Things I've been putting off...

1. Putting together a new catalogue of my designs. I've updated the range of wedding stationery so much for 2012 that my old book of samples is really no use any more. Really must do it before I meet some potential clients next week!
2. Sending back my tax return. I've got all the info but I just can't seem to fill in the form... or even open it! Must do this one tomorrow or it's a hefty fine coming my way!
3. Taking the last bit of paint off  wardrobe I'm refurbishing. It's so cold right now, the garage is the last place I want to be. Maybe I'll leave this one til spring?
4. Putting links to 'last design' and 'next design' on my web page. I think it would make it easier for clients to click through rather than having to go back to the designs page every time... but it's so boring!!!
5. Redecorating my kitchen. I moved in here in October and planned to redecorate the kitchen (and living room before Christmas. Then I had so much else to do it's been shoved on the back burner but the paints and rollers keep looking at me every time I go in there. OK, this one will be done by the end of February so I can invite the in-laws round for a much overdue dinner!

Tools to stop procrastination

What have you been putting off this year? Work, friends or diy? I found some handy tools today to keep me concentrating while working on the computer... funnily enough I was supposed to be seeing to those web links (number 4 above) when I got sidetracked!

Maybe they'll help you too!

Nikki x

Lovely Wedding Things

I'm obsessive when it comes to weddings. I love them and all things wedding connected! I guess the wedding planner in me didn't really die when I moved house and shut up shop, she's still in there trying to get out and plan again!!!

Anyways, I thought I'd post you an assortment of lovely wedding based images in a completely random order and without a thought for styles or themes or colours. Just lovely wedding things...

http://www.beaubuttons.co.uk/

I love buttons so this idea really appeals to me!

http://www.rustymayfair.blogspot.com/

Lovely mismatched crockery - perfect for that vintage themed wedding I was daydreaming about here.

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com

Ohhh, combining my love for knitting with weddings!

Win £100 worth of Wedding Stationery!!!

That's right! Two Little Words is giving you the chance to win £100 to spend on our printed wedding stationery - including bespoke design, guest name printing... whatever you want !

All you have to do is look at the basic invitation design below and come up with a funny or appropriate caption for it. Well that's not actually all... we'd love for you to follow our blog too. Pretty please. It's lonely here typing away to myself!

So spread the word on your networks, wedding forums, chat groups and blogs. Then post your winning caption in the comments for this post and watch this space...  We'll let this run until 30th April when we will pick our favorite and announce it on the blog!

Good luck!

Nikki x

To Busy To Blog?

It's been a really hectic week this week. I had a couple of rush orders to get out, which meant I had to ring my suppliers and get more stock in for the wedding stationery I was expecting to make next week. They were also up to their eyeballs but never too busy for a quick chat... or a rather lengthy one I just couldn't bring to a conclusion.

Anyway, I digress! One of the rush orders was for a storybook invitation. They didn't want a fairytale style (shame, because I've done one of those before!) but a modern, down to earth 'Our Story' sort of thing. It sounded interesting so I took it on.

The couple met in uni, traveled the world together as friends and then got jobs in different countries, lost touch for years and only started talking again when they bumped into each other at another Uni friends wedding (where my bride caught the bouquet!).

So I worked day and night on this design. Emailed  variation after variation and finally came up with their perfect wedding invitation on Thursday! Proof is sent but I'm not expecting any changes as they've already seen the design by email.

I soooo wanted to share their invitation with the world but it's not my place to do that, so I spent a good part of this afternoon playing with fonts and images to come up with a 'mock' invitation in a similar style. I've put this one onto an A6 card as it fits nicely but I think more complex stories will have to go bigger - either right up to A5 or maybe something that concertinas out (I have a cunning plan).

Let me know what you think...

Original Design By Two Little Words

Nikki x

Volkswagen Wedding Stationery?

After a couple of wordy blogs I thought maybe you needed something to brighten up your day? This range of wedding stationery came about when a couple emailed to ask if I'd ever seen anything featuring a Volkswagen Camper Van or Beetle.

Yes you might well laugh, but we were asked by Kev & Nicky to design a Volkswagen themed wedding invitation. They are just how you imagine from their invitations - relaxed, free spirits, with a huge sense of fun! It was one of those occasions when I really enjoyed the project and had a good idea where I would go with it,  as soon as we had our first email from them.

They absolutely loved their stationery and I received a wonderful email from Nicky's Dad saying how all of the guests passed comment on the stationery from the invitations to the place cards.

As I'd made up 2 designs for them to choose from they had a big decision on their hands. Do they go with the Beetle theme...

Or the Camper Van theme...

In the end they couldn't decide so we made up a mixed order!

Now the wedding is over I can finally show off the designs and will be including them in our range in the next couple of weeks!

Congratulations Kev & Nicky! We hope your day was fantastic and the rest of your lives will be just as much fun!

Nikki x

When to order your wedding stationery

Your Wedding Invitations should only be ordered once you have all the details of your wedding set... place and time of ceremony and reception as well as your guest list. Plan to place your invitation order at around 3, or even 4, months in advance (although this is not always necessary).

Ideally invitations are sent 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding. It is best to send out-of -town guests their invitations at least 8 weeks in advance, this will allow for making travel, accommodation and childminding arrangements. 

Consider sending important guests, or those who have to travel further, save the date cards as early as 3 to 6 months in advance, perhaps with information on hotels, airports and car hire.

Keep in mind that you will need time to address your invitations, or send them to a calligrapher, and this can take days. An alternative offered by many stationery makers is to use their guest name printing and envelope printing service to save time and stress. We also feel it gives your wedding stationery a luxurious and professional finish.

Even though selecting your wedding stationery and invitations may seem like a daunting task with all the possibilities available, giving yourself enough time will prove beneficial and a money saver - so long as you are sure of your themes and colours.

It is never too early to start shopping around so why not order a sample today?

Guest Contributors Welcome...

Are you in the wedding business and have some great advice to offer?

Are you a bride with a wedding story to tell?

Is there something you want to praise up or simply have a rant about?

We are looking for guest contributors to write articles to appear on our Blog. Of course we will provide links back to your own blogs or web pages and are happy to reciprocate.

If you've something to say then just get in touch either by posting a comment below or sending us a quick email.

Nikki x

Vintage Rose Design... tick!

I've been trying for ages to come up with a design that has a real vintage feel to it and now, after a little tweaking I think I'm finally happy with my vintage rose design!

I used an old piece of vintage wallpaper I bought ages ago, with the intention of putting it in a lovely shabby chic frame. Once I managed to scan it and spent lots of hours cleaning it up in Photoshop, it just needed the colours adjusting and a bit of playing around with the Hue and Saturation.

Originally I was going to make it into a brush - and I might still do this if there's nothing on tv tonight - but when the sample prints turned out to be so very pretty, I just had to print it up properly! On our card stock it looks even better than the sample prints.

Drum roll please.....

 What do you think? Are the colours muted enough? Is it pretty enough? Does it have that 'vintage' feel to it?

*Edit on 23rd Jan

Just as I'm happy with one vintage rose design I come up with another!

See Image on web site page 

Which do you prefer?

Nikki x

How important can two little words be?

Two little Words can make such a difference! So much can be said with just two words that they are often more important than the whole conversation - in fact you could probably have a conversation with each person saying just two little words at a time...

On bended knee he said "Will you?"
Her smiling reply was a breathless "Oh yes!"
"You will?"
"Of course!"
"Thank you"
"You're welcome."

Maybe that's just a little over simplified, but you get what I mean!

Two little words can change your life forever, think "I'm pregnant!, "Marry me", "Love you" (okay I'm maybe cheating a little with the last one) but it's amazing how just two little words can make, or break, our day.

Not just the big ones either but a well placed "Thank you" shows someone you appreciate them. Say "Excuse me" in the right situation to have your opinion heard. "Happy birthday" shows you remembered, "I'm sorry" ends the fight, "Sleep well" is always the last thing I hear every night.

What two little words have you heard today? Did the make you smile or have the opposite effect? I'd love to hear what two little words have changed you life.

Nikki x

Fun Friday - only just in time!

I've been revamping some of my designs today and am in a very vintage frame of mind! I do love all things shabby chic or vintage so I guess it's only natural that this should come through in my designs.

I think that a vintage styled wedding would be fabulous - I imagine it outside on huge picnic tables, with mismatched crockery, bunting and pretty little cupcakes on china cake stands. If only the British weather was reliable enough to plan something like this without having to have a back-up plan in case of rain!

While I was sketching some ideas out (yes, my designs usually start with paper and pencil!) my other half asked why they were all 'so girlie'. Well, I'd never really thought about it - weddings are romantic and pretty so it follows that the wedding stationery would be the same... wouldn't it?

So, to please the 'Blokes' out there, I've put together a wedding invitation as they might design it. I'm not sure if I'd ever sell one but if there's a demand then they might just make it into the range lol!

As always, comments, questions and ideas more than welcome!

Nikki x

Here We Go...

I've had a mini blog over on my google site at www.twolittlewords.co.uk for a week or two now but I'm not completely happy with the way it looks. For some reason Google haven't given the facility to incorporate Blogger within their own sites - WHY WHY WHY?

Anywhow... I've decided to move everything over here and just link to it from my commercial site - at least that way you can jump straight in a chat away to me without having to go though the main site. Oh, and it will help me to keep my stats more accurate too... don't get me started on the Google Analytic stats, that's a whole other post!

The bad news is it will look like I've had a posting frenzy and put up half a dozen posts in my first hour on Blogger. I'll also loose the one lovely comment I had from my friend over at One Eye Shut but it's early days so better now that down the line.

Wish me luck, and let me know what you think of the show so far!

Nikki x