Apple and a Peach

via icecreamsocial

When I read about this post on blog, icecreamsocial today, I had to share it! 

The designers and the couple getting married picked symbols that charmingly (is that a word?) represented where each person is from, New York (apple) and Georgia (peach).   I like witty humour in invitations.  Not something you see very often.  Clearly much thought and ideation went into creating the finished product.  I think any guest who received the apple + peach invitation would certainly stop, think and smile and look forward to the event!

If you are not familiar with Icecream Social, it is a visual communications design studio duo that produces beautiful paper inviations in New York.  They have a shop on etsy and a blog if you want to see more.

DYI: Easy Place cards

Good morning event enthusiasts.  It’s a beautiful day in Toronto.  The sun is shining and there is not a cloud in the sky.

Today I wanted to share a really easy and professional way to make place cards using Avery labels and your computer. 

I just made twelve of these placecards for a wine event tomorrow evening that I am working on and I could not be more impressed with the results.

I used the Avery Laser Tent Card #5305 to make the cards.

Step by step:

Create your guest list on an Excel file separating first name and last name in two different columns.  Save the file somewhere because you will need it later.

Next, open Word go to Tools, then to Letters and Mailing, then to Mail Merge- once the Mail Merge is open, now you’re in business and ready to create your place cards. 

On the right side of the screen select Labels and then on the bottom right of the screen click on Starting Document.  From here right hand side of the screen in the middle it will say “label options” click on that and find your Avery Label model number.  In our case, we are using 5305.  Just scroll down the list and find 5305 and click OK. 

From here you want to select the recipients (bottom Right of the screen) which means it’s time to go back to the Excel file with your guest list you saved.   Middle right of the screen click select the recipient list and find the file you want to import into Word.  A pop up box will show up asking you which sheet you saved your guest list on- click okay for the first sheet. Click ok again on the next pop up screen, then click arrange your labels (bottom right).

Now here is when you get to inject your creativity and personalize the labels. 

Middle right side of the screen click “More Items” and insert First Name and Last Name.  Click Ok.

Change the font/colour/spacing and you can insert picture files into this template.  When you are statisfied with the look, go back to the right side of the screen and click “Update Labels”.  This will update all the labels in your word document to look the same.  You can go back and play around if you are not satisfied but remember to keep clicking update label if you make a change or else you will only have changed the first label.

Next step is to preview your labels (step 4, bottom right) and complete the merge (step 5, bottom right). 

You will have to load the Avery Laser Tent Cards into your printer (I use the stack bypass on the large office printers) and hit print. 

I hope this all makes sense because if you want to save some money and DIY, this is a really easy way to pull off professional looking place cards.  I felt proud of my accomplishments today (it was my first time making these things)

Love Notes

My new favourite stationery design company is Blue Pool Road in Los Angeles.  Peggy Wong, owner  has a CV of experience to kill in art direction and she has a great eye for design which shows so well in her stationery.

I love her love notes.  I have never sent a love note before on such beautiful stationary but Peggy has motivated me to start.

Her website does more justice to her products than the pictures  I have- I can only provide a sneak peak!

Hand written letterpress

Linda & Harriet Letterpress (via the sprague lab)

I feel like a lot of cool letterpress work comes out of Brooklyn.  Every time I look for new and different examples of letterpress, I end up back in New York!  Here is another great example of the talent coming out of Brooklyn: Linda & Harriet.   I was drawn to this company’s stationery for its very cool handwritten letter press card.  I think it looks pretty impressive and I am happy to have stumbled across the find on the Sprague Lab blog. 

Here is a quick look at some of the other letterpress designs from Linda & Harriet

Thumb Greeting Thank You Hearts (via Linda & Harriet)

Look at these orange pigs!

Orange Piggies Note Cards (via Linda & Harriet)

Save the Date Card (via Linda & Harriet)

Eco Invites: Smock Paper

If you are going the hard copy route when it comes to invitations and feel guilty about all the trees that will have to suffer in the process to make your event and invitations look beautiful, here is a company based out of Syracuse, New York that will put some of your guilt at bay.  Smock Paper is the print shop in the US to print on luxury bamboo paper which they developed in-house in conjunction with a European paper mill. 

In addition to using bamboo paper, Smock Paper is also a member of 1% For the Planet, a non profit organization that allows companies to donate 1% of sales to a network of 1699 environmental organizations to give back and keep the earth in business.

If my first two points don’t win you over, then take a look at some of the impressively detailed and stylish letterpress greeting cards and invitations they develop on their eco-friendly lined envelopes. (more pics to come soon)  You can check out more from Smock paper on Etsy.com

Smock happy birthday C418T (photo courtesy of Etsy.com)

Smock Happy Birthday C404T1 (image courtesy of Etsy.com)

Smock Congratulations C445T1 (image courtesy of Etsy.com)

If you are reading the post and are living in Toronto you can purchase Smock Paper wedding invitations at RSVP Studio 533 Eglinton Ave West, Toronto 416-785-1761

Colour inspiration: look to paper

I found a cool paper company based in the US called Paper Mojo.  While it has your standard supply of paper for all your printing/invitation needs, what I enjoyed most about the site is its inspiration gallery.  In this section you can find great ideas for colour pallets and mixing different textures.

Think of all the fun you can have with invitation or event design with this inventory of paper.

Here are some samples:

modern chinios print from Paper Mojo

blossoms lokta print from Paper Mojo

Snow & Graham Designer print from Paper Mojo