Tidbits from the Interwebs

Sorry (in my Canadian accent) for the lack of creative posts lately. It's just been so hectic at work! In the meantime, here are a few links which you must check out!

1) Barbara Kua Calligraphy recently launched an online shop so now it's even easier to purchase their customized calligraphy stamps and sample calligraphy packs.


2) Toronto-based Sash & Bustle has also launched its E-Boutique. Items available to purchase through the E-Boutique include: veils, fascinators, bridesmaids gifts, bridal clutches and other wedding-related details.


3) My friend Michelle sent me this link to this amazing Mario Brothers' 8-bit video game wedding invitations. Check out the video below, and click on the above link to see photos of the paper invites!



4) After many weeks of suspenseful teasers, The Last Forty Percent Photography unveiled their brand new studio space overlooking the city. I love how modern it looks! I foresee LFP being bombarded with even more requests for boudoir sessions! To see more of their new space, click here.


5) Toronto Life magazine has posted select content from its Wedding Guide 2010 (on its website including a feature on Andrea Anastasiou, owner of White Toronto. Also check out Toronto Life's stunning wedding gown picks.

Don't forget to enter A Hot Pink Petticoat Giveaway - which has been extended to the end of Monday and is open to anyone planning an event (doesn't have to be a wedding). Note that the contest is now open to those outside of Toronto.

The Invitation.

Nicole, of Nicole and Jesse, a fellow Canadian planning her wedding (she's less than 3 months away from the big day!) recently posted the cutest and funniest invitation I've seen in a long time. Click on the image to see the video invite. I promise, it's a good one (especially if you're suffering from wedding planning stress)!

Invitation Mailing 101

Great post by Barbara Kua Calligraphy.

A Weekend of Surpises

This past long weekend (it's Victoria Day today here in Canada) I pulled off not one, but two surprise events. The first event was the BF's birthday party Saturday night. Unfortunately, I could not be in LA for the BF's birthday (oh long distance, how it sucks). I decided the next best thing was to plan a little get-together at one of his favourite watering holes, Cabo Catina. I emailed all his friends and asked them to 'surprise the crap out of him' (BF does not like surprises) and also take advantage of the happy hour (2 for 1 drinks!). I also ordered a bunch of cupcake babies from our favourite cupcake place, Vanilla Bake Shop, including a regular size stuffed Key Lime cupcake for the BF. So how did it go? Let's just say that planning a surprise party from a different city, country, and coast isn't ideal. A few of the BF's friends tripped up in their drunken states a few nights prior which led the BF to be VERY suspicious. Nevertheless, the BF drank many margs, ate some cupcakes and fun was had by all.

source

The second surprise event I helped plan was my friend A's bridal shower. A is a no fuss, no muss kind of gal. She told her bridesmaids that she didn't want a bridal shower and we were instructed by her NOT to plan one. Of course, we totally ignored her request. Since A has been a wonderful bridesmaid herself a number of times, we felt that A deserved to be 'showered' in return. We planned an intimate shower for A and asked each of the guests to bring photos or mementos of A so we could make a scrapbook for her. This way A could spend some quality time with her guests. We had so much fun! It was great to look at photos of A over the years and reminisce. I highly recommend a 'scrapbook shower.' As I've blogged in the past, A wanted to have 'Tiffany blue' as one of her wedding colours but it didn't quite work with her venue so we decided to incorporate the colour in her shower invites. I 'designed' (lol) the invites using PowerPoint; printed them using my finicky HP printer; used 12x12 cardstock (from Michael's) for the backing; rounded out the edges with a corner rounder; tied white ribbons around the invite.....and voilà!





Have you planned a surprise event? How did it turn out?

DIY Goodness from the Interweb

Happy St. Patty's Day! Hope you have a chance to grab yourself a green beer today! Unfortunately I'm not creative enough (or organized enough!) to blog about something St. Patty's Day or green related. Instead, here are some DIY goodies:

Photoshop Invitations Workshop
Don't forget to register for DIY Bride's Free Photoshop Invitations 101 Workshop. This workshop consists of three videos, to be viewed at your leisure, teaching you the basic tools of Photoshop and using them to create personalized paper goods.

DIY Favour Boxes
I found this lovely DIY favour box template at Wedlog. Fill them up with your favourite candies or chocolates.

via Wedlog

DIY Centrepieces
Thinking about making your centrepieces? This helpful video will show you how to do it!

Boarding Pass Invitations

My cousin and his fiance are getting married abroad a cruise ship next month. Once married, they and their guests, will be setting sail to Mexico. How apropos are these boarding pass invitations for their destination wedding? Apologies for the so-so quality of the photos (I'm so not a photographer!). Click on the images for a closer look. Manaluz Designs in New York City designed and printed the invitations for them.



Thinking of going the DIY route? Lucky for you, Soirée Bliss has a boarding pass template available for download for FREE! Click here for the template and step-by-step instructions for putting together your invitations/save-the-dates. Good luck!

Free Paisley Wedding Invitation Set

Clarice Gomes, a Canadian based graphic designer, posted this free paisley wedding invitation set on her blog.



Visit Clarice's esty store to see more of her wedding invitation templates. She can also customize her templates to suit your needs.

Free Floral Wedding Invite Template

How pretty are these? The printable set includes invitation card, save the date, RSVP card and a thank you note. All courtesy of e.m.papers via iDiY. If you haven't checked out iDiY, you must! iDiY always has the best DIY templates for download, for FREE.

e.m.papers via iDiY

Frugal Fridays: DIY Invitations

I adore paper goods - stationery, invitations, cards, gift wrap, journals, origami paper - I would buy it ALL in a heartbeat (and then it would ALL proceed to sit in a pile underneath my desk). Even though I am completely dependent upon electronic devices to jot down my thoughts, my correspondence, my ramblings, my to-do lists and schedule (I heart my BlackBerry), I can't resist but peruse the many paper goods store in Toronto. (I even can't even resist the stationary section of the Indigo bookstore near me.)

The latest trend is brides and bridesmaids tackling the task of creating and producing their own save-the-dates, invitations, program and shower invites. When I first heard of this do-it-yourself (DIY) task, I was in disbelief - where does one even begin? Isn't the time spent labouring over the project enough reason to hand over your money to a professional ? Time is money right? Little did I know that there were so many resources out there to help those brave and crafty brides.

1. No Graphic Design Skills Necessary

I couldn't draw a stick figure to save my life, let alone create an original invitation design on my laptop. Luckily, those a lot more design-savvy than I, have created invitation templates, and offer them for download, for FREE. I know, what's FREE anymore?!?

Mujka Design is one of these sites. Check out this lovely damask invitation set.

via Mujka

Mujka also sells invitation templates if this one doesn't tickle your fancy. The prices range from USD$3 to USD$20.00. Mujka is operated by a talented woman named Burcu Arat Sup and she is based in Alberta, Canada.

Domestic diva Martha Stewart also offers invitation templates on her 'print-it-yourself' website.

2. The Paper Chase

I think this would be the most exciting part of making your own invites (or stationery). It would be SO easy for me to spend an entire day in a paper store, running my hand along every piece of paper (and most likely leaving my grubby hand prints behind). So where to go? Well if you're stateside, you must visit Paper Source. I cajoled the BF to take me to the Paper Source in LA a few months back and it was heaven! Don't have a Paper Source near you? Don't worry, you can purchase online. This is my latest paper crush:

Want ribbon band invitations? Or pocket folds? Paper Source has simple step-by-step instructions to guide you in the printing and assembling process in the print templates section of their website.

If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, here are my faves:

The Paper Place - has an online store.

Paper Things - All proceeds of the store go to the National Ballet of Canada's Build-a-Ballet Fund. They also offer customized invitations.

Here are some paper places in other Canadian cities:

Scrapbook Warehouse - Vancouver

Paper Pastimes - Calgary

And finally here are online stores that will ship to Canada:

White Aisle

Paper Presentation

Cards and Pockets

Blue Dot Papershop

Papers-Papers

3. Invitation Kits

Want to go DIY without the majority of the heavy lifting? Introducing Invitation Kits - everything you require to make your own invitation, all in a single box. All you need is your handy computer and printer. Martha Stewart Crafts offers such kits and ships to Canada. Want to see the kits in person? Visit Michael's (don't forget to check the weekly flyer for coupons) or Target (who ship as well).


Whichever way you decide to tackle your DIY Invitations, good luck!