Concert Style Save the Date

Even if you're planning on having a traditional wedding invitation, don't be afraid to have some fun with the save the date (they don't always have to match)! Here's a look at a concert themed save the date I just completed:

The groom really wanted to incorporate a rock concert, grunge look while the bride wanted to incorporate their wedding colors and some fall touches for their September wedding. They were printed digitally and then mounted to an deep purple backer card. These papers and colors will be used in their more traditional wedding invitation later this year.

Each save the date was mailed out in a metallic graphite envelope with a custom wrap label. The stamps they chose really completed the look!

A Flavorful New Look

As promised, here is an update from my last post with the new flavorful stamp designs for the increased postage rates (which go in to effect on April 17). Postcards will now cost $0.29 and can be mailed with one of these beauties (on sale on April 7):

I love the natural look of this stamp and think it will work perfectly within a wedding ensemble (for an RSVP postcard)! Definitely much more wedding friendly than the previous polar bear design. Here's what USPS.com had to say about the new design:

"Artist Teresa Fasolino, created original oil paintings for each stamp. Each stamp depicts a particular species in bloom, as well as a typical leaf and flower or seed capsule. The species shown are Origanum vulgare (oregano), Linum perenne (flax), Digitalis purpurea (foxglove), Lavandula angustifolio (lavender), and Salvia officinalis (sage)."

For the increase in the 2 oz. rate, the USPS decided to keep the same look of the $0.61 wedding cake stamp and just increase the postage to $0.64.

New Postage Rates Start Next Month

Earlier this year, the USPS announced new postage rates which will go into effect on April 17. Luckily, the normal first class stamp (1 oz. or less) will stay at $0.44 and they'll even be introducing some new Forever Stamp designs, like this wedding themed one (available later this year):

Unfortunately, the rest of the rates will be increasing slightly (the new designs for these stamps have not yet been announced):
- Postcards will go from $0.28 to $0.29
- 2 oz. mailings (like invitation outer envelopes) will go from $0.61 to $0.64
- 3 oz. mailings (for more complex invitations) will go from $0.78 to $0.84

If you're sending out your invitations in the next month and you're planning to use an RSVP postcard, this applies to you! If your "return by" date for your RSVPs falls on or after April 17, you'll need a $0.29 stamp on the postcard.  Currently there isn't a $0.29 stamp so you'll have to add a $0.01 to the $0.28 stamp or use a $0.44 stamp like this beautiful spring one:

And if you have a heavier invitation (most are over 1 oz.) then try to get them in the mail before April 17th to same yourself a little bit of money.

I recommend taking a sample invitation to your local Post Office to have it weighed before you buy stamps so that you know how much and what type of postage to plan on. I will keep you updated as soon as the USPS releases the designs for the new stamps! Fingers crossed for some elegant wedding styles!

Simply Elegant

This past weekend Carnelian Creative was featured in the Simply Elegant Wedding Showcase at Pleasant Home in Oak Park. This two-day event highlighted the talents of dozens of vendors from the Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest area. Every detail was beautiful!

For the table, I used fabric covered magnetic display boards by Maude Asbury to display invitation, save the date, program and stationery samples. I also had Envelopements swatch books and design inspiration on the table for brides and their families to browse through, and I was glad I did! Everyone who stopped by loved being able to see colors in person and talk about how we could coordinate invitations with their wedding theme.

As a gift to the attendees at the show, I put together a set of custom thank you notes using some of my own designs and the beautiful penmanship of Rosemary Hall Calligraphy. We packaged them in sets of four with brightly colored envelopes that coordinated with each design.

Here are a few snapshots from the event (photos by Lee Balgemann Photographics). We're already looking forward to the next event with this great group of people!

Carnelian Creative

Cake Brothers Bakery

Entrance to the Great Hall of Pleasant Home

Beautiful entrance to Pleasant Home

New from Envelopments

Envelopments has announced some exciting new products for 2011 that I know many of you will be excited about!

First, they have decided to add the Twist Card to their full line of products. First introduced for holiday cards, I think these would make a beautiful save the date (especially if you have an engagement photo you want to show off) or even a birth announcement!

They have also added some beautiful new yellows to their collection of colors! "Soleil" is a bright, vibrant, sunny yellow which is perfectly on trend with the yellows we've been seeing for the past year. "Limoncello" is a softer yellow that would be a great neutral shade, or would pair beautiful with a bolder color palette.

Soleil

 

Limoncello

 Looks like it's going to be another beautiful wedding season!

Greetings!

Welcome to the new blog for Carnelian Creative! My goal is to keep you up to date on current wedding and stationery trends, my latest projects and many other interesting tid bits. Check back often!