SUNDAY MORNING PAPER / LETTERPRESS INVITATIONS SALE

You need invites + I need samples = Big Sale!

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I would be offering the new designs in my collection at 50% off and so without further ado here is the first design I am offering…

This 2 color letterpress ensemble features a 5x7 main panel printed on 600 GSM white 2 ply copperplate paper with a beautiful peony motif and a coordinating pink outer envelope with printed return address on the back flap. The coordinating reply card is 3x5 printed on 300GSM copperplate paper and includes a matching printed white textured envelope as well as a custom postage stamp featuring the peony from the main panel. One additional enclosure card printed on 300 GSM copperplate paper, such as a reception card or directions is included in the price noted below, but is not shown.

For your reference, the sale price for this design as described above for 100 sets is $1100 plus shipping.

If selected, I will send you a quote as per your specifications. For example, if you do not require the additional enclosure card, or you require more or less sets the pricing would be adjusted accordingly.

I will consider color customization. See here for available ink options. There are certain restrictions in letterpress in terms of printing certain colors on colored paper (ie: the outer envis) and I’ll communicate to you any issues that I forsee with your choices.

Here’s how it works:
Reply to this post with your interest and the following details
-Your name and email address
-Your wedding date
-Your deadline for outer envis, if you need them earlier for calligraphy purposes

On April 20th, I will pick a winner at random and we will begin the process. You will send me your wording details and any additional specifications that you require. Within 3-5 business days I will forward digital proofs for your approval followed by your final quote.

Payment in full is due upon ‘going to press’ and can be made via Paypal.

Samples from my past collection are available upon request, but in very limited quanities.

SUNDAY MORNING PAPER

Okay, well, I guess it's "Sunday Night Paper" since it's 10:45PM on the east coast ; )

Forgive the sparse posts lately. I've been feeling crappy from all the Lyme drugs, but hope to be feeling better soon.

In the meantime, consider this a little teaser to an offer/contest I've been planning for my loyal readers for sometime now. Once the letterpress designs in my new collection are (finally) completed, I'll be offering several at wholesale pricing by drawing-1 lucky winner per set.

All details to follow, including how to apply for consideration so stay tuned : )

Many of the designs in my collection are still being tweaked, here are my favorites so far:

SUNDAY MORNING PAPER

Here's some inspiring paper that I came across this week. I was feeling a little 'gloomy' and so I thought a little color may brighten the day for me and for you : ) Enjoy...

From top left: Gleaux, Cat Seto, Diane Lamendola, JM Martinez, Papaya, Lehr and Black

SUNDAY MORNING PAPER

Okay, so "Sunday Morning Paper" here at Its Lovely has become "begging for feedback on my work for Merrilee Designs ". It's a little annoying I know, but helps oh so much!!!

Here's the latest. Your thoughts, hate 'em, love 'em, am completely indifferent, are all helpful ; )

Keep in mind these are for the "Designer Collection". Eventually, there will be a "Classic Collection" created utilizing one decorative element and or color from each design as I realize not all brides (and in particular grooms) will appreciate my some what 'feminine style'. ; )

Thanks a bunch in advance !!!

"SUNDAY" MORNING PAPER - PART 2

I spent some time on the calligraphy frame design in search of a more delicate frame. Da*n delicate is tough to find. Here's what I've come up with tonight. Thoughts? Good or bad are all welcome ; )

SUNDAY MORNING PAPER

Okay, tooting my own horn a little bit again but I'm desperate for feedack, so please 'come out of the woodwork' and give me your 2 cents...I've been working feverishly to update my invitation collection and actually make a go at this little design business of mine. The idea is to complete what I call a ''designer collection" and then base off of those designs a "classic collection" (ie: more subdued and mainstream yet correlating to the aesthetic of the designer collection) and then a "couture collection" also based off the designer collection but including all the bells and whistles--silk boxes, crystal adornments, midori ribbon, etc etc. So I'm in the process of updating the designer collection and would love your thoughts on my favorites thus far. Here they are...

Digital calligraphy letterpressed on thick copperplate paper. Printed outter envelope features a lovely damask envelope liner. Belly band with antique monogram names and wedding date is the carried through on the reply card as well as custom postage stamps.

Pretty calligraphy frame style also letterpressed on thick coperplate paper. I'm thinking the frame should perhaps be a little more delicate...thoughts?

Pretty rose floral pocket folder. The calligraphy frame on the cover reads 'today I wil marry the one I laugh with, the one I dream with, the one I live for". (Aw!!) Antique monogammed belly band holds the ensemble closed and is also featured on the custom postage stamps. Floral motif is carried through on the outter envelope label.

This is one of my favorites. A pretty peony motif in pink. This started out as a mock up for a friend, whose FI decided he was against florals of any kind on the invites. Poo poo! I finished the design anyway. ; )

And finally, a little more black damask witha pop of color....

I'd love to hear your thoughts on what I've done so far! My husband's "those look nice, honey" isn't terribly contructive ; )

ELUM DESIGNS

How stunning are these journals from Elum Designs? They're hard-cover bound with rounded corners and wrapped in sophisticated yet whimsical custom printed fabrics. They even have a built in pocket on the back cover. Love!

SUNDAY MORNING PAPER

Here are my favorite paper and invitation finds for the week...



Top left: Stunning silk box invitation from Alia Designs; Top center: A beautiful program inspired by the damask walls of the St. Regis Hotel by Ceci NY; Top right: Flair Necessities; Bottom left: Thank you card from Peculiar Pair Press via Luxe Paperie; Bottom right: Thank you card from Hello Lucky via Luxe Paperie

UNIQUE PLACECARD IDEAS

Today’s post is about unique placecard ideas. I love the unexpected, a little off the beat and path. Remember, legibility of the information at hand is of utmost importance. You’d be surprised what I’ve been through with brides who are in love with a beautiful yet completely illegiable font which must be used for her placecards. But really, let your imagination run wild. It’s one of those little details that guests actually remember when it’s a little different than every other wedding they've attended.

Think about interesting ways to display your placecards. A fabric wrapped board, suspended from ribbons perhaps from a large floral arrangement, or affixed to a clothesline by patterned clothespins from Susy Jack are all a little unexpected and sure to capture the attention of your guests.

Photos from left: Jessica Claire via Details Details; Charming Gardner; Jessica Claire; Susy Jack ; Knottie Bio NPWedding

It never ceases to amaze me how many guests are still truly amazed at the placecard votives. While not exactly ‘unique’ to us wedding addicts, guests love them and they’re a relatively easy DIY project. The key is to use a straight sided votive holder in order for the vellum to wrap neatly around the holder. 3M vellum tape is also key. All other brands I’ve tried won’t hold up to the heat of the candle. Be sure to have your venue light them no more than 20 minutes prior to the reception start time or they'll get a little too hot for your guests to handle.

Photos from left: Augustus Butera; Knottie Bio 1 marine4Me

Inexpensive candy bars can be rewrapped in coordinating scrapbook papers featuring an elegant pattern. While the individually imprinted ribbon used in this example may be a bit cost prohibitive for most, this idea can easily be adapted by adding a small tag with the the guest’s name and table assignment. Try a calligraphy font like Burges Script. You’re guests will never know it wasn’t done by hand. Check out scrapbook papers from Anna Griffin. Her elegant patterns lend themselves perfectly to weddings.

Photos from left: ivillage; Paper Addict

CAT SETO

Run on over to the unbelievably talented Cat Seto’s blog for a full week of wedding posts. For those of you who don’t know her, Cat designs a charming vintage chic line of wedding invitations, boxed notes and imprintables which feature her illustrations and watercolors and is the owner of Cat Seto Boutique which is a lovely shop in San Francisco selling stationery, gifts, dresses and misc. fresh finds from independent designers. She's just opened Paper Studio, a by appointment studio featuring her own line of invitations, custom work and a very well edited selection from other designers. Cat is living my dream! Here are some of my favorites from her collection...

SUNDAY MORNING PAPER

The shear wealth of available and talented wedding stationery designers who are out there creating consistently stunning wedding invitations never ceases to amaze me . Take at look at my favorites for this week…



Top Left: Simply Unique Invitations
Top Center: Brown Sugar Design
Top Right: Alia Designs
Middle Left: Diane Lamendola
Middle Center: Simply Unique Invitations
Middle Right: Ceci NY
Bottom Left: It's Fancy
Bottom Center: Diane Lamendola
Bottom Right: Mr. Boddington's Studio

WEDDING FLICKR FINDS

Flickr, the oh so helpful site that allows you to store, sort, manage, search and share photos online, has such a wealth of beautiful wedding inspiration right at your fingertips. It's also a great source to find vendors making everything from invitations to jewelry to cakes. Just look what I found today…

Top left: Stunning black damask invitations from Mew Paper Arts
Top right: Matching cupcakes on a custom black damask cupcake stand from Le Cupcake
Middle left: So pretty in its simplicity, a red and white cupcake tree from Sweet Avenue Bakeshop via Danivance
Middle right: Pretty letterpressed engagement announcement from msusser
Bottom left: Black damask mint tin from cicuska
Bottom right: Beaded bridal hair pins from cc design

WEDDING FONTS

I have always gravitated towards elegant lady-like script fonts. The swirlier the better. I use at least one of them in almost every design I’ve ever created, unless I’m expressly asked not to of course. I am admittedly a bit font obsessed and am known to blurt out at incredibly inappropriate times the names of various fonts used in documents presented to me. I spend countless hours playing with the seemingly endless glyphs included with Bickham Script Pro and my new favorite font Burges Script. As many of you lucky ladies who got engaged over the holidays are looking for inspiration for your invitations, I thought I would share my favorite script fonts with you…

TOOTING MY OWN HORN - WEDDING MONOGRAMS

One of the more popular services I offer to brides through my design business, Merrilee Designs are custom monograms . As I’ve been too busy to do my follow-ups, I rarely get to see how my clients use their monograms, unless I happen to stumble across them accidentally. While perusing Wedding Bee today, I was so excited to see some of my handywork in a recent post re: Knottie Bios of the week. My client La'Kay, AKA So_n_luv, used her monogram everywhere from her invitations (designed by Beloved Designs) to her gobo, bubbles, ice sculpture and her adorable chair placecards. Congratulations La’Kay on a beautiful wedding!

Beautiful photography courtesy of Milton Gil

SUNDAY MORNING PAPER

Here are some of my favorite invitation finds of the week...


Top left: Atelier Isabey
Top Right: Creative Intelligence
Middle Left: The Lettered Olive
Middle Right: Gleaux
Bottom left: Elizabeth and Homer
Bottom Right: Dolce Design

HILARIOUS INVITATION

I stumbled across this on Once Upon a Wedding and had to share...I needed a good laugh tonight...: )

LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF WEDDING VENDORS

The lovely and talented Abby over at Style Me Pretty just launched a very well edited collection of wedding service providers called Little Black Book. Hand picked listings for invitation designers, florists, caterers, photographers and more categorized by city. Brilliant idea Abby, I love it!

MORE CUSTOM WEDDING INVITATIONS

I recently stumbled across the beautiful designs of East Six and had to share. Best friends, Stacey and Marina have between them degrees in photography, fine arts, advertising and graphic design and it’s evident in their well thought out, detailed and beautiful work.

Take a peek...

PRETTY CALENDARS

I typically like to have a pretty calendar in my office. The one that is currently up on my memo board features a wedding photo printed on text paper for Feb '07. Hmmm, I thought it might be time to do a little calendar shopping, being that, well, it's October not February and it's almost the end of the year. (Can you believe it?) I suppose I should make my own being that I am a designer, but here are so many pretty ones readily available...

Top left: Ilee

Top right: Mulberry Muse

Bottom left: Annecote

Bottom right: Paper Source

TARA GUERARD SOIREE EVENTS

I've been a huge fan of the amazingly talented event and wedding planner and author of Southern Weddings, Tara Guerard of Soiree Events for some time. I was so excited to read her guest feature at my favorite blog Style me Pretty where she has some great tips and beautiful ideas for brides. It's a must read. Tara's events are so well thought out and filled with thoughtful touches and creative details that are just right.