Make Your Own FONTS!!!

Today for Make-It Monday, I wanted to share my experiences in making your own font!  For our new Bold & Beautiful line, we had to create a couple of our own fonts since some of the metal type we purchased does not have a corresponding computer font.  So, to do this, we foil stamped each of our letters and then scanned them into the computer and fiddled with them as best possible in Illustrator to make them look pretty (and by pretty, I mean straight lines and the same height). This was a tedious task and the letters aren't perfect, but it will allow us to proof your orders in our foil stamp fonts to be sure you like the look before we print! Then we places all of the little letters and glyphs in the template from yourfonts.com and then clicked create font and they did the rest!  It was $9.95 for their services (well worth it, if you ask me!)

Here is our first go:

Creating_A_Font

And this is our new monogram font:

Creating_A_Font2

and my favorite (and reminiscent of my wedding reception venue):

Creating_A_Font3

You can make your own font here! Let us know how it goes!

Not-Your-Collage-Jello-Shot

Blog_Grapefruit I'm obsessed with the newest thing in the cocktail industry - homemade "jello shots" !!!!  Yes, similar to those ones you had in college, but not disgusting!  While on vacation, I took the opportunity to whip up a bunch of different versions, including these grapefruit margarita ones - give them a whirl - I can't wait to hear what you think!

Ingredients: 1 1/3 cup grapefruit soda (I used Izzy's sparkling juice) 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 tsp sugar 2 envelopes Knox gelatin 2/3 cup tequila Fresh grapefruit segments for garnish, if desired

Instructions:

Pour soda, lime juice and sugar into a small saucepan and sprinkle with the gelatin. Allow the gelatin to soak for a minute or two. Heat over very low heat until gelatin is dissolved, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes.

Mixture may be foamy initially, but this will disapate. Remove from heat.

Stir in the tequila. Pour mixture into loaf pan.

Place in refrigerator to set (several hours or overnight).

To serve, cut into desired shapes.  Garnish each jelly shot with a small grapefruit segment, if desired.  CHEERS!

Makes 18 to 24 grapefruit margarita shots!

Real Weddings: Patricia & Sam

We just finished letterpressing these gorgeous magnolia inspired wedding invitations on two different stocks, which we then duplexed together and scored to have as a folded invitation.  I LOVE the look and, of course, the colors.  Aren't they just beautiful?! Real_Wedding_Patricia_Sam

Introducing Emily!

Emily_Introduction You may have already met Haute Papier's Queen of Proofing, Emily, since she's been doing it for a while, but we held her down and got her to share a few fun facts about herself, just like Kate did last week... Something tells me, Erin and I are going to have to go next!

Here's what she said:

  • *I am a coffee aficionado– I especially love iced coffee. It's part of my daily ritual (especially in the summer), but I drink it in the winter as well!  (I can attest to this one - Emily is NEVER without an iced coffee in her hand!)
  • * I spent two weeks traveling and volunteering in South Africa. Capetown is breathtaking and well worth the 19-hour flight.
  • * I am a horrible cook, but I love watching the Food Network.

Thanks for sharing Emily!!!

Roasted Tomato & Goat Cheese Toasts

Erin is currently out of the office and since I LOVE goat cheese and she HATES it, I thought I'd share one of my favorite summer recipes with you for Make-It Monday.  It's delicious and looks fussier than it is! tomatoHere's how to make these delightful little bites...

  1. Take a log of goat cheese out of the fridge and let it warm on the counter while you're cooking away.
  2. Roast the tomatoes... If you've never roasted tomatoes, it's easy.  Read this.
  3. While the tomatoes are roasting, slice a baguette as thinly as possible.  Place on a cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil.  Place cookie sheet in the oven with the tomatoes and toast until lightly golden, about 10-15 minutes.  Then remove from the oven and place on a platter for serving.
  4. Spread the room temperature goat cheese on the toasts.
  5. When the tomatoes are done, remove from oven and place one or two on top of each piece of toast.  Press gently so the juicy insides squeeze out onto the cheese.
  6. Drizzle plate with olive oil, garnish with micro-basil or thinly sliced basil.
  7. Enjoy!!!