CasaSugar

Wedding Planner: Make Your Own Stamps

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:00:08 -0700

One place where I splurged when planning my wedding was designing and ordering custom postage stamps. Since I'd put so much time into designing my invitations, I didn't want to muck up the pretty envelopes with the pink, overly saccharine Love stamps that were my option from the USPS (plus the pink stamps would clash horribly with my celedon green envelopes). Instead, I decided to design postage stamps through Zazzle, which has partnered with the USPS to provide stamps to folks who are interested in designing them to mark special occasions or to just add a little bit of fun to a letter.

To see how to make your own stamps, just read more.

The process is very simple. Just upload a photo, add text, and then click and drag the image or text until you have it perfectly placed. You can even choose between a wide range of font sizes and styles, and also choose the size of your stamp. Stamps are also available in a number of postal rates, from Postcard to Priority. I think this is a great way to add a little something extra to an invitation and a bit of a couple's personality to the envelope or RSVP card. Granted, it will cost you a bit more. A sheet of 20 first-class stamps in the small size on Zazzle is $14.95, while a sheet of 20 at the post office would only run you $8.40. Still, if you order more than one sheet, you get $2 taken off each order. I figured that I ended up paying an extra $75 for all of my postage, and even though we're trying to keep a tight rein on our budget, my fiancé and I both agreed that this was one place we were happy to splurge.

To get started, just go here, and for all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.

Etsy Find: Table Talk Napkin Rings

CasaSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:00:28 -0700

If you were tempted by the customized wedding ring bowl from artist Paloma's Nest, chances are that you'll also fall for these Table Talk Napkin Rings ($48 for four). Made from reclaimed wood, the rings are stamped with a message of your choice. Need a wedding present for a newlywed couple? These, stamped with their wedding date, would be a great choice. Want to commemorate a special occasion or gathering? These rings can do just that. Since each ring is only two inches in diameter, the text is limited to 30 characters and spaces. The text is printed in uppercase letters in black ink, and the wood is sanded to a smooth finish to accommodate your favorite linens.

Casa Verde: Customized Wedding Ring Bowl

CasaSugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:30:00 -0700

If you're looking for a way to enhance the unique feel of your wedding ceremony, consider adding one of Caroline Colom Vasquez's gorgeous ring bowls to the big day. Vasquez, an Austin, TX, artist and designer, runs the shop Paloma's Nest, where she designs ceramic bowls, tiles, and decorative pieces for the home. Many of the pieces in the Paloma’s Nest line are available with custom texts, which adds special meaning to the pieces. You can order the With This Ring Bowl ($26) with that message stamped in the bowl's interior, or customize the bowl with your own special words or message. I used one of Caroline's ring bowls in my wedding ceremony, and had a line from a poem special to my husband and me stamped onto the bowl. You could also customize it with your names, the date of your wedding, or a quote or special message.

Each Paloma’s Nest piece is hand cut, free form, with no pattern, imbuing each piece with its own variation in the size, shape, and layout of the text. The shop is eco, too: Recycled, up-cycled, and biodegradable products are prominent throughout the line, as well as in the gift packaging in which pieces arrive. The studio is also powered 100 percent by renewable wind energy.

Explore more of Caroline's line at her shop.