Packaging Inspiration

I've been really looking at ways to improve my packaging and branding design. My goal is to streamline all of my products so that I have a cohesive "line" and every item is clearly from Believe Notes. Right now my packaging is kind of blah, and totally all over the place - it is definitely in need of some organization and streamlining.

At the moment, I wrap all of my items in tissue paper and then add a ribbon and a label. That's it. Best part? The ribbon doesn't even go with my brand colors. While it doesn't look bad, it just doesn't fit my overall brand theme, which is clean, simple and modern. If you order something from me today, this is most likely how your item will arrive:

Not bad, but not amazing either.

When I first started my business I was definitely concerned with the costs of everything and so my packaging evolved out of items I already had on hand, which was cost effective. As time has gone on, I have realized that part of operating a business means spending money; you know the phrase "you have to spend money to make money".  So the past few weeks (ok, you got me, it's been months) I've been investing in my company. The next investment I need to make is in the packaging department.

Here are some pictures (thank you pinterest!) that are helping me make my final packaging decisions:

Sally J. Shim

Bakers Twine from Cute Tape

originally spotted on The Dieline

from Oh, Hello Friend

So there you have it, my inspiration for meeting my goals during project "revamp packaging". I plan on sticking to my colors of white, orange, cream and aqua - while using fun little details. All to ensure that, when receiving an order from Believe Notes, it's almost too pretty to open. Almost.

Kitchen Remodel: A Prelude

I've been a homeowner now for a year and a half. It sort of feels like no time, and then it also feels like forever.

I'm super happy with the home Mr. Law and I decided to purchase, and it was an incredibly hard decision to make. We looked at houses on Long Island, where we were both born and raised (and where our hearts still reside), we looked at condos (and almost bought one) in stunning pre-war buildings that were total restorations (aka gut-jobs), and then reality set in and we decided to purchase something that maybe wasn't our dream home, but it was our perfect first home. So, we now call our little two bed and two bath condo home sweet home, and we love it.

Our unit was the least updated unit in our entire development, so we knew right from the start that we would need to be doing some updating. We knew the two bathrooms and the kitchen needed total remodels. They were originals from the early 80s when the condo was built. Ick!

Within three months of moving in we decided to redo our main bathroom, here are the before and after pictures of the bathroom:

ps- we did eventually find a light fixture to go above the mirror!

Next on the renovation hit-list is the kitchen. We had planned on doing it this past fall, but we've had a few other things pop up that have caused us to push the reno into mid-January. It's ironic because the one and only thing the previous owners updated in our unit was the hardwood floors; and luck would have it that our neighbors had a leak and all of our floors buckled. Right now we are having it out with the insurance company to get our floors replaced. We are hoping to have that done before the kitchen work starts.

I'm hoping that once the floors are done I'll actually be able to start updating the rest of our home. I had partially done the living room, which I talked about in this post, and I'm really upset that after all of the hard work to build our TV unit, the sucker needs to be taken apart in order to have the floors done over. Just my luck. I've decided not to do any other decorating or anything until the floors are done, it's just too much of a pain to take everything apart.

Anyway, back to the kitchen....I'm looking forward to this project the most. Our kitchen is a disaster. It's a tiny little "pocket" kitchen, as one of our friends once put it. But even if she is pocket sized, she is super efficient!

Here are some pictures of our kitchen as it is now (don't mind the mess, I was preparing dinner when the pictures were snapped):

Makes you want to puke a little, right?

We've decided to go with white painted wood cabinets, quarts counters, glass tile backsplash and stainless appliances. I can't wait to see the finished product!

Here are some of our inspiration pictures (more can be found on my kitchen board on pinterest)

So, even though things are stressful right now, I keep telling myself: "February, February, February. It'll all be over in February."

Alright everybody, enjoy the rest of your Monday! 

What's Inspiring Me?

It's Sunday night on a holiday weekend, which means no work tomorrow! So I'm staying up late working on finishing some design work and I find myself completely smitten with Adam Levine & Maroon 5. I've always been a fan of their music, but for some reason these two new songs just made me realize that I love them.

So, thank you Maroon 5, Adam Levine, Gym Class Heroes, and (dare I say) Christina Aguilera for the inspiration to keep me up late tonight!

Enjoy!

Happy Friday!

While for many of you Friday means a weekend to hang out, relax and do nothing (blissfully), weekends for me mean catching up on design projects and house chores.

This poster always keeps things real for me; and this weekend I sure hope to enjoy myself!



"Inspire Your Work Poster" from Departika

So, cut yourself some slack this weekend and enjoy life! You can always vacuum later!

Ahhhh-mazing Wedding Gifts!

Some people have a really hard time trying to figure out what gifts to give, and when it comes to weddings the Bride and Groom usually make it really easy for guests because they have registries. But, believe it or not, some people don't like to get gifts off registries.

When my fiance's cousin got married this past August, I wanted to get her something amazing. She's an amazing person and has become just as much a family member to me as she is to my fiance. Not that I want to brag or anything, however, I think I got her the most amazing wedding gift ever. First I did some snooping into their honeymoon, and then once I had the details, I reached out to an amazing photographer to organize a honeymoon photo shoot as the wedding gift. The pictures came out amazing, and it was pretty easy to set up.

Here's the beautiful couple, all photos were taken by Good Karma Photography.

Some other fab gift ideas:

• Book the new husband and wife a romantic dinner for two at a restaurant during their honeymoon.
• Upgrade their flight to first class
• Upgrade their hotel room for them
• Put together a booklet of gift cards to really good local restaurants, for them to use in the months after their wedding
• Book a special "anniversary" trip for the couple on their one-year anniversary. Maybe send them to a local winery or bed and breakfast
• Book a photo shoot for the new couple a few months after the wedding

Alright folks, happy gifting!!

Let's Talk Flowers

Some brides believe flowers are the most important aspect of their big day. I beg to differ, first off the groom should be the most important aspect, and then secondly...well, secondly is 'everything else', which probably includes flowers.

As a bride, or a non-bride, as my friends say, I too am facing the floral challenge. Generally speaking, I love flowers, I think they make a stunning addition to my dining room table, or on my wine cabinet and so on. My dad has several beautiful white peony bushes in the backyard, and a bunch of gorgeous white and green hydrangea plants in the front garden, so the flowers in my home are usually from his garden. Let's not forget my grandmother-in-law, who has the Garden of Eden in her tiny Bronx backyard....she's incredibly generous in giving me some fresh clippings through the season. I like the flowers, but I wouldn't spend $100+ for them - as I have learned sometimes these things cost that much.

So my dilemma begins. I met with a fabulous florist yesterday to talk about my own wedding. I don't need a ton of flowers by any means - and I planned my wedding that way for a reason. Yet, for a very minimal amount of flowers, I feel like I need to be eating pork-and-beans for the next 4 months. Yikes!

On my way home from meeting with the florist, I had a thought - a fleeting, possibly insane idea. Maybe I can groove up on DIY flowers for the wedding? Here are some of my floral inspirations for the wedding, and I don't think it looks to hard....does it?

Remember, my tables are looooong and are going to feature tons and tons of candles - similar to the three above pictures. So I don't need a ton of flowers. I love the bold yet romantic feel of the tulips, and I love the idea of making a bunch of very small flower clusters to be scattered amongst the candles.

Here are a few more things I love....

I adore the cluster of peonies in the little glass.

I think clustering single blooms might be a great way for me to achieve maximum bang for buck.

I've been researching online flower wholesalers, just out of curiosity. The prices are obviously fabulous compared to the high-end florists that scatter NYC and Long Island. While right now my wallet is pulling me to the "click here" florals, my mind its usual "what if?" game. What if I buy flowers online and they arrive dead and without a plan B. What if I buy flowers online and find myself too overwhelmed the day before the wedding to put each stem in a vase. What if this, and what if that....

Hmmmm, stay tuned to hear more of my internal struggle....

Oh SNAP!

I MUST make these! And I think you should too!

 

Strawberry Sunday CUPCAKES! 

Shut up, how ridiculously perfect are these!

I'll be making my own very soon, but if you'd like to make your own, visit the recipe here.

PS - this whole recipe was apparently inspired by the little paper straws. Perfect, right, because my blog is meant to be about paper!

Hello and Goodbye Holidays

OH EM GEE

(I had to do that, mostly because it's just so obnoxious)

I can't believe it's all over already! And worst part is I didn't get to blog about any of the chaos, I mean fun.

Here are some highlights of things I browsed throughout December...

Here are a few snaps of a beautiful winter wedding that was featured on Style Me Pretty. 
I love all of the clear candle holders and the beautiful glow that they cast. I am hoping to achieve a very similar feel for my wedding - and have already started saying my prayers to the Wind Gods to please not blow out all my candles!!!

This post was on 100 Layer Cake, which is normally an inspiration for me when designing stationary products, but this time I've fallen in love with the bottom Christmas cake!! I mean, there is just something magical to me about a simple white cake with winter berries. Maybe it has to do with my insane sweet tooth, but either way I love, love love.

Here is an image that really made me go "Wow". Made me think a little bit of Katy Perry, a little bit of my own wedding, and a whole lot of FUN!  (you'll be hearing more about sparklers from me in the near future, BTW)

 

 Here is a post from the new blog for Sugar Paper, which is an AMAZING stationary group. Totally inspirational, and I hope to some day have a little business like these. They posted a little sneak peak into their production of holiday cards.

Alright, that's all I've got for right now. I figured I would end on a note of the stationary kind, as that is what I'm all about, right? 

Coming soon....I can't wait to talk to you about my first Christmas with Mr. Law, and the new pup (you didn't think you'd get away from a Juliet picture, did you?). Also we have entered 2011, which means that after three years of being engaged, the year of getting married has finally arrived. Planning is in FULL force, so be warned that over the next five months this blog may be transformed into a wedding blog in addition to a stationary one. 

Oh, and big changes are coming, which will be discussed more when I tell you about my Christmas. 

Yay!

I should be packing but....

Instead I would rather be looking at some of my favorite online distractions.

So I know this is a stationary/paper product blog, and trust me, I've been doing a TON of designing, but not a whole ton of printing, since my printer is currently buried among the moving boxes. It will be unearthed soon though, since tomorrow is the BIG day- closing!!- and then moving over the weekend!! Yippie!!

In the meantime, while I wait for my partner in crime to show up with his mothers van to pack, I've been browsing to keep my mind busy...


Have you seen this before? Now that I'll have my own kitchen I MUST try some of these desserts!! Adorable!!!

How about anything from this blog? I'm totally in love - and can't wait to try - recipes from Modern Foodie.

I always vowed to stay away from Martha Stewart, but I'm sorry, these cupcakes make me giddy!

Alright, since I am watching the waistline, thanks to the wedding dress search, I must move away from the food blogs....

This is one of my favorite, favorite, favorite blogs. Makes me feel all warm and dreamy inside....makes me want to sing and dance...makes me want to make everything prettiful!


Hope you all enjoy the updates as much as I do! Tomorrow, when you think you are having the most stressful day ever, just think of me moving into my first place and take a deeeeep inhale- I guarantee I will be a trillion times more stressed than you!

Happy Easter!

This may be my last Easter spent living at home with my parents. While I'm super excited to be moving to my new home, I'm also sad to be leaving the coziest place I know: Mom & Dad's house.

Growing up my mom always had great craft ideas. Easter was (and still is) one of my favorites. As my brother and I have grown up, my mom has also grown out of her kiddie crafts; and while we still have a wooden Easter train that my dad carved when we were kids, we haven't dyed eggs in years. One tradition that we still hang on to is the famed Easter Bunny Cake. It's a simple cake made in the shape of a bunny, with lovely pink ears and fuzzy coconut fur. Yum yum!!

Here are some fun websites I've stumbled onto while looking for Easter ideas I can go once I am moved out:

-This is by far my FAVORITE idea, and I will certainly make these fun Easter Egg Cake Pops next year!!
-I'm very into the whole 'green' idea of living. Therefore I am madly in love with the idea of using all natural ingredients to make egg dye. 
-Drooling over these egg 'dresses'.
-How adorable is the pom-pom bunny tail on these DIY Easter Bags?
-What's better than peeps? Um, how about peeps in hot chocolate! So adorable!

Hope everybody has a fantastic weekend!!!

Oh- and here's a picture of the prized Bunny Cake...

Things I Adore...

Now that NYC is finally seeing the sun again, I can go back to being my bippity-boppity self :).

So next week (cross your fingers and knock on all things holy and wood) my fiance and I will be closing on our very first home. We're excited, nervous, thrilled, and anxious (just to name a few). Of course being me, I've been browsing constantly for decorating inspiration. My newest obsession is the day bed. Don't ask me why, but I think I must own one for the spare bedroom.

ps- if you know of any great websites, please please let me know of them!!

 This one is from CB2, which is an awesome place for great prices and great designs.

 This bugger is soooo up my alley!! Of course, I think everything sold at West Elm is fab!

 

 *sigh* this is love at first sight. Love the orange, and the modern lines, the bolster pillow...Unfortunately I can't afford most of what I lust for when it comes to Design Within Reach

Why can't all day beds be so awesome??

For My Fellow Brides...

Alright, so maybe I'm not the best bride in the world. I hate frilly things & pink things. Planning has become a procrastination project...I mean really, I'm just too busy to be looking at dresses and flowers! Why do brides really need bouquets anyway, they just die!! So, you get the point, I'm more of the low-key, no frills type when it comes to planning my own wedding. In fact, when my fiance and I went to Vegas, our families were genuinely worried we might come back married. Of course we thought about it, but in the end I am a bride. I want a party, I want my family there, and I want a dress that will take the air from his lips.

So, believe it or not, I have some of my favorite sites/blogs that I visit frequently for my own wedding inspiration.

Although many brides love Style Me Pretty - and I do love it also - I am more in love with their Little Black Book blog.

100 Layer Cake - if you know me, you know I love cake, so there's no question I love this site!

I'm a DIY kinda gal, so this site tickles my fancy! IDIY

HOLY MOLY!! This site might be my all time favorite, and I am seriously considering getting the Mario inspired cake for my husband-to-be as a grooms cake! Blue Cupcake is heaven!!

Enjoy all!! Happy planning!

Just Thinking

Lately I've been totally entranced by super modern, uber graphic designs. I'm totally digging neutral backgrounds with POPS of bright color. Graphic patterns? Yes please! Funky fonts? Why not!! Mixing feminine with masculine, or dainty fonts with bold colors, flowers with stripes, I just love it! Simple graphics make my fingers tingle, and plain ol' typography designs certainly float my boat lately.

Here are some things that have been inspiring me lately:

 

I got these glasses for my best friend during the holidays, it was love at first sight. 

The simple use of fonts require no graphics at all; they are stunning on their own. 

These little puppies will certainly be a welcomed addition to my new home. 

The Dave Matthews Band. It saddens me to see this pictures, since it is so obviously missing LeRoi Moore; saxophonist and founding DMB member.  Sadly LeRoi passed away after an ATV accident. With or without Roi, the DMB is still my absolute favorite band. They've inspired almost everything I do in my life. Their music simply animates my soul. What I find most inspirational is their talent to combine simple melodies with complex jam sessions. Hmm..maybe I can capture some of that in my design work!

  

Cooking. It's colorful, flavorful and can be as healthy (or un-healthy) as your heart desires! 

The possibilities with food are as endless as the possibilities of design

I know the picture here is small, but the impact this has had on me is HUGE. Focus on the following, commit it to your memory:

FAIR TRADE COFFEE

Short Clip on Fair Trade Coffee

What we are doing to the individuals who cultivate our coffee is more than scary; it's in humane.

Third-world workers devestate their land in order to provide coffee (for pennies) to large coffee corporations. Coffee harvesters in South America can barely afford to survive on the wages they are paid by US coffee companies. 

These large corporations then turn around and sell the coffee for nearly 500% profit. 

Cut out the corporation and purchase fair trade coffee; which guarantees the coffee farmer will be compensated directly and fairly. The coffee is generally completely organic, extremely tasty, and less expensive! Just look for the above label when buying coffee.

Best part, they now sell fair trade organic coffee at Target!

Last, but MOST DEF not least, my largest source of inspiration right now comes from, you guessed it, getting engaged. My ring is a true one-of-a-kind antique ring estimated at nearly 100 years old! It's pretty cool, the way it's made is extremely different than any jewelry today, and I'm proud of that. To me, this ring exhibits everything I stand for. It's awesome looking, it's of a quality that just doesn't exist anymore, and, since it's essentially 'used' I feel like I did good to the planet (and by 'I', I really mean my fiance). I'm constantly inspired by the man I plan to marry, the wedding we've been cooking up together, and the life we want to lead. 

So, what inspires YOU?!