The beautifully designed Exclusive Collection II from Carlson Craft is full of gorgeous, modern designs.  Each theme has elements for every printing need - invitations, reception and respond cards, thank you cards, place cards, programs, and more.  But today I’d like to highlight the Save the Date Magnets in this collection.  Each magnet measures 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ and comes with blank envelopes, which can be upgraded with your printed return address.  You are able to change the look and feel of each design by changing the colors used as well as the fonts.   Many feature ghost lettering, which means the color you choose will outline the letters, which will be unprinted and shown as the paper color peeking through.

Electric, featuring merlot ink and lettering styles GRM and SQU

Glaze printing is a new printing technique being used in this collection.  It is a raised ink process, similar to thermography, but more subtle, leaving a texture on the paper that you can feel.  Here are two more examples of the save the date cards and magnets (each is available printed as a card or as a magnet):

Lace Save the Date Magnet, featuring your color photo at no additional charge.  Shown using Espresso and Aquamarine ink with BKS lettering.

Fashionista Save the Date Magnet, which can be worded for any event, shown here for a sweet sixteen party.  Shown using Lipstick and Ebony ink with FUL lettering.

Shop all the designs at Invitation Lane, and take advantage of a savings of 30% off retail prices when you place your order from the Exclusive Collection II with us!

If you are shopping for either Bar or Bat Mitzvah invitations, or Wedding invitations, don’t restrict your search for the right invite to collections that only feature invitations for specific events.

Miriam is a great, fresh design in orange found in Checkerboard’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah collection “Generation to Generation”.  It would also be perfect for a Sweet Sixteen party, Bridal Shower, or a destination wedding.  Wording, ink color and fonts are all fully customizable, changing the look and feel.  Here is how it is displayed in the album:

and here it is in black ink worded for a wedding, using Futura Medium for the main wording and Piranesi for the names :

and here is another example, using a more masculine Bar Mitzvah invitation from the Generation to Generation collection called Seth.  This is a two layer invitation, shown using jet black as the backing paper and white as the printable layer.  First we have the sample as it is shown in the album, for a Bar Mitzvah:

Here it is again, but shown as a wedding invitation, using gold ink and different fonts (Futura Light MS and Gravura, all in lower case) to give it a slightly different look and feel:

And here is a great example of a wedding invitation (Caraway from A Marry Occasion) that could be used as a Bat Mitzvah invitation, simply by changing the wording and fonts.  First we have the sample as shown for a wedding:

and here is the same invitation being used for a Bat Mitzvah:

The first example uses Ecstasy font, and the second uses Papyrus.  Keep an open mind while you are shopping, and look at the papers and designs in collections that may not have been intended for your event, but can be considered nonetheless.  It could open up a lot of new possibilities!

My new favorite wedding color is navy blue.  Navy is such a classic color, and a nice twist on basic black.    I absolutely love the new wedding invitations Checkerboard has designed with a navy theme.  Here are my two favorites, both from the A Marry Occasion collection of wedding invitations.  Eve is all about Navy blue, from the ink to the ribbon to the backing paper, while Blooming uses it in combination with glorious shades of green.

Eve

Blooming

Navy works beautifully as a bridesmaid dress color, long or short:

source

Navy is always a fabulous as an accent color, as shown in this photo using a navy blue ribbon around an exquisite bouquet designed by Southern Bouquets:

source

Order a custom stamp from Invitation Lane for Mother’s Day, and get free ground shipping!  That is $9 in savings!

Use coupon code MOTHER during checkout (coupon is good through May 1, 2010)

The Chatsworth Collection has introduced an exciting collection of digital holiday cards this year with their Designer Series.  The collection consists of their long time popular albums With Bells On, Robin Maguire, and The Holiday Book, along with the addition of a new collection called Exquisite Papers.   Your digital photo will be printed on the card of your choice along with your greeting and personalization.  The Chatsworth Collection offers high quality paper and many exciting new designs this season.

Invitation Lane offers this collection at 20% off retail pricing and if you order by October 23rd, you will also receive FREE printed return address!  Shop now!

Paper Duvet has recently added a new pocket folder invitation to their collection, The Romantic Duvet.  This elegant little pocket is a side folding pocket that measures approximately 5 1/4″ x 7 3/8″ when folded.  A laser cut design on the cover of the pocket allows the color of the invitation inside to peek through for a little contrast.  The pocket folder is available in five colors (black, white, ecru, chocolate and dark grey).  Invitations and inserts are available in white shimmer, white, ecru, pink, fuchsia, cherry, water, navy, teal, meadow, lime, olive, latte shimmer, cocoa shimmer, chocolate, silver shimmer, light grey, and black.   A single mailing envelope is available in a number of matching colors as well: white, ecru, fuchsia, pink, cherry, black, light grey, water, navy, teal, meadow, lime, olive, and chocolate.   Add motifs and monograms to any of your printed items to personalize and make the design a one of a kind!

Check out these elegant pocket invitations at Invitation Lane and enjoy a 20% discount!

Our classic, most popular pink invitation is Charm, pictured above, from Checkerboard’s Modern Wedding collection.  It is an elegant two layer invitation with a black ribbon, printed in thermography.  They retail for $429.00 for 100 invitations, but you can have the same gorgeous invitations for only $300.00 for 100 at Invitation Lane!  Just think of what you could do with an extra $129.00!

If you want a pocket folder invitation, the Paper Duvet brand has a soft pink and fuchsia from which to choose.  Mix and match to your heart’s content!  You can send the pocket folder as your self mailer, or you can insert the pocket folder into a white or ecru mailing envelope.  Distictive Duvet ensembles (no mailing envelope included) are only $252.00 for 100 at Invitation Lane, a 20% savings off retail price.  Majestic Duvet ensembles (mailing envelope included) are $272.00 for 100.  That is a savings of $68.00 off retail!

If you want to add a little pink to your holiday greeting, check out this unique card from Checkerboard, called Greeted Gift Tag.  We also offer this one at a great savings, $305.00 for 100 cards, a savings of $54.00!

Think Pink!

I have one word for this collection…ADORABLE!  They are on sale at Invitation Lane for 30% off suggested retail (discount is already reflected in the prices shown on the order forms) and they can be customized for announcements, shower or party invitations.  You can select your favorite font to make it personal and unique. Here are my personal favorites.

My favorite boy announcement:
Flight of Fancy

My favorite girl announcement:
Little Letters

My favorite shower invitation (just change the wording to reflect a shower invitation, use something “hatch” related for extra cuteness points):
Peek-a-boo Chick

My favorite choice for a girl’s birthday invitation:
Floppy Eared Bunny

And my favorite boy’s birthday invitation:
In The Jungle

At such great prices, you can’t help but let yourself splurge on these high quality and unique announcements from Checkerboard. Come and check out the entire adorable Rockabye Baby collection!

Planning a fall event?  Do you have a table you need to decorate for a small fall function?  Here are a few inspiring images to help you with those final touches.

A unique and fun way to incorporate the wine you serve into your decor:

from Country Living

Simple but elegant:

from Country Living

This 5″ x 5″ menu has a lovely motif printed on corinthian cream textured paper:

Oak Menu Card by Checkerboard

Write your guest’s name and display on stemware:

Finial Die Cut Place Cards by Checkerboard

New coordinating products that we think are fabulous for fall:

Table Numbers, Place Cards, Favor Tags & Seals from Carlson Craft

Trying to find that perfect gift for your shower hostess or bridesmaids can be perplexing.   A personalized gift says thank you with an extra drop of sincerity, because it shows you took the time to personalize the choice.   I’d like to use this post to showcase some of my favorites as well as some best sellers.  First, here are some great, youthful and feminine choices from The Chatsworth Collection and Robin Maguire:

For a more sophisticated gift, a beautiful embosser or a custom stamp is a winning choice.  Coordinate one with an inSTAMPable note card, calling card, or note pad for a truly special thank you gift.

Custom Stamp, Custom Embosser and Custom Stamp, inSTAMPable Foldover Note Cards, inSTAMPable note paper and acrylic holder (all from Three Designing Women)

All of these choices make terrific holiday gifts, too!