The Little Things

Happy National Dog Day!

 
Today is National Dog Day, and we think it's a great excuse to celebrate our four-legged furbabies and friends!  Man's best friend deserves a few perks afterall, right?

In celebration, my own oldest Sarah (top right) is sporting her lovely new Terra Stripe collar, and youngest furbaby Lucy is rocking the Mehdni Pailsley collar.  If you think your four-legged best friend could use a new look for the fall, check out all of our collar designs available!

Is your dog a glamour pup?  Indulge her with a bath with one of our luxurious (and delicious-smelling) shampoo & conditioners.

Your pup not a fashionista?  You can always "treat" him or her right with one of our gourmet dog treats in a cute retro tin- available in bacon or peanut butter flavor.

If you prefer to make your own dog treats, you might enjoy investing in a cookbook with dog recipes like this one from Three Dog Bakery.  I have this book and my dogs LOVE the recipes inside!  And everyone deserves a homemade treat every once in awhile, right?  Woof!  (I mean, yes!)... so go ahead, spoil them!

Another great option for any pupalup is a chew toy that says "I'm WILD about you!" - like one of these animal print dog bones (in varying animal print options)!

No matter how you show it- let your four-legged best friend know how much you love them today!  Happy National Doggie Day!

"Dogs have given us their absolute all.  We are the center of their universe.  We are the focus of their love and faith and trust.  They serve us in return for scraps.  It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made."  ~Roger Caras

Finn's First Birthday

This featured custom design is a 1st Birthday Party theme that you could really get carried away with!

Here is the invitation we made for Finn's First Birthday... We're all ON BOARD for party details, but our customer Laura really outdid herself with this one!  Just look at the attention she paid to even the littlest things- from the handmade table runner and decorative sailboat she used on the deck (top right), to the party favors (little pails of goldfish and gummy sharks), to the matching water bottles (we printed the labels), sailing flag decorations, and nautical-themed cupcake toppers!  We LOVE how she used goldfish on the cake to really brighten it up and further incorporate the nautical theme (as well as a kid-friendly snack favorite)!

Great job, Laura!  We love this birthday party theme, and it looks like Finn had a good time too!  Thank you so much for sharing!

Have we done a custom invitation design for your party?  Want the chance to be featured on our blog?  Email us photos of the invitation and details!  If your party is selected to be featured, you'll receive a $20 gift card from Calligraphy Etc.!  Now THAT'S a party favor!

Rushing to Go Greek

It's that time of year again... The excitement of school is in the air, and so is the time honored tradition of Rush Week!  For those seeking Academic Excellence, Involvement and Leadership, Community Service and Philanthropy, and Sisterhood and Friendship, these are no little things... They're great big things (but we can celebrate those too)!

If you're RUSHING to go GREEK, then you'll definitely need all the gear to show off your letters proudly on campus!  

We're really LOVING these products from Inviting Company- The travel mugs, frost flex cups, folded notes (which can be personalized), and luggage tags!  You love them too?  You can get them HERE.

  

 

We're also excited about these perforated sorority notepads from Noteworthy Collections.  For Just $10 more, you can even add a name to customize it even more!

Once your bid card is signed, sealed, and delivered, you  might also want to show off your new sorority on paper with one of these Personalized Sorority Stamps from PSA.

Whether you need a gift for a Big Sis, Lil' Sis, or for Yourself... these are great ideas!

New Blog Celebration!

POST UPDATE (August 24, 2010):

Thank you to everyone for your comments on the blog!  We're excited to be sharing new products and inspiration with you and hope you'll check back often for more ideas (and more giveaways)! 

Congratulations to Cynthia M for winning the personalized stamp from PSA!

If you didn't win but you still have your heart set on a personalized stamp, you still get them HERE (or just wait until we give another one away)!

Thanks again for checking out our blog!  Come back and see us soon!

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Welcome to the Calligraphy Etc. blog, The Little Things!  That's what life is all about anyway, right? 

We're so excited to have a place to share some of our custom invitation designs, party ideas and inspiration, product giveaways, and more! 

Speaking of giveaways... to kick things off, we're going to be giving away a FREE CUSTOMIZED PERSONAL STAMP!  Want one?  Just make a comment on the blog and you'll be entered to win!  Sounds easy?  It is!

Just think... with your new stamp, you could make your own cards and stationery, stamp a return address on your envelopes, create custom gift tags, and so much more. You'll totally impress your friends with all of the adorably domestic paper goods you'll be able to stamp and personalize.  If you win, you can choose from any of the designs below. 

Prize includes the stamp body, personalized Peel & Stick rubber stamp attachment, black ink cartridge, and alignment tool (a $50 value).

Remember, all you have to do is leave a comment to be entered to win!  Thanks for stopping by and come see us again soon!

The winner will be randomly selected on Monday, August 23, 2010 and notified by email.

If you're not quite sure how the PSA Peel & Stick stamps work, just watch this video on our website - and prepare to be amazed!

Step Right Up!

When a customer approached us and asked if we could design her a custom carnival invitation for her sons' birthdays, we jumped at the chance... It's always fun to create something different and new!

Ticket shaped invitations have been all the rage around here lately, and we thought this theme would be the perfect opportunity to make one.

Notice the ticket # on the side (it's the party date), and how we used a combination of fonts and colors to create some visual interest?  Our customer really wanted to give her backyard carnival invitation a little ~oomph~, so we added this great red/white striped paper wrap and tied it up with blue embroidery floss to add even more drama to opening the invitation.

We couldn't be more pleased with how this one turned out, and our customer was pretty excited too.  Leanne, we can't wait to see photos of your backyard party!  Happy Birthday to the boys!

Interested in having us create a custom invitation for your party?  Email us and get the details on how it works!

calligraphy@sbcglobal.net

Happy S'mores Day!

What is August 10th?  Only a day to celebrate ooey, gooey, chocolatey-marshmallowy goodness squished between two graham crackers!  Happy National S'mores Day!

This campfire treat has been an American classic since it was first introduced in the Girl Scouts cookbook in 1927.  Not only are they delicious, making s'mores usually involves time with family and friends gathered around a campfire, so they're doubley sweet.  In fact, they're so addictive that people can't help but ask for "some more" most of the time!  While good old fashioned s'mores over a fire send our minds a droolin, over the past few years, I've noticed that these simple, tasty treats have been popping up at upscale restaurants too- like Whym (with the "S'mores-Wich").  Don't want to go out for a gourmet s'more?  You can order this Gourmet S'mores Kit online from Recchiuti for just $23.

Looking for "some more" ways to enjoy the marshmallowy-chocolate goodness?  Stray a little outside of the campfire with one of these cool recipes!  I'm thinking they ALL look divine...

S'mores Martini (courtesy of The Martini Diva)
1 Ounce Chocolate Vodka
1 Ounce Bailey's Irish Cream1 Ounce Cream de Cacao1 Ounce Vanilla Vodka 2 Ounces Heavy Cream
Toasted MarshmallowsGraham Crackers, Crushed Chocolate Syrup
Bamboo Skewers for Marshmallows Dip the rim of the glass in the chocolate syrup and then into the crushed graham crackers. Chill the glasses in the freezer. Pour all the remaining ingredients except the marshmallows into a martini shaker filled with ice and shake until well blended. Pour into your chilled glasses and drop in the toasted marshmallows.
Delicious photo courtesy of the Daily Herald

Max Brenner’s  S’mores (courtesy of Betty Confidential)

Max Brenner, owner of the international fun chocolate restaurant chain, said that, “The best way to eat S'mores is to bite into the s'more and let the chocolate drip down your face. The messier the tastier!" His yummy version is sort of a do-it-yourself fondue.
Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients:1 cup heavy cream
9 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
Marshmallows
Graham Crackers
Preparation:

Bring the cream to a boil. Pour over the milk chocolate in a heatproof bowl and stir until smooth. Roast the marshmallow to a crisp, dip it into the chocolate fondue and enjoy it between graham crackers.{According to Pocket Change - 10 Best S'mores, this recipe is considered "Best Fondue"!}

Johnathan Vallo's S'mores Cheesecake (courtesy of Phoenix New Times) ​Photo by Spring Eselgroth
Mix together for the crust:
1/2 c. - Graham Cracker Crumbs
1 Tbs. - Sugar1 oz. - Unsalted Butter (melted)
Press into 5" spring form pan and bake for 5-‐6 minutes @350°
Preparation for the filling:
In a double boiler melt 3 oz. - Milk Chocolate

Combine until smooth: 5 1/2 oz Softened Cream Cheese and 1/4 c. Sugar1 - Pinch of Salt

Slowly add 1/4 c. - Heavy Cream to Cream Cheese Mixture and mix until incorporated.  Slowly add Chocolate to Cream Cheese Mixture and mix until incorporated. Slowly incorporate 1 large Egg.

Pour Filling over pre--‐baked crust and bake for 30--‐35 minutes @ 325°

Preparation for the topping:

Whisk together:1/3 c. - Sugar

1 Large - Egg White
1 Tbs. - Water
1/4 tsp. - Cream of Tartar
Pinch of Salt

Set bowl on top of simmering saucepan and continue to whisk until mixture thickens. Whisk in four Large Marshmallows, cut into quarters.  Whisk in 1/8 tsp. Vanilla Extract.  Pour mixture on top of finished cheesecake and refrigerate for an hour before serving. For added flavor and presentation, lightly brown the top of the cheesecake using a brulée torch just before serving.And last but not least, a special S'meeps recipe!  What are s'meeps?  They're the perfect combination of Peeps and S'mores, just with an extra crunch of sugar and a happy dose of color.

S'meeps

(courtesy of Serious Eats, Adapted from Peeps: Recipes and Crafts to Make with Your Favorite Marshmallow Treat by Charity Ferreira.)

Makes 4
Ingredients:
4 Peeps (1 package)4 graham crackers, separated into 8 halvesFour 1-ounce squares semisweet or dark chocolate (depending on preference)
Procedure:1. Preheat the oven or toaster oven to 350°F. 2. Place a 1-ounce square of chocolate on 4 of the graham cracker halves. Top each chocolate with a Peep. Say your goodbyes.
3. Put your Peep sacrifice laden graham crackers on an aluminum foil covered tray and pop them in the oven for 2 to 3 minutes. Watch them carefully as toasting Peeps can turn into burn victims beyond repair in the blink of an eye. Vigilance!
4. Once the Peeps are toasted to your liking, take them out of the oven and squish them with a graham cracker half. Feast.
If the recipes weren't enough inspiration for you to throw your own S'mores soiree, check out this adorable S'mores favor idea that I ran across today (of all days): It's a DIY S'mores kit idea from Twig & Thistle.  I LOVE this idea!  It's so simple and yet so playful (and delicious)!  I'm envisioning these being a great wedding favor for a fall wedding or for a birthday "roast"... so clever!

Still haven't had enough s'mores?  Check out Hershey's website for recipes, tips, and a game to find out what kind of s'more you are (I was "Totally Toasty")  www.smoresfun.com

Happy National S'mores Day!

Birthday Fit for a Queen

We love it when our customer's use one of our custom invitation designs to build a party theme around!  An absolute favorite is this invitation for Kelly's 30th Birthday Casino Night. 

The invitation was comprised of 4 "playing cards" (the outer two posing as QUEENS and the inner two with the invitation text).  We even printed the back of the cards to make them look more realistic, and attached them with a small brad at the bottom so they would "fan" out.

The wording started with:

"Come help Kelly start her thirties off right,

with fun and games at a casino night!"

Kelly went all out with her party theme - everything pink and green to match the invitation!  Her friend Devetta made sugar cookies to look like playing cards and casino chips, and her friend Brandie made this great cake!  Kelly's husband Billy (an artist) even made a large HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLY sign as a backdrop for guests to get their photo taken at the party!  

Looks like a great party, Kelly!

Have we done a custom invitation design for your party?  Want to be featured on our blog?  Email us photos of the invitation and details, and we might feature your part on our blog!

If your party is selected to be featured, you'll receive a $20 gift card from Calligraphy Etc.!  Now THAT'S a party favor!

Magic Jelly Beans

Plant a bean and watch it grow, into something… magical!

I saw this on See Jane Blog and I fell in love with the idea!  She says it “only works” the night before Easter, but it’s just a fun idea that could also “only work” before a birthday, etc.  What a  SWEEEET idea!

1.  Buy some “magic” Jelly beans

2.  Plant them in your yard (only on the night that they “work”)

3.  The next morning, go see what grew!

Zesty Zinnia Gift!

Sometimes being on a budget can inspire the most resourceful and creative ideas.  One of my favorites was this flower arrangement I made for my friend Linda’s birthday.

Since I just seeded a batch of zinnias in my flowerbed, I thought it might be the perfect time to share this easy breezy floral project…  The container is actually an inexpensive cheese shaker that I bought on the grocery store’s “necessity” aisle for just $1.99.  I wrapped a small strip of cardstock around the base and then added the pink checked ribbon on top.  For the “tag”, I traced the shaker lid on cardstock and cut it out to fit just inside.  Then I inked/stamped it with birthday wishes. I also threaded a tiny piece of bead chain {about 1 inch long} through one of the shaker holes and hung it around the stem of one of the zinnias so it would hang just below the flowers… After I had it positioned, I just popped the cardstock greeting into the lid!  A few zinnias from the garden and viola! A perfectly adorable gift for less than $5.00!

{As an added bonus, the recipient can also enjoy the shaker once the flowers are past their prime!}

"Little Things"

Welcome to "the little things" blog!

Not everything we want to share with our friends on the web particularly fits into the “New Products” category on our website.  Or the “Latest Happenings”.  Or “Party Ideas”.  You get the picture.  Sometimes what we want to share is completely off-topic and utterly random… and now we have a place for it!  Dun-da-da-duuuun!  Congratulations, you've found the Calligraphy Etc. blog!

At Calligraphy Etc. we’re crazy about paper, but we’re also passionate about so many other things too- friends and family, nature, food, pets, vintage fabrics, antique books and paper, colors, textures, and SO much more!  Basically, we love the things that inspire LIFE and the “little happies” that make it fun and special- and we want to be a part of it!

{Hence the store motto:  Life is full of special events.  Let us help with yours.}

In line with that school of thought, we thought it might be fun for you (and us) to explore all of the little things that inspire us and make us want those special moments in life to be cherished.  Sometimes life is about the big things, but for the most part, it’s about the little things.  And the little things, collectively, are what make our life full and rich and colorful -and wonderful.  So cheers to the little things (with the inevitable slice of randomness on the side)!

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

- Robert Brault