When paper meets cute

I love seeing my custom stationery out in the "real world"...it makes me feel a bit like a proud mama. This photo, for example, just made my heart sing. I designed a custom pennant banner in Journey's favorite colors of yellow and purple and finished it with touches of bling.

When you have a cool name like "Journey," chances are you won't find too many off-the-shelf knick knacks with your name emblazoned on them. No plastic license plates to screw on the back of your bicycle seat, no souvenir magnets to stick on the fridge, no snowflake ornaments to hang on the Christmas tree.

See, I had that problem as a kid. I would spin display racks round and round to find the correct spelling of my name. I always found S-T-A-C-Y and S-T-A-C-I-E, but rarely S-T-A-C-E-Y. To this day, I will casually, but pointedly, search for S-T-A-C-E-Y whenever I see a rack of anything with pre-printed names. I may or may not do a little fist pump when I spot my name. Small victories count, people.

So, this pennant banner was made with L-O-V-E for J-O-U-R-N-E-Y from her Aunty S-T-A-C-E-Y.

A banner year

Photo by Kris Labang Photography | Drop dead gorgeous linen by Les Saisons

2013 has been a banner year for Emi Ink in many ways. For one, my fear of social media has gone from crippling and paralyzing to moderately anxiety-inducing (note the pretty new links to Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest). I've managed to actually squeeze in a couple of much-needed getaways (working from the road wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be). Oh, and the other reason it's been a banner year? I make banners now.

So many options, too! Custom text, different fonts, oodles of ink colors, cool card stock, bling(yay), no bling (boo), pretty ribbon ties, rustic twine. I know people are visual creatures so I'm working on creating some samples that I can show at the next wedding expo.

And what would you do with a custom-printed banner? I'm so glad you asked. This is my top 10 list in no particular order (and just so you know, I'm writing these on-the-fly)...here we go:

1. "LOVE IS SWEET" - hang it above your dessert table or candy buffet!
2. "OH HAPPY DAY" - hang it in front of the head table
3. "MR. AND MRS." - cutest ever photo prop!
4. "THANK YOU" - ask your photographer to snap a shot of you and your newly betrothed holding this banner and print up sweet thank you cards
5. "MAHALO" - see #4 (I swear I'm not getting lazy..."Mahalo" is just too important to leave out)
6. "BRIDE'S NAME *heart* GROOM'S NAME" - another photo prop (and no extra charge for printing your real names)
7. "HAPPILY EVER AFTER" - my personal favorite! head table, registration table, photo prop!
8. "HERE" + "COMES" + "THE BRIDE" - cute little ring bearers and flower girls sometimes steal the show, and you can make them even cuter with their own little banners to hold
9. "JUST MARRIED" - perfect for the head table or for photos!
10. "DO NOT DISTURB" - for the bridal suite door! Just kidding. Or maybe not? Either way, I'll throw in #11 as a bonus suggestion. 
11. "12.10.14" - a great way to commemorate your special date in photos

Like I said, it's a banner year!