Graphic designer Emily Arrison handcrafts paper tabletop creations for weddings and special events.  Her flora and fauna shaped cards are perfect for a garden party. She makes place cards, table numbers, menu cards, napkin rings that incorporate the place cards.

SOURCING:
+ Timeless Paper – starts at $1 a piece with minimum buy of a pack of 25 cards

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I could not decide the winner between number 1 and 2 for the places I visited last Sunday during the Open Door event of Design Montreal. Since it is time for my eco-friendly column, I will talk about Moine Urbain. It is fun to take pictures when the subject is so amazing. Enjoy the views!

Founded by the multidisciplinary artist and artisan Mario Lafrenais, Moine Urbain works with rock, wood, steel and glass. They specialize in making minimalist but very functional kitchen and bathrooms. Mario created an awesome collection of bathtubs, sinks and kitchen island top surface made with Saint-Marc rock. Moine Urbain’s collection is organic and the Saint-Rock rock feels so soft to the touch. You can also hire them for custom made pieces. A man offered his wife a custom-made bath to make sure that she will be comfortable in it. How romantic!

Mario rethinks the function of the objects. He favors minimalist design. He works on every details making sure the soap holder and the holder fits into the design both aesthetically and functionally.

A Glimpse at His Green House

Like many designers, his studio is attached to his residence. We had a glimpse of his house by going his stunning backyard. He talked to us about the many green features of his house from solar panels to using combustion stove as an added heat source during the winter to his salt-water pool in the heart in the city. He lives in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal borough in Montreal. I do not recalled the details of his heating system but it done in an environmentally manner.

I love his outdoor dining room furniture. It is a great place for outdoor entertaining.

MORE:
+ Moine Urbain – site in French only
+ If you did not read it, check out the 3rd place: my take on Loft Encadrex

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A way to personalize the décor is to turn your digital photos of a child, pet, or object into vinyl silhouette decals. Several profiles are available: head profile, half-body, full body, pet and objects.

Do not think of silhouette decals only for home decor. Vinyl silhouettes are an easy and affordable way to personalize a birthday party decor with characteristics of the guest of honor.

The silhouette has removable adhesive. Normally it peels off without trouble but be aware that this is not guarantee that you may not encounter a problem.

Each Vinyl silhouette can only be installed once. You can put them directly on the wall for a more lasting solution, on a canvas or most smooth surface. Make sure to read Vinyl Silhouettes tips on taking pictures for their custom made decals.

SOURCING:
+ Half-body silhouette $46
+ Full-body silhouette available 3 formats $48-$86
+ Objects $48 simple, $68 complex objects
+ via Laissez Faire

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Finished up your invite or add a special touch to a thank you card with your own customized stamps. They are also appropriate to mark a special occasion, a kid birthday or something special happening in your life.

Where to buy?

The personalization process is the same whether you live in the USA or Canada. The difference is where you buy them. In Canada, you must use Picture Postage, a service from Canada Post in partnership with Canadian Bank Note.

In the United States, several companies own a vendor license from United States Postal Service to print customized postage. You can buy the stamps in the denomination that you need: postcard, envelop size and weight. Unfortunately, Canada Post offers only the customized stamp for the most current postage (standard letter under 30 grams).

How it works?

They all provide online a tool to design your postage using the same 3 steps. You first submit your own digital image. Then, you adjust your image into the stamp frame. Finally, you send your order.

In the United States, I like PictureItPostage by Endicia. There 2 main advantages are:

• bigger stamp – your picture is 1 1/2″ x 1 3/16″. Stamp is 2 1/2″ x 1 9/16″
• background colors – which I like a lot.

Zazzle is another company that I discovered through Perfect Bound, a cute blog by a girl who day dreams about living abroad, dark chocolate and being a magazine editor. Today, she paired wedding invitations with customized stamps. Check her post; she did an excellent pairing job.

The special features at Zazzle are:

• you can write a small message text on top of your picture
• three sizes of stamp
• you can select pictures from the community gallery.

Canadian Way

The Canadian stamps look better in my opinion because they do not have a bar code. They look like regular stamp. But honestly, they are all pretty cool and can be as stylish as you design them. In Canada, you can buy a sheet of 40 stamps or a Keepsake Sheet of 20 stamps with a large image printed to keep as a souvenir.

Plan ahead and leave you plenty of time for delivery. These custom gifts make great gifts to new parents, grand parents or new homeowners.

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: PictureItPostage – price: $18.95 USD for 20 large stamps
Buy online: Zazzle Custom Stamps – price: $16.95 USD for 20 medium stamps
Buy online: The Knot Wedding Postage Collection [Zazzle]
Buy online: Picture Postage – price: $24.95 for 20 stamps + a large keepsake image
Via: squared away [Perfect Bound]

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There is a new way to personalize your invitations with the launch of silhouettes by PosePrints.

You can add a couple, a bride or a pregnant mother. Same sex couples are represented by two male silhouettes. Strangely, lesbian couples are not represented.

The different between the female models are three hair styles. The silhouettes are also available in several colors.

There are less customization options than with the personalized avatars. Still you can find a suitable fit. The pricing is the same for all poses.

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: silhouette models with navy spots [poseprints.com] – price: $50.00 for 25 cards

RELATED POST:
+ Personalized avatar on social stationery

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If you mother is the Bree Van de Kamp type who brings delicious sweets everywhere she goes, make it simple for her by giving her personalized stickers, tags or stamps for Mother’s Day. I found adorable models on etsy.

Baking Stickers

LittlebeaneBoutique has several models. Pink is a dominant color is her design. She sells the stickers by sheet of 12 stickers. I like the pink mixer and whisk.

Kitchen Stamps

OfficialInitial produces well-made custom 3″ by 1.5″ stamp. I like the Cupcake mounted rubber stamp where the name of your mother can be printed.

I like the handle on the From the Kitchen of stamp by sweetpaperie. You have a choice of a flatware setting, a whisk or a pear.

Sweet Tags

If your mother style is more French country, she will be delighted with the Vintage Look Petits Fours Glaces tags at Bluebirdlane. The tags measures about 3 1/2″ by 2 1/2″ each. Ribbon will vary.

Any one of these would make a fantastic gift for any culinary guru. It will show to your mother that you value her cooking.

Sourcing:
Buy online: Personalized Pink Mixer Stickers by LittlebeaneBoutique – price: $4.95 USD for 12
Buy online: Personalized WHISK Baking Stickers by LittlebeaneBoutique – price: $4.95 USD for 12
Buy online: Custom Cupcake mounted rubber stamp by OfficialInitial – price: $25 USD
Buy online: From the Kitchen of stamp by sweetpaperie – price: $19.95 USD
Buy online: Vintage Look Petits Fours Glaces tags by Bluebirdlane – price: $5 USD for 8

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