I'm getting excited about a workshop I'll be teaching soon for Paper Source. It's called The Unique Invitation and in it, students will learn about various design strategies, printing options, and how to make the whole thing FUN! I really miss working with all our great customers that are designing invites for their special events and when our previous instructor relocated to California, I jumped at the chance to teach it at two of the Chicago areas stores this spring - Lincoln Park on Feb 28 and again on Apr 21 and Evanston on Mar 11.
One of the things I'll be teaching is how to adapt a classic Paper Source DIY #10 Open End Booklet design and make it your own.
Here's 3 variations of our #10 design, all using the same base papers (luxe white and luxe blush) and the same #10 open end booklet backing. [For those of you who aren't paper groupies, a #10 is the size of a standard letter size envelope, so things that fit into it are called "#10".] The kraft paper behind each invitation is just so they'll show up on the screen.
The invite one on the far left uses lokta paper from Nepal as the top layer and (you know me and my sewing fetishes) pearl buttons. The middle one has a semi-sheer overlay where you have hints of the words peaking through the translucent floral pattern and a velvet violet laced through the holes at the top holding the layers together. The final sample, on the right, uses a luscious Japanese chiyogami paper and an organza ribbon.
Now, here's the funny part -- I've used my niece Sarah as my inspiration for these invitations. No, she's not getting married soon -- heck, I don't even know if she's dating anyone. She hangs out with a bunch of cool kids at Carleton, but I don't know if there's someone "special".
No matter -- I've created a name of a fiance and even have them having Faspa at the reception. I'll write more about faspa another time, but trust me I tell you it's yummy....
Could I have designed the invitations without words? Yes, but I think it will give the students a better feel for what an invitation can look like if it's not blank. And designing something for Jane Doe and John Smith just isn't as much fun. So Sarah's getting married. (I'll likely be inspired by Betsy for something one of these days too -- so if you girls are reading this, don't worry -- I'll keep things balanced!)
Tell me which is YOUR favorite of the three designs. And why.
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