Custom Wedding Invitation

Here it is, the project that has all but consumed me for the last month or so and the actual assembly part is JUST beginning.  If this looks familiar to you it is THIS card you are remembering.  The bride's mother found it on the internet somewhere which led her to asking me if I'd consider doing 215 wedding invitations!  Fortunately I helped two friends last summer with wedding invitations so I had some experience, but I mostly did the design and step-by-step instructions for those, along with a little bit of hands on help.  This time they are ALL up to me.

The label across the heart will have the bride & groom's names in a pretty script font that they chose, which will coordinate with the actual invitation wording on the inside.  There will also be a little band on the inside cover which will hold the RSVP and Reception cards in place.

So far I have really enjoyed the challenge and the process, and getting to know the bride a bit.  I have even learned a few things along the way.

Do you like how I embossed the envelope flaps to coordinate?  Well guess what, my Big Shot broke down right in the middle of that process!  Yep.  Thank heavens my dad was here visiting and is far more handy than I.  He had it fixed in a jiffy and got me back to work.  Then he even stood next to me and handed me envelope after envelope for probably an hour!  Thanks Dad!

I've also learned to always save my MDS (My Digital Studio) files as a .pdf file instead of a .jpg for the printer, and that you can not over estimate how much time the whole designing process will take.  Plus I've learned tons of neat tricks on MDS that I never would have known.  Makes me excited to try this again some time (ask me how I feel in a month after gluing 430 birds, branches and wings down!)

Special thanks to my kiddos also for helping me with the little things so far, like punching and scoring!

Thanks for stopping by again!
~Kristin

Wedding Invitation & Beaded Jewelry Gift

I think I mentioned in the past a wedding invitation I helped a friend on and since a few of you have requested to see it, here you go.  I hesitated to post before because the wedding hadn't occurred yet and because it didn't photograph nearly as well as it looks in person.  This bride wanted very natural and simple and she chose all the details. 

 

The soft suede cardstock was cut to fold over the vellum cardstock by 1.5" so the final size is 4.25" x 5.5" just like a standard card, fitting nicely into a standard envelope.  It was tied with a bow of twine (I used linen thread for my example here).  

The piece underneath with the printed details is Naturals Ivory cardstock.  We incorporated the green (Wild Wasabi) from her wedding colors by stamping this image from Inspired by Nature (it is stamped off once so not too distracting.) 

 

I didn't take a picture but the programs were this exact style but ended up being 4.25" by 7.5" finished, including the 1" folded over piece at the top.  This way we were able to efficiently use an entire piece of cardstock!  I am a tad anal about being efficient. 

 

In case you missed it, HERE is the card I made for the happy couple.  Of course I had to make sure it coordinated in color and style!

 Up next is a gift I've been working on for my best friend Nicky for a LONG time (her birthday was in June!).  I finally gave it to her yesterday after several setbacks so I'm able to post it now without spoiling her long awaited surprise.  This is the first set of necklace, bracelet and earrings I've ever made and I'm super pleased with how they turned out.  Her daughter told me her favorite color was purple (how did I not know that after 30+ years??) so that was my starting point- these beautiful natural polished purple stones. 

Funny story about the necklace... after I had it all done, and realizing that I didn't really know what I was doing, I decided I should wear it around for a little bit to make sure it wasn't scratchy etc.  So I put it on and proceded to sit at my desk to check a few emails.  Approximately five minutes later it suddenly without warning snapped and beads flew everywhere!  I honestly was only moving my fingers so I'm SO GLAD I thought to wear it.  That is one of the reasons it was so late, I basically had to start over!

 

Now that my kids are back in school you'd think I'd be stamping every day but I've still got so many projects to clean up from and catch up housework that it might be a few days still.  We've finally gotten our playhouse/game room painted and started putting furniture in so I've been cruising Pinterest obsessively trying to come up with cute ideas.  Now to put them all to use!  Maybe I'll have some fun pictures to share once we're all settled in. 

 



Well, that's it.  Thanks for stopping by!
~Kristin