Wedding Wednesdays - Handmade Paper

Hello and time again for another edition of Wedding Wednesdays... this week we're going to show how you can use beautiful handmade papers on your wedding or shower favour boxes.

This is a great new collection from India that we now have in the Store. A nice feature is that they're made of recycled content and are also recyclable. Ever better still, they're really gorgeous! These papers would also be great for invites, scrapbooks and cards.

Choose from many different colours and patterns (including flocked, glitter and sheer). The 8 1/2" x 11" sheets can be cut into squares, strips or bands of any width using scissors or a paper cutter. Attach the paper to your wedding favour box using a glue runner or photo tabs.

Don't forget to add some co-ordinating ribbon for a really beautiful touch to your wedding or shower favours.

Thanks!
Anna

Invitation tutorial - By Cheryl

Hi everyone
Welcome to my first blog post. Anna has wanted us to jump in posting on our new blog so I thought I would share an invitation that I made recently using our Envelopment's line of paper products...so here it goes. You can click on the pictures to see them bigger.

The first picture shows the Envelopments products & Ribbon I used for my invitation. I chose a 4 x 5 pocket fold in Watercress. Then I chose my layer colours starting with my print layer... a metallic cream paper called Diamond. For a border and to add a "pop" to my print layer I chose a textured metallic card stock called Pout, & for the 3rd layer I thought a pattern was needed for interest so I chose Diamond Mehndi. I chose 1/8" single face satin ribbon in spring moss for detail.

The next step was to figure out the size of each layer & how many cuts I would get out of each of the 8 .5 x 11 sheets. I then calculated how many sheets I would need to make 70 invitations.


Next I designed the print layer & printed on the metallic Diamond paper. I cut out the print layer as well as the other 2 layers (Pout & Diamond Mehndi).




I then glued all 3 layers together. (Hint: I like to use a paper glue like Zip dry so you can still move the layers when lining them up. If you use tape it is usually an instant bond). Although it is not in this picture, I tied the ribbon around the 3 layers and secured it in a slip knot.

I then designed & printed the RSVP. I also matted the RSVP layer with Pout card stock to add a bit more colour.

For the final step I glued the 3 layers with ribbon attached, to the pocket fold and inserted the RSVP in the pocket.

If I had one word of advice when making invitations it would be to always buy and make extra just in case you make any mistakes and for additional guest added to the list. It will save a lot of aggravation if you have extra.


There you go...thanks for reading my first post. I am sure there will be many more to come

Cheryl

Our Blog Candy Winner Is...

...congrats to Colleen Stanley!!! You're our our first blog candy winner, EVER! Yippeeee!!! Thanks for leaving your comment and entering our giveaway. Colleen, we hope you enjoy your fabulous spring gift pack and look forward to seeing you at the Store!

A big "thanks" to everyone that came by our blog and left a comment - your kind words mean a lot to us! Stayed tuned for future blog candy giveaways. You never know when we'll have one next!

Going, going....almost gone!

Our first ever blog candy is quickly coming to an end! Just about 5 more hours till it's done and then we'll be drawing our winner. So, hurry and leave us a comment (on the original blog candy post) for your chance to win our spring gift pack!
Good luck!

Wedding Wednesdays - Tissue Paper Flowers

Tissue paper flowers are just so easy to make that they're a perfect decoration for any gift or event. With tissue paper available in so many colours, it's easy to match to any decor or theme.

Below are the simple steps to creating these beautiful blooms-


To start, you will need tissue paper sheets that you cut into a rectangle of any desired size. Use a full sheet for very large flowers (for reception decor) or 1/8 of a sheet for small flowers (to be used on favour boxes). Stack 6-8 pieces of tissue. Add more layers for fuller flowers.


Then, accordion fold your tissue paper sheet working from the long sides. Use a ruler or bone folder to crease the folds.


Cinch your folded tissue paper sheet in the centre using a length of tinsel cord to tie.


You can either chose to leave the ends as they are or you can cut them rounded or pointed for some variation.


Now, gently pull each piece of tissue paper towards the top centre of the flower to create the bloom. Fluff up the finished flower.


Attach your finished flowers onto your gift box, as we did below.


Other projects you can do with your tissue flowers-
Glue a mini flower to a pin for a lapel decoration or string smaller flowers along some ribbon to make a garland. Also, try dipping the edges of the tissue paper in white glue and then into loose glitter to create shimmering flowers for a more glamorous event.

Blog Candy Ends Soon!

Just a little reminder that our blog candy will be ending this Friday.
So don't delay...leave us a comment and you'll be automatically entered into our random draw.
It's a great opportunity to get some awesome spring packaging, for FREE!!!
Good Luck!

Wedding Wednesdays - Fabric Flowers

Getting married this spring or summer?
Here's a beautiful way to enhance your placecards and wedding favours boxes -



These fabric flowers are easy to attach; just use a brad or fastener as shown in the photo. They make a colourful impact on your tables especially when matched up to your placecards.

Spotlight On Savings!

Buy 3 get 1 FREE!!

That's right! This month's spotlight is on discontinued 12" x 12" coloured cardstock sheets.
When you buy 3 sheets of any colour, you can chose a 4th sheet for FREE! It's a great time to stock up! Drop by the Store soon as quantities are limited to stock on hand.


Need a quick and easy craft for all your new cardstock? Come and view our Bloomin' Boxes project for some inspiration! Just follow the instructions, download the template and you're ready to create!

Our First Blog Candy!!

Yes, it's finally here...our very first blog candy!!
And since this is our first one, we're going to make it an easy one too!
Just leave us a comment and you'll automatically be entered in for the random draw.


Up for grabs this time is this spring inspired gift pack from the Essential Packaging Store. The gift pack includes patterned cello bags, fancy ribbon, curling ribbon, Easter pail, basket shred, cello wrap, gift bag, accents and a $10.00 gift card for our Store!

So, visit us often as this blog candy offer expires on Friday, March 27th, 2009 at 10:00pm PST.
Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

Wedding Wednesdays - Cello Bag Favours

Hello and welcome to our newest feature, Wedding Wednesdays!
Every week we will have some wedding tidbit that we hope will enhance your special day.

This week, we thought we would take a look at cello bags - those wonderfully versatile and inexpensive little bags that we sometimes overlook as being "too simple".


With so many different patterns available, it's easy to find a cello bag that suits your wedding theme.


You can even choose from seasonal patterns if your wedding happens to be near a time such as Valentines'.


To create these elegant favours, simply place your favour item (either boxed or loose) into the cello bag and tie at the top with co-ordinating ribbons. It's that easy!

Coming soon ... blog candy!

We wanted to send out a big "thanks" to everyone who has come to visit our new blog! Remember to visit us often as you never know what new things are going to be popping up, like blog candy! Yes, we'll be throwing our first batch of "candy" soon (hint: this week!) so check back ...

Invites A La Carte

Have you heard?

The Essential Packaging Store is going to start custom printing invitations! That's right - weddings, showers, anniversaries and birthdays are just a few of the many different invitations that will be available.

With minimums starting at just 10 invites, this is very affordable way to get quality, professional looking invitations. Check back in a couple of weeks for more information!

Take care,
Anna

New Favour Samples

Hello again! I took some photos of new favour box samples that the staff did up in the Store last week (they're so creative!) In the Store, we've arranged all the favour box samples into colour groupings to inspire you! Here are a few of the groupings...


Hot pink and black are an especially bold combination for weddings this year (try hot pink, purple and white for little princess parties - too cute!)


Red and gold are a traditional and elegant combination that is still popular with many of our Asian customers.


Many weddings are going the "simple, yet elegant" route by choosing all white or all cream.


Nothing says "fun and funky" like lime green, orange, hot pink and turquoise!


For a more sophisticated look try gold and cream, with sheer ribbons and pearls accents.


Purple has really come on strong this year for weddings - try it with a light green for a fresh look.

Have fun!
Anna

Carrot Cone Bags

One of the most asked about products in our Store is the cello cone bag! And at this time of year, our cone bags make perfect “carrots” for Easter gift giving. They're easy to make, look great and everyone loves to get one, especially the kids!


First, fill your cone bag with treats (we like to use orange coloured jelly beans).

Secondly, you will need 4 sheets of tissue paper, stacked (in 2 different shades of green), cut into 5” x 5” squares. Make ½” strip cuts at one end making sure to leave about ½” from the other end still attached.

Finally, roll the tissue and tuck into the top of the cone bag so that the “leaves” stick out the top of the bag. Tie with wraphia to keep the contents and the tissue in the bag.

Enjoy! Anna

Tissue Hearts Box Project

*Note: Recently featured in our February newsletter, this has been one of our most popular projects! We decided to run it again (even though it's after Valentines') because it's easy to change to any other holiday or occasion- try shamrock for St. Patrick's Day, egg shape for Easter or daisies for Mother's Day.

Though not exactly a brand new craft project (many of you may have done this one in grade school!) we’ve given it a fresh spin by making the tissue hearts on giftbox lids. This project is relatively easy, even for small children or the crafting-challenged and is a great way to dress up a plain giftbox.

1. Download and cut out the heart template (link at bottom)

2. Trace the heart shape onto the lid of your desired box (use a pencil for tracing)

3. Cut 1 ½” squares of tissue paper (we used light pink, hot pink and red)

4. Run a bead of glue along the heart outline

5. Wrap a pre-cut square of tissue on the end of your pen / pencil place the tissue along the glue on the box lid

6. Repeat until you have tissue all along the heart outline (you may wish to fill in the heart outline with more tissue)