My invitations

[So_happy]

Okay PSers I have finally finished my invitations. TBH, the planning and design phase took FOREVER (as in several hours/couple days); it took the most time. I took a long break after that phase but once I picked them back up again I did it in 3 shorter bursts of activity and it went quite quickly. Maybe an hour tops per "burst".

I really wanted cherry blossoms and in the end I decided to try my hand at rubber stamping a cherry blossom image on my invites. I then saw this video on Papersource that demonstrated embossing and I fell in love with that idea as well

so I definitetly challenged my (previously totally uncreative) self. But it ended up being very easy and quite fun and I really love how they came out. I won't say that they came out absolutely perfect because they didn't; each one has a "character" to it

and at first that frustrated me. But then I let it go because, heck, I was making my own darn invites and they were very cool

So, I thought I'd share what I have.

I suppose I could've done a mockup first and then asked PSers for thier opinions and advice, but I honestly needed to NOT have any more options (lol) so I did them with only my own advice as my aid

. However, please feel free to let me know what you think!!! Ok, here we go.........

First, here is that lovely PS box.........

 

[So_happy]

and the wonderful packing job they did.........(I always found this comment useful for some reason....made me feel more confident about a purchase from an unknown)

 

[So_happy]

and then on to removing all of the (annoying, anyone?) styrofoamies....to uncover my goodies inside

Yes, that purple thing is my embosser. VERY cool item if you want to consider it, btw!!!

 

[So_happy]

My colors are actually lilac and sage but when it came down to it, I felt that the two colors (at times) looked very Easter-y and I was seeing it everywhere being associated with Easter. So, when I ordered the invites, I just went with chocolate and lilac and I hope to incorporate chocolate into the wedding still............although who will really notice if it isn''t there????

My invitation: Chocolate flat card with white text paper containing a printed lilac border. I matched the stamp''s ink to the lilac border but these pics make it seem a little un-matchy. Oh well

 

[So_happy]

This one has a yellow tinge to it (is in reality a nice bright white paper) but I think it's clearer.....

ETA: I used a sparkly embossing powder so the branches sparkle just a teeny bit. I'm happy the camera picked up on that a bit...

 

[So_happy]

My rsvp card. Again, white cover weight paper on a flat card but this time the colors are reversed. The printed text on this and on the invite are also a chocolate but I don't think you can really tell in these pics.

Since I printed these myself, I used "Name" instead of "Names" if the invite was for one person and I even changed the "Accept" to "Accepts" and so forth just to make my subtleness a teeny bit less subtle. I also thought the request for dance tunes was a darling idea (I learned of this from a papersource mailing, actually) and we really hope it gets people dancing when/if we can play at least one of thier songs

ETA: I just noticed that this particular rsvp card has an error. One of the dance tune lines is out of line

Oh well. I guess I can do one more!!!

 

[So_happy]

And here they are together

 

[sumbride]

Those are great! Job well done!!!

 

[akw94]

I think they turned out great! Congratulations on getting them done!! I like the sparkly cherry blossoms and I think everyone being a little different is great. That''s what makes them unique. Plus, each person only gets one so they''ll have no idea that theirs is a tad bit different than someone else''s.
Did you print both the invite and rsvp card yourself? They both look great!

 

[kimberlina13]

Those are so beautiful! I hope mine turn out half as pretty as yours! Great job!

 

[zoebartlett]

They''re beautiful So_Happy! I love cherry blossoms!

 

[FireGoddess]

GORGEOUS!

 

[So_happy]

Thanx, ladies!!!!!

I am so proud of them I meant to take some natural light pics so as to capture the colors better but forgot. I''ll do it later today.

Dixie, you are right that each only gets one and that''s what I realized that made this not such a daunting task afterall. And the great thing is, there were no HUGE mistakes. Only that one RSVP card for some reason decided to act up. What a relief! As they were printing I was so nervous! And yes, I printed all of them myself. I wanted to embellish the rsvp card too but, again, realized we were just getting those back so there wasn''t a huge need to make them too fancy fancy. Besides, I kind of like the contrast between them and I also like how the colors are reversed. The whole invite package will be very interesting

I just looked at the pics again and I really need to try again w the pics. It''s just a shame that cameras can distort what the human eye sees! They are such a yummy lilac and chocolate combo and the pics make it seem all off

Oh, and I''m including this note (printed on papersource paper) to those we are "and guest"ing (it couldn''t be avoided for 10 guests.....some folks we just couldn''t get names out of):

Please feel welcome to bring a special guest with you to our wedding by indicating his or her name on the RSVP card.

I''m hoping this subtely suggests that the guest might be a signficant other or even a new bf/gf and NOT a buddy. I just have a "thing" about people bringing buddies to a wedding. I know this isn''t always the popular opinion but this one just irks me. We had to include such a note at all because we are only doing one outer envelope btw.

 

[kimberlina13]

So_happy-

Which envelopes did you order from Paper Source? I''m doing my invites from cardsandpockets.com, but the envelopes seem so flimsy, and I was considering ordering from Paper Source..wanted to see how sturdy they are..

 

[So_happy]

Date: 6/11/2007 8:58:53 PM
Author: kimberlina13
So_happy-

Which envelopes did you order from Paper Source? I''m doing my invites from cardsandpockets.com, but the envelopes seem so flimsy, and I was considering ordering from Paper Source..wanted to see how sturdy they are..

I ordered the Papersource brand paper and envelopes. And they are not flimsy at all. Nothing about the pieces separately nor together say "flimsy" to me and I have felt that feeling a few times in the past. I highly recommend this company for thier deliciously affordable high quality paper products.

 

[snlee]

Great job! Very pretty. I love the embossed cherry blossoms!

 

[So_happy]

Date: 6/12/2007 2:06:41 AM
Author: snlee
Great job! Very pretty. I love the embossed cherry blossoms!

Thank you, Snlee! I''m about to get some natural light pics as I still feel these are inaccurate color-wise. I too loved the fact we were able to add a little extra touch to them by embossing the cherry blossom. It was a compromise in that I was hoping to have raised text but couldn''t afford it.....so now at least I have a raised image

 

[robbie3982]

Very pretty!

 

[mela lu]

Really REALLY pretty - love the contrasting colours and how there was consistency in the invite and reply without being repetitive.

gorge!

 

[kcoursolle]

Beautiful, and I love that you listed dance tunes at the bottom of the RSVP card! What a great idea!!

 

[shigidigi]

Hey I know I am rehashing this subject but I just "re" came across it and remembered how much I LOVED your cherry blossoms So_Happy!!

I am looking at paper-source.com''s site right now but only see a desk embosser. Is that what you used or did you end up buying rubber stamps after all?

Your invites are just darling!!!

 

[So_happy]

Date: 6/26/2007 5:29:14 PM
Author: shigidigi
Hey I know I am rehashing this subject but I just ''re'' came across it and remembered how much I LOVED your cherry blossoms So_Happy!!

I am looking at paper-source.com''s site right now but only see a desk embosser. Is that what you used or did you end up buying rubber stamps after all?

Your invites are just darling!!!

Thank you!!! I LOVE them so much and was VERY proud to send those babies out. I totally made them with love (can I hear a cheesy "awwwwwwwww" in the background???lol)

I got the stamp on ebay but I happened into JoAnns a couple days after and saw the same exact one for like a buck more. Brand name: Rubber Stampede and style #3552J.

Everything else: the ink for the stamp, the heat gun, the flat cards, envelopes, white text/cover paper, and embossing powder I got from Papersource. Oh, AND I picked up thier desk embosser too...........which I HIGHLY also recommend. It stamped like a dream and it really adds a nice touch to our DIY invites

 

[shigidigi]

Thanks- I finally found the rubber stamp post elsewhere on the forum and am SO EXCITED to try it out myself!!

Thanks for all the awesome ideas!

 

[IrishAngel7982]

They look gorgeous!