OsloPress

For the most part, the envelopes you see on our website are shown in various shades of white or cream.  Please don’t let this fool you though – we gladly offer colored envelopes as well.  We have several favorite manufacturers that we like to use, so please let us know if there is a color you are interested in and we will let you know what is available.  Typically when working with a client, we will send them samples of the color they are looking for.  This enables them to see their color options as well as feel the paper.  If requested, we will custom mix the ink so that it matches the selected envelopes.

Here are a few things to keep in mind if interested in using colored envelopes:

• Currently we only offer letterpress printing.  Letterpress is well-suited to printing dark colors on light paper.  However, dark paper colors can have the tendency to show through the printed ink a little bit.  We can still print a light color on dark paper, but keep in mind that letterpress printing white ink  onto dark paper may not produce as crisp of a white as other printing methods.
• The US Postal Service prefers the use of white or pastel colored envelopes.  Using a dark ink on light paper insures optimum contrast which is ideal for use with their optical readers/scanners.  Basically, sticking to lighter colors makes their jobs a little easier.
• Consider using labels to dress up your dark envelopes.  Labels don’t have to be boring or ugly – we can design and print them for you so that they will coordinate with the rest of your stationery.
• Some envelope manufacturers offer different flap designs.  You may or may not have a choice with a particular color, but we will certainly let you know what the options are.

Need more information on available envelopes or recommended ink colors?  Please don’t hesitate to ask!

What you see: butterfly reply card in pearl white cotton paper, chocolate and lilac ink, lilac envelope

Last summer, we had  a couple come to us and request that their invitations reflect the scenery of their wedding location by including a single large pine tree.  Always happy to take on the challenge of a custom job, I was eager to accommodate their wishes.  Honestly, I was a bit surprised that this was the first time a pine tree had been requested by a client (you know, given all that wood you see on our website!).

Before I began working on the new illustration, I searched around a little bit online in order to study photos of actual pine trees.  It wasn’t long before I realized I didn’t have to look very hard at all though.  Here in North Carolina, there never seems to be a lack of pine trees.  Just a quick glance out of a window around here will reveal quite a few nearby.  Really, they are everywhere and so are their needles; but it’s okay because their silhouettes against the setting sun are quite a lovely sight.

To further enhance the woodsy feel of the invitation set, the couple chose to use walnut wood for the invite.  A warm chocolate brown ink was used for the text and a pop of color was added by the use of olive ink.  To wrap it all up and create a cohesive feel,  ecru cotton paper was  selected for the paper elements.

Curious about our custom design process? Just send us an e-mail or visit our process page for more details.

We are happy to announce that we have recently added a new typeface to our collection.  It’s not up on the site just yet, but here is a little demonstration:

This calligraphy inspired typeface designed by Ale Paul, is full of flourishes and possibilities.  Like what you see but not sure it is the right fit for your invite?  That’s what we’re here for.  When working together to create your stationery, you will always have the opportunity to see several different typefaces in action.  Burgues, as well as some of the other scripts in our collection, can be dressed up a bit for more flair, or can be left simple and clean.  We are more than happy to show you the different looks that can be achieved with each one.  All you have to do is ask…

Green is a favorite color around here and is a common request when it comes to ink selection.  While my personal favorites tend to be greens with more yellow in them, I fell in love when this color came off the press.  And what color might this new love be?  That would be Pantone 363.  The bride and groom selected this custom blended green ink along with bright white cotton paper and cherry wood invites.  A perfect combination, in my opinion.

If you were to look out of our studio window right now and spot all of the green leaves on the trees, you would never guess it is officially fall.  It has been a hot and sticky summer here, but it seems to finally be cooling down a bit.  Let’s hope those pretty fall colors will be on their way soon.

Until then, this photo above will just have to hold me over.  At the request of a recent couple I was working with, I created this motif based on aspen trees for their invitations.  Also incorporated throughout the set, were the pair of aspen leaves that can be seen in the background.  Perfect for fall, they chose to combine copper ink and ecru cotton paper.  Not seen in this photo are the actual invitations, which were made out of walnut. In addition to the invitations, we also created some table cards and place cards – all out of walnut as well.

Nicole and Taylor were recently married in Aspen, Colorado – so congratulations to the happy couple!

As mentioned in the last post, I will try and upload several sneak peek images of the new designs that are on their way. Above you see a sample utilizing a combination of spring green and chocolate inks, maple wood, and crisp white cotton paper. The selected typefaces are Bolivar and Trajan – a combination I find elegant with  just a touch of attitude.

I would like to mention that this motif was created at the request of a bride. We felt it would be a perfect addition to our catalog, so we are keeping it around.

Enjoy!

As mentioned in previous posts, we have some new designs on the way. For the most part, all the details are finalized. Now begins the next step: producing samples and getting the photos ready for the website. Yes, we know we could just plop some renderings up and call it a day, but well, we just don’t find this acceptable. We must have photos! And apparently, we like making more work for ourselves.

So now begins the brain storming process… we get to select colors and wood species for each design that we feel will make them look that much better. This is exciting to me, as I have spent quite a bit of time staring at, for the most part, black and white illustrations on my monitor. Truth be told, I always visualize color combinations as I work on something, but this is no comparison to seeing the finished product.

Selecting the ink colors always involves flipping through the handy Pantone formula guide. I love it when the color I have been visualizing is there in front of me. Other times, sadly, it is nowhere to be found. In any case, decisions have to be made and the show must go on. We’ll keep you updated and hopefully update the blog with a sneak peek or two in the next couple of weeks.

Speaking of colors, I do want to remind everyone that custom blended ink colors are always an option. If you don’t see the right color listed on our process page, please let us know what you are looking for! Whether you send us a fabric sample to work with, or you send me to the grocery store in search of strawberry Mentos pink (yum), we will always do our best to accommodate your wishes.

Now, if only we can hurry this process up a bit…

We have had quite a bit of rainy weather around here for the last few days, and while we oh so desperately need it, I never find myself enjoying it. You see, for me, rain usually leads to nasty headaches and of course bad hair days and just the overall urge to climb back into bed and hide under the covers. Fortunately, I was able to combat this gloomy mood a bit with a few pick-me-ups:

1. Crepes – for lunch! We discovered a small shop that sells coffee and crepes in the area and decided to give it a try yesterday. While Glenwood had a healthier option of eggs and veggies, I just wanted yummy and dived into a strawberry and Nutella-filled crepe. I highly recommend this as a rainy day treat. It also got me thinking about wedding food. How delicious would crepes be at a wedding? Maybe a late night snack after a long evening of dancing? One word: yum.

2. Enjoying the fact that all this rain would hopefully give my car the much needed bath I have been unable to give it myself. Recently, everything outside has been coated in a nice shade of yellow-green due to all of the pollen – my car included. Thanks to the severe water shortage our area has been going through, car washing is out of the question. (Oh – and to that neighbor I spotted washing his car not so long ago – don’t think I didn’t see you. I think I snarled a bit as I walked past your house. Shame on you!)

3. Listening to a few select songs by Beirut. Over. And over.

4. Last but not least, finally getting my hands on a certain typeface by the name of Futura. Futura Small Caps that is. Around here, this is our idea of hot:

Sometimes, it really is the little things…

I figured it was about time to revisit the options you have for wording your invitations. Below you will find several sample methods of wording for when you wish to acknowledge that the wedding is being hosted by parents. As always, these are just some basic ideas and wording can be mixed and matched – or replaced with just about anything you please. The level of formality is easily altered by the words you choose. This will be a topic I cover at another time. Today I will just give you an idea of how to handle the names.

Bride’s parents are hosting:

In this case it is up to you whether or not to include the groom’s family in the wording.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnathan Smith
invite you to join them
in a celebration of love
as their daughter, Mary Ellen
is united in marriage to
Mr. Michael Anderson
son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anderson…

Or

Please share our joy
at the wedding of
Mary Ellen
daughter of Lisa and Johnathan Smith and
Michael Lee
son of Joy and Robert Anderson

Or the name of the host can follow at the end:

With joyful hearts
we ask you to be present
at the wedding ceremony of
Mary Ellen
and
Michael Lee
Date
Year
Time
Venue
Location

Lisa and Johnathan Smith

Both sets of parents are hosting:

Mr. and Mrs. Johnathan Smith
and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anderson
request the honour of your presence
at the wedding ceremony of
Mary Ellen Smith
and
Michael Lee Anderson…

For parents with different last names:

Mrs. Lisa Johnson
and Mr. Johnathan Smith
invite you to join them in a celebration of love
as their daughter, Mary Ellen
is united in marriage to
Mr. Michael Anderson…

Divorced and remarried parents:

Mr. and Mrs. Gordan Matterson
and Mr. and Mrs. Johnathan Smith
invite you to join them in a celebration of love as
Mary Ellen
is united in marriage to
Mr. Michael Anderson…

When a parent is deceased:

In this case, the deceased parent can not be considered a host, so you can either use the name of the surviving parent only or you can word it such as this:

Mary Ellen
daughter of Lisa Smith and the late Johnathan Smith
and
Michael Lee
son of Joy and Robert Anderson
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage…

We are finally adding some new fonts to the list on the website. It may go through several changes throughout the process – so please forgive us if it looks funny! Upon completion, the list should be better organized and provide you with a better example of each font.

Please don’t forget that you are always welcome to request a font that you do not see listed on the website. It would be impossible to list everything we have access to, so we have to pick and choose. This means our favorites, as well as the most popular fonts, make it to the website.

If at any time this process causes you frustration, just stare at this image for a few seconds:

There, now don’t you feel better?