Archives for: March 2006

Link: http://www.lcipaper.com/envelopes/pochette.shtml

There is no better way to make a unique invitation than with our new 6 1/4" square Vibe Wave Pochette envelopes. Made from thick 110# shimmering card stock, these pochettes provide durable protection for your invitation while simultaneously making a dazzling impression. Vibe Wave is a rare cardstock made with a special matt crystal powder surface made in Germany's Gmund Paper Mill. This one-of-a-kind surface decorates one side of the paper and forms the outside of the pochette. The surface features a striated wave pattern in varying hues which creates an interesting iridescent effect when it is turned in the light.

The pochettes fit snugly into a 6 1/2" square envelope when folded, and can be secured shut with our shear chiffon ribbon or envelope seals. For a creative enclosure, a thin band can be cut from decorative paper or card stock and sealed around the folded pochette with double stick tape.

We offer Vibe Wave Pochettes in four soft pastel colors. Also see our Vibe Wave Card Stock in 8 1/2" x 11 and 12" x 12 sheets, offered in the same colors. Order a sample in any color to see and experience this exquisite card stock!

• Shining White
• Soft Powder
• Refreshing Mint (shown here)
• Orange Girl

Link: http://www.lcipaper.com/specialty/handmadelarge.shtml

We've added an eighth color to our large format handmade papers! White makes a perfect background color for scrapbooking projects, and the special fibrous texture and deckle edge of this paper makes it an attractive choice for all applications. Sheets are sold individually and measure 19.65" x 25.59 (50 x 65 cm). The large size of these sheets allows flexibility in making custom size invitations and other paper projects, giving you the chance to be really creative!

• See White Handmade Sheets
• See All Handmade Sheets

We have recently added four exotic new choices from the Vibe collection of thick, shimmering card stock from Germany's Gmund Paper Mill. These rare card stocks are 110# with a new matt crystal powder surface, producing an extraordinary iridescent effect. Out of the three patterns that Vibe currently offers, we have chosen the Wave variety in four colors: Shining white, Soft Powder, Refreshing Mint, and Orange Girl. These soft, agreeable hues in a shimmering wave pattern make a stunning impression.

Because of the thick weight of these stocks, as well as the unique surface texture, Vibe Card Stock is not suitable for inkjet or laser printing. But don't be discouraged! These exciting new stocks make perfect backing cards for all types of invitations and announcements, and work wonderfully for scrapbooking and paper crafts. For an invitation, one might print text on our Natural Clear Vellum Paper and layer it on top of the Wave card stock to make a very unique and attractive invitation. A square of Refreshing Mint could be centered on a larger square of Carnival Forest Green Card Stock - this layered card could then be placed inside a deep brown Coco Pochette. For other ideas, browse our Carnival Card Stock and Pochettes to offset deep, solid colors with the upbeat tone of the Wave stocks.

We offer all four colors of Vibe Wave in two sizes:

• 8 1/2" x 11
• 12" x 12

Congratulations! You designed your dream invitations, purchased and cut your card stock, printed, layered and embellished them, but just now realized they need to be mailed to your invitees. The search begins for the perfect envelopes.

If you did not research stock envelope sizes prior to creating your invitations the task could be somewhat harder. It is far easier to cut cards to fit an envelope size than it is to find an envelope to fit an odd card size. The envelope and paper industries have created a variety of standard envelope sizes to fit particular card sizes. If within these sizes the search for your envelopes should not be a daunting task as the only question would be finding the perfect color complement to your invitations.

When choosing invitation envelopes to fit your cards we suggest the basic size formula. From left to right the card should be 1/4 inch smaller than the envelope. This is 1/8 on each side and should give you plenty of room. From top to bottom we suggest 1/8 inch from the throat or fold of the envelope. These guidleines can vary depending on the amount or thickness of the cards being inserted. The bulkier the package the more room you will require.

Tags: Invitation Envelopes, DIY Invitations

One of the major considerations for anyone planning an event is the bottom line budget. We get a lot of questions about budget – not only about how much things cost, but where it is most appropriate to spend money and places where there is opportunity to cut back.

Each type of event has its nuances, but some elements tend to be constant in all events. Budget is one of those constants. Once the first question of how much to spend is answered, you can make things easier by determining the budgetary elements. Some typical budgetary categories for events include:

• Facility (even if it’s your own home, you should calculate these sometimes hidden costs)
• Food and beverage
• Attendee communications and promotion
• Entertainment
• Event Program
• Event give-aways/favors

Next, you should determine what is most important to you and that will determine which categories get the highest percentage of budget. Some of the categories previously listed will be eliminated due to the nature of the event, or the preference of the event host. In that case, the percentages for each category will naturally increase.

Once you’ve determined the bottom line budget figure, and you prioritize each category,
you are ready to research costs on your event choices. It is a good idea to have more than one choice in case your first pick happens not to be within your budget. However, if you’ve done your initial budget planning, you will be able to alter each category slightly to accommodate your highest priorities, even if they are a little more expensive than you predicted.

Budgeting takes a bit of practice, but a little planning in the beginning gives you a better idea of where you’ll end up after your event.

Tags: Special Event Planning