Five ways to make special event stationery eco-friendly

Image by Organized Light Photography

Kermit the Frog may think it’s not easy being green, but when it comes to designing eco-friendly special event stationery, we beg to disagree, dear Kermie! Here are five things to consider when designing your invitations, menus, reply cards, envelopes and other special event collateral that will make your efforts more earth friendly:

1. Less is more: using less paper is not only eco-friendly; it will prove more economical for you in the long-run. 
2. Double the pleasure: consider printing on both sides of insert cards instead of using two separate cards.
3. Tree-free doesn’t mean paperless: investigate the many wonderful paper options that don’t require tree kill.
4. Toxin-free papers and inks: vegetable dye-based papers and soy inks are the earth-friendly way to go. 
5. Choose local first: whether a local printer or using locally grown flowers, eliminate the environmental emissions caused by transporting or importing your design elements long-distance by choosing local whenever possible. 

Petalos di Pauli has lots of crafty ideas when it comes to designing good-looking and eco-friendly stationery products.  As purveyors of paper, we bring to you a range of post-consumer recycled paper sources and feature choices, including Saa (Mulberry tree) and  Lotka (Daphne bush), for sustainable style. Going green may be easier and more beautiful than you think, with our team of knowledgeable creatives ready to help.

Gracious Greening,

Paula Estes
Botanical Artist
Petalos di Pauli

Fat and Sassy vs. Skinny

Written communication is one of the best ways to capture someone's attention, especially when it arrives by way of a unique greeting or note card. Petalos di Pauli creations feature unexpected botanical embellishments like chunky gerbera daisies that speak "Happy Birthday" and blank note cards bearing Swarovski crystal-studded miniature blooms.

In the studio, we refer to designs that have fluffy flowers or require protective padding as "fat and sassy" due to the extra girth of the resulting mailing envelope. For best results with mailing cards with delicate embellishments, you'll need to protect the design by inserting the padding that comes with the card between its front and the envelope.

Fat and sassy cards may require additional first class postage if the envelope thickness is greater than ¼ inch. When in doubt, we recommend having it measured at the post office to assure a successful delivery.

Some fat and sassy designs have "skinny" versions that are still eye catching but omit design elements, like pearls or crystals, that would require special handling and surcharge (extra postage). If you see something in our On-line Boutique that you'd like to have skinnied, we are always happy to take custom orders.

For more tips on creative social expression, sign up for my newsletter "Petals & Pearls by Paula."

Cheerfully Yours,

Paula Estes
Botanical Artist
Petalos di Pauli

Spring Inspiration

As we welcome the Spring 2010 Experience, I am inspired by the explosion of new energy that it brings! It calls for bursts of COLOR and design elements that SURPRISE, like these colorful leather envelope cases.

LEATHER is hardly new, but when hot spring colors are combined with vibrant botanicals, an invitation or acknowledgment can go from KEEPSAKE to fun ACCESSORY in a heartbeat.

A LEATHER ENVELOPE CASE is a presentation option suitable for 5 x 7 inch cards or smaller. Or wouldn't they be great for presenting members of your bridal party with a collection of PHOTO MEMORIES and a handwritten expression of gratitude? We carry more than a dozen dazzling color combinations that promote the SUNNY spirit of SPRING.

My hope is that you are already enjoying the wonders of the season as much as I am.  I look forward to sharing more fun ideas from the garden and studio of Petalos di Pauli.

Cheerfuly,

Paula Estes
Botanical Artist and
Object of Spring Fever

American Chocolate Week

Did you know that St. Patrick's Day is not the only holiday in March?  The third week of March is American Chocolate Week!  Although it may not have the tradition that St. Patrick's Day has, this can be a fun way to show your friends and family that you are thinking of them.  Some more good news is that it lasts an entire week!  So for those that lead busy lives, you have a week to give a gift.  Here are a couple of ideas to help you celebrate the week:

Buy chocolate from a special vendor
Any major city has it's specialty chocolate shops and American Chocolate Week can be a great "excuse" to indulge in a special treat.  You can surprise your spouse or a friend with something extra special, maybe they will even share it with you!

In the Los Angeles area, where the Petalos di Pauli studio is located, we love Compartes Chocolatier   for their delicious handmade confections as well as their whimsical modern artistry.

Chocolatier, Jonathan Grahm says his unique and eclectic creations are made "from our heart to yours," which reminds us at Petalos di Pauli of our design and business philosophies.  Each element of the design treated as important, results in an experience that delights more than just one of your senses. Which leads us to....

Stationery to go with your Chocolate Gift
So, with your unique chocolate gift chosen for your "Chocophile," we suggest a unique stationery item to present with your gift.  Petalos di Pauli created just the thing; a card highlighting the wonders of chocolate. 

The perfect card for American Chocolate Week, or anytime!
A handmade card that expresses how we really feel about chocolate!

In honor of American Chocolate Week we would like to ask our readers to email us their stories about how chocolate has been special in your life.  The first five responders will receive one of the handmade original cards pictured above as a thank you for joining our celebration!  Next week's Blog will feature our favorites.  Email us at Chocolate@PetalosdiPauli.com

Weaving a Floral Theme Into Your Wedding

Your wedding theme does not have to be limited to just a color... How about incorporating flowers or other botanicals throughout your wedding? Every part of your wedding, from the invitations to the programs to the cake, can be inspired by a floral choice. For example, if you love red roses, an arrangement of real dried roses on a handmade invitation can be something that your guests have never seen. Not only is this a beautiful invitation, but it conveys that you are elegant as well as unique, and your event will be nothing less. Your rose theme begins in the invitation and is carried to your ceremony in your wedding flowers. You can also present red roses to your and your fiancé’s mothers during the ceremony. At the reception, you can echo your theme in menus on the tables and your wedding cake. The invitations are just the beginning!

Petalos di Pauli Signature Invitation

 Tiffany and Chocolate Brown Cake

 Petalos di Pauli Signature Invitation

 Black, White and Red Cake

Calligraphy

Ginny Moore owner of Calligraphy, Ink, calligraphyinkstudio.com , was intergral in the design of our popular LOVE invitation which is currently featured in Your Wedding Day magazine.  We recently asked Ginny about her work and this is what she shared with us:

Q: Paula has received great response to her LOVE invitation, which you helped design. What was your experience like working on the LOVE invitation?

A: For one thing, I loved working with Paula. She is so sweet, fun and artistic. She gave me an idea of what she wanted for the invitation, but she also really let me be creative with it. I have lots of different styles and even pen types I love to use in my calligraphy, but I rarely get to use more than one style per job. This is such a fun opportunity to get imaginative and really use lots of different looks together to play up the whimsical design.

Q: You mentioned your different styles of calligraphy.  We have had customers ask us why they should pay for a calligrapher if they have a computer.  Why should someone use a calligrapher instead of printing addresses out with their computers at home?

A:  For one, etiquette and tradition require hand-addressed envelopes for wedding invitations. Even if you can’t afford a calligrapher, the envelopes should be hand-addressed, even if it’s by the bride or a friend with nice handwriting. It stands out as such a personal touch in a world of emails and texting. Another reason is calligraphy really makes a statement. When your envelopes are beautifully calligraphed, it says to the guests that you take great pride in this event and it is something to be greatly anticipated! After all, the envelope will be the very first thing the guests see as a glimpse of the wedding! A gorgeous, hand-calligraphed envelope is striking and memorable. Finally, using a calligrapher greatly reduces time and stress over one of the most worrisome aspects of planning a wedding: the guest list. Calligraphers have been saving busy brides hours upon hours for years and years!

Thanks so much Ginny!

4 Reasons to Write Thank You Notes

1. One does not need to wait for November to be thankful. Writing thank you notes can help us experience a sense of gratitude in our everyday lives year round.

2. Being grateful can make us aware of our blessings and thankful for them.

3. Writing a personal thank you gives us the opportunity to relive the pleasure that caused us to be grateful in the first place.

4. Writing thank you notes can serve as a stress reliever, forcing us to slow down and enjoy a few moments of quiet.

Why not express your sentiments in one of our beautifully handcrafted thank you cards, ordered off-the-shelf or custom designed to match your personality or wedding stationery.

Seven Simple Questions to Ask Before Buying Custom Invitations

Before you commit to custom invitations, here are 7 prudent questions to ask.

1. What design elements are available to work with?
2. Will I have access to a designer during the entire design process?
3. Can we begin working even if I don’t know exactly what I want yet?
4. What if I don’t see exactly what I want in your portfolio/gallery?
5. How many changes am I permitted to make?
6. What turnaround time can I expect?
7. Must we meet in person in order to work together?

So that you may know us, we've answered those 7 simple questions below.

What design elements are available to work with?
We have over 10,000 materials available for your consideration, leaving your options for creating beauty and distinctive edge wide open. Swarovski crystals, rhinestones, pearls and beads are just a sampling of embellishments available to fashion stunning new looks. And when it comes to adding color, we offer more than just paper and ink choices. Our palette includes a garden of vibrant botanicals.

The work we do is completely personalized and one of a kind, created expressly for you and your special event. We invite couples to introduce their own design elements, for example sequins or lace from an heirloom wedding dress. We encourage them to express their personal style and create a look that is exclusively their own. Invitations made of unexpected materials such as fabric, wood, metal, and even acrylic are all within the realm of possibility. During our consultation we will brainstorm ideas and figure out what items will suit you best for your design needs.

Will I have access to a designer during the entire design process?
We believe that the only way to achieve the perfect representation of you and your event is through collaboration and dedication. During the entire design process you will have an open line of communication with a single designer.

Can we begin working even if I don’t know exactly what I want yet?
Absolutely! The process of creating the perfect statement for your special occasion starts with getting to know you. Each project begins with a complimentary consultation either by phone or in person. Discussing your personal style and tastes can lead us to an overall vision for your celebration. So don’t worry if you haven’t chosen colors, flowers or even the style of your dress. We will work with whatever information you can provide us. We can show you a collection of sample work to help stimulate your thinking.

What if I don’t see exactly what I want in your portfolio/gallery?
That’s fine! The purpose of the gallery is to give you an idea of the breadth and quality of our work and provide you with ideas for your project. Every aspect of a sample invitation set can be changed to fit your particular needs. We are capable of doing anything you need to do. Give us the parameters and we can execute it.

How many changes am I permitted to make?
There is no set limit of changes permitted. We promise that no design will go to print unless you are completely satisfied. During the design process you will have the opportunity to provide feedback and identify any modifications you want to make or new ideas you may wish to incorporate.

While excessive changes can affect the original agreed timeline, we are always willing to discuss your comments and will integrate your changes into a revised version that is submitted to you for approval. We want to make sure you get exactly what you want.

What turnaround time can I expect?
With custom design work, it is never too soon to get started, especially when embellishments start out as living flowers. Of course the more time we have to work with, the easier it is to achieve perfection. The timeframe we will ultimately agree to will depend on the complexity and scale of your project, anywhere from 8 weeks to 6 months.

Must we meet in person in order to work together?
Although Email is not necessarily a requirement we find it useful when working with clients near and far. We are willing to work with clients using the method of communication that fits their lifestyle or circumstances. Design drafts and proofs can be faxed or sent via post. Other delivery methods can also be arranged at the client’s expense. If you are located in the Southern California and would like to meet in person, this option is always available.

Interacting over the phone and email makes it easy to work with anyone no matter where they are in the world. Some clients, although local, might not have the time to meet in person and this is where modern technology is especially handy.

Pay Me Now Or Pay Me Later

When purchasing postage for my client’s Reply Card Envelopes, a well meaning government agent suggested the forty-two cent LOVE stamps. I expressed to him that with the postage rate increase taking effect May 11th and the client’s reply date set for May 13th, using a Forever Stamp would be the prudent choice. It’s doubtful that every guest reply would be postmarked before the forthcoming rate change or that all lagers would think to make up the difference. Spare yourself the nuisance of having to make good on dozens of “additional postage due” demands by being smart on the front end.

On May 11, 2009 the price for a 1-ounce First-Class Mail stamp will increase from 42¢ to 44¢. Forever Stamps — regardless of when purchased — can always be used to mail 1-ounce letters.