Invite Mock-Up #3 With a New Paisley Stamp

I found a different paisley stamp a few weeks ago at Michaels, I wasnt sure if I could make it work.  I liked the other paisley, but it seems like it was a little too busy for embossing.  It worked OK, but this one looks so much nicer and more crisp.  I thought Nick would think it was too girly, but he liked it better too.  Yippee!

Invite Mock-Up #2

After reading many reviews on The Knot, I decided to order samples from CardsandPockets.com.

I ordered two different color gate cards (Coffee Bean & Milk Chocolate) 

and two different color matts, (Something Blue & Hydrangea).

I also ordered a sample of the cream invitations.

After trying all combinations, we've decided on the Milk Chocolate & Hydrangea.

I picked up a couple ribbon options today too, one is just a light blue satin and the other is a light blue satin with chocolate and cream swirl.  It was also on clearance, so we'll see.  I'm not sure how I feel about it with the paisley inside.  Ugh, this takes a lot of time, but it's so much cheaper than ordering them.

I want to change the font, and the letter on the front.  So there will be more mock-ups to come.  Yea!

Paper Samples & an Invite Mock-up

I had to return some embossing powder the other day.  I didnt realize that even though it says clear on the bottle, if it's 'clear pearl,' then it turns everything, no matter what color your ink is...purple.  Not so good.   Anyway, while I was there I picked up a couple pieces of scrapbooking paper in our colors, just to play around with.  Then I started thinking maybe it's time to start making some mock-ups, like real ones, so we can decide what we like best.  I have been stalking cardsandpockets.com for a while now.  I like that you can buy individual pieces  of paper, instead of packs of 25. (like PaperSource)  So yea!!  I ordered samples from Cards & Pockets yesterday, I cant wait to see what they're like.  Since our colors are brown and light(ish) blue, I ordered samples of the gate fold card in Milk Chocolate and Coffee Bean.  Then I ordered the invitation mat in Something Blue and Hydrangea.  Our actual invitation will be cream. 

I made a pretty rough mock-up just to see what it was going to look like, but I think I love it.  I had some leftover blue paper and since I was trying to explain to the girls at work what I was talking about with a 'belly band,'  I threw it on there for effect.  I think I like the idea of the paper one.  You can open it and dont have to slide it down like a real ribbon one.  I'm still going to make a mock-up of both, just in case.  I'll keep you posted.

Embossing!

Okay, so I think I want to make my own invitations.  Since I'm adoring paisley right now, and my mom and I got a stamp last weekend.  I started playing around with it.  My co-worker had some left over embossing powder and a heat gun, Yea! Saves my budget, but when I was messing with it I realized the powder she let me borrow is too large for my fine detailed stamp.  No biggie, embossing powder is like $3.50.  

So I picked up some clear (fine detail) powder yesterday and this is how they turned out.  I think they look cool.  Nick likes how they feel.  (Boys!)  

Today at work I made a mock-up of just top part of the invitation,  complete with wording, so Nick and I can start stamping, and hopefully get an idea of what we like.   I will post some pictures when I get some good examples.  Yippee!  Another project!  :)