Put down the Damask and Back Away Slowly....

Enough already with the damask, my bridal DIY'ers! If there is another wedding where black and white, teal and brown or some other worn out color combo of damask is used on stationery or reception decoration, I think the damask itself will scream.

Yes, its pretty; its supposed to be pretty. However, quite frankly, its getting pretty worn out. Designers are not letting this pretty, patterned graphic get breathing air to re-create other patterns and stationery in the world of the wedding industry. Especially for the DIY bride, what is easier than finding a ready-made damask background in Photoshop and creating your save the dates from that?

Actually it is quite simple, but its so simple that's been done over, and over and over again. So what can you use as elements in your stationery and decoration? Explore your relationship, I say. Look at all the places you have been or even better take a look at some photos of you and your lover together and grab some colors from those events. Shoo, if you really like grab the photo itself, make it opaque as your background, place your legible typography on it and you have yourself a personalized save the date, invitation or whatever else you may want to use it for. Does it have to be a color photo? No, use shapes or lines of color behind the black & white photo to add your splash of wedding colors!

So you don't want to use your photos? Okay, no problem. What about nature, when is your wedding date? Spring, summer, winter, fall? What elements can you use like color, texture, graphics (flowers, ocean, sand, snow, leaves) into your stationery?

Okay.. as you can see I could go on for a long time about inspirational places to get your design from for your wedding stationery which not only would have more of a personal touch from you as a couple, but also appeal to your guest in understand you more as a couple.

So, Please Please Please.. put down the damask slowly and explore your relationship and see what designs you can come with.

Monograms from Microsoft Word Part 1

Hi all,

Remember the last time I said we were going to make a simple monogram using Microsoft Word? Well here is part One.

If you have Microsoft 2007, the Microsoft Corp. has made is quite easy to create shapes, symbols, etc in word with just a click of a button. In the case on my left, I simply created two squares. One is an outlined square with a white space. The outline is dashes, while the smaller "Tiffany blue" square is a simple solid box. In this case I decide to go along the same color palate in different tints because for the DIY'er, its just easier that way. When getting into matching various colors, it gets a bit more challenging. So that's it so far, all we need now it the typography or font scheme. Keep in mind, the font scheme can be pretty, but if no one understands it, then what sense did it make in creating the monogram in the first place? So, the answer to that is keep the typography simple and legible.

Next time: Microsoft Word Monogram Part 2: Creating the font scheme or typography.

Oh yeah... P.S. If anyone needs help with the step-by-step of doing this portion on Microsoft Word for 2007 or 2003 versions, let me know by sending a comment my way or emailing me at soulmate_designs@ymail.com Toodles 'till next time!

Monochromatic Simplicity

Hi my DIY Wedding Sisters! (and Brotha's too!) Yesterday, I talked about using monochromatic hues in your color selection for your wedding. Here's a prime example to your left. Beautiful use of monochromatic blues in this particular monogram. Now, would you use this as a business monogram? No, because it wouldn't print the gradient properly if you had to fax it in black and white. However, in the case of a wedding monogram or logo, color is necessary to create visual beauty and appeal.
I have seen many brides use the color "Tiffany Blue" in the color concept for their wedding. Why not take "Tiffany Blue" and use it with "Navy Blue"? Okay, so you want a certain pop of color to it. Well it depends on your style because certain colors creates certain feelings when we look at them. Color Symbolism is a great asset to use when deciding on your color scheme for your wedding. To find out more about what certain colors symbolize, you can go to http:// www.sensationalcolor.com or just tune in to you feelings when looking at certain colors.

Next time: Don't know how or where to start with creating a simple monogram for your wedding stationery? I'll show you using Microsoft Word and Publisher! Stay tuned!

Simple Modernism

Okay, I promised something very easy in terms of creating your own monogram and here it is. This is as simple as reciting your ABC's! It's just using basic shapes of a circle and a rectangle as your base. The ampersand is your focal point or emphasis in this case because you want to show union of you and your -to be as one.

I used these colors because 1. Brown evokes a warm sensation, orange is a energy feeling while blue provides a calmness. Now would this be your colors for your wedding? Probably not, but it don't hurt to play with colors you are not used to seeing everyday. Consider when your wedding is; is it during the summer, spring, fall or winter? Or, what is you and lover's favorite colors? Many times I've seen brides trying to "match" a color they've chosen. especially for their bridal party, stationery and reception. Why not use the same color, but in different hues? Monochromatic colors can bring out a lot in a wedding just as well as complimentary colors.

I suggest trying your hand at some monograms... I'm here to help! If you are running into some trouble, comment or email me! Try it.. I'm sure you will like it!