Sunday, December 9, 2007

LAW FIRM 10TH ANNIVERSARY INVITATIONS

A few weeks ago, I was hired by a local law firm to create invitations for their 10th Anniversary Celebration Dinner. The event will be semi-formal at a pricey restaurant located at a high-end Scottsdale resort. This was probably one of the most challenging projects I've ever tackled. Trying to make formal, elegant invitations without making them look like wedding invites was difficult! I gave them several samples to choose from, but ultimately, they chose this first sample; a triangle tri-fold card inspired by stampinbrenda on SCS. See stampinbrenda's original HERE.

I'm in the midst of putting the finishing touches on these invites so I can deliver them within the next couple of days. I have a dilemma that I was hoping my crafty, creative readers could help me with ... the envelopes for these 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" tri-fold cards. These will be mailed, and the United States Postal Services' minimum size requirements for mailing a square envelope is 5" x 5", and minimum size requirements for mailing a rectangular envelope is 3 1/2" x 5". I could put these invites in a larger envelope, but I'm thinking that is going to look unprofessional. Any ideas for an attractive, professional-looking envelope/mailing option? If you have any ideas, PLEASE leave a comment!

RECIPE
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Fundamental Phrases
Paper: Basic Black and River Rock CS, River Rock Prints DP
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Versamark
Embellishments: Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Gold Brad, Black Stampin' Emboss Powder
Tools: Tag Corner Punch, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool
Supplies: Sticky Strip
Tutorial for Triangle Tri-Fold Card by Beate Johns.

This next card is a CASE of Nancy Morgan's original found HERE and HERE. The only things I did differently from Nancy's original is flipped the card and used self-adhesive rhinestones in place of brads.
RECIPE
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Fundamental Phrases
Paper: Basic Gray, Basic Black, Real Red, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Versamark
Embellishments: Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Self-Adhesive Rhinestones (non-SU), Silver Stickles, Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder
Tools: Photo Corners Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals
Note: Card measures 5 1/4" x 5 1/4"

This next card was inspired by Dig This Stamper on SCS. You can see her gorgeous original HERE. RECIPE
Stamps: Baroque Background Stamp, Fundamental Phrases
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, and Silver Metallic CS
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Versamark
Embellishments: Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Self-Adhesive Rhinestones (non-SU)
Supplies: A Cuttlebug Tag Die-Cut was used to make the sentiment label. Stampin' Dimensionals


This next card is a case of THIS CARD by newmomat39 on SCS. The only things I changed were the sentiment, and added a silver Stickle to the (for lack of a better word) "tulip bud".
RECIPE
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Hugs & Wishes
Paper: Basic Gray, Basic Black and Whisper White CS
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Silver Stickles

17 comments:

Courtney said...

What if you put the cards in velum envelops and then put them in either a larger 5x5 envelope or rectangle envelope? Similar to what wedding invitations come in double enveloped.

Jackie Pedro said...

These cards are all gorgeous, Nancy.

Dawn Easton said...

Wow Nancy...you did an AWESOME job on these invites! Looks like they chose the most time consuming one with that fold! What a great project to take on though...they picked the right person, that's for sure!!! Congrats!
We don't have the same postal restrictions as you do in Canada. I can mail any size envelope as long as it is not too heavy or fat. Then I pay extra postage. Hope you find a solution soon!

Anonymous said...

Courtney's suggestion is along the same lines as mine. I was thinking a 5x5 envy with a liner (I know--more work !), which still gives an awful lot of play room. If you used a vellum envy or a square envy, then you could put black cardstock "spacers" in it...I'm at a loss as to what you could put on the spacers--maybe embossed Baroque Motifs pieces of River Rock done in black embossing...??? Something written on the spacer ??? Just a thought. Maggi
mamin50@yahoo.com

Alhambra Club said...

Wow these are beautiful. How about placing the cards in their size envelope and writing on the front of the envelope, your are invited and then placing them in the larger envelope for mailing? Just an idea.

Anonymous said...

these are great invites !!!!all of them !!!!love everyone's ideas for the envies.
tfs,
chat

Shannon said...

I know that some card stores here in Canada used to have square cards that they put in rectangle envelopes to get around the mailing restrictions or extra postage required.
The envelopes were taped/glued/adhered somehow on the one end so that the card you put in didn't slide around.
I'm not sure if that makes sense but it was actually pretty clever - you could always put a scrap piece of paper in that one end to keep the weight even.
Just a thought.
Shannon

Anonymous said...

How about this slick envelope trick from Julie Ebersole - easy and looks good too! http://papertrufflez.typepad.com/paper_trufflez/2006/10/a2_envy_for_a_s.html

StampMom said...

Gorgeous cards, every stinkin' one of them. :-)

Dottie K. said...

Stunning! All of the them are just gorgeous. You've been a busy bee. I was thinking of vellum envelope - so elegant!!!! **I bought some junior legal pads to make up some of your notepads when I get home from vacation. Thanks for the inspiration. Going to do some for birthday gifts. :)

Jenn in GA said...

nancy--i'd go to http://www.scor-pal.com/envelope/index.htm and check out a tutorial for making your own envelopes. i know, more work, but you could then put them in a bigger standard a2 envelope and be assured that the ribbon wouldn't get smushed in transit. if the client didn't think of it, i wouldn't worry about it. if they do think about it when you drop them off, though, you could recommend the custom envelope for an extra charge and let them decide if they want you to do the extra work.

it's very beautiful and elegant--kudos!

Julie said...

These are all awesome! Great job!

fran said...

These are all so gorgeous! Girlfriend - You are AMAZING! How in the world did they ever choose just one?

Anonymous said...

I worked for a very large formal US company, even christmas cards (200) had to be hand addressed for the mail (more personal).

I would suggest writing the name & guest of invitee(s) on the 3.5 x 3.5 " envie that fits your card, i.e. Mr. James Parker & Guest or Mr. & Mrs. L. Jones (handwritten), then in the larger envelope of whatever size you feel is appropriate, have them handwrite the mailing address on the outside and mail.

Idea is kind of like a wedding invite, know what I mean? Hope this helps you some.

You did a great job on your cards, congratulations. I want to learn that one, in quiet January lol. Good luck! :)

Lori said...

Wow! All of these are just gorgeous and elegant. Any of them would have been a good choice for the invitation.

nancy said...

Oh Nancy, the time and effort you put into these was worth every single minute...they are FABULOUS! Very sophisticated and stylish...these look custom made not handmade and that's not easy. Fantastic work = ) !

Sam said...

Hi Nancy,

These cards look absolutely wonderful! I can now add another stamp set to my wish list too ;-).

All the best,
Sam.