Sarah Nielsen » wedding

new gift card holder design

sarah — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:09:58 +0000

Hi. Remember how I used to blog? Well, I’m ready to do that again.

At the last minute, I decided to be a vendor at the July Jubilee in College Station so I’m working around the clock getting ready. This is my first official craft fair – I’m excited to give it a try. I think the part I’m most excited for is decorating my booth. I’ll share details about that coming up.

But for now… here is a sneak peek at a new product I’m making. It’s a gift card holder that fits in a regular envelope (unlike my accordion style gift card holders). The idea came to me when my mom ordered a handful of gift card holders for upcoming weddings this summer but I knew at least one of the weddings she wasn’t going to attend. So how would she mail the accordion gift card holder? So I made a flat one.

The idea is still new and I’m working out the kinks, but I’m close. I hope to have some at July Jubilee in a couple of weeks. Here’s what I have so far:

This gift card holder is 4″ by 6″ and fits in a standard size envelope for easy mailing.

Inside, there are a handful of papers with different words on them.

Then there is the pocket to hold the gift card (or check or cash or whatever).

After the pocket, is a page to write a note to the recipient.

Doesn’t it make you want to give a gift card? I thought so.

Now it’s back to work for me. Come and visit the craft fair if you are in the area. You can find details on their website as well as in my sidebar. See you at the fair!

wedding guest book

sarah — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:00:20 +0000

Here’s another recent handmade guest book I made. The bride, Jill, wanted a gold cover. This was a first for me, but I found the perfect golden silk without much trouble. Beautiful, don’t you think? The guest book is bound with the oatmeal waxed linen thread. Inside, the endsheets were golden with a white damask-type pattern on them. Of course I used my favorite franfurt paper for the guests to sign. A few engagement photos printed in color were distributed throughout the guest book.

So elegant!

Here’s to you, Jill and Garyn!

(side note: I taught Jill piano lessons when I was in high school and she was in elementary school! That feels like ages ago)

wedding guest book

sarah — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:02:12 +0000

I really enjoy making wedding guest books.

Kristina’s wedding colors were purple and green. Since purple was more favorite than green, that’s what I went with for the cover. I found a beautiful lavender silk for the front and back covers. Frankfurt paper is on the inside (my favorite!). The endsheets were white with a black paisley design. I bound it with slate gray waxed linen thread. The happy couple’s engagement photos were mounted throughout the guest book and they (the couple and the photos) were amazing. Professional pics in the guest books always look better than snapshots. Of course I delivered the book in a muslin bag.

Wishing you the best, Kristina!

wedding guest book: leah & eliot

sarah — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:05:50 +0000

Just finished up this custom wedding book for Leah & Eliot way over in the UK. Leah had such a beautiful vision of what she wanted her guest book to be and I think I made it reality.

The covers are covered in a cotton fabric with a white lacy pattern printed on it. I used my favorite paper for the inside – frankfurt white. It has the most beautiful texture and feel to it. Every other page has a photo of the bride and groom on it. Opposite those pages we included some of Leah’s favorite quotes about love and marriage. One of the great things about the link stitch binding that I use to sew my wedding guest books is this: it lays completely flat. The binding will never break or crack or fall apart. Plus, the braiding on the spine is beautiful.

Congratulations, Leah and Eliot! I wish you all the best!

wedding guest book

sarah — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:07:57 +0000

This is a sneak peek for Britten who ordered one of my handmade wedding guest books from PersonalizeYourWedding.com (my website). She chose a chocolate brown silk cover with butterscotch colored waxed linen thread binding. I added a title page at the front with a photo and their names, wedding date, and location. It turned out beautifully! I used my favorite paper – Frankfurt white – on the inside. It has the most luxurious texture. Really beautiful.

One surprise came Friday when I was ready to ship it off. I was all out of the cellophane bags I typically package my guest books in. Since I was going out of town for the weekend, I really wanted to get it shipped off before I left. I scrounged through my supplies to find something – anything – to make it beautiful.

[Confession: I often spend more time packaging my products than I do making them!]

Then I found it. Muslin. Ha! I made a little pouch for the guest book out of muslin and tied it up with jute twine. Not bad, eh? I’m thinking I should do this from now on. Forget the plastic bags! The muslin pouch really completed the look.

Thanks for the order Britten! Wishing you the best on your wedding day!

wedding guest book

sarah — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:41 +0000

Like I mentioned before, this guest book is in my top favorites.

Can you blame me?

Check out those endsheets. And the aqua silk covers. And the well thought out details with the song lyrics and engagement photos.

Working with Alison to design this guest book was such a treat. Thank you Alison! Happy wedding!

wedding guest book sneak peek

sarah — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:51:15 +0000

I love making books. Especially when I know the person who owns the book loves it as much as I do. That’s one reason working for Alison was such a joy! I just shipped her guest book to her this afternoon so I’m only posting a few photos now – I don’t want to spoil her surprise. More photos later. I promise. The guest book is beautiful and one of my favorites (ever!). I’ll post all the juicy details next week.

wedding guest book

sarah — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:30:22 +0000

Just finished a wedding guest book today… for my brother! Are they cute, or what? (the happy couple, that is)

The great thing about the guest book is that it opens completely flat. The binding will never crack or break or fall apart – no matter how many guests sign it. I used extra material from her sash for the cover, engagement photos throughout the inside, and a luxurious, velvety paper for the guests to sign. Are you jealous?

Do you know anyone who needs a guest book? For a wedding, birthday, baby shower, bridal shower, anniversary?

front cover! (sort of)

admin — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:44:45 +0000

It’s official. I’m #18.

My June issue of Our Wedding just arrived in the mail and I’m thrilled to be idea #18 of 50 ways to personalize your wedding. So if you are in the Sacramento area, go pick up your free copy or order one online. Thank you, Our Wedding, for including me!

Or you can head straight to the best place for personalized guest books.

photo in wedding magazine

admin — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:48:07 +0000

Sacramento Magazine contacted me and are using one of my guest book photos in their wedding magazine in June. I’ll post photos of the issue in June. Really exciting!

Do you need a guest book for anything? A birthday? A baby shower? A wedding? I happen to know where you can order one…