Spring Color Combo: Poppy Red & Linen

Pantone has included both "poppy red" and "linen" in its list of spring colors for 2013 - and its certainly true that it's easy to find both of these colors on the fashion runways! Incorporate this classic color scheme into almost any spring event (weddings, Valentine's Day - even Easter, if you're open to changing out traditional white lily decor for some brilliant red poppies)!

Poppies are easy flowers to fake with crepe paper or fabric, making it a breeze to decorate (under budget!) for any occasion. Play up texture within the neutral beige color to add dimension - string a paper or fabric banner of triangle flags, and use a linen tablecloth with visible threads.

This color scheme would also be beautiful in the fall, or even for winter holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas!

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Shameless Plug Time: Love this color combination? Looking for custom stationery made to match these colors (or whatever other color combinations you're using for your event)? Visit Invites by Andrea to view more samples, download a catalogue pdf, or fill out a design request form. Or shoot me an email to ask me your questions or learn more information.

Sunday Sample Spotlight: "Copper Country"

Copper is a great neutral that often unfairly gets the shaft in favor of more traditional colors like gold or silver - but unlike gold and silver, which often feel cool and standoffish due to their yellow or blue undertones, copper is all about warmth.

"Copper Country" Invitation Duo (invite & reply card)

Think of copper as a metallic, elegant brown that has all sorts of nostalgic homey associations attached to it - like old copper pots in the kitchen, antique Christmas ornaments, and the good ol' days when a quaint copper penny could actually buy a gumball or piece of candy at the barber shop. :)

For this stationery set, I took those nostalgic associations and gave them a more modern feel by increasing the scale of the somewhat boxy (but still elegant) pattern into a bold, graphic design - and by using Helvetica for all of the stationery's text. In the case of the reply card, I even used the pattern on only one side of the design, creating a modern asymmetrical composition.

This stationery set uses a metallic copper-colored petal-fold envelope and matching reply envelope, textured copper cardstock, and crisp white paper.

Copper is also a great color option for fall holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving - the base of the color is a warm orange-brown that mimics the falling leaves, but the metallic shine of the copper gives it a more elegant feeling that's great for the holiday season.


Next week's Sunday Sample Spotlight: "Le Moulin Rouge"


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Shameless Plug Time: Love this invitation (or others featured on this blog)? Want something similar (or something completely custom) designed for your event? Visit Invites by Andrea to view more samples, download a catalogue pdf, or fill out a design request form. Or shoot me an email to ask me your questions or learn more information.

Fancy/Funky Friday: Patterns Catherine & Flora

Aren't long holiday weekends the best? Celebrate Thanksgiving with today's pattern post!

First, the "fancy": Pattern Catherine

Why it's "fancy": Calligraphic lines (lines that vary in thickness), loops, and a diamond-like repetition.

Why it's great: The lowercase d's are a little obvious - made all the more so because they often don't quite connect with each other. I love the thin bits of negative space that rest between the serif of one d and the "counter" (circular part) of the next.


And now, the "funky": Pattern Flora

Why it's "funky": The individual pattern "units" are thick, bold, and graphic - and leave lots of negative white space in between!

Why it's great: The flower-like shapes are made of extremely large commas, and the shapes that look like wings are made of lowercase c's.

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Shameless plug time: Love my patterns? I incorporate them into a lot of the artwork I create, from stationery for Invites by Andrea to the watercolors I paint. Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these patterns in use or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!

Thanksgiving Color Combo #2

Yesterday I showed you a more traditional Thanksgiving color scheme - analogous colors red, orange, and yellow. Today's color scheme is still festive and beautifully autumn, but packs an unexpected lime green punch.

Though lime green is not one of the more obvious Thanksgiving color choices, it works beautifully with yellows and rusty orange-browns, and there are plenty of typical Thanksgiving dishes that can be spruced up with lime green to complete your table. Add green leaves or slices of pear or lime to the plate of turkey, and use fresh leaves of spices like cilantro or basil in your stuffing. Finally, serve vegetables like green beans and thin baby carrots (or puree them to make a delicious soup) for more pops of color.

For decoration, pick orange and green gourds, or cluster a bowl full of pears and lime green fabric leaves at the center of the table. Add names to pear stems to mark each person's spot at the table, and run a long lime green table runner underneath the groaning plates of food. In dim candlelight, and surrounded by green accents, glasses of white wine will look perfectly matched to the rest of your decor.

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Shameless Plug Time: Love these color combinations? Looking for custom stationery made to match these colors (or whatever other color combinations you're using for your event)? Visit Invites by Andrea to view more samples, download a catalogue pdf, or fill out a design request form. Or shoot me an email to ask me your questions or learn more information.

Thanksgiving Color Combo #1

Getting ready for Thanksgiving and looking for decor ideas and color schemes? Then you're in luck, because today and tomorrow I'm showing off two color combos, each based on a different photograph I've taken.

Today's color combo: Mackinac Island Sunset!

This color combo is perfect for autumn in general - and Thanksgiving in particular - since it so closely resembles the color of the leaves on the trees and much of the food you'll be serving on the table. Red, orange, and yellow is a great analogous color scheme and instantly brings to mind pumpkins, squash, stuffing, and a deliciously browned turkey - but don't feel limited to just the traditional foods! Add some red or yellow peppers to your stuffing, or make an amazing appetizer quiche (wrapped in bacon!) to further play up the bright colors of sunset.

For decor, the options are pretty much limitless. Use food (orange and lemon slices, pumpkins and gourds), nature (bright-colored flowers, tree branches, acorns, pinecones), candles, and fabric to add more punches of color throughout your table.

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Shameless Plug Time: Love these color combinations? Looking for custom stationery made to match these colors (or whatever other color combinations you're using for your event)? Visit Invites by Andrea to view more samples, download a catalogue pdf, or fill out a design request form. Or shoot me an email to ask me your questions or learn more information.