I enjoy the new breed of wedding invitations that emerged over the last decade. They are less generic. Brides and grooms now have the chance to tailor their invites to their wedding celebrations. One wedding invitation studio that I like is Chewing The Cud.

Based in San Francisco, they offered a fully custom made service and a signature line that can be personalized with illustrations, motifs, ribbons, and embellishments.

Their signature invitations are suitable for any stylish event with a chic vintage flair. I can imagine using them for a big-0 birthday or an anniversary. All their invitations are letterpress printed on 100% cotton, tree free paper with soy based inks.

Two of my favorite collections for something else than a wedding are:

+ The Good Old Days would be good for a special event designed around local food or taking place in the countryside – starts at $1875 USD
+ Flourish Fête would be perfect for a milestone anniversary – starts at $2175 for 75 invitation kits

An invitation kit is the invitation card with its envelop, the RSVP card with the response envelop plus an additional card.

MORE:
+ Chewing The Cud

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It is no secret that I love giraffe on stationery, plush animals and art prints. It is probably because I always dreamt of being tall. On my quest to find cutely modern giraffe invitations, it seams natural to stop at Minted.

Minted is an online store offering fresh, modern custom stationery and invitations. They opted for the talents of independent brands and designers to bring something new on the marketplace. Without knowing, two design studios are represented twice. I guest I really enjoy the style of pottsdesign and Sweet Tree Studio.

+ Baby Giraffe Baby Shower Invitations by Jennifer Postorino $60 for 25
+ Baby Silhouette Baby Shower Invitations by Emily of pottsdesign $67 for 25
+ Circus Children’s Birthday Party Invitations by Sweet Tree Studio $67 for 25

The next three inspired me for their versatility. Each drawing could lead to a fun party theme while keeping a surprise on how you interpret it until the guests show up. It is ideal if you haven’t decided on your decor when you need to order your invitations.

+ Cupcake Baby Shower Invitations by pottsdesign $67 for 25
+ Cheery Frock Baby Shower Invitations by Kelli Hall$67 for 25
+ Onesie Whimsy Baby Shower Invitations by Sweet Tree Studio $67 for 25

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Jenn and Mary are the two lively founders of Ice Cream Social. Their work has a vintage, crafty look. I particularly like what they did for these custom save-the-date cards. Each one suit the personality of the happy couples.

If you are getting married or host a big event, it is best to set up a Web site for the hotel, directions, and other wedding information like did they did here. This way liberate space to be more creative. Furthermore, you can update and provide more details on a Web site. You can use Wordpress as the CMS to create your Web site.

Located in Brooklyn, Ice Cream Social first love are wedding invitations. Having said that, they specialize in visual communications for all life rituals.

Event: Meet Them Today Only at 1 pm

Don’t forget to stop by the Brooklyn Wedding Chapel on Sunday, June 7th from 1 until 2 pm. Jenn and Mary will be there to chat about our design process, answer stationery questions, and best of all serve up some ice cream. Please RSVP right here.

+ Ice Cream Social

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+ More and more move far away for the traditional wedding invites. Green grass details and a bird look adorable and elegant on these letterpress invites. Via Moontree

+ You can always stop at Oh Joy! for a breath of fresh ideas. She made a picnic perfect montage where you can see the wooden utensils from Paper+Cup I shown you last week plus other items at Anthropologie. It is lovely. She designed the two 3D wall hooks for Urban Outfitters some time ago. The Home Sweet Home Mail Hook and the Tree Silhouette hook are out of stock. I do not know if they will be available again.

+Another option are the recycled metal alphabet hooks at Urban Outfitters. You can opt for the initials of the members of the family or write a word. $6 per letter.

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Every kid is fond of the circus. This festive kid party theme never gets old.  For the busy mom, a circus party is ideal since you can easily buy the basic elements.  Make sure to custom the theme. How you assemble everything is a great way to start. With the help of the computer and small craft projects, you will create a unique circus party decor. Concentrate on the buffet table and a few decorations displayed across the room.

Set the Tone with your Invitations

Go wild with the invite and put inside more that a invitation card like did Caroline for the second birthday of her son. Read how she created her amazing circus party invitations on her blog. Make sure to keep one invitation as a keepsake for your kid.

Popcorn bags are easy to find. Having a coupon on all items extend the circus theme as we used to know it. Pinning  a fabric on the wall transform it in a photo booth. You could lay down a make up table with a couple mirrors, wigs, red clown noses, and  clown overalls. Do not forget to supply makeup removal gear. If talents run in the family or in your neighbor households, organize a 10 to 15 minutes circus inspired performance.

Caroline Armelle’s party was certainly well-executed. Click here for the full story on the circus kid birthday party for a little boy.

CREDITS:
+ Images from Armelle – how to craft the circus party invitations
+ Via Design Mom

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With Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’s (MSLO) investment in Pingg announced in October 2008, it comes to no surprise that Pingg is now offering invites with pictures from Martha Stewart’s content library. These images will please the Martha Stewart’s hostess type. And it is fun to recognize pictures from articles you read.

Pingg is one of many online invite and event management services. You can get print invites and eCards. Hosts can manage their event online. You get for free a dedicated event Web page where guests can go to RSVP online. You can manage your guests, keep track of the headcount, plus send reminders and follow up messages.

Pinng has a cleaner, more refined look than many of its competition. This is why I like it. Pingg’s entertaining tips naturally come from Martha Stewart.

+ Via Fabuluxe

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If you are looking for personalized note cards, check out the latest collection of bold drawings at Fabulous Stationery.

Bags and Shoes

With a production time of 5 to 7 days, it is too late to order your custom Sex and the City invites from the new shoes and bags collection. Still, keep these note cards in mind for a bridal shower, a girl makeover party or a bridal party.

A bride to be can order a custom set for each of her bridesmaids. Simply select the illustration that fits the best the bridesmaid’s personality.

Moving Announcements

There are several options to choose from a mid-century house to reference to condo living and home decor accessories. You do not need to live in a Palm Springs modern house to order those as long as you want to say “Come to see my new hip place”, these designs are OK.

If your house integrates environment-friendly materials, opt for the recycled eco-notes with eco-envelops. The paper is eco-friendly but I think they use standard inks. The Eco Still Life model supports 2 lines of 20 characters each for the cover.

How it works?

Each card model is available in three color scheme. Fabulous Stationery sells 25 cards and envelops for $45. This basic price includes your own cover text and the return address. Then, you can opt to upgrade the paper, add an inside text, a gift box, a matching notebook and custom RSVP cards.

>>> Sourcing:
Learn more: Spring 2008 Collection at Fabulous Stationery
Buy online: Penelope at Fabulous Stationery – price: $45 USD for 25
Buy online: Ines Too at Fabulous Stationery – price: $45 USD for 25
Buy online: Desert Oasis at Fabulous Stationery – price: $45 USD for 25
Buy online: Jackie at Fabulous Stationery – price: $45 USD for 25
Buy online: Ludwig’s Lounge at Fabulous Stationery – price: $45 USD for 25
Buy online: Eco Still Life at Fabulous Stationery – price: $45 USD for 25

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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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Each couple has a story. I happened to meet a TV actress not too long ago. I am telling her how I could relate to her storyline because my husband and I got together a little bit the same way of her character.

I am telling you that because people do not always know or remember how you became a couple. If you have an interesting story, one of most memorable things you can do for your wedding celebrations is to splurge on personalized designed invites, place cards and paper goods.

I have to warn you: Be ready to be swept off your feet with the bespoke portfolio of Chewing the Cud Weddings. Their attention to details is totally divine. But craftsmanship and exclusivity have its price tag.

Chewing the Cud was founded by Viola, a graphic designer from San Francisco. To know the extent of her talents, look at what she did for her own wedding.

Get Inspired by To Kill a Mockingbird

Viola loves books. Her husband Phillip loves movies. “To Kill a Mockingbird” was their favorite story of all time and became the inspiration for the wedding. Viola designed their save the date cards, invitations, event details and a press kit.

Some of the wonderful details included:

• Guests are invited to write wishes for the couple on the bird cut-outs.
• Instead of seating cards, guests are invited to discover their names on colorful journals that nestled in the milk crates.
• Viola printed their vows, their favorite poems and she hand-drew playful illustrations throughout the custom table runner. This is really an idea to borrow for a birthday party or an anniversary celebration.
• Treasure boxes sat on the dinner tables. They revealed childhood photos of the couple and guests which turned out to be a successful conversation opener. Trivia questions also appeared on the menu. When you host an event with guests who do not necessary know each other, make sure to plan a conversation starter activity.

A Signature Collection

The official launch of Chewing the Cud Weddings is recent; it happened on April 8th, 2008. Besides the unique and true to your wedding vision of Bespoke, Chewing the Cud Weddings proposed a signature line featuring 14 refreshing styles. Every signature style is inspired by a concept/theme that can be further personalized by choosing from our assortment of motifs, illustrations, ribbons and embellishments.

Chewing the Cud Weddings has partnered with Flybird Press. Your invites will be printed on the finest 100% cotton, tree free papers with soy based inks. Flybird Press prints with a vintage flywheel letterpress.

Understanding The Price

The attention to details and excellent craftsmanship that go in the making of these wedding invitations explain the higher price bracket. Having work on designing custom cards myself, it is time consuming. And a lot of work went prior in designing the signature line. When you factor everything in, her invites are reasonably priced.

I envy Viola since I thought about launching a similar business two years ago. I wish Viola all the best with Chewing the Cud Weddings. She developed a great concept. She brings something new to the table. I hope the market will respond well.

If you are interested by her services, you will find on the Chewing the Cud Weddings Web site how the process works with both options: the bespoke invitations and the signature line.

Sourcing:
Learn more: Chewing the Cud Weddings – starts at $1875 for 75 invites with RSVP, $2100 for 150 invites
Her blog: chewing the cud weddings has launched!
Via: Wedding Invitations by Chewing the Cud by Style Me Pretty

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The common theme is obvious this week. I am presenting you a dinner party invite, a kitchen gadget and a beautiful tabletop.

black . white . bliss for twoguitars :: Let’s Eat

I enjoy the vintage look of these charming Gocco-printed invites from twoguitars on etsy. Twoguitars is inspired from his various obsessions and addictions: filmmaking, photography, music and travel.

Produced by a graphic designer, black . white . bliss showcases beautiful design things black, white and a few shades in between

GlamNest for LUXURY BEAT. On Tired Feet – Day One

This post reviewed what is going on at The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. If you are planning an upscale kitchen, you probably look at pot fillers, those handy faucets that hover over cooktops and ranges to make pasta boiling more convenient.

Hansgrohe innovates with the first countertop-mounted unit. Before pot fillers were restricted to wall mounting. Now homeowners have more flexible design options.

Toast and Tables for Design LIFE! Nicole Sassaman’s table setting

I enjoy reading Toast and Tables. It is not surprising since Sarah and I share a love for nicely dressed tables.

This tabletop was created for DIFFA’s Dining by Design event by the celebrity designer Nicole Sassaman. Nicole teamed up with Viking and displayed for the occasion the aluminum and white square dinnerware from West Elm. The result is fresh, modern and elegant. I like this tabletop because it is not over ornate. Over ornamentation was my major complaint about the 2008 DIFFA’s Dining by Design edition.

Sourcing:
Buy online: Lets Eat, Set of 5 Gocco Dinner Invites by twoguitars on etsy – price: $12 USD
Buy online: Aluminum and white square dinnerware from West Elm – price: $16-39 USD

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New parents can save until April 18th, 2008 with the Buy 1 Get 1 free event on their new Birth Photo Announcement Cards. From their design studio in Toronto, Penny People Designs ships worldwide.

Penny People will double the ordered quantity of any Birth Photo Announcement cards if you answer Eupdate to the question “How did you hear from us?” during the checkout process. Offer valid until April 18th, 2008.

The design of the Penny People cards can be changed to suit your taste. So do not worry if you do not like the shown colors, the fonts or the fact that the picture is in black and white. As far as I understand, these design changes cost nothing.

Added Attention

Because Penny People knows that you will be quite busy after the birth of your infant, parents-to-be can receive the envelopes early for an additional $3.00 mailing fee. Therefore, it makes senses to order the birth announcements prior to the arrival of your baby.

Remember that you can order party favor gift boxes with a personalized stickers that match your invites.

Sourcing:
Buy online: Birth Photo Announcement at Penny People Designs – price $2.75 each
Buy online: Personalized Candy Box 2″ x 2″ Box & Sticker – price: $1.25 each CAD
Buy online: Personalized Candy Box 2.5″ x 3.5″ Rectangle with Sticker – price: $1.60 each
Learn more: Blog of Penny People Designs

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