Butterfly Baby Shower {Huntington Beach Stationery Designer}

Adrienne attended a surprise bridal shower this weekend that was beyond adorable. The hostess decorated with super cute butterflies and beautiful flower arrangements. The soft and dark pinks and greens were gorgeous against a cream back drop. And we loved the butterfly confetti strewn about. Definitely a great way to use up those extra scraps of paper!

Holiday Cards {New from Envelopments}

 According to the Greeting Card Association, more than 2 billion holiday cards are purchased in the U.S. each year (and this doesn’t account for the ones that were hand made). To help make sure your cards stand out this year, Envelopments has been busy working on their holiday collection.

We are thrilled to share with you 3 new Featured Recipes as part of the Envelopments 2011 Holiday Collection. In addition, 10 new Featured recipes are now available on Envelopments.com. And don’t forget about holiday party invitations! Most of the holiday card recipes can easily be transformed to fit your party plans.

If a featured recipe catches your eye please contact us today to start designing the perfect holiday card for your family. 

Pink Paris Chic {Bat Mitzvah Invitation Designer}

This design is perfect for any thirteen year old girl planning the perfect bat mitzvah celebration. The colors are chic and bold and the invitation itself provides all the information a guest would need. And I love the added rhinestone bling!

A Sip & See for Baby {Ideas & Inspiration}

A Sip and See is a great way to show off the new baby to friends and family. Having everyone over to see the baby over a couple of hours instead of having multiple groups of guests over a period of a few weeks can be easier on the new parents as well as the new baby.  It is also a great alternative for mamas who don't like a lot of attention that a shower brings to them since the new baby is the center of attention.

Most Sip and See's are a casual "open house" type shower held after the baby is born. Unlike a typical shower with a full meal, light appetizer-type foods and drinks are offered to guests. They can also be held for visiting relatives and house warming parties. They're basically a great excuse to get together, drink and eat and enjoy each others company.

If you're planning on hosting a Sip and See soon contact us to help in creating the perfect invitation for this special occasion.

Religious Occasions & Celebrations {New from Envelopments}

Welcome to the 5th (and final) week of the Envelopments Social Release! And just when you thought they could not possibly bring you more, they did!! For Envelopments grand finale, we are excited to present you with 6 more featured recipes that are sure to answer your prayers.

These religious occasion invitations have unique and modern design elements that are far from being austere. The elegant Lucy Krause Baptism invitation is truly heaven sent, and the vintage inspired banners on the Delilah Jawicz Bat Mitzvah invitation bring a modern twist to an age-old tradition.

We are also loving the timelessness of the cameo profile on the Ashleigh Gonzales Communion Recipe and the 3-D design on the Caleb Regan Confirmation is just plain fun!
To see all of the 6 new releases head on over to Envelopments blog and take a look! 

Since the inspiration for the Social Release began, they have introduced almost 60 new recipes. The Design Department at Envelopments has done an amazing job, putting their heart and soul into creating invitations and announcements for just about every occasion. We think they have produced some of their best work yet!


We hope you have enjoyed these offerings and cannot wait to start creating the perfect recipe for your special occasion!

Envelopments Keeps Them Coming! {New from Envelopments}

We're sure you've been enjoying the new Envelopments Baby and Birthday lines. So this week when we saw the new Graduation announcements they've created we knew we had to share them with you!

Here's a little note from Envelopments about their new line:

Presenting the class of 2011... and Envelopments Graduation announcements! We are particularly excited to highlight this week with our first ever Grad release. These 6 new recipes are just in time to celebrate our graduates in May and June. We did it!!!

We’re into any kind of celebration, as long as there’s an invitation! In addition to graduation announcements, we’ve added to the theme of moving on to bigger and better things with 4 new moving cards. The Design department found innovative ways to spice up their recipes like a paper seal that the recipient tears open as seen in the Hadley moving card and the Fong sample has a unique paper map that wraps diagonally around the “Just moved” announcement.

With great weather just around the corner and the kids having time off from school, this summer is great for get everyone together for a family reunion. We’ve created 3 Featured Recipes to help bring the family tree together to celebrate its roots.

You can see more Graduation announcements here on the Envelopments website. Let us know what you think!

Bridal Shower Celebrations {Ideas and Inspiration}

 

Looking to host the perfect bridal shower? Here are a few tips and tricks to help you choose the perfect invitation: 

Choose a Theme

You do not need a theme but some prefer to have one. Themed doesn't have to mean extravagant. The theme could be as simple as certain colors (like the wedding colors) or a certain type of food or ethnicity or you can really play it up and do a Breakfast at Tiffanys brunch or an afternoon tea.

Decide on the Decor

Check out different sites and blogs for decoration inspiration. The Knot and Martha Stewart both have wonderful ideas from simple DIY decorations to more upscale decor. These inspirational blogs and websites might help you decide everything else.

Also, don't forget about where you are hosting the shower when it comes to decor. If the shower is being held at a restaurant you may want to incorporate the restaurant's decor and style with your invitation.

Pick an Invitation

And when choosing the decor think about how you want that interpreted on the invitations. Both of these can play upon each other to tie the theme together. And remember that Cherish Paperie can personalize and customize any invitation you may find or be interested in! I especially love the design pictured above for a brunch shower or if you're planning a tea, our new tea bag invitation will definitely add the perfect touch. 

Mail out the Invitations

Talk with the bride (or her mother) to see if any close relatives or friends live out of state. A good time to send out the invitations is 4-6 weeks in advance of the shower; closer to 6 weeks if there are guests who need to make travel arrangements or if it is during a busy social season such as the winter or summer holidays.

Birthdays and Celebrations {New from Envelopments}

The Envelopments Social Release continues - and this week, it is all about Birthdays. From babies to boomers (and everything in between) Envelopments has created the perfect range of party invitations to suit any age.

Now I know my youngest is just barely 5 months old but I'm already planning her first birthday out in my head and think that this design, Bella Phillips, would be perfect for the tea party I'm imagining for her. Wouldn't these just be perfect? So beautiful. I can't wait to start playing and customizing them.

Check out Envelopment's blog post here with more ideas and inspiration for birthday fun! 

Graduation Announcements {Ideas and Inspiration}

Still looking for that perfect graduation announcement? Check out our Twist Cards by Envelopments! The perfect way to highlight your senior photos and share the news with friends and family. Contact us to design your graduation announcement or invitation today.

Graduation Announcements and Invitations {Ideas and Information}

The big day is just around the corner! You or your child is about to graduate! Have friends and family celebrate with you by sending a graduation invitation or share this accomplishment with a graduation announcement. We have a great selection of photo graduation invitations and graduation announcements in many styles and designs to fit just about every graduate's needs.

If you don't see what you like on our website but have an idea in mind just contact us so we can create the perfect announcement or invitation for your graduation. We know that this day is special for not only you, but your family as well and we want to celebrate right along with you! 

We also would like to take the time to help you in deciding whether an announcement or an invitation is what you are looking for. A lot of seniors (and their parents) start to ask about the difference between graduation invitations and graduation announcements this time of year so we wanted to help you out.

Graduation Invitations
These are invitations to either the graduation itself, to a graduation party or both. The invitation includes all of the standard event information, including the time, date, address and other specifics. If there is going to be a party or reception held after the graduation ceremony you can let your guests know these details on the invitation. Make it clear on the invitation or by word of mouth if the guests are being invited to the graduation ceremony and the party or just the party (in case tickets or seats at the graduation ceremony are limited).

Graduation Announcements

These are the cards a graduate sends to family and friends to share the big news about the graduation. It includes information about the graduate, including the school he or she is graduating from, but doesn’t include the time, date or location like an invitation would. This is a great place to put any honors you or your child has received as well to celebrate all of your accomplishments.

Tea Time {Party Planning Ideas}

Going to tea is coming back in style. Over the past five years there has been an increase in tea shops opening all over the US. Utilizing these shops for your next shower or party is a fabulous way to show that special someone that you care about them and also allows you to host a fabulous party without any worry. No prep, no decorations to worry about and no clean up. The tea shop does everything for you!

Now I've been to quite a few bridal parties at tea shops over the years. It has been great every time I go. And Adrienne has even started going regularly to meet her friend for tea each month. The food is fabulous, the tea is flavorful and never lacking in choices and the service has never been less than stellar.

And bridal showers aren't the only thing you can celebrate at a tea shop. Baby showers are also a great event to host at one. And if you have a little girl in your life who you want to take out and celebrate you should do it over tea. I don't know many girls who would turn down tea. Especially if they get to dress up for the event as well. I know one of our local tea places has a hat rack and a plethora of boas to choose from should you decide to dress for the occasion but forgot your hat and boa at home. My mother in law treated me to lunch here when I was pregnant with my first child "just because." It was perfect.

I have found two websites that can help you find that perfect tea shop for your next event. Both Tea Guide and Tea Map have suggestions on locations in your area complete with reviews. You can also always do a quick Google search to find the nearest one.

And, of course, no tea party is complete without an adorable invitation! We have this tea bag invite ready to use for your next event! Just contact us or head on over to our website to order yours today.

Planning a Party {Child Party Decorations}

When deciding on a theme for my son's 2nd birthday party I came to the conclusion that I couldn't fight a Sesame Street party. His love for the show at the time I started planning was amazing. He'd wake up demanding Sesame Street or Elmo. It was amazing how fast he caught on to the whole thing! Next thing I know he could tell you the name of every character on the show. Then he started actually LEARNING from the show! At 18-20 months he could tell you what bug you were looking at. He said "Grasshopper!" when he spotted one in our front yard. And let me tell you... that was the cutest word he'd said thus far.

So I started planning my Sesame Street party. I looked around at different ideas on websites and Etsy and decided what I wanted to do. I wanted the decor to highlight my son's two favorite characters, Elmo and Cookie Monster. So I started with reds and blues for the color palate. Than I decided to throw in some yellows as well to round out the primary colors. Perfect for a two year old, right?

I found an adorable balloon wreath tutorial over on How Does She. The wreath was super simple to make and I can now reuse it every year for the kids parties. I can even change out the balloons for different colors if needed. And I love the sign that Adrienne made to fill the hole in the middle of the wreath. It left such a personalized feel to the end product.

I saw some cute Elmo and Cookie Monster cupcakes all over the internet so I decided to ask my friend over at Le Petit Kupkak if she could recreate them for me. And she did an amazing job! Not only did the cupcakes taste amazing, they were so fun too.

Cupcakes are just perfect for kids parties. No need for plates and forks and they're somewhat mess-free. Unless your kid is like mine and likes to eat their cupcake with no hands. Ya know, just goes right in head first? At least it gave us some fun pictures!

In keeping with the Cookie Monster theme I made 120 chocolate  chip cookies to give away as favors to all of the guests (including the adults!). I really wanted to put some sort of note on the cookies so I started looking into favor tag designs. I wanted something very simple and basic and finally decided on a simple picture of Cookie Monster and Elmo with a nice Thank You on the back of the tags as a way of showing our thanks for those who came to the party. I used a 1/8" punch to make the hole for the ribbon.

From the reactions we received from our guests they were very happy to get some yummy chocolate chip cookies! I was really worried that we were going to get "stuck" with a few bags that we'd have to consume within the next few days. Luckily it didn't come down to that as every bag but one was taken and happily eaten by someone other than me.  I already had to worry about the two extra cupcakes that kept calling my name from the fridge...

I purchased a Happy Birthday banner for my son's birthday last year and bought one that I could use up until he was 5 years old (it had interchangeable numbers). So I didn't stress too much about a Happy Birthday sign. Until my friend asked to borrow it for her son's birthday and I couldn't find the banner! I found the numbers... but no banner. So I started to search for a cute looking banner for the occasion. I figured why not go with the Cookie and Elmo theme and make the banner match the favor tags. 

I didn't want a long, continuous banner so I saw this idea from an Etsy vendor and decided to try it out. I had Adrienne print out the 3.5" circles and I just used my trusty standard hole puncher and put two holes on either side of the circles. I then put some ribbon through the holes and staggered the rows to achieve the look I wanted. 

Adrienne even threw in some extra 5" circles of Elmo and Cookie Monster so I took full advantage and used them for other decorations around the house. I used some paper streamers to decorate some of the walls and used the Cookie and Elmo cut outs to go in the middle of each draped loop. This  completed the look and theme of the whole party. I didn't even think of it before hand but will now use it whenever I use the paper streamers! I was also able to make a little "Happy Birthday" sign from the extra wreath circle and left over Cookie circle (see what Elmo is holding below at the snack bar...)

That's what I loved about Adrienne... I came up with or saw an idea and she just made it happen. I asked if it was possible and she always said it was :) So if you are planning a party (not just for children) and need some fun and fabulous paper goods to go along with the party to complete your theme definitely contact Custom Programs to see what we can do for you!

Will You Be My Valentine? {Ideas & Inspiration}

Ah, Valentine's Day is just around the corner. What better way to celebrate it than gorgeous tablescapes and cards. I've seen many different crafts and ideas to celebrate this Hallmark holiday and love the color schemes that seem to pop up everywhere. Valentine's Day isn't just deep reds and light pinks anymore. Throw in some silver, greys and creams to balance out the reds and pinks and you have yourself a great palette to work with.

I love simplicity when it comes to celebrating this holiday. Nothing too elaborate or over the top. A beautiful card with words of endearment along with some sweets and a nice dinner is the perfect way to celebrate. And by adding some small touches to this simple plan you can create the perfect evening. Just like this tablescape from Brenda's Wedding Blog.

Last year I used my son's footprints and some red paint to make a heart on some card stock. I wrote "I love my Daddy" all around the footprints in order to define the heart a bit more and framed it. I'm pretty sure my husband enjoyed this little sentimental gift a lot more than a store bought item. And now he'll always remember how small our son's feet really were.


If you plan on making (or buying) cupcakes then you could use cute flags to decorate them like these here on Hostess with the Mostess. You could even top them with something as simple as berries. And if you use strawberries you can trim them in the shape of a heart. If you or your child plan on giving away sweets like cookies or candy you can use a cute personalized tag to tie the bag. I also love homemade cards. Especially the ones children help design. The grandparents go gaga over this kind of stuff!

And for those who completely missed out on sending out holiday cards, Valentine's day is the perfect holiday to send out Valentine's to those who you would normally greet at Christmas. Some people forego Christmas cards altogether now and just send out Valentine's. It definitely decreases the to-do list around the holidays!

If you have an idea for Valentine's day decorations and need someone to whip up the coordinating paper goods contact us and we can work on creating the perfect design for your party!

Photos - top: Gladys Jem via Brenda's Wedding Blog, middle: Danielle Simmons, bottom: Custom Programs, LLC

Baptism and First Communion Invitations {Ideas and Inspiration}

A baptism is a very special moment in a new child's life. It is something to be celebrated and shared with friends and family. What better way to share this celebration than by designing the perfect invitation!

With Easter right around the corner I have started looking into designing an invitation for my daughter's baptism. Many who know me know that I LOVE the little details. When I throw a party I want everything to be perfect and that includes the invitations. I also want to make sure that the colors and embellishments match the decor I plan on using. That way I can tie in the theme of the event. Now a theme doesn't have to be elaborate. It can be as simple as using the same color palate for the decorations and paper goods. And this doesn't mean matchy matchy.

I think the best part about designing my invitation is that I don't have to stick to the standard baptism invitations. I can really use just about any invitation and customize it to fit my occasion. So don't let the names of the invitations stop you if they say "wedding" or "baby". Any of these can be used for other events!

I am thinking of using pinks and silver as the base for my daughter's baptism and love this invitation. The best part is that I can DIY it and add my own personal touch to it. Now, if you aren't that into DIY you can always have Custom Programs print and assemble for you! Then they can ship them to your door ready to be sent out to your guests.

First Communion invitations are also something to start thinking about. If your child is planning on completing their first communion this year than you may want to start thinking about this announcement as well even if you aren't going to have a reception afterward. Acknowledging this joyous event in your child's life will not only make others aware of your child's accomplishments but will also let your child know how special it is to you that they are taking this next step into their relationship with God.

Christmas is here! (almost)

Envelopments just released a new product called Twist Cards! There is room for a photo one one side and your Holiday Message on the other...and they allow the card to stand up so your greeting can be beautifully displayed throughout the holiday season! These are a limited edition card and only available until December 17th!

Pink Dove 1st Communion {Invitations}

My youngest daughter will make her 1st communion this May, and she wanted something with a dove and very pink and girly...what a great chance for our fabulous desinger Diane to be creative...it came out beautifully!

Filigree for Valentines Day

I love this filigree design, it is elegant and fun and makes everything look pretty...I have done it on everything from placecards and round menus to fan programs...always a winner!

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope everyone has a wonderful (and romantic) Valentines Day! Here are some pics of this years valentines for all the kids at grade school - like brides who always want something unique, my kids love the die cut shapes too!

Holiday Cards!

I am so excited to have my holiday cards done BEFORE Christmas this year! here is a sneak peak of whats in the mail this week!

Our business holiday card:

and the more personal "family" one:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!