Big Welcome for a Little Guy!

We're so excited to welcome a new member to our Paper Style Team!

Last month, Shikha, a member of our Web Team, welcomed this little guy into the world! Say hello to Shourya!

Isn't he just the cutest?! Can't wait til her comes for a visit!

Paper Style Says Goodbye to Andrew!

Yesterday, we all had to say goodbye to our Director of Content Management, Andrew, as he prepares for a big move with his fiancé to Peoria, Illinois. Andrew has been with Paper Style for 10.5 years, almost since the beginning, and certainly longer than most of us.

This guy.

So, we felt it necessary to celebrate Andrew and all his hard work for Paper Style with some roasting and toasting! (And a feast fit for a king!)

Potluck style. If there's one thing we all know how to do at Paper Style, it's eat. Samosas, green beans, chips and dip, tomato basil bake, pita and hummus, pasta salad, fresh fruit, cheesecake, banana pudding, gooey bars, brownies, hot pineapple casserole (and probably a few other things, too).

So we all gathered together in Type Stylist Land to eat and talk about how great Andrew is. 

#paperstylefam

Then came the stories and teary moments.

There are some members of the Paper Style team who have worked with Andrew long enough to remember him as a youngin'.

At Paper Style HQ, we have a wall in the very front of our office space that is covered with caricatures of every member of the team. That wall is a great representation of who we are as individuals, and as part of a larger unit. We sent Andrew off with his caricature and the "invitation" we had posted around the building for this "roast & toast".

You've got big things coming your way, Andrew. Best of luck with everything. We love you and we'll surely miss you!

We Love BIG NEWS: Andrew Gets Engaged!

Happy Monday, everyone! What better way to start the week than with good news, right?

At Paper Style, we spend all day, every day helping people celebrate their lives. We get to hear all about your parties and weddings and birthdays and we love every minute of it. Relishing in all the excitement surrounding celebrations, it always feels extra special for us when one of our own team members has big news!

Last week, Andrew, our Director of Web Content, asked his girlfriend to marry him! Man, do we love a good engagement story...

We sat down to ask Andrew some questions about the engagement, and of course, it was the kind of romantic story that makes us all smile from ear to ear:

TPSB: How long had you been planning before you asked Heather to marry you?

A: I’d been planning the proposal for about 4 months. We had already planned a trip out west to Seattle and then to Montana to visit her family. I knew how special her lake house on Flathead Lake was to her. After much thought, I decided there couldn’t be a better spot to propose.

TPSB: How did you pick the ring? Had you guys been ring shopping together or did you just surprise her with one you picked?

A: Well, after a little while in a relationship – sometimes subtle hints are dropped. And there are sometimes not so subtle hints like “Oh, look, a jewelry counter….” We had a few discussions about ideas, so when I was ready I had something to work with. The hardest part was keeping it a secret, especially when it arrived over a month before our trip!

TPSB: It's early, but are there any details that you both are sure about yet? You mentioned the possibility of a destination wedding?

A: We’re still in the “Let’s enjoy this for a minute” phase, but we intend to start planning in a week or so. The one thing we do know is that we’d like a destination wedding. With our families and friends so spread out (Montana and Georgia, primarily) we figure we should make everyone travel and get a little sand between their toes!

TPSB: How did Heather react when you proposed?

A: She was over the moon! My plans included the one place where she has some of the best memories, and my asking her there added one more Special Memory of many to come! Her smile alone was worth another year of planning.

TPSB: Will you be getting your wedding stationery through Paper Style? (Shameless plug, y'all. Sorry! We're just so excited!)

A: We will definitely be placing an order for Save The Dates and Wedding Invitations as soon as we iron out those important details. Possibly one of the great beach wedding gatefold invitations. We already have a few sets of individual stationery for thank you notes – but I guess I’ll have to update hers with a new name!!!

Ah, the sweet sound of wedding bells on a Monday morning. What could be better? Do you have an extra-special proposal story to share?

And the winner is...

Over the past quarter, we've been calling on our team of awesome designers to inspire us with all sorts of new designs. To spice things up a little, we decided to hold a "Best Design" competition. The designers were asked to create new designs in the following categories: Birth Announcements, Moving Announcements, Bridesmaids Luncheon and Bachelorette Party. Then, after all the designs had been submitted, we held a vote to see which design is best-liked amongst the PaperStyle team.

Last Wednesday, PaperStyle employees were asked to put their initials on a Post It and stick it to their favorite design. (I can personally attest to the difficulty of this decision. There were so many great options!)

Summer fun!

Look at all the babies!

The winner of the competition: Floral Chalkboard Wedding Invitations by White Dog Paper Co.! You can check out the rest of their designs here.

The winning design!

 

A big congrats to White Dog, and a big thank you to all the designers for the amazing invites! Great job, you guys!

In Our Time of Sorrow: Memorial & Sympathy Acknowledgement Cards

Today, we're tackling a solemn topic. In the difficult event of the passing of a loved one, having to organize and prepare for a service can seem overwhelming and it can potentially take away from the peace of mind necessary to go through that ordeal. This is a time for family and friends to come together, to both celebrate a life and mourn their loss. Finding the perfect words to express your sorrow or acknowledge another's sympathy shouldn't be a struggle.

So, as always, we're here to help.



Often, when writing death or memorial announcements, the hardest part is attempting to find the words to capture an entire, well-lived life. The most important part is remembering that anything you write will be good, so long as it comes from a place of love. But if you really aren't a writer, it can sometimes help to borrow another's words. We've compiled some truly eloquent quotes to flesh out your announcement:

We shall find peace. We shall hear angels,
we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds.
Anton Chekov

When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices.
When you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
Buddhist Saying

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.
Khalil Gibran

For what is it to die,
But to stand in the sun and melt into the wind?
Kahlil Gibran, from "The Prophet"

Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names.
Proverb

Say not in grief that she is no more, but say in thankfulness that she was.
A death is not the extinguishing of a light, but the putting out of the lamp
because the dawn has come.
Rabindranath Tagore

In three words I can sum up everything
I've learned about life: it goes on.
Robert Frost

Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes 'round in another form.
Rumi

My latest sun is sinking fast, my race is nearly run.
My longest trials now are past, my triumph has begun.
Stanley Brothers, from "Angel Band"

Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
Thomas Moore

When I hear that trumpet sound, I will lay my burdens down.
I will lay them deep into the ground. Then I'll know that I am glory bound.
Wailin' Jennys, from "Glory Bound"

Death - the last sleep? No, it is the final awakening.
Walter Scott

The rest is really a reflection on the life of the person you're memorializing. It's important to recognize the most important events and dates in that person's life, like marriages and the births of their children. This ties into the idea of recognizing who the deceased is survived by. It can also be a good idea to include a sentence or two about things they were known for, like their love of the Atlanta Braves or their penchant for collecting old books. And again, heartfelt writing is the best kind of writing.

Another aspect to consider are sympathy acknowledgement cards. After the funerals or memorial services are over, it's a good idea to send out cards thanking those who have helped you through, in whatever way. If they sent flowers, or made a casserole, or just sat with you for a period of time, it's considered good manners to thank them for their presence in your time of sorrow. There's a rhyme that many people include in their acknowledgements that is particularly fitting:

Perhaps you sent a lovely card,
or sat quietly in a chair.
Perhaps you sent a funeral spray,
if so we saw it there.
Perhaps you spoke the kindest words,
as any friend could say;
perhaps you were not there at all,
just thought of us that day.
Whatever you did to console our hearts,
We thank you so much, whatever the part.

But perhaps this is simply not your style. In that case, take a look at Wording Suggestions for Sympathy Acknowledgements from PaperStyle. Sympathy acknowledgements can be as lengthy or as concise as you'd like to be; it just means a great deal that you're sending them at all.

Do you have any suggestions for memorial or sympathy acknowledgement wording that you'd like to share or that you've found particularly eloquent?

Tuesday Team Pick: Janine!

In case you missed it two weeks ago, we're introducing a new Team Pick feature to our blog.

This week, we're highlighting a Save the Date magnet, chosen from our website by Janine, a member of our shipping department. She chose "Scrapbook Save the Date Magnets" by Elizabeth Victoria (PaperStyle Exclusive Design).

These adorable magnets feature a photo of you and your special someone, highlighted by blue washi tape strips to keep in the scrapbook theme. The faux-Polaroid and "sketched heart" accent bring the design together for a laid-back, folksy feel. Definitely a great choice (though I suppose we're a little biased)!

We'd love to hear about your favorite PaperStyle invites as well, so feel free to leave a comment below.

Hats Off to the Grad: A Few Words About Graduation Announcements

If you’re the parent of a child on any educational threshold, you know that graduation is rapidly approaching. Normally, a graduation announcement post on The PaperStyle Blog would entail a list of useful tips or some highlighted products from our website. But as a recent college graduate, I thought I might be able to give our readers some insights about graduation announcements based on my own personal experience (and that of my family).
 
I graduated from the University of California, Riverside in June of 2012 and my family purchased my graduation announcements through the university. They were absolutely beautiful: high-quality paper with feathered edges, inner and outer envelopes, envelope seals, and thank you notes of the same paper stock. Each announcement had an embossed image of the university’s seal on it. But even after ordering the smallest package of 25, the bundle still cost over eighty dollars. For some, this cost seems minimal for something as momentous as a graduation, especially if you’ve already spent tens of thousands of dollars on tuition. However, this obviously isn’t an option for everyone.  If you have an extended family or lots of friends, it’s going to cost you, but to announce something as remarkable as a graduation, it shouldn’t.

Similarly, when ordering through a school, or a school-sponsored printer, your options are typically limited. The announcements my family ordered had the option to include or omit a photo, but either way, they were going to turn out looking mostly the same. When you choose to buy from a stationer or order online, your choices will be much broader and you then have the option to include a bit more of your child’s personality. Or their school colors. Or recent photos.

You get the idea.

For the same price I paid for my 25 graduation announcements, through PaperStyle I could have gotten twice as many, and I would have had a huge selection of design options to choose from. Like this one:

Or this one:

Or this one:

 

You get the idea.

So that’s my testimonial. While ultimately, the decision is yours, it’s a good idea to weigh all of your options before you buy. I say this because I know so many students (and families of students) who weren’t aware of all the different options they had. They assumed their best bet was to buy their announcements in the same place they bought their cap and gown, their diploma frame, their class ring, etc. But of course, there are other options. (And as always, PaperStyle would love the opportunity to be your first choice.)

To see more Graduation Announcement Tips, check out this post!

Birth Announcements: Finding the Perfect Words

When it comes to Birth Announcements, we understand how important it is to get everything just right. This is your baby’s introduction to the world, after all! Of course, you want the announcement to suit the personality and style of your family, so there are lots of different ways to word the welcoming of your little one into the world.

The announcement:

Of course, there are the tried and true classics:

• We are thrilled to announce the birth of (name)
• Announcing our new addition... (name!)
• Joyfully welcoming (name)
• We proudly welcome (name)
• It is with great amazement and joy that we welcome (name)

Or you can be a little more playful with it:

• And then there were three!
• Hello, baby! Goodbye, sleep.
• Our little package has arrived!
• There’s a new little man/lovely lady in town.
• No more silent nights. (Perfect for a holiday baby!)
• You might not know me, but I’m (name)
• We’re proud to announce the arrival
  of our dapper little man / fabulous little lady.
• Look who’s here!
• There’s a new leaf on our family tree!
• Dollies and hair bows and skirts that twirl,
  we’re proud to welcome our new baby girl.
• Our family announces another few ounces!

But say you want to announce an adoption:

• We welcome with joy (name)
• Our bundle of joy has arrived!
• We are proud to introduce our adopted son/daughter (name)
• Love, joy and wonderful dreams,
  all the sweet things a child brings!
• There’s a new little man/lovely lady in town.
• Look who’s here!

Or you’re going to be blessed more than once:

• We've been blessed…Twice!
• Twins are twice as nice!
• Yesterday, two…Today, five!
• Double the trouble.
• Twenty fingers, twenty toes,
  plenty of work, heaven knows!
• Chubby cheeks and bouncing curls,
  say hello to our new baby girls!

And for the quote lovers:

• “Sometimes the littlest things take up the most room in your heart.”
  – Winnie the Pooh
• “I’ll eat you up I love you so.”
  – Maurice Sendak
• “Every child begins the world again.”
  – Henry David Thoreau
• “And though she but little, she is fierce.”
  – Shakespeare
• “... and she loved a boy very, very much-- even more than she loved herself.”
  – Shel Silverstein, The Giving Tree
• “As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen.”
  – Winnie the Pooh
• “If I have a monument in this world, it is my son.”
  – Maya Angelou

What's in a name?

Whether you’ve chosen to keep it a secret or have already revealed it, the most important part of a Birth Announcement is your baby’s name. This is the part of the announcement that you want to draw the most attention to, by choosing a different font, or making the font larger. The baby’s first and middle names are sort of a given on birth announcements, but if you already know that your child will have a nickname, or will go by something else, it can always be fun to include that as well (for example, Antoinette Nicole, “Toni” or “Theodore James, better known as Elizabeth's little brother ‘TJ’").

As for the details:

It is traditional to give certain details of the baby's birth on the announcement. You can include all of these, only a few, or more-whatever you want to share with others. The common details included on an announcement are the date and time of the birth, the birth weight and length, and the location of the birth. For example:

Samuel Ryan

Born November 1st at 5:25 p.m.

7 pounds, 6 ounces, 20 inches long

Denver, Colorado

Finally, don’t forget yourself! You’re the one with the big announcement, so make sure that you and your partner, and even older siblings are included too. It’s a family affair!

Have any other cute announcement suggestions? We’d love to hear them!

Save the Dates: Let's Talk Location

We love the idea of destination save the date cards. When you're planning a wedding in a place that's really special to you, it just adds so much character to the wedding itself. We love reading stories about adorable couples getting married in the city where they met, or just in a place they've always wanted to visit. It adds another layer of personality to your wedding.

When you send out your save the date cards, you want them to express the vibe of your wedding to your guests; when you're planning a destination wedding (or even a wedding that really incorporates your love of your city), you want your guests to be just as excited about the journey. What better way to do that than with charming, location-themed save the dates?

There seems to be a common belief that when it comes to destination weddings, your destination must be exotic or tropical, but we don't believe that to be true. Ultimately, your wedding should feel like you and your partner, whether that's hip and urban or tropical and laid-back (or somewhere in between). Plus, a wedding taking place in the city you call home IS a special destination.

Here are some links to some destination/location weddings that we really love (for a little inspiration!):

New Orleans French Quarter Wedding on once wed
Chicago Wedding at Greenhouse Loft from Ashley Biess Photography on Style Me Pretty Illinois
Seattle Wedding from Britt Rene Photo on Style Me Pretty
San Francisco Elegant Wedding on once wed

And here are a few samples from our selection of location save the dates:



Happy planning!

Give us some of that Bloglovin'

Thanksgiving Recipe Contest!

The Turkey is in the fridge and Boy oh Boy! It's a big one!

Paper Style is a big family with lots of friends. We're hoping to get some recipes that our friends and family will love this Thanksgiving!

Send us your best Thanksgiving recipe to be shared (Shh... Grandma's Secret Recipe is safe with us...) for a chance to win a $100 Gift Certificate at Paper Style!
If you have a photo of your dish, or your family enjoying it send them to specials@paperstyle.com.
Send them in soon, this contest ends on November 10, 2010 - and we still need to go shopping!

To Enter, click our Thanksgiving Recipe Contest Page!

Greeting Card Sale! 15% off!

Halloween Invitations Super Spooky Halloween Invitations for all. Be sure to complete the look with matching accessories.

Christmas Invitations 'Tis the Season to Celebrate with our new Christmas Invitations. Most invitations ship same day.

Seasonal Napkins for the Holidays Fall is here and so are Seasonal Napkins. Also, entertain in Style with beautiful Christmas Napkins and Plates!

READ WHY OUR CUSTOMERS CHOOSE US ►

Mona N. says: Amazing!

This is the most amazing website to order your invites from. Not only do they work with you every step of the way, but they make sure that you get the very best quality as well. I have done birthday party invites and baby shower invites so far and I couldn't be happier! Can't wait to do my baby announcement and Christmas cards!

- September 5, 2010

*Offer expires at midnight 10/22/10. May not be combined with other offers or previous orders.
Let Paper Style help you create the perfect invitation for baby, bridal, birthday, corporate and more. Our Customer Service team is delighted to assist you in any way. You can rely on us for industry-best pricing, fast shipping and our 100% Guarantee. We love pleasing our customers and thank you for your business.

October 2010 Newsletter

Paper Style Founder gets hitched!

Lindsay and Chris 'tied the knot' on August 14th in Jackson Hole, Wyoming! Family and friends enjoyed all that Jackson has to offer in the summertime: paragliding, rafting, hiking, horseback, golf and more. We're going to share some of the invitations, stationery and accessories they used. After all, this is what Chris does!

See the couple's Invitations, Stationery and more!

Ghoulish Halloween Ideas

Congratulations to our 1st Place Winners Kelly S. and Courtney D.! They both won $100 in our 2010
Best Idea for Halloween Contest!

Kelly S.(Creative Children's Party) and Courtney D. (Creative Adult Party) didn't miss a mummy's beat and gave us inspiring ideas for how they are celebrating Halloween this year.

See the Winner's
Ghoulish Halloween Ideas!

Happy 11th Birthday Paper Style!

On September 22nd, we celebrated our 11th year! A lot has changed since 1999 but we're having more fun than ever. We thank you so very much for your business and loyalty!

Shop our collection of PaperStyle.com

Atlanta Horticulture & Theatre Arts!

The Atlanta community has been very good to us and we like to give back by donating printed invitations to our favorite charities. This month, The Southeastern Horticultural Society celebrated "Farm, Fork and Cork" at the new midtown restaurant 'Empire State South.' Just down the street, The Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff held opening night of Twist, An American Musical.' Both events were a great success and we are proud to be supporters. If you live in Atlanta, check them out!

Just in! Personalized Cutting Boards!

You know us for great invitations and stationery but we also have some fun gifts at a great price point. These cutting boards can be ready to ship in just a few days!

Shop our new designs of Cutting Boards

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