Let your guests plant their wedding invitations!

We can't think of a way to be more eco-friendly with your wedding invitations than to start with recycled fibers, handcraft them into a luxuriously textured paper, embed it with wildflower seeds, and print a modern design in biodegradable, water based inks.  Your guests will adore the art even more when they plant it (indoors or out) and watch flowers bloom in your honor.  Right now we're loving  "The Orchid Suite", but it's hard to play favorites with products this wonderful from Bloomin!

In Love with the Peacock Feather!

Vivid colors, soft texture, and oh-so-trendy.  What's not to love about the peacock?  I've taken an exquisite feather as the inspiration and accessory for this wonderful pocket fold invitation.  Measuring 7.25" square, this baby makes the statement that your soiree is the place to be!

Welcome Bloomin' Invitations

When I visited the National Stationery Show in May, my goal was to find unique, eco-friendly designs that would bring something "new" to Staccato.  I was thrilled to discover a company called "Bloomin" who specializes in seeded paper.  Seeded paper invitations are not new to Staccato, but these designs are so hip and contemporary, it was love at first sight for me.  Below are just a few samples of these fabulous designs.  The best part, however, is that they offer complete suites for every design.  With several different sizes, shapes, and textures for inserts, there's a unique piece for every bit information your guests might need.  You can also choose matching menus, place cards, thank you notes, and ceremony programs.  Are you working with a specific color scheme?  Bloomin' can accommodate it!  Besides the 30 standard ink colors offered on every design, they can custom match!  It's nearly impossible to display every option for every piece in this collection, so be sure to e-mail me (kelly@staccatostationery.com) if you'd like to discuss your options or add accessories you don't see on www.stacctatostationery.com.

Introducing Bella Ink

I am thrilled to introduce Bella Ink to the Staccato line-up. If an invitation design can be funky, trendy, shabby chic, and prissy all at once, these are! Okay, there's a few things for the men, too. With a fun design for everything from a backyard barbecue to a wedding, you'll look for any excuse to get guests together! Many great designs are already on our site, but check back soon -- we've got many more to come!

Pink Ribbon Thank You

 

Are you raising money for breast cancer research or awareness? These thank you cards are the perfect way to show appreciation to your contributors. And even better, $6.00 from the sale of every box will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation!

Each A2 Sized Card is printed on recycled ivory  or bright white card stock and comes with a matching envelope. Complimentary return address printing included!  Available in sets of 10 or 20. 

	What our customers have said about these cards: Hi Kelly, I just received my order for 20 Thank You Cards.  I love them!!  I have been looking for something like this for two years since I started walking in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure in Boston.  I have several Thank Yous to send for donations by friends and family.  Thanks for being so prompt with the order, and I love the return address printed on the backs. Thanks again and keep up the good work. Barbara   I received that breast cancer thank you cards today. I must say that they are beautiful and that I am impressed with your quick turn around time. I also love the idea that money is being donated to Susan G. Komen Foundation. I will keep you in mind for additional items in the future.   Thanks again.  Paula

Tying the Knot in Shades of Pink

Michelle and Clayton loved our "Tying the Knot" wedding invitation ensemble and made it their own by changing the colors.  The thick vibrant pink ribbon and backing layer are accented with a pale pink envelope liner and reception card.  It's just beautiful!

Boxed Wedding Invitations

Okay, you've seen their save-the-dates and shower invitations.  Now here's the REAL DEAL.  My brother's wedding invites.  These exquisite Arturo blue cards are letterpressed with a cocoa brown, embellished with a thick satin ribbon and rhinestone brooch, and mailed in a sturdy chocolate box with a personalized ivory label.  Their finishing touch was a customized stamp. 

Save time with envelope addressing!

Staccato is now offering envelope addressing service for as low as $0.50 per piece.  When you're busy planning your flowers, food, and music, let us take care of envelopes.  Choose a lettering style that matches your invitations or select a calligraphy font to look hand-written.  Either way, every envelope will be exquisite.

Vintage Elegance in Custom Wedding Invitations

I have just LOVED working on these invitations for Maria & Matthew.  They are marrying in one of my favorite Virginia get-a-ways, The Homestead and wanted an elegant, vintage feel to their invites.  We used shimmery ivory paper and envelopes and dressed them up with a lovely brocade-type pattern and a satin ribbon with a symbolic "love knot" and layered them onto black card stock.  Of course, all the papers and envelopes are made of recycled fibers.

Truly Custom Wedding Invitations.

Eva and Carl liked our Opal Opulence collection, but wanted to bring in their red color and make a few other changes. This invitation is designed with a limited edition sheer ivory chiffon paper that creates a gate-fold for the text.  Guests feel like they are opening a gift.  Eva and Carl wanted to provide a little more thickness behind the recycled metallic paper, so we layered the invitation and all inserts onto recycled red vellum card stock.  We also changed the thin, delicate ivory ribbon to a red 5/8" satin so that it ties into a very thick bow, and upgraded the invitation printing to thermography (by Printing Ideas, Inc. in Fairfax). The results are truly spectacular!

Love Birds

Can't you just hear them singing  a soft and sweet "tweet tweet"?  These cuties are the perfect way to announce your special day in a very popular purple and green color scheme.  The "Love Birds" invitation is part of our Simply Affordable collection of eco- and budget-conscious stationery.  All paper and envelopes are FSC certified, and 100% recycled with a minimum of 30% PCW.

I'm happy to send my best wishes to Margo & Joseph who'll be sending these to invite guests to their May, 2010 wedding in Michigan.

Designing for Family...

My twin brother is getting married in June and let me tell you...the pressure is ON for the most exquisite invitations I've ever designed.  Their Save-the-Dates were a stunning take on our "Andante" invitation.
Printed on ivory shimmer paper and knotted with a brown grosgrain ribbon:

Because it will be a destination wedding, we also enclosed a travel booklet so guests could begin to make their arrangements.  This staggered page-size booklet allows the headings to peak out like tabs in a file cabinet.  Printed on a shimmery blue paper and bound with a brown satin ribbon.

Then, we changed the style a bit for Kristy's bridal shower.  Her love of all things pink and all things polka dot (seriously -- they registered for Denby's Jet Dots and Kate Spade's Larabee Dots) inspired this 3 - Layer invitation using shimmery white, pale pink, and chocolate brown.

Stay tuned for pictures of their wedding invitations, but here's a sneak preview: letterpress, boxed, satin ribbon, rhinestones...and no...it's not "too much"!

Baby Showers

Are you planning a special celebration for someone who is expecting?  Why not splurge a little and invite your guests with something a little more personal than an e-vite?

 

This invitation was for a spa party I hosted in honor of a friend's second pregnancy.  A few girls gathering for massages, manis, pedis, and facials.  It was a fun day, but the invitation really set the tone -- a luxurious 2.5" satin ribbon made the three-layer card feel like a gift.

 

This is a lovely little hand-made treasure!  A blue (or pink, or green, or yellow!) folded card features a window through which an animal cracker shape pokes through!  All tied up with a soft satin ribbon -- truly unique, and very special!

Bring on the BLING

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, but we can't mail them to our friends and family.  Instead, how about rhinestone buckles and Swarovski crystal accents on your invitations?  These two newest designs from Staccato's Signature Collection are awe inspiring.  While they're pictured here in a very classy black and ivory color scheme, there are many other color options.

To Match? or To Coordinate?

Color, glorious color!  I love it!  I love that invitations to formal events no longer need to be on ecru paper.  Wedding invitation designers are doing beautiful things with colors, patterns, and textures.  Here's a little advice for the custom bride, though.

Remember that your guests will not be carrying the wedding invitation in to the ceremony and comparing them to your maids' dresses.  You want the invitation to foreshadow the "feel" of your wedding, but an exact match is not a must.  In fact, an exact match might be boring!

I have had several couples fall in love with a particular invitation of mine and ask if it can be done in their colors.  YES!!  We can convert almost all of our designs to coordinate with your theme.  Note - I said coordinate, not match.  Don't get me wrong, sometimes we can match!  But other times, the materials are simply not available in the exact color.  And here's a big disappointing factor: when you do try to match and and need to substitute a different material in order to do so, the invitation almost always "loses" something.  For instance, if you fell in love with a design that used linen paper, but in order match we had to use matte.  Or the envelopes were metallic, but now we're using crest in order to match - it's not the same look with which you initially fell in love.  So -- here's some tips when planning out your stationery:

DON'T be afraid to ask your invitation designer to coordinate with your colors.
DO make your invitations uniquely yours and have them speak to your special event.
DON'T get hung up on the Pantone number.
DO let your designer work with you to create a piece that compliments your wedding.
DON'T settle for something less pretty in order to "match" your colors.
DO use the design you love, even if the colors aren't a perfect match.

Inexpensive Beauties

At Staccato, we LOVE couture wedding invitations -- bring on the layers and ribbons and rhinestones (oh my!)  But for those planning a more casual affair, looking to save a little money, or simply wanting to reduce waste by keeping things simple, we're happy to oblige!  We've recently added to our "Simply Affordable" collection.  A series of invitations designed with a bit of a contemporary attitude.  As always, these invitations are printed on heavyweight recycled cards and envelopes.  Don't just think of them for weddings!  They make beautiful stationery for birthday parties, cotillions, save-the-dates, anniversaries, graduations, and religious events!

Eco-Friendly Event Planning

Last night, I had the great pleasure of meeting Maria of Naturally Chic Events.  This Arlington-based group plans parties and events with a thought for the environment and will work with you to create an elegant, eco-friendly affair by making small changes your guests may not even notice.  Visit their website for more information, but I hope to be able to bring you more features on this innovative group as I get to know them better.


www.naturallychicevents.com

More Resolutions

Is your resolution to keep in touch more?  Our personalized note cards are perfect for sending little notes to say "thanks" or "thinking of you".  Treat yourself to something special and know that your recipient will love opening mail that isn't a bill or catalog! 

 

 

Available in gift boxes of 10 or 20, they also make perfect gifts for teachers, hostesses, pet-sitters, or...anyone!

Happy New Year

The new year is here and I'm dreaming of all the wonderful possibilities ahead!  It will be a busy year for sure -- but I do have a resolution.  One you all might find a bit ridiculous since I do own a stationery company.  I need to be better about remembering birthdays.  It's true -- I'm terrible!  Even my Godchildren didn't get cards on their special days in 2009.  My mom's was late, my dad's was non-existent, my twin brother didn't get one, but then again, he didn't send one to me either.

That's all going to change this year.  I'm going to spend a few hours today hunting down all the misc. calendars that hold all my loved ones' special dates and consolidate them into one that I might actually check.  Do you have a great secret for never forgetting a birthday?  A software program you like?  A web-based service that automatically sends a card and gift?  Share your tips by writing a comment below or e-mailing blog@staccatostationery.com.  You'll be rewarded with a discount at www.staccatostationery.com.