I love the quiet during the week between Christmas and New Year's - it's the perfect time to look back on the year that was before starting the new year.  This week I've been spending quite a bit of time going through my archives and trying to get myself as organized as possible before 2010, and I came across these beautiful blind emboss wedding invitations printed by Studio on Fire:

Designed by Aya Ikegaya for a summer wedding, the serene white and soft gray color palette would also perfect for a winter wedding.  The main invitation is actually the embossed text on the outer sleeve with letterpress enclosures on the inside, including a map and accommodation information: 

Studio on Fire also gives a wonderfully concise explanation of the different printing methods for embossing and letterpress, which you can check out along with a few additional photos right here.

{image credits: studio on fire}

Allison from Bird Dog Press has such a beautiful way with pattern – like these spring-inspired letterpress invitations that she created incorporating a blue background pattern with brown text and floral elements:

I also love the corresponding blue poppy on the brown envelope, which just gives a slightly more lush feel to the overall design.  So pretty!  Check out more on the Bird Dog Press flickr page.

{image credits: Bird Dog Press}

I'm always looking for sweet and simple letterpress note cards to keep on hand - like these bright and cheerful designs from Paisley Dog Press:

The one in the middle is my favorite - perfect for leaving a surprise little love note, just because.  Check out more right here.

{image credits: paisley dog press} 

Good morning!  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend!  I'm slowly easing back into my normal routine, and to help with that process I thought I'd feature a wedding invitation suite that is easily one of the most beautiful I've seen in a long time – these gorgeous papel picado wedding invitations by Parrott Design Studio:

Sarah designed these letterpress wedding invitations for a bride with a serious love for design and textiles.  In addition to the beautiful papel picado banner (note the wedding date in the hearts below!), Sarah lined the back of the invitations with a stylized version of a Liberty of London print and contrasted Crystal Kluge's lovely Nelly Script with a modern sans serif font:

To complement the color palette of the invitation suite, the envelopes were lined with vintage oceanic maps in soft blue and aqua hues:

Gorgeous, right?  Check out the rest of the story and inspiration sources behind these wedding invitations right here!

{image credits: Parrott Design Studio}

Hi everyone!  I'm signing off until after the holiday weekend.  Lots of gift wrapping left to do, not to mention packing for our long drive tomorrow!  But in the meantime... 

 ...a few links for your holiday reading pleasure:

• Check out this round-up of holiday paper craft projects over on Paper Crave...
• ...and more ways to decorate with paper for the holidays on jolie jolie 
• Angela wrote a post showing her lovely cotton ribbons in use - including my wedding bouquets!
• Don't have a lot of time? Try these speed decorating tips!
• This recipe for a butternut squash and pomegranate galette is literally making my mouth water
• Mrs. Limestone used her Yudu to create New Year's dish towels - check out the results!

That's it for me this week!  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend – and I'll see you back here next week!

{image credits: mackin ink via mary ruffle}