Cool Holiday DIY

{potato stamp: factorydirectcraft.com; paperchain: priscillabeau; magnetic advent calendar: twig and thistle; glass ornament: twig and thistle; paper garland: twig and thistle}

{ok, i fell a little in love with twig and thistle, a great gathering of unique inspiration}

The holidays are an especially fun time to make, bake and spend time with family and friends. I am always on the hunt for simple, fun and cool ideas. The paper chain is a wonderful holiday craft and is fun for small children and adults. I especially love this one shown, as each link is personalized with something to be thankful for. You can easily make a Christmas version of wishes, thoughts, lyrics, poems and of course, the words to The Night Before Christmas. May your month be merry and filled with wonderful moments, of new memories.

Deck the Halls

{holiday decor via hgtv}

Advent calendars are so much fun. The anticipation of opening one hidden treat every day, made morning so much fun, especially if you could break the law and enjoy a piece of candy! I also found this really fun paper chain. I know what we will be doing next weekend!

Season's Greetings

We hope your holidays have been full of mirth and magic!

- the eInvite.com crew

Image: "Graphique" card by Checkerboard.

It's the most wonderful (and stressful) time of year!

I, like everyone else in central Massachusetts, woke up to snow this morning. Unlike most, I was super excited. I love winter, snowball fights, fires, mugs of cocoa, and pretty much anything else you can think of when you think of winter in the Northeast. This holiday season is a bit different, however. This year is the first year I will be sending out a holiday card. And not just on my own, with my boyfriend. The pressure is on.

Given that it's just the two of us and we don't have any adorable kids or precious pets, I'm opting for a non-photo design. I've been all over eInvite.com and have come up with a top 3. What I'm asking of you all is to vote on which one you think I should go with for my holiday greetings, and why!

{Dazzling Holiday via eInvite}

{Checkerboard's Sweet Delights via eInvite}

{Berry Trees via eInvite}

Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons

Playing with paper is one of my favorite things so I like to make gift-wrapping fun and creative. Here are some easy ways to dress up a simple present.

1. Natural elements: A few small pinecones or evergreen sprigs can be attached to a ribbon or a raffia bow with floral wire for a homey, rustic appeal.
2. Ornament tag: Attaching an interesting ornament to the outside of a gift is exciting for the recipient and can be the little something extra that makes a package memorable...even if there are socks inside.
3. Heartfelt and handwritten: Instead of the "to: mom, from: me" label, how about a handwritten note on a folding notecard?
4. Forgo the disposables: A reusable and functional container with a ribbon around it is a great choice and doubles as wrapping. For example, a large wine bucket with wine and cheese inside, or a wire basket with cookie cutters and an apron.

Happy holidays, and have fun giving!

Express yourself

Holiday decor can also express your personal style and give a feeling of holiday warmth and sparkle. Look at the clothes you buy, the music you listen to, the magazines you read. Examine what you use to express yourself in your everyday life and build on your personality to let your style shine. It may take a little confidence and some effort, but well worth it. When you sit back in front of the fire with your mulled wine, you can admire your holiday home with a whole new spirit.


Gift giving at eInvite can also express personal style with a little panache for the style savvy.

{images: holiday wreath from McQueens via Livingetc magazine, Gold Murano Glass Pen Set via eInvite, Black Stationery Portfolio via eInvite, K82 Silver/Black Ballpoint Pelikan pen in a metal giftbox via eInvite}

Alice in (Winter) Wonderland

Add a little yellow to the usual green and a take a little away from the regular red and you'll have a spectrum of hues like magenta, blush, chartreuse and moss to bring some whimsy to your holiday home. Bring in some forest friends, experiment with pattern, light and scale. There's definitely some magic to be found in these psychedelic seasonals.

Featuring (clockwise form top left):
Inchworm Ornament from Anthropologie
Orquidea Cup & Saucer from Anthropologie
Pink & Green Holiday Photo Card from eInvite
Lumen Oil Lamp Shadow Projector from Uncommon Goods
Snowflake Tree Skirt from Pottery Barn

A little tribute to...Ol' Louie

If you are in the greeting card biz you certainly know who Louis Prang is. He is esteemed as the father of the American holiday greeting card. Immigrating from Breslau in a time of political strife, he came to the US in 1856 and lived in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Within ten years, he had mastered lithography and was printing entire lines of elaborate holiday cards. His work promoted the printing industry to what it is today and the "Prang" name can be recognized with art materials still found in stores. We can also thank him for being instrumental in developing art education and printing the first instructional textbooks.

Now for those of you outside the stationery industry, you may have never heard of ol' Louie. He is quite well know to us paper people. In fact, every year in May at the National Stationery Show in New York City, stationery companies get all decked out for the "Academy Awards" of the paper industry, "The Louie Awards". The award bearing his name is given for creative excellence in the industry. Behind every card, invitation, thank you note or announcement is a idea, designers, production teams and photographers. Creating paper greetings is an art, as fashion for your self expressions.

Fresh ideas, amazing design and new techniques of the highest standards manufactured today would make Louis Prang one proud printer. He may have started this American tradition, but today it is preserved, every single time you put a card in the mail.

{Images: Photo of Louis Prang from The National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian Graphic Arts Collection; Prang Christmas Card via Greeting Card Association; Flocked Party Reindeer by Meri Meri for eInvite.}

Chocolate Cupcakes and Babies

Will chocolate brown ever stop being the always-appropriate accent color? I hope not. It reminds me of slowing down and getting the kitchen all nice and warm while the trees are bare and icy. Here's a collection of cuteness to melt your heart this Tuesday.


The cupcakes are the work of Emilie Hardman of The Conscious Kitchen, a genius and vegan treat-maker in Somerville, MA with an amazing blog. The top right one is described by Emilie as follows: "Cross Cultural, the unbeatable spicy Dagoba Xocolatl cupcake with a Vietnamese cinnamon chocolate mousse," and on the bottom left a "chocolate hazelnut cupcake topped with hazelnut vanilla buttercreme dyed an unlikely blue." Yes please.

The gorgeous chocolate and blue holiday photo cards from einvite.com are super-affordable right now - it's the last day for the 40% off sale - $59.39 for 100. Yummmm. **Update: Sale extended through Dec. 15!!**

The Natural Choice

Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with all the red and green that inundates everything this time of year. I thought I would refresh things at bit for you (and for my own sanity) with a more neutral palette for this party inspiration board. Ruffles, city sippers & holi-decor in natural tones and lush silver...without the old standbys. Yes, red and green you have been left curbside. Here at eInvite we have some fashionistas and foodies, so I can’t wait to see what everyone has in store as we get posting about party inspiration.

This year I have been seeing and loving ruffles. They are so full of texture, proportions and are just plain fun. I am loving these tops from Rachel Roy (top) and Madison Marcus (bottom).The silver and white tones are great for formal events or to wear with your favorite jeans. Add a little sparkle and your good to go.

The natural elements are also seen in these home decor items that exude taste and sophistication. The Glacé Christmas Stockings are from Ballard Design and the The Olive Branch and Tree of Life Menorahs’s are designed by Michael Aram and are available at Neiman Marcus. Their description of the artist just make you want to have them in your home.

A little holiday refreshments always make the noise and the bustle (and Uncle Robert) a little more festive. Serve up some new ideas and start some new traditions. Now what holiday is not complete without a little Alchedemia? I was greatly inspired by weekend fun to add some cocktails to my post this week. St. Germain is my new favorite discovery. A liqueur made from elderberry blossoms of the French Alps. Their logo is actually the little “bohemian” bicycler that delivers the blooms from the mountainside. I happen to just love the aroma and the taste is so much like the juice our family makes from the same flowers in Brasov. It brought back the summer.

St. Germain Martini
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Grey Goose vodka
- .75 oz St. Germain
- 1 oz juice of a lime or lemon

Shake in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass and serve with your citrus slice.

Images and recipes for the Lava Lamp & Two Turtle Doves, the other libations were from cocktailtimes.com

Red and Gold Diva

I'm inspired by the rich colors this season, especially the red and gold pallette! This brilliant brocade from Crate and Barrel caught my eye and I had a vision of the perfect holiday party.



Here is my inspiration for this brilliant bash!
From Left to Right:
{flame flourish invitation on einvite.com}
{perfectly wrapped english toffee from crate and barrel}
{stunning l'objet alencon dinnerware from neiman marcus}
{red and gold invite on einvite.com}
{magaschoni collection silk tafetta dress from neiman marcus}

Words to Live by

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” JFK...big words to think about every day. It is that time of year.

The holidays are finally here! Holidays...time for family and friends, time for eating more than we should, time for toasting and indulging. eInvite has given you plenty of reasons to say thank you, spread cheer and rejoice in the new year.

Welcome 2009 with an expression of gratitude and excitement...

Select photo cards are priced at a sweet 40% off until December 2. This Brown, Green and White Photo by eInvite.com is a great way to welcome a new baby, announce an engagement or send a family photo. Holiday Happenings , also by eInvite.com is 25% off until December 3. Winter Sprig Shortfold Note by William Arthur is engraved inside and a wonderful, modern note for the holiday season. We also featured Harvest Gold by Checkerboard. This is a perfect greeting for business or family. We can't forget to give thanks to all the folks that have supported our businesses throughout the year.

Even though it's the holidays, you newly engaged love birds are thinking about your wedding, amidst the bustle. These White Scroll invitations from eInvite.com come with free matching note cards! They are priced under $1 each. This is the perfect way to invite your guests when you are on a budget...without sacrificing design and style. (Free note cards to boot.)

Also featured for your holiday inspiration are White Pumpkin Candle from Pottery Barn. They are such a great option to the standard orange pumpkin. They are modern and pretty cool. Love them! The Decorative Straw Turkeys from William Sonoma are a natural way to decorate your home for the holidays.

Silver, Scarlet, and Seriously on Sale

Now is the time to snap up ridiculous deals in every category on eInvite.com because it's the Holiday Sale until December 3rd. I adore the custom embossed personal stationery because it has a tactile appeal and looks rich, yet subtle. The lovely crisp slate grey Memo Card (top left) is only $14.93 for 100 flat notecards! The red Prestige Monogram Correspondence Card (bottom right) has eye-catching glamour for just $41.93 for 100 cards. Perfect personalized holiday gifts.

I am also loving the red modern holiday cards. Decorative Wishes (bottom left) is sexy for $74.24 for 100 on sale, and Happy Holiday (top right) is 100% recycled cotton with a luxurious texture and thickness for $117.00 for 100. For this card you can also change the ink color to a rich sap green or other color and pick whatever font you want with the online customization tools. You see a preview instantly too.

Finally, I have to pull out the Silver Shimmer Invitation (center), a double-layered folding panel wedding invitation that is modern and substantial - for just $212.63 for 100. This could work for a wedding with any color scheme that uses platinum accents. Red ink would look amazing for the inside text for a winter wedding too.

Green Season

At eInvite, holiday orders are pouring in and here's one of the trends of the season we are really happy about...

Eco-Friendly Designs

With stylish, eye-catching holiday designs and a modern color palette, this mini-line of completely recycled holiday greetings is helping lots of people "go green" this season! Reasonably priced and delightfully textured.