BeeCustom Design

Emily & Charlie....A Winter Wonderland

2012-01-08T13:05:00.001-05:00

It was just about this time last year that I first met with Emily and Charlie to begin the design process for their Winter Wonderland Wedding that would take place January 7, 2012. I was so grateful to Gregory at FLOUER as he is the one that referred them to me. In order to give you the full picture lets start with their Save The Dates, this was the first piece that their guests would see a little hint of what to expect. The venue would be the Harvard Club in Boston a stunning city venue rich in history with a color palate of silver, white and just the slightest hint of ice blue. For the Save the dates we began with a long 4x9 2 layer card in platinum with the text card in first snow. The coordinating platinum envelopes had each of the guests addresses custom printed and the wedding date was highlighted by clear glitter.

The next part of the design process were the invitations for Emily's Bridal Shower click here to re-visit the blog I did about her design.......this was one of my favorites!

When we began the design process for the Wedding Invitations the first thing Emily told me was she did not want to use a snowflake because she felt it was to typical of her overall theme. However, after a few rounds of samples with monograms in the end I gave her one with a snowflake which was the winner. The main invitation was a portable pocket in graphite with a stunning brocade design in the back. We used an ever so slight edge of the ice blue and continued the use of that color throughout different accents in the text. The main invitation and coordinating cards were all first snow and the outer envelope was graphite custom printed with each of the guests addresses in the same fonts used throughout the design.

When I say they cared about the details I was not lying just look at the aisle runner, printed in a pattern almost identical to what we used for her invitations the pattern even had glitter in it too. Their caring was not just reserved for the material items of the wedding but also for their guests, notice the menu card......there were TWO four course offerings one solely designed for guests requiring a Gluten Free Vegan Diet. The menu card was on the longer side with a titanium backer and all the text printed on first snow, you can see from the chosen table linens how stunning the menu looks against the white napkin.

When it came to the topic of place cards they wanted something different......why not mittens for this Winter Wonderland Wedding. The paper was slightly more casual so in order to dress them up each number was hand embellished with an ice blue glitter and then the cuff of the mitten was accented by a stunning blue double faced satin ribbon. The wedding program was a folded 4x9 card which match the over design and feel of the wedding.

As you know it is not often that I am on site at the actual weddings of my clients but when Gregory at FLOUER who was handling all their arrangements told me he would be the one setting up the menu cards, place cards, signage and programs I offered to come in and do it myself. It was truly incredible to see everything come full circle.........all the details that they cared about truly showed. From the STUNNING table arrangements, to the linens, to the ceremony site not one item was out of place.

I always enjoy working with Gregory he is extremely talented and has the NICEST staff. It was amazing to see how they built all Emily and Charlies arrangements on site. When she told me that her arrangements were going to be ALL WHITE I was not sure how that would work until I walked into the ballroom. Every inch of this room has beautiful deep wood paneled walls it was at that moment I realized one, I was wrong and two, Gregory knows what he is doing. Color would not have looked as nice as the white because it would have competed with the darkness of the wood paneled walls.

The best part of the day was being able to see Emily and Charlie.....yes Charlies Tux was nice but on this day Emily's wedding gown totally took center stage...........seriously STUNNING! I have yet to have a client not be happy with my services and I hope I never do but as I was saying my goodbyes Charlie gave me the nicest compliment.....he said, "that he and Emily felt like they had the DREAM TEAM of wedding professionals" I am thrilled that I was just one of the professionals that made up that team. Yesterday, was unseasonable warm for Boston and there was not a snowflake on the ground to be found but inside at the Harvard Club it was a PERFECT Winter Wonderland for such a great couple.

Congratulations to Emily and Charlie I wish you all the happiness and are so honored that you chose me to be a part of your wedding.

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Introducing.....Pantones Color of the Year 2012

2012-01-02T13:52:00.002-05:00

PANTONE has become the authority of color basically for any Creative Professional in the design community including the wedding industry. On December 8th, 2011 Pantone released that Tangerine Tango a vivacious, enticing hue, as the color of the year for 2012.

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Depending on when you are getting married will depict how you can incorporate Tangerine Tango into your color palette and with what other accents colors would work with it. I made a wedding collage using the Tangerine Tango and some stunning accents colors that you may use if you were a spring bride. The center square offers some of my card stocks that I would considering using if a bride came to me with this particular palette. Whether you are a bride or just a fashion forward individual thinking of your spring wardrobe I hope to spread some inspiration your way.

Welcome 2012...I have high hopes for you!

2012-01-01T13:26:00.000-05:00

First of all I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and to THANK all my past and present clients for allowing me to design for and be a part of their cherished events. One of my ultimate discoveries of 2011 was Pinterest this site allows you to make electronic inspiration boards......I LOVE it because when it comes to designing the first thing I always do is research and Pinterest makes it so easy. If you have never used it I recommend you do.....it will change your life. I have countless PIN BOARDS (click link to view) and one of my favorites is my INSPIRATIONAL BOARD. I'm a sucker for "inspirational quotes" and though I have so many favorites I will only share one which ironically I found this very morning. Steve Jobs know him, love him, hate him, he is a major source of inspiration for me. The first computer I ever used was an APPLE and honestly it's the only computer I have ever used. I was a follower/fan of Apple before it was COOL to be. So this quote from Steve Jobs is my favorite for 2011 it gives HOPE to all the individuals who are or did pursue a road less traveled for their career. It's not easy to make what you LOVE doing a career but if you CAN and DO....what a rewarding feeling it is. I have been on this road for 4 years now and are slowly making my way there, questioning myself everyday if it was the right decision. More often than not I know it was the right move for me, so I keep going having faith that it will get better and grow a little more with every NEW YEAR.

I have some EXCITING NEWS I would like to share........as a designer I meet and work with a lot of other talented professionals, quite a few have been featured in my blog postings as I'm a firm believer in spreading VENDOR LOVE. I love designing and are always looking for anything that will help me grow and make me a better designer. Last February I was invited to do a wedding workshop with Gregory Costa-Saint John owner of FLOUER which is where I first met Jen Hansen owner of Gracious Events Management in just ten short months I've worked with Jen on quite a few events and a few weeks ago received an early Christmas present.....Jen asked if I would come on board with her company part-time to work events and to handle the DESIGN needs for Gracious Events and their clients.....of course I said YES. This opens a whole new world for me.......as a designer it's rare that I am at the venues for the invitations I designed. Seeing the inside as well as meeting and working with the other vendors involved will not only give me new ideas and vision but essentialy make me a better designer. Nothing will change with BeeCustom Design or how I operate I am just increasing my experience and are so excited to pass it along.

Last night was my first REAL event working for Gracious Events......and I will say there is nothing like working an event for the FIRST TIME EVER that you came on board one week prior, that it's a large wedding, on New Years Eve, the venue Spring Step consists of 4 levels, which all needed to be set and flipped in a very short amount of time. It was the fastest 6 hours I have ever spent working and LOVED every minute of it. It's INCREDIBLE to see how a wedding comes together from the ground up and I have such an appreciation for the amount of work it takes. Below are some photos I took of the wedding......ENJOY:)

VENUE: Spring Step in Medford, MA
EVENT PLANNER: Gracious Events Mangement, Newburyport MA
FLOWERS: Flouer, Woburn MA
LIGHTING:moveitmusic.com

A Casino Wedding Celebration

2011-12-19T08:27:00.001-05:00

Over the last couple of years I have noticed that Couples are planning intimate Destination Weddings which are proceeded by a huge back home reception party. Such is the case for this recent design I worked on for Amy and Dennis. Their formal Wedding took place in Costa Rica and would be followed by a large at home reception a month later. Amy and Dennis did not want this to mimic the wedding they just had but do something totally different. They decided on a Casino Night for all their guests which I thought was brilliant. We began with a color palette of deep purple and black, where Amy's wedding invitations were already extremely formal she wanted these ones to be fun and reflect the tone of the event. I started with a shimmery purple backer called majestic, the invite was printed on white linen and everything was inserted into a white linen envelope.

For the design I of course wanted to incorporate a Casino feel but also for it to be personal. I started with the the brides new last name which is KANE, paired it will a heart in two of the corners that was hand embellished with clear glitter........end result was the KING of HEARTS.....LOVE IT! I included some fun casino related text in order to make the invite less formal and more fun. The overall casino theme from the invitations was carried over to the custom stickers for all the favors which was a deck of cards. For the table numbers I designed a folded black card with all the numbers glittered in purple. As you can see from the reception photos the lighting also was a perfect fit with the overall theme thanks to the fabulous group over at Boston Lighting.

A Dirty Water Holiday

2011-12-10T14:45:00.001-05:00

So I feel like Christmas has come early this year for me.......at least on the design side. When I first started BeeCustom Design I would often do a lot of shows or events where I would display my designs in an effort to promote what I do...........to be completely honest I never got that many clients from doing the shows but what I did get was to network with the other professionals either displaying like myself or the ones running the event. I have blogged about Julie Fairweather who owns In Full Force before, have done three of her events and the BEST thing that came out of those three events was the business relationship that I gained with her. I have been waiting for the opportunity to work with her and within two months I have come on board as the designer for two of her current projects and could not be happier. The first project I will blog about later because it is still in the design process but most recently she offered me such a cool project which was to design an invitation for Dirty Water TV's upcoming holiday party.

I have often said to Julie that I get tired just reading her FB page........because not only does she own In Full Force which puts on tons of events throughout the year, she also heads up the entire Marketing Department for Dirty Water TV. For all of my blog readers that do not live in Boston Dirty Water TV is a FABULOUS source for what is happening in the New England Nightlife and is on every Saturday night at 11:30 on NESN.

I know I say I love everything I create but honestly this is one of my favorites for 2011. Designing for a business event is no different then designing for an individual person. I knew the invite design needed to possess everything Dirty Water TV is.....informative, sexy and fun! I'm not sure who designed their logo but I have always loved it.......and wanted to some way incorporate it into the design without it looking like a piece of business stationery. Julie of course made my job even easier by providing me with all the content......which in turn inspired the design. I went with a single 4x9 card in metallic white which set the feel of winter I LOVED idea of using the fancy sleigh being pulled by a motor cycle because it just screamed cool. Once I placed the logo in the sleigh.........it all came together and perfectly sets the tone for their upcoming holiday party. I LOVED it, Julie LOVED it and hopefully every guest that receives one will LOVE it too. Happy Holidays Dirty Water TV.....I am sure the party will not disappoint......we all know Julie can put on one FABULOUS event!!!!!!

Brigham Women's Holiday Party 2011

2011-12-08T13:21:00.001-05:00

This is the time of year when lots of holiday parties are being thrown.....a few weeks ago Elisabeth Accardi owner of Upon A Star contacted me about a project she was involved in with Brigham Women's 2011 Holiday Party. She was brought on board to handle all the children's events for the day of the party and needed me to design a poster and signage for all the activity stations. The color palette was grey, black and a bright raspberry.........she wanted the look and feel to be magical. I first designed a magician hat and wand then positioned it so that all the names of the activities were spilling out of the hat. I used a magical style font that has a star like feature and positioned additional stars in the background. The same design was carried over to the smaller activity signs that would be framed and placed at each station. I LOVE how it all came together and best of all so did Elisabeth. There are some fabulous activities planned for all the kids and I am sure they will not be disappointed:)

Holiday Graphic Design

2011-12-06T07:34:00.001-05:00

So as much as I would LOVE to share all the fabulous holiday cards and invitations that I have been designing you will have to wait until my clients have actually mailed them.......would hate to ruin the surprise. I work with a lot of small business owners who may not need holiday cards but need holiday designs to promote their businesses. I thought I would share some of what I have been doing.
First up is Mason and Madison, Gifts With Style as you know owner Liz White and I work together on a lot of different projects; she is never at a loss when it comes to fun ways of promoting her business! This year she is doing the 12 days of Christmas each day she posts a great deal on a product in her store on Face Book all you have to do is become a fan of Mason and Madison's page on FB then when the deal is posted tag yourself in the photo......so easy! At the end of each day a winner is chosen........GENIUS! Liz never does anything unless she can do it 100% so she wanted to add a logo to her promotion which is smart because it gives the promotion an identity and establishes a presence on all her fans FB pages. I was given the color palette and told to do what I thought best........I LOVE how it came out, best of all Mason and Madison's 12 days of Christmas has been a HUGE hit on Face Book, if you want to be a part of it just click HERE.

Next up is Clean Monster Car Wash........I recently did some posters for Dennis Brearley's other business and was thrilled when he reached out to have me come up with a holiday design to promote gift certificates for his Car Wash/Detailing business. I LOVE logos especially the one for Clean Monster it's so fun and has a great color scheme........I am not sure who designed it but KUDOS to them! The goal was to come up with one design that would be used for a post card, newspaper ad and email blast. I wanted to use a sleigh but the one I have was to formal so I designed a new one that was more whimsical and fit better with the over feel I was going for. I inserted the logo into the sleigh and added my VW beetle on to pull the sleigh. I carried the initial post card design over to the email blast and to the ad that would be running in the local newspaper.

Graphic Design

2011-11-23T14:29:00.001-05:00

As you know every design I blog about has a story.......and this recent project is no different. I received an email from Dennis Brearley who was in need of some graphic design services. As always I am thrilled when a new client has found me based on a referral........so THANK YOU to Elisabeth Accardi owner of Upon A Star!
Dennis and his brother Matt own BREARLEY.COM a family business started in 1978 by their dad Dennis who was a talented photojournalist that received many awards for his work. Aside from being able to purchase their products online they also have a retail Kiosk located in the North Canopy of Quincy Market at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Dennis was in need of a poster that he would frame to put up in their retail location because he found that when customers arrived in the store they were unsure of how and where they could purchase items. I immediately went to their site www.brearley.com to see first hand what they sell and view some photos of the retail location. The challenge was the poster would be framed and hung amongst all the other photos for sale........so it needed to fit nicely but still stand out enough to educate customers on the many ways the photos can be purchased.
I asked Dennis to send me one of his favorite photos I could use in one of the designs I would be presenting. For the other design option I wanted to strictly use fonts only. I'm a huge fan of TYPE and shop for new FONTS like most girls shop for shoes. The first poster design I used the photo I had been giving at 30% opacity then mixed different fonts over it. The look was simple but would look nicely hung amongst the other works of art.

The second design I wanted to be completely different from the first one I created........TOTALLY feel like I have achieved that. I want the look to be a bit historic and vintage but still modern. I used 5 different fonts added texture to some while leaving others as is. I wanted the design to pop so that customers would naturally gravitate towards it just because it was so different from what was on the wall. I LOVE how both posters came out but I never tell a client what my favorite is because I do not want to influence their decision.

I was over the moon when Dennis replied that they loved both and would like to order one of each. The ALL TYPE design was ordered in a 20x24 poster which I know will look fabulous in the Kiosk in Boston. I feel very proud to have two of my designs hang amongst the photos of such a talented photographer.......did I mention the late Dennis Bearley won the Pulitzer Prize in 1978. I will be making a road trip to Faneuil Hall Market Place soon; yes to see my POSTER DESIGNS but to also pick up two really cool Patriots photo's that were taking during the famous SNOW
GAME. SHHHHHHH don't tell my boys I plan on giving each of them one for Christmas.

Kristen & Peter's Wedding

2011-11-03T12:55:00.001-04:00

Fall by far is my favorite season but considering it's only November 3rd and I am already looking at SNOW on my deck I felt the need to spread some SUNSHINE and what better way then to talk about a stunningly perfect summer wedding that I recently designed invitations for. I met Kristen about a year before we even began designing her invitations, she already had her color palette and vision for her upcoming summer wedding in place. The colors: tiffany blue and a soft butter yellow, the vision: clean lines, classic elegance and just a hint of sparkle.

She wanted the design of her invite to reflect her vision so she went with a horizontal portable pocket style in a shimmery card stock called crème brûlée by using this style pocket it keeps the entire look self contained within a 7x5 space. I created a custom monogram and hand embellished the center letter with clear glitter. The accent backer was ashimmery color called caspian and all the additional card stocks used were an ecru linen.

The table numbers were also hand embellished with glitter bringing a pop of sparkle to her tables. We continued the use of glitter on all the place cards which were attached to sand dollars. As you can see from all the photos Kristen's color palette and vision have come together seamlessly....from the bridesmaids dresses to the flowers.........all perfectly set in the Mansion at Turner Hill.

I was lucky enough to also design Kristen's Bridal Shower Invitations to see how the design process started, click HERE to read the blog I did about them. Working with Kristen and her mom Kerry was such a wonderful experience and I am so grateful to have such FABULOUS clients!

Congratulations to Kristen and Peter I wish you endless happiness and bliss!

The Stunning Wedding Box & Sand dollars were created by Mother of the Bride, Kerry
Photography: by Benoit & McCarthy
Flowers: by Donna of Pepperberry in Byfield

Welcome to Mo's TOWN

2011-10-20T19:50:00.000-04:00

This is by far one of the COOLEST design projects that has ever come my way! First I have to thank Jen Hansen of Gracious Events for recommending me to Elisabeth Accardi owner of Upon A Star an event planning company that specializes in theme events for children. Ten minutes into my two hour phone consult with Elisabeth I knew we would be a perfect fit....she dreams big and her ideas are anything but generic!

Timing wise I was coming on board later, so the invitations where already done but OMG what I would have done....maybe next time:) The event was for an adorable little boy named MO who was celebrating his 2nd birthday. The party was held at RUMOR Night Club in Boston........the perfect setting for this record themed party. First order of business was to design a logo for the party that would be used throughout the event. Elisabeth came up with the idea of Mo's TOWN......SERIOUSLY I could not wait to get started! The color palette was bright turquoise, lime green and black. Elisabeth wanted the use of the Boston Skyline in the logo which is was brilliant seeing that the party was being held in the city. I truly LOVE how the logo turned out, it sets the tone of this party perfectly. One Bite Sweet of Cambridge did a stunning job incorporating Mo's logo on the cakes and push pops. I love how she was able to display the Boston Skyline around the base of the cakes!

So about a year ago my paper company came out with some new papers one of them being BLACK VINYL........and I remember thinking "when I would ever be able to use that"! Each guest would receive a party favor that was a CD of Mo's favorite songs, in keeping with the theme I designed a custom sticker to put on all the favors. To give the feel of a how real vinyl records were once packaged I ordered portable pockets in the black vinyl card stock to insert the CD's into......so perfect!

Elisabeth wanted a way to display fun facts about Mo so guests could read at the cocktail tables.......they would act like confetti. She wanted the front of the card to read "did you know" but because she is truly talented and has vision she changed it to be "DID YOU MO"......so stinking creative! I had mini cards produced that guests could flip over to reveal a fact about MO while they stood at the tables. Custom tent cards were also made for the food which was served on REAL vinyl records.......how COOL is that!

The last item Elisabeth needed were posters, the night club had some large windows she thought it would be perfect to display them there. The first was a "welcome" poster that displayed Mo's logo and a night skyline, the next poster by far is my favorite. For the design we wanted to keep with the whole vinyl record, chart topping music theme. I designed a vinyl record and thought it would be clever to include fun information about Mo in the spots that normally would list record information. The four songs listed are actually Mo's favorite, if you click on the photo you can read all the record info that relates to the birthday boy! I had a blast working on this project and can't wait until Elisabeth calls me to be a part of another one of her FABULOUS events.

I would like to personally thank photographer Andrea of Open Shade Studios for taking such great pictures of my work and allowing me to use them in my blog!

A Venue....... fit for a designer!

2011-10-07T18:55:00.000-04:00

A few months ago I received an email from one of my brides asking if I would design the invitations for her upcoming bridal shower. She had attached some photos of the venue........OMG I just could not believe this place, Upstairs on the Square located in Harvard Square is by far the coolest establishment I have ever seen. I recognize the name but honestly never new what a fabulous GEM this place was. Emily's shower will be held in the UpStairs Soirée Dining Room reminiscent of a glowing and colorful jewel-box-like supper club. I truly was over the moon that I would be designing the invitation....I started with a color palette of lilac, aqua, pink and gold which I used to design a custom plaid that would mimic what is used in the venue. I LOVE the design of UpStairs on the Square and whoever designed their identity is a PURE GENIUS. Emily wanted her invitation to have a similar feel but reflect that fact that is was a bridal shower. Once I created the plaid it was framed and accented by an umbrella and hand embellished with glitter. I continued the use of the plaid in EMILY'S name and the name of the venue.

We continued the use of the design for the table numbers and custom drink sign. It has become very popular at weddings and showers to offer a signature drink. Emily went with Hits of Sunshine which is an Elderflower Liqueur with Raspberry Puree and Bubbly...........YUM! We took the logo and replaced the umbrella with a champagne glass......of course glittered. Considering the seating at UpStairs on the Square was unique Emily decided a seating chart would be best. We used her logo with the glittered umbrella on two signs that would be mounted in 8x10 frames where guests would be able to find their names and what table they would be sitting at. I honestly LOVE everything about this invitation......the design, the palette and how the overall feel sets the tone for a truly exceptional and unique venue. I know when guests arrive that the design will come full circle for them as they step into this jewel boxed room.

Stay tuned..........Emily's Wedding theme is "Winter Wonderland" I can't wait to share her Save-The-Date and Wedding Invitation designs with you.............so stunning!

Sixty and FABULOUS!!!!!!!

2011-09-20T07:38:00.001-04:00

I’ve said it before that majority of all my customers find me by word of mouth which is the best kind of advertisement. So before I discuss this incredible birthday design I need to thank Liz owner of Mason and Madison in Middleton because she put my blog address on her website Jane was able to find me:)

I received an email from Jane who was in the process of planning her mother-in-laws sixtieth surprise birthday party but was extremely short on time as the party was set to be September 17th. Jane is the best client a designer could have because she herself is an event planner therefore when she came for her design consult she new right away what she wanted. The color palette would be hot pink and graphite but she also wanted to incorporate a damask pattern because her mother-in-law Helen loves it. I listened as Jane described Helen a modern, stylish, forward moving grandmother who just happens to be turning sixty. I originally planned on doing something using the number 60 but no matter which way I designed it or what font I used it kept screaming the wrong thing. Just in case you didn’t get the memo last year Oprah said that “FIFTY was the new FORTY.” This means two things first, I’m really still in my mid twenties and two, Helen is really turning fifty. That being said age is just a number which explains why when I finally changed 60 to Sixty...........my design got a whole lot more FABULOUS!

Jane wanted a long card and for the design to be horizontal. The main backer was a two tone graphite damask style pattern, the invite backer was a shimmery pink called boa and the main invitation was a shimmery white called first snow. The ampersand was hand embellished with hot pink glitter and the completed invite was inserted into a shimmery pink envelope.

There would be a candy bar at the party so I suggested using pyramid favor boxes to line the table for guest to use to hold their candy. We decided to mix the boxes using half in the pattern and the other half in the pink which will create a nice design element to the table. Jane LOVED the idea of signage so I designed a sign for the birthday girl’s chair and one to highlight the candy bar. The last sign was for a signature drink what they would be serving. Jane wanted to come up with a fun name for it so I asked her what the grandchildren call Helen and she said “MIMI” SERIOUSLY this could not have been more perfect because the drink was a martini so I of course I changed it to a “MIMITINI” never shaken only stirred...........the sign of a true grandmother.

The Custom House Maritime Museum

2011-09-17T21:59:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited to talk about this recent invitation design I did for the The Custom House Maritime Museums Annual Patron's Gala. I truly believe when you combine the talents of different creative individuals unbelievable results can be achieved. The process began with a call from Jen Hansen owner of Gracious Events she invited me to be a part of the creative team she was putting together for her upcoming event. I would be designing the invitations and tickets, Jen Wright owner of Jen Wright Signs and her Graphic Designer Tracey Smith would be designing the posters and signage. From the moment I met Jen and Tracey I knew working with them would be fabulous. On a sunny summer day in Jen Wrights studio our meeting that was suppose to be short turned into a 2 hour creative brain storming session which resulted in a stunning vision for this years Patron's Gala.

I waited to see what Tracey came up with for the poster before designing the invitations because the purpose was to have a seamless look. I loved the logo she created for "Patrons Gala" on the poster as well as the look of the map in the background. Those two items were my jumping off point when creating the invitations. The CHMM is located in historic downtown Newburyport where the once thriving maritime commerce was the pulse of everyday life. The Custom House erected in 1835 serves as a connection from the past to the present. I feel the invitation suite reflects a maritime feel while maintaining an elegant look that you would find at an affair like the Patron's Gala.

I design a lot of invitations and it normally ends there; it's rare to be at an event that I've designed an invitation for. I am so excited because not only will I be attending the Gala but I will be participating in the Event Planning side. I've recently joined the fabulous team at Gracious Events and was able to see first hand how an event comes together. Being inside the venue prior to designing the invitation truly gave me some insight that I normally may not have had.

An evening of "Intriguing Mystery" will take place on Friday September 23rd from 7 to 10 in the evening. I personally invite you to join us for a Scavenger Hunt through maritime history and to try your luck at the raffle or silent auction. As an active participant in the auction I know first hand that we have some wonderful items to bid on. It is going to be a beautiful evening in the heart of downtown Newburyport with live music, waterfront views, superb delicacies and micro-brews. If you are interested in purchasing tickets please go to The CHMM's website or send an email to info@thechmm.org.

MV BABY on the way!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-09-09T19:01:00.000-04:00

For this recent baby shower invitation the inspiration came from the parents hometown of Martha's Vineyard. Stephanie had emailed me asking if I could design an invitation for her sisters upcoming baby shower, her only requestwas to use a color scheme of blue, green and teals...........oh and of course a WHALE! I have two different styles of whales but decided to design a new one because it needed a more whimsical feel to it. The backer was a navycard stock and the main invite was printed on white linen. The design was accented by a caspian envelope with a green liner and was completed by adding clear glitter to the whale.

To continue the feel of Martha's Vineyard I used abubbly style font and had the tag line mimic the look of a wave. Most people would not consider the envelope to be part of the design but I always try to incorporate a bit of the interior design on the outside; it gives guests a littlesneak peak to what maybe inside. I LOVE how this invite turned out and just think it is perfect for this new MV BABY on the way!

Minnie Mouse Birthday

2011-08-15T20:38:00.003-04:00

It's hard to believe that an entire year has gone by since I posted a blog about Francesca's Cupcake Palooza. When it was all over mom Nadia and myself assured her husband that this type of party was only something you do for the FIRST birthday............or maybe not. Around the beginning of June Nadia emailed me with her thoughts for Francesca's second birthday party, she wanted to do a classic minnie mouse theme. When it comes to parties Nadia takes it to a whole new level she doesn't just plan.....she PLOTS! I love working with her because she truly cares about all the little details and it shows. As I have stated before making custom designed invitations for something that is very commercialized can present it's challenges. My first thought was bow and red glitter to me those are very iconic but I felt I could put my own bit of style into it. I used a Z card in powder, paired it with a matte red envelope and bright yellow envelope liner. To continue the Minnie Mouse style I used a font that would remind you of the mickey mouse club as well as a font that mimics Disney World.

Just like last year Nadia hired Paige-Reese Designer Bakeshop to handle the cake, cookies and cupcakes as you can see Janeen totally out did herself again. I am truly amazed by the amount of talent she brings to the table, can we just talk about the edible glitter on the bows.....and OMG the cake......too cute.

There was a whole lot of love that went into this party and I am so happy that I get to work with such talented and creative people. Stay tuned for next years theme.......I know Nadia already has it planned:)Francesca's dress can be found at www.etsy.com/shop/sweetsassyboutiqueMickey mouse hanging sign can be found at www.etsy.com/shop/funcakestudio

Bridal Shower

2011-08-07T12:42:00.009-04:00

It's always nice when one of my brides MOH contacts me to do the bridal shower invitations, I operate word of mouth so it's a huge compliment that they also want to use me. You may remember a recent blog post I wrote about "Destination Ireland" Eileen's Wedding is just around the corner and maid of honor Tania is in charge of her bridal shower. Tania's request was simple she wanted to use the same color scheme as the brides save the dates, however the purpose of the the save the date is to set the tone for the wedding. When it comes to a bridal shower I tend to base the design on a more personal level, a reflection of the bride or in some cases the groom too.

To me Eileen has traveled to a lot of different destinations so I thought using the two person bike was fitting. I went with a horizontal Z card in white dove which is a beautiful card stock that has a slight texture and shimmer. The design was finished with a shimmery green envelope called serpentine and all the guests addresses where custom printed to match the invitations. To me the design is simply elegant and compliments this brides personal style.

Pirate Themed Birthday

2011-08-01T16:12:00.001-04:00

A year ago I did a CARNIVAL THEMED invitation for a the Gorman Family, all three of their children were born in the same month so it only makes sense to do one BIG party. I was thrilled when Krista emailed me a few months ago with this year's theme.......PIRATES! I cherish repeat clients because it forces you to exceed what you previously designed. Last year's design had layers and glitter; the worst mistake you can make as a designer is to become predictable. Even though I had a new theme to work with my goal was to design an invitation that would leave her guests wondering if she had hired a different designer to create her invitations this year.

My first thought was to use a single 7x7 square card stock with a tea stained background to give the look of a vintage map and list the party information on top but the more I looked at it the more generic it felt. What I wanted was a real map where the party details would represent what you may find on a real treasure map. I printed a test sample on white copy paper, folded it up and added some wrinkles....it was cute but the whole back was still white which bothered me. As I looked through some vintage maps online I had an idea..........what if I used parchment paper it has the perfect texture and can easily be distressed. Once I printed the design on the parchment paper and folded it up I had another thought...FIRE! By burning all the edges of the invitations by hand allowed me to give each individual invitation it's own distressed look. I then paired it with a matte red envelope and continued the use of the pirate style fonts for the addresses.

Krista picked up the invites a few weeks ago and of course LOVED them as much as I did but the real compliment came later.......Krista sent me an email that night because she wanted to tell me how impressed her husband Joe was with the design. I don't want to stereotype all husbands but lets face it picking out the perfect party invitation is NOT something that is on their minds. The fact that he was impressed truly means I did my job.

Jaclyn & Nates Rustic Chic Wedding

2011-07-27T16:00:00.001-04:00

I am a huge fan of a Rustic Chic Wedding and have been waiting to blog about Jaclyn & Nates since I was first brought on board by event planner Jen Hansen of Gracious Events Management to design the table numbers, seating chart and signage. Thanks to Alison Taylor Photography I have some really stunning photographs of my work but there is no way I can do a blog about this wedding and only show my part. This wedding was EXCEPTIONAL and involved multiple creative individuals who all came together in their own way to make Jaclyn and Nates vision a reality.

I did not design the invitations but the designer did a really nice job at setting the tone with a color palette of hot pink and chocolate brown paired with a custom illustrated cowboy boot with a horseshoe designed by the Groom. The wedding was held in Peabody at the Historic Smith Barn which was the perfect setting.

I want to first begin with the table numbers in most cases they are usually folded or put in a clip but for this wedding real horseshoes where purchased off of ebay and the father of the bride created a wooden stand to hold the horseshoe. I then designed a 2 layer flat number card with a chocolate brown backer accented by a white linen card. All the table numbers were printed using a rodeo style font then hand embellished with hot pink glitter and attached to the horseshoe. The couple had a sweetheart table so I created a different sign using the boot designed by Nate and added each of their initials also hand embellished with hot pink glitter. On the back of the Bride and Grooms chairs were signs that read "Mr" and "Mrs" both were hand embellished with hot pink glitter and hung with hot pink satin ribbon.

The table linens were a mix of hot pink and white with either a hot pink or chocolate napkin therefore when I designed the menu card I used a single white linen card stock that continued the use of the same fonts from the rest of the signage and combined hot pink and chocolate ink. Each napkin was folded so the menu could be inserted into it which really gives each table an added design element.

A lot of brides dread the place cards/seating chart portion when planning their wedding, this is one of the items that is done last and by that time there is usually little creativity and money left over to handle it. I love when someone thinks outside the box and that is exactly what MOB Kim did. We had not yet decided on how to handle the seating chart but Kim new she did not want place cards. One afternoon I got an email from Kim with a picture of this weathered antique door that she had purchased at Flukes and Finds in downtown Newburyport........OMG I was out of my mind when she told me she wanted to use it to display the seating and how could we do it. I took measurements of the door and created two layered individual cards that were stuck to the door. Each card had the table number glittered in hot pink with the names of the guests printed above. I continued the use of the same fonts and card stock as used with all the other signage. The door was positioned at the entrance to the barn and finished with a stunning arrangement of flowers by Floral Artist Gregory Costa-Saint John owner of Flouer.

Caring about the little details in your wedding will make a difference and your guests will notice.....check out this FANTABULOUS sign that was created by Jaclyns Godmother Lynn Misiuk.....this is what guests first saw as they turned into the parking lot.....again a small detail with a huge result. Another little detail that I LOVED were the two huge lighted wreaths that hung on the big barn doors.....instead of leaving them plain Gregory decided to embellish them with flowers which just highlighted them even more.

I want to thank Alison Taylor Photography again for allowing me to use all of her photos in my blog, having professional photography of your work truly makes a difference. As you know I LOVE to share so if you have any questions about this wedding you can contact event planner Jen Hanson of Gracious Events Management . All the flower arrangements are the work of Gregory Costa-Saint John owner of Flouer. The couples cake was designed by Hilary Larson of Eat Cake in Newburyport and the wedding was held at The Smith Barn in Peabody.

Chuck E Cheese VS Custom Invitations

2011-07-25T17:46:00.001-04:00

As a designer I LOVE a challenge and honestly feel it's those challenges that ultimately make you a better designer. If you read my blog then you know I do a lot of work with Janeen Donati owner of Paige-Reese Designer Bakeshop. Janeen and I have a very similar design style which is just one of the many reasons why I love working with her. A few weeks ago she sent me an email about her daughter Madison's upcoming birthday party. The first line read "I need some invitations for Madison's 7th Birthday, it's at Chuck E Cheese, I know I feel the same way......I CAN'T talk her out of it" Make no mistake I DO NOT have a problem with Chuck E Cheese but it presents a "generic" challenge when designing a one of a kind party invitation. My first thought was to create an adorable little mouse with a piece of cheese.....this way it relates to the party but would still be original and custom. Janeen LOVED this idea because in her mind she was thinking how cute a mouse cookie with a piece of cheese would be for a favor. The idea was presented to the birthday girl.....her response was that of a 7 year old "I like having a mouse but only if it looks EXACTLY like Chuck E Cheese and I want him to have a T-Shirt with a big C on it too and NO cheese" So obviously that wasn't what Janeen and I were envisioning but it's Madison's party so it should be her vision. The challenge for me was part of Madison's vision involved some copyright issues......there was no way I would be recreating the Chuck E Cheese Mouse......so back to the drawing board we went. It was Janeen that suggested a sneaker....I loved it because it kept with the whole Chuck E Cheese theme of running and playing but still would be original....and it was Madison approved:)

I've created a lot of artwork over the years but had yet to do a sneaker......OMG this sneaker was by far the most difficult piece of artwork I have ever done but totally rewarding; it may have taken me two days but I just love how it turned out. The best part of designing this invitation was the response I got from Janeen when I sent her the sample..........."you are NOT normal! WOW! the sneaker is awesome (super creative)!! it's comments like those that make me love what I do even more!

For the style of the invitation I decided to use a Z Card which folds open into three parts, I went with a heavy weight textured card stock called powder and paired it with a shimmery green envelope called envy. I used a fun kid like font and added some balloons with glittered polk-a-dots, we continued the use of the sneaker on the thank you notes and the tags for the cookies.

I handed the invites off to Janeen and could not wait to see what she came up with for the cookies and the cake. The party was yesterday and just a few moments ago my inbox began to fill up with pictures from her, my only thoughts are......SERIOUSLY WOW! I'm not saying creating art on a computer is easy but when it comes to cookies you are dealing with an entirely different medium. I am so stunned at her ability to seamlessly match the sneaker cookie to my invitation design.......that is what you call TALENT! There is no way you can have a party without cake......check out how Janeen was able to carry individual elements from the invitation over to the cake and I am not just talking color people.......she added the words run, jump and play and was able to do it in a similar font. She then incorporated the number 7 and the balloons.......I am just in AWE! You can see more of Janeen's work by visiting her blog www.paige-reese.blogspot.com you will not be disappointed!

Stay tuned.......Janeen and I have been working together on another birthday party....lets just say we both finally get to use a MOUSE........will post late August:)

Wedding @ The Four Seasons Hotel.......BOSTON

2011-07-06T16:48:00.000-04:00

Trying to find the right Stationer for your Wedding Invitations is kind of like shopping for a bathing suit ONLINE......you see one, click on it, hit zoom, view all five angles and immediately think OMG I LOVE IT.....it's exactly what I have been searching for. As you move it into your cart and proceed to check out you can totally see how it will look on you; after all it's your size, style and the price is totally in your budget so you just know it will be a PERFECT FIT! Then the mail arrives and you think oh know.......wrong on so many levels!
I am not saying that you have to TRY every single bathing suit or Wedding Stationer that you like on for size but boy will you be happy that you did! Planning your wedding can be a very emotional, overwhelming and time consuming process, the vendors you chose to hire not only need be able to execute your vision but they should be able to connect with you on a personal level......... so before you put them in your cart take the time to make sure they are............A PERFECT FIT!

I first met Amanda and Chris at the wedding workshop a few months ago they are one couple that DID NOT need this advice. Before booking The Four Season's Boston this couple had already viewed about 50 different venues.........insane? no, it's SMART. I've listened to countless brides complain how they love their venue but not the staff associated with it. This is what I mean by a good fit....you may LOVE the room but do you have the same feeling about the staff that comes with the room because the room is not who will be handling all the little details of your wedding. When Amanda told me about The Fours Season's she talked about the gorgeous room and how perfect it was but what she also talked about was her LOVE for the Wedding Planners that came with the room. They took the same approach with regards to their Wedding Invitations, Amanda told me she order over 38 different style Wedding Invitation samples from numerous online sights but every time they would arrive she was always disappointed.

Amanda was immediately drawn to the 6x9 pocket fold invitation in black linen, the main backer was a stunning vine like pattern called plumes which we paired with a rich shimmery accent backer called burnt sugar. The main invite and matching components where all in ecru linen. The design was completed with a vellum overlay that also had the plumes pattern. I used a mix of different style vintage frames throughout the invitation suite. The design around their names on the main invitation was also used for the matching custom postage on all the wedding envelopes and response envelopes. The entire look was completed with a two tier custom address label wrap for each guest. The table numbers match the look of the wedding invitation with each number glittered in black. The place cards are also layered using the black linen plumes and burnt sugar.........this invitation truly sets the tone for Amanda and Chris' formal Wedding at the Four Season's Boston. They were such a wonderful couple to work with and I am truly flattered that after 38 different designers they picked me:)

Destination ARUBA....Save The Date

2011-06-24T16:01:00.000-04:00

For this save the date design I actually have Facebook to thank for it, Kristin went to middle school with one of my high school friends and the day the friend request was accepted Kristin was able to see one of my blog postings prompting her to email me. I think everyone can agree that the world just got a whole lot smaller thanks to Facebook.

I met with Kristin and her mom in January to start the design process, the minute I heard she was getting married on a beach that actually had flamingos on it I knew we would be using a flamingo somewhere! Kristen wanted her save the dates to be fun which is why we chose to use the flamingo and of course glitter it too! We went with a stunning matte blue card stock for the backer, actually named Aruba then used a white linen card stock for the invite and envelope. It made sense to use a flat 4x5 card because a good amount of her save the dates would be going to Canada and Scottland, postage is based on weight by keeping it lighter helps to keep the cost to mail it more reasonable. This job also signified another first for me.......it's the first time one of my designs would be sent internationally..........really starting to feel like a big kid now!

When it came time to build the flamingo I actually went to the website of the wedding location, I wanted to make sure the flamingo I designed was 100% accurate. I used two colors of glitter for the flamingo, clear for the wing and black for the beak. We continued the use of the flamingo on the return address and for the custom stamps. I LOVE this design it totally works and sets the tone for a truly fabulous upcoming wedding:) Next up, the wedding invitations........stay tuned!

DESTINATION.......IRELAND

2011-06-11T14:05:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of first meeting Eileen and her mom Elizabeth at the Wedding Workshop a few months ago and was so excited when she called me to design Save The Dates for her upcoming wedding taking place in Ireland. Eileen showed up with her vision in hand........a Celtic Knot, she wanted this to be the jumping off point. The Celtic Knot is such a beautiful symbol to use, it represents a constant connection without ever breaking which is exactly what marriage is suppose to be. I was able to see pictures of the church where Eileen and Daniel would be getting married........the front doors to this Church are so beautiful and just fit seamlessly with Eileen's vision. Her color palette of deep eggplant and soft green complete the whole look of a wedding taking place in Ireland. We chose a 5x5 twist card in Amethyst with a stunning soft shimmery green envelope called Serpentine. The text was a combination of two colors of ink printed on a textured cream card stock called Magnolia.

I wanted the design to have an old world feel of Ireland to it which is why I choose to use a vintage elegant frame with scrolls, to continue the feel of Ireland I used a font called Keltic. Eileen wanted her Save The Date to have a little bit of sparkle so clear glitter was applied to the Celtic Knot which darkened it just a bit. Most people think an envelope is just used to hold the invitation but who says that you can't make your guests addresses a part of your design.....I LOVE using the outside of an envelope to give a peak of what's inside. When you send invitations you want your guests to have a sense of anticipation, by including their names into your design really gives them the feeling that they matter. I say this all the time.......it's the little details....those are what will make your event go from nice to extraordinary.

Eileen mailed her Save The dates last week I was extra excited because this is the first time one of my designs was going "Down Under"......I received an email from her last night saying everyone LOVED THEM and how the design has inspired a future tattoo.......which is a first for me. Next up..........are the Wedding Invitations looking forward to another laughter filled design session with Eileen, Elizabeth and the FAMOUS Shirl.........can't wait:)

New York Stationery Show 2011

2011-05-21T15:49:00.000-04:00

Who knew that one day away from my design studio/dinning room would have me so behind that it has taken 5 days to FINALLY blog about my trip to the 2011 New York Stationery Show. Two years ago was the first time Liz White owner of Mason and Madison and I went and I can honestly say the experience is night and day. This year I felt more like a professional designer than a newbie which is nice for a change. Also joining us for the day was my son Alec's Flat Stanley.....he too wanted to go to the Stationery Show!

My first stop was of course to ENVELOPMENTS for me they're really special because deciding to join them literally changed my business and has made me a better designer. I was greeted by Maria head of customer service who actually looked at me before my badge which was refreshing I was excited because she recognized my company name.... that was huge, when you're a small designer sometimes you wonder if anyone knows you exist. I was able to sit down and chat with her as she filled me in on some fabulous new changes and products. What I LOVE about ENVELOPMENTS is the company.......they have a huge presence in the Stationery Industry yet you feel like your part of a family, it's even written on their website "welcome to the family". When I first inquired about joining I didn't speak to a random sales rep but one of the owners Mark Smith, that was three years ago and I've never looked back. They are constantly changing and offering their dealers the tools and inspiration that drives you to be a better designer. The recent release of their new line "Envelopments Gets Social" hands down houses some impressive design inspiration. It goes without saying that Envelopments has a stellar design department which is evident by a recent blog posting that chronicled the hiring of a new designer but because they are so connected to their dealers you will often find them blogging about them. As a designer I value this feature, being creative is a gift and no two designers are ever alike. We may all be using the same paper but it's what you do with that paper that makes you different.

I was first introduced to Kristy Rice owner/designer of MOMENTAL DESIGNS via the Envelopments blog she is truly a gifted artist painting individual invitations by hand....yes I did say by hand. After reading about her I went over to her site to view some more of her work which was impressive and unique. This is my point if you look at the design inspiration Envelopments sends out then look at what their dealers/designers do with it the only thing that is the same is the paper. I was lucky enough to be at the NSS on Monday the day Kristy Rice was displaying her work in the Envelopments booth I was excited to see it in person and meet the artist who was super friendly.

I will spread some more vendor love in a minute but first I have to talk about "The Paper Runway" In partnership with Kate’s Paperie, this fashion exhibit reinforced the paper-fashion relationship by showcasing paper dresses from cutting-edge fashion designers. I took photos of my favorites but honestly seeing them in person was amazing you can not imagine the amount of detail used in designing these......it was really inspiring and I hope that the NSS does it again next year.

As I walked the isles of the show it was incredible to see the amount of talent in one space and because I am a creative sharer I would like to tell you about some of the talented designers I met that day. After chatting with Michelle Wagner of The Artcraft Company my new printer she told me to go and visit Peyton & Clark I had first seen their work while visiting Artcraft and just LOVED their whimsical style so I decide to stop by and say hello. Bebbins Yudes's who is the talented artist behind Peyton & Clark was welcoming, friendly and took the time to tell me what they are all about. My next stop was MAY BOOKS creative genius Mica greeted me with a warm smile and was nice enough to take the time to show me her designs. The style of her products were fun, fresh and colorful, when I arrived home I checked out her website which has the best quote ever "Life is too short for ugly notebooks" I could not agree more.

Both Liz and I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Deborah Koncan the talented illustrator behind ANNSCOTTDESIGN. I love her drawing style, her use of colors and yes all those shoes. It's obvious that I embrace all things creative but for me Professional Illustrators/Artists are in a class all by themselves.....while in school for graphic design it was my Illustration teacher that I learned the most from. I once asked her how she got to be so good.......her answer was simple.....TIME, the more you learn, the more you experience, the more you grow, the better you get.......she was right!

You've probably heard the phrase "it's a small world" well the world just got a whole lot smaller thanks to Facebook and Twitter........ahhhh social media LOVE IT or HATE IT it's here to stay and is changing how business is done everyday. I personally LOVE IT.....thanks to twitter I have met some really great designers and bloggers. I was first introduced to Sarah owner of HIP INK through Envelopments blog, they had featured her work which I liked so I went to her site and started to follow her blog.......which is SO FABULOUS, SO FUNNY and she strives on KEEPING IT REAL one post at a time. I knew right away that she was a creative sharer......it was Sarah that told me about a great box company called Do It With More Options.....and a website called Let's Talk Stationery this is an exclusive forum for stationery professionals........Sarah told me it was the best 50.00 dollars she ever spent and she was right. I just joined yesterday and I already have two pages of welcome messages from other members....YEAH for NICE creative people:) Funny thing about social media is you tend to recognize people by their logo not their face.....which is so true, about late afternoon as I strolled down one of the many isles I could see a badge coming towards me that I recognized the logo....OMG it was Sarah from Hip Ink and behind that logo was the smiling face of my first twitter friend.......what a small world it is.

Stay tuned for part two........Fabulous Retail Finds.....these are the kinds of items you want to see when shopping:)

Bridal Shower

2011-05-15T13:32:00.000-04:00

It is never a good feeling to pull up the 7 day weather forecast and see rain drops and clouds straight across the board.......WELCOME to Springtime in New England. I have no idea when the sun will come back, but I do know that I can bring you a warm, bare feet in the sand kind of blog post to hopefully brighten your day:)

I don't always meet with my clients in person sometimes a design consultation is done over the phone which was the case with this recent bridal shower. Mother of the bride Kerry was planning her daughters upcoming bridal shower, her only instructions for the invite were tiffany blue, beach and simply elegant.......the rest she would leave up to me. My first thought was the card stock.....if this design was going to be simple I felt one layer would be best. One of my NEW favorite card stocks is called powder it's thick with a firm texture to it. The name is so fitting because it's not a bright white but a more soft white. You can see how the texture of this card stock actually resembles the look of sand.

The envelope was a shimmery tiffany blue color called caspian which I also used as one of the ink colors. The favor at the shower is going to be a sand dollar so I decide to use one on the invitation and added some clear glitter to give it a little sparkle. I love how this invitation has so many subtle elements all coming together to create a simply warm elegant design and just for a little while has reminded me that behind all the clouds and rain lies the sun.....just waiting for it's turn to come out and shine.

CLASS of 2011

2011-05-05T09:54:00.000-04:00

When you become a parent you automatically start to create a vision for your child's future which is fine while they are little but as we all know children grow up. One day you'll turn around and realize they've gone and created their own vision........and yes most often than not it looks nothing like yours. That being said at the end of the journey whether the visions match or don't really doesn't matter all any parent truly wants is for their child to be happy.

Melissa contacted me about invitations for her son Austin's upcoming Graduation from High School....like all parents she is so proud of his achievements and wanted to celebrate them with a party for all their family and friends. She wanted something stylish but masculine, I began with a color palette of chocolate brown and cream, the main square backer was a shimmery bronze and the invite was a stunning textured cream called magnolia. Keeping with the stylish aspect I added chocolate glitter to the date of the party, then continued the design over to the envelope also in magnolia. By custom printing all the addresses for each guest gives this design a very finished look. At one point during our meeting Melissa said to me that she and Austin were a team and always have been.........I LOVE that because when I look at the design of their invitation that is actually what I see.........a perfect combination of two visions not exactly the same but in the end a result that leaves both of them happy:) Congratulations Austin! I wish you plenty of success in the future...........after meeting your mom I would expect nothing less.

Emerson's Ice Cream Parlour

2011-04-25T10:57:00.006-04:00

I've been waiting FOREVER to blog about this recent invitation design....a few months ago Janeen Donati owner of Paige-Reese Designer Bakeshop emailed me about invitations for her daughter Emerson's upcoming sundae themed birthday. I've included Janeen in many of my blogs because we often work together on design projects but also because hands down she is an incredibly talented designer and as you know when I like something I like share it. I was excited to design this invitation but REALLY excited to see what Janeen would create to coordinate with it. I wanted the invitation to have a vintage ice cream shop feel so I began with a color palette of bubble gum pink, chocolate and white. I knew Janeen wanted coordinating signs for all the condiments in the sundae bar as well as the water bottles.....therefore I felt this party needed some branding... WELCOME to Emerson's Ice Cream Parlour. There is no way you can design for an ice cream sundae party and not have glitter somewhere on the invitation so I created an adorable ice cream sundae using clear glitter on the whip cream and of course red on the cherry! Next up........the envelope, who says an envelope should be plain! I used a pattern of swiss dots in bubble gum pink for the background and placed the vintage style frame from the logo on top but replaced the wording with each of the guests names that would be invited to the party. The envelope design was completed with a bubble gum pink envelope liner which looks stunning against the invitation backer of chocolate brown.

Now that my part is done lets talk SWEETS....I first need to start with the ice cream sundae shaped cookie favors the amount of detail on them is truly impressive but I would expect nothing less from Janeen. Each cookie was individually wrapped with a custom tag that had a message and the the glittered sundae from the invitation. Next is the spoon......seriously the most adorable item I have ever seen but notice the "E" monogram on the bottom of the spoon it's practically identically to the font I used on the invitation. That right there is why I refer to Janeen as a BAKING GENIUS and LOVE working with her, she truly cares about the little details. If you want to know where you can get Emerson's adorable shirt it was custom made by Modern Frills.......too cute!

When she sent me the photos of the party I was truly in awe of the amount of styling that went into this birthday but nearly fell off my chair when I saw the cake..........simply elegant and equally stunning.......I mean would just look at the cherry on top there are just no words for this. I follow a lot of cake blogs because it's a part of my industry but also because I would LOVE to someday learn how to do be cake designer.......who says you can't do an internship when your in your thirties. I highly recommend taking a peek at Janeen's blog www.paige-reese.blogspot.com you too will be blown away by her designs:)

Georgia and Chad........ENGAGED

2011-04-22T18:34:00.000-04:00

I may be a little biased because of my chosen profession but getting engaged ranks in my top five most memorable life moments. I can honestly remember every single detail of when my husband proposed to me over 14 years ago. For me every bride I work with is important but this one is different because she's family. Thirteen years ago at just 17 Georgia was a bridesmaid at my own wedding so I was over the top with excitement to hear the news about her engagement to Chad but even more excited and honored when she asked if I would design invitations for her up coming engagement party. Honestly, so much has changed since I got married.....especially with regards to custom invitations, I look back at my own wedding invitation truly horrified....you would never know that I had just graduated with a degree in graphic design but like everything in life.......you get better with age.

When I met with Georgia and her mother she really didn't have a color palette or theme in mind, I suggested picking what you like and I would do the rest. Square has been really big this wedding season for me, it seems everyone is gravitating towards it. The main component of the invite is a 5x5 envelofold with the pattern on the interior instead of exterior. The main invite is white linen with a deep shimmery chocolate brown backer called bronze, the reply card we kept simple by continuing the use of the white linen. I always talk about the little details.......postage has taken the wedding world by storm recently giving brides plenty options, you will notice the custom stamps used are an exact match to the pattern in the invite itself which is nice.......it gives everyone a little peek of what's to come.

Most often than not any invitation having to do with a wedding embodies some kind of symbolism, some are obvious to everyone while others might be more subtle. Saying "YES" I believe has a lot of symbolism, if you think of all the important things you say "YES" too in your life. For example what college you will decide to attend or what fabulous job offer will you take, being asked out on a date, deciding to get married or have children........all of these questions that you answer "YES" too will ultimately change your life and send you on a new path. Georgia said "YES" to Chad when he asked her to marry him, next up...........saying "YES" to the DRESS.........equally as important:)

It's rare that I'm on location for the event I designed invitations for but lucky for me this time around I am part of the family. I'm so excited because I usually only see the completed vision through photos after the party is over........this time around I will get a front row seat......which is nice for a change. I would like to wish Georgia, Chad and their families and huge CONGRATS!

A FIELD TRIP TO NORTH ATTLEBORO

2011-04-09T14:05:00.000-04:00

If you know me well enough then you know I believe "SHARING IS CARING" so what does this have to do with a blog titled "Field Trip"........actually A LOT! When I first started BeeCustom Design I discovered early on that very few creative professionals SHARE information and a few might even try and lead you in the wrong direction. I truly believe no two designers are alike, we all have tons of original artwork or designs however it's what you do with it that will make you different. Two years ago I set out for my first New York Stationery Show and was so excited to be amongst my fellow creative professionals. I wanted to find a company that could produce some of my artwork on melamine plates and bowls and figured I would be able to find a source there...NOT A CHANCE...NOBODY would share anything. I finally spoke with a woman that represented a very large company and I asked her what the deal was.....her response was yes most creative professionals will not share because it may impact their business. Every plate or bowl in that entire stationery show that I saw clearly was made by one company but what made them all different were the designs....some designers have a whimsical look, some have a preppy look my point is no two designers are alike so sharing information with another creative professional should not impact your business and any good designer wouldn't dream of copying another designers work. On the last day of the show I spotted a plate in a display case that someone forgot to put their logo sticker on the back and I was able to copy down a phone number. When I look at my plates and bowls they don't look like any other designers because it is my artwork and my style on them. After that show I promised myself that I would never do that to another creative professional, I would share because we are not re-inventing the wheel people we're all just all trying to make it our own.

I recently was talking with a potential client who wanted a specific look for her wedding invitations, she wanted blush pink ink on navy card stock I knew this would have to be out sourced to a printing company. I called a few different ones asking how I could achieve this look, I was told I could not because all inks are transparent except for metallic inks. Feeling a little annoyed and defeated I kept searching the internet........FINALLY I stumble upon something online ENGRAVING........this method of printing will allow you to print using light ink on dark card stock because the ink is not transparent. Funny thing is I went back to the websites of the company's I originally called non of them offered engraving but I find it hard to believe that as professional printers they didn't know this printing method existed....I guess they were not willing to share.

I'm the type of designer that if I am going to allow someone else to handle the printing of any of my work then I want to not only know them but physically be able to meet them which meant I needed to find a local printer. I came across the Artcraft Company located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts I was impressed with their website so I emailed Michelle Wagner their social stationery manager who was very prompt in answering all my questions and providing me with a quote. She then invited me to come down and visit the company.........I was thrilled!

A few weeks ago I went on a field trip to The Artcraft Company and it was by far the best professional four hours I have ever spent, so much so that I wanted SHARE what I learned with all of you. As I sat in Michelle's office she showed me all the work they have done with multiple kinds of printing methods. I learned that if you are designing for letterpress make sure your lines have some thickness to them if you have a design that contains a lot of fine lines have it engraved......engraving LOVES fine lines. The more Michelle spoke the more I realized if you're a designer your printer should not just be a company you send your work too, they should in a way be your creative partner......their knowledge of printing methods will essentially make you a better designer.

Michelle was able to give me a personal tour of the print shop.......OMG it was incredible to see all the equipment in full operation.....our first stop was to meet Steve Ladabauche and Jim Petrarca who are the plate makers they were kind enough to stop and show me what they were doing and why. In short Steve and Jim receive a negative from the pre press department. They in turn make the copper plates (one plate is necessary per color for engraving) which are then processed in an acid bath. After the plates are made, Steve and Jim hand tool any areas that require extra depth or fine-tuning in any way. Watching them fine tune someones design by hand was truly amazing and just re-affirmed how essential it is to know your printer and their peeps. Next up was pressman Phil Havey who also took the time to stop and not only explain but show me the engraving process as a job was being done. As we continued on through the printing facility I was able to see business cards being cut and completed orders getting ready to ship. One of my favorite spots on the tour was the seeing all the tubs of inks.......hundreds of colors, Michelle explained a lot of times to achieve the exact color is not as simple as just picking one color but the art of mixing a few. As I look at all the colors I spotted a shelf of PINKS and in the middle of all them was the perfect blush pink ink.......who knew that a simple request would have lead me to one thing I had been searching for......a really good printer.

My visit to The Artcraft Company has changed me as a designer I feel like I can offer so much more to my clients now. To any creative professionals out there I encourage you to know your printer they have A LOT of knowledge that can and will make you a better designer. If you do not have a printer I will share mine because "SHARING IS CARING" I feel I have found a partner in The Artcraft Company, I know now when I send a design for Michelle to look at she can tell me the best method of printing to use in order to achieve the ultimate finished product. The only thing I regret about my day at Art Craft was not bringing my camera.......thank you to Steve for taking these photos for me to share with all of you. I wanted to share one last photo of an engraved letterhead printed by Artcraft, before I contacted them I was on their website and came across it........to me it was a SIGN because I actually received my degree in Graphic Design from Mount Ida College.

I want to give a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone at The Artcraft Company very making my field trip first rate.

It's the little details........

2011-03-24T21:02:00.000-04:00

This past Tuesday evening I received an email from event planner Jen Hansen.....who was in a bit of a PICKLE! One of her brides who's wedding is on Saturday (yes, 3 days away) had a last minute change of heart about some "little details" she now wanted. A typical wedding vendor will tell you getting married is an emotional thing and not to sweat the "little details" a truly exceptional wedding vendor will always go above and beyond to make sure their bride is happy. As a custom designer I always have extra stock on hand for situations just like this and was happy to reply back that I would be able to get her what she needed.

Jen immediately sent her brides inspiration board which was essential for me, even though the order was last minute the last thing I wanted was for it to look that way. The "little details" really are what make your wedding extra special and sometimes brides are so overwhelmed by everything that needs to get done that they don't realized how important a few extra special items are until a couple of days before the wedding. I must say this is when working with a custom invitation designer comes in handy, as one of my own brides last week decided a few days before her wedding that she too needed some of those "little details" thankfully I was able to provide them for her without delay.

The next email was about what she needed......they were having a Candy Bar for all the guest so she would need a table sign for that glittered, she also wanted 16 candy tags to put on all the jars and of course coordinating stickers to put on the bags. A set of Mr and Mrs signs glittered to be hung on the couples chairs completed the order. A few electronic proofs later, Jens order was done and ready to be picked up on Thursday!

This Thursday morning I checked my email as I do every morning and I had one from Jen asking if I could "PERFORM A MIRACLE." Next up, 12 table numbers glittered, a special separate sign glittered for the couple because they were having a sweetheart table, a sign for the the photo booth glittered and a sign for the guest book yes, you guessed it, glittered. Jen still picked her order up today......she is what you call an EXCEPTIONAL WEDDING VENDOR.......and I am honored to be one her "PROFESSIONAL PEEPS" that she can turn to. I look at these photos and LOVE how everything turned out..........this brides "little details" were anything but last minute.

Jackie & Michael's Save The Dates

2011-03-21T16:39:00.000-04:00

One would think using a color palette of black, white and graphite might not give enough pop....if you do then you'd be completely wrong......and I have a save the date design to prove it. I met Jackie at the recent wedding workshop that I was a part of. She had been looking for her save the dates and wedding invitations but just had not found the right ones. Out of the three tablescape designs her favorite was Natural Elegance this was the one that had crystals on the table and sparkles on the invite. She wanted her save the dates to give a hint of what her wedding would be, a formal and stylish affair with a whole lot of sparkle. Jackie was drawn to the black linen card stock which I paired with a white dove card stock that has a slight texture mixed with a subtle shimmer and lastly a shimmery graphite envelope.

Now for the design, lately I have noticed a lot of save the date designs that have so much information on them one would wonder why bother sending out the wedding invitation. We chose a two layer 5x5 square layout a perfect size because Jackie wanted the information to be simply stated. I used a touch of script mixed with a clean font and a few ornamental accents. She wanted to use glitter but could not decide on what color would be best, Jackie is actually the first person that has ever asked to see the glitter (in the jar)....but by opening a few jars of different colors while looking at the card stocks she had chosen really made the the right choice evident. Hands down the winner was black.....yes I know everyone says its bad luck to use, include, wear or even talk about the color black when it comes to weddings but that was forever ago. Ive been happily married for 13 years and both my mother and mother in law wore black to my wedding, to me black is timeless, classic and never goes out of style. Black glitter does not have the same look or feel as colored or even clear....it sparkles but is far more opaque giving Jackie's design a unique look.

Envelope shown with optional custom address printing.

A Wedding Workshop

2011-03-16T19:11:00.000-04:00

The First Annual Wedding Workshop was the brilliant idea of Gregory Costa-Saint John owner of Flouer. His idea was to pull together an exclusive group of wedding vendors to create a workshop atmosphere where brides could come not only to be educated but also have a platform to ask questions. I first met Gregory while working with him on the Reason To Give Wedding and know first hand how professional and talented he his. I was truly honored that he asked me to be one of the vendors and knew the event would be first rate. The workshop took place a few weeks ago and exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds.

The workshop was held at Flouers studio which was transformed into three mini weddings each having their own tablescapes; Platinum Elegance, Natural Elegance and Simple Elegance. Each table design began with an inspiration board, these boards do not have to be fancy but every bride should make one it will help you organize your vision and will give your vendors a starting point as to what you want for your wedding.

Platinum Elegance began with a color palette of hot pink, black, and white. In this design we started with what I had chosen for card stocks for the invitations. Event planner Jen Hansen will tell you first hand to start with your invitations, most brides do their invitations last but the save the dates and invitations are the first thing your guests will see. The invitations will set the tone for your entire wedding and give your guest a prelude of what's to come. I was truly amazed at how Alice was able replicate the design from the table linens directly on the cake. The flowers are mainly white with just a hint of pink and the leaves normally green were painted black. To finish the whole look a centerpiece light was added with a hue of pink to make this table complete. The little details........these are what will make your wedding unique, look at what Gregory did with one of the flowers from the arrangement; he put it into a flat glass vase and set it in front of each place setting as a favor. Not only have you added another element of design to your table but each of your guests are now leaving with a favor that won't end up in the trash. The glittered table number actually has a pocket on the back where your menu can be inserted. A typical wedding program will list your wedding party I decided to use silhouettes with the wedding parties names below. Candy Bars and Cocktails Bars are extremely popular why not add a custom glittered drink menu that can sit at the bar.......little details make the biggest impact.

Natural Elegance was one of my favorite tables, the linens were a mixture of silks, satins and textures. Most people think centerpiece think flowers but Gregory took this centerpiece to a whole new level. Keeping with the Natural Elegance he created an arrangement of flowers and lit candles suspended from branches......SERIOUSLY STUNNING. The table was also lit by a pinspot which made the centerpiece pop and the table crystals sparkle. The invitation had a double layer of ribbon threaded through a crystal buckle which Alice incorporated to the cake design along with flowers from the centerpiece. This invitation does not have envelope but a custom mailable box......when you send an invitation this way it will make your guest feel as if they are receiving a little present in the mail. I used the twist card for the place card design, each guests name is printed on the front and when you pull the card it will twist to show them their table number which I hand embellished with glitter. The numbers for the table were also hand embellished with glitter as well as the custom Mr and Mrs signs that hung from the back of the chairs.........remember its the little details!

I find it hard to refer to this table as Simple Elegance because it is anything but. For this tablescape the linens were chosen first so I used them as inspiration when creating the invitations. The table linens have this stunning but subtle pattern scrolling throughout which led me to choose a brocade pattern in gold. The invitation is a perfect 7x7 square with 4 layers of pattern, antique gold and textured cream card stocks. The main invitation envelope has a two layer custom address label wrap. In one of the photos you can see how the table is lit from underneath which gives such a look of elegance. I can just imagine an entire grand ballroom of this tablescape design.........STUNNING! I love how the chair wraps also incorporate a matching flower from the centerpiece and how each placesetting has an accent linen underneath it........again little details they make all the difference. The cake design is absolutely flawless you can see the wrap on the cake matches the linen wrap on the chair. The motif in the table linen perfectly matches what is on the cake..........that people is what you call TALENT!

The workshop was a huge success and we have received such wonderful feedback. Every bride and her guest were greeted with a Champagne Mimosa, yummy pastries and were able to sample all of the wedding cakes throughout the workshop that are shown. When leaving each bride was given a lingerie bag made by Carolyn of BBJ Linens and filled with goodies from all the vendors. Jen of Gracious Events set up a Sweet Candy Bar that all the brides were able to fill a bag to take with them, Alice gave a yummy cupcake and Gregory provided each bride with a petite flower arrangement each one in a unique bud vase. I would like to also thank North Shore Magazine and The Knot for providing issues of their magazines for the bags. A HUGE thank you to Peterson's Party Center in Winchester for donated all the tables and chairs and an even BIGGER thank you to Alex and Amy of Gateway Productions for getting it to us:)

Although each of us operate our businesses separately we felt it would be nice to have a name for our newly formed group as it is our plan to do more workshops and events. Let me start by introducing the other members of the Platinum Wedding Group, founder and Floral Artist Gregory Costa-Saint John owner of Flouer, renowned Event Planner Jennifer Hansen owner of Gracious Events Management, extraordinary Linen Designer Carolyn Colberg of BBJ Linens, Lighting Production Experts Alex Sommerfeld owner of Gateway Productions and Amy Zediana Director of Sales and Operations for Boston Lighting and Pastry Chef and owner of Bean Counter Bakery Alice Lombardi.

Kelly & Dan's Save The Dates

2011-03-09T21:49:00.000-05:00

Your Wedding should be a reflection of you as a couple not what is popular or in style. This rule should also apply to your Save The Dates and Invitations. When your friends and family open it they should immediately think of you........they get it because they know you. Kelly and Dan have two dogs and like many dog owners theses two furry eyed friends are far more than just their pets, they are a part of their family. Anyone who knows and loves Kelly and Dan knows just how important these dogs are! I have seen tons of Save The Date designs that incorporate photos from the couples engagement session this is the first time I have created a Save The Date design using a photo from the dogs "engagement session."

Kelly wanted a stylish rustic feel to the design, our palette began with a rich bronze, ecru linen, a shimmery rouge envelope liner finished with a kraft envelope. The date (9.10.11) and the dogs really needed to be the main focus of the design, in order to incorporate both I felt using the square twist card would be the best approach to achieve the look Kelly was envisioning. A professional photographer took the photo of the dogs finishing the print with a bit of antiquing. She also enhanced the color in the dogs tongue to pick up the rouge that was used in the envelope liner. The first thing you see are these cute puppy dogs and when you twist the card to show the other side you see the date glittered in rouge. When choosing wording for your Save The Dates it is pretty rare that you see the words RUFF, WOOF & BARK but it works because it is part of who they are. The Save The Dates where mailed the other day and I can guarantee that every guest opened it and SMILED.....they get it! I always tell Brides to "think outside the book, if you can envision it, I can design it." Next up.........is the design for the Wedding Invitations.....stay tuned!

Ruby Jewelry

2011-02-24T14:17:00.000-05:00

Three years ago I did a boutique show at the Salem Country Club, at that very show is where I met Megan Shepherd owner of RUBY JEWELRY. I've done a handful of these types of events and there is never a shortage of jewelry vendors, funny thing is I'm actually really not a jewelry person but still have attended plenty of jewelry home parties and always thought the products were pretty but not something I would buy. When I went over to look at Megan's table the first thing I notice where all her funky rings and these stunning keys that you would hang from a necklace.......her products were different, trendy, stylish and had a fabulous price point. As a graphic designer the next thing I notice was Megan's logo it was a huge "RUBY" ring.......I loved it! Over the next couple of years I ran into Megan at different events and was always under the impression that "Ruby Jewelry" was like the other home jewelry businesses.

Recently, I discovered that Megan does all her own buying.........OMG it totally made sense now why I was originally drawn to her product, Megan knows her clients and what they are looking for but instead of sending an email to corporate expressing that; she gets on a plane to New York and goes and finds it.....that requires a creative and stylish eye which Megan seamlessly incorporates into her product.

Megan and I recently got together to brainstorm about her business and how she should start blogging about her products. She has an eye that a lot of people do not, she can look a piece and know exactly how it should be worn, what it should be worn with and where to wear it to. Megan has the vision that a potential client may not..........by the time she left she was so excited to start her new BLOG.

Next up was her logo, she really wanted to give it a mini makeover! For me her original ring was a powerful symbol that overtime would be able to stand on its own. Megan already had a fabulous color scheme but I felt her name needed a new font and to be incorporated with the ring. I began by creating her a completely new ruby ring, then found an equally stylish font to go with it and joined them so they could now be a pair. I truly loved her logo from the moment I first saw it and believe it really has come full circle. Overtime as Ruby Jewelry grows I can see that ring standing alone just like the target in "Target" so iconic it no longer needs the name written beside it.

Lingerie Shower

2011-02-16T21:13:00.000-05:00

I recently designed wedding invitations for Jana & Richard, around the same time I received an email from Jana's neighbor who was throwing a Lingerie Shower for her. Most clients give me a bit of direction but Beverly had a tall order. She wanted the invitation to have a piece of lingerie on it, a horseshoe and could we find a spot for a pair of flip flops too! Jana LOVES flip flops and she wanted every guest to bring a pair wrapped for her as an added surprise. Yes, my first thought was "how am I going to make this work" my biggest challenge was coming up with a fabulous way to tell people to bring the flip flips without having it look like it didn't belong.

I started with the color scheme, the main backing card was in boa, the invite was linen white and the envelope was in envy. I had a cute bra that was on a hanger so I decided to hang it from the horseshoe at the top of the invite and finished with hot pink glitter. I was so proud of myself when I conquered the challenge of including the flip flops while still keeping the flow of the invite. "Jana loves flip flops.......colorful and sweet kindly bring a wrapped pair for her size 6.5 feet."

There is know way I can finish up this blog without talking about the favors for Jana's shower.....Beverly hired Janeen Donati of Paige-Reese Designer Bakeshop. It's no secret that I have been a fan of Janeen's since the moment I saw her work. She is truly talented and cares more about her product than her bottom line. Look how fabulous these cookies are...........LOVE HER!

Wedding Season 2011

2011-02-13T17:45:00.000-05:00

The 2011 Wedding Season is officially in full swing and with Valentines Day being tomorrow I thought what better time to introduce some new Wedding Invitations and Save-The-Date options for 2011. I wanted to know what the most popular day to get engaged was, so I did some research. Funny thing is there is not much available with regards to "real statistics" but from year to year about 10% of Americans get engaged on Valentines Day followed by Christmas then Birthday.
The best decision I ever made was becoming an authorized Envelopments Dealer, they offer premium paper and card stocks in 231 colors with 90 shapes and sizes to choose from. Whether you need matte, metallic, textured metallic, vellum and Pattern they have it all. The other thing they offer are incredible samples meant to inspire not only you but your client. Just like there is a lid for every pot I believe there is a designer for every bride and no two are ever alike. I refer to Envelolpments samples as inspiration because that is what they are....they do not provide them so you can copy them they provide them to inspire you, to make you think how can I apply my creativity and take this to another level.

These days I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with my mailbox; one because this years New England winter has destroyed it and at this very moment the only thing holding it up is a large snow bank and two......bills, bills and more bills. Today is Sunday so I finally had to face my mailbox but amongst the bills was a little glimmer of HOPE ..................my new inspiration samples from Envelopments had arrived....................YEAH! I was so excited to open my package and once I saw what was inside I immediately took photos so I could blog about it.

Over the winter I introduced you to the "TWIST CARD" and because they were such a big hit Envelopments has decided to make them available in all colors, patterns and card stocks; I cant wait to use them they are going to be perfect for Save-The-Dates. The next NEW item is actually a COLOR called Soleil available in a bright yellow matte card stock! The pictures I included in this blog are just some of my favorites and every time I look at them I am so inspired to create using these incredible components.......the only thing missing is the vision of a bride.......the lid to this designers pot.

Jana & Richard's Wedding

2011-02-04T18:18:00.000-05:00

When it comes to Weddings no matter the culture or religion there is always some sort of symbolism present. I first met Jana one evening while at her neighbors house who I was doing some design work for. Jana told me she was getting married in March at Willowdale. I asked her what she was envisioning for her wedding invitations, her response was she wanted to incorporate a horseshoe. For most people the horseshoe is a symbol of luck but for Jana and Richard it was not only a symbol of luck but a symbol of love. Jana owns three horses and Richard is a Veterinarian to them......which is how the two met....how fabulous is that!

Jana and Richard loved the idea of having their own logo which would be used on all the components of the invitation. I first created them a horseshoe then used the pattern from their chosen wedding card stock inside of it. The main invitation was a 5x5 square pocket fold, the exterior was a white raw silk that displayed their custom logo on a two layered button. The interior of the invitation shows the stunning black paisley pattern that is used in the horseshoe. The invite was mounted on a beautiful pink card stock called boa, Jana did not want the pink to be over powering so I only used it in certain parts like on the response card the word "accepts" is written in pink. The left pocket of the invitation held the directions card and the response card. The logo was also used on the return address envelopes, thank you notes, and favor tags.

When designing invitations that are a unique size, have multiple layers or pockets I can pretty much guarantee you that the postage will not be your typical wedding stamp. Thankfully you no longer have to put multiple stamps across your envelopes, there are many options now available for custom postage. Jana had all her envelopes custom printed using the same font from the invitation, she also decided that having her logo on the stamp would be a nice touch and create a finished look. A week ago I got an email from Jana reading "Houston.....we have lift off" the invites were in the mail. I actually spoke with Jana today and she was so happy with the amount of people that have called, texted and emailed letting her know how much they loved the invitations. As a designer that's exactly what you want your clients to hear!

Lots of things I design or create are done because someone or something inspired me but with the two designs below it was actually a mistake that gave me the inspiration. When I ordered Jana's card stock they first came in with the pocket at the bottom instead of on the side. I was looking at them thinking what could I use them for..........I first designed a menu card to be inserted in the pocket but instead of putting it in the napkin which is typical I decided to add ribbon so that it could hang from the chairs of each wedding guest. The next design plays two roles, the front is a table number then on the other side there is a pocket which can hold a menu. This is a nice option should you not want to do a menu for each individual guest.

Welcome baby George

2011-01-28T11:02:00.000-05:00

Susan has used me for so many of her life's moments that I have lost count at this point. Every year I do her family Christmas Card but this year I knew was going to be different because she was expecting her fourth child late in December. She wanted to wait and do a Holiday/New Year/Birth Announcement all in one type of design. Any parent will tell you that trying to get all your children to sit for a photo can bring out the "scary mom" in all of us and the more you have the more challenging it is.

The design idea was initially going to have one photo of the three girls and their new baby brother, but in the end we ended up with two photos. I had an incredible photo of George wrapped in a moss green blanket tied with a cream satin ribbon sitting in a copper bowl and an equally stunning photo of the girls outside with the snow falling in the background. When it came time to choose the colors I decided neutrals would be best because of the color schemes in each photo. The main card is in a Ecru Silk Linen with a photo backing card in Crepe. I felt it would be best to use an Envelope in a similar color found in the blanket since that was the first photo you saw.

Even though we had two photos with two very different color schemes I feel as if we achieved two designs within one. Even though the girls are in pink and blue when I mounted the photo against the cream card stock it picks up the snow falling in the background which just looks beautiful.

My First Wedding........

2011-01-10T18:41:00.000-05:00

If you read my blog often then you know I never design just to create a sample.....which explains why this very special wedding is actually my first. It's not that I can't design for any type of event it's that I choose to design with a purpose and that purpose for me begins with a person. To get the full story about Ashley and Jay I suggest going back to my blog in March where I talked about their very special save-the-dates and the Reason To Give Wedding that was given to them.

Wedding invitations are a very important part of the wedding, it's the first item people will see that reflects what to expect. I kept with the same color scheme for the invitations that I used for the save-the-dates except instead of using the glitter I decided to use more pattern card stock and create them a logo that would be used on coordinating pieces. Ashley LOVED the idea of a square invitation with a pocket and button. I love the element of surprise and that's exactly what this invitation gave to every guest who received one. The envelope was a shimmery beige color called Pyrite with a Black Linen envelope liner.

Everyone's envelope was printed in the same font used in the invitation and then on the back was Ashley and Jay's logo that I designed for them. This is the first time you see just a hint of red pattern. The outside of the invitation continued with the Pyrite color and a custom two layer button that had their logo printed on it..........the SURPRISE is when you open the invitation! I had the paper company reverse the pattern so that it would be on the inside......which gave a real element of surprise. I continued the use of their logo on the response card, the response envelope and slightly adjusted it for the cocktails & reception card.

Next up was a little bit of sparkle........all the table numbers were printed on Pyrite with red glitter then was mounted on a folded Black Linen card. For Ashley and Jay's table I used the same card stock but instead of a number I decide to use their logo since they were having their own personal table. Not to get off the topic of the invitations but there is no way I can talk about these two photos without mentioning Gregory Costa-Saint John of Flou(-e)r he is truly a talented individual and totally went above and beyond to make the flowers at Ashley and Jay's Wedding first rate as did all the vendors that donated.

The guest book is always nice to have but I wanted them to have something that was unique so I designed them there own using all the coordinating card stocks from the invitation. The pages were blank sheets of the Pyrite color paper so each guest could not only sign their name but leave a special message to them.

Next up is the favor boxes which was a collaboration between me and JJ's Haute Chocolat. Owners Jen and Julie donated a stunning candy bar which is what guests received as a favor. I didn't want guests to have a typical place card so I decided to take the favor boxes and attach a custom handle each printed with the guests names and seating location. When guests first entered the room they were greeted by a round table with a sign that read "Find your name and take your seat. Save this box for a sweet treat"

I'm so grateful to be a part of Reason To Give, this was our first venture and my first Wedding Invitation Design, I could not have had a better couple. The night we left Ashley's parents house we all said they were the type of couple that made you want to do more and every single vendor that donated said the same thing after meeting them. If you've read any of the interviews Ashley and Jay always talk about how we changed their lives but in the end it was them who changed mine. To Heidi, Lisa and Natasha this was personally such a great experience for me and by far exceeded my expectations........none of this would have happened if not for the three of you believing that an idea could really be a reality when put in the hands of the right women.

Holiday 2010

2010-12-26T22:25:00.000-05:00

Well, it's official the holiday season of 2010 has come and gone. I've spent that last few months designing holiday cards and have been waiting to share them with everyone. Now that my tree is sitting in my driveway and all the decorations are neatly put away I thought why not blog tonight! I LOVE getting holiday cards and every year I host Christmas the first thing my family does and look at them all. Obviously I love the holiday cards that I personally design but as a designer I am always inspired by other designers and because I'm a sharer I will not only be blogging about my designs but about some favorites I received:)

It's not often that a one year old is a world traveler but little Anson and his parents Michael and Tracy took a trip of a lifetime to Morocco this past spring. When I met with Tracy she had this great picture of them with a camel but also had many more, her vision was that of a passport. I started first with the incredible photos she sent me turning them into a collage allowing them to share this wonderful adventure with all of their family friends. Next up was some artwork, Tracy wanted a passport stamp however the passport stamp I found for Morocco....wasn't very holiday card friendly so I created my own that would be more fitting. I am so thankful that the O'leary's gave me the honor of designing their holiday card.

Holiday cards over the last ten years have really gone to a new level. It's not just families that are sending the photo cards anymore. You will find pet owners, newly weds and grandparents have also jumped in too! My mother says there is nothing better than being a grandmother and I know this is true because she never sent a photo holiday card of me and my brother........but she does send one of your four grandchildren...and yes she uses me:)

Last year was the first time I designed a holiday card for the Connellys.....I was so happy when Eirin called to use me again and even more excited to hear that she now had two more grandchildren......it can be a challenge getting 9 children from three different families to sit for one perfect Christmas card photo. Therefore she sends me a bunch of photos which I then scan and create one 7x5 photo. We went with a shimmery red "Z CARD" then finished it with a beautiful shimmery green called envy. I love how their card turned out this year and look forward to seeing how much the kids have grown next year.

Well if you think it's tough getting 9 grandchildren together try 11! The Dwyers have 11 beautiful grandchildren. I designed their card last year but this year Connie sent me individual photos of each of her grandchildren to create a collage. Her design last year had a casual summer feel so this year I decide to go more formal using a flat 7x7 square card in red, then paired it with a white raw silk for the message to be printed on, finished with a stunning shimmery graphite envelope.

If you read my blog then you know Annette was one of the first people I ever designed a holiday card for. She always has great photos but this year was really exceptional. She captured both her kids walking down a driftwood path onto the beach holding hands.......I know she bribed them but of course won't admit it! I can not take credit for the saying on her card because she is the one that thought of it.......and as you can see the whole look came together fabulously.

I really do LOVE going to the mailbox during the holidays....it's always nice to see how everyone's kids have grown. There are tons of fabulous holiday card options out there and I've noticed that even shutterfly and snapfish are now carrying certain well know designers. Over the past three years I would say that tiny prints has a really nice selection especially when wanting to use multiple photos. Another favorite site that is similar to tiny prints that I really think has some stunning options is minted. Below are some of the holiday cards that I received this year where I thought the design was really exceptional.......

It really doesn't matter who designs your holiday card or how much time or money you spend on it. When someone takes the time to send you a holiday wish that is what truly matters. I look at my slider filled with holiday wishes and truly feel blessed that there are that many people who thought enough of me and my family to send us a holiday wish. I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year......looking forward to 2011!

Kicking off the Florida Season......

2010-12-09T16:40:00.000-05:00

Just when I thought I had designed an invitation for almost every kind of party.....I recently discovered a new one! I received an email from one of my clients about a party she was throwing, it seems a lot of people head to Florida after the holidays making January the kick off to the winter season. This is exactly what she needed....they live in a golf community for part of the year as do many of their friends. Therefore, throwing a get together to catch up and kick off the 2011 season seemed fitting. The only suggestion she gave me was to use a turtle which was the logo of the community they lived in. The minute I heard that I immediately thought hot pink and apple green. I have the cutest little turtle and knew his shell would look fabulous with hot pink glitter on it. The invite text was pretty simple therefore not a lot of space would be needed which is why I chose to do a 2 layer square card. For the main backer I chose Valentine, a matte card stock with a square texture to it. The text card was white linen printed with two colors of ink. The design was completed with a green shimmery envelope called Envy. I LOVE how adorable this design turned out and are so thankful to all my clients and their fabulous ideas. To all the lucky individuals that spend a portion of their year in FLORIDA I personally wish you a happy 2011 season and hope it's filled with sunny days and star filled nights:)

Moving Announcements

2010-12-03T16:02:00.000-05:00

I received a Facebook message from Attorney Renee C. Berman in November asking if I would be interested in designing some moving announcements. She was finally getting the office space she had always dreamed of and wanted the announcements to reflect her style, professional but not stuffy. To me it makes perfect sense that Renee's new office would not be that of your typical attorney because she herself is anything but. Aside from owning her own law firm, she is an author, a mom and by far can deliver the best wedding toast I have ever heard.

Renee loved the cardstock from a previous invitation I had designed and felt those colors perfectly reflected the color scheme and style of her new office. Even though she wanted her announcement to be different she still wanted to use the scales. I didn't want your typical law scales so I created my own set using the pattern from the envelope liner in parts of the artwork. The text card in Ecru Linen was mounted on a beautiful backer of Caspian with an envelope in Antique Gold and liner in Mehndi which mixed the Gold and Caspian with a stunning paisley like pattern. I just love how these turned out and thankfully so did Renee.

Custom Designed Logos

2010-11-18T19:35:00.017-05:00

I LOVE being an invitation designer but I actually started as a Graphic Designer! The same way I go about creating a custom invitation is the way I design a custom logo. If you're someone that new me when I first started BeeCustom Design then you know how many times I have re-designed my logo. Presently I LOVE my logo and feel it works but can't promise that I won't tweak it again. Over the past year I have done some really fun logos for some FABULOUS ladies and thought I would share.

Mason and Madison's owner Liz White has an incredible logo and even though I wasn't the one that created it, the designer who did is truly talented. Her store has different artisans that display their work, but as time went on Liz was approach by jewelry artisans wanting to sell their designs under Mason & Madison which resulted in Liz creating two separate divisions. The first was Pink Bird and the second was Pink Bird Kids......I really love how these came out and had so much fun creating the perfect chubby bird.

Lucky for me Liz is always thinking of ways to grow her business by offering her customers access to fun promotions, sales and events! She recently launch "Good-Buys" especially for the FANS of Mason and Madison's Facebook page. If you become a fan than you will have a chance to save big on last-one-in-stock, discontinued or otherwise fabulous merchandise we have to sell in order to make room for more!

Bringing the Singing is the brain child of high school student Jessica Slaght. After participating in the princess fundraiser for Nordhoff High School, music students Jessica Slaght, Amanda Landis, Camille Mendoza, Harmony Hartley and Zelda Grove are now allowing the community access to the magic of live character performers. All five girls have experience with choral training and theater arts and will surely put a smile onto your little princess' face. Jessica is actually a family member and I was really impressed with what her and her friends started. They had a website and face book page but I noticed they didn't have a formal logo.......so I offered to create one for them. They recently have gotten some really nice press coverage and I can only hope that my kids will have the same work ethic that these girls have at such a young age.

Janeen Donati is the owner and designer behind Paige-Reese Designer Bakeshop. I met Janeen when I did a home party for her over the summer. It wasn't until the end of the night that I discovered she too was a custom designer. I truly was blown away at her creativity, she had a great business card, fabulous font and fun colors......the only thing missing was a formal logo. I took her colors, font and self proclaimed obsession with cake stands and designed her a new logo. The design carried over to some fun stickers for all her packaging and a new layout and paper for her business cards.

Lifestyle Blitz @ Burton's Grill - Fabulous Fall

2010-11-13T17:15:00.000-05:00

About mid October I received an email from Julie Fairweather of In Full Force asking me if I would like to participate in a series of events produced by her and Christina Chmura of East Coast Associates for Burton's Grill. Each Lifestyle Blitz event would have a theme, featuring a small number of businesses/entrepreneurs and provide women with a place to gather with friends to learn new ideas, like: business opportunities, networking, cooking, education, fashion, food and more. I was truly honored to be a part of the First Lifestyle Blitz "Fabulous Fall" and felt it would be the perfect setting to showcase my Custom Holiday Cards. Intimate events like these are really essential for small businesses like myself, because it limits the number of vendors participating you're able to reach more potential clients. I knew the debut would be a huge hit because it offered people a really nice night out.......for FREE. Each attendee received two complimentary cocktails, food sampling and goodie bags went to the first 125 guests that arrived.

This past Thursday the First Lifestyle Blitz @ Burton's Grill in Peabody kicked off and I was so excited to be there and in the company of some incredible businesses. Deanna Manganaro owner of Elizabeth Grady in Danvers was on hand with her team of professionals offering chair massages, beauty treatments, and fall/winter skin care tips. Liz White owner of Mason and Madison Gifts With Style was there showcasing unique gift options for this upcoming holiday season. Advertising Director of North Shore Magazine Kelly Schetzsle was there giving out the December/Holiday issue. Denise Baron Herrera, VP of Food and Beverage and Danny Azzarello, Executive Chef of Burtons Grill-Peabody did an incredible food demonstration of Burtons own Poached Pear Salad.

By 6:30 attendees were already lining up to get in, by 7:00 it was clearly obvious what a hit the First Lifestyle Blitz was turning out to be. The waitstaff began serving guests Harvest Martinis & Green Apple Sodas courtesy of Stolichnaya Gala Applik and savory fall appetizers from Burton's. The fabulous ladies of DIRTY WATER TV were making their way around the event chatting with the attendees and interviewing vendors about the night. My expectations for the night wasn't so much about selling product but more about selling myself. There are a lot of talented invitation designers out there to choose from, a really stunning sample of your work may get them in the door but it's your ability to connect and care that will keep them there. For me personally the event was a HUGE success because it gave me the opportunity to showcase my work to a different audience and network with some fabulous business owners. This is the second event I have done with Julie of In Full Force and as usual always a professional and always a good time:)

SAVE THE DATE........the next Lifestyle Blitz at Burton's Grill will celebrate the holidays on Monday, December 13, 2010 from 6:00 to 9:00pm. This event is sure to sell out fast, become a fan of Lifestyle Blitz@Burtons Grill on Facebook to keep update on all their happenings.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

2010-11-02T09:51:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe that in a couple of weeks the best Santa Claus in New England will be sitting on his famous throne at the Burlington Mall! I officially have already completed three different clients holiday cards and are working on many more right at this moment. Over the last couple of weeks I've had many orders come in for personalized plates and bowls.......these make a nice holiday gift to give. I wanted to share a really cute snowman design that was just completed.

I have plenty of holiday artwork and every year someone has a request....which I LOVE! This year I was asked if I had a nutcracker........my response was "not yet" I created two different nutcrackers that can have their color schemes changed and would look so cute on a plate and bowl set! If you are interested in ordering plates or bowls for the holidays I listed below how the process works.

All plates and bowls are dishwasher safe. Plates are 24.00 and the bowls are 18.00. Follow the steps below to place an order:

1. Email me (beecustom@verizon.net) what you want, the names, colors and artwork. If you are not sure what you want I can email you my art catalog so you can choose something.

2. Once you choose the design you will receive an electronic proof for each design for approval, once you ok the proof your order will be placed. It usually takes about 2 weeks but can be faster.

3. When your order is complete I will email you to set up a time for pick up.

4. BeeCustom Designs excepts cash or checks, payment is due at the time of delivery.

* for orders that exceed 100.00 a deposit of 50% will be required prior to order being placed.

A TUTU FABULOUS....birthday!

2010-10-16T19:25:00.000-04:00

I think its fair to say that kid's parties have come a long way from just cake, ice cream and possibly getting to make your own pizza at Papa Gino's while all your friends watched. I am not complaining because now that kids parties are on a whole new level it allows me to do what I do! Nancy called me about doing invitations for her daughter Isabelle's upcoming 6th birthday. She would be holding it at home, there of course would be cake and ice cream but you would also be making your own TUTU.......seriously that is so super creative. If you live in my area and have a daughter chances are you have heard of The Bow Fairy owner Donna Cabral makes custom bows and so much more, so Nancy is having Donna come to show all the girls how to make their own tutu....LOVE THIS!

Now for the invitation....I didn't even meet with Nancy to look at card stocks or discuss design, the only thing she told me was to have it purple and hot pink........oh and plenty of GLITTER too! I love when hot pink is involved it's my favorite glitter color to use. I decided the design would be vertical, using three layers of card stock. For the main backing card I went with Majestic which had a slight shimmer to it, the second layer was a bold pink called fashionista.......this is one of my new favorites. The invitation text was printed on white linen using two colors of ink. This was the first invitation I have ever done for a tutu party and I think it is just TUTU CUTE!

PUMPKIN and A Baby Shower!!!!!!!!

2010-10-06T19:30:00.000-04:00

I received a message from Hilary Larson a few weeks ago that she was in need of some invitations for her friend Ali's upcoming baby shower. I was told the color scheme was hot pink and orange, she's having a girl and there would need to be a pumpkin somewhere too because the baby shower had a fall theme to it. I've done plenty of baby shower invites before but this was different because it didn't have your "A" typical theme.......this would require some major thinking outside the box!

As I headed to my meeting with Hilary I honestly had no idea how this invitation was going to work. Every time I pictured a pumpkin all I could think about was Halloween or Thanksgiving. As I sat with Hilary and the ever so ADORABLE Charlie she too was wondering how this theme was going to play out. After seeing what Ali had chosen for the baby's bedding I had a really good sense of her personal style. Next up...OPERATION PUMPKIN, we talked about putting the pumpkin in a stroller.......but then I didn't want Ali to look at her invite and think "oh so my kid is going to look like a pumpkin." As we continued to brainstorm I noticed Hilary was sketching out her vision and the more she did the more I was able to visualize it in my head. I truly believe that great things can happen when you put two creative people and one really good baby in a room! I took that piece of paper home with me and stuck it to my computer as I created all the artwork for this invitation.

Picking the card stock was easy, we decided the main backing card would be Fashionista, the invite would be printed on First Snow and the envelope would be TANGELO......love that name! The invitation would not be complete without some glitter.......I used hot pink for the baby's bow and crystal clear for the pumpkin and vines.

Once the invites were done I was off to deliver them to Hilary and was so excited to find out that one, Ali would be there and two I could finally have some of Hilary's famous cupcakes! It was so nice to see the look on both their faces when they saw the finished product. I only wish Hilary could've seen the look on my face as I ate one of her pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.....SO YUMMY!

The Art of Inspiration

2010-10-01T19:55:00.000-04:00

It doesn't matter what type of designer you are, if you're creative then most often than not something inspired you to create. I openly state at the top of my blog that "it's the people I meet along way that inspire how I design" which is true, but by nature I am a visual designer so when I create a piece of artwork I usually start by finding something that inspires me.

About a year and a half ago was the first time I met Hilary Larson owner of Eat Cake in Newburyport. Liz White of Mason and Madison had asked me if I would design some glittered cards up to be placed in front of the cupcakes she was serving at her grand opening. My FIRST stop for inspiration was Eat Cake's website it was also my LAST.......there was no need to look any further. I have been a fan of Hilary's creativity since I first saw her work and to this day one of my favorite cake designs that she created was that of a PIN CUSHION, if you click the link you will see exactly what I mean.

I recently met with Hilary to discuss design options for invitations she would be needing for her friends up coming baby shower. During our meeting I showed her some of my recent work one being a farming birthday invitation. I was pleasantly surprised when I received an email from her tonight with a photo of a cake she designed telling me that my farming invite was the inspiration.....I can't even tell you how happy and flattered I felt that one of my designs created inspiration for someone else.

As you know I always talk about who is behind a design, so I emailed Hilary asking what the cake was for? It's actually a celebration cake, the Uptons had recently grown by two feet and it was time for Kellan to meet some of Daddy's family out in Western Massachusetts. What a fabulous idea....I don't know anyone that doesn't love to EAT CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!

Down on the FARM!!!!!

2010-09-24T10:15:00.002-04:00

As you know I never create generic samples, so I was super excited when Catarina called needing invitations for her son Nico's first birthday. The theme was Down on the FARM.......OMG I have been dying to design for a fall themed birthday. Her only request was that there had to be a pumpkin somewhere because he was their "little pumpkin" and the kids would also be picking and decorating pumpkins. Catarina chose Smolak Farms in North Andover for the party venue, which was perfect!

When designing for any invitation I do a lot of research but because I've been waiting to do a farm theme invite I had a head start. My idea was to create a barn like feel, which is why I chose a gated card style in shimmery red. The gates opening give a realistic look of barn doors. Next up was the artwork, I first made the barn and added a window at the top for the pumpkin to sit in but wasn't happy with how it looked. Feeling the window needed something with more substance I created a rooster and had it sit on layers of hay that hung out of the window. The rooster was finished with red glitter and the hay with clear glitter.........now it was PERFECT!

The barn artwork was printed on linen white with a backing card of french roast by mounting it to the gates on the front of the card really sets the tone before you even read the invite. The main invitation was printed on linen white using a mix of western and whimsical fonts. The glittered pumpkin found a perfect home on the interior of the invite adding a nice balance. The main barn artwork was also used on the thank you notes and favor tags.

The pumpkin artwork work was used as an accent to the return address printing on all the envelopes. Catarina like the barn so much that we put it on a plate and bowl set personalized with Nico's name which he could use on the day of his party for cake and ice cream. I was thrilled with how this invitation turned out but was even happier that Catarina LOVED IT!

DIGITAL VS CUSTOM

2010-08-26T20:49:00.000-04:00

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past 10 years then you know digital cards have a HUGE presence when it comes to invitations, thank you notes, and of course holiday cards. I'll admit there are a lot of great websites out there offering some beautiful designs and options. Hands down digital is obviously a less expensive option leaving a lot of potential clients going that route instead of custom. I was trying to think of a way to offer a more budget friendly approach to custom invitations and holiday cards. What I realized was "why does it have to be one or the other, why can't it be both?" Last year was the first year I invested in a digital photo printer and haven't looked back since.

If you know me then you know I HATE clutter and don't save anything but I do SAVE holiday cards. I LOVE the day after Thanksgiving, because I spend the next 4 weeks waiting for the mail to see everyone's cards, hanging each of them up on our slider. I think the most important thing about a holiday card is the "thought." Whether you send a photo card, regular card, fancy or simple someone thought enough of you and your family to send you a holiday wish. When I have Christmas dinner the first thing everyone does is look at the slider to see how everyone's kids have grown or who's families have expanded and I do the same when visiting others. If you drive by my house on December 26th you will see our tree in the driveway, if you came in the front door you would think Christmas never happened but if you go a few more feet to my slider you would see all the holiday cards still up......I keep them up until New Years Day when I carefully pack up all the current memories and look forward to next years.

Four years ago Annette was the first person I ever designed a custom holiday card for aside from myself, she believed in my talent long before I ever could. Not only has she been one of my biggest supporters but she has also been my very best friend since grade school. I remember clearly the first card I designed for Annette, I told her to send me a few of her favorite photos she would like to use....she sent me 15....and every year that number increases! She had taken photo's of Olivia in a tutu sitting on the brass ducks in Boston. Back then I was only offering red folded cards with black ink. She had extra tulle from her tutu so I used it as a wrap under the photo. The interior card had a printed message with two glittered stars....this card holds a lot of memories and it's nice to see how far my design abilities have come.

Annette's Christmas card from last year is the perfect way for me to show everyone how you can have your custom holiday card and still pay the mortgage. If you're someone that sends out a lot of holiday cards 50+ then doing 100% custom and getting everything on your wish list might be a challenge. What I did for Annette as well as many of my clients last year was we came up with a custom holiday card design using cardstocks, glitter ect.. but then I took that design and converted into a digital design. This approach is also nice because it allows you to use more photos.

Annette's custom holiday card was a 7x5 folded card in aquamarine that has a slight shimmer, the band was dahlia which perfectly matched the coral in both the kids outfits. For the interior of the card her message was printed on white linen, we added a sand dollar printed in coral then finished it with clear glitter. By using a folded card she was able to add another photo on the inside flap, for the envelope she went with the aquamarine.

When going the custom route for invitations or holiday cards if you are layering card stocks assembly will be necessary. I offer the option for DIY assembly or I can do your assembly. I tell everyone the same thing, assembly is NOT HARD its just time consuming.

Next up was the digital design, this was perfect for Annette because she had a lot of great photos of her kids and was now able to use a few more of her favorites. I kept the color scheme the same and added some snowflakes to the background. By doing part custom part digital Annette was able to stay on budget and still have a custom holiday card which made her happy as well as her husband Paul happy:)

Digital has come in very handy with regards to holiday cards but it has also been a nice option to compliment party invitations. I have found that someone who has just ordered custom party invitations will also need thank you notes too. Offering custom digital thank you notes has become very popular. Clients often have fabulous photos from the party and it's nice to share some of those memories with those who attended.

For the Gorman Carnival I designed their digital thank you note using all the same colors and fonts from their original party invitation. Krista had sent me a few different photos but in the end the family photo looked the best, we finished it up with a custom message from the family to all of their guests.

In my previous blog you read all about Francesca's First Birthday, you can even see the sample of her digital thank you note. What I did not know at the time was that Nadia had hired professional photographer Rachel Kate. Once I saw the photos there were so many incredible shots I decided to make some design changes to her original digital thank you note. Hands down Francesca holding the balloons is just too cute but equally as cute were those bloomer pants that said her name. Nadia's photographer Rachel had suggest that we put it on the back as a button, which got me thinking, because her name was written on the bum why not use it on the front instead of her name.......LOVE IT! There were so many incredible photos I highly suggest that you check out more of Rachel's work at www.rachelkatephotography.com you will not be disappointed.

Whether you're interested in Digital, Custom or both please feel free email me with any questions you may have about the process or pricing......and NO, September is not to early to start planning your holiday card!!!!!!! beecustom@verizon.net.

The Art of Writing a Letter....

2010-08-22T18:47:00.000-04:00

When is the last time you sat down and wrote someone a letter? If you are like me then the answer to that question is, not lately. I have cute note pads that I write a short note to one of my kids teachers or sometimes I will use a folded note if I need to send a special "thank you" but that's about it. Like most people today if I need to reach someone I text, email, facebook and now even twitter them but just because all this technology exist doesn't mean you have to use it or that everyone in world is. Last night I sat down to watch TV and was excited to see Pride and Prejudice was showing AGAIN! I probably have watched this movie 50 times and LOVE IT but at the same time are frustrated by how long everything takes. For example writing a letter, in that era letter writing is what email is today. Throughout the entire movie almost every scene has a letter being received, written or read. I firmly believe if I needed to exist in that era I would not have made it for two very good reasons. First, I am extremely impatient there is no way I could wait a week to know if someone could come for lunch. Second, I am positive spell check did not exist and thanks to wikipedia I know the dictionary was not yet finished.

I recently received a request for personal stationery, I automatically designed the sample on a folded note card but soon learned what she wanted was stationery paper for writing letters. This was the first time I had designed personal stationery paper for someone.

Her request was simple white linen paper, white linen envelope with a black linen envelope liner. She wanted her name in a script font, a flower above it and her address at the bottom. What I love about this design is the flower actually has just a bit of glitter on it.

FRANCESCA'S CUPCAKE PALOOZA!!!

2010-08-17T13:52:00.003-04:00

I was so excited when Nadia approached me about designing party invitations for her daughter's up coming first birthday. She had already bought this adorable cupcake outfit which was the start of the theme. There are so many types of designers out there doing incredible work therefore, when I stumble upon something fabulous I like to share it. The inspiration for this invitation FIRST started with an adorable little girl named FRANCESCA and she really is as cute as a cupcake! Then came this unbelievable outfit, each of the three pieces were from two different designers that display on ETSY. The bloomer pants were designed by BilianaBabyBoutique.etsy.com and the tutu and onesie were designed by ilovefancyshmancy.etsy.com there are just no words for how FABULOUS this little girl looked coming into her party!

Before Nadia and I met to begin designing the invitation she had sent me a picture of the outfit, the minute I saw it I knew my pink and green cupcake with the cherry on top would be perfect. I have tons of different styles of cupcakes but this one is my favorite because it was the first cupcake I ever created. As we sat to discuss the design of the invite the only request Nadia had was that the cupcake be BIG and GLITTERY.

In order to accommodate that I decided it would be best to have a long invite putting the artwork at the bottom so that it would have balance. The main backing card was a beautiful shimmery green called Envy, for the main invite I used a shimmery white card stock called first snow. The envelope was the perfect light pink called Tourmaline which also had a shimmer to it. I wanted the cupcake to be a little surprise so I used a band of parchment vellum to wrap around the bottom of the invite then punched a small half circle so that only the cherry sat exposed. I love the idea of using parchment paper because it goes hand in hand with baking. There were two colors of glitter used on the cupcake first, was Christmas red for the cheery and second, was crystal clear which allowed the pink to shimmer through perfectly.

Nadia wanted to do cookies as the favors, lucky for all of us I had just recently met a talented cookie designer, Janeen Donati who owns Paige-Reese Designer Bake Shop. It's obvious from the photos what a great job Janeen did recreating my cupcake, she even did cupcake chocolate pops which were equally stunning. To make the favors more personalized I created a round glittered sticker that had a personalized message to put on the back of all the cookies.

With most clients that I design for they usually purchase matching thank you notes but I knew this was a big family party where lots of memories would be created. I suggested to Nadia that we do a digital thank you note that matched the design of the party invite but would include special photos from the event. By doing it this way family and friends receive a nice keepsake of such a memorable day... after all you only turn ONE once!

Next up is the cake and of course cupcakes, Nadia used Cakes for Occasions out of Danvers this will be the third time they have designed a cake to match one of my invitations and I must say they do not disappoint. The cupcake toppers were designed by getthepartystarted.etsy.com and of course this little birthday girl should have her own plate so Nadia had me create a personalized custom plate for Francesca to have her cake on from the photos you can see just how flawlessly everything came together.

I love what I do but what makes it better are the people I meet along the way.....so to Nadia, Frank and Francesca thank you for allowing me to be a part such a memorable occasion!

Another FABULOUS Request!!

2010-08-07T10:58:00.000-04:00

In my previous blog I said "if there is something you want ASK, if I can create it I will." I received an email late Tuesday night from my friend and really good customer Krista with a special request. She had been reading my recent blog and saw the picture of the "Mommy Juice" wine tag which gave her an idea. On Saturday she is going to a Bridal Shower and bought the couple their wine glasses and was going to put a few bottles of wine with it in a basket. Krista asked if I had ever heard of "Wine Poems-the 6 Firsts" which I had not so I clicked on the link which took me to this fabulous blog called The Perfect Bridesmaid. She wanted to know if I could put the poems on individual wine tags that she could put with the bottles of wine......OMG what a brilliant idea. This is why I LOVE being custom, it is nice to know that when a client has a vision that I can help make it a reality for them.....even with only 3 days notice!

So off I went to create the wine tags, I started with the timeless color scheme of light blue and chocolate brown and paired it with one of my favorite fonts MonteCarlo. The poems looked nice on the tags but I felt it needed something more personal....so I designed the couple their own monogram added a bit of glitter to it and positioned it below the poem.......PERFECT!

I would like to give a big thank you to Krista for sending me all the photos and for inspiring yet another great design. She has been on a roll lately because last week she needed a plate with a train on it. The funny thing is I didn't have one but thanks to her request I now have a super cute train and a little guy named Jack will soon be the first one to have this plate.

NOTE: for direct link to Wine Poems-the 6 Firsts
click the link below.
theperfectbridesmaid.blogspot.com/2010/03/wine-poem-6-firsts.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ThePerfectBridesmaid+%28The+Perfect+Bridesmaid%29.

BeeCustom Designs First Home Party!!!!

2010-08-01T15:20:00.001-04:00

When promoting custom invitations most often a potential client is not looking to order that day, it's usually six months down the road or even next year. I needed something beyond a business card that they could buy on the spot hoping it would leave a lasting impression so when they did have an event they would remember me. I have tons of original artwork so I started by making up glittered note card sets with catchy phrases like "Mommy Juice," "Just a note," and "Cosmopolitan Girl" these are just a few of many. All note sets come with five folded note cards printed on luxe white card stock and matching envelopes for 10 dollars. As time went on I added wine tags, bookmarks, paperweights, melamine plates and bowls. Below are a few pictures of some of the designs offered in my cash and carry line but if you would like to see my line in person I do have a full display at Mason & Madison Gifts with Style in Middleton or simply just email me at beecustom@verizon.net.

About two months ago I received an email from Janeen, she had purchased some note cards at Mason & Madison and was interested in ordering some more personalized stationery. I operate on a very custom basis therefore, if you don't see what you need just ask, if I can create it I will. Janeen had two requests, first was she wanted a flat card with an envelope that had one of my cupcakes on it and for it to read Happy Birthday Love, Madison and Emerson that way every time she was heading to a party she already had a card to put with the gift....LOVE THIS! The second request was, would I do a home party? I was so excited because this would be my first one. I always wanted to do home shows but never pushed it because not everyone is a stationery person and I would never want someone to feel like they had to buy something just because they were invited. I created cute glittered invitations for Janeen to mail out to all her friends which got a great response. This being my first show I didn't know what to expect.......a lot of people purchased items from the cash and carry line and some ordered stationery to be personalized while others wanted Janeen's inspired birthday cards for their kids but by far the biggest seller of the night were the plates and bowls. These are a great gifts to give, because you can pick your artwork, color scheme and then have it personalized below are some of my favorites!

To Janeen, her family and friends, thank you so much for coming out and making my first home show a truly memorable one. I had such a good time and hope that all of you were please with what you ordered. So now you know BeeCustom Designs does home shows by request, if are interested in having one please feel free to shoot me an email beecustom@verizon.net.

Whale of a WHOOPIE!

2010-07-28T15:47:00.013-04:00

As you know I'm a graphic designer who mainly designs custom invitations....but I also own a restaurant in Wakefield with my husband Peter called ZALEKS named after our boys Zac and Alec. We've been open now for 5 years and over the last couple of weeks we have been working on a mini makeover. I just finished redesigning all of our menu boards and soon will be re-painting the interior too! Peter gets a lot of requests from our customers wanting something sweet.....so he asked me if I could make some WHOOPIE PIES to test out. My first thought was NO.......I have way to much on my plate but then my second thought was OK, BUT only if you come up with a cool name that way I can design a logo, signage, and packaging.

After throwing around a lot of different names he called me one afternoon and said what about "Whale of a WHOOPIE" I thought it was perfect because whoopie pies are a very New England item and so is the whale......an extra bonus for me was I already had a whale created. Zaleks has a huge menu of everything but our niche is seafood so I felt the logo and color scheme really worked well with the overall feel of the restaurant.

I made my first batch of 14 chocolate whoopie pies and brought them in on a Monday at 4pm. They were displayed on the counter with an adorable sign and each of the whoopie pies were packaged with a round glittered logo. By 9pm Peter called to tell me that we had already sold 10 and that everyone not only liked the whoopie pies but LOVED the packaging...YEAH! As long as they continue to sell I plan on adding pumpkin whoopie pies with cream cheese frosting and red velvet too.

I have to say I wasn't nervous about packaging the product....for me being creative is my comfort zone but when it comes to cooking.......let's just say if you happened to be at my Bridal Shower then you know there wasn't a shortage of jokes every time I opened a kitchen product. I CAN cook and bake but I am know where near as talented as my husband who is an amazing, self taught cook. For 16 years I have watch him cook for family, friends and customers never once looking at a recipe. I have seen his creative ability to come up with countless unique dishes for Zaleks daily specials each one out doing the next.

So if you happen to be in Wakefield stop by for lunch or dinner, bring your friends, a few bottles of wine (yes we are BYOB) sit inside or out and please don't leave without a Whale of a WHOOPIE PIE!!!!!!!!

Bansfield Baby Shower!

2010-07-18T20:43:00.000-04:00

I don't often get to blog about what happens after the invitations are sent.....but lucky for me this event I was on the guest list. Feel free to go back and read part 1 "Oh Boy" this girl could use a party to see how it all began. Natasha is an event planner so of course she planned her own baby shower. Lets start with the location, the shower was an intimate gathering of close family and friends so she held it in her beautifully landscaped backyard.

Under the white tent each table had a center piece of flowers wrapped in polk-a-dot tissue paper which picked up on the swiss dot paper used in the the invitations. Across the back of the tent was a clothes line which later would display all the cute outfits that she received as gifts. Once everyone was seated we were all given a cute basket accented with a blue napkin and a polk-a-dot bow on the front. Each basket had a bowl of vegetable orzo pasta, chicken balsamic roll-up and some grapes. It was such a great solution for eating outside......everyone received their own personal picnic basket........LOVE IT!

Next up was the cake, lets just say Cakes for Occasions in Danvers www.cakes4occasions.com is known in this area for doing great work, as you can see from the photos they did not disappoint. I love how it perfectly matches the belly from the invitations that I designed for Natasha. When it came to favors Natasha chose the bon bon box which is one of my personal favorites. Each box was filled with taffy and then wrapped with a black band and glittered button. She then stacked them with all the "b's" facing out creating a stunning look. To Natasha and Jay I wish you the best with the arrival of your new little man and thank you for allowing me to be a part of it:)

The GORMAN CARNIVAL......is coming to town!

2010-07-10T20:33:00.000-04:00

It's becoming very popular now for families to have ONE birthday party for all of their children rather than one for each. All the Gorman kids were born in the month of August so having a joint party was perfect. The idea for a carnival theme was brilliant based on the age range of children that would be coming. I was given full control of what the design would be as long as the color scheme was red and blue and it contained absolutely NO CLOWNS......Liam is afraid.....can't say I blame him either.

The main backing card was a red matte card stock called Geisha, the invite was printed on White Linen and the envelope was a stunning blue matte card stock called Aruba. Now that I had the card stocks picked out it was time to decide on the other elements. I knew I wanted to have some sparkle to the invite and felt the flags represented the carnival theme well and would look fabulous glittered. Next up was finding two fonts a carnival style and a more simpler one to compliment it. By having the text of the invite all parallel and mixing the two fonts it creates an element of design that works but is not over powering. I continued the use of the two fonts for the return address on the envelope as well as the optional custom address printing for the front of the envelope.

I had so much fun designing this invitation not only because I have always wanted to do a carnival theme but also because the clients were the GORMANS. This fabulous family consists of dad Joe, mom Krista, big brother Liam, twins Ryan & Anna.....oh and last but not least Greta the dog. If you read my blog then you know I consider it an honor to be a part of people's life moments, this has never been more true. Before Krista was the wife to one and mom to three she was my friend. I've known her now for twenty years and have been a part of many of her life moments not as a designer but always as a friend. It was an honor that she asked me to play both roles this time around:) So to you Krista, it's been a long road with many good memories and plenty of scary photos!

Fabulous In Full Force North of Boston

2010-06-25T18:07:00.000-04:00

For two years I have followed all the events that Julie Fairweather owner of In Full Force was behind www.infullforce.com, waiting for the right one to participate in. I was so excited when I learned that In Full Force would be doing another Fabulous North of Boston event. It was held under a tent located at the Harbor Marina in Newburyport. This event was meant to showcase everything that is cosmopolitan on the North Shore and I knew it would be the perfect place to showcase my work. When I first arrived I found my table and began to set up, within a few minutes I was approach by two different individuals offering to help me unload my car and seeing if I needed anything......so nice! An added bonus for me was finding out my friend Natasha of Natasha Bansfield Events www.natashabansfieldevents.com was one of my neighbors...YEAH!

I have done shows before but this was my first really big one, so I really wasn't sure what to expect. June 10th arrived and so did the rain, but that didn't stop the incredible turn out of people. Just as the event kicked off I looked outside and it was down pouring but the harder it poured the more people filled the tent.....which totally amazed me. One of the genius ideas of In Full Force was having the fashion show in the tent with all the displaying vendors this is important because as a participating vendor you are there to showcase your product and network, having it separated would clearly make it impossible for vendors to keep people at their tables.

After doing so many small shows over the last two years I've learned what you need to keep people interested. I had a full display of my cash and carry line as well as a lot of my custom samples. I decided to do a free raffle and because it was June I thought a teacher gift would be smart. The bucket contained a paper weight, melamine plate, bookmark and note cards all from my "teachers give a hoot" line. Liz White of Mason & Madison www.masonandmadison.com put together all my glittered goodies in the perfect bucket. Congrats to Helen Santos of Beverly she was the lucky winner of my raffle.

If you read my blog often you know that a lot of my designs are glittered by hand, with so many vendors in one area I felt the need to stand out therefore handing out my regular business cards would not do. I decided to get candy bars and make a custom wrapper with my hot pink glittered B on the front and my info on the back.....hoping it would leave a lasting impression. Liz was kind enough to brave the rain to come out and help at my table that night, standing in the middle of the tent passing out my candy bars and directing people to my display.

The main host for the evening was Billy Costa, and yes I am a HUGE FAN so it was a really big moment for me when I got to meet him and show him my designs, Liz of course gave him my candy bar and later when he was on stage speaking he gave a little shout out to my table......OMG that totally made the 3 hours I spent glittering and assembling 72 candy bars.....well worth it! So to Julie of In Full Force and all her peeps thank you, despite the rain, I had a great time and met a lot of nice people.

Happy Birthday Mason & Madison

2010-06-19T09:54:00.019-04:00

I clearly remember Mason and Madison's grand opening last year, outside it was a cloudy rainy day but inside it was anything but filled to capacity with family, friends, and new customers all braving the weather to come out and see Middleton's new gift boutique. They say rain is good luck....must be because one year later at Mason and Madison's First Birthday celebration the sun was shinning inside and out and so were all the people that came out to celebrate. Liz put together an incredible party of everything sweet and you can see from the photos I wonder if she should be an event planner as well as a business owner.

One thing I have learned about Liz is she is meticulous, always thinking ahead. Since she opened a year ago she has changed her store display probably 15 times and has had over 12 different local artisans displaying their work. I have personally watch Liz offer her time, advice and knowledge to everyone of her local artists so that their products are shown in the best light. Every time I come in she has a new product or is working on a new strategy to keep her store one-of-a-kind.

I came into the Mason and Madison family wearing a few hats. First, I am the invitation/stationery consultant for all of Liz's customers. Second, is handling any graphic design projects Liz may need for the store or her local artisans. My last hat is of course my favorite..... friend! So to you Liz Happy First Birthday, I think we make a great team and have accomplished a lot in a year together as well as individually. Here's to many more
successful years to come:)

When life hands you WHITE LINEN........

2010-06-12T12:03:00.008-04:00

It's hard to believe that it has been a whole year since I starting working with Liz White of Mason & Madison. She wanted to throw a first birthday celebration for her store and the original plan was "cupcakes and cocktails" with a black linen pocket fold that would hold the invite, VIP card and then be inserted into a bubble gum pink shimmery envelope. However, like many clients Liz had a change of heart with regards to her idea and really wanted to change it to a Candy Land themed party. I LOVED the new idea but there was not enough time to order new card stock. So two white linen flat cards and one shimmery pink envelope is all I had to work with. As a designer it's situations like these that really challenge you to tap your creative skills.

I decided the color scheme for the inks would be bubble gum pink and apple green. For the invitation I created two pieces of candy that were hand embellished with clear glitter allowing the bubble gum pink to shine through. The most challenging piece for me was the VIP card because it was the same white linen card stock as the invitation but just a bit smaller. VIP as we all know means "very important person" this piece needed to be unique but still coordinate with the main invitation.

My first thought was to make it a circle cut out with a stick giving the look and feel of a lollipop but as I sat on the floor of my office I noticed one of my check ribbons. This green and pink ribbon is the first ribbon I ever bought when I started designing. I LOVED it so much that I bought 3 rolls which was a good thing because as I looked at the white linen card stock, the ribbon and my circle punch the perfect solution came to me. As you can see the VIP card actually resembles the glittered candy from the invite. I needed the "VIP CUSTOMERS" line to stand out so I chose a similar candy style font that resembles the one used in the Candy Land Game. The cards were printed first, then the four corners were punched out and finally finished with a bit of trimming.........TADAH!

Last stop was the envelope......thankfully it was not white linen but I felt it needed something special to tie everything together. Printed envelopes always give a more completed look therefore all 50 VIP guests received a custom printed envelope that had their name in the Candy Land font. I was so pleased with the end result and most importantly so was Liz. So my advice is "when life gives you white linen.......embrace the challenge because it will help you become a better designer.

Oh "BOY" this girl could use a party!!!!!!!!

2010-06-05T14:43:00.012-04:00

I met Natasha a little over a year ago and it was a match from the very first meeting not only on a business level but as a friend. Natasha is an event planner so of course she is planning her own baby shower. When she first talked to me about invites she was thinking nursery rhymes but then decided to switch gears and make it more about being pregnant, which was smart because after the baby is born you pretty much take a backseat to everything. I was so excited when I first learned that she was pregnant but even more excited because she would be finding out what she was having......BOY'S RULE!!!!!!!!!

The release of envelopments new card stocks and favor boxes could not have come at a better time, from the moment I received my samples I knew exactly what I would use for Natasha's baby shower invites. When we met she decided that the belly dress would be perfect. I am always careful when mixing pattern card stocks with glittered artwork because it sometimes can come across as too much.

I fell in love with First Snow Swiss Dots the minute I saw it and new that it was a simple enough pattern to accent the glittered belly perfectly. I used Coal as the main backing card, Caspian as the invite backer and then printed the invitation itself on First Snow. In order for the belly and the dots to work they needed to have slight separation which is achieved by using the pattern not on the invitation but on the envelope liners and then again on the favor boxes. You can see from the photo that all components are perfectly balanced. For the matching thank you notes I didn't want to use the word "thank you" so instead I borrowed a phrase from a really funny T.V. show that since has been canceled.......notes from the underbelly!

The bon bon favor box is the most adorable box I have ever seen.......everyone I show it too loves it. I wanted the box to have a sash and a custom glittered button. The "b" actually symbolizes three things, the first is Natasha's last name which is Bansfield, second is baby, and third is boy. Even though Natasha went with the box for her favors another option would have been the custom candy wrapper which is also super cute.

Invitations are an important element to any event.....it's a sneak peak at what your guests can expect. It's not often that I get to witness the entire event come together but I feel very lucky that I am on the guest list for this one. I will have a part 2 to my blog displaying pictures of all the other beautiful elements of Natasha's baby shower, especially the custom belly cake that is being made......stay tuned!

An Elegant Birthday Brunch

2010-05-27T12:58:00.013-04:00

I believe that a persons best work most often begins with a challenge and this was exactly the case with a recent invitation order. I am always excited when I get a new client but it means a lot when the reason they are calling is because they had been the recipient of a previous invitation that I had designed. Dawn called me on May 4th about needing invitations for a surprise birthday party she was throwing for her mother but was concerned that she may not have left enough time for custom design invitations. So here lies the challenge.....the party is May 23rd which was exactly 19 days away. I will admit my first thought was "HOLY BANANAS" my second thought was of course you can have custom........I LOVE a challenge!

Normally I meet with a client first to get a feel for their personal style and vision, however time was not on our side. My plan was to do as much research as I could before our meeting which was the very next morning. When we got off the phone the only things I knew about the party was it would be a elegant brunch, outside in Beverly at Misslewood by the water and that there would be a live brass horn band. I knew the band was a huge part of her vision because Dawn had shared with me her family memories of the summers spent in Newport listening to the big bands that would play.

I started by going to Misslewood's website to view photos of the location......the only way to describe the location is "perfection." The entire look and feel would have you thinking you were in Newport. Next up would be the card stock, I went with the paisley pattern of Mehndi. You can see the mix of the caspian blue and rich shimmery antique gold coordinates effortlessly with the vision. I wanted to implement a piece of artwork so I created a saxophone with music notes coming out of it and of course the music notes were hand embellished with clear glitter adding just a hint of sparkle.

Wednesday morning I met with Dawn at BodiScience which is a Holistic Day Spa that she owns in Beverly. I presented my personal interpretation of what I felt her vision was and showed her the card stocks that I picked out, her response was "perfect!" Exactly 6 days later her invites and thank you notes were done and in the mail. This was the fastest custom order I have ever done and by far one of my favorites.

My first Bat Mitzvah

2010-05-19T13:23:00.009-04:00

Creating a custom invitation is kind of like picking out your wedding dress; what think you want and envision is never what you end up with. This is exactly what happen with a recent client. Debbie came all the way from Newton to meet with me about her daughter Haley's Bat Mitzvah. She was looking through my samples and loved what I had done for an Alison in Wonderland party and really wanted to use the fun font from it. Her vision was for Haley to have her own logo using the colors of yellow and blue. After finishing up a few different samples I forwarded them to Debbie who had the same gut feeling as I did......it was to casual for such a serious event however she was concerned if we went the in the other direction it would be to formal. I told her to give me some time and I would come back with round two. The creative approach I took the second time around was simple "what would I do if it was my daughter" Debbie as well as Haley were very happy with the end result.

Now that we had the logo, it was time to design the invitation. At that point Haley had already received 8 other invitations from numerous friends also planning their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. This can be a challenge for both the kids and the parents as you try to create your special day while keeping it unique. I was thankful that Debbie chose to work with me because I could guarantee her that nobody would have Haley's invitation or logo because it was solely created for her.

They liked the look of a long invitation, the backing card was a beautiful textured card stock in amethyst, the text card was printed with two ink colors on white linen. Each guest received a custom address label that was attached to the front of a Belize envelope. Haley's logo was also used on the return address labels, thank you notes, and response card. The logo was also given to the entertainment company to use for the favors that would be created on site for all the guests. Debbie was even able to use the logo for custom M & M's that would be on all the tables.

This was my very first Bat Mitzvah and I could not have been blessed with better clients than Debbie and Haley. I loved how the design turned out and learned a lot about what goes into participating in such an event. Haley's big day is just a few weeks away, I am thankful that I was able to play a part in such an important occasion.

For the LOVE of a font!

2010-05-08T14:10:00.007-04:00

I love creating original pieces of artwork that compliment the perfect invitation but you don't always need artwork. By using the perfect font in a design you can achieve unbelievable results. I personally have a total font fetish and can spend countless hours in search of the perfect font.

Communion season is in full swing and I have designed many invitations with numerous variations of the crosses that I have created. One of my very good clients and friend needed some invitations for her son's upcoming communion. Her first question was "do you think I need to have a cross?" Her second question was "Do you think I can use a color other than silver?" My response to both was "of course you can!" My idea was to use a classic color combination of chocolate and blue accented by a clean font called FUTURA.

The main backing card is bronze, the invite was printed on white linen using two ink colors and the envelope was an eye popping blue called zircon. You can see that his name is the main focus of the design and by having the rest of the information flush left and right it has now created a piece of artwork by the use of just one font.

Barcelona Spain....chapter two!

2010-04-29T18:25:00.023-04:00

The Gaudi lizard is a well known icon in Barcelona Spain, Sue wanted it to play a role in the next series of invitations. However, this was my first challenge the mosaic lizard although stunning did not work with what was chosen for card stocks. In order to use him he would need a bit of a makeover.

As you can see by simplifying him to an outline and adding some of the Kitsch pattern to its back he now fits with the look of the invitations. The next step was finding him a spot in this design, my first idea was to make him the logo for the series of upcoming parties, events and meetings that would be taking place. The logo first appears as a custom button on the outside of the invitation, he then made another appearance on the thank you notes.

This invitation is unique because it's designed for not just one party but for 7. It can be a challenge to accommodate that many invitations in one design and still have it look organized. I centered the main invitation then on either side was a custom pocket each having their own band wrap. You will notice with this series of invites I changed the accent of color to yellow topaz which is so striking against the Kitsch pattern.

Barcelona Spain....chapter one!

2010-04-22T09:47:00.018-04:00

This photo was what Sue Campbell brought to me when it was time to design a series of invitations for IDAC'S upcoming events that would take place in Barcelona, Spain. I had recently designed for their other series of events in Naples, Florida and although the parties and meetings were generally the same the look however would be anything but.
My first thought for Barcelona was BOLD.....
and majority of my inspiration came from this photo. For the first series of invites we decided to do a square folded card in coal which has a beautiful shimmer. The photo would be mounted on a shimmery red card stock called jupiter and act as the design element for the front of the invite. The look of this photo on the red then mounted on the coal is really eye catching.

I love having the element of surprise so choosing a pattern card stock like Kitsch was perfect, the whole look of it breaths Barcelona. I first gave each guest a little peak of it on the custom label that was used for the envelope but the big reveal came when you opened the invite. This specific design needed to accommodate the main invitation plus three additional inserts; therefore I was able to use it in two places. The pattern in Kitsch is very modern, the flowers are made up of such beautiful lines and portrays a very clean look. You can see the chosen font has almost the same type of lines as the flower and by making all the text flush right it continues to complement the contemporary look.

Professional Photos

2010-03-31T15:41:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to share some professional photos that were taken of the save-the-dates that I designed for Ashley and Jay, there is really no subsitution! Thank you to Jim of Creative Sparks Imagery not only is he photographing Ashley and Jay's wedding but he is documenting their entire journey. You can go to www.creativesparksimagery.com to view more of his work.

Ashley & Jay's Save-the-Dates

2010-03-27T16:11:00.017-04:00

I would like to share with you a special save-the-date I recently designed but in order to do so I first need to tell you about how the paths of this couple and myself crossed. This past summer I was meeting with three other small business owners in order to do some networking. Natasha Bansfield owns Natasha Bansfield Events, Heidi Nicholson and Lisa Almeida own Bella Sera Bridal, that afternoon we talked more about giving back than we did about networking. In just a short amount of time Reason to Give was born. Our first project would be a North Shore Wedding Giveaway to a deserving couple that was experiencing some type of hardship. All of us reached out to numerous vendors and to this day are stunned at the amount of people who stepped up to the plate for no other reason than to give. I am proud to share that we now have every inch of this wedding covered by donations. The entries were narrowed down to three possible finalists who would be interviewed by us resulting in the winning couple being surprised with the news on Valentine's Day.

It was a Tuesday night when we went to Amesbury to visit the first couple Ashley and Jay. The excitement of getting engaged on the fourth of July was quickly over shadowed that September when Jay collapsed. Shortly after they discovered he had a mass on his brain. He underwent emergency brain surgery as well as months of radiation. As we all sat there in Ashley's parents home that night we listen to them tell their story of what they had been through but as hard as it was to hear what they endured it was so easy to hear the love they had for each other. Her eyes lit up when she told us how they had met when she was sixteen and how lucky she was to find the love of her life so early. Ashley and Jay are two of the most genuine people I have ever met and as we left their house that night we all agreed on one thing, they are the type of people that make you want to do more.

So on Valentine's Day we showed up in a white limo armed with their photographer, florist and the local media to tell them the good news! As the minutes went on numerous family members arrived to share in the excitement and joy for Ashley and Jay. It was at that moment that the four us realized we were not just changing their lives but the lives of all their family and friends. Our goal with this giveaway was not so much about giving the wedding to this deserving couple but giving them a new story. More often than not the hardship you may be experiencing begins to define you and of all sudden you lose what you use to be. We at Reason to Give wanted to give this couple a new story.

Not long after that I met with Ashley and Jay to start designing their save-the-dates. I came up with my vision the night we interviewed them, my ahha moment came when she told us how they met and how lucky she was to find the love of her life at sixteen. My immediate thought was how she gave him the key to her heart. The key is a timeless symbol of love, success, and opportunity. By giving Ashley and Jay this wedding we essentially are giving them the key to unlock a new chapter in their life. The save-the-dates went out this past Friday and so the new chapter begins......

I shared Ashley and Jay's story with my paper company Envelopments, and like so many others they too had a reason to give. They were generous enough to donate all the card stock for these save-the-dates which further supports my belief that there are far more people in this world doing good than you think.

Wouldn't it B nice.........!

2010-03-23T04:01:00.008-04:00

I came across this fabulous website while reading another blog about being nice. I always go to the "about us" of a website first because I feel it shows a lot about who is behind the site. After reading Carrie's story and how wouldn't it B nice began I wanted to share it with everyone that I know. Being NICE does not have to be expensive, it does not have to be a huge commitment it just has to be NICE. A friend of Carrie's described Wouldn't it B Nice? as "cold lemonade on a hot summer day" to me that is a timeless statement that never goes out of style, which is exactly how I feel about being NICE. So I encourage you to click the title of this blog, it will take you to her site and after reading the "about us" I guarantee you will find her story and what she is doing inspiring as I have.

SMILES:)

Effective Advertising

2010-03-15T14:46:00.006-04:00

I love creating custom invitations but I actually started as an ad/production designer for two different Boston newspapers Lawyers Weekly and Banker and Tradesman therefore I know first hand how expensive advertising is. In most cases your ad will sit with many others so it needs to stand out plus contain key points that lets the person looking at your ad know why they should go to you versus a competitor and because most advertisers choose smaller ads due to budgets you are faced with size constraints that do not always leave a ton of room to design. My fabulous friend Laurie Durkin owner of Noteworthy Papers in New London New Hampshire was in need of another ad for this new kids magazine coming out for the upper valley region of New Hampshire called
Kids Stuff www.uvkidstuff.com. If you go to Noteworthy's website www.noteworthynh.com then you will see Laurie works with a large amount of designers, she has products for every occasion one may have. So my design challenge was to promote everything KID in a small amount of space. I really love how this design turned out.I feel it's a perfect balance of what she offers and just how stylish her studio is.