Great Guest Book Idea

Just found this great guest book idea on Chookooloonks (found via Design Mom). So creative and fun!

Put A Stamp On It

{Don't forget to enter the giveaway for 2 FREE TICKETS
TO THE VT VOWS WEDDING AFFAIR SHOW!}

A recent client of mine was telling me about these fabulous custom Save The Date stamps that he purchased online, so I had to check them out for myself! I found several different websites that offered custom stamps in hundreds of designs, and not just for Save The Date cards. They do cost a bit more than just buying the regular stamps at the post office, but I think it's worth the extra cost just to add that little personal touch to the package. Everyone loves to receive beautiful things in the mail and custom postage can make your envelope shine against regular, old boring mail.

For custom stamps check out Zazzle and Perfect Postage



Another great idea that is growing in popularity is using vintage stamps to add some interest to your invitation packaging. You will need to use several to make up the correct postage amount, but it's fun to mix and match different designs to create a totally unique look to each envelope. Just make sure that you take your invitation to the post office before adding the postage to have them weigh it so you know exactly how much you need. (I would recommend this whether you are doing vintage postage or not.) And if you can find the stamps at face value then it won't cost any more than buying the current stamps!

Check out local antique and coin and stamp stores or score some on ebay or Stamp Wants online. (Just make sure they are unused!)

Creative Park

What do all of the things above have in common? They are all made out of paper and can be downloaded for free (with instructions) on the Creative Park website!

There are a ton of awesome and amazing crafts on this innovative Japanese website- anything from triangular calendars to pop-up notecards. I haven't tried anything yet, but I am thinking of starting with this. Isn't it amazing you can make that with paper?

All of the projects are separated in six categories: Gift & Card, Paper Craft, Scrapbook, Art, Calendars, and Photo Gallery. And the best part is everything is free!

::found via Creature Comforts::

Grown-Up Valentines

Valentine's Day has not always been a holiday that I take much notice of. Sure, my husband and I would use it as an excuse to treat ourselves to a nice dinner and maybe, if I was lucky, he would get me some good chocolate. But it always sort of snuck up on me and it never occurred to me to get anything for anyone else. Now that the economy is in the dumps and it seems like you can't watch TV or read a newspaper without finding out something else depressing, I thought perhaps Valentine's Day wasn't something to overlook this year.

I know that most everyone I know would enjoy a little pick-me-up and so I set off to make some homemade valentines. In grade school I always made homemade cards for my classmates. I loved the lacy, heart-shaped doilies and bright red construction paper heart pockets that we would use to collect all of our cards.

To make my grown-up valentines I found some vintage graphics and funny sayings online, printed up the cards, cut them out, and to add a little special touch I made some pretty envelope liners embossed with hearts.


All I did was use an envelope liner template and some bright pink paper I got on sale at Michaels. Using a ruler and an exacto knife I cut out each liner and then using my Scotch tape gun I glued them down inside the envelopes. The trick is to slip the liner into the envelope before you put the tape on and fold the flap over with the liner to ensure that your crease is in exactly the right place. Then after you have the back taped up, you slip it back in and fold the flap again to seal the two peices together.


I think from now on this will be an annual tradition- I just hope I get some in return!