Wine Not? A Birthday Party Theme

 

She's turning 50. He's turning 60. So "Wine Not?" do it up right in the Napa Valley wine country. It will be the perfect setting for four full days of recreation, wine tasting and celebrating this couple and their BIG birthdays. Rustic and playful were two words that this client used to describe the vibe she wanted in a save-the-date. A corkscrew in a logo and wine drop stains bring in the event location and theme even more. The formal invitation is coming soon!

Just Peachy! A Bridal Shower Invitation

Spring will have just sprung when this bridal shower happens next month. The pretty peach tones with just a touch of pink were chosen because not only does the bride like peach (one of her wedding colors) but the lovely home where the shower will be held has white and orange decor. What a beautiful backdrop for all the lovelies that will be in attendance!

A Couples Wedding Shower given by The Godfather

 

Every now and then I get a strange request. This was one of them. But when it was explained to me it made me chuckle and say "oooookay". The Godparents of this engaged couple (a Filipino wedding custom of the groom's family) are Italian (their niece is the bride) and so of course they are giving them a wedding shower with "The Godfather" theme! I know. It's making sense to you now, right?

A classic movie such as this has some unforgettable lines so I just had to incorporate a couple of them. And it starts with "We're making you an offer you can't refuse." So I'm sure everyone that gets this invitation will feel the pressure to attend. Ha!

The textured woven paper lends some casualness to the formal looking wine label and helps to bring out the party's outdoor, vineyard-like feel. Some good Italian food and wine and guests dressed in the theme and this will be some party!

"Favorite Things" Christmas Card

It isn't a Christmas song but somehow has attached itself to Christmas. I'm talking about "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. The outside of the card has that "brown paper package tied up with string" look. And when the card is opened the text on the tag has the kids' "favorite things". Rave reviews came in on this one.Makes me smile.

A Nautical Christmas Party Invitation

How lovely, a Christmas Party Brunch on a yacht on San Diego Bay. The chances for excellent weather are quite good in San Diego all year long so why not cruise the bay while celebrating the season in December? The color theme for this party is a cheery green, silver and teal which combines "Christmas" and "ocean" rather well. It's is a light and bright feel for a daytime party, don't you think?

A Lace Bridal Shower Invitation

An invitation that I designed 5 years ago needed some tweaking before I could put it in my Etsy shop. So here it is, newly re-designed with layers of loveliness for a linens and lace bridal shower! And of course there are color choices for the background paper and the flower! You can find it right here.

Again with the Pumpkin Scarring

The color changed from a light yellow to this lovely orange

This guy is my favorite!

Three years ago I became fascinated with pumpkin scarring. So much so that the next spring I planted my own little pumpkin patch and scarred some of my own. I've learned a few things along the way, and I'm still learning. I've included photos of the day I scarred some of them to give you an idea of how small they are and what color they are at that time on the vine. Fairy tales, Cinderellas, Luminas and Musquee de Provence are a few of the varieties that I planted. I already have seeds to plant for next spring!

Moving Again to a New Address

Breaking news! Our daughter and her husband moved again. It's been a handful of months ago, actually, but I'm finally getting around to posting this fun "we've moved" card.  They wanted it to include where they started and where they met, Idaho Falls, and their progression from there. Also they wanted the TV stations that they have been employed at to be included too. They worked at the same station in Idaho Falls, Idaho, but when they moved to Spokane, Washington they worked at different stations. And now in Denver they are at different stations as well. It's a friendly rivalry so that's the good news. And who doesn't prefer good news?! They just want you to watch the news!

Mommy to Bee Baby Shower

 

 

the guys got their own invitation, some included with the gal's invitation, some mailed separately

 

 

This Mommy to BEE! loves black and white damask. And the hostesses wanted to go with a Bee theme and a diaper so they asked me to put these together somehow and this is what I came up with. I do believe this will be quite a fun party because they asked for me to create some other party paper goods as well. 

A couples shower? Well, I think they decided that it was going to be too girlie so their plan for the guys is to go to a shooting range! And drink BEEr. Perfect. Especially because the Daddy to BEE! is a gunsmith. Hence a separate guy invitation needed to be included.

I'll post some other details later!

Mountain Wedding Paper Goods

A wedding in the Colorado Rockies! I can imagine the breathtaking views! This couple's love for skiing is what caused them to plan their destination wedding in Breckenridge. Smitten with the lift ticket escort cards that I made for my own daughter's wedding (see the details here) the bride contacted me to create some for her. And of course the table signage, mini vintage ski resort posters, instruction sign and menus as well. A mountain in the logo for them too!

Down Home Country Reception

Another post-wedding reception in the bride's hometown... They were married in June but the celebrating ain't done yet! A country styled party is in the works for those that couldn't make the trek to Concord, Massachusetts last June. Seriously, this gig will be chock full of fun and games and finger-lickin' good food with crazy tall pie from The Blue Owl for dessert. I think the yellow gingham print on the back of the invitations is a delightful match to the sunflower in the photo and definitely brings the 'country' feel. And the rooster? Seals the deal!

A Second Reception Invitation

Let the celebrating continue! When a wedding is just too far away for some friends and family to attend it sure is nice to have a post wedding party in the bride or groom's hometown. This couple was married in May in the Washington, D.C. area and their second reception is in San Diego, the bride's hometown. The mother of the bride wanted to incorporate the same designs that I used for their wedding day paper goods as she too has a love of birds. The crisp white and shades of green work for summer as well as spring invitations. A simple single card can be rather fancy when placed inside a thoroughly decorated envelope, don't you think?

Golf and Wine and Turning Sixty

How can wine and golf be combined? At the 19th Hole, of course! This birthday boy loves golf and wine so it was the obvious choice for the party theme. Lots of wine and golf terminology was used... like vintage, "a very good year", Syrah, hacker, sandbagger, "no spikes". And a "Moore's Marker" wine label for the birthday boy that was used on the welcome sign and the water bottle labels. Here's to the birthday boy!

Take Note! Stationery for a Special Touch

an art deco style ornament

a floral ornament for a garden club member

a font style from the 1880's

Stationery is a great host/hostess gift in my book. And I had the chance to create some especially for some dear friends. Last month my husband and I stayed and visited with them in their home in Massachusetts for a couple days. They moved to this wonderful town, Newburyport, a few months ago and what a lovely town it is! The best part is they are walking distance to just about anywhere one would want to go. And their home is probably about 200 years old with these amazing, original, wide plank pumpkin pine floors. They both have a traditional and classic style, and she loves her garden so I think these just might fit them well.

A Sweet Blue and White Wedding Invitation

When this bride came to me I knew I would enjoy working with her. To begin with she loved the way our home is decorated because she already has the same style and colors started in their future home. And since we spoke the same "style language" and she already knew the basics of what she wanted we were bound to be good working buddies.

She wanted something simple, a blue and white vase with lavender, lace or doily wrapped, and a vine pattern like I did for these bridal shower tea invitations. I must say those are one of my favorites too! No wonder we got along so well.