This invitation was made with a dove white square pocketfold from Envelopments. The text is printed on an ivory rice paper and layered on peach cardstock.

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we also just found out we made it onto the philadelphia magazine website!! we are pictured with laura kelly, owner of the handwork studio®. laura and her husband, john kelly, co-chaired the entire event.

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we finally got a minute to post all of our photos from the lemon ball!! it was saturday evening, january 17th at the marriott downtown in philadelphia. loveleigh donated the design of all the printed materials, which included the invitation package, tribute/auction books and all the signage for the evening.

we just recently learned that over $500,000 dollars was raised that night to help support alex's lemonade stand! so amazing, despite the state of the current economy. one of the most touching highlights of the night took place during the live auction when liz scott, alex's mother, auctioned a baker’s dozen of her famous lemon cookies. the winning bid of $13,000 was received with a standing ovation on the eve of what would have been alex’s 13th birthday. we are so glad we were able to help this wonderful organization and be a part of this night.

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Being smart about how you're spending your wedding dinero - doesn't mean that you are being cheap.  It's definitely human nature to want the best.  Hello!  I design myself into a labor intensive nightmare with my son's birthday invitations every year (note: pics coming soon .. tee, hee, hee).  

Follow me through this scenario ... Take the above invitation, Megan and Peter's wedding ensemble was everything they wanted in design, style and presentation.  Being smart meant we looked at their budget FIRST and designed from there.  If you are looking to be smart about spending, you can and still end up with a fabulous custom invitation.  It's really about what you actually need vs. want - in a word flexibility.  (Wouldn't it be nice if all things in life were as simple as stationery??)  Ask yourself, do I really need printed directions?  Do I really need this or that or is it more a luxury I'm willing to compromise on?

Although the invitation above looks simple enough, there were still opportunities to pare it down.  By removing all the extra enclosures attached to the back and sticking simply with the invitation & reply (with envelopes).  That's were the flexibility comes in.  You can start a free -or- inexpensive wedding website and list all the accommodation, direction and any other details there.  You may need one extra little card at minimal cost to direct guest to the website - but it's certainly a lot less costly than a multitude of panels with your invite.  

A word of warning ... don't include home printed directions or scissor cut papers with extra info that do not directly coordinate with your professionally printed invitations ... it looks really tacky and they stick out like a sore thumb.  Not a great first impression to one of the biggest days of your life.  Remember, your invitation is a keepsake for you just as much as an announcement to your guests - the invitation is the only professionally printed stationery you'll have to remember the day - other than the lovely state documented marriage license.

Back to business ...today, the pared down version breaks down to the following:

Invitations (100):

5x7 -or- 5x5 Panel Design

Double Matte Invitation Panel

Mix & Match Metallic or Matte Papers

3.5x5 Reply with Envelope

Total = $625

With my ... Luxury at a DIY Price Special

Total = $525

Add-on's:

Return Addressed Reply Envelope $75

Return Addressed Outside Envelope $75

Crystal Embellishment (1 per invite) $37.50 (DIY Price $29.00)

Let me know what you think of this post ... is it helpful??

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After finishing a Chocolate Chip project I decided to continue playing with the words. This is my attempt at whimsical, loose, letters with rhythm and flow.

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A recent project for signage of upscale cafe items. The goal was to create a loose flowing script for consumers in a fast pace lifestyle. CAFE was designed with small pin serifs and inlines for elegance. The irregular drop line of Selections allowed a light weight script to be viewed by consumers at a distance. Both words read as one unit with the loop of the S & C and the top of the l tucked into the opening of the A.

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This couple really wanted a clean and simple invitation with an earthy feel. Their ceremony was in the backyard of close family friends and was to be held under a large tree. The panel invitation is printed on a green metallic cardstock with brown ink and a shadow image of a large oak tree in the back. It is layered onto a rich, dark brown linen cardstock made from 100% recycled paper.

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This teal & red panel invitation with a vellum overlay is so unique. The ivory vellum is attached with a teal organza ribbon. The pattern paper under the vellum is from My Minds Eye (an amazing scrapbook company we can special order pattern cardstock from at any time) and has red, teal and cream accents. The RSVP postcard is printed with the return address on the back and has a place for guests to note song choices for the reception.

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My super-friends (super ... because they have 5 little ones under 5!), The Rekers Family, ordered birthday invitations for mom's 70th birthday celebration.  The invitation was inspired by the dazzling and luxurious Mom herself.  She loves pink - and I thought a muted palette lent itself to vintage, dusty rose accents.  It's a 7x7 panel design, with a triple matte, metallic & matte papers, ribbon trim and hand glittering.

I'm so into this hand glittering right now.  It is really time consuming but the effect is well worth the work.  Up next, my little one's Scooby invites ... working on those babies tonight!!

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This monochromatic invitation done in soft shades of violet and ivory has a pocket on the back to house all of the inserts. The invitation text has an ivory vellum overlay and is wrapped with an ivory grosgrain and tied in a iridescent violet ribbon from May Arts.

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Budgets are tight, planning an event is exhausting - and you are running short on time.  SJD to the rescue!  For a limited time little 'ol me, Miss Stephanie J, is doing my part to stimulate the economy by rolling up my sleeves and doing some of the work for you!  Not to mention saving you a heap of change and bunches of your valuable time in the process.  

When you book your custom stationery order (weddings, baby or social) by February 2, 2009 and pay in full at the time of order - you'll save 25% (before sales tax & design).  What is even better about this offer is that you are getting a full design & assembly order for the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) price!  Payments must be received by the February 2nd deadline to qualify.  This offer cannot be combined with any other SJD offer.

Call or email fast!  Spots on the production board are sure to fill up fast once everyone gets wind of this fabulous offer.

Looking forward to designing with you!!

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SJD was recently featured on the Alison Ulshoffer Blog as an invite designer she loves.  Ahhhh, it's good to be loved!  :)  Alison has several weddings detailed on her website (including her very own tropcial paradise wedding!) and it is apparent she has an eye for the details.  In my recent experiences with Alison - she is super-fast to respond, full of helpful info and just the overall sweetest person you could meet.  I'd certainly trust her to plan an event for me!

Enjoy happy planning with Alison Ulshoffer Events & Design!

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Alyssa and Caleb chose a giesha red 5x7 pocketfold from Envelopments with a matching red outer envelope. The text is printed on a pearlized creme brulee paper with a flourish graphic. The directions card is printed on a pearlized creme brulee cardstock with a map on the back. They also included an RSVP postcard in giesha red cardstock.

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wedding photographer, laura eaton, asked us to submit a sample for the goody bags for her soiree in the city event which was also saturday, january 17th. we were unable to attend because of the lemon ball, but so happy that we could be a part of it! hopefully we can go to the next one!

(photography provided by laura eaton)

our goody...a card for a bride to give to her mother on her wedding day.
5"x5" vertically folded card, with glassine envelopes

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as you know, loveleigh donated the design of all the print materials for the event. from the invites to the signage everything turned out great! it was such a huge event to be a part of. there were so many amazing people involved.

we will be posting more pix but here is a a little taste of the evening :) it was a fabulous! from the lemontinis to the $13,000 live auction bid on liz scott's (alex's mother) homemade cookies, everything was a success! we don't know the total amount raised just yet, but will post it as soon as we find out!

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This snowflake panel invitation is printed on a pearlized white paper and layered onto a blue metallic cardstock then wrapped with a silver metallic organza ribbon.

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This custom wedding invitation set is a 5x7 panel with a pocket on the back to house the RSVP postcard and direction card. The RSVP postcard has the return address printed on the back and the direction card has lodging information printed on the back. The earthy color scheme of dark chocolate brown, olive green and pearl are perfect for this outdoor wedding held at the Red Barn Farm.

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Love, love, love my new blender!!  Our son, Wyatt, got to pick the color - super cute!  We've been blending like maniacs since we got it just after Christmas.  Wyatt and I are blending up breakfast smoothies every day, mixing everything from salsa to pancake mix is super easy and the blender has instituted weekly Tequila Tuesday's at the Cooley house.  

Seriously, the consistency is perfect - liquifies ice in seconds - and no (I mean NO) little left over ice rocks to get stuck in a straw.  We purchased ours at Macy's, but you can check out more cool colors on the KitchenAid website.

Happy Blending!!

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Second Saturday in Midtown is tonight!  If you're planning a wedding or event this year (or next year, or the next, and the next ...) you need to stop by.  I'll be with the fabulous women of Visual Impact Design showing off some of my stationery while they'll be showcasing extraordinary floral designs.  There will also be other event pros on hand with appetizers & desserts, music and more.  And best of all it's FREE.  

Saturday, January 10th

Five to nine o'clock

Visual Impact Design

1729 L Street | Sacramento, CA 95814

916.489.3746

See you there!!

Photo courtesy of Visual Impact Website

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