Press Feature } Real Weddings Magazine

Pop on over to the Real Weddings Magazine blog to view a feature on Devon & Jonathan's wedding day papery!

Events } Let Them Eat Cake! Table Papery

It truly is a labor of love the work I do with paper. The moments before falling asleep spent mulling over just the right colors, papers and embellishments, the hours designing choosing just the right illustrations & fonts and finally, the days spent assembling & embellishing are all worth it when they all collide perfectly.

I was super-excited when Rebecca { Sweet Cakes by Rebecca } asked me to be a part of her tablescape for Wish Bridal's Let Them Eat Cake! event in Sacramento, CA this past Sunday. The event was Marie Antoinette inspired and Rebecca's table took on a soft sparkly color palette of golds, blue, silver, ivory and white {hoping to snag some table pics soon!}.

Loving how the papery turned out! From the top: cake sampling tented table cards, die-cut candy buffet tags, dessert sampling mini-banners, cake name rolled parchments and a faux-framed vendor rolled parchment. Custom design, hand glittered text, Swarovski crystals, yummy metallic papers made for some super-sweet papery.

Tented Table Cards

$17.50 Each Full-Assembly

Custom Design Charges May Apply

Bulk Savings Apply

{just pick-up and put 'em out}

$13.25 each DIY-Assembly

Custom Design Charges May Apply

{includes: Paper, Printing and Any Embellishments}

$75 Print Ready Digital File

{includes: Digital File}

Die-Cut Candy Tags

Starting at $4.25 Each Full-Assembly

Custom Design Charges May Apply

Bulk Savings Apply

{just pick-up & stick 'em}

Starting at $3.20 Each DIY-Assembly

Custom Design Charges May Apply

{includes: Paper, Printing & Any Embellishments}

Mini Banners

Starting at $4.25 Each Full-Assembly

Custom Design Charges May Apply

Bulk Savings Apply

{just pick-up & stick 'em}

Starting at $3.20 Each DIY-Assembly

Custom Design Charges May Apply

{includes: Paper, Printing & Any Embellishments}

$75 Print Ready Digital File

{includes: Digital File}

Rolled Parchments

Starting at $3.50 Each Full-Assembly

Bulk Savings Apply

Custom Design Charges May Apply

{just pick-up & show 'em off}

Starting at $2.65 Each DIY-Assembly

Custom Design Charges May Apply

{includes: Paper, Printing & Any Embellishments}

$75 Print Ready Digital File

{includes: Digital File}

Faux-Framed Parchment

Starting at $10.00 Each Full-Assembly

Custom Design Charges Apply

Bulk Savings Apply

{just pick-up & show it off}

Starting at $7.50 Each DIY-Assembly

Custom Design Charges May Apply

{includes: Paper, Printing & Any Embellishments}

$75 Print Ready Digital File

{includes: Digital File}

Ramblings } To DIY or Not to DIY?

What was that? You've got oodles of time, nothing to do, no other planning, details, appointments or phone calls to make? Well, heck yea ... guess I would want to hand-craft my wedding invitations, too! It sure seems like a good idea until you're right in the middle of the fray frantically ordering paper, printing, cutting, assembling and trying to make the 5pm Post Office cut off time, because it wasn't as easy or quick as it all seemed initially.

There are only a few times in your life that you will order custom stationery, and your wedding is one of them. It is the only printed {well, beautifully printed} record of the day you excitedly said, "I DO!". The other icky document you get is the oh, so, official form your witnesses get to sign. Ewww. Unless of course you have your designer create an oh, so, fab document for your witnesses to sign ... that perfectly matches your wedding papery suite. Idea!

Of course, I am soooo beyond biased on this subject because I live and breathe the custom papery biz. To me ... truly, there is nothing like receiving a thoughtful, finely detailed, hand-crafted invitation or greeting in the mail. It's like a shiny little beacon amidst the junk mail, bills and coupons littering the mailbox. Love!

So, I say this ... if you insist on having a {literal} hand in your own wedding papery ... check with your paperies! Most offer design only services, DIY options, full design & assembly options ... they may just not list a whole long sorted tale about every service they perform. Save a little and do some of the manual labor or go all out and pamper yourself with a papery suite fit for a princess.

Remember, a custom papery is not only a supplier of materials & embellishments but a specialist in the art of invitation design and etiquette. And {while I'm thinking of it} an important note: No two paperies are alike ... what is crafted by one persons hand cannot be crafted the same by another's. Ahhhh, so true. {thinking ...}

Now, go forth! Find a papery you love, trust in their proven abilities and play with your wedding papery!

It's a rambl-y kinda day, my friends ...

Reception } Bling-ity, Bling, Bling Table Cards

Ahhh, my affinity for table cards. I'm not quite sure how it all started ... but, my thought is ... I spend hours, days, months laboring over hundreds {upon hundreds} of invitation suites at a time and then when it comes time to work on project of 20 or so table cards - I can really go to town on them!

The bling-yist of the them all last year, were my ever popular, Chandelier Table Cards. Available in 5x7 and 7x7, with multiple mattes {or not}, tented {no need for stands or frames} or as a panel {to frame, etc.}. These beauties are sure to add just the right sparkle to your reception decor. Choose from signature designs -or- we can design something uniquely you. Design, colors, papers, crystals & ribbon are all customizable.

Chandelier Table Cards

$17.50 Each Full-Assembly

{just pick-up and put 'em out}

$13.25 each DIY-Assembly

{includes: Paper, Printing and Any Embellishments}

$75 Print Ready Digital File

{includes: Digital File}

PHOTO CREDIT: CINZO PHOTOGRAPHY, TRES FABU EVENT DESIGN

Introducing } Digital Monograms

Soooo, a fully-designed and assembled custom papery suite is just not in the cards for your event? You can still get a unique and polished look for your big day!! Stephanie J Designs now offers custom monograms. The custom monograms are provided to you in digital format {ready for print & web} so that you can use them royalty-free as you wish. Create memorable papery using your new monogram on save the dates, invitations, Gobo lighting, menus, table cards, thank you notes, etc.

These are not your ordinary monograms, daaaalings. My design work is always thoughtfully crafted with your unique style and event in mind. I do not {and will not ever!} have a stock set of monograms where all that is unique is the couples names. Yuck - that's like cheating. What is unique about that? We may gather inspiration from other designs in my portfolio, but will never duplicate. You, your style and the vision of your event are one of a kind ... your monogram should reflect that.

Soooo, let's get started!

Custom Monograms

$125 Each

{includes: Print & Web Ready Digital Files}

How it Works

Email {stephanie@stephaniejdesigns.com}

Provide Contact Information & Event Date

A Little Back and Forth about Style & Your Event

Invoice & Payment

Art Design & Proofing {2-5 Days}

-Includes: 2 Design Concepts, 3 Rounds of Proofs on 1 Selected Design

-Give Your Final Ok

Delivery of Digital Files via Email

It is that simple to DIY your way to fabulous papery!!

Kiddos } Monkey Business 2nd Birthday Invitation

Isabella's sugary-sweet 2nd Birthday invites and favor tags were used as inspiration for her fabulous birthday cake! LOVE that!! Cake by Sweet Cakes by Rebecca.

Birthday Invitations

Starting at $9 Each Full-Assembly

Custom Design Fee May Apply

Bulk Discounts Apply

{just pick-up, stamp & send}

Starting at $6.75 Each DIY-Assembly

Custom Design Fee May Apply

{includes: Paper, Printing & Any Embellishments}

$125.00 Print Ready Digital File

{includes: Digital File}

Favor Tags

Starting at $1 Each Full-Assembly

{just pick-up & share}

Kiddos } News-worthy Christening Invitation

Finally getting some pics taken of all the wonderful papery projects I worked on throughout last year. One of my recent favorites is this Christening invitation for Mason, son to my loyal clients The Chiesa's.

If I had to pick something I specialize in, it is text. More specifically, the graphical arrangement of objects and text together. I LOVE IT! I am, and always have been, enamored with text, letters, words - don't even get me started on fonts.

Which in some {round about way} makes me think about some verrrrry exciting projects here at SJD. Through the beginning half of this year I am working on designing a signature collection. Some of the signature pieces are made from favorites of past client designs and even more exciting {well to me anyway!} are the signature designs straight from my own little imagination. Think ... graphical text invitations, movie inspired invitations, new event decor & papery products {can't spill the beans on these just yet!} and on, and on. I am bursting at the seams for all that this year and the years to come hold for my little papery company!! Can't wait to share it with you all!

Oh, yea ... and at some point I'll get around to finishing my web re-design!!!! Aaaaaa!

Real Wedding } Nicole & John | Capitola, CA

"Congratulations" to Nicole & John on their recent wedding at Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola, California. The photographs by The Memory Journalists are amazing. I swear, looking at the photos, I can smell the salty ocean air. Check out the entire sneak peek here and see the work of Nicole's fabulous wedding day vendors. Yours truly, Blooms by Martha Andrews, Sugar and Spice Specialty Desserts, Shadowbrook Restaurant, Sheffield Mulitmedia and of course The Memory Journalists.

Being a close friend of mine does carry it's paper benefits. :) My wedding gift to Nicole was her invitation suite. We did a paper boxed invitation set to really wow her intimate gathering of guests. Colors were muted in a palette of sage, chocolate and caramel. Papers were a combination of matte sage invitation box, matte sage & chocolate matte papers and touches of soft champagne & ivory metallics.

Not to mention ... Carissa with Sugar and Spice Specialty Desserts used inspiration from the invitations to design their cake. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! :)

Cheers to Nicole & John!

Kiddos } The Big 0-5!

What a day! Everything came together great for yesterday's Big 0-5 party!! I was making tags and favor wraps right down to the wire. :) I will post an invitation pic so that you can see the inspiration behind this fab candy & cake bar. I handed all of the invites out to family & friends without keeping one for myself! Soooo, I have to make a few more. But, I couldn't wait to post these pics!!!

A sincere, warm, enthusiastic {and a little mushy} thank you to Rebecca & Hector {Sweet Cakes by Rebecca} for Wyatt's incredible cake. It was the center of the party, the guests were amazed ... and yes, I totally teared up when Rebecca & Hector delivered the cake! My only request of Rebecca was that the cake go along with our Lego Atlantis theme, handed over a design of the invite and asked her to work her magic. And that she did. Not only was the cake amazing to look at, it tasted great too! Each of the large tiers was a different cake ... Snickerdoodle {this is to die for!}, Chocolate, and Marble. All were incredibly moist and yummy! Even the little rice crispy treat lego blocks were delicious. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am really looking forward to working with Sweet Cakes again soon!!!

My unsolicited advice to anyone ordering creative services, {whether it be cakes, decor, papery, etc.} is this ... {1} hire a proven professional, {2} explain your vision clearly and {3} let go. Put your trust their talent to bring your vision to life. Believe me, I do not relinquish control very often ... but when I can spot talent ... I am more than excited to see what someone will do when given creative freedom.

Onto the paper details! Little wraps for the mini lego favors, a quick "Wyatt" banner, candy tags and a little lolli-stick "Cake by" sign. I really wanted to showcase a little cake & candy bar and Wyatt's big 0-5 was a good opportunity to do that. I really had to reel myself in on this one ... because I have a tendency to go a little wild with these things. I could have made a candy bar fit for a 300 guest wedding if I was left up to my own devices. :)

Lots of great invites to showcase next week ... for now, enjoying the day off with my little one to relish in his "officially" turning 5 today!

Die-Cut Candy Tags

Starting at $4.25 Each Full-Assembly

Bulk Discounts Apply

{just pick-up & stick 'em}

Starting at $3.20 Each DIY-Assembly

{includes: Paper, Printing & Any Embellishments}

Favor -and/or- Candy Wraps

Starting at $2.25 Each Full-Assembly

Bulk Discounts Apply

{just pick-up & stick 'em}

Banners

Starting at $25 Each Full-Assembly

{just pick-up & hang-up}

Lolli-Sticks

Starting at $3.50 Each Full-Assembly

Bulk Discounts Apply

{just pick-up & stick 'em}

Starting at $2.65 Each DIY-Assembly

{includes: Paper, Printing & Any Embellishments}

SJD Messages > Schedule

Off 2/5 thru 2/7 celebrating our son's 5th birthday ... back on Monday, 2/8! Enjoy your weekend!

Recent Creations } The Big 0-5!

My baby turns the big 0-5 on Sunday! I can hardly believe it has been 5 years already! The big bash is scheduled for tomorrow and if all goes according to plan I will have some great papery pics to share! Not ... to ... mention ... the ... cake!!! Rebecca from Sweet Cakes by Rebecca is making the most fabulous cake for tomorrow! I cannot wait.

For now ... a little pic of the lolli-stick cupcake picks I created for his school day cupcakes. Just a little something to tide ya over!

"W's" and "5's" for all his classmates with the "Birthday Boy" one for, well ... the birthday boy. Yes, I was up until 2am working on these little lolli-sticks. Just in time to wake up at 6am to whip up the icing and frost these babies.

There are sooooo many creative ways to use these custom lolli-sticks! Candy buffets, dessert buffets, kids parties, grown up events ... really the possibilities are limitless!

Lolli-Sticks

Starting at $3.50 Each Full-Assembly

Bulk Discounts Apply

{just pick-up & stick 'em}

Starting at $2.65 Each DIY-Assembly

{includes: Paper, Printing & Any Embellishments}

Recent Creations } Sarah & Josh's Super-Sweet Save the Dates

Ok. I am soooo not a fan of magnet save the dates. You know the ones that look like business cards? Lame-o. Big time. I am, however, a fan of the functionality of a magnet save the date. And soooo, just in time for Valentine's Day, this super-sweet little save the date for Sarah & Josh was created. Tons of great paper details to come as their big day nears ... "so keep a weather eye out" {sorry, just watched Pirates of the Caribbean}. Hello! These are only the save the dates, can you imagine the invites??!

Since the magnet on these babies is hidden, I had to come up with a cleaver way to let guests know there was something special hidden within. Decided on a little heart tag to go along with their little cupid's heart monogram would do the trick.

The 4x5 Sweet-Heart Save the Date panel has one matte in a warm metallic gold, the printing layer is on a soft metallic ivory {that was tinted a very soft pink} and the return addressed envelope is a medium metallic gold. The print layer was embellished with antique glass-like hand glittering around the chandelier & bottom swag, finished off with the little heart tag and bakers twine. I really love, love bakers twine ... look for it in a variety of colors in upcoming designs!

Sweet-Heart Save the Dates

$6.00 Each Full-Assembly

Bulk Discounts Apply

{just stamp & send!}

$4.50 Each DIY-Assembly

{includes: Paper, Printing, Glitter, Glue & Twine}

$125.00 Print Ready File

{includes: Digital File}