Bonnie and Clyde

Since you're all brainstorming couple names for the upcoming reveal of the custom invitations in September, I thought I'd make it worth your while.

When I start custom invitations (or really any design work) I talk everything over with the client about what they're looking for and then I create around 3 designs as a jumping off point. Usually one will stand apart from the pack in my mind but for the most recent custom designs- I loved them all which is GREAT because now you all get 3 new designs coming your way.

First up is: Bonnie and Clyde. (Details to the right)


I know it's kind of an odd couple to go with but I was scanning through lists of famous couples and it just popped out at me.

Invitations, as they have been since the great pricing restructure of June '09, are $5 a set (set includes invitation, RSVP and 2 envelopes) which means for that same price you can get a samples of this invitation or any of the others with your lovely name and wedding information on it. This isn't available on etsy yet but feel free to email me at kristenhcox (at) gmail.com.

Getting close!

Hello! I've been kind of AWOL lately- as I'm sure you realized- but I've been alternating by playing photographer and errand girl. Since you probably don't want to hear about my trip to Lowe's, DSW or Crate and Barrel (meh, maybe that last two aren't bad) but the photos of the invitations are pretty nice, if I say so myself. This is all gearing up for the grand unveiling on the website but ye olde programmer/husband has been extremely busy this week.

But in alphabetical order:

Adam + Eve

Allie + Noah

Ariel + Eric

Bogey + Bacall

Elizabeth + Darcy

Ginny + Harry

Holly + Paul

Jim + Pam

Josephine + Napoleon

Rose + Jack

Sally + Harry
(Photos coming soon! The first round didn't come out well so I need to re-shoot)

Sandy + Danny
(Again some photography issues with the rest of the pieces but I did get one of just the invitation)

Sloane + Ferris

So there you have it! Consider it your very own sneak peek!

Talkin' 'bout a clean desktop!

To continue with the random bits that have been lingering on my desktop...

...first I bring you labels! I've been going through pricing for some custom invitations (which I've already half named the Faith Hill/Tim McGraw invitation suite in my head- I don't know why- it just jumped out at me) and it's $50 for a big old box of regular envelopes. The cheapest I can get them printed is $235 for 500 envelopes. Now, granted, if you're smart with what address you use you can use them for shower invitations, wedding invitations, thank you cards and whatever else you want but you're sitting on a lot of A7 envelopes with your name on them if the others come with their own envelopes.

But really who wants to spend another $235 when you're still going to need someone to address the "to" section later on anyway! Not I, Brown Cow. So that's why when I did my invitations and then later sent out moving cards --- WAIT HOLD THE EFFIN' PHONE. How are my invitations (which later became the Elizabeth and Darcy invitations) not featured on ye olde blog? WTF, mate? These are the times I wish I had an underling to yell at instead of berrating myself. We shall remedy that quickly, my dears. The posting of the Elizabeth and Darcy, that is. Not the underling, unfortunately. Anyway, where was I? Ah. Labels.

Those are a little beat up since they were the two that were returned when we flubbed the addresses but you get the idea. I super love the moving card label (left) for the Monopoly moving card (which is also for sale, so you too can have your very own!! In your very favorite monopoly block color-- I went with Illinois/Kentucky/Indiana red but it was a close call over PA/NC/Pacific Ave Green). We have a list of addresses (now corrected) which we use whenever we need to send out a mass mailing. Xmas cards, invitations- whatever, it's great.


Secondly I'll jump ahead and show my effin' invitations! (Shaking fist at mystified husband and dog). Ta-da. These are/were my invitations. The map is the unfolded inside of the written directions (which are below the map). I used labels again on the reply envelope (top right). The whole kit and caboodle went into the pocket of the Envelopement which I loved. The design on the back was someone I scribbled down on the metro and spent foreeeeever refining. The back has our first initials in what looks like a swirly pattern but the swirly pattern is actually "Cox" (my married name) in a funky cursive. No one really picked up on it which I actually like more because it was my little secret personal bit that I had added.

The essentials are all there for the Elizabeth and Darcy suite, as you can see, to the left, where the invitation is chillaxin' in my mint plant. The rest of the pieces can be found in my Etsy store along with a series of invitations in different colors to give you a better idea of what the invitation would look like in your wedding colors.

Don't worry, no swirling letters with my last name on the back. :)

Speaking of etsy, the next item to be cleared on my desktop (since it will be saved here for posterity) is the most awesome shirt ever. I came across this when I was searching for something to wear to my friend's 30th bday party but times as they are (combined with the fact I'm a tight wad) I just couldn't justify $60 and then another $10 for shipping. Grrr. I really want it though. I don't want this to be another "Sgt. Pepper inspired t-shirt that they no longer make for women and I should have just bought it when I saw it online 2 years ago thing!!!! @#$%$#^!!!!" I'm slightly bitter.

Don't you love it? AHHHH I LOVE IT. This will be a present to myself. I'm now not sure I want to tell you about because you could take mine. Le sigh. I'll be nice. It's from Les Enfants Sauvages, which is an awesome store name for awesome things. It comes in several colors and is made of "indian cotton veil" which I have no idea what that is but it sounds very soft. The proprietor will be at the Renegade Craft Sale in Brooklyn this weekend if you're in the area. Damn it! I was just in Brooklyn too.

The tear drop cut outs go around the back as well and it's got a tie of some sorts so you can pull it in at the waist just like Stacy and Clinton would want me to! Waahhh!

[Photo by LesEnfantSauvages]


Lastly I'll just throw some pretty pictures your way. The first was from Antler magazine which is an online mag that I read the first issue but wasn't really loving it except this photo. I have written down "Antler-Ozemhaluk" as the title of the image. I'm hoping that "Ozemhaluk" is some sort of photo credit to give credit where it's due.

The next photo (of the bride) was found on my search for wedding magazines around the world. It was on the home page of an Aussie magazine but I was never able to find the wedding that went with it (much to my dismay) but I liked the photo so much I thought I'd keep it around.

I tried to look it up from the photographer but I couldn't find it on his website and I'm beginning to believe that it's more of an editorial shot than a shot from a real live wedding ceremony.

Touché, internet, touché.


[Photo by: George Fetting]


Super lastly, we have something I was looking through today via Not Martha: Niki-lynn's photo stream on flickr. I was really blown away and then she had a birthday celebration photo and she's FIFTEEN YEARS OLD. If this turns out to be some sort of LonelyGrl whatever marketing bit- I'm revolting.

Ahhh clean desktop. Now I shall go finally work on my website after many months! Woo-hoo!

[Photo by niki-lynn]

Distressed without the 100 year wait

My friend, R., of Harry Potter in the hizzouse fame, asked me the other day if I knew about any ways to distress wedding invitations and- shockingly- I kind of did. Two Christmases ago my husband and I got his niece and nephew Watson Scavenger Hunt tickets (which are awesome and in many cities in case you're wondering) so I decided to make it a scavenger hunt to find the tickets. I got a little overboard and found myself in the kitchen with a lighter try to figure out how much is too much singed edges and trying to find things to stain the clues.

This is not quite a tutorial since you'll still have to play around with the technique but here are the results from my first trial.

(before left; after right)

Staining with Tea
I first started with a brewed tea bag concentrating on the corners and let that sink in for about 5 minutes, and gently blotted areas that pooled too much in the center over the text with a paper towel.

To keep the staining to the corners I perched the invitation over the paper towel and let that sit. Play with this time to see how much it will stain the corners.

This was probably the best idea from the new trials. I was trying to find a way to singe the edges without lighting it on fire because that tends to streaks of ash across the front and would definitely leave ash all of the envelope. I used the flat iron when the invitation was only slightly damp but if you do a slow fanning motion you can create a stiff curl (kind of like you would if you were flipping your hair).

So here's the before and after again. It's not a style for everyone but it's nice parchment-y look.

I printed several test versions so I can keep on experimenting. I'm thinking Coke maybe the next trial since it would stain and not smell (like coffee would).

And, yes, it's a Harry Potter invite. I did it quickly for something to test with but... I'm liking it. A lot. So you'll definitely see more of it in the future.

(The paper used was Paper Source Luxe Cream Cover. I also tried their Opal Cover which had a nice sparkle to it but the tea just beaded off.)

Stickin' it.

My latest design love is definitely packaging and branding. I've started reading a slew of blogs (err... um 2, Dieline and Brand New... but it SEEMS like a slew) and one of them mentioned something that really stuck with me: packaging is the advertising. Sure if you're a big company you still dole out the big bucks for advertising but when the consumer faced with 39 packages of new health conscious potato chips-- that bag better look good. And think about, how many of your favorite brands has re-designed lately. Or seems to re-design every other time you go to the store. (I feel like Green Giant frozen veggies that are targeted for some kind of health [antioxidant, healthy weight, etc] and Wheat Thins are always changing).

As a result a good portion of the packaging design coming out these days rocks my socks AAAAND has got me thinking.

(left: Student work by Shon Tanner: right: Azul Reál Cachaça by Adam&Co.)

(left: Student work from Melissa Adams (this is actually a lot like some custom work I've been doing but you'll have to wait to see that later); right: Student work from Eyal Baumert)

(left Est natural cosmetics by Satelite, right: Lovejoy Vodka produced by Integrity Spirits and designed by ID Branding)

How lovely, right? So this got me to thinking- does a wedding invitation really need to be paper? I've been writing this post for a couple days and thinking what could be accomplished by just using stickers. Looking at these packages you can definitely have beautifully designed stickers and I've been trying to think of cool ways to base wedding invitations around it. I have some ideas but I'm not 100% there yet.

The more I think of weddings the more it seems everyone has these grand ideas of what it HAS TO be and less about what COULD work. Less thinking outside of the box- more building something better entirely, if that makes any sense*. :)

*It's hot today. My brain may be melting.

And the winner is...

ARIEL AND ERIC ON THE DARK BACKGROUND!

(Ariel and Eric photo by Azetylen found on deviantart)

And by Ariel and Eric, I am referring, of course, to the Little Mermaid and what Hans Christian Anderson probably wanted them named. Nothing at all to do with a very powerful mouse. All Hans Christian Anderson, indeed.

Thank you to everyone who voted!!

The REAL Special Preview!!

Note to self: there is a deep love of grammar in those who read this blog. :)

I thought my funny joke from yesterday's ghastly "invitation" would be that it was printed on an index card trying to be letterpress that had "BYOB" on it and was generally hit by every branch of crappy wedding invitation foof on as it fell out of the ugly tree. The grammar error of "you're"/"your" was something I thought would be my own little "tee hee" in addition but you all are quick on the uptake!

Anyway, thank you for putting up with my attempt at humor. :) Here's the real deal.

Errr...but it's not that simple. The bride came up with two fabulous ideas for a famous couple names and now I can't decide which I like better. On top of that we originally tried out both light text on dark background and dark text on light background and the two friends I polled on it, of course, each picked one. Let's throw it all on the wall and see what sticks!




I've added a poll to the right hand side of the blog so vote for your favorite!

Eye Candy

So, much like Persephone I've been lured back into the dark scary world of Corporate America (via my new office in the attic) which is why you hear crickets on the blog.

But there have been wedding designs creeping in there and breaking up the monotony. Firstly being my lovely cousin who I'll refer to as: (surprise) Lovely Cousin who is getting married... soon.

It's the seaside equivalent of the new Adam + Eve. Like if those crazy kids went for a destination wedding. The colors my cousin is using in her wedding are what I'd call "Fall-but-not-orange" colors. Chocolate, cranberry, sage, creams... which just saying makes me want to cook rich foods but also buy decadent fall boots. Anyway-- ta da!


I've changed all the names to their most generic.

Also I've been working on some custom wedding invitations. No, I'm not going to post hers before we've settled on the very last details, but I will post a design that was in one of my first rounds that she decided to pass on. It's simple. Like really simple but I loooove it. Maybe it's because I'm a font nerd, who knows? Oh note to self-- post new fonts that are in play.

I love that inky navy blue but I also like the flowing colors so it's whatever floats your boat. I chose Napoleon and Josephine because I've been reading Lauren Willig books but I'm not 100% sold on it. Anyone have any other suggestions for couples?

I hope you like it! Unfortunately the fonts will have to wait until next time because I'm going to a concert tonight and need to remember how to put on makeup before I go out!

Have a lovely tuesday night everyone!

The Newest Oldest Invitation on the block.

The very first invitation I did was for the VP of Marketing of the company I worked for 2 or 3 companies ago. It was set on her horse farm in Virginia and she wanted a simple natural look. Allie and Noah invitation actually evolved from one of the original ideas that I sent over but the one she went with has been lurking on CD in my drawer for the past 4 years. My cousin is now getting married, again in Virginia but on the other side of the state on the Chesapeake, and was looking for something simple and natural and I knew that rang bells somewhere in my head. So upstairs I went and rooted through all my yet-to-be-unpacked-once-my-office-is-finished-office-boxes and resurrected my first ever wedding invitation. I tweaked it a little from my old boss' and I think I try and find some sea grass for my cousin but now without further ado-- my Oldest yet Newest wedding invitation: Adam and Eve.



I'll let you know when it's available to buy on Etsy!

News and Updates

Hey Happy Almost Really Truly Summer everyone! So after roughly a million years- I think the etsy site will be up and running soon! I've been speaking with 2 sets of printers recently to try and figure out pricing. I've also set up a small site to show them what the designs look like so you should take a look too:
http://thefuturemrsdarcy.com

It shows off the entire line of some of the invitations you may have seen on the site here. It's not quite soup to nuts but you can get a better idea of what more than just an invite and RSVP would look like, and, as always, if you want a piece that's not listed, I'll make it for you! See, isn't that easy?

Oh and since it's friday this is completely NOT wedding related but hilarious and if there was an office out there that regularly did this- I would go back to an office. http://gizmodo.com/5018272/the-great-nerf-office-war

Have a great weekend!

TGIF Boys and Girls!

Hiya! Some good news on the etsy front- after not hearing from a printer I've done business with before I've decided to bite the bullet and find someone in the Boston area and - HOORAY - they've already gotten back to me to tell me they'll have pricing on Monday. Also to get everything ready for said printer I had to put my nose to the wedding grindstone and flush out some of the designs so I have a bunch of new things to show you. Today we'll go with something a little different: Ferris and Sloane from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, of course.





Fans of the movie can note that the "wedding" is being held at the Art Institute of Chicago which was there they had that nice little musical montage in the movie but after I added that as the place I couldn't help but think what an amazing venue it would be. Who would give a crap about having just the right peonies when you are surrounded by such fabulous artwork?! So if that inspires you and you find a museum for you, send me pictures!

(p.s.- the RSVP isn't that ginormous- the invitation is just being shrunk to fit in the window!)

Allie and Noah

Like sorbet after a big meal, I'll slide some more previews into the mix between our Gifts for Guys posts.

This is the only one of my designs I've used a photograph before. You usually don't think of photographs in wedding invitations but, in fact, I think this is really traditional and classic looking. I hope you enjoy!

(I don't know if I've written this before but if you are a bride interested in any of my designs, just let me know. Let me know your information (via comments or (quickest method) email) and I'll get you prices lickety split!)

And, don't forget, stay tuned for the next installment of Gifts for Guys!