Wedding invitation: Laura & Fernando

My little sister, Laura, got married last September.

One of the first things that she and her now husband did after the decision was taken was to look for a wedding invitation. They visited all paper shops in our home town, but they weren't able to find any invitation that suited them, so I offered them to design one and if they liked it, do it ourselves.

First we discussed about their likes and dislikes, their ideas and inspirations and the first thing that they decided was that they wanted a picture of themselves showing in the invitation.

I have to admit it, this was not my first idea. I was thinking in something different, more related to textures and typography but it was their wedding, not mine, so I started to think about it.

In the meanwhile I went to all craft and paper shops in Helsinki and after touching and feeling different textures and colours of paper, I was convinced that Kraft paper was my favourite.

Event though it is kind of fashion now, it is not an easy type of paper for a wedding invitation. You have to "dress" it to be elegant and special, so the first thing I did was to design a logo, thinking on how they are and in the type of party that they were planning to have.

 

Confetti and bubbles seemed a good combination to me. A party and a life sorrounded by them sounds great and taking into consideration that they are one of the happiest couple in this world, that had to be their logo.

I ordered it from G&P and they sent it in this beautiful package.

Here you can see more pictures of the packaging.

We decided to stamp it with white ink. I love how it combines with Kraft paper and knowing that we could not print in that colour, stamping sounded a great option.



Fancy a party?

But we still had the issue with finding the picture representing them, showing how they are and what they want to be together. They were in the process of finding their wedding photographer and I was too far away to take that picture, so it was becoming more and more difficult as the date was approaching. Sometimes living thousands of kilometres away bring such inconvenients.

At the end, we realised that the idea of the wedding was that they were 2 single people that wanted to spend their life together. Why not to choose pictures that talk about them as individuals and tight them together? Why do not use this fact for making their invitation special?

So I introduce you to Fernando and Laura, two different people that together sum more than two. Arent't they cute?

They were a beautiful couple when they were three years old, don't you think so?

Besides their names, date and place of the event we added the sentence "Because together we sum more than two" and we knot the invitation with a ribbon.

It was quite easy to decide which fonts to use, but we spent quite some time looking for the perfect ribbon. I suggested them a vintage lace combined with red thread, but Fernando was not into lace, so we used red raffia.

Pictures were ordered through  Moo, an on-line printing company that it is specialised in this small format and allows you to print a different picture in every card. They chose several pictures of themselves in the same range of age and situation making every invitation unique as they were able to combine them.

In the back side of the picture they printed their personal data. Although I know that their e-mail addresses and phones are quite important, I didn't like how they fit into the invitation, so we sorted out the problem that way. An advantage is that they can use the spare ones as business cards. Nice idea!

The last touch was introducing the chapel to the invitees. They were getting married in a small church that it is currently not in use, so they wanted to make sure that everybody was able to find it. A map of the city was customised and printed. I highlighted the two important spots: the chapel and the restaurant and painted the walking path with small footprints.

The inner part of the envelope was decorated with a vintage image of the chapel too.

And the invitation was ready to be shared.

 In the back side of the map, I printed some confetti and the sentence "We would love to see you".

(Not a literal translation here)

This is how the whole invitation looked like. A little piece of them as a couple and the introduction to the party to be: a classical wedding but with a different touch. It was a pleasure to design it and be a small part of their love.

Fernando and Laura, I wish you all the happiness of this world. You deserve it.

Zzzzzzz

I am having a lazy day, so today it is going to be shorter than usual.

I am remembering and dreaming and definetely I would love to be going down these stairs

enjoying this landscape

or this one

or laying down in the sand and sleeping, with the flavour of the salt in my mouth and the tiredness that the sun brings.

I am going to surrender to my imagination and travel there again. Anyone want a lift?

Moments that make me happy (3)

I love watching how good friends they are.

 

They play and laugh.
     

They share secrets and tales and even they have their own secret place.

 

This is their secret place. In a small beach just in front our home. 

After playing football, when both are tired, they sit there together.

Sometimes they are quiet, sometimes someone explain something to the other.

I watch them from our balcony (or sometimes hidden nearby) and I cannot avoid smiling.

#momentosquemehacenféliz

Beee

Something that every child learns before even being able to talk is how to imitate the sound of any animal.

Pol is not very keen at it, maybe because it is difficult to understand why the animals make different sounds depending on the person that teaches them.  Animals do not sound the same in Spanish, Catalan, English and Finish, that's a pity.

But if he needed to choose a favourite animal, I am sure it will be the beeee or the muuuu, easy question

We spent part of last holidays in a farm in Portugal and Pol went everyday to say good morning and good night to them.  Beeee.

So when I started thinking in a special way to decorate his bedroom, it become clear that a flock of sheep would be the best option. Now they observe how he plays and watch him while he is sleeping.

I have to admit it. Although I already have plenty of boxes to open after the moving, I prefer to spend my time crafting small things that without effort can change the feeling of a room.

A garland of beees.

Simple idea and simple execution. I was looking for something that could be finished fast. Have you seen the view from Pol's window? The day was amazing and the winter is approaching, so I didn't want to spend more that an hour inside and this is what I did.

I looked into my crafty drawer and foamy was the most appealing material to me.

In Spanish we call it Goma eva. It is a clean material and it is very easy to use, even for the youngest ones.

I looked for a pattern in internet (I am not very good at drawing), but the truth is that I am in love with Black Oveja. Pol (and me) are very grateful to have them hanging in our home. Thanks Merche.

Once you have the pattern you only need to trace it in the foamy and cut it.

If you don't know Black Oveja, I invite you to visit her blog or if you are so lucky to be in Madrid, her shop. 

Merche has one of the most amazing shops in the world.

Then you have to choose the material to hang your garland. The most difficult moment for me, as I was not able to decide which to use.

At the end, I chose a green rope, a grass environment for my dearest sheep. The truth is that after all my doubts, the colour cannot be properly seen as the light comes from its back.

Before hanging it, I recommend you to test first the location of each sheep. That way you will be sure that you have more or less the same space between them.

You can use tape, with one or two faces, or if you feel very creative, washi tape.

Once you have everything set, it is the time to glue. I preferred not to use liquid glue or silicone as I was not sure whether they stain the foamy.

Instead I used glue pearls, usually used for sticking pictures or in scrapbooking. I use them for almost everything. They are clean, easy to use and glue almost every material.

Ready.

They are beautiful and I love how they have changed Pol's room. They look amazing on the window.

He also loves them and keep saying hello every time he comes in.  Beeeee.

The room is far to be finished but I think that this is a good beginning.

Now we are saying good-bye. It is time for feeding our friends. Beeee.

Moments that make me happy (2)

Today I had prepared a different moment, but something much more important  happened in my life this week, so I decided to change it.

 My mum, sick for a long time, is now recovered and we cannot be happier than we are.

Today I make a toast for all the laughs, the happiness and the health to come.


And I use this platform to remember myself that I should take more pictures as these ones, because although the moments are there, it is always magical to come back to them.

#momentosquemehacenfeliz

Knit'n'Tag

One of my goals when I came to Finland was to learn how to knit and crochet.

I haven't started with the knitting, but I am kind of a beginner regarding crochet matters.

Last May, my friend Helena recruited me for a very special project: decorating a tree.

Introducing you our tree.

Helsinki's Youth Department organised an event for covering with yarn graffittis the trees of one of its most famous parks: Ruttopuisto park. The event was part of Helsinki's World Design Capital 2012 programme.

Everybody was able to participate, not depending on age, nationality or any kind of condition.

The morning of the 25th of August the park was full of people willing to decorate the trees with all the colours of the rainbow.

The trees became more alive.

And I didn't know where to look or which pictures I should take

It was as if the summer finally arrived to Helsinki and the flowers started growing after a long winter.

It was not only the view and the trees, it was also atmosphere. After having a not so warm summer, the weather was almost perfect so the people organised picnics and ad hoc teaching lessons.

It's amazing how many original people there is out there!

Do you remember the rings I learned to make in June?

They were part, together with many others, of a very long chain that was used to decorate three trees.

It was a pleasure walking or having a sit underneath them.


And you should be wondering about our tree. Ok, this was the result of 5 people working apart but together in the same topic.

My collaboration was the two buntings that decorate the upper and down part of the tree, plus some granny squares that we used to close the round.

Nothing compared with the beautiful things that my colleagues did, but I am just a beginner.

Here 4 of the 5 members of the group.

The park became so nice that it was a pleasure walking to work every day. Not even the rain, that has been with us almost every day since then, has diminish the positive effect of all that colours.

A nice day to remember, I am not going to forget it.

Moments that make me happy

After a period in my life where things seemed to be more difficult that expected, I have decided to remember myself that the small things are what make our life special.

I love it all

For that reason, every Thursday,  I will try to post here special moments that remind me (and you) that life is beautiful and a perfect adventure.

Here you have the first pill:

Picture taken by Jaume with the phone.

Many thanks :)

I was trying to take some nice pictures of the ground, specifically of one small mushroom, but it was not possible. My little helper was too interested in my exercise and he didn't get quiet enough.

This was the best I could do:



#momentosquemehacenfeliz

(I always publish first in my Spanish blog. It could be possible that I will be late for the translated post, but I will do my best to come here any Thursday :) )