June & July Card Club — and an update!

August 1, 2016July 18, 2016 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

You guys, I have just been the worst blogger lately! A little bit of writer’s block, a little bit of being overbooked… a whole lot of super short or non-existent blog posts!

As you know (or if you don’t, scroll back through the blog, I’ve had some fun projects lately!), I have been super busy—wedding season is in full swing! In addition to the amazing paper flower project I posted about a few weeks ago, I’ve designed two non-letterpress save the dates for 2017 brides and hand-painted graphics for two more real wedding invitations, and three more for styled shoots! Check back to see all of those (and even more watercolor wedding invites!) in the coming weeks, and in the mean time, here’s a sneak peek of Julie’s invitations:

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In addition to all this bridal goodness, I’ve also been designing new cards! You’ll have to wait till the holidays to see most of them, but keep an eye out for new birthday, thank you and sympathy cards in the mean time! A few of the latest and greatest designs are sure to be included in next month’s card club, so now is a great time to join! Here’s the link.

And of course, speaking of Card Club, I forgot to post July’s collection—again! Last month I was feeling the beach vibes, so I built the collection around shades of yellow, turquoise and sand.

This week, I’m feeling all pink all the time (just check out my instagram feed!), and mixing in some bright orange—plus bikes and balloons!—feels just right for summer! For a fun surprise, subscribers also received a 5″x7″ print of my watercolor bloom design from the Digital Prints section of my shop!

I absolutely love putting these collections together each month, so if you or someone you know loves getting mail, join the club today!

Adrienne & Matt’s Pink and Gold Wedding Invitations

July 9, 2016April 26, 2016 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

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Adrienne is a classic bride planning a traditional ceremony and reception in the heart of small town Pennsylvania. Her vision for the big day was a formal affair in shades of white and ivory with accents of soft rose and warm metallics.

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Because her venue has a casual name, she wanted invitations that emphasized the formal nature of the day, which we accomplished with a formal filigree design motif and traditional typography. She also wanted to incorporate her future husband’s family crest, which I re-illustrated from an old photo and worked into their save the dates, flap of the pocket envelope, and the coasters which will adorn their reception tables (she also ordered extras to have on hand at home, which I love!).

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Once we had the design finished, I printed each piece by hand on my antique letterpress in a subtly metallic antique gold ink accompanied by a custom-mixed shade of pink. I love the mix of paper stocks that reflect her color scheme, employing my favorite bright white cotton paper from Crane, as well as rose inserts, sparkling gold envelopes and a lovely cream pocket to keep everything together.

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Red Wedding Flowers

July 5, 2016 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 2 Comments

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Sorry for the radio silence, friends, I’ve been super busy playing catch up from being away and working on some really exciting new projects!

The day before we left for Chile, a big order for paper flowers came in, and I was so excited because it was my first full wedding order, and so disappointed because I figured I’d have to refund it, as I wouldn’t be able to work on it for nearly two weeks. Lucky for me, this bride was planning ahead, and we had plenty of time before her big day!

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So the day after we got home, I got to work on this gorgeous flower crown and a large bouquet for the bride, along with a smaller bouquet (pictured) and boutonnieres! 5R0A0910 5R0A0925 5R0A0950

I tried some new techniques with my poppies and I’m absolutely loving how they’ve turned out! One of the things I love most about making paper flowers is the problem solving, always striving to make them more realistic and more beautiful. 5R0A0971

A special thanks to Adrian Cunningham of Ballyknock Photography for taking a few quick snaps before I sent them off to Australia!

Susan and Jake’s Modern Art Deco Save the Date Coasters

May 31, 2016May 26, 2016 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

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It’s peak wedding season, so I don’t usually get many save the dates in summer months, but I did recently get to print up some coasters for Susan and Jake! They’re hosting a champagne brunch in just a few months, but still thought it would be fun to send coasters out to their guests.

Jake wanted something clever or funny, along the lines of my “Come for the wine, stay for the wedding” project from a few years ago, but something unique to them. I recommended “Break out the Bubbly” and they loved it!

Susan described her dress as having a slight Art Deco feel, so I worked some throwback typography and design elements into a modern design. I’m loving how they turned out!

Want custom coasters of your own—for your wedding day or any day? Get in touch!

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Bluebonnet Inspired Texas Styled Shoot

May 15, 2016April 23, 2016 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

A few weeks back, I offered letterpress work to a handful of photographers to feature in styled shoots this spring. The images are starting to come in and I’m so excited to share with you!

View More: http://kaylinanortonphotography.pass.us/texaswildflowers

This first shoot took place in Texas and was inspired by wildflowers! The images really speak for themselves in this one, so I’m going to let them do just that! Make sure to scroll all the way down to see all the vendors!

View More: http://kaylinanortonphotography.pass.us/texaswildflowers