Invitations for a 50th Birthday Celebration, "Diamonds are Forever"

I had the opportunity to work with a great couple from NYC last year, who were seeking unique invitations for a 50th birthday celebration. The theme for the event was "Diamonds are Forever" as in the 1971 James Bond film, starring Sean Connery, which has a scene that was filmed at the Elrod House in our beautiful city of Palm Springs. In fact, David and all his guests traveled out to Palm Springs, and celebrated at the Elrod House!

The invitation had to have a clean and modern feel to resemble the setting. They opted to stay with a color palette of black and silver for elegance, and we subliminally incorporated the diamond theme by repeating the use of a traditional geometric diamond shape, different layers of shimmer stocks and rhinestone embelishments.

To the left is a sample of the matching place cards/menus I created for the reception. The design carried out the same design elements as the invitations, including the Swarovski crystal rhinestones, to ensure an evening of style, fun, diamond-like sparkle and glamour!

Desert View Insurance business logo update

Thanks to all of you who voted through Facebook and through the comments feature on my blog. I'm happy to announce that my client selected the same logo that got the most votes. Eight out of nine people voted for this one, and it was also my client's favorite! She just had one minor revision request, which was to raise the outline of the mountains a bit. Great suggestion! It gave the logo a more complete look as it now further resembles our beautiful desert skyline.

Business Logo donation to benefit VBS

Earlier this year my church held a silent auction fundraiser for Vacation Bible Study allowing our kids to attend this four-day program at no charge. This year's theme is "There's a monster under my bed!" teaching kids to shine God's light on their fears. As a mother of a little dare-devil, and an auntie to a shy and fearful nephew, I felt the desire to contribute to this fundraiser to ensure other children like my nephew had the opportunity to attend.

I donated a logo and business card design, which was won by Desert View Insurance. We're in the first stage of the design process and the first three logo options shown below are out for proof right now.

Which one do you like best?

Eco-Friendly Flying Pig Wedding Invitation

I got an e-mail from Jennifer over the weekend letting me know her invitations arrived safely in Pennsylvania this past Saturday - yay!

I had been printing/assembling them all day Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, which is when I took the photos below. I meant to write about them last week showing what was currently on my production table. I didn't have a chance to post the images then, but it's never too late to share.
Jennifer originally contacted me asking about the DIY invitation option I offer through my website, where I create the digital files and e-mail them to the client to print in the comfort of their own home. She mentioned her wedding would take place on the beach, so I suggested using paper stocks in colors that would reflect her setting.

After a few e-mails back and forth, she and Tom decided they wanted me to print and assemble their invitations and requested that I used recycled paper for all of their wedding stationery. I was delighted to hear this, as caring for the environment is one of my biggest concerns.

Her invitations and inserts were printed on 100% card stock. The shades we used for her ensemble brought a lot of depth to the design because each element was printed on a different color stock. The invitation, shown below, was printed on ivory stock with a blue card stock backing. The ivory stock, also used to print the reception inserts, matched the color of her wedding dress, while the blue was meant to symbolize the blue ocean. Their RSVP post cards were printed on speckled kakhi card stock, which resembled sand and the invitations were mailed in solid khaki envelopes, shown on the top right corner of the photo above.

For their thank you cards, they opted to use plain ivory card stock with their names printed in blue ink, and we used blue envelopes in the same shade as the card stock backing of their wedding invitations. To continue with the flying pig theme, Jennifer purchased this matching custom postage design available through my website.

More photos of the entire ensemble coming soon!

To Tweet or not To Tweet? Personally, I heart Twitter.

Photography by Nader Coobtee featured in The Bride and Bloom

The latest issue of The Bride and Bloom is out, and I'm very excited about this issue as it features an eight-page editorial of images taken by my good friend and very talented photographer Nader Coobtee, co-owner of Red Lantern Photography.

The photo shoot took place at the newly remodeled Riviera Resort and Spa in Palm Springs, which provided an eclectic, stylish and colorful backdrop for all images - definitely a great quality to consider when booking your wedding.

For more images and details, visit the Red Lantern Photography blog - it's full of amazing images, vibrant colors, and overflowing with tips and inspiration.

Taking a Personal Holiday

I'm closing the shop for the weekend to celebrate my daughter's 5th birthday. Yes, I can't believe my little baby is turning 5 and that her "fourness" (as she put it) will be gone forever as of tomorrow.

Ah, yes, it seems like it was only yesterday when I was experiencing excruciating pain, wondering why on earth must we endure such torture in passing a child into the world? I'm sorry, but personally, I think childbirth is painful, messy and yes, I dare say gross. However, after the labor, the magic begins. My little kiddo is the love of my life, my daily companion, my biggest challenge, my craft-buddy, my joy, my inspiration, my best friend and my personal entertainer.

And what better place to celebrate her life than taking a family trip to the most magical and happiest place on earth? Disneyland! She's never been there before, so I'm sure she'll have a blast! She loves adventure, and luckily she's pretty tall for her age, so I'm sure she'll be able to get on most rides. We'll be back home at night, but the celebration will continue on Saturday and Sunday as both sets of grandparents have her over for cake and ice cream.

Just as an FYI, Disney is running a promotion in 2009 where they provide your child with a free admissions ticket on their birthday! All you have to do is register your child on-line and wait for the ticket to arrive via e-mail.

Before I go, I have to thank Donna from Red Lantern Photography, for letting me know about the promo! The savings are definitely a good thing during these times!

Click here for information on Disney's free birthday admission.

Baptism Invitations

If you are looking for baptism invitations that are simple yet elegant, I may just have what you are looking for! The above invitation was created with those guidelines in mind.

To create that look, I used a beautiful shimmer antique gold card stock for the backing and printed the invitation on smooth ivory paper that has a soft shimmer on the surface. The card was then accented with gold cord and a handmade paper flower.

For a touch of color, I printed the name in an ink color that matched the center of the flower. I also included an image of a dove, which traditionally represents the Holy Spirit, as way to visually incorporate the occasion that is being celebrated.

This design will soon be available for purchase on my website. In the meantime, if you are interested in purchasing a sample or placing an order, please send me an e-mail stating the quantity you are interested in purchasing and the date you need them by.

Please send your inquiry to design{at}dioselina{dot}com.