acrylic invitations

Okay, back to sharing another gem I found while at the National Stationery Show last month... Acrylic invitations!!! So. cool.

The company that makes them is allie munroe. They had several different examples and they all blew my mind! I totally think this should have been a "Best New Product" contender. Maybe I've been living under a rock, but I have never seen anything like this before. Note to self: I've got to find an event to use these beauties!


Any color! Any shape!



Look at this awesome wedding correspondence. Click the image to make it larger so you can see the crocodile-skin-like envelope. Again, just awesome! Another take-away to notice from this picture... instead of generic "save the date" terminology, they said "clear your calendar" and it's on a piece of clear acrylic. Details people, details!



They also had plastic options. Maybe they are cheaper? I don't know for sure, but I think that is what the representative told me? Same great look though!



allie munroe has other great stationery products as well. My favorite was this birth announcement. Simple, modern and yet still captured the cuteness of a new baby.
1+1=3 -- Love. it.



Speaking of invitations and stationery, I'm finishing up the design for some wedding invitations that I'll share soon. They are timeless and classic. Just got the thumbs up from the client today!

national stationery show - part two

Some more great inspiration from the NSS 2010...

Blackbird Letterpress showcased a brilliant new card - another "Best New Products" candidate. The bear hug card can "hug" money, a gift card or how about a concert ticket. The options are endless.



One prevalent trend at the show was all the eco-friendly products. And boy do I have a great one to share with you! reGreet is a product to reduce, re-use and recycle greeting cards. I've always thought what a waste it is to trash all the beautiful, hilarious, and thoughtful cards that celebrate moments throughout the year. How does it work? See a video here. Deservedly so, this was yet another "Best New Products" competitor.



Okay, now for some cool display ideas I saw. These could all be easily translated to party decor (which of course was what I was thinking the whole time).

This was a whole wall made up of broken down furniture. See the tables, nightstands, drawers, etc. All painted white for unity and covered in colorful display items. Don't they just pop!? You could even make this in your own home. I think this would be a great idea in a kids room for toy shelf/storage. (Hey hubby, what about our playroom? Get your saw out!)



Tissue paper has made a huge impact on party decorations lately - can you say pom poms! Tissue paper is a very cheap and versatile material - both assets in my party planning book. Big impact on the cheap. Check out these examples in some of the booths.

Flowers floor to ceiling - simply fantastic! Oh, I also love the display shelf idea - It's a yard stick.




This a was a pom pom of sorts at the Lilly Pulitzer booth. The half dome shape is perfect for table centerpieces.



And how about this... Make your own tissue flowers. Poppies, roses, mums and my all time favorite flower, peonies. Look at this booth display! The flowering making kits will be available here soon according to the representative I spoke to. It's so new they don't even have it up on their website yet!




Paper-Source is one of my favorite sources for all things paper - hence the name Paper-Source! Ha! They had a display of quick and easy wrapping options with their products. You could use anything you have really, but theirs are great quality. Simple and functional wrappings, but all gorgeous! I know I will be using some of these ribbon ideas in the future.





Jax Invites has a great new product that creates buzz about your party right from the beginning. A tube mailer invitation that can be mailed as is. You just put the postage on and drop it in the mail. Both the out side tube and inside invitation can all be customized. What I love the most is you could also put other treats in there as well. Some jelly beans to an Easter party, a drink umbrella for a luau, red and white peppermints at Christmas time... Love it!





I still have more from the show (slowly making a dent in my seven pages of notes)... actually two of my absolute favorites yet to come!

national stationery show - part one

Wowza, that was fun! I went to the Stationery Show this past Sunday and loved every moment of it. I am going to do several posts on my visit because there is just too much to share at one time. I walked aisle after aisle of fantastic booths, but I also attended a few demostrations and a "meet the author" session. So without further ado, let me get started with all the wonderful stuff!

My first stop was the Press Center. I got my registation finalized and then perused the racks and racks of press kits. Such inspiration! I'll share some more details on these after I get the bags and bags of stuff I came home with organized.


Notice the paint cans on the bottom shelf? I just wanted to show you all yet another idea for a paint can. Remember the time capsule idea here.

And then I was off to discover all this... over 900 booths!



Some of my favorite finds...

Okay, there is offically a "bar" for everthing now. Check out this Stationery Bar! Very practical for a stationery shop and MY OFFICE! I want, I want!





This is a great new product by Hello Hanna. It was named one of the "Best New Products" of the show. Of course it was one of my favorite finds too - I am the cake lady after all. Individual cake stands called Sweet Stands.



Hello Hanna had another product making it into the "Best New Products" catagory. The Wishing Tree is making it's way around the blogosphere of late - see here that Amy Atlas loves it too. (Side bar: Wish I would have known she was going to be there the same day as me! I would have been watching out for the Queen of all things dessert. Just knowing I was in the same building as her makes me hopeful some of her talent rubbed off on me. We were breathing the same air you know!)

Wouldn't this be a wonderful addition to a wedding, shower, anniversary party, etc. Guest write their wishes on ready-made slips of paper with string already attached. After folding, the guests hang their message from one of the branches of the tree.



Here is an image from their website to give the product the showcase it actually deserves.


Look at this idea for a wedding - love it! Make your table seating chart look like an open book. Aren't those flowers down the middle divine!? A completely doable d.i.y. project. Unfortnately, I didn't document the source.




Well, that's enough for now, but I have LOTS more to share. Stay tuned... I have to get back to the two cakes I have due this week.