Handmade Hummingbird Guestbook (Carte de oaspeti Colibri - handmade)

If anything, after watercolor I love making books: guestbooks, sketchbooks, photo albums and I love using them as well. I love that I can make them any size I want, any color, any number of pages, any type of paper, decorate the covers or leave them plain.

{RO} Unul din lucrurile mele preferate, dupa acuarela, e legatoria de carte. Imi place sa fac carti de oaspeti, caiete de schite, albume foto si imi place sa le si folosesc. Le pot face orice dimensiune, orice culoare, cu cate pagini si cu ce hartie vreau, cu copertile simple sau decorate.

Here is one of those books I poured my heart into. It was a custom guestbook for Isabelle Marie's hummingbird baptism or christening party, matching her hummingbird invitations.

{RO} Aceasta este una dintre cartile de oaspeti la care am lucrat cu multa pasine. A fost realizata pentru botezul lui Isabelle Marie si se assorteaza cu invitatiile ei de botez.

Her theme was hummingbird and florals and her colours were pink and gold. Being given creative freedom I could dive into this project and make it truly unique: vintage gold metallic pages and the hummingbird and floral theme carried through to the inside of the covers with some gold stamping and heat embossing, using the same stamps I used for the envelope liners. Here is a close up of the lovely raised image embossed on the inside covers.

{RO} Tematica botezului a fost pasarea colibri impreuna cu elemente florate, iar culorile predominante rozul si auriul. Faptul ca mi-am putut exprima liber creativitatea a ajutat enorm la reaizare aunui proiect cu adevarat unic. Pentru pagini am folosit hartie metalica aurie, apoi am introdus motivul colibri si pe copertile interioare, imitand interiorul plicurilor invitatiilor.

In the next post I will share some photos from the actual party that my client was kind enough to let me publish. You will be truly inspired.

{RO} In articolul viitor va voi prezenta si petrecerea botezului, organizata cu foarte mult talent si bun gust de Alice, mama lui Isabelle.

Winter Wonderland Guest Books (Carti de oaspeti Regatul Inghetat)

Happy new year!

With the Disney "Frozen" movie being so en vogue right now, the winter season caught me making winter wonderland invitations and matching guestbooks which I really enjoyed. Although they were all going in different places and they were ordered about the same time, I couldn't make them identical and I still have a few ideas left.

This first guestbook was made for a wedding in Paris. My heart is with you Ailin, and with everyone in France living under terror after the recent attacks. May God protect you from any harm.
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This one was made for a little boy's christening. You can also see the matching invitations and place card/money envelope.

Last but not least, Eva's christening guest book. God bless you little princess.

On a more personal note, the beginning of the year found me setting goals and making plans.
One of them regards this blog which has been much neglected from lack of time and will.
I was wondering, should I continue posting, is anyone still following? Anyway I am going to try and post at least 3 times per month if not for anything else, for practicing discipline.

What would you like to read about?

I can't do videos. I lack the technology and the will to learn how to do it.... for now.
I have also decided to step back on card making.
I still make wedding invitations, but that isn't coming easy in lack of a messy creative space. Renting a studio had become too expensive so I decided to work from home in order to give more time and attention to my family.

In exchange I have got back to fine art. Whether it's a large mixed media canvas or an online watercolor course, I find myself often with a brush and pain in my hands. My older son, Iona, seems to be following in my footsteps which makes my heart sing with joy.

...wow, that was a long post. I really missed you. Have a lovely 2015.

3-Days Wedding: the Invitation, the Guest Book and the Party (Nunta de 3 zile si 3 nopti: invitatia, cartea de oaspeti si petrecerea)

Sorry, I had to choose from publishing just the pictures or no post at all. The story is too long to tell and I am tired, sore throat and really not feeling like writing a long post.

Din pacate azi nu am dispozitia necesara publicarii unui articol lung. Asadar va las doar cu imaginile.

Damask, Lace and Cameo Guestbook with a Modern Touch of Stripes (Guestbook cu damask, dantela si camee, si un accent modern in dungi)

Are you tired of my guestbooks yet? Let me know and I will share something else. Otherwise I still have a few of these I made back in October. Of course now I can't stop making them because everyone wants a custom design.

Anyway, if you want to see them all in one place you can go to my Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.410060152392552.91823.308789602519608&type=3

*******

Oare v-am cu cartile mele de oaspeti? Daca da, spuneti. Altfrl mai am de postat cateva terminate in octombrie. Evident, de atunci nu ma mai pot opri din facut albume la comanda, dar asta e o alta poveste.
Intre timp puteti vedea toate albumele disponibile pe pagina noastra de Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.410060152392552.91823.308789602519608&type=3

Angel Scrapbook (Caiet de amintiri cu inger)

If nobody buys this at the fair I might as well keep it for myself and fill it with pictures and memories of Iona. I somehow resonates perfectly with my heart and I love the pages of alternate colors: a yummy cream and the lovely heather which calls for some white ink. The pages are made of high quality cardstock by Canson which is another thing I love a bout this book.

Vintage Inspired Guestbook with a Modern Look

I love this time of the year. October to December are my most creative months. Now that the wedding season buzz is slowing down I can dedicate some time to creation just because.

Luckily the organizers have decided to hold the first edition of a local wedding fare (Salonul Mireselor - Expo Transilvania 25-28 oct. 2012) so for the first time I am not too busy to participate.

I have paired with my friend Bianca from Ermiona Weddings to make a few guestbooks and wedding glasses for the event. This is one of them and we have decided to randomly share a few more until then.

You can find more details on Invitatii Couture Facebook page and Bianca's Facebook Page.

Guestbooks, Albums, Journals, Sketchbooks.... a Love for Bookbinding.

 I have always loved books. I loved to read them touch their pages, smell their old or new characteristic scent, arrange them in alphabetical order, keep an inventory list and recently making books.

Making a book requires a lot of time and inspiration if you want it to mean something, if you want to catch a part of your soul in it.
I don't really have time for that anymore and I definitely don't like making books as custom orders.
However, from time to time, especially when I know who the book is for, I manage to find that pleasure of creating freely with no time or design boundaries.

Here are a few of my past books:

Wedding Guestbook for Adrian & Mihaela
Starting with a design I used to love but later caused me a little sorrow.
In addition to her wedding colors the bride wanted something "vintage with little buttons".  I presented her with more options amongst witch she chose these cabochon doves. Doesn't look vintage at all too me and it turned our that at least the groom wanted something with a more luxury feel.

One week after delivering the book I decided I would never take any custom book order again from total strangers. I had put all my soul into it as it had been a long time since I didn't have time to make books. I stamped vintage corners on every single page and I remember how delighted I was with the final result. I never make things I am not totally happy with, yet I know tastes differ from one person to another and I am not taking the risk to be disappointed again. Sorry!

Floral Guestbook for Baby Ilinca
This guestbook was inspired by the floral paintings from Ilinca's nursery room. Her mother is one of the brides I worked with whose number didn't get erased from my phone. She made her own wedding invitations to save on the budget but I helped with the materials.

I loved the idea of having a book each person visiting the new baby could write in so in the hope that Ilinca would have lots of good will messages I made as many pages as I could without making the book too scarily big. My colleague, Raluca, hand stamped matching corners on each page. Everything about this guestbook is floral, even the paper I made the pages from. The paper is called "Flora" and has real floral inserts.

Trees Sketchbook for Anca
Some of my blog reader might remember the traveling sketchbooks project I initiated two years ago. For more posts about it you can click on this link.
Anca was the last person to join our traveling sketchbooks circle. Since the person inviting a new member has the honor of making that person's first sketchbook I got to make this one. Anca's theme is TREES and I added the word "love" because I can tell she really loves trees.

My little one is up now so I have to go. I hope you liked this post and will try to get back with more one day when time permits.

Monica's Vintage Pink Wedding (Nunta roz vintage a Monicai)

She was so graceful to send me pictures of her wedding. Don't you love the lace of her bouquet?

A fost asa de draguta incat mi-a trimis poze de la nunta ei. Imi place foarte mult dantela din buchet.


Photos from the wedding tent, including the menus, favor boxes and place cards I made for her.

Imagini din cortul nuptial, inclusiv meniurile, marturiile si cardurile de masa pe care le-am facut pentru ea.



Some very quick photos I maneged to take before mailing her reception items:
Cateva poze facute la repezeala inainte sa-i trimit pachetul cu lucrurile pentru receptie:


The place cards were actually printed with the guest names.
Pe cardurile de masa au fost de fapt gata tiparite numele invitatilor.


Favor boxes.
This is the sampel I made for her from a slightly different cardstock. She had to tie the golden thread and labels herself after putting salt cellars inside the boxes on some vintage silk she used as wrapping.

Marturiile.
Aceasta este doar mostra pe care am facut-o dintr-un carton putin diferit. Celor pe care le-am trimis a trebuit sa le lege singura ata aurie si etichetele dupa ce a pus inauntru solnitele invelite in matase.


The guestbook.
I wish I had more time to work on it.

Cartea de oaspeti.
Mi-ar fi placut sa am mai mult timp pentru a lucra la ea.

Gold and White Invitations and Real Wedding Pictures (Invitatii alb cu auriu si poze de la nunta)

When I first talked with the groom about their white and gold wedding invitations, it didn't sound very attractive to my tastes...
Cand am discutat prima data cu mirele despre invitatiile lor alb cu auriu, gusturile mele nu erau prea incantate.

This is how my story about this wedding begins.
Asa incepoe povestea mea despre acesta nunta.

I worked closely with the bride and groom who also happens to be brother of one of my very good friends. In the end this isthe invitation that we came up with:
Am lucrat indeaproape cu mireasa si mirele, frate cu o foarte buna prietena de-a mea, iar invitatia la care am ajuns impreuna este acesta:


It ended up being cream and gold...
Pana la urma a ajund crem cu auriu...

Table numbers and envelope holders. (Numere de masa cu rol de suporturi pentru plicuri)

I also made some matching table numbers that would hold the money envelopes.
Am mai facuta ceste numere de masa in forma de cort cu rolul de a tine plicurile pentru bani.



Here they are before being mounted. Cutting and adhering those tiny numbers took quite some time!
Iata-le intainte sa fie montate. Taiatul si mai ales lipitul acelor numere minuscule mi-a luat ceva timp!



Guest book. (Cartea de oaspeti)

The bride also asked me to decorate their store-bought guest book. Wow! I haven't done such simple jobs in a long time! And I do like the outcome.
Mireasa m-a rugat sa le decorez si o carte de oaspeti pe care o aveau deja cumparata. Wow! Nu mai facusem de mult asa lucrare usoara si sunt chiar multumita de rezultat.



The wedding. (Nunta)

The wedding was organized by my friend Bianca from Ermiona who sent me these lovely pictures.
Nunta a fost organizata de prietena mea Bianca de la Ermiona care mi-a trimis acceste minunate fotografii.










More photos from Eliza & Paul's wedding here.
Mai multe poza de la nunta lui Paul cu Eliza aici.

Wedding Affaire Day 3

Parisian Chic Guestbook

It's day 3 of the Wedding Affaire at the Cuttlebug Challenge blog.
I had a very long day finishing an invitation order, beginning another, purchasing supplies, and designing some more.

I also had my internet connection down for several hours so although I am extremely tired I had to stop by the blog and show you my new additions to the Parisian Chic Collection.


The image above shows the guestbook I have designed for the event. As usual, featuring my coptic stitch and my new favorite flower die from cuttlebug: "Dandelion"


Then the necklace. How versatile is a pearl necklace. You can just add a flower or butterfly brooch and.... voila! change of looks. I made mine to match the event theme and colors and I must say I am loving this collection more and more. My sketchbook is full of ideas for more items.

Parisian Chic pearl necklace with butterfly

Another hair pin. Oh, I love making these and they look so good in my hair. Too bad I can't photograph myself :) Of course, they won't resist water, but how about making them from fabric. I must try that one day.

Parisian Chic Gerber hair pin

I am not sure if I will have time for another post soon, but do follow the Cuttlebug Challenge blog for the rest of the week. The design team has some incredible ideas to share.