Christmas Save the Dates

If I think it’s hard to design for myself, it’s even harder to design for my family and friends! A birth announcement or party invitation is fun and stress-free (or less stress anyways), but for an incredibly significant and important event like a wedding, the pressure is on! And to be clear, it is 100% self inflicted. I need it to be the best design I have EVER done!

Okay, that’s a little dramatic, but I definitely want it to be perfect and so I started thinking about what I could do for my baby sister, Carley’s, save the dates… oh, like the moment they got engaged. After some pretty big (i.e. expensive to mail) ideas, I came up with an idea that everyone loved… and was completely reasonable to mail to 150+ guests.

Palm Papers Save the Date

The timing of her engagement photos finishing up and finalizing the design coincided with sending holiday cards, so I thought, why not do them both in one? I designed a holiday card and a separate save the date and we tied them together with twine and a tag. It’s like a little present in the mail.

Palm Papers Save the Date

Having had a big year, they sent a little update to family and friends on the back of their holiday card which I liked. Great for friends and family of each to learn more about the other and their life together.

Palm Papers Save the Date

Palm Papers Save the Date

And then of course, the most important piece… the save the date card!

Palm Papers Save the Date

Carley’s photographer, Arielle Doneson Photography, took some amazing photos of Carley and John and we had trouble picking because there were so many gorgeous images. In the end, I think we chose perfectly. I love this one!

Palm Papers Save the Date

On the back, we included their website and some beautiful black and white images.
In the end, I loved everything and most importantly, so did the bride and groom.

And now…. I am in the process of trying to design ‘the best wedding invitations I have ever done’. I know I know, I have a problem!

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My 2012 Holiday Cards

Palm Papers holiday photo cards

This year, I planned ahead and had ordered my business holiday cards by Thanksgiving. But my personal holiday cards where another story. I always find it hard to design for myself, but without any professional or particularly amazing photos of my husband and I (turns out we wear sunglasses in pretty much all of our vacation photos), I tried not to stress and just decided to go with something pretty clean with a really bright, eye catching backer.

Palm Papers holiday photo cards

This is just an instagram photo that someone took for us on or trip to San Francisco, but it’s a favorite.

Palm Papers holiday photo cards

Palm Papers holiday photo cards

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Happy New Year!

Wow, I almost feel like people have stopped saying that. It’s the second week of 2013 and things are moving quickly! I feel a bit behind the curve on the happy new year blog posts, but it certainly took me those first few days of the new year to get back into things and I finally have had time to do a little blog post.

gold foil letterpress

I thought the best way to start the new year is to show you my business holiday cards. I sent them to clients, designers, vendors and friends and I love love love them! Palm Papers is offering gold foil wedding invitations this year and this is my first foil stamped design. I know this certainly won’t be my last, because it is BE-U-TI-FUL! I printed them on Arturo Stone Grey card stock in a nice small size. I really loved the unique combo of the gold and grey.

gold foil letterpress

gold foil letterpress

I have plenty left over, so if you want to receive one, shoot me an email at lauren@palmpapers.com.
Cheers!

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A Merry Christmas Present

If anyone even noticed, this year, I decided to pass on selling my own holiday collection. After a great year last year with my holiday collection at Minted, I decided to take advantage of them doing all the work and take the month of December ‘off’. That is always easier said than done, but after an extremely overwhelming few weeks, I find myself wrapping up a few wedding orders and indeed seeing a month of minimal working (there is never no working for me). I want to take this time to catch up on business and organizational stuff so that I am refreshed and ready for the 2013 wedding season and just enjoy a calm stress-free holiday.

What does this mean? My shop will be closed, and I’ll resume selling my samples in January. I am now accepting wedding contracts for delivery dates after January 31st, but those are quickly filling up so contact me if you want to book. Brides booking in December will lock in 2012 pricing, because new 2013 pricing comes out in January!

Now that that’s out of the way, it’s time to exchange gifts!

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In exchange for being great readers/clients/friends (that is your gift to me), I wanted to give you a little something. Since I personally don’t have any holiday products this year, I thought I would give away one of my favorite new paper products: gift wrap designed by my sweet friend, Lesa Abney, of Paper Nest by Lesa. Lesa is so talented and is one of my favorite designers. Her style is so fresh and fun and so when she showed me her mock ups for some wrapping paper, I new exactly what my presents would look like under the tree this year!

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Available in 4 different patterns, they are all printed on kraft paper in reds, greens and GOLD! So cute! I have my mine, so now it’s time to get yours!

To enter:
(1) comment here with your name and your favorite wrapping paper pattern (makes sure to include your email when commenting)
(2) ‘like’ Palm Papers and Paper Nest by Lesa on Facebook (if you don’t already)

One entry per person and you have till Thursday at midnight to enter.
Three winners will be chosen at random to receive 1 roll (roll includes 2 – 24″ x 36″ sheets).
The winners will be announced on Facebook on Friday!

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! See you next year!

Posted in Giveaway, Holiday | 20 Comments

Designers Care

A bunch of Minted designers, headed up by Jackie Mangiolino, of Believe Notes, got together to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Within days, she created Designers Care, an Etsy shop full of beautifully stamped cards and art work (donated by Minted designers), where 100% of the proceeds go to the Red Cross to help those effected by the storm! Their goal is to raise $2,000 and as of today they are at $860. They need your help!

Designers Care

I don’t know where else you can donate and get something so pretty in return! Visit their etsy shop to support their awesome efforts!

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Featured: Style Me Pretty Texas

dallas wedding invitations

While it’s winter in many parts of the country, in Texas, we are just barely getting into fall weather, so how appropriate to have a lovely fall inspiration shoot featured on Style Me Pretty Texas today! I teamed up with Matt & Julie Weddings, Blue Lotus and Chips & Salsa Design Studio and I have to say that I am quite loving all these fall florals and those plates! Gorgeous and fun!

dallas wedding invitations

You can view the feature here and check out all the amazing photos in the gallery!

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Minted Design Challenge: Just Can’t Wait Save the Dates

Voting is now open for the latest Minted Challenge: Save the Dates. Anything wedding related is a favorite design category of mine, and I was able to submit several for consideration. Meet in the Middle, Effortless, Badge, Embellished, Love, Style and Pop of Color.

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Vote here if you wish! Voting ends on Thursday!

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The Bell Jar

This was really big news when I signed the lease, but the chaos of running a business makes things pass in a flash and it almost feels like old news, even before I announced it… but Palm Papers now has a studio space! I wasn’t searching for a space, but when I had the opportunity to share a space with two talented ladies, Emily Allen of Cakewalk Bake Shop and Stefanie Miles of Lavender Joy Weddings at The Bell Jar, and I couldn’t pass it up, and after just one consultation, I am so glad to have this space for my Dallas brides!

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What is The Bell Jar, you ask? The Bell Jar is an event planning studio is East Dallas, that is also the home of a few more amazingly talented wedding vendors: After Yes Weddings, Apryl Ann Photography, Astounding Sounds, Ben Q Photography, Beauty & the Blush, and Bows + Arrows.

We are still getting settled (which means we are still decorating), but I’m officially open for consultations! If you are searching for wedding invitations and are in Dallas, shoot me an email to make an appointment. I’d love to meet you!

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Palm Papers for Daily Sip Studios

I have neglected to post a recent collaboration with my friend Kimberly at Daily Sip Studios. You might remember her from letterpress adventures in Chicago and our NYC trip earlier this year. Kimberly asked if I would like to contribute some of my designs to her letterpress shop and I was quick to say yes! I love letterpress (who doesn’t), and while I work with custom and wedding clients, I don’t really have time to expand my celebrations or social stationery into letterpress, so I jumped at the chance.

You might recognize ‘Meet Baby‘ from my etsy shop.

Palm Papers Stationery

Or my ‘Floral Frame‘ stationery.

Palm Papers Stationery

She also is offering one of my Christmas designs, ‘We Believe‘, photographed in a rich red color, with edge painting!

Palm Papers Stationery

Gorgeous! I love Kimberly and love being part of her letterpress shop!

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Featured: Every Last Detail Fall Inspiration Shoot

Palm Papers

Yesterday, a photo shoot that I worked on was featured on Every Last Detail. This shoot happened a few months ago and I wasn’t able to go to the shoot, so I’ve been anxious to see how everything came together. I love the fall florals with the blue watercolor accents. It took place at the gorgeous Howell Family Farms – what a perfect setting!

Palm Papers

I know I’ve said it before, but Dallas/Fort Worth is full of some extremely talented vendors and I was honored to get to work with Lavender Joy Weddings, Kari Crowe Photography, and Kate Foley Designs on this shoot.

Palm Papers

Check out some more gorgeous images on Every Last Detail!

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