Papier Gourmet

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2010-03-10T19:24:00.001-08:00

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Baby Fever

2010-03-02T18:22:00.000-08:00

So I got to hold a baby this morning who is only 10 days old and all I can say is I’ve got baby fever…again. And this time it’s bad, and I mean, REALLY bad. But who can blame me? With my own “baby” recently turning 5 a couple weeks ago (holy crap!), my youngest morphing from a baby into a toddler right before my eyes and so many friends popping out incredibly cute little bundles of joy (including the latest, a good friend & former PG employee...Congrats S&S on Little G!), one can only naturally be nostalgic for those early baby days. (Ok, so maybe my husband isn’t when it comes to the late night feedings, multiple diaper/outfit changes & spit-up but somehow us Moms have the ability to forget all that and focus only on the good parts, like the snuggling - that's my favorite!) So I figured what better way to treat my baby fever (at least temporarily) than by showing you all the fun baby things we have at Papier Gourmet! From baby shower invitations & birth announcements, to baby books & growth charts, thank you notes & brag books there are lots of things to help you prepare for your little’s ones arrival! Visit our Baby page for more info!

Elephant Tower Birth Announcement, Kate Spade Baby

Rag & Bone Growth Charts

Nesting Imprintable Baby Shower Invitation, Snow & Graham

Storytime Photo Announcement, Simply Put by Ashley Woodman

Loralin Baby Book Gift Set (Feed Me Nursing & Feeding Journal, Special Moments Journal & Look What I Got Journal)

Dragonfly Path Birth Announcement, Luscious Verde Baby

Photos courtesy of Kate Spade, Rag & Bone Bindery, Simply Put, Loralin, & Luscious Verde

Winter Wedding Promotions

2010-02-24T13:08:00.000-08:00

William Arthur Engraved Invitation, Photo courtesy of William Arthur

Every time I turn around these days I seem to be getting an email or fax with yet another incredible promotion from one of our great wedding invitation lines so I wanted to make sure that I shared them all with you so that you (or someone you know!) could take advantage of these ridiculous savings and cross yet another item off your never-ending wedding to list!

William Arthur Weddings Volume I & II, Vera Wang On Weddings & Rita Renning Weddings: Order 75, get 25 free through March 28th

Vera Wang Zinnia Invitation, Photo courtesy of William Arthur

Crane’s Classic Weddings, Crane’s Bliss, Crane’s Letterpress, Kate Spade Weddings & Martha Stewart Weddings: Order 50 & get free return address printing (or free engraving or letterpress dies) through April 12th

Martha Stewart Peony Wedding Suite, Photo courtesy of Crane's

Prentiss Douthit: Free return address printing on all orders through March 31st

Smock Letterpress: Free Save the Dates with a Wedding Invitation order OR Free return address printing on outer invitation envelopes through December 31st

Smock Rhon Letterpressed Invitation, Photo courtesy of Smock Paper

Checkerboard A Marry Occasion & Blue Moon: Order 25, get 25 free through March 28th

Checkerboard Thermographed Invitation with Ribbon, Photo courtesy of Checkerboard

The Perfect (last-minute) Valentine’s Day Gift

2010-02-12T13:03:00.000-08:00

Some people say that I can be hard to shop for because I’m, well, let’s just say ‘particular’...but these beautiful prints & mini wood blocks that just arrived from Kari Herer Photography would undoubtedly be a Valentine’s Day homerun in my eyes! Even though many of Kari’s works already adorn the walls in my own home, I always seem to find something new to go crazy for every time I look at her prints. So what’s my new favorite, you wonder? The ever so simple yet stunning white Anemone 2045. This one will surely make its way into my living room one way or another (ahem, hubby, I hope you read this between now & Sunday!).

However, you could make this year’s Valentine’s Day one to remember with one of these free-standing 4”x4” mini wood blocks ($18.95) or one (or maybe even a couple!) of the 5”x5” prints ($13.95). Happy Valentine’s Day!

Wedding Invitation FAQs, Part 2: Timeline

2010-02-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday everyone! Hopefully you all found Part 1 of our Wedding FAQs helpful so here is the second installment - Timeline. We are often asked about the timing of invitations from when to start looking, to when to mail Save the Dates, and when to order & mail invitations so we hope the FAQs & Timeline below will be helpful to you in your planning for your big day! Enjoy the weekend!

Q: When should I start looking for wedding invitations?
It is best to begin browsing for invitations early—the earlier, the better. Casually browsing through an array of albums will help generate ideas and allow you to “see what’s out there”. However, before you start browsing it is good to have a general idea of the type of event you are having (formal vs. casual), the location of the ceremony/reception, the number of guests and a general color-scheme.

Q: When should I order my invitations?
Once you finally select an invitation, an additional appointment is generally necessary to place the order so that you will have a sales associate’s undivided attention. Filling out our Wedding Invitation Worksheet in advance will make the ordering process go smoothly and also provide us with all the pertinent information. Our knowledgeable staff will provide you with guidance regarding proper wording and etiquette during this appointment.

Q: When should I mail my invitations?
A: Invitations should be mailed 6-8 weeks in advance of your wedding day. The enclosed reply card should request guest’s replies somewhere between 2 and 4 weeks before your wedding day.

Timeline
6-12 months before: Begin browsing for invitations, gathering ideas and price quotes. Simultaneously, look for Save the Dates (usually sent 6-9 mo. in advance of your wedding date).

4-6 months before: Narrow down your invitation selection and make an appointment to place your order. Once an order is placed, proofs are generally received within 2-5 business days. Upon proof approval, orders are usually shipped within 7-10 business days for flat printing and thermography or 2-4 weeks for engraving and letterpress. We generally recommend allowing 3-6 weeks to complete the ordering process.

8-10 weeks before: Upon receiving your invitations, take one to the post office to be weighed and purchase the proper postage including postage for the reply envelope. Address & assemble your invitations.

6-8 weeks before: Mail your invitations. Finalize orders for ceremony programs, tablecards, menus, placecards and favor packaging, if applicable.

2-4 weeks before: Keep track of responses as they are returned.

Photo courtesy of Studio Olivine.

Annual 20% off Sale

2010-02-03T20:09:00.000-08:00

If you are a bargain shopper like I am then you are going to love our Annual 20% off Storewide Sale* going on this Friday, February 5th & Saturday, February 6th. And it only gets better - we are joining together with Blanche & Mimi, a great home, bath & baby store just around the corner on Middle Street. So once you are done loading up on goodies at Papier Gourmet you can mosey on down the street, grab a cup 'o joe on the way & enjoy a 20% off storewide savings at B&M as well! The perfect opportunity to find that special gift for your Valentine! We hope to see you soon!

*Discount does not apply to the purchase of gift cards/certificates at either store. At Papier Gourmet, discount does not apply to special orders, current promotions & in-house printing services.

Designer Spotlight - Smock Paper

2010-02-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

If you are a lover of all things letterpress, like we are, then you are going to go ga-ga over our Designer Spotlight this week: Smock Paper. Based in Syracuse, New York, this new letterpress line combines all of our favorite things – sustainability and gorgeous, fresh design - into one truly beautiful invitation line. Smock believes so strongly in being sustainable that they’ve gone the extra mile to not only include using renewable materials (bamboo paper & soy-based inks) and recycling at their offices but by also doing things like providing bus passes for their employees and donating a percentage of their profits to environmental organizations. Their luxury bamboo paper is so soft & supple that you’ll want to stop in just to feel the beautiful samples for yourself! From floral & graphic designs, patterned pocketfolds, printed envelope liners, printed back patterns and hand-calligraphy, all of which are completely customizable, Smock has something for everyone! And as if we couldn’t love this line enough already, Smock is currently offering two incredible offers for 2010 – free return address printing on outer invitation envelopes OR free Save the Dates with a wedding invitation order (WOW!!!) I think we’ve died and gone to letterpress heaven! So, contact us soon to set up your bridal appointment so we can show you the full Smock invitation line in person. We promise you’ll be as head over heels as we are!

All images courtesy of Smock Paper.

The Ultimate Organizer for Mom: momAgenda

2010-01-26T19:54:00.001-08:00

For all you moms out there, you know how crazy life gets trying to juggle not just your own schedule but those of everyone else in your household. Soccer practice, music lessons, dance class, doctors appointments...how can you keep it all straight? Well, there's finally a daily planner out there made just for you! The momAgenda has space to track not only your own daily schedule but also space for up to 3 kids. Missed appointments no more! And with two versions, the Desktop (a week & month at-a-glance layouts) and the smaller Mini-Daily (two days at a glance & month at-a-glance layouts), there is a perfect size & fun, bright color for everyone! 2010 momAgendas are now 30% off (in-store only) so hurry in to get yours before they're gone!

Wedding Invitation FAQs : Part 1

2010-01-22T18:06:00.000-08:00

While talking with brides recently at the Maine Wedding Association Bridal Show we were asked several common questions – questions we are very used to answering but have to remind ourselves that as a bride, you’ve never had to think about before! Such as "How much do wedding invitations cost?" (by far the most popular) or "When should I order my invitations?" So I thought it would be good to share some of our Frequently Asked Questions (included in our Bridal Packets – if you’d like a copy, just give us a call, 207.871.9722 or email us at design@papiergourmet.com & we’ll pop one in the mail to you!) I hope you find these helpful as you begin the wedding invitation process.

Stay tuned next week for Wedding Invitation FAQs: Part 2!

Q: How much do wedding invitations cost?
A: Although this is certainly the most common question, it is truly the most difficult to answer. The cost of wedding invitations is dependent upon many factors - paper type, quantity, printing type, the inclusion of enclosure cards, embellishments, etc. On average, an invitation (with a printed return address on the outer envelope) and reply card/envelope set costs between $4 and $8 per invitation/reply card set. A price quote by one of our knowledgeable sales associates is the only true way to get an idea of pricing for invitations for your wedding.

Q: How soon before my wedding should I order invitations?
A: Wedding invitations should be ordered 4-6 months before your wedding – allowing 3-4 weeks for the ordering, proofing and printing as well as time to assemble, address and stamp your invitations. Additional time (4-6 weeks) should be allotted if ordering engraved or letterpressed invitations (more labor-intensive printing methods) or plan on having a calligrapher address your envelopes.

Q: How much does it cost for a bridal invitation consultation?
A: Nothing! Coming in to look at wedding invitations and gather price quotes does not cost anything. We do recommend, however, that you call ahead to make an appointment so that you will have a sales associate’s undivided attention, especially if you’d like to come in on a Saturday. Bridal appointments are available Tues – Fri starting at 10:30a through 3p and on Saturdays at 10a, 12p & 2p. You have no obligation of payment until an invitation order is placed at which time a 50% deposit is required with the balance due upon receipt.

Q: What are the advantages of buying my invitations from a stationer such as Papier Gourmet rather than an online retailer?
A: Although online retailers are plentiful in our modern age of technology, nothing replaces the tactile experience of feeling the paper stock and the quality of printing in person. Also, as colors are often different in person than when viewed on a computer screen, it is always best to see exactly what you are ordering. As you wouldn’t purchase a wedding gown without feeling the fabric and trying it on or a wedding cake without tasting a sample first, it’s advisable to know what you are getting when ordering wedding invitations. Other intangibles such as guidance on proper etiquette and wording as well as design and creativity are provided when ordering your wedding invitations with an experienced stationer.

Shhh, I have a secret...

2010-01-16T12:27:00.000-08:00

...but one that I'm willing to share! Looking for a deal on a Papier Gourmet gift certificate? If you act fast, you can purchase a $50 gift certificate for only $25 on WCLZ's Half Price Online Outlet! There are only 22 left though so don't wait! Limit 2 per person and only 1 can be used per order/purchase. Would make a great Valentine's Day gift for that special someone!

Featured Wedding: Hilary & Glenn

2010-01-15T13:06:00.000-08:00

Had to share this wonderful "Real Wedding" post featured on theknot.com of one of our favorite 2009 wedding couples. Hilary, who owns the wonderful Old Port shop Blanche & Mimi just around the corner (sidenote: if you have not been there before, you have GOT to go - so many cool things including antiques, bath/body, baby & my personal fave, Orla Kiely handbags!) & Glenn were married this summer in Dublin, NH and my good friend (and former employee) Kari Herer captured it all with her beautiful photography. Hilary selected a gorgeous invitation from one of my favorite letterpress lines, Studio Olivine, based in Portland, OR. The handmade, 100% recycled, textured paper went well with the rustic setting (the bride's sister's backyard) yet still imparted a sense of elegance, while the bright blue & orange color scheme set the tone for a light-hearted, initimate event, as you can see from Kari's incredible photos! To view more photos of this beautiful event, visit Kari's blog. Congrats again, Hilary & Glenn! It was a pleasure working with you!

Favorite Valentine of 2010

2010-01-14T09:24:00.001-08:00

I had to share this super cute letterpressed Valentine's Day card from Eggpress, one of my favorite letterpress lines, because it totally makes me smile every time I look at it (as well as crave some extra cheesy, yummy goodness on this chilly Maine winter day!) It just might have to be "the card" for my husband this year, we'll see ;) Definitely my favorite Valentine for 2010! Now time to go eat lunch...

Bridal Show, January 9th & 10th

2010-01-08T12:00:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year to you all! Hope the holidays treated you all well & you are ready for the coming year. I don't know about you but I've got a good feeling about 2010!

Here at Papier Gourmet, wedding season is officially underway. Congratulations to all of you who got engaged over the holidays! Now comes the fun part ~ WEDDING PLANNING! Yahoo! We think wedding planning, and especially selecting your Save the Dates & Invitations, should be fun & enjoyable, not a dreaded task. So start your year & planning off right by visiting us this Saturday, Jan 9th, 6p - 9p & Sunday, Jan 10th, 11a - 3p at the Maine Wedding Association Bridal Show at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland. (Click here for more information as well as a $1 off coupon for your admission: http://maineweddingassociation.com/) Come say hello, check out all the fun samples we'll have on display & sign our Guest Book for a chance to win a $100 coupon towards wedding invitations! Hope to see you there!

Stay tuned for info on all the GREAT Winter Wedding Promotions going on now ~ more to come soon. In the meantime, have a great weekend...

NEW Winter Store Hours: M - F 10a - 5p & Sat 10a - 4p

2009-12-28T14:15:00.000-08:00

Phew! We survived! It's been a busy few weeks here at Papier Gourmet! It was a wonderful holiday season full of cheer here at the store. Shoppers were jolly & excited and as always, it's a great time of year to see some familiar faces of some of our 'regulars' in the store. Now with Christmas behind us, it's time for our Annual Winter Sale! Right now all holiday merchandise is 40% off (and some is even up to 60% off!) while it lasts so be sure to stop in and get 'em before they're gone! We still have some great styles of boxed holiday cards so stock up for next year (just remember where you stash them!) New Year's Week Store Hours: M - W, 10a - 5p; Closed Thurs & Fri; Sat 10a - 4p.

After this week we'll be switching back to our Winter Hours: Tues - Fri, 10a - 5p & Sat 10a - 4p (Closed Sun & Mon during the winter).

I look forward to seeing you in the store in the coming year--Happy New Year!

20% Off Coupon

2009-12-05T14:21:00.001-08:00

Well, things are sure getting busy here at Papier Gourmet these days! It's like everyone realized this week that Christmas is just a few short weeks away (even if the weather was fooling us all...) and the store has been a-hoppin' these last few days! We figured while you are all out there searching for the perfect gifts for everyone on your shopping list that we would actually give you a little 'gift' this holiday season too! Print off this coupon, good thru December 24th, & bring it in to save 20% on your entire purchase! (Of course there is some fine print...limit one per customer, applies to in-store purchases only, doesn't apply to special orders & in-house printing services...see coupon for other exceptions/limitations). Oh, and don't forget, there is still time to order personalized holiday cards but be sure to come in soon so you can get them in time to mail before the holidays. We've got some fantastic new in-house holiday card designs as well that can be ready to mail in just a few days! Hope to see you in the store soon & Happy Shopping!!

Save the Dates 101

2009-10-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

So, you are engaged, planning your dream wedding & so excited to let all your friends and family know about your upcoming celebration! But with wedding invitations only mailed 6-8 weeks in advance (or, at most 8-10 weeks ahead), how can you ensure your friends and family reserve the date, and start planning their travel arrangements and accommodations for your nuptials? That is where the modern (and these days practically necessary) Save the Date comes in. With the busy lives we all lead and the fact that every wedding is a destination wedding for someone on your guest list, it has become customary to send a Save the Date informing your guests that A) you are getting married, B) the date of your not-to-be-missed wedding bash and C) the location (city & state, mostly) of your wedding. Save the Dates often also include a list of recommended accommodations since many reserved hotel blocks expire before a wedding invitation is even mailed. It is particularly important to include such information if you are getting married in a popular tourist destination, on a holiday weekend or if you have a large number of out of town guests. Below is a list of frequently asked questions regarding Save the Dates that we hope you find helpful in your planning!

Should my Save the Date match my wedding invitation?
Save the Dates certainly can match the wedding invitation ensemble but don’t necessarily have to. There is no rule when it comes to whether it should match—it is truly a personal preference. Many people want their Save the Date to be a more whimsical and fun version of their invitation, yet still coordinate in overall color scheme, perhaps using the same typestyles and motif or ‘logo’ that will be carried through on the invitation, ceremony program, menu, favors, etc. Others want it to have a completely unique and different feel than the invitation.

Is there any other information that I should consider including in my Save the Date?
If your wedding is being held in a popular tourist destination or if you have a lot of out of town guests it can be helpful to include a list of things to do in the area so that you can make sure your guests see all that there is to love about the place you’ve chosen to exchange vows. If you are planning multiple events that all your guests are invited to (such as a Rehearsal Dinner, Golf Outing, and Morning After Brunch, for example) then you may want to consider including a Schedule of Events. Lastly, as many couples have a wedding website where your guests can find out more details about your wedding, you’ll want to be sure to include that as well!

Who should I send Save the Dates to?
While Save the Dates originally started out only being sent to out of town guests, it has become customary to send a save the date to everyone on your guest list including people who already know about the wedding (family members, bridal party members). Otherwise you run the risk of having friends and/or family members start talking to each other and wonder why so-and-so received a Save the Date but so-and-so did not. Better to provide everyone with all the same information from the beginning so no feelings are hurt and everyone can start being excited about celebration to come!

Annual Holiday Card Sale

2009-10-13T19:08:00.001-07:00

Hello! The Papier Gourmet blog is finally up & running! Yahoo! Well, it has actually been around for a little whilebut now it is finally linked to our website so you can check in regularly for updates on new products, the latest stationery & invitation trends, invitations tips & FAQs and features including weddings, custom invitations & designer spotlights. There is a lot in store so be sure to stay tuned!

Most importantly though, the Annual Holiday Card Sale is still going on! Many of the sales on personalized holiday cards & invitations have been extended so stop in to the store to view the lines in person & let us help you select the perfect holiday card sure to make your friends & family smile! See below for the complete list of 2009 Custom Holiday Card promotions.

Personalized Holiday Card Sale Promotions:

Crane's, Kate Spade & Martha Stewart: 10% off entire order through Dec 31st

William Arthur & Vera Wang: Order 75, get 25 free through Oct 31st

Prentiss Douthit: 15% off OR free return address printing (your choice!) through Oct 31st

Baby iDesign: Free return address labels through Oct 31st

Page Stationery: 15% off through October 15th

Simply Put by Ashley Woodman: 10% off through Nov 1st

2008-10-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

Papier Gourmet - located at 26 Free Street in Portland, Maine - 207.871.9722 - www.papiergourmet.com