Product Review and Weekly Roundup

I thought I would take a moment on this quiet Saturday morning to highlight one of my latest reviews and do a weekly roundup of some of the items sold this week.

 

This week's review is from my Black and Bronze Art Deco Tower Wedding Invitation:

Black and Bronze Art Deco Tower Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Browse more Art deco wedding Invitations

Posted by: Robin

Rated: 5 Stars

About the product:

I wanted affordable (though not chintzy) style: Eclectic wedding invite-Updated Vintage Elegance. Zazzle exceeded my expectations with Customer Service a 13 on a scale of 10. Invites arrived promptly. Zazzle is an excellent product I highly recommend.

About the print:
The printing was hi resolution and the recommended font and font colour for my Art Deco invite couldn't be more appropriate.....Excellent product.

So happy she loves them!

Here are some of my designs that have sold this week - hopefully we will have some more awesome reviews soon!

Rustic Country Black Sepia Checks Wine Label by NoteableExpressions
See more Western wedding Labels

Bamboo Beauty in Jade Stamp by NoteableExpressions
Buy postcard stamps online at zazzle.com

Love in Any Language in Purple Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions
See other Classic wedding Invitations

Old West Boot Bouquet Soft and Faded 3 Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Create an invite online on Zazzle

Golden Peacock Accomodations Card Invite by NoteableExpressions
See more Peacock wedding Invitations

Footprints in the Sand Wedding Invitation

This beautiful beach design has a sand background with a dark brown border. In the middle is a white square for your text with a brown ribbon design stretching across it. Centered on the ribbon is a sand dollar. On either side are a line of footprints in the sand.Your names are placed near the ribbon in aqua blue - feel free to change this color to match your theme! This is a great option for your beach theme, destination wedding, or even any time you'd like a more relaxed mood for your event. This set has square invitations, save the date cards, response cards, thank you cards, table number tent cards, envelope seals, wine labels, binders, and return address labels available.

Footprints in the Sand Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Shop for an invite on zazzle

Grand Entrance or Exit Strategies for your Wedding

Looking for another way to make a lasting impression on your wedding day? Start to consider what kind of wheels you’ll be making your grand exit (or entrance) in! The Knot presented a collection of pictures giving us ideas on where to hang those “Just Married” signs. Take a look at a few of the ways these couples made their first exit as husband and wife:

Vintage Victorian Wedding Inspiration

Vintage Pink Rose and Robin Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Browse Wedding Invitations

 

If you want your wedding to be reminiscent of glamour from yesteryear, consider using your decorations to evoke a vintage feel for you and your guests. Vintage means different things to different people, but whether you are looking for a glamorous décor or a Victorian theme, there are plenty of ideas you can use to create the wedding of your dreams.

The Victorian theme incorporates soft and romantic colors. If you have your reception in a Victorian-style mansion or a summer garden, the décor and architecture will enhance your decorations. But you can create a Victorian theme anywhere. Offer guests tea and pastries before dinner, instead of the usual champagne and cheese platter. At each table, create centerpieces of roses or your favorite flower; flowers were very prevalent during the Victorian Age. Adding tea lights to the table, in addition to scattered rose petals, offers guests a fragrant yet romantic setting for dinner.

Sago Palm Bonsai Type Graphic Image tree Keychain from Zazzle.com

Sago Palm Bonsai Type Graphic Image tree by BonsaiDesigns

Sago Palm Bonsai Type Graphic Image tree, great keychain design for any palm enthusiast, bonsai grower, or plant lover!

Set your keys apart with a custom keychain. Create your own or choose from thousands of cute and cool designs. The sturdy clasp keeps keys together securely, and holds up well through daily wear-and-tear.

The New Black and White Wedding

The black and white wedding theme hummed along for years, occasionally dipping just below the radar. But as every wedding planner knows, it never really left us - and it's coming back up in a big way.

Still, we're not talking yesterday's black and white wedding. We're talking about one that reflects today's greater sophistication in combining shades, textures, and prints. With that in mind, here is a wonderful wedding design inspired by a sketch crosshatch pattern.

 

Black White Crosshatch Sketch Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions
View more Wedding Invitations

Flowers and Decorations

    Because there aren't really many choices when considering black flowers, white flowers with black accents are more common--unless, of course, you choose dyed flowers or silk flowers. White roses, mixed in with black roses, make for a stunning arrangement, as do black and white lilies. You can use any white flower you'd like, from daisies to carnations to dahlias. Tie a black ribbon around bouquets or put the flowers in black vases with a white ribbon.

    Use white tablecloths with black dishes and dinner napkins, or black tablecloths with white dishes and napkins. Vases in white or black can hold the opposite color flowers. Use black and white candles. Tie black tulle on white chairs, with white tulle tied on black-covered chairs. Float black and white candles in clear glass water bowls with black and white silk rose petals sprinkled around the table. You can also use everything white, except use black tablecloths. This makes the whole room pop.

Beach and Nautical Inspired Weddings

A nautical theme for a wedding incorporates the beauty of the ocean and the fun of the beach in a wedding ceremony and reception. The colors and decorations that you choose for your wedding can use symbols such as seashells, sailboats and seaside scenes for a nautical theme and décor.

The wedding invitations are the first opportunity to show off the nautical theme to your guests.

 

 

 

 

Nautical Compass Navy Yellow Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Create your own invitations.

Favors

    To create favors for your guests, look for lighthouses and sailboats, which fit right in with the nautical theme. Lighthouse candleholders and blue candles or seashells filled with candies work well for the theme. Look for nautical figurines to present to guests at the wedding.

Centerpieces

    The centerpieces for the tables are another opportunity to display your ocean theme. Use glass bowls filled with sand, seashells and starfish. With colored sand, you can create an ocean scene in the bowls as well. Elegant lighthouse candleholders surrounded by tropical flowers makes a beautiful centerpiece for the guest tables.

Food

    Serve an ocean feast for the nautical wedding. When serving seafood, you should have other options for guests who are not seafood eaters. You can serve lobster or crab legs for an elegant and extravagant feast, or have a beach clambake for a casual party.

The Flower Power of June: The Rose

Nothing says romance like the rose. The rose carries meaning in almost every culture and each color has its own meaning. A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows and reds. Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and northwest Africa. Species, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and fragrance. Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach 7 meters in height. Different species hybridize easily, and this has been used in the development of the wide range of garden roses.

 

So what do the colors mean? Here is a quick reference to help!

 

Red - Love, Beauty, Courage and Respect, Romantic Love
White - Purity, Innocence, Humility
Pink - Appreciation, Grace, Perfect Hapiness
Yellow - Joy, Gladness, Friendship
Orange - Desire, Enthusiasm
Lavender - Love at First Sight

 

If you would like to incorporate roses into your wedding, here are some beautiful invitations to get you started.

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage Pink Rose and Robin Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Design an announcement at Zazzle.com

Rose Heart Floral Wedding Custom Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Find another invitation online at zazzle.com

Orange Rose in the Fall Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions
See more Fall wedding Invitations

Rose Love in Honeysuckle Pink Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions
See other Wedding Invitations

Just in case you are looking for something a little less traditional - here is a beautiful Gothic invitation.

Gothic Black Rose Trellis Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Browse other Wedding Invitations

Red semi hollow guitar picture of strings, pickups on business card

Red semi hollow guitar picture of strings, pickups by MusicianEvents
See other Guitar Business Cards

Red semi hollow guitar picture of strings, pickups
An original photograph of a dark red stained semi hollow electric guitar, with the angle down the strings so the twin chrome pickups are visible. Great guitar design for guitarist, music fans, musicians, or anyone who appreciates guitars! (c) Susan L. Marsh, Susan's Zoo Crew

Ocean Storm Photograph From Florida Business Card Template from Zazzle.com

Ocean Storm Photograph From Florida by SusansZooCrew
See other Beach Business Cards

Ocean Storm Photograph From Florida
A storm comes in over a Florida beach in this unique ocean photograph. Dark grey cloudy sky, dark green ocean water with frothy white waves, and dark brown sand combine to make an outstanding photograph! Add your own text to customize this storm photograph!

About the card stock:

100 pack

Stand out from the crowd with custom business cards. Upload your own logo, photo, or graphic, or use a pre-existing template. Zazzle business cards are professionally printed for all of your networking needs. Customize each side of your business card and choose from hundreds of font styles for free!

3.5" x 2" – Classic Business Card
Choose from eight types of premium card stock.
FREE Full-bleed, full-color printing on both sides.
Save with bulk orders!

Rustic Country Wedding Ideas

Beautiful might not be the first word that comes to mind when you think of a barn, right? Think again! Barn wedding receptions are becoming more and more popular, and with the right decorations, lighting, and location, you can create the perfect atmosphere for any wedding. Depending on your location, Summer and Fall seem to be the most popular seasons to have a barn wedding – Fall being particularly beautiful with the changing colors of the leaves. Check out the way this barn wedding reception turned out. Very country chic. I love it!!

See the full gallery on Posterous

 

Some other decorations that coincide  perfectly with a chic barn wedding:

Barrels – You can use them as table tops, or even table legs for a large table. This is very popular for the cake or dessert buffet.

Mason Jars – Simple yet stunning. You can use them as vases or candle holders for your reception tables. With the uncomplicated use of wire and twine, you can also make them into hanging lanterns. I love the way they look hanging from trees.

Fabric – Use lots of sheer and soft fabrics, such as organza or tulle, to create swags and draperies. This creates a soft and romantic feel for an otherwise lusterless barn.

Hanging lights or chandeliers – Lighting is very important to create ambience. String lights hanging from the rafters are an easy and elegant idea, and chandeliers can completely transform a space from drab to dreamy.

When you are planning a rustic wedding, you have a lot of options of how to incorporate your own personality - more elegant, more rustic, just plain fun? You can use your decorations as well as your invitations and wedding stationery to help set your mood the way you want!

 

 

Rustic Barn Wood Graffiti Heart Window Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Get a custom printed announcement from zazzle

Rustic Watercolor Daisies on Parchment Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Browse other Western wedding Invitations

Blue Orange Country Boots Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Use Zazzle's online invitation maker.

Country Western Barbed Wire Invitation v2 by NoteableExpressions
Shop for an invite on zazzle

Some guide lines for a stress-free Wedding

• Consider your guests. I believe that the wedding is really a gift from the bride and groom to their family and friends. Everyone already knows that it's your wedding, so rather than say "me, me, me" or "us, us, us" create something that feels warm and embraces your guests and includes them in the experience. This should be reflected in your invitation through words and imagery.

 

• Consider the wedding date. This is more of an overall rule. Holiday weddings can be tricky. If your guests are parents that have full-time jobs and you book a 4th of July wedding, you dont want them to feel imposed upon, as they might not want to miss their only time with family to come to your event. Instead, consider a date that your guests can anticipate with ease. They'll appreciate it when they open that save-the-date!

 

• Consider the send-out date. The date you send out communications depends on when the wedding is or where your guests are coming from. If it's a destination wedding, say, in the Caribbean during Christmas time, I would send out a save-the-date six to seven months in advance. If most of your guests are local, a good rule of thumb is to send materials out at least eight weeks in advance.

 

• Create a theme. At Noteable Expressions, I encourage our clients to consider an over-arching theme or "event brand" so that all details tie into one integrated experience with a unique visual and stylistic voice. This can be expressed through color, style and text.

 

• Work together. Whenever possible, I try to meet with both the bride and groom in an effort to capture both of their senses of style in the materials. It's interesting to see how couples collaborate (or don't collaborate) on this piece of the process and it's also very telling in terms of how they may navigate their lives together. Create something that both of you feel comfortable with. After all, invitations should be inviting. It should promise that the experience will be worth partaking in.

 

• Make it special. How people communicate and the level of detail my company tries to bring to the table is just as important as the gown, food and music. My experience is that long after the wedding, people may forget what they ate or wore, but having this keepsake—whether its the invitation itself or menu with the bride and groom's name on it—is a true treasure of that experience. Seeing it brings back all the memories. Some of my clients end up framing their invitations.

 

• Avoid gimmicks. For instance, if your wedding is on the beach, don't put sand in your invitation! Imagine the clean up involved when someone opens that letter. However, every romance is an individual adventure, so don't feel like your invitation has to be devoid of individuality or has to be extremely formal because thats how everyone else's is. Keep it stylish, smart and personal.

 

• Practice etiquette. Include wording in your invitation that is going to make people feel the most welcomed. Take the high road in terms of grace, inclusion and warmth. If you use that as a guide instead of overwhelming yourself with politics, you'll have a good radar system. For example, if someone has divorced parents, rather than call out specific parent names in the invitation, simply word it as "Together with our families, we invite you." It's also fun to include a quote that captures the essence of your romance—or the destination. If you're planning a destination wedding in Venice, maybe there is a really great excerpt from an Italian opera that you could include to cleverly set the tone.

 

• Spell it out. Finally, in terms of attire, dont make the invitation wording terriby confusing. If you like black tie, call it black tie—don't say "semi-formal from the waist up." Keeping it vague or ambiguous creates unnecessary anxiety. A well-informed guest is a happy guest!

 

Black n White Piano Keyboard Key Picture Image

Black n White Piano Keyboard Key Picture Image by MusicianEvents

Black n White Piano Keyboard Key Picture Image
A photograph of an electric keyboard piano keys, featuring black keys and white keys. Great for any keyboardists, musicians, music majors, band directors, or anyone needing a piano image! You can add custom text too for a custom keyboard design-I recommend doing a color on the bottom half over the white keys.

Hibiscus Red Flower Photograph Design Business Card Templates from Zazzle.com

Hibiscus Red Flower Photograph Design by SusansZooCrew
See more Hibiscus Business Cards

Hibiscus Red Flower Photograph Design Business cards.
A pretty red hibiscus flower photograph, on a fully customizable business card. Try the pearl papers! Great flower design for any hibiscus fan, florist, or anyone who loves flowers! Also available with text, or customize this flower design with your own!

Sax player business card design!

Sax Player Tropical Side View by MusicianEvents
See more Sax Business Cards

Sax Player Tropical Shirt Side View
A saxophone player as seen in a side view done in a sillouette version. The yellow and orange pattern on his tropical themed shirt contrasts nicely with the black of the outline. Great sax player design! Add your own custom text for a custom music image!

Hibiscus Red Flower With Text Keychain from Zazzle.com

Hibiscus Red Flower With Text by SusansZooCrew

Hibiscus Red Flower With Text
A pretty red hibiscus flower photograph with text reading "Hibiscus" in a green that matches the green stem underneath. Great flower design for any hibiscus fan, florist, or anyone who loves flowers! Also available without text.

Aqua and Black Elegant Wedding Invitation

I designed this new wedding invitation yesterday and I am in love with how pretty and simple it is!

 

 

This beautiful and elegant design, called Aqua and Black Elegant Wedding, has a beautiful robin egg or aqua blue background with two black floral scroll accents. A unique theme for your wedding or event. Incredibly elegant and fit for a royal. This set has invitations, save the date cards, response cards, thank you cards, table number tent cards, envelope seals, wine labels, binders, and return address labels available. Use the envelope seal stickers for any of your DIY gifts - these are available in both large and small sizes! For matching items in this set **CLICK HERE**.

Aqua and Black Elegant Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions
See other Wedding Invitations

Product Review and Weekly Roudup

I thought I would take a moment on this quiet Sunday morning to highlight one of my latest reviews and do a weekly roundup of some of the items sold this week.

 

This week's review is from my Ivory Black and Gold Damask Wedding RSVP:

 

Ivory Black and Gold Damask Wedding RSVP Postcard by NoteableExpressions
Browse Damask wedding Postcards

Posted by: Liz

Rated: 5 Stars

About the product:

The item not only arrived on time but was more than I expected! I customized it to a Save the Date! rather than an RSVP.

About the print:
Awesome! We love it!

I am so tickled that she loved her design! Sometimes the simple designs are the best!

Here are some of my designs that have sold this week - hopefully we will have some more awesome reviews soon!

Elegant Zebra Stripe Wine Label by NoteableExpressions
Browse more Modern wedding Labels

Country Western Barbed Wire Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Browse more Western wedding Invitations

Footprints in the Sand Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Browse Beach wedding Invitations

Crown Regency in Gold and Ivory Wedding Custom Announcements by NoteableExpressions
Browse Wedding Invitations

Purple and Silver Floral Scroll Response Card Announcement by NoteableExpressions
Check out other invitation templates at zazzle.com

Bass player graphic with sunglasses

Bass Player with Sunglasses Wavy square by MusicianEvents
View other Bass Business Cards

Bass Player with Sunglasses Wavy square
A cool photograph of a bass player wearing sunglesses. Posterized to be a neat original bassist design with ultra bright colors. Done in a wavy style to emphasize the bass and hands. Great funky musician design!