front of the program.  Another multistep process that was well worth it come wedding day.  The programs were a hit with the guests and I received many compliments first hand. I love my job!

If you’re reading my blog and considering a graphic designer to assist you with your wedding stationery… drop me a line and let’s connect! I’ve been designing for brides over ten years and look forward to many more! * Cheers! *

This is the last of my three October weddings. It’s my signature booklet invitation using handmade paper for the cover and bound with a native Missouri stick from our property! Can’t you just picture us out by the pond selecting the perfect sticks! It’s a family affair… Allen, the five dogs and me!

Each invitation consists of three styles of paper and is hand-bound using hemp cord and select sticks!  No machinery here… there is no way to mass produce these… that’s what makes them so special and truly an Original!

Inside is a printed vellum sheet with their names and wedding date.  They’re having an outdoor wedding and Beth & Jayme both love the great outdoors.  That completely explains the timber graphic, handmade paper and stick bindery.  It’s a treat for the eyes to see… and fingers to feel!

The timber graphic is used throughout the invitation ensemble in a variety of ways.  Here it is inside… adjacent to the actual invitation.

Here they are ready to ship.  The booklets are packaged in bundles of ten, I hand addressed the chocolate brown envelopes using a white Gelly Roll pen and the information card and RSVP card are ready to slip into the back of the booklet once the postage is applied.

Awe, I can breathe again! My line of Originals Designer Invitations were put on the back burner this summer and now it’s time to revive that project. I hope to share those with you in the next few weeks. Happy Friday!

I was hired by the Mother-of-the-Groom on this project. She handed me the wedding invitation and asked me to design custom table cards, printed place cards and wedding day directions sheet to compliment the ceremony theme and color scheme. My pleasure. I wish I would’ve taken a picture of the invitation to show the entire package.

I pulled the JS monogram from the invitation for the place cards and directions sheet. The floral graphic on the table cards is from my own image library. I felt the crisp, clean lines complimented the lines of the monogram. It was a pleasure working with Carol.  She told me I made the bride very, very happy!  That’s always good to hear! Have a great day!

Here come the fall weddings… I just finished hand addressing these envelopes for a bride in Massachusetts. I absolutely love designing with dark envelopes… they’re so dramatic.

As you can see in this snapshot, I have to make subtle lines on every single envelope because a light box is useless with dark envelopes.  It’s all the small details that make the biggest difference!

Look at the fabulous fall colors… chocolate brown and pumpkin orange, the actual stick used in the bindery and the fall leaf make this invitation perfect for an October wedding!

Details.  Details.  Details. They’re my specialty.  Weddings are my specialty.  Consider Originals Paper Art for your upcoming wedding or special occasion.  Together we can develop your event stationery from start to finish.

It’s all in the details. Here’s a snapshot of the final stationery details I designed for Mia and Dave’s Wisconsin wedding that takes place this weekend. They shipped yesterday and my June weddings are complete. I can breathe again.  My only wish now is that I could see it in place on the wedding day.  Someday.

To refresh your memory I’m bringing back a snapshot of her wedding invitation ensemble… it’s simply elegant!

This is a close-up of her wedding favors and place cards.  Mia and Dave chose to donate to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation on the behalf of their guests in lieu of a traditional favor and is giving each guest a breast cancer awareness band with an explanation and dedication.

I designed these custom place cards to match her other stationery items.  We branded her wedding with the graphic element and color pink… it’s fabulous.  Mia provided me with her guest list and table arrangements and I used my formal calligraphy to address the place cards.  To view other calligraphy projects, click on the calligraphy page above.

And of course the ceremony program.  I had hoped to design the program square to compliment the invitation… however, there was so much information we weren’t able to do so.  But that’s okay, it’s beautiful nonetheless.

Remember this book I made a few months back… Mia wanted a custom guest book and loved the idea of this one.

Allen made her guest book with 9 signatures which gives her 36 pages.  Each left-handed page has photo corners so Mia can add photos of her and Dave during their dating years.  The space on the right-handed page is for signatures and well-wishes from their guests.  Once they receive their wedding photos I suggest to Mia they replace the dating photos with wedding day photos.  A great guest book to be treasured for years to come.

Gotta get started on my October weddings. Have a great day!

I had never heard of a Quaker Marriage License until last fall when Miriam contacted me to design one for her.  When I did a Google search to learn more about them, I discovered many are done by hand vs. computer and include artistic elements that are a reflection of the wedding day itself.  Miriam wanted a more contemporary, crisp, clean, romantic, designer-look that complimented her wedding style.

At the top are their names, in the center are their marriage vows, and at the bottom are signature lines for the bride, groom and all the guests. It’s a blend of the traditional marriage license and guest book.  She requested a certain number of lines on the main certificate for certain people and then I designed four additional sheets to  make sure all guests had room to sign.

I designed the certificate 11 x 14  and signature sheets 8×10 to fit traditional picture frames. Miriam plans to frame these and hang them in their home for years to come.  This is a nice way to “see” your guest book.

Here’s an email message from Miriam after receiving the certificate!

Brooke, Oh my goodness it is BEAUTIFUL! We had my dad go pick it up at home and bring it to the church tonight. I absolutely love it. It is exactly what I had envisioned in my head. Thank you so much for your willingness to make it happen. It ended up being the best decision!  — Miriam