Ms. Bliss and Laura Hooper Calligraphy

June 02, 2008 // kristen // 0 replies

I know that more than a few of you out there are in the process of planning weddings. If so, or if you’ve already gone through it, you will undoubtedly identify with the future bride whose wedding adventure is chronicled in Ms. Bliss, a blog sponsored by stationer Crane & Co. about a bride-to-be who is planning her Adirondack wedding. She recently visited the National Stationery Show and has several pics from the event, and there’s much paper inspiration to be found in the blog.

While I was checking out Ms. Bliss, I discovered the wonderfully whimsical illustrated wedding maps (and other work) of calligrapher Laura Hooper. She also keeps a blog called A Lucky Orchid Wedding, which features many images of her more recent projects. Eye candy-licious!

image from Laura Hooper

Minted Customized Wedding Invitations

May 13, 2008 // kristen // 1 replies

Minted is a snazzy new online store whose mission is to “discovery great stationery design everywhere and deliver it to [our] customers with their personal touches added.” They have design selections from some of the finest independent stationery brands, known for their artistry and fine printing techinques. Brands include Louella Press, Egg Press, Mr. Boddington’s, Peculiar Pair Press, Paper + Cup, Oblation Papers, and Ceci New York.

What excites me most about Minted is their design challenges. These challenges offer up and coming designers a chance at greater exposure to the public, and the winning designs will be printed and sold on Minted.com.

Their first design challenge, centered around photo save the date cards, was inspired by three real couples from the super popular Wedding Bee Network. The challenge received 80 entries and created great buzz for all involved.

Minted’s second challenge focuses on photo holiday cards. The prizes are $1000 for 1st place winners; $250 for 2nd place winner; and $100 each for 3rd, 4th, and 5th place winners. The top 5 designs will be featured and sold on Minted.com, with the winning designers receiving 4% of net sales of the products sold, in addition to the cash prizes. Pretty sweet!

images from Minted

Cheree Berry Wedding Invitations

May 06, 2008 // kristen // 0 replies

I’m absolutely loving these wedding invitations from Cheree Berry. Her work features a bit of everything (all of it gorgeous), from wonderfully unique envelope liner designs to fantastic illustrations, color schemes, die cuts, and typographic elements.

Cheree Berry Paper opened in January 2006. Before opening her own studio, Cheree was an associate art director at Kate Spade and was in charge of designing the wedding stationery and personalized stationery lines that Kate Spade sells through Crane & Co.

Cheree also designs note cards and announcements and creates custom wedding invitations. Lovely stuff!

images from Cheree Berry

Paper Orchid

April 29, 2008 // kristen // 1 replies

I’m loving these gorgeous, laser-cut cupcake wrappers from Paper Orchid. They add a unique interest to any special occasion. Heck, I’d love to buy some just to use when I make cupcakes or muffins.

Paper Orchid also makes special laser-cut favor boxes (below), as well as matching invitations, envelope seals, and note cards.

images from Paper Orchid

Eco Friendly Paper : Jayda

April 28, 2008 // kristen // 0 replies

Jayda has many lovely wedding invitation and stationery designs. They also design cute birth announcement and baby shower invitations, as well as moving announcements. Their wedding collection features modern palettes, pretty patterns, bold flourishes, and stylized botanicals.

Jayda is committed to the environment and prints their invitations using soy and other vegetable based inks on 100% cotton paper made from recovered cotton materials from the textile industry. See more about their dedication to the environment here. Some of my faves from their wedding collection: