Today, you’ll learn how to print invitation cards for four different events—a 25th anniversary, a child’s birthday, a wedding, and a Bar Mitzvah. All four invitations will be printed on LCI Paper’s A7 sized Radiant White cards. This popular blank invitation card measures 5 1/8 x 7 inches. By changing fonts and adding simple graphics within Microsoft Word, you’ll find that you can create custom invitations in different moods, from elegant to whimsical.

WEDDING

Our first project is an elegant wedding invitation. When printing a custom invitation card of any kind, the first step is to set up a template to match the card size. We’ll enter a custom width and height--5.13 by 7--to match our invitation card’s dimensions.

The template is now created and we can enter the text that will appear on the invitation. Sample invitation wording for all the events covered in this video is available at LCIPaper.com, so we’ve got you covered.

We’ll use the Century Gothic font to turn average into elegant. If you want to expand your font collection, you can turn to a number of free font archives on the web.

A combination of two different fonts adds another dimension to a wedding invitation. Since the bride and groom are the main attraction, we’ve used the Tagettes font to highlight their names. We’ve also made their names larger than the rest of the invitation wording by changing the font size.

Now that we’re happy with our invitation wording, fonts, and font sizes, there’s just one more setting we need to adjust. By clicking File, Print, and then Properties we’ll access the printer driver and communicate to the printer that we will be loading a non-standard size card into its tray. Under paper size, we’ll enter the custom dimensions of our invitation card.

We’ll print the card in an Epson inkjet printer. Our elegant wedding invitation is shown in our Jumbo purple-lined double wedding envelope.

ANNIVERSARY

Let’s turn our attention toward another formal occasion, a 25th anniversary celebration—the silver anniversary.

We’ve chosen a script font and a rings and hearts graphic available within our version of Word by clicking Insert, Picture, Clip Art.

Whenever we import a graphic or picture, it’s important to format it by right clicking and selecting Format Picture.

Under the Layout tab, we’ll send the graphic behind the text as opposed to wrapping around the text.

Since the theme is a Silver Anniversary, we’ll change the color of the blue graphic to grayscale, giving the graphic a silver look.

To widen the space between each line of text, we’ll adjust the line spacing. Since we’re looking for a fine adjustment, we’ll choose More.

We’ll enter a custom value of 1.15. We reached this decision by first experimenting with different settings of 1.1 and 1.2 before deciding on 1.15.

BAR MITZVAH

The templates for our final two invitation cards will be laid out in the Mac version of Word. First, we’ll design a Bar Mitzvah invitation card.

We’ve inserted a Star of David graphic and formatted it in the same way that we loaded and formatted the graphic used in the anniversary card template.

We’ve selected our text and changed the font to a decorative font suitable for a special occasion.

Since this card will be paired with a silver envelope, we’ll coordinate by lightening up the Star of David graphic. We’ll do this by changing the graphic’s transparency.

Since Benjamin is the reason for the Bar Mitzvah, we’ve enlarged both instances of his name. We also moved “Benjamin” up and in front of the Star of David graphic.

This Bar Mitzvah invitation is paired with a Stardream metallic Silver A7 envelope.

BIRTHDAY

Now we’ll make a child’s birthday invitation using fonts and graphics for a whimsical and fun look.

As with the other cards, we’ll start by typing our invitation wording.

With a font change, we’ll transform the invitation.

Adding a balloon graphic and sending it behind the text adds flare and fun.

We lightened the balloons using the same transparency technique as in our Bar Mitzvah invitation. We used two font colors so that the important information is more fun to read.

Our Carnival Serene Blue A7 envelope compliments the invitation and goes perfectly with a young boy’s birthday party.

Using Microsoft Word to change fonts and graphics is a simple way to create cards for different types of events. With a simple font change and the right clip art, you can create memorable invitations for all of your important dates.

Joshua Birch
josh@lcipaper.com

He's lukewarm about food, but the menu gets four stars. "I love the paper stock," he says, rubbing the heavy ecru sheet between his fingers. "It feels like it could have been Elle Woods' résumé in Legally Blonde. If I ever have to send out résumés, I'm going to do it on this paper stock."

I'd imagine that Bruni's excitement is exactly the kind of enthusiasm that restaurant owners and managers are envisioning when they carefully choose the presentation of their menus, starting with a fine card stock. A distinctive and well presented restaurant menu conveys to diners that this restaurant cares about presentation, starting with the menu and presumably carrying over into the food that is served.

As the orders come in for LCI Paper's dozens and dozens of different specialty papers and card stocks, I sometimes wonder how they're being used. Many of our customers are individuals making their own invitations, but we also sell to businesses that want to break through the clutter and present one of a kind mailings for marketing or other business communications. And I've spoken to a number of restaurant owners and managers that regularly order our paper for their menus. Our metallic specialty papers and card stocks, like the Aspire Petallics brand, are popular choices, but I wonder what kind of impact one of our Japanese linens or Gmund Digital brands in their textured finishes would make. If you're looking for a unique specialty paper for your restaurant's new menu, a great place to start is our 8 1/2 x 14 Card Stock Paper, a popular size for menus.

Joshua Birch

When budgeting for that special event that you've decided on square invitations, we recommend taking one finished invitation to your local post office so that when you are ready to mail the whole lot, you won't be surprised at the additional postage. Earlier this year, when I sent invitations out for my parents' 50th anniversary event, the postage for each square invitation was 61 cents. It wasn't a large expense, but I was glad to know the cost in advance.

LCI Paper carries a wide variety of square envelopes from classic lined wedding envelopes to metallic envelopes in a wonderful array of colors. We also have translucent vellum envelopes in six cool colors and even petal fold pochette envelopes.

So if you're planning a special event and you want your invitations to stand out, consider a square envelope and design your invitation from there.

Joshua Birch

Stardream

Our Stardream envelopes, available in a variety of popular sizes, are made with metallic Stardream brand paper by European fine paper manufacturer Gruppo Cordenons (Italian for the Cordenons Group). Gruppo Cordenons has a rich history in paper making dating back 1630 when the earliest records indicate their Cartera de Cordenon mill in Italy began operation. That Italian mill and another in Italy continue to produce high quality specialty and technical papers.

Stardream is a distinctive range of metallic, iridescent and pearlescent paper created expressly for the designer and printer to give an "astral" effect to your work, meeting the more sophisticated trends of color and fashion. Michael P. Santillo, Gruppo Cordenons' Eastern Regional Sale Manager says,

Stardream envelopes are a great way to depict style and class for that special occasion and will leave a lasting impression on the recipient.

The smooth and shiny Stardream finish is presented on both the inside and outside of the envelopes.

Aspire Petallics

Like luscious candies dipped in sugar, delightfully colored base papers and a specially formulated mica coating combine to create Aspire Petallics. Aspire Petallics envelopes are available in a range of pastel tones plus the striking and unique Copper Ore color. The smooth and shiny finish is duplicated on the inside as well.

John Kelly, VP of Sales & Marketing for CTI Paper USA says

The distinctly elegant surface of Aspire Petallics radiates with a soft alluring shine, conveying sophistication, glamor and beauty. Your invitation, announcement or direct mail piece will demand attention when housed in an Aspire Petallics envelope.

Reaction

As mentioned in the first paragraph, our metallic envelopes react differently to the light, depending on how you hold and manipulate the envelope. The Reaction brand, made in the Bavarian Alps of Germany, provide the most dramatic reaction, hence the brand name. Mica pigments produce a bi-color effect. Reaction envelopes also have a soft feel, subtle mesh texture that you'll notice when you touch them. Unlike Stardream and Aspire Petallics, inside the envelope, Reaction features a non-metallic finish in a complimentary color.

Gmund's Worldwide Sales Director, Herbert Eibach, had the following to say about Reaction envelopes:

There are many important occasions where an envelope needs to impress people. On special occasions like this, the intended response is for the recipient to experience an unforgettable, emotional, and pleasurable visual. Gmund has developed a range of unique Reaction envelopes especially for the most unique business communication opportunities. The surface shines like silk, sparkling like precious jewelry. The Gmund Reaction envelope has the attractiveness to touch peoples feelings.

All three brands can be printed using conventional methods. Due to the unique metallic surfaces, they are not recommended for inkjet printing. In some cases, laser printing can be achieved. We recommend consulting your printer's user manual and ordering a sample to run as a test.

Joshua Birch

Barry Levine, Vice President of Sales and Service, had the following to say about the recent expansion:

Becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a milestone event for a child about to enter a time of responsibility according to Jewish law and the Torah. It is an acknowledgment of a continued commitment to their Jewish identity and its existence. Generally speaking, it is the first time in which the boy or girl participates as an adult in the Sabbath service. Keeping all of this in mind, we felt that we had an obligation to provide a collection of invitations that would be creative, yet sensitive to the occasion it represents. Our invitations vary from contemporary to traditional in nature. In this way, we hope to capture a wide audience of visitors.

LCI Paper continues to sell blank stock to customers to print and assemble on their own. As LCI recognizes that do-it-yourself invitations are quite simple and beneficial once a customer is familiar with the task, it also recognizes that it is common for beginners to run into difficulty. This is why help is always just a phone call or email away. With a simple, user-friendly web page and experienced customer service, LCI is continuously striving to aid customers in achieving precisely they look they desire.

As always, other benefits to creating a unique invitation through LCI Paper include the ability to customize appearance and wording, cost-effectiveness, and same-day shipping. By supplying a myriad of creative options and assistance, it is the hope of LCI that any Bar or Bat Mitzvah perusing the new section will find the perfect invitation for his or her sacred day.

Recommended Links:
LCI's Bar/Bat Mitzvah Invitations

Kristen Desrosier

At LCI Paper, we continue to enjoy the Share Your Creativity submissions that our customers are sending in. Earlier this week, I spoke to Mayra in California about her elegant pocket fold wedding invitation that she made with our Autumn Hay metallic card stock and other items she found locally. Here is my interview with Mayra.

To save the audio to your computer, right click and "save as."

Here is a transcript of the interview:

Let me ask you first, are you married yet or is your wedding coming up?

No, my wedding’s coming up. It’s on December 18th.

Ok, so you started your invitations plenty early. That’s good.

Yes, I started early, very early because I wanted to finish them on time just in case anything went wrong.

When did you decide that you’d like to do them yourself?

When I started looking at pricing for invitations, it was crazy. It was too much.

Yeah. Were you just going to stationery stores or did you actually talk to designers?

I went to stores. I spoke to a couple of designers in Fresno. Also online, I would look online.

Now, this isn’t your first project like this is it? Because your invitations look so professional to me.

No, that was my first time. (laughter)

Really! Ok, alright.

Yeah, that was my first time. I need to get into the specifics here then, because there are so many unique ideas in your invitation.

Let’s start with the outside of the pocket fold where you have the monogram badge with yours and your husbands initials right?

Right.

Yeah, how did that come about?

Like I said, I researched a lot. I would go online and look at pictures, magazines of invitations and they would have something similar and I’d just change it up a little. I just added something that I liked better than what they had.

Did you make the pocket fold?

Yeah.

Or did you order the pocketfolds?

No, I made them myself. I made everything. I made the cutouts for the invitation and then whatever I had scratch from that I used it for the pocket.

Ok, wow. It’s just unbelievable to me that it’s your first time doing this sort of thing. You had never made a pocket fold before?

No. (laughter) Like I said, I would go to stores and I would pay attention to see how they would make the pockets. One of my cousins got married in July and he had an invitation similar to mine but he got his made from somebody else. And he had a pocket and I paid attention to see how he made the pocket and then I made it myself.

Interesting. So you decided on that rather than just buying our pocket folds for example. You bought our metallic paper.

Yeah.

Was it the Beargrass? I can’t remember what color you got. Do you remember?

No I got the Autumn Hay.

Ok, yup. Well, really great job on that. It looks so professional.

Thank you.

Yeah! I guess we’re still talking about the monogram badge. It has a pink ribbon that wraps around as well.

Well, the ribbon I did buy at a craft store. I think it was Michael’s or Beverly’s. I don’t remember what... I went to a lot of craft stores for these invitation for the stuff I needed for them. I also had to buy the card stock—the pink card stock paper that I used--because you guys didn’t have something similar to that color of ribbon. I just, I don’t know. I was just layering stuff, I don’t know.

Well, how did you do the stencil work? Because you have kind of a white backing and the card goes over that and sort of tucks in under your stenciling, is that right?

Yes. I bought some punch outs, the stencil punch outs that they sell at craft stores. I wanted it to look a little more elegant and I thought it would give it a little more of an elegant look. If I wouldn’t have used it, I think it would have looked a little too simple.

Mmm. And then the jewels that you have in the corners—are those little plastic decorative jewels?

Yeah, they’re just simple jewels you can buy anywhere and I just glued them on there, on each corner and stuff.

Ok. So you’ve sent them out already?

Yeah, I already sent them out.

What reaction are you getting?

Oh, everybody’s telling me that they’re beautiful. I have a couple of cousins that are getting married and they want me to help them make their invitations, their friends and stuff—even for their daughters’ Quinceaneras and stuff like that, they want me to help them.

You know, I’ve interviewed quite a few invitation designers and this is how they get started.

(laughter) Yeah, well, I don’t know if I’ll design invitation for the future but... It takes a lot of work, a lot of patience too.

Certainly.

And you have to have the right tools. If I had the right tools for everything, I think it would have been easier because I did everything myself with the things that I had so that I wouldn’t have had to spend so much money on them.

And is your fiancé happy with them?

Oh yeah, he loves them. He actually helped me too. He was helping me do everything for the invitations.

Why did it take the end of the interview for you to admit that?

Umm...

I’m just kidding.

I don’t know! (laughter)

No, that’s great to hear that he was so involved.

Is there anything else that you wanted to mention about your invitation that you’d like people to know or have we covered it?

No, just that if somebody decides to make their invitations, to do it on time. It takes a lot of patience not to give up. (laughter)

Ok, that’s good advice.

--

Thanks to Mayra for taking a few minutes away from her wedding planning to talk to me about her homemade invitation.

Joshua Birch

After perusing the inspiration board and its associated links, and with Halloween’s “anything goes” concept in mind, I was compelled to play around with some ideas of my own. After all, whether you are planning a children’s party or an elaborate theme wedding, you can make your Halloween event as fun and cheesy or as elegant as you choose.

Some may disagree that a Halloween wedding can be elegant, yet elegance can be pulled off with the right details and décor, as seen on the board pictured above. This Martha Stewart Weddings pumpkin decor idea serves as another example. A spin on the traditional jack-o-lantern, these monogrammed pumpkins are a unique way to incorporate Halloween without tackiness or overkill.

Pictured to the left is another great example. Found through Brides Magazine, this simple invitation idea lets your guests know that your wedding will be a unique theme, yet still classic. Though certainly not a mainstream design, the invitation's combination of colors, Gothic graphics, and fonts allows for an offbeat, yet elegant feel. This invitation could be easily replicated with a Pumpkin Japanese Linen Backing Card cut to size, Clear Vellum Overlay, Self-Adhesive Black Satin Bow, and wording and fonts of choice.

Thinking about some more casual and fun Halloween ideas, yet another Intimate Weddings blog posting inspired me to make the party invitation seen here. This posting offers a variety of free templates for download, including labels, themed papers, and graphics. After looking around, I decided upon the skeleton paper graphic. I simply downloaded the graphic, sized it to fit my underlying A9 Invitation Card, and printed it to serve as a backdrop for my wording. Next, I printed the invitation wording on an 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 piece of Translucent Orange Vellum, and fastened it with a Black Spiral Clip. This design was quick, easy, and a simple way of setting the tone for Halloween fun!

From elegant to casual, theme or not, with a bit of imagination and creativity, you can pull off any look you desire.

Kristen Desrosier

Here is the important press release:

Safety Net for Hundreds of People with Mental Illness is Threatened in Marlborough and Metrowest

Call Governor Patrick and your legislator and tell them not to cut these vital funds...

Employment Options, a recognized leader in providing a variety of crucial services to individuals recovering from mental illness could face harsh budget cuts if the Governor cuts the part of the state budget that funds these services as rumored on Beacon Hill.

The Governor according to several reports is due to announce potentially devastating cuts to Clubhouse Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers that aid over 8,000 people in Massachusetts who have serious and persistent mental illness live in the community. This threat would permanently discontinue the services that are provided by Employment Options, an agency serving individuals recovering from mental illness living within the Metro west area.

The services provided by Employment Options assist individuals with mental illness prepare for employment and other vital tasks in their community and help provide them with a sense of dignity and respect, something all individuals strive for. In FY09, Employment Options served 357 people with an average daily attendance of 71 individuals accessing employment, housing and family services.

In addition to the statewide advocacy efforts, Employment Options is also seeking local awareness and advocacy to continue to serve a vulnerable population served by Westborough State Hospital. As of April 1, 2010, due to financial hardships, Westborough State Hospital will be closing its door, and an additional 73 individuals with severe mental illness will be living in the local community.

"It is essential now more than ever that we remain a resource for the community, "according to Wolf. "We have to ask, where will these people go and how will they manage their lives as they leave a state facility where they have resided for years? Without a safety net such as Employment Options or other agencies that serve this population, individuals will out of necessity use the streets as a place to go and inadvertently utilize the police and emergency rooms. These cuts will just shift costs somewhere else and we believe the Massachusetts taxpayer will not be happy as a result."

About Employment Options:
Employment Options is a non-profit organization based in Marlborough, MA. The organization has been in operation for over 30 years and is well-known for providing mental health rehabilitation services, through the 'Clubhouse' program. Employment Options' primary funding comes from the Department of Mental Health. Through inspiration, support and encouragement, Employment Options creates a home-away-from-home where people can overcome barriers to employment and discover personal growth, self-sufficiency, and hope. http://www.employmentoptions.org/

A former paper mill employee, Archie Beaton raised eyebrows in his industry and subsequently lost his job when he focused on the human health aspect of the manufacturing process. With inspiration from his niece, a computer with one disk and one program, and a tiny budget, he started the Chlorine Free Products Association. Now, as Executive Director, he travels the world educating people about advancements in positive change for sustainability.

Archie found LCI Paper while reading through my interview with Herbert Eibach from Gmund, one of LCI paper’s valued suppliers. Archie was impressed when he read about Gmund’s ozone-based water purification plant. After I put Archie in touch with Herbert from Gmund, I asked Archie if he’d like to be interviewed about the Chlorine Free Products Association.

To save the audio to your computer, right click and "save as."

Here is a transcript of the interview:

Would you tell me about the hazards of chlorine in a manufacturing process?

When you look at a process that’s using chlorine chemistry, and we’ll take the pulp and paper industry as an example, when you use chlorine chemistry—the chlorine compounds that are being produced—there are over 1,000 different chemical compounds that are produced and released from a pulp mill. Of those 1,000 different chemicals, 300 have been identified. 700 of them have not been identified because the chemical makeup in chlorine chemistry continually changes as it’s going through the process. But of the 300 they have identified, 30 are the most toxic compounds known to man. And when you look at an average pulp mill, around 250,000 – 300,000 tons a year, that pulp mill will use somewhere close to 60 million gallons of fresh water each and every day. And by the way, they don’t have a water bill. Most people don’t seem to understand that. Water is free to the paper companies.

Ah really?

Yeah. And it’s quite amazing. And that’s why when we talk to them about water conservation, they don’t necessarily care because there’s no water bills attached. But you take a look at these chemical compounds and you look at the amount that they’re using... The reason that they have to use so much water is because when you use chlorine chemistry, it’s extremely caustic. And that caustic part of it is what they have to release it quickly. But not only is it caustic but it’s extremely toxic. Some of the compounds that are known are what are called the “dirty dozen.” The world has set up this thing called the dirty dozen. It’s 12 compounds, 8 of which are chlorinated compounds that have been asked to be phased out and every country but the U.S. so far has signed on to that.

Ok. Now tell about the slogan, “Chlorine bleaches out life.”

Well, that slogan was actually created by a college student. Every year, the Chlorine Free Products Association held a program called “Designing for a Sustainable Future.” For 5 years, we had this program at the university level and a University of Michigan student came up with that slogan. And basically, what it is, is it’s showing us that as we continue to create these chlorinated compounds and release them into the environment, that’s actually being very degregating to the human health. What’s happening is that these polychlorinated biphenyls and other chemical compounds are so similar in chemical structure, that when a child or a fetus is being developed, what happens is that these receptors are out there. And these chlorinated compounds are so similar to estrogens or testosterones that they lock themselves into these receptors. And as they do that, when ends up happening is, is that either that receptor doesn’t turn on or doesn’t turn off. And so you have issues with the very beginning of life where the fetuses are starting their very beginning development and it’s causing all kinds of human health aspects such as ADD, ADDH which are learning disabilities. Its immune systems are being devastated. There are all kinds of things that are going on right from inception.

Ok. How does chlorine free relate to sustainable manufacturing practices?

Well, when you look at just the raw resources that are necessary to produce one single sheet of copy paper. A paper mill that’s using chlorine chemistry has to use large amounts of water because the release of these chemical compounds are so toxic, or caustic I should say. They’re toxic but they’re also very caustic which means that they try to control that water and try to reuse it in the plant. They will actually eat the metal structure of the mill. To give you an example the amount of water, if you’re actually using chlorine chemistry, it takes more than 13 ½ ounces of water to make a single sheet of copy paper. Now if you’re using a chlorine-free technology, oxygen or ozone-based chemicals, what ends up happening is that this is water that you can recycle through the plant 30, 40 times if you continue to use that water in every one of those processes ‘cause it’s not as caustic. It’s clean and it’s something that you can recycle through the process, reuse again and again, and a copy paper made totally chlorine-free will be less than 2 ounces of water for that same sheet of paper.

Ok. And you found LCI through our blog and reading about one of our paper suppliers, Gmund in Germany. And you were impressed with their technique that doesn’t use the level of chemicals that are in use at other mills, correct?

That is very true and in fact, I’m really looking forward to visiting with that company within the next couple of weeks and going through that process because it is quite unique that they’re actually using oxygen-based compounds and creating their own energy and their own water purification process which most paper companies don’t.

You are planning to visit Gmund on your European trip then.

I am.

Awesome!

I’m hoping to spend at least a day with that company and I understand that they make some of the most unique paper grades available in the world. I’m really excited because we work with a lot of designers and it would be awesome for me to be able to come back and talk about the mill, talk about the process, and even bring some paper samples home.

Yeah, excellent. So that’s coming up but you’re coming back from the Montpelier State House in Vermont where you attended an awards ceremony for the “Designing for a Sustainable Future” contest. Tell me about that.

Well, every year we challenge... In the state of Vermont, we’ve done this for 10 years now, we challenge the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students to design artwork based on what they see is a sustainable future. And every year the children have chosen to work on processes that are focusing on chlorine chemistry. And we’ve asked the students to put together something that shows a positive approach to a negative issue. So we felt that if a 10-15 year old can develop artwork that another 10-15 year old can understand, that maybe us older individuals might be able to understand it too. And so the students have done a great job. The Governor joins us every year, a few 100 students that join us, and it’s just a great time. People like Ben & Jerry’s provides free ice cream, the kids get a tour of the state capitol building and they get to have their artwork turned into posters which we keep and we also make into envelopes that we make available for free, and then we also give the children some money and some other prizes that we’re able to collect from sponsors.

Ok. And you also just returned from a trip to Nigeria, is that right?

That’s correct. The Chlorine Free Products Association is getting so many requests from around the world today that we’re looking at the possibility of working and taking a country like Nigeria as a focal point, who are way behind the sustainability screens, and bringing them up to speed quickly. By working with academia and the government of Nigeria, we’re hoping we can actually put an office into either Abuja or Lagos and really reach all of the African continent.

Archie, you’re traveling so much, tell me about your role within the Chlorine Free Products Association.

Well, as the Execute Director, really, I’m the individual that is the speaker on behalf of the kinds of education that we can provide. So my job, really, is to go out and to help educate. And so it is very hard to make a lot of these trips. It’s very time consuming. But I’ve got a great staff that does everything that’s necessary to get me in front of the right audiences and to really help educate everybody that’s open to advancements in positive change for sustainability.

And later this month, well, you’re traveling to four different European countries. We mentioned you’ll be stopping at Gmund in Germany. Can you tell me some of the other opportunities you’ll have on that trip?

Well, the other companies that we’re working with are companies you’d be familiar with. We’re going to be visiting with a company that makes coffee filters and in Germany there’s only one major coffee filter company, Melitta. We’re also visiting with a company that makes what they call grease-proof papers for baking and baking cups. Also for sheets that are used in the bakeries. So if you’re doing those kinds of things, we’ll be visiting with those types of companies. We’ll also be visiting with the Forest Stewardship Council and trying to work with them to do a process that will have a great chain of custody for great forestry issues and also a manufacturing component that will actually take everything from the forest into the process and to the consumer.

How long has the CFPA been active and what are some of the organization’s accomplishments?

Well, it’s kind of interesting you ask that. We got started back in 1994. I was giving a talk before the International Symposium in Pollution Prevention. And it was in 1993 in Washington, DC; somewhere close to 5,000 attendees from all around the world. And my job there was to talk on behalf of a paper mill that I was working for—a small paper mill in upstate New York that was actually totally chlorine free. My position on this was to talk about the technology and the way technology had operated but my approach was a little bit different which was kind of upsetting for a few people in the audience. My approach was to talk about how one industry was affecting our lives. And as I was giving my talk, a gentleman from one of the major pulp and paper mills came down and requested that my microphone be taken.

Really?

Then another man came down from another major company and another to the point that when... I had three gentlemen, three of the largest paper companies in the world standing in front of the podium asking me to please talk about what I was there for and not about the human health aspects. And after that meeting, I was approached by a gentleman that said, “We were really impressed with the information you provided. We would like to talk to you about how you might be able to help us.” And it was a Swedish company. And they offered the opportunity to work with us. So then I wrote an article and that was in Pulp & Paper magazine and all of a sudden we received more requests from Sweden from companies that are working on the cutting edge of advancements in pulp and paper production. And these are mills that are investing heavily in producing the cleanest, most sustainable pulp in the world. And after that meeting, they invited me to their plant, introduced me to the technologies that they were using, allowed me to speak with other clients of theirs to explain why there was a tremendous difference, and help in some market development activities along with developing of the processes themselves.

You were still working for the paper company at the time?

No, interesting enough, after I gave that presentation in Washington, DC, I went back to my boss and explained to him what it is I would like to do and he agreed as that I would no longer work for the company and that I would be on my own and so that with 3,000 dollars is how the CFPA got started back in 1994.

Gotcha. Tell me about your job satisfaction now, working for a noble environmental cause. Does that satisfaction carry over into the time when you’re not working? Does it kind of affect your personal life as well?

It was because of my personal life that actually I took this cause on. I had a niece who was 30 years old at the time and I was still working for the paper mill and I was giving a presentation in New Orleans. And prior to my going down there, my niece, Lisa, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. And so she wrote a little note for me. And in that note it basically said things like, “You may not have stopped or protected me from these chemical compounds, but I want you to protect my nieces” and “What can you do to do that?” And so she wrote a really heart-touching article for me to use. And so as I go down to give this presentation in New Orleans and hear the mothers down there saying the same thing, “We need to protect our children. You may not have protected me and I may be stricken by this, but you need to do this for our children.” And it was really heart-wrenching to hear that. And so as a man, understanding that we love women; we love our children; we need to do what we can to protect them. And with the information that I had, I needed to speak out on that. And I have to say, very sadly, that Lisa never made 33. She left 2 beautiful daughters and that story has been repeated again and again. And the passion that I have for this is such that every now and again I’ll get a little note from somebody from somewhere who I don’t know who I’ve never met and it will be, “Thanks for being.” And that’s enough to make me work harder every day.

I hear you. Wow. Would it be safe to say that you’re also the founder as well as Executive Director?

That’s correct! And it’s kind of interesting the way the founding went, you know 3,000 dollars doesn’t get you very far.

Right.

So one of the companies that I competed against, which ended up becoming one of our first sponsors, I went to them first and I sat down with them for lunch and I flew up on some frequent flier miles that I had. I sat down with them and explained to them after 4 hours of presentation that we needed around 250,000 dollars to get started. And after that luncheon, as they paid for my airfare and bought my lunch, they sent me home and said, “No, we can’t do that.” That was way more money than they spent in their entire budget. But they still supported us in other ways. So I went back to my home and at this time I had a little bit of savings. I had a little closet next to the furnace and I had a little computer. And back then, the computer was 1 disk, 1 program. So I sat by the furnace and I had 2 small children. And the children, now and again, as I would be making phone calls, would be banging on the door asking to get in because they were tired of beating each other up, they wanted to come play with me. And so here I would have a CEO from a major corporation calling me up. I’m next to the furnace, the dog is wining next to me, my children are beating on the door, and the CFPA was being born.

At ChlorineFreeProducts.org, there’s an opportunity to sign up for the CFPA mailing list. What types of mailings would someone expect to receive if they submitted their e-mail address?

The majority of what we provide are market development-type activities, trying to help to penetrate the market today so that people understand that there’s a lot of greenwashing going on. There are companies that are making some unbelievable claims when, in fact, they are not doing much themselves to make a change in their process. So one of the things you would receive from us is factual information—positive information on what you can do to make a difference either in the baking cups that you buy when you go to the grocery store to the cereal boxes that you’re buying that should be sustainable to the paper towels that you use or the bath tissue that you buy so that you understand that you are making a positive impact on the environment and on the future.

Ok, so you don’t have to be an industry insider to kind of follow what your organization’s doing. You can be a person who’s interested in health and the environment and you’ll receive useful info.

Exactly. And if you are in the industry and you’re looking for some industry help, we’ve got some key individuals that are working for us. We have 2 tappy fellows that are working with us. One of them is Doctor Norman Liebergott—50 years plus in the pulp and paper industry, more than 60 plus patents, knows the pulp and paper industry bleaching process in and out. We have Doctor Allan Springer, a retired professor from the University of Miami Ohio, also a gentleman that put together our sustainability screen for the pulp and paper industry. Two outstanding minds in pulp and paper; are willing to work with our companies on either productivity gains or product quality gains. And any audit that we do, that’s part of what we offer to the paper companies. You know, “How can I reduce the amount of energy?” “My greenhouse gases?” “How much water am I using?” “What am I doing as far as how well I am doing socially?”

Are there other things that we can do on a sustainable way that we can help with? And that’s one of the key attributes that we provide to the industry itself.

--

Thanks to Archie Beaton of the Chlorine Free Products Association and to his staff for making this interview possible. It was a very busy time for the organization, as Archie had just returned to the office from a trip to Nigeria, and was about to head out to Germany, Spain, Denmark, and the UK. If you’d like to learn more about the environmental efforts of the CPFA, visit their web site at ChlorineFreeProducts.org. And if you enjoy hearing from industry insiders like Archie Beaton, subscribe to LCI’s free podcast. You can also search for LCI Paper in the iTunes store.

Recommended Links:
Chlorine Free Products Association
Gmund
Forest Stewardship Council

Joshua Birch
josh@lcipaper.com

LCI Paper’s Share Your Creativity area, where we feature creative customer submissions on our blog, has been a great success. People are finding inspiration in the designs that our customers have created at home using our selection of specialty paper products. In one sentence, your submissions are inspiring others to be creative.

The latest Share Your Creativity submission is from Melissa. She showed us her sea blue wedding invitation. Here is my conversation with Melissa about her invitations and her beach destination wedding.

To save the audio to your computer, right click and "save as."

Here is a transcript of the interview:

Melissa, hi. First, congratulations on your wedding day coming up next month. How did you decide on a beach wedding?

We originally had always thought that we wanted to do a destination wedding just to get away from some of the traditions and we wanted to have more of a family vacation feel—an intimate affair with just our close family members. So that was the original part and then we both love the beach. We love to be in the warm climate so that’s where the beach part came in.

And can I ask where you’re flying to your wedding?

Yeah. We’re going to fly into Pensacola and we’re actually getting married on Navarre Beach which is in between Destin and Pensacola. We visited last October and it’s absolutely one of the prettiest beaches I’ve ever seen. It has real sugary, sugary sand blue, blue water so it’s gorgeous.

Then why would you have it anywhere else? Perfect.

I know, I know, right? Why have it in a church when you can be on the beach?

(Laughter) Now how did you decide on making your own wedding invitations?

I looked around. I guess I like to be crafty and I thought it’d be neat to have something original, something that I came up with and to save a little money of course. That’s always a factor.

Yeah. Let’s talk about your invitations which are beautiful like sea blue and you have a starfish theme on them and there are quite a few ways that make them unique. First, the additional wedding ceremony information card, can you tell me about that?

Yeah. My original plan for that card was to give the guests some accommodation information and area attraction information and to have an easy little card they can keep to reference. I guess I kind of thought maybe they’d take it with them and then they’d have the numbers and the hotel contacts and things to do on there so that’s kind of where that came from.

And then your choice to make a custom RSVP postcard instead of a card in a response envelope...

A couple things factored into that. First off, it was a postcard, so the postage was a little cheaper. And I really wanted to utilize the pocket in the pocket fold and I liked how I could kind of put RSVP on the top and have it just peek out. So it was kind of a design thing and making it easier for me. I didn’t have to buy envelopes and separate cards and everything like that.

And then the clever way that you have a sand dollar and a starfish, how did that happen?

I actually did some searching at some local craft stores, and I found a paper punch that I bought. The sand dollar design is kind of the original paper punch and then the starfish is actually the piece that punched out of the middle of that sand dollar. So I used both so that it’d be cohesive and I didn’t have to buy 2 (laughter) paper punches that way.

Nice. It’s a great effect having both of those designs that match as well on two components of your invitation. You did something that I don’t think a lot of our non-professional designer customers are comfortable doing, and you ordered the paper stock and then you custom cut most of the components. How did you plan exactly how much to order and what to order?

I ordered the LCI samples and that was really helpful because I ordered samples and then kind of played around with sizes with the pocket fold, what would fit with the printing that I wanted to put on it like my RSVP and stuff. So I really kind of played around with the samples I got and then I figured out the sizes and then from there, my fiancé actually did a lot of the math to figure out how much we’ll need. We ended up just getting a ream of fifty sheets from you guys which was more than enough really but it was cheaper than anywhere else I could find, so...

Great. He’ll appreciate that credit. He’s smart that way.

(laughter)

In your e-mail you mentioned that next up for you is another round of invites for your local reception in November. Anything you’ve learned making the first round that you might put into practice for the second round?

The first big thing that I learned in that was that postage is different for the size of the invitation. If it’s squared and over--I’m not sure what it is—like 5 inches or something, you have to pay additional postage, so mine—the pocket folds—I ended up paying a lot more for postage. So I definitely would have changed the size and made sure that in the new ones I didn’t get any crazy square sizes, that they were more standard. I’m definitely trying to start the second round of invitations a little earlier so I’m not so crunched on time.

Overall, have you enjoyed making your own invitations?

Yes, very much. I guess I’m kind of crafty even though I never really thought I was, but I liked the fact that it was something original, something that we made which made it a little more personal and something that no one else will have. So that was kind of important to me and made them unique and more special.

How did you hear about LCI’s Share Your Creativity program? What made you submit your invitation?

Well, I saw it from browsing the heck out of your web site when I was trying to design and figure out exactly what I wanted to do. And I also found the link... think it was a link to a blog of other people’s designs. It’s always fun to see what other people did. Sometimes it gives you ideas and thoughts of what you might want to do or a way to play off of what they might have done. So that’s how I found out about it. And I shared partially because there was an offer of a $25 gift card and because, like I said, it’s useful to anyone else that’s trying to do the same thing. You know, it’s kind of fun to say, “Oh, our invitation is on a web site" and, you know...

--

Thanks to Melissa, first, for submitting her beautiful wedding invitation, and second, for taking the time to talk to me about her creative process. I hope she inspires you to try to create your own invitations.

Joshua Birch

In her own words,

I arrived at LCIPaper.com after doing a Google search for printable vellum. I was making photo table numbers, which required me to print pictures on vellum which would be lit up by tea light candles from the interior of the display. I had found inexpensive 5x7" picture frames for the project and needed similarly sized vellum to avoid having to cut them myself. LCI Paper Company was one of few vendors that offered 5x7" vellum in several colors. I ordered from them because they were the most reasonably priced.

I purchased two 50-packs of 5x7" vellum overlay sheets in natural clear, expecting them to showcase the romantic glow of the candles behind them. Each pack was $11.50, resulting in a total of $28.98, including the $5.98 ground shipping. No tax was charged for my order, which was delivered to New York. The site accepts Google checkout in addition to four major credit cards. The checkout process was easy to follow and went smoothly. I received two email confirmations immediately upon placing the order and a shipping confirmation two days later. The items were received on time, three days later.

The vellum was perfect. It was exactly as described. The website had stated that the paper would work with inkjet printers and I had no problem printing the pictures on it. The color looked exactly as pictured, providing the perfect warm glow I had anticipated. I felt the project turned out well. Overall, I was very happy with the product and the price!

Continue to Epinions.com to read the rest of Jamilynn's review where she gives her specific impressions of our shopping site.

Would you like to try printing on our Natural Clear 5 x 7 inch Vellum Overlay like Jamilynn did? Consider ordering a sample.

Joshua Birch

The article discussed the inclusion of your friends and family in your do-it-yourself wedding plans; including potential pros, cons, and ideas for how to do so. Of course, when rattling off the benefits of do-it-yourself projects, gathering the help of friends and family is one that typically makes the list. Sure, these fun, helpful, friendly gatherings are mentioned quite a few times throughout LCI’s blog, though they are never discussed in detail; hence the reason this article caught my attention.

Besides the typical “because it is fun,” the article immediately mentions four compelling reasons to involve your friends and family in your DIY wedding:

. . .Having friends and family help you will not only make everyone feel a part of your big day, it will add a personal touch to your wedding, and leave less work for you. There’s one more perk: A DIY wedding will save you oodles of money!

The author goes on to mention specific ways she utilized the help of her friends and family in her wedding; a sister-in-law who created invitations and place cards, a mother who took charge of all floral details, an aunt who sewed the ring bearer pillow, and a friend to capture the memories on video. Recalling my friend's custom event, I had no doubt that it was the blend of her family's insight, creativity, and talent that truly shaped her wedding into the personal event that it was. Following the event, she informed me that she enjoyed being able to bounce ideas off of her sister, aunt, and mother-in-law, and that getting together with them to create these details were the high points of her preparation.

Processing this idea, I began to wonder whether my own family members would be helpful in planning an extensive do-it-yourself wedding (not that I am getting married any time soon . . .). Could my kindergarten teaching, insurance adjusting sisters, and my business savvy step mother help me pull together such a custom, fitting, event? I think so. Though none of us could be deemed overly artistic or creative, the reality of it is, they probably know me as well as I do. Going on this, they would be helpful in searching for, discovering, and creating (or purchasing) precisely what I was after. In addition, they would keep me in line if the stress of planning a wedding turned me into the edgy, high strung, nail biting version of myself that I admittedly become.

However, involving friends and family is not the best choice for everyone, the author goes on to discuss. For example, those in quest of a "perfect wedding" may feel that involving friends and family will be detrimental to their planning process. Those who have a firm opinion on what they want may feel that including others only leads to loss of control, and therefore additional stress, not less.

If you do decide that including your loved ones in your do-it-yourself wedding is for you, the following suggestions on just how to do so are offered:

* Decorating wedding venue
* Creating/mailing invitations
* Driving you to church/and or reception
* Taking photographs
* Videotaping wedding
* Readings in church
* Cooking the meal
* Creating appetizers/desserts
* Making the wedding cake
* Creating centerpieces
* Wrapping favors
* Creating boutonnières, corsages
* Making name cards
* Operating sound equipment, including Ipod and DIY photo download station
* Creating bridesmaids/flower girl dresses
* Acting as a wedding co-coordinator on your big day
* Returning tuxes
* Help cleaning up
* Returning rental chairs and tables etc.

Friends and family will most likely be ready and willing to help, whether they offer, or you ask. Adding their insight, talent, or creativity into your event may be the best planning decision you make. Yet it is important to keep in mind the following final suggestion:

If you’ve decided to involve loved ones, the best way to avoid disappointment is to be specific about what you want. Unless you are the laid-back type that just goes with the flow, it’s best to be clear about your ideas so there is no room for misinterpretation (and disappointment.)

Recommended Link:
Wedding Planning Stress? Take Some Time Off for Yourself

Kristen Desrosier

In general, I have an even-tempered personality. I rarely get very angry. I raise my voice even less. I keep my speed low to moderate on the highway. I avoid big crowds. I intentionally try to live stress-free and these are things that help. How interesting that last night as I was driving through Dorchester, MA with my new bride (we were going to pick up some Jamaican food--jerk chicken and brown stew chicken--to share with her family) a man that I presumed was asking for money told me he didn't want any money. He just wanted to ask me one question which was, "How do you control your anger?" I told him about my even temperament and he said that's all he wanted to know.

Back to Katie's article. Her first tip for destressing is:

Take the night off. Long day at work? Not feeling the wedding planning vibe tonight? Let it go and do something else. Catch up on your favorite TV shows, work on a sewing project, read a good book – anything that you enjoy, other than wedding planning, of course! It will all still be there tomorrow.

During the two weeks before my wedding, every night after work I did a lot of wedding preparation, focusing on the music, programs, seating cards, and place cards. I was resolved to work on wedding stuff every night until a couple days before the wedding, when my best man was scheduled to fly in. Because I kept a steady pace and accomplished a fair amount each night, I never got terribly stressed and was actually able to take an extra night or two off during the week before my wedding.

I'll touch one one more of Katie's tips:

Do something that simply makes you happy. Go for a jog, volunteer at the local animal shelter, window shop. This will help get your mind off of stressful wedding situations and put you in a fabulous mood. And who doesn’t like being in a fabulous mood?

One of the ways I stay fit is to take a brisk, 30-45 minute walk after work and on weekends. I download the latest audio podcasts that I'm subscribed to, sync my iPhone, put on my headphones, take my house keys, and I'm gone. My favorite route takes me to a local park with a stone bridge that crosses the Assabet River. Often, I'll see turtles sunning themselves. If I'm really lucky, I'll see a Great Blue Heron walking the edge of the river, hunting for fish. Another route takes me past the town center to a softball field. My town has a great men's softball league whose teams play almost every summer night. Finally, I can walk the rail trail. This is my time to exercise and catch up on my favorite topics. I forget about my stress. Even though I was working on wedding preparations every night, I still managed to take time for myself and get out there.

I'd encourage all of you with up-coming weddings to plan ahead and budget your time so that you don't have to give up what you enjoy. Keep your routine--whatever makes you happy and healthy.

Joshua Birch

To show you how easy and fun it is, I'll walk you through the process of making a wedding invitation. I'll use sample products, invitation wording, and Word templates from LCI's web site. You can do the same by ordering a few samples on our web site and completing the rest of the steps at home.

Envelopes

Here's my first piece of advice. Before you design and print your dream invitation cards, decide on your envelopes. You don't want to be stuck with a great invitation card that doesn't fit into a standard size wedding envelope or inner/outer wedding envelope set. Speaking of wedding envelope choices, now would be a good time to read my article, Wedding Envelopes: Lined, Double, Single - How To Choose? For today's invitation ensemble, I'm going to choose Double Wedding Envelopes. One of LCI's most popular double wedding envelopes are Tiffany size, where the inner envelope measures 8" wide by 5 3/4" high and the outer envelope measures 8 1/4" wide by 6" tall. The dimensions of the inner envelope are 1/4" less than the outer envelope. In the next section, you'll see that the invitation card should also measure 1/4" less than the inner envelope.

Invitation Cards

As I mentioned at the end of the previous section, the invitation card should measure about 1/4" less than the envelope. In this case, since I'm using inner and outer envelopes, the card should measure 1/4" less than the inner envelope, since the card will be placed inside the inner envelope. Since I've chosen Tiffany sized double envelopes where the inner envelope measures 8" wide by 5 3/4" high, I'll look for a card that measures 7 3/4" wide by 5 1/2" high.

LCI sells a great kit called the Blank Wedding Invitation Hot Pink Frame with double wedding envelopes and an invitation card--all sized for a perfect match. I don't have to worry about the proper sizing because LCI has taken it all into consideration. I'll order a sample by clicking the Order Samples tab. You can see how it works below:

At this point, I can also order a sample response card and response envelope, because I want these items to be part of my wedding invitation ensemble.

Layout

LCI provides all the resources for printing our blank invitations using your home computer and printer. Once you've ordered your samples, the best place to get up to speed on layout and printing is our page, The ABCs of Printing at Home. Since I'm ready to work on my invitation card layout, I want to download a template for my card. I'll click on Printing Templates For Invitations & RSVP Cards and scroll to "Sizzling Color Frames (KT98XX Series)." I can download Microsoft Word templates for my invitation card and RSVP card. These can be opened and edited in Word and in any program that reads Word documents like OpenOffice.org.

When I open up the invitation template in Word, I see sample invitation wording that I can tweak to my needs. More sample invitation wording can be found by going back to The ABCs of Printing at Home and clicking Sample Invitation Wording.

I am able to change the font, font size, and add my custom details. For this sample wedding invitation, I'll choose a casual looking font called Angelina. I think it will make the hot pink invitation look more fun and less formal. At this point, I could add any other design elements like a monogram or line art graphics.

Within Word, if I were to click File/Page Setup, I would see that inside the Paper tab, the document is sized at 5.5" wide by 7.75" high. I'll use these dimensions in the next section.

Printing

Once I've finished with my invitation wording and I'm happy with the layout, I am ready to send the job to the printer. I'll load the invitation card into the printer and move the plastic guides so that they're flush with the sides of the card. In Word, I'll click File/Print and choose my printer from the list. I'll click the Properties button because I need to communicate the size of my invitation card to the printer.

Under Paper Options, I'll go to Size and selected User Defined. I'll input the size of our document, 5.5" wide by 7.75" high. Now the printer knows what size card is in its tray. I can click OK and return to Word's print dialog box where I'm ready to send the card to be printed. A final OK, and the finished invitation is seconds from coming through the printer looking lovely.

Note: Every printer's driver is different, so the paper options might not be shown exactly as I've described above. Just poke around and find the paper size setting for "User Defined" or "Custom." If you don't see an option to change the paper size, you might need to download the latest driver from your printer manufacturer's web site so that this option will be available.

I can use the RSVP template to lay out my response card in the same way that I did with my invitation card.

Assembling

Once I've printed my response card, I can easily fold it along the scored line and place it under the flap of my response envelope. The response card, response envelope, and invitation card are placed inside the inner envelope which is then placed inside the outer envelope. For information about addressing your envelopes, read Kristen Desrosier's article, Addressing Your Wedding Invitation Envelopes: Traditional Guidelines and Helpful Tips.

Making your own wedding invitations can be fun and rewarding. I've talked to many people that enjoy spending time exploring our web site and looking through all of the invitation cards and kits as they make their decision on what to buy. Once the invitations have arrived at your door, finalizing your invitation wording and laying it out in Word is a rewarding experience because you'll have designed your invitation and laid it out exactly as you envision it in your head. Finally, you can gather friends and family to help you assemble all the personalized pieces of your invitation ensemble.

If you have made your own wedding invitations, let us know about your experience!

Joshua Birch

The essence of Old World is a traditional style of paper with a smooth velvety, matte finish combined with a strong framework and environmental soundness. Old World has the distinction of being chlorine and acid free. It is also pH neutral, allowing it to be age-resistant, yielding finished pieces that will last a lifetime. The envelopes have an elegant design, most notably for a European style flap.

Wedding Invitation Custom Printing

We are pleased to announce the availability of our new wedding invitation printing service where customers can choose from our Old World line and place their custom printing order on our web site in four easy steps.

Customize Your Wedding Invitations on Our Web Site

First, customers choose from one of three printing styles.

Second, they choose the specific parts of the invitation kit that they need. Perhaps they'd like to order a full ensemble that includes invitation cards, envelopes, response cards, response envelopes, and reception cards. Or they might only require invitation cards and envelopes. The full selection is available to them, including their choice of quantities.

Third, a choice of four different ink colors are available.

And finally, the customer edits our sample invitation wording to include all the pertinent information that will appear on the wedding invitation.

Get Started Now!

See our Old World invitations and learn more about our custom printing service.

The availability of this new printing service gives our customers an alternative method of being able to create their own wedding invitations at a reasonable price.

Recommended Link:
LCI Paper Launches "Old World" Brand of Fine Specialty Paper

This posting initially grabbed my attention because it conjured up ideas of Halloween (a day I admittedly love); yet after reading further, my thoughts were sent in another direction. Though I have never been to a theme wedding quite as wacky as the one described above, I have attended a handful of them. Of course it is simply a matter of opinion, but it seems to me that theme weddings always end up being a great time for everyone. Thinking about why I felt this way, I came to the realization that are several reasons why theme weddings are so great, and therefore, several reasons to consider one!

Theme weddings are sure to memorable for you and your guests

If you glanced at the photo above, or happened to read the whole Offbeat Bride posting, you would have to agree, it would be hard to forget an event like this! Putting together a theme wedding takes a significant amount of time and attention. From save-the-dates to detailed reception to thank you notes, the final themed presentation will likely resonate with you and your guests.

Themes offer a perfect way to inject your character and favorite things

The featured Seattle newlyweds chose their Dia de los Muertos theme because it meant something personal to them. All of their unique additions and details made it clear they injected their own personalities into their event and had fun doing it. Ideally, this is what a wedding should be about.

A theme may make planning more fun, and less stressful

It goes without saying that wedding planning may be stressful, theme or not. In either case, you are hunting, booking, matching and organizing for weeks to get the look and feel you are after. At first glance, it may seem that putting together an elaborate theme may make add complications to planning, yet this is not necessarily true. Typically, a theme is seen as fun and quirky. When planning for a theme wedding, if you see something you like, yet it does not perfectly match or traditionally belong at a wedding, it is okay! The reason your offbeat detail is acceptable is because it indeed fits the theme, and probably will not be seen as odd so much as amusing or fun. In essence, a theme does not restrict your choices, but instead adds planning wiggle room.

Analyzing this point further, my sister and brother in law came to my mind. Being the laid back, low maintenance people that they are, they chose to have a beach/luau themed wedding and reception. Complete with a back-yard barbecue rehearsal dinner, a request that guests arrive dress-casual, and wedding party clothing change for the reception (from tuxedo coats and stilettos to Hawaiian shirts and flips flops), the whole event was "very them." I bring this point up to mention the fact that at the reception, my brother in law was thrilled to be able to wear a crazy captain's hat that he purchased during the previous Halloween season. Yes, I can see how it moderately fit the theme (captain/ship/sea/beach?), yet it was a stretch. The overriding point is that he found a way to incorporate his wacky hat, and therefore character, into his wedding, simply because he wanted to. The best part is, most people viewed this as fun, not ridiculous.

A theme wedding is a great way to utilize you crafty and creative talents

Creating or finding details for your wacky theme wedding may be as fun as the actual event. Once you get started on planning, you may be surprised by where your imagination leads you. Of course, not everyone is creative and crafty, which is why the following quote from the Offbeat posting is a great one.

Create something memorable, but don't over-stress yourself. Crafty folks will certainly want to add a handmade touch to the ceremony, but remember there are a lot of talented people who can help make your wedding unique.

Theme weddings are fun

It goes without saying that if your event incorporates your personality, creativity, and favorite things, it will be a blast for you. However, also consider the fact that if you are having a great time, it will show, and inevitably your guests will too! If you put your mind to it, the possibilities for a theme wedding are endless!

Recommended Link:

Invitations By Theme, Style, or Color

Kristen Desrosier

By choosing to make your own Bar or Bat Mitzvah invitations, you are provided with several wallet-friendly and creative options to accomplish this task. Custom invitations allow you to insert your own creativity, personality, and wording, ensuring your event will be unique and memorable for the Bar or Bat Mitzvah, his or her family, and friends.

Creating your own invitations is simple and fun. The first step is to browse through LCI's Inventory of Bar and Bat Mitzvah Invitations. Should you desire something more personal and unique, just browse around and see which colors, shapes, sizes, or finishes catch your creative eye! If you simply can not decide, or would like to see your potential invitation in person before ordering, you can always order a sample of prospective invitations, simply by clicking on the "Order Samples" tab, as shown here.

After you have decided on your perfect invitation, it is time to choose your wording. How will you ask your guests to celebrate this milestone event with you? Feel free to browse through Bar and Bat Mitzvah Invitation Wording for suggestions or as a starting point to create unique and personal wording.

Next, arrange the wording on your invitation cards. Printing on custom size invitation cards is as simple as setting custom margins on your word processing document. To make this easy, Microsoft Word templates with custom dimensions are available for download on the LCI website, as pictured below.

Now, simply type or copy your chosen wording into the template, and experiment with fonts, sizes, and colors to get the look you desire. All that is left to do is print and assemble your beautiful creation!

For more printing tips and instructions, please visit LCI’s ABCs of Printing at Home.

That’s it! In no time at all, you have assembled a custom invitation that is as unique and beautiful as your Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration!

Kristen Desrosier

The essence of Old World is a traditional style of paper with a smooth velvety, matte finish combined with a strong framework and environmental soundness. Old World has the distinction of being chlorine and acid free. It is also pH neutral, allowing it to be age-resistant, yielding finished pieces that will last a lifetime.

The envelopes have an elegant design, most notably for a European style flap.

Barry Levine, Vice President of Sales & Marketing shares, "For those who are looking for distinguished style with a touch of tradition, we feel that with this new line of paper, we are answering a call. We have strategically kept our color pallet simple and to the point with a traditional white, called Blanco, and a soft white or cream color, referred to as Perla. Elegance permeates these papers, allowing for yet another option of style for our visiting clients."

At launch date, LCI Paper's Old World product lineup includes:

Specialty Paper

8 1/2" x 11" 111lb (300 gsm) card stock
8 1/2" x 11" 91lb (135 gsm) text

Envelopes

A4 (3 5/8" x 5 1/8")
A9 (5 3/4" x 8 3/4")
#10 (4 1/8" x 9 1/2")

Blank Cards

A4 Respond (4 7/8" x 3 1/2") 111lb
A9 Invitation (5 1/2" x 8 1/2") 111lb

Invitation Folders

A4 Respond (4 7/8" x 3 1/2") 111lb
A9 Invitation (5 1/2" x 9 1/2") 111lb

All products are available in Blanco and Perla color choices.

Shop Old World specialty papers, envelopes, invitation cards, and folders

On our 21st episode of the LCI Paper podcast, you'll hear comments from the president and founder, Larry Chase as he talks about two new features just implemented at LCIPaper.com.

To save the audio to your computer, right click and "save as."

Customer Product Reviews

First, you might have noticed that customer reviews are starting to appear on product pages. Larry explains how the new review system works.

After a customer places an order for the products that they want, about two weeks or so after they receive the order, we will send out an e-mail to them asking if they would like to submit a review about the products that they received and about their experience that they had shopping on the web site. We're offering a review that's open to the public, so it's out there for anybody to view. We're putting the good and the bad and the ugly--are all going to show on the web site for people to see. And we also allow the customer to send some private comments if they want to discuss something private with us.

An actual customer review:

Larry on the benefits the new review system has for other customers shopping on the site:

I think it's helpful for other customers. A lot of times people will comment on the color or the quality of the paper or the service or how fast they're getting it, and this gives it from the perspective of the customer and not just us telling people what they want to hear.

Improved Customer Account Functionality

The LCI Paper customer account login screen:

Now onto the second feature. This relates to easy access to your customer login so you can reorder the same product from a previous order. Here's Larry to explain:

We redesigned the whole flow of the login system so it's easier for a customer to be able to know exactly what to do once they get to the page. If they forget their pass code, it's a fairly easy system to retrieve it. Once they're inside of the admin area, it will allow them to update their profile. If they want to change their shipping address or billing address, they're able to do that. And we've also implemented an area for all their history so they can go back and see the items that they've ordered and from one screen to actually place a reorder of any of the items from previous orders. And they can look at all the orders at once and order from each of the orders with once click and reorder at one time. For privacy and security reasons, we're not maintaining any type of credit card information.

An example of one click reordering from a previous order:

However, our customers are not compelled to create an account to place an order.

You do not have to create an account to check out. You can check out without it. It's definitely optional, but it's really a nice feature as opposed to you don't have to retype your billing or shipping information. If you're a customer that orders on a regular basis and you order a lot of the same items, it's going to be very simple to go in and have one click and you can reorder, as I said, from any of the orders and place an order and just go.

That is the latest on our updated customer account functionality and our new product review system. When you have a chance, please stop by our shopping site at LCIPaper.com and have a look.

Joshua Birch

For those of you who do not recognize the children’s book I am referring to, it is Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree.” A moralistic story about a relationship between a child and a tree in the forest who unselfishly provides the child with things he needs throughout his life, “The Giving Tree” is a Silverstein classic that tends to resonate with all who read it.

As stated in the Intimate Weddings posting, the couple choosing to use this theme for their save-the-date cards found personal meaning in the story, which is what makes this custom idea such a great one. By creating their own custom save-the-dates, they were able to incorporate their personalities and creativity into their event, one of the main perks of any do-it-yourself project.

Another great aspect of this DIY project is its versatility. Story line aside, the graphic provided in this template is fun and unique, and may be used for a variety of events, not simply weddings. The image of the tree with the engraved hearts may bring to mind ideas of fall or spring, children or adults, formal or casual, all depending on how you work with it. For example, with the fall season now upon us, why not add some reds, oranges, and browns to the graphic’s falling leaves, change a few words, and send out a simple invite for an autumn housewarming party? Experiment with wording, colors, and a variety of colorful paper to see what your imagination creates!

As mentioned in the Intimate Weddings posting, one of the best things about this template is that it is absolutely free. Simply navigate to the Intimate Weddings page as linked to above to download your free graphic template, font, and even envelope label template, if you choose. (Please note, Adobe Illustrator is required to edit the graphic template, and Microsoft Word is required for editing the label template). Instructions and a list of necessary materials is also available, making this a simple and fun way to put a personal spin on your event!

Recommended Links:

LCI's Slim-Blank Cards
LCI's # 10 Policy Envelopes
LCI's #10 Square Flap Envelopes

Kristen Desrosier