Creating Handmade Invitations With Mirrored Paper

The mirricle (sorry, I had to write that at least once!) that is mirri paper has lent itself to some of LVC's most fashionable invitations since being introduced last year. "Mirri" paper is our term for mirrored paper. This impactful material adds unexpected dimension and dazzling, light-catching reflectiveness to invitations, making it a go-to material for the chicest of clients. In this Newsletter we take a look how to get the most out of mirri.

1) All About That Base (Layer)

One of the most jaw-dropping ways to incorporate mirri paper into your invitation is to use it as a base layer with a die cut image plyed or layered on top. Notice in the image above how the bright, shimmering quality of the Stardust mirri paper contrasts dramatically with the black pattern, achieving visual complexity usually reserved for an art gallery! Although mirri paper cannot be laser cut, there are endless ways to incorporate it with other cut layers. 

2) Make That Liner Finer

I know I always say that everything is my favorite, but mirri liner really IS my favorite offering at Luscious Verde! For the recipient of the invitation, opening an envelope with mirri liner feels like cracking open a geode. It's a sumptuous surprise, truly transforming an envelope into a thing of luxury. Because mirri liner is card stock weight, it adds substantial thickness to the envelope.

3) Layer Up Using mirri paper as a layer adds a pop of visual interest to the border of an invitation. When used with silver accents or text (like in the image above), it can effectively tie the look of an invitation together.  4) Back It Up A plyed mirri backing allows for this specialty paper to shine in all of its glory. The large reflective surface highlights the materiality of mirri, giving a smooth sleek look that pairs perfectly with a wide range of designs. Try coordinating a plyed mirri backing with a mirri layer on the reverse side (see image above). This is the ultimate one-two punch, and is sure to be a knockout with party guests.

Retailer Spotlight: The Papery of Philadelphia

Retailer Spotlight: The Papery of Philadelphia

Luscious Verde is proud to work with some of the country's most talented stationers. This Retailer Spotlight  series highlights what is unique about the fabulous people we create with. 

The Papery of Philadelphia was founded in 2003 and is owned by Carolyn Brandhorst and her parents. With a background in Print Advertising and Fashion Retail, Carolyn sees stationery as a way to combine both her love of design and her passion for working with the public. Carolyn brings these unique professional experiences to the world of stationery, creating truly one-of-a-kind pieces.  

Located in Philadelphia, a city known for its perfect mix of big city buzz and small town charm, The Papery is both a cornerstone of its neighborhood as well as a destination for clients from the Main Line, Philadelphia suburbs, New Jersey, and beyond. 

Looking towards 2015, Carolyn and her staff are seeing a large influx of requests for boxed invitations. The demand for these pieces, she says, is only growing in her area. (Call Luscious Verde to create your next boxed invitation!) 

The Papery is dedicated to creating long-term relationships with each and every customer, sometimes working with a client first as a bride planning her wedding, and then years later as a mother planning a Mitzvah! "We become friends with our customers and hope to continue helping them create memorable invites for all the special moments in their lives," says Carolyn.

Please visit the Papery of Philadelphia's website for more information or to make an appointment.

 

Love Letter(press)

Letterpress is finally at Luscious Verde, and we are officially in love with it!

We're excited to show off our new printing technique, which originated in the update for our second holiday album, published throughout our new wedding album, and quickly becoming popular with the Bar/Bat Mitzvah crowd.

We offer two-color letterpress as well, and when combined with hip new patters like the chevron and classic 1/4" stripes, you really can't go wrong.

Even your dog will love it!

Interested in checking out the entire line of Luscious Verde? Find a retailer near you.

Love Is In the Air

Our latest wedding catalog has finally been released into the wild, and like any newborn, we totally have to show you pictures of its total cuteness! Check it out at your local Luscious Verde retailer.

There's Just Something About a Paper Invitation

You may be wondering if it's ever okay to e-mail an invitation to a party, as opposed to going through the time and expense of mailing a paper invitation. I believe that in order to answer this question, you have to ask yourself two questions: "How important is it to me that people attend my event?" and, "How important is it to me that invitees respond to my invitation?"  If you can answer, "Not important at all" to either of those questions, than an e-vite is perfectly acceptable.

I know, I may be the co-owner of a couture custom invitation company, but sending out an "e-vite" for your wedding, or for any major life event that you are fortunate enough to experience, is just tacky. Not just is it tacky, but it diminishes the importance of your event to the point where, I believe, a response from y0ur invitees is optional. Do you want to go through months of planning a wedding only to have your friends and loved ones ignore your request that they attend? If so, send an e-vite.  This bride did.

And like I said, there is no more sure fire way to get ignored than if you extend your invitation into someone's already overcrowded e-mail inbox. So send your baby shower invitations, bridal shower invitations, anniversary party invitations and fundraising event invitations into the ethernet. See what happens.

-- Wendy @ L.V.

Groom Gloom?

So, you’ve thrown rose petals on the ground, got on one knee and finally asked your girl to marry you. While she’s crying, flailing up and down, dangerously close to giving you a concussion, you ask yourself….now what?

Enter Staggered, a site dedicated to the men out there who are just a little bit lost in the whirlwind of wedding planning. This site offers great tips strictly for men including how to write the perfect speech, how to solve that sunburn emergency when you wake up on your lawn after the bachelor party, and tons more. There are contests to win free champagne and other goodies and you can talk to real live husbands who have lived through their wedding planning instead of your best man who is constantly telling you to run away. Check it out!

Staggered offers a unique look on the male’s perspective for wedding invitations. While, some of his points are valid in the April 26 post, I have to disagree on some of his content. The husband-to-be has a strict bottom line of “the wording doesn’t matter. No one will remember your invites. No one ever does.”

Yes, if you choose a boring white or cream cardstock with plain text and a plain, unlined envelope, no one will remember the custom wedding invitation set that you spent weeks creating by yourself or with a stationer.

Are you really that traditional of a groom? Have you gone the way of mass marketing your wedding so your invitation does not truly represent you and your fiancé? Get the white wedding invitation with white envelope then!

The real question is why spend weeks designing something that people will not remember? If you chose a truly custom Luscious Verde wedding invitation you certainly will be remembered. Always. Couture invitations from Luscious Verde set the tone of the wedding. Is it going to be a black tie event and a posh downtown hotel?  One held in an airplane hangar? A country barn setting? What about a carnival theme? Only your invitation can let your guests know what kind of fabulous wedding event to expect. You (well, probably not you, but your fiance at least) are spending all of that time, energy and money meticulously planning out the perfect wedding for yourselves and your loved ones.  Sure, elements of white and cream are appropriate, but don’t be shy! Jazz up your invitation set, express your unique personalities and let your wedding invitation set the tone of your wedding ahead of time.

I also enjoyed the earlier April 13 post where the author is calm and collected about his wedding invitations, offering useful advice. But I do I feel that he kind of cracked under the pressure of painstakingly doing his own invitations.  Find a local stationer (preferably one that carries Luscious Verde products) and have them fuss over your set so you can relax!

Sight Mag

As the summer wedding season quickly approaches, I wanted to share a super cute site focused on do-it-yourself projects and inspirations. Nonpareil Magazine was created by two amazingly creative artists. Maddy Hague of Inspired Bride and Kristen Magee of Paper Crave are the masterminds behind several creative websites. I especially love their little tags and the his/her/their cake badges. We always encourage our retailers and end consumers to be creative and think outside of the box with their invitation set. Happily, we’ve custom created everything from a Moulin Rouge-themed Bat Mitzvah to a pair of snow skis for a corporate event. The invitation does set the tone of your wedding, so make it a good one!

-- Megan @ L.V.

Rock and Roll

April is the month of rock and roll inductees. Even though the event usually takes place in a much cooler city then Cleveland, we can still take the credit for housing the rock hall. Located downtown, this vast building has layers of goodness. Top-secret performances are always happening for 10 bucks or less. I happened upon the Staple Singers and a Jackson 5 tribute band during a weird rock/gospel/pop/rhythm-and-blues kind of week. This year ABBA gets the big entry key, as well as the Stooges. A shirtless Iggy Pop is never hard to say no to, and Abba is a love ‘em/hate ‘em kind of group. (Although I’m pretty confident that everyone secretly loves ABBA.) Musicians influence design almost as much as designers themselves. Take a look at these two musically inspired custom invitations.