I’ve always been amazed by the concept of a destination wedding and just spotted these amazing invitations for one on Shop Local @ Etsy.

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Ana de Roux sells them for $5.50+ depending on what add ons you want. I’d love to see how someone incorporates these into their wedding.

Ijorere designs modern hand-made specialties using embellishments from Africa and the eastern worlds of Asia & India. We will speak with owner Ola-Tokumbo, as she tells us more about this beautifully created cards.

Listen now

Having a reception at a place other than where the wedding is taking place?

Remember to put a map in the invitations. It’s also a good idea to put a map to the reception in the ceremony program (that is, if everyone is invited to the reception).

Ask the post office for a selection of romantic stamps from which to choose. Ask to see the newest “Love” stamps.

Spritz your invitations with your favorite fragrance.

Be sure to mail invitations six to eight weeks before the big day; be sure to include a deadline (of two to three weeks before the wedding) on your reply cards! If you haven’t received all of your RSVPs by 15 days before the wedding, designate a family member of friend to telephone those who have not responded.

Don’t send your invitations out on a rainy day, especially if you plan to use a public mailbox. All that dampness may damage the paper and cause the ink to blur.

Copyright © 2009 – Larry James. This idea is adapted from Larry’s Wedding Website. Larry James is a non-denominational minister and performs the most “Romantic” wedding ceremony you will find anywhere! Call to check availabilty: 480-998-9411 or 800-725-9223. You will find more than 445 pages of Wedding ideas, tips (90 tips and growing), ceremonies, and more at: http://www.celebrateintimateweddings.com. Check Larry’s availability.

Subscribe to Larry’s FREE monthly “LoveNotes for Lovers” eZINE. Contact: CelebrateIntimateWeddings.com, P.O. Box 12695, Scottsdale, AZ 85267-2695. – CelebrateIntimateWeddings.com

NOTE: All articles, “LoveNotes” and wedding tips listed in this Wedding BLOG are available for reprint in magazines, periodicals, newsletters, newspapers, eZINEs, on the Internet or on your own Website. Click here for details.

Add Larry James to your Facebook page: http://www.Facebook.com/larry.james
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 THEME:  Summer fun at the beach

INVITATIONS:  Cut round circles and color one side like a beach ball.  On the other side, use California beach slang, such as:

            “Hey, dudes and dudettes–slap on your best beach gear and come hang out at the Indoor Beach Party.  Don’t let winter chill you out!  There’ll be a prize for the baddest beach threads, and we’ll have some really rad activities!  Bring your fave beach snack for munchin’ and blow off this winter scene–totally!”

     This is a fun party for all ages, from teens to adults.

MATERIALS FOR ACTIVITIES:  Two surfboards or plain wooden boards of similar size; two large bowls; wrapped hard candies; two plastic pitchers; two clear plastic glasses; two or four rolls of Life Saver candies; large box of sand; 20 pennies; blackboard and chalk or whiteboard (or poster) and marker; team prize for the competitions, such as kiddie sunglasses for each team member; prize for best beach outfit, such as a pair of underwater goggles; music for dancing, if desired (Beach Boys, etc.) and stereo; prize for dance contest, if desired, such as a beach ball or water wings; video of old beach movie and VCR, if desired.

FOOD:  The guests will bring snacks, and you can provide the cold pop–six-packs in various flavors, packed in an ice chest.  You might also provide something more exotic, like a fresh pineapple.  Set the food out on a table covered with a beach blanket or large beach towel.  Serve in creative containers, like large seashells, a diver’s mask, little plastic boats, etc.

DECORATIONS:  First of all, have the party room warm and well lighted, as the guests will be wearing summery clothing.  In two clear corners, create two famous beaches, such as Malibu, Waikiki or Palm Beach.  If you have local beaches, you could use those names.  Label the beaches with signs and try to recreate something that beach is famous for.  Borrow some potted palms for Palm Beach, or make palm trees on the wall with colored construction paper.  For Malibu Beach, you might spark some laughter by setting up a scene with Malibu Barbie and Ken in their beach buggy, etc.  Light blue cloths or curtains could hang on the wall as an ocean backdrop.  You could display diving or surfing gear, if you have access to it.  In other areas of the room hang colorful swimsuits, beach towels, beach posters and Beach Boys album covers.  Near the refreshment table, you might set up beach blankets and umbrellas on the floor.  Have Beach Boys surfin’ music playing softly in the background during the competitions.

 BLOW-BY-BLOW:            As guests arrive, assign them equally to the two (or more, if the group is large) different beaches.  Each beach team then uses this time to come up with its own cheer.  When the teams are complete, they each give their cheers, and the competitions begin.

Surf's up!

            The first competition is the Surfing Race.  It will require three people from each group, usually two boys and a girl.  The teams choose their contestants before the race is explained.  Give the boys from each team a surfboard or similar piece of wood, and they hold it between them while the girl sits on it.  On a signal, the groups race to the end of the room and back.  The team to arrive first gets a point on the board.

            The next contest is the High Dive, which requires one representative from each beach.  You (the host/hostess) provide the contestants with one pitcher of water each.  On the floor are two empty glasses.  These they must fill at least two-thirds full from the position of standing on chairs.  The one who spills the least water on the floor gets the point for her team.

            The next event is the Underwater Swimming Race.  One contestant is chosen to represent each beach.  Give each one a deep bowl filled with water at the bottom of which are several wrapped candies.  He is seated at a table or may kneel on the floor in front of the bowl, keeping his hands behind his back.  At the signal, the contestant must bob for the candies, getting them out with his mouth.  The first one to get all the candies out wins the point for his team.

            The next event, the Life-Saving Contest, is announced, and two representatives are chosen from each beach.  The two partners stand four or five paces apart, facing each other.  Give one side several Life-Saver candies, which they must toss, one at a time, to their partners.  The other side must catch them with their mouths.  The team which catches the most wins the point.

            For the last event, the Buried Treasure Race, one contestant is chosen from each group.  (Make sure that every person on each team has the chance to compete in at least one event.)  This could be the tie-breaking event!  A large box of sand is placed at one end of the room; the representatives line up at the other.  Twenty pennies are buried in the sand, ten for each team.  On a signal, the contestants race to the box, dig their ten pennies out with their hands, and race back.  The first one back with all ten pennies wins the final point for her team.  The beach with the most points on the board wins a team prize.

            After this, you  award a prize to the guest with the best beach outfit.  Then serve the refreshments, and turn the music up.  Guests may dance, if desired, or, after eating, you may show a video of an old beach movie.  If you choose to dance, a spontaneous dance contest–whether ’50’s style or the current craze–adds to the fun, and you may award a prize to the winning couple.

Lockerz (www.lockerz.com) is a new site that offer the coolest brands at the lowest prices, exclusive video and music and the hottest games.

You can get your desired item in place of Points that you have in your account. LOCKERZ PTZ  or simply  POINTZ (PTZ)  are Lockerz’ proprietary loyalty “currency” that you earn whenever you buy, watch, play, share, invite friends, or even just show up on Lockerz.

PTZ can be used to get incredible prizes, great products and dream experiences. Its not hard to get points. Login to lockerz will provide you 2 Points and answering to a simple question (Question of the day) will also give you 2 Points, So simply in a day you will get 4 Points.

Lockerz send you the selected item as  “Gift”, hence you need not to pay any money in receiving the same. Moreover Gifts “marked as gifts”, worth less than 12.5k will not attract any tax, as per FEMA and Indian customs.(NOTE : But sometimes it is at the discretion of the assessing officer, if they feel the item is undervalued, they may impose tax, anyway it will amount up to 27% to 35% based on the type of your electronics, such as amplifiers, CD players, computer parts, mobile phones, etc., )

The site www.Lockerz.com is launching in steps so as to develop as  all-in-one site! where user can get everything he/she wants. The CEO of Lockerz is  Kathy Savitt (Vice President at Amazon and the CEO at American Eagle Outfitters) and their financial contributor is Liberty Meda, which owns a major part of Time Warner Videos.

Current Ranking of Lockerz website among others is 23. Currently they accepts members on invitation basis.

you can get your invitation by using following link :-Lockerz Invitations

After Joining play a one time game to get Bonus Points and fill your shipping details under settings tab carefully and correctly.

Last night when someone popped up on my Facebook chat was when I realized I’d forgotten the darned thing on.  How I dislike that rarely functioning FB chat.  Anyway, someone popped up and started talking to me about what kind of Christmas gift she should get her 14 year old daughter. 

Admittedly yes, I found that was a bit on the strange side because said person and I rarely chat online.  I offered my suggestion anyway, and she said she had to go get the daughter to bed and ready for school this morning.

That was followed by her saying “Love ya silly soon to be niece in law’.  Which I thought was very sweet, so I replied.  Seconds later she wanted to know if we had our wedding party set in stone.

Can you imagine how I felt?

No.  Maybe you can’t.

That’s why she popped up in the first place.  It wasn’t for my suggestion on Christmas gifts.  It wasn’t to have a breezy chat.  It was to make me feel guilty not having asked her daughter to be in our wedding. 

I told her that yes, our wedding party has already been chosen.  She said ‘forget I asked’ and then followed it with ‘It’s just that [daughter] would have been so excited’. 

Um. Wow.

Wedding planning is stressful enough with people trying to tell us what we should do, or what they think we should do in less than a friendly suggestion sort of way.  And now, someone making me feel like we should rearrange things to include her daughter. 

J was upset about it.  I was made to feel so uncomfortable that I didn’t know what to say, so I told her that of course her daughter would have been excited but that we’re having a small wedding and we can’t have everyone we love in the wedding party or there will just be no guests at the wedding. 

Surely she should have realized that I have a niece, and that my niece would be in the wedding?

We are not changing the order of things for her daughter, or for the woman herself. 

I mean, who does that? 

That was uncalled for.  You don’t just do that.

Yes, it’s true! The results are in! Paper Cut Industries ranked in the final Top 5! This is such great news. I can’t thank everyone enough for participating and showing your support for me. It was a last minute decision to join and I think the exposure will prove to be a great step for Paper Cut Industries.

The new website is now live! Check it out and for those who have seen the site before hit REFRESH or RELOAD the page to clear the cache to see the updated version! Enjoy!

Andrea and I are getting married on a budget…a very tight budget I might add…so, in order to save some money and to satisfy my creative spirit, we decided that I MAKE our wedding invitations. Of course, I wanted them to be a little different than the usual invite, in order to reflect the strangeness of us as a couple. So I put my googling skills to good use and looked at hundreds of different invitations on the web, and tutorials on how to make your own invitations and everything, but was still not quite satisfied. So I looked up cardmaking tutorials on youtube, and found what I was looking for! (Unfortunately I can’t remember the link to the site, but as soon as I find it, I’ll post it!)

So I gathered all my materials and am now very slowly starting to put them together. They are not even close to being finished yet, but I’ve had a few people asking me how they are coming along so I took a few pictures:

So far so good I’d say. I ordered the plain white square envelopes online and using a stamp and embossing powder, I made them look fancy. I also made a little map that I am going to glue onto one of the flaps…and in case you were wondering, yes I did spend afternoons folding 12″ x 12″ paper so that it would look like that I’ll post more pictures as soon as they are done!

I wanted to take a quick break from answering questions to show you a project I just finished for my parents and maybe give you some ideas for Christmas cards.

My mom asked me a couple weeks ago to come up with some invitations for our family’s annual Christmas Eve gathering.  After thumbing through my card-stock and paper stash I started playing around with a sheet of plain red paper with a slight sparkle to it.

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After playing around with it for awhile and having some not so great ideas I settled on what I wanted to do and made a quick example to show my mom and dad.

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They liked it, so it was then time to start cutting and cutting and cutting and…

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I cut out four rings for the base and after much cutting of little paper leaves I could start layering them on to each ring.  I used my two way glue pen (I love this thing)  to wet the ring with glue and add about three layers of leaves at a time.  I would then add glue to a new section of the ring and the bottom half of the leaves from the previous layer and start again.

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Here you can see a ring that is over half way done, the glue I use is blue when wet, but it dries clear.  It’s a pretty neat product because it works like glue, but if you only want a temporary bond you can apply it to one piece of paper and let it dry.  Once it is dry it then just has a slight tackiness to it so you can stick and re-stick the paper.

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I would never have made these if it wasn’t for the fact that we only needed four doors total.  The wreaths were just a bit time consuming.

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I made a few changes to the final card.  I wanted to put the door on a dark green background so it would stand out a little more.  After a quick trip to Jo-Ann’s I found the card-stock I was looking for and cut it to the right dimensions.  My dad also found the neat-o little silver, 3-D  dots that made better door handles than just a gold hole punch.  The doors were made out of regular white card-stock and the gold poinsettias were made from a sheet of gold paper I hand on hand.  I affixed the petals on to a small square of white card stock and then glued the finished flower on to the wreath.

]]> http://thefitbride.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/operation-beautiful-feline-edition/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:26:46 +0000 thefitbride http://thefitbride.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/operation-beautiful-feline-edition/

Erm, so, I’m running a 5K tomorrow.  Want to know my super awesome strategy?  Run real fast.

This is the first race all season where I’m setting a somewhat aggressive time goal.  Before, all my records were instant PRs because they were the first I’ve done in each distance–a 5K, an 8k, and a 4 miler.  This is my second 5k.  At my first 5K, I came in at 30:18 BUT the course setup was kind of crappy and it was actually 3.25 miles, not 3.1.  My goal for this 5K is to finish in under 30:00.  Full recap to come tomorrow!  Wish me luck!

Today was a lovely day.  We had an early lunch with my old friend Mary and her fiance Matt and sat around chatting for a long time.  It’s always so good to see my friends from college–we’re spread across the country so it’s generally pretty sporadic.  Hopefully I’ll see her again in a few weeks!  He is in the army and is stationed not too far from here, and KC is the closest airport, so she’ll be passing through on her way home.

Then I did a little shopping.  I generally wear either brown or black heels to work every day depending on my outfit.  Unfortunately, they are not exactly nice shoes and this week the leather on my brown ones ripped!  So, I replaced them:

I can’t find a pair of black heels I like that’s less than $140, unfortunately.  I might just spring for them–I wear them every day and hopefully a nice pair will last a long time.

I also picked up two Gap turtlenecks (my latest obsession–snuggly and soft but dressy enough for work) and my absolute favorite hand lotion:

Then I went to Target and picked up the fixins for Thanksgiving dinner.  We’re going to be with T’s family, and I arbitrarily decided to bake Chocolate Crumb Bars (I hate pumpkin pie) and Tillamook Bacon Beer Mac n’ Cheese.  These are absolutely not healthy recipes, but Thanksgiving isn’t a day for calorie counting.  I want to enjoy the day with family and relax!  One day is never going to make you gain ten pounds–it’s the big picture that matters.

We are also bringing wine!

In other “bored on a Saturday” news, we Operation Beautifulized Southpaw as we felt a little bad for commenting negatively on her weight lately.  (If you haven’t checked out Operation Beautiful yet, click the link and do so.  It’s a wonderful project that I’m happy to support!)  She was nonplussed.  And then Milhouse started eating the note, so we had to throw it away.

Tonight’s plans will involve more invitation printing!  Have a good one!

Chères amies,

 Notre prochaine activité se déroulera chez nous le mercredi 25 novembre prochain.

Nous commencerons notre après-midi par une balade.  

Suivra une présentation du séjour de trois mois qu’a effectué Thierry en RDC à Kananga {(ex-Luluabourg) dans le Kasaï Occidental} dans une communauté des Sœurs de la Charité de Jésus et de Marie.

Nous terminerons notre après-midi par le goûter traditionnel, source de multiples échanges.

                                                                                           Marie-Mad. et Thierry

Credits: Corbin Gurkin, Corbin Gurkin Photography, Rochelle Mort, Blooms by Martha Andrews, Belathee, Belathee Photography, Orchard Cove Photography, Artisan Events, Carla Ten Eyck, Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge

Of Our Lives… is 126 days away!  With each wedding that we have attended this year, it is almost like a count down to ours!  This morning I woke up and realised today was the last wedding of the year in ZPH… and next would be ours! :)

A wedding is the biggest party we will probably ever have in our lives!  When else would you spend nearly a year preparing and spend thousands of dollars??? It’s like a full on production!  But you know what, we always remind ourselves not to be too caught up in the logistics of it all… it is so easy to get caught up in spreadsheets, checklists, going from one supplier to another, at times, you can almost become very mechanical about it all! 

Instead, we remember that our wedding is a party of love, a party for our friends and family, a time of celebration and a time to remember His goodness in our lives.  We want everyone to have a wonderful time and to be a part of this important day!   We hope we get to shake all your hands next year, to give you a hug and to thank you for taking the time to share the day with us   In the event we don’t get to, please know that we would have wanted to and that we do thank you very much and am very honoured that you were there!

I was just telling A the other night that I actually really am enjoying planning this wedding!  Haha!  Sometimes it gets a bit tough, but then once you solve the “puzzle”, it is very satisfying   It’s like “Yes!!! I solved it!” I probably sound a bit nuts, but when I have thought about something from every possible angle and then find theright conclusion, it is such a good feeling!  Haha!  The downside is that I often think too much and from way too many angles

Okay, so to summarise what has been bubbling away since my last entry:

Invites:  Thank you NT!  We are nearly there!  She is super awesome – so patient and kind and generous with her time.  Thank you for sharing the same passion as us with the invites   The invite is the sneak preview to the wedding   Yes yes yes, invites are nearly at the printers   Aiming for a christmas completion haha!

Cake:  Yay!!!  It is going to be this multi-tiered pretty cake!   I cannot wait for it!  Although I love baking and cooking, I also love the fact that someone is going to bake our wedding cake!  It’s like your own personal designer dress – except this one is eatible!   Thank you to Kakes by Karen for being so accomodating and patient and who has such a wonderful sense of ”chirpiness” in her, we had such a great time tasting the cakes and talking with her!   She is making my cake dream come true!

Menu Selection:  We could not be more pleased with Fraser’s!  God has been so good to send us such awesome people… really, having great suppliers to work with has made this wedding planning journey so much more enjoyable!  We are nearly done with our menu section.  We had our second tasting with our parents a couple of weekends ago haha!

Photography:  Hehehe for those who have been waiting to see our engagement photos by Jenny Sun, they are not ready yet!  I think we’ll be getting them in the next couple of weeks!  I’ll post a few of them up here!  So stay tuned!

Okies, hope you had a great weekend!  I had an awesome weekend……. so peaceful and relaxed (I even managed 2 loads of laundry, and cleaned my room.. yay!) –

Talk soon!!!

If Santa can make a list & check it twice, so can you!

You’re makin’ your list, you’re checkin’ it twice… when you wonder, “How will I do all this and still have time to scrapbook?” Oddly enough, that’s just what we were thinking here at Key Lime.

So to spread some holiday cheer and help us check off our goal to scrapbook through the holidays we have a present just for you! Download a FREE Quick Crop Sampler – scaled back to make it easy to host a quick crop.

Our “Have Some Fun & Get It Done” party includes both a printable invitation and a digital invite. We also have instructions for a fun twist on a traditional holiday party game. Encourage friends to bring any project they are working on that needs to be finished before the holidays; like making or addressing cards or finishing a handmade gift. Keep it Simple and make some memories with friends while you check off that to do list!
Life is sweeter when you celebrate it with friends! This crop is our way to say thanks for all the friends we have made this year and for your support!

Merry Christmas
Susan & Meredith

11/20/2009

I don’t know where to begin with CARDS AND POCKETS!
They are amazing they took alot of stress off my shoulders; when I could not find the right color to match for what I wanted I turned to them and they made the color for me. When I was freaking out because I wasn’t a 100% about the color, Bonnie in special projects was my saving grace. She brought me back down and told me she would help me so I could be happy with what I was sending out. I sent her pictures of my color scheme and they came up with so many items it was hard to choose. I used the patterned paper in multiple different areas of my wedding because it was so BEAUTIFUL!!! It would not have been this perfect if it wasn’t for CARDS AND POCKETS!

I really am trying to find something else to incorporate the colored patterned paper into I LOVE IT so much
You would be a fool not to use them for your project!

Thanks!

(to read this review and dozens more on Project Wedding, click here.)

THEME:  History, with a twist    

"Fourscore and seven years ago . . ."

INVITATIONS:  Write in longhand on parchment and roll in a scroll, sealing with wax or an official-looking sticker.  The idea is to make it look like a historical document.  Use officious language, such as:  “When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary to find some diversion unrelated to that which has been our wont, we, (host and friends), have hit upon a plan which we believe will provide well beyond the required amusement.  Therefore, we hereby announce the Hysterical History Party, to be held on (date) at (time and place), to which you are most cordially invited.  Whereas this event is in celebration of history, we respectfully request your person to be attired in full regalia of any historic person of note.”  (And so on, and so forth . . .  get the idea?)

     This party works well for college students and adults.

MATERIALS FOR ACTIVITIES:  Random props from famous tales from history, such as hatchet, old flag, lanterns, toy rifle, etc. (or you may prefer to let them pantomime their props); equipment to play folk games from history in ours or other lands; words and music to old folk songs, both foreign and domestic.

FOOD:  Famous foods from history will do here.  Search old cookbooks or history books for ideas.  You could do a whole formal dinner or just have desserts.  Some suggestions might be Cherry Pie, Lincoln Log, Lindy’s Cake, or Sweet Potato Pie.  This is where some actual learning might come in!

DECORATIONS:  Decorate the party room with anything that looks historical–antiques or pseudo-antiques, flags from different countries or items significant to the history of ours or other countries.  You could use tapestries, Native American blankets, Japanese lanterns, African masks, or other curios.  Some fake cobwebs leftover from Halloween could make the stuff look really old.

 BLOW-BY-BLOW:          As guests arrive, you (the host/hostess) have them play an icebreaker game similar to “Who Am I?“.  As they mingle, they ask yes-or-no questions of each other to detect which historical figure each person represents.  When everyone is acquainted–historically speaking–seat them for the dinner.  If not doing a dinner, begin the activities by dividing the guests into several groups and giving each group an assignment to reenact a famous historical event.  You may give them props, if desired, but ask them to act out the story as they think it might have really happened!  (The emphasis is on humor here.)  Give each group about ten minutes to plan their skit, and then–lights, camera, action!  (Actually, making a videotape of this is not a bad idea.)

            After the rewriting of history, you may wish to play some old folk games from ours and other lands.  (Look for some in future posts on this blog, or you may want to do some research at your local library.) 

            Cool off with some refreshments, and finish the evening by singing some old folk songs, accompanied by piano or guitar, if possible.

Does anyone really pay attention to the wording on a wedding invite?

Etiquette tells me that the party footing the bill should be listed first on the invite – that might be us. But then I wonder if we’re having a Chinese wedding banquet if I should list the groom’s parents first. (He is the only son.)

Or do I ignore it all and just go with what looks best design-wise?

Also, what do I with a doctor (Ph.D, not MD) in the household. Is it pretentious to to refer to my father as Dr.? Or should I be proud?

And what about hubby to be? He’s a Ph.D too, does he get the title?

I have a confession.  I may have a (little bit, tiny, eentsy-weentsy) crush on someone other than my dearly beloved.  But don’t blame me.  I’m not the first bride to have an (little bit, tiny, eentsy-weentsy) affair of this variety.  I just can’t restrain myself…the temptation is too great.

Letterpress.

Ooh, dare I say it again?

Letterpress.

Yes, as if they planted the email just to be evil.  During lunch yesterday, Paper-Source sent me the email that just may have changed (or ruined…you decide!) my life for eons to come.

After deciding to create our own invitations, I spent several nights in a row thinking about invitation styles.  Envisioning papers.  Dreaming of ribbons that could be incorporated.  It was becoming a major disaster inside my head!  But that didn’t stop me.  Instead, I have fallen in love with the idea of designing my own things.  So much so that I’ve even brought it to Neil’s attention that someday, I would like to open my own invitation and paper-goods store (or design studio).  I have had so much fun with all of this design stuff – the possibilities are honestly endless.

And since Paper-Source has changed (or ruined) my life…you should know that I have now been obsessing with Lifestyle Crafts Letterpress machine.  I have read every review possible.  Googled all the blogs with info on it.  Watched video upon video.  And even signed up for a giveaway to get this newest gadget.  You should be envious!!

Save the Date: This little gem is an exact example of what the L Letterpress Machine by Lifestyle Crafts can create.  Their designs are so versatile and there are so many options to choose from!  Besides, it creates quite professional letterpress paper products – at a fraction of the cost!!

Raspberry Envelope: A slight disadvantage to the L Letterpress Machine.  It can’t be 100% customizable.  They have certain plates you can choose from, but as far as creating text (outside of a monogram) is nearly impossible.  But true letterpress costs a pretty penny…a pretty penny that many brides can’t quite afford!

Letterpress Calligraphy: This is the ultimate letterpress opportunity.  A gorgeous calligraphy – letterpressed.  I’ll wait as you try peeling your eyes off the gorgeous-ness of this font.  According to the Calligraphy Lady website, their fonts are truly one-of-a-kind and you won’t find them anywhere else.  I could cry tears of joy just looking at them…

L Letterpress Machine from Lifestyle Crafts: Enter the source of my joy and happiness (or pain and anguish).  This is the L Letterpress Machine.  It could bring much joy to my life.  It could also bring much distress.  It all depends on how it works out.  I want one of these.  Badly.  I just can’t convince myself to spend the money.  ::hint, hint!::

Brown and Blue Letterpress: Here’s just another example of what letterpress can do for you.  With intricate fonts and an endless budget, you, too, can create invitations (and other paper products) that will “WOW!” your guests!

Foreign Language in Letterpress: Letterpress is beautiful in any language!!  I particularly love the detail and texture in the paper.  It adds to the overall elegance.

Antique Letterpress: Here’s is where it all started!  The antique letterpress is the original letterpress machine…of course, capable of much more intricacy and detail than the L Letterpress Machine.  Unfortunately, these babies sell for much  more than any Joe Schmo would be willing to spend!!

Letterpress Invitation Suite: This is the whole shebang put together.  According to Paper Chez, it runs about $15.00/invitation to do everything we’re doing…but for the bride we can afford it, I would highly recommend it!

Letterpress Invites: I absolutely love that you can see the detail – even from this far away!!

Okay…so now can you see why I’m so in love with letterpress?  It’s unbelievable.  Sure – many brides fret over things like floral arrangements, table settings, heck – even their dress.  But everything of those seems menial to me…  For me – it’s the invites…and all the paper products for that matter!  It has wholly and entirely consumed my life!!  And for that…I have Lifestyle Crafts and the internet to thank!

Create your own range of festive cards or unique cards for each individual recipient. Studio22 Album Maker is a free software package that allows you the freedom to ‘drag & drop’ your images or choice of text onto the page. Once complete you need only click on the order button and the files are sent to Studio22 for printing.

Use our Invitation option in Studio22 Album Maker and you can add a hand written message inside each folded card. Our full range of backdrops, effects, frames and masks can used to complete your design. Cards are printed in pairs at only R9.50 per set (2009). Visit http://www.coffeetablebooks.co.za/thankyoucardsinvites.htm for more details on our cards.

So, this invite definitely has that beachy feel, but how about you can also plant it… it will sprout wild flowers!! It’s also in a nifty little package that makes you feel special to receive it!! Love Aimee and Brian… so glad I got to design this for them!! Awesome time at the wedding too!!

So… here’s what happens… you receive this envelope in the mail and when you open it there is this cool little package to open…

Then you open the nifty little package…

You pick up the invitation and find the accompanying pieces…

Included in your little package is your response card, directions on how to get there and a little instruction sheet that tells you how to plant your invitation!

Here is everything all together…

For information on this invitation or other cool ideas email me at krismigo@gmail.com

The wedding consultant came to me a week and a half before her client’s wedding, requesting a bird-themed design for the reception collateral. To make the fast approaching deadline, we used one of my past designs, changing the style and colors. I designed the Well Wishes sign and tags, Table Cards (named after birds), Favor Sign, Buffet Sign and Cocktail Sign.  Rush jobs are not fun but they are possible!

Photography by Eric Hegwer
Wedding Consultant: The Simplifiers

You were nervous. You shifted your weight from one leg to the other as you began to speak.

“Uh, fellows,” you started.

We turned and looked up at you.

“I, uh, I just wanted, uh, to invite . . .”

You were way out of your comfort zone. I had no idea what you might be about to say, but I knew that it had nothing to do with work.

“I just wanted to tell you that, uh, our church is having a service tonight and, uh . . .”

”What?” I couldn’t believe it. “He’s talking church? Out here? With us?”

“I wanted to invite any of you to come along.”

Silence. Screaming silence.

****

Have you been there?

You were uncomfortable and perhaps after your fumbling attempt you thought of what a mess you made of the whole situation. You re-think and analyze what you said and did. You apologize to God for your “failure” at witnessing. You are embarrassed for presenting “church” instead of Jesus.

Wait a minute! God is sovereign and is not hampered by our humanity. God used this man’s apparent failed attempt to invite construction workers to church. Max Lucado was laying pipe that summer and was with the workmen on their lunch break. Five years later, he remembered this man and gave his life over to Christ.

Your efforts may have seemed insignificant or even like they were wasted. God sees the bigger picture, however. You don’t know what God will do. Just be available to Him.

NOTE: The above excerpt is from Max Lucado’s testimony in Chapter Seven of In the Eye of the Storm. Read the entire story online on Google Books.. Search for “Thanks for the Bread” which will take you to the chapter heading.

Cost Estimate: $2.00 each

Our Cards & Pockets do-it-yourself invitation this week is just in time for the Winter. We welcome the frosty cold with this Pine-Cone PocketFold Invitation. With a Coffee-Bean, Honey-Graham & Forest color scheme, this do-it-yourself wedding invitation brings the woodsy feel to your wedding, and the motif is carried throughout the set.

Do-It-Yourself PineCone PocketFold Invitation

The Breakdown

Invitation Base: Retangolo PocketFold, Coffee-Bean

Invitation Mat: 4.75 x 6.75, Honey-Graham

2nd Invitation Mat: Custom Cut,  4.625 x 6.625, Forest

Invitation: 4.5 x 6.5, Custom Printed by Cards & Pockets

Directions Enclosure: 3.5 x 6.75 White, Custom Printed by Cards & Pockets

RSVP Postcard: 3.5 x 5 White, Custom Printed by Cards & Pockets

Monogram: 2×2 Basic #2 Monogram printed on White

Monogram Backing #1: 2.25  Non-Adhesive Square, Forest

Monogram Backing #2: Custom Cut, 2.5×2.5, Honey-Graham

Mailing Envelope: A7, Honey-Graham

Planning a wedding is a major task to anyone who had never had such experience, to us the professionals is still challenging, hard work, sometimes irritable but always fulfilling; One of the best advices I can give any bride is to plan your wedding around YOU!. most brides become highly concerned when they take a look at a current calender; Now…. in our society everyday is a special day for someone, national holiday, someones birthday, ethnic holiday, religious holidays, regular holidays, family anniversaries, love ones birthdays and the list goes on and on…. remember is about YOU, not them, is YOUR wedding not theirs, is YOUR special day therefore when you send out invitations there is really no excuse not to be able to attend YOUR wedding; Here is the breakdown: I would imagine you are sending invitations a least 12 months to the big day. By doing that you are giving all of your guest not only….. the “save the date” but also reminding them that they are expected at YOUR wedding; It doesn’t matter which day of the week you are getting married, people would make plans to take one or two or maybe the weekend off to come from all over the country or all over the world…. that’s why you sent an invitation way in advance… is not like you are telling them —- Hey… I’m getting married tomorrow … be here — more at Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, My wedding blog,
Thanks
Edgar Allen