There's something about these invitations that communicate "super fun party ahead!" My most recent order for these is for an upcoming bridal shower. With some fun emailing of ideas back and forth with my client we decided to "girly" them up with the bright pink paper background and that certainly gave them a different look. What has surprised me the most is how far and wide across the globe people enjoy a Mexican Fiesta theme for a party. Recently I had an inquiry from someone in Ireland that is planning a Fiesta themed wedding. Ireland? Really? Love it!
Do you remember the wedding reception dream scene of "Father of the Bride" George Banks, played by Steve Martin? Such a classic guy idea! My husband would love the same thing. He would be having a wonderful time at his daughter's wedding gnawing on ribs with barbecue sauce all over his face. I, on the other hand, have something all together different in mind. So a compromise is a Father of the Bride BBQ the night before the wedding. Originally I wanted it in the classic red and white checked tablecloth theme but when my daughter saw a photo of a yellow and white checked cloth she said "I want that!" The more I thought about it the more I liked it so this is part inspiration board, part reality for the barbecue. So it's yellow and white and black with lawn games, lemonade and buttons too. I want that yellow wooden box real bad!
Our mailbox is rarely filled with excitement. When Christmas is approaching there might be a fabulous catalog or two to tempt me but that's about it. That's why I like to use a colored envelope or an envelope that has something fun or even quirky printed on the outside to get the recipient excited from the moment they pick up their mail. I recently got an order for these fun fiesta invitations for an engagement party and I decided it was time to really jazz up the envelope. I hope you get a fun envelope in the mail real soon!
As promised, here are the bookmark favors that will also be used as escort cards at an upcoming wedding. Yes, that purple wedding! The bride and groom both love to read and so they thought a way to share that with their dearest friends would be with a bookmark. The table number is on a separate little paper that can easily be removed after the party is over. And we thought a variety would be a fun way to go too!
For book lovers that want to bring their favorite diversion into their wedding I've got a few ideas. I have printed this couple's damask theme onto vellum with a shimmery lavender background. A couple eyelets and ribbon and museum putty to adhere it to the books and their table numbers are ready to go! Another table number option is to use pages from old books to cover a piece of cover weight paper (folded sandwich board style) and add the table number in ribbon of the color theme. I wish I had some lightweight wooden numbers in my workroom because I think they could be painted black and glued to the book page background.And let's not forget the desert bar or the cocktail bar or any other table that might need a little explanation or instruction. In the lower photo I glued some book pages onto an easel back and printed on a piece of vellum "Let them eat cake" and used silk ribbon to hold the vellum onto the pages.I've got some lovely bookmark escort cards to share next that will go so nicely with any of these ideas. Oh, there are so many book lover options out there!
It is Spring so I started some Spring cleaning and organizing too. I ran across a few of the San Francisco shopping trip goodies that I've done in the past. Ahhh, great memories. The first trips that I coordinated were actually fundraiser auction trips and then I started organizing them for getaways with girlfriends. I always put together the itinerary so everyone knows what we're doing and where we're going, and most importantly what restaurants we'll be eating at! I also put together little breakfast snack bags for the shoppers to eat on the plane. And of course some luggage tags. I have quite a fun collection of them.
Last week I had my hands all over these purple and lavender invitations. I think the color purple must have invaded my brain too. I say this because last week I was with a group of friends that commented on my purple sweater that matched the purple pen and purple notebook in my hands. And then when my cell phone rang they noted that my cell phone cover is purple as well! I'm so glad that I left my purple handbag at home!Nevertheless, this wedding will no doubt have some of the prettiest flowers in shades of purple and lavender. And speaking of shades of purple flowers, I can't wait for our wisteria to bloom! I can see the buds already!
Quick and easy is what I needed for a centerpiece last night. Since the menu was Mexican food the flowers needed to be bright and cheery. A quick trip to my favorite flower market for some happy Gerbera daisies and some filler fun and I was ready to create something. With three rectangular glass vases (that I paid $2 a piece for!) I had decided that I needed three flower colors as well as three matching ribbon colors. The ribbon haphazardly wrapped around the vases was a quick way to camouflage the not-so-pretty stems and made the vases look a bit flirty. Of course all my Talavera pottery pieces came out for the night too and really completed the fiesta fell.
Are you an Academy Award watcher? I am. And I've thrown many an Oscar Party too, with ballots and the whole shebang. Classic movie food must be included so even when I have a crazy theme like "Grant's Chinese Theater" popcorn is an appetizer... alongside the wontons! No party for us this year but I just had to make some fun labels for bags of popcorn. Enjoy the red carpet, enjoy the show!
My sweet husband and I haven't gone out on Valentine's Day for dinner in many years. And last night was no exception. It was "just the two of us" but instead of our same old casual thing I decided we needed to have a cozy table by the fireplace and music instead of the TV in the background! I pulled out some linens that don't get enough use, clipped some flowers from the yard for our centerpiece, pulled Cupid out of the cupboard, made a small "love" bunting, printed the menu, cooked everything except the German Chocolate cupcakes (Elizabethan Desserts, yummmm!) and lit some candles. I think I took him by surprise!
Do you hate to throw away bags? And sometimes even recycling a sweet, cute, rad, crazy, whatever bag is just not right and so you try to reuse it. Right? Me too. Paper Source has really fun bags and so I hang on to them but today I decided it was time to reuse them... again! Their bold stripes in red, silver, mossy green and an aqua blue were fabulous at Christmastime and now are working out just great for Valentine's Day. Some silk ribbon, silver cord, heart-shaped hole punches and even a cardboard cozy from Starbucks all helped to make it festive. Yep, that cardboard heart cut out is from Starbucks, and the handle of a larger PS shopping bag was fashioned into a heart as well.
As you can see, Paper Source has their rules for recycling printed right on the bag! Be a sweetheart and reuse!
I was happy to hear from this bride the other day because she said she wanted to change her colors up a bit. Lots of purple in various shades, like eggplant and lavender and others in between. So now I have started to play with the invitation. Here's what I have sent to her so far... but the reveal of the ribbons and other goodies will have to wait!
