Is it Wednesday Already?

{From Martha Stewart Weddings, Fall 2007}
Wow...I just realized it is already Wednesday and I have failed to post anything so far this week. To apologize I have a printable for you guys!

I am in love with Martha Stewart's wrap around labels. I know, I know some think that using labels on any invitation is tacky and impersonal but, my friends, these labels are too cute. Admit it, you would not dare throw away an envelope that is as cute as this? I took Martha's template and added a bit of swirl, check out my template here.

Museum of Wonder

I saw this guy on an episode of American Pickers on the History Channel. His art work is odd but awesome all at the same time. Makes me want to go to Alabama just to visit his museum.

Butch Anthony's Museum of Wonder from Etsy on Vimeo.

I think it is amazing how a person can transform simple everyday material into works of art or functional items in their home. What is trash to one is art to another.

And the Winner is.....

Commenter #4 Amy K. Homemade Gourmet ground beef & rice skillet (uses the Ooo La La Onion mix). So easy & so good!

I will be contacting you shortly Amy!

Thanks to all who entered.

Timing is Everything {mailing invitations}

I just wanted to take a minute to discuss timing for mailing out invitations. This is a crucial step for any event, party, or wedding. If you mail out your invitation too early your guest may misplace the invitations and forget about the event. Send the invitation too late and the guest may already have plans.

Here are a few time lines to keep in mind:

Wedding Save the Dates: 5-10 Months prior to event

Wedding Invitations: 6-8 weeks prior to event

For a wedding, mail out dates are crucial. Especially if your wedding is right in the middle of wedding season {spring or summer}. During a busy wedding season some guest may be invited to more than one wedding on the same day, therefore, they need adequate time to pencil your event in on their calendar. In the past I have experienced bridal wars where brides have requested their order to be rushed to avoid another bride’s invitation getting out before theirs. Weddings can be a battle!


To help you figure out the correct time to have your invitations stamped, addressed, and put in the mail I created a cheat sheet. Wedding Mail Out Cheat Sheet

I also included a column of ideal RSVP deadlines. All you need to do is find your wedding date on the left column and then note the dates that are listed to the right. If you get your invitations in the mail within this time frame the etiquette police won't be knocking at your door – but that bride who is getting married on the same day might.

For other types of invitations like birthday parties and formal dinners follow these guidelines.

Cocktail Party: 1-4 weeks prior to event

Formal Dinner or Party: 3-6 weeks prior to event

Informal Dinner or Party: A few Days to 3 weeks prior to event

So, don't forget to...

GIVEAWAY and Paper Clutches in Shop

So I have decided to do a giveaway for a menu planner paper clutch. The giveaway will take place on Friday, March 25th at 12pm and I will post the winner's name. I will also contact you via facebook or e-mail {if listed}. Be sure to leave at least your first name and last initial if you are posting anonymous. To enter all you need to do is become a fan of paperclutch on Facebook and leave me a comment under this post with one meal you plan to make this week. If you have a link to the yummy recipe please post. I love new meal ideas.

After several requests I have decided to post a few menu planner-paper clutches in my shop for purchase. They will include 12 menu planning sheets. I only have 3 listed but have a few more to post. If I happen to sell out and you are interested please contact me via e-mail pam@paperclutch.com

Oops...did you forget your green today?

No worries. If you are in the office of getting your kids ready for school print out these labels QUICK. Or be a Patty's Day fairy and give anyone you see without green on a sticker. Nobody wants to be pinched!
They should work with Avery 5160 or 5960
St. Patrick Day Labels





Happy St. Patrick's DAY!

Paper Bag Koozie Tutorial!

St. Patty's day is less than a day away and you my friends need to be prepared!

First don't forget to plan an outfit tomorrow that contains some green- and don't forget about the kids; they are more likely to reap the consequences and get a pinch or two.

Second- Make an awesome koozie for your beverage of choice, if your having a St. Patty party make one for all of your guest - So you are thinking- why paper bag? Well when I travel to my parents house and they send me home with some frozen goodies they wrap it in a paper bag. I am no scientist but apparently it helps keep the food cold. So I thought this may work for a beverage too. Not to mention when you make your guest their own personal koozie you can personalized them so no one tries to steal someone elses booze.

What you need:
paper bag
duck tape
Velcro
scissors
x-acto knife - or box cutter {I know I live on the edge}



1.Cut your paper bag to size. You can make several koozies out of one paper bag
Can: 4" x 9"

You could make one for a bottle too. Just wrap a piece of paper around one and create a template.

2. Flip the cutout over to the side you don't want visible and start layering the back with duck tape. I left 1/2 inch on the top and bottom. Don't worry if your sides are not even. You will trim them later. I used 2 layers of duck tape.

When you flip the cutout back over the piece will look like this:
3. Now trim the sides. I keep the sides 1/2 inch like the other sides.

4. Before you start folding the sides over you need to cut out the duck tape corners on each side. I use an box cutter to cut these out- an x-acto knife or scissors are probably a safer bet.

5. Now fold all of the sides up.

6. Now it is time to attach the Velcro. The easiest way to do this is put both pieces together and then take the backing off one side and attach it. Then take the backing off the other piece {still attached} and wrap the koozie around the can and attach. This will insure koozie is the right size.


Ta-da! You've got a paperbag koozie

Now Relax and enjoy your St. Patty's day!

What's in a Monogram?

Hi Guys! So I wanted to take a minute to discuss monograms. These little lovelies are becoming a necessity to the modern bride as well as the DIY bride. I want to share a few tips and of course mention a bit of etiquette when using a monogram.

Monograms can be used for so many things and help to carry out the theme of a wedding. Just to give you a few examples: you can add it to your invitation, create stickers for wedding favors, add it to your return address labels, create a thank you card, I could go on and on.

Many designers including myself offer a digital monogram that you purchase and use as you wish. Just be sure that the designer is willing to work with you in the future if the monogram needs to be re-sized or in a special format. Once you are let loose to use your monogram you may be stopped in your tracks. Some printing services require specific formats and sizes or they will not print your design.
That is why I include one reformatting for each monogram I create custom or customized. I also keep your design for up to one year if you need additional formatting.

There are certain rules associated with monograms. Not all have to be followed but it is a good idea to know what the rules of etiquette are so when you break them you are making a statement not an embarrassing mistake.

1. Who's name is first? The woman's name is suppose to comes first. This is true also when you address envelopes with the man and woman's name {example: Tina and Jim Smith} Why you ask? Well the man's name is never suppose to be separated from his last name.
As you see in the first picture as well as the 2nd example I posted the bride has broken this rule. When creating a monogram pre-wedding a last name typically is not associated with the monogram; therefore, if the man wants his name first let it be. There will be more important things to argue about- I promise.
You would be amazed at how many brides request the man's name to be first. Personal opinion...Breaking of this rule is no biggie when a last name is not associated.

2. This brings us to etiquette rule number two. NEVER and I repeat NEVER use a monogram with your "to be" married last name or initial before you are actually married. I know you have spent endless hours writing your new name and dream of your names together on paper but this my friends is the biggest monogram "no-no". The only time it would be acceptable to use a monogram that includes your new last name would be after you are actually married, for example during the reception.

Now that you know the rules, get out there and put your monogram to use!

A Paper-Clutch Menu Planner Tutorial

{UPDATE} Not Crafty? You can purchase one of my meal planners in my Etsy Shop

So not only do I have a tutorial for making a paper clutch but also a printable. Combine the two and you have a pretty sweet meal planner. Yep I said meal planner. I am a sucker for planning, especially meals. I swear by it. It makes life so much easier when you know in advance what you are going to cook for the week not to mention it saves a ton of money...how many times do you eat out each week because you don't know what to cook??? Need I say more.

If you are not into meal planning you can replace the printable with regular 8.5 x 11 paper or if you don't feel like crafting feel free to just print the menu planner below.

You will find the printable menu planner here:

Double Sided
Single Sided
Menu Planner Only

What you need:
*menu planner printout or plain white paper
*2 sheets of 12x12 cardstock. Make it Eco-chic by using a paper bag!
*scissors or cutting board
*hole puncher
*ruler
*glue
*2 brass brads

1. Print the menu planner out double sided and fold in half. You may have to play with your printer in order to get it to print double sided. Some printers do not print double sided so you will have to feed the printout back through the printer. I promise this will be the hardest part. I printed out 6 sheets for my clutch. This will allow for 12 weeks of meals.
Choose as many sheets as you wish but know that too many sheets will make your clutch bulky and not line up correctly.

2. Next cut a piece of 12x12 cardstock into a 9x12 sheet and fold it in half. This will be the cover. Note the picture above. The cover will be slightly larger than the printouts.

3. Now you are going to connect the cover to the printouts by putting two holes through the sheets using a hole puncher. I measured the holes based on the size of the hole puncher to make it easier. You may want to clip the cover to the printouts to insure it is lined up correctly before punching the holes. Each hole was one hole punch away from the edge.

Then use two brass brads to connect the pages to the cover.

When you open the clutch up it will look like this with the two brass brads.



4. Now you have a neat little book but in order to turn it into a clutch you need to add the pocket and flap. Next take a new piece of 12x12 sheet of cardstock and cut it into 3 pieces. One 5.75" x 9" (pocket) and two 5.75" x 3" (sides) pieces.


4. Fold the small pieces into an accordion by folding each piece in half {pattern side facing the inside then folding each half in half again {sounds confusing...see the pictures below}.




5. Now you will want to glue the accordion pieces to the pocket, one on each side. Once these pieces are dry, glue the edge of pocket to the back cover of the clutch.


Your final piece will look like the picture below.


6. Now for the flap. Use a scrap from the cardstock you cut. My flap measured 6 x 8.75. I measured in 2" and folded allowing a 4" flap. Once folded insert the two inch flap into the pocket and glue it down. You can be creative with your flap...cut it smaller for a latched look.

Add a some velcro to keep the clutch closed or even a button. I also added rhinestones to the flap. Be creative make it yours.

Now you have one really awesome clutch to keep all of your menu and grocery list's tidy. What I love most about this clutch is that it has a pocket to keep all of those coupons in!

I'M BACK...It's me just with a new name

I'm Back! Yep it has been 1.5 years since my last post as Inspiration turn Design and now I am BACK with a new name {paperclutch}, *whew* that was far too long.

It has been a busy past 1.5 years...let me just tell you. Working full time, graduating with a Masters degree, getting pregnant, getting put on bed rest, then actually having a baby {July 2010}.... I do have to say becoming a Mom has been one of the greatest things EVER.
My Baby Girl 1 week Old!

Needless to say I fell off the design bandwagon for a bit but I am glad/more or less relieved to have found my way back. Designing makes me oh so HAPPY!


What's new for the blog? Well I hope to have new tutorials everything from baby leggings to recycled notebooks, Tips and tricks for the DIY bride, highlights and sneak peaks of my design work, and maybe a few digital freebies along the way. I hope you REjoin me!

Don't forget to check out my new website www.paperclutch.com