For anyone that is interested I have moved my blog over to hellohappypaper.wordpress.com

yay! and it looks super cute so far. :) Hope to see you there!

XOXO Maria

Bespoke Design - Winter ONEderland

I have had the amazing pleasure of working with this client on multiple things. I've done her wedding programs, baby shower, and now her baby boys 1st birthday! Even though we have never met, i feel like we have been friends for years. And weirdly enough she actually lives a few minutes away from me...so we've probably been at the same line at Target. I mean Im there every week, the odds are pretty high. Anywho. This is what I designed for her Winter ONEderland themed birthday for Rocco...Hope you love it as much as I do!

For the love of Kate

My husband definitely knows who he's married to. This was my birthday gift a few months ago, but I just needed to share. Because they are magical. Now when you say the word magical, you have to whisper it. If not it looses its magicalness... yep, thats a word. How much do you love the orange shoe lace caps?!?

Big changes are coming!

I've been thinking a lot about my itty bitty company, and what I want my "brand" to be. How can I stand out in this world of stationery in a way thats different but still me? In order for my company to be successful, I have to really love everything that I sell and what my company is to the outside world...at least I think so. I've been struggling lately with the look of my company. What do I want it to feel like? Do I really like the name? Eh. Is this whole look me? Ugh... Is it a mac or a pc? That question should answer itself. I get so overwhelmed when I see other companies that have great names and a great brand. I ask myself, what is it thats making them so awesome? Why do I secretly hate them so much? And after days of stressing it hit me. Its because they know who they are. They picked a side and they stuck with it.

If you know me, and a lot of you probably don't, at least personally, but lets play along. You know that I've never really had a definitive style per say. Its hard as a graphic designer to really have a style, at least for me. Theres so many styles out there that I like, how can I pick JUST one! For our wedding it took me 4 months to pick the freaking colors! How could I?!? Have you SEEN the pantone book...its magical! I almost had a nervous breakdown just doing the invitations. In my mind, this was it, I only had one shot to design them, and they had to be perfect. They had to have every single thing I loved about every invitation I ever saw. Do you understand how much unrealistic pointless pressure I put on myself! You see what I have to deal with on a daily basis...in my mind! Breath.

Going back to my company. So I came to the realization that I really need to start treating this like my full time job... aside from my other full time job. If Im really gonna do this at some point, I have to start laying a strong foundation (see hunny I know about construction!). So I started to think... If I am a brand, what would my name be? Now this name has to really be me, it has to make me smile, it has to make you smile, and it has to give a little light as to what my style is. So after weeks of writing down names, a little bit of crying (listen PS-I love you was on, your a freak if you don't cry!), I think I have it. And it makes me smile... and for the first time, it feels like me...

Ps- Im still deciding if I want to go with paper, studio, or design. But thats a tiny detail. Im leaning towards paper and just adding the words design studio in other places. Cuz the word paper makes me happy.

More to come! Next come brand colors...hello panic attacks! 

All about the OMBREEEEE

If I were to do it again, I would totally do this. Gotta love the neon ombre.

I heart doilies...

I dont know what it is, but whenever I see a craft or print with doilies I just love it! It could be the martha in me...

So a few weeks ago I had a client that wanted a fun, vintage, whimsical, modern wedding invitation that maybe incorporated lace somehow. Thats a pretty tall order. So I thought, aha! doilies! And this is what I came up with...thoughts. I kind of love it, but thats just me... and I did design it myself... so maybe Im just a tad biased.

Banner Happy

Im so in love with banners right now, I want to see them everywhere! Next up will be confetti!!!

Let me know what you think of these... would love to hear your thoughts.

What will it bee?

A few weeks ago I finished this really fun project I did for a client of mine. Weirdly enough she lives only a few minutes away from me and we've never met. She was probably that girl in DSW that took the shoes I wanted... I had just put them down for a second! Anyways, I had done her wedding programs a few months earlier and was so happy when she contacted me to do her baby shower. Her baby shower theme was a bumble bee and chevron! She didn't need to ask me twice to do this, i mean, she had me at chevron. I was so happy that she wanted something fun and whimsical for her designs, and so many pieces! Its so much fun to see everything come together. If only Martha Stewarts' photographer was there to photograph everything. I just hope I get to do more of these! I wonder if I can find the shoes online...

currently working on...

As I am sitting here at my desk, waiting for my latest order to print. I thought I would share it with you. :) These is a save the date design I just finished doing for the lovely bas and bunny. And the rubber stamp I custom designed and had made as a gift for her order. I love the idea of branding weddings, haha :) Hope you like!

Just a little something...

I just wanted to share with you guys the latest custom design I just finished! I just love how happy it is. This bride has become one of my favorites so far. This is the third invitation I design for her wedding events, and she really wanted it to be a fun one. I think it is... hope you like it! Of course they are being paired with red envelopes too!!! Yeyyyyy! They make me think of paper straws and lemonade. I dont know why lemonade...