Cardblanche Exquisite Stationery

Villa Halia show - Lovebirds in Paradise

2012-01-06T23:00:00.000-08:00

We've had the privilege to showcase our stationery at the Villa Halia show last August 2011. Sharing the stage with other lovely wedding vendors, we created a suite of Lovebird-themed wedding stationery to match the table setup. :)

Concept by ExtraOrdinary Weddings | Flowers by The Red Petals | Photography by Avenue 8 | Tiffany Chairs by Wonderland for Detailed Planners | Venue Sponsor by Villa Halia | Wedding Stationery by CardBlanche

Kites of Love

2011-11-28T03:29:00.000-08:00

I was inspired one day to illustrate this design for an invitation card. Someone had emailed me a card of a man flying a kite, and I thought, why not a couple with their names engraved in the sky?

If you like this design, please come by and have it printed with Cardblanche so I can see it come to fruition. :)

The latest ribbons & bows

2011-11-28T03:22:00.000-08:00

Here's a range of lovely invitations I've done recently with bows and ribbons.

Red and silver.

Red and purple.

Gold, pink and brown.

Thank You for your support

2011-11-28T03:15:00.001-08:00

I've been greatly encouraged by the couples who have taken time to drop me a little message to thank me for their wedding stationery. Life feels a little better when you hear that the work you've done is cherished by the people who matter.

"Hi Allison, thanks a lot! The cards turn out really nice! Even chris likes them by looking at the pix. (=" ~ Christopher & Vivien

"Many thanks for the cards and envelopes! Everything was very well done and guests were most impressed by the quality of the cards and programmes." ~ Charlotte & Aaron

"Thank you very much for the fast and responsible job. They're very beautiful. I'll recommend my friends for you next time." ~ Thu & Tuan

"love it very much! Tq Allison!" ~ Justina & Desmond

And last but not least, I have to thank Jovelle & Indra for their enthusiasm and appreciation in the things I did for them. I am heartened to meet people like them. :)

Three months on

2011-10-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

It's nearly three months since I've gone solo, running Cardblanche by myself. It has been a very busy time, juggling jobs and taking care of the babies at home. I try to do whatever I can when they are napping - emails, tying ribbons, folding stuff... And when I go to the studio I work as hard as can be. It's been somewhat fulfilling and gratifying that I can somehow do this on my own and be able to keep going. What makes it so good is when satisfied clients say thank you when they collect their stationery from me. I try my best to make everyone happy, and I do work hard for my money, so your appreciation really counts in motivating me to do what I love to do.

I must thank heaven as well, for guiding me. I'm always thankful for that. :)

A moment captured

2011-06-30T02:34:00.000-07:00

A couple requested for their photo to be incorporated into their Thank You cards. We used the monogram that was on their invitations and integrated the design with their photo. Simple and sophisticated.

Do note we charge a small fee to touch up and enhance photographs for use on invitations etc.

Thermal Embossing

2011-06-30T02:30:00.000-07:00

Whilst we don't feel that printing effects are truly needed to enhance the design of an invitation, this one here is something that would definitely impress and not in an over the top manner.

Subtle and sleek, thermal embossing involves having raised text in the colour that your invitation is printed in.

Printing effects like hotstamping and embossing are very traditional and common, so thermal embossing could be an option for you should you wish to add a unique touch to your invitations.

They require a minimum of 100 invitations, do email us for details.

A suite of blossoms

2011-06-30T02:23:00.000-07:00

We've done our cherry blossom design for many couples, but what we love about this one is the cohesiveness of all the various items in the set, matched together perfectly.

There was an invitation, a reception card, and an info card with map.

We did a nice map with simple lines and markings. It's perfect for many directions in places like the UK.

Radiating in the Summer

2011-06-30T02:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a perennial favourite - the "radiating" motif - in a yellow and a lime green colour scheme. Both exude summer warmth and excitement.

Lovebirds

2011-06-30T02:18:00.000-07:00

We recently did these invitations featuring birds.

These are from our newest collection, and these couples had completely different colour schemes for the design. Both looked great!

Whilst the yellow and brown version is sunny and cheery, this navy and pink one is sweet and spring-like.

The adorable bird couple was matched by lovely calligraphed names.

Clearance sale on envelopes!

2011-06-29T07:19:00.000-07:00

CLEARANCE SALE! Only $3.50 for 10 envelopes, that's 35cents each! Unbelievable value for unique one-of-a-kind envelopes like these!

Free postage with purchase of 100 envelopes and up.

Email allison@card-blanche.com

Rabbit year weddings

2011-06-15T02:08:00.000-07:00

It's the year of the rabbit on the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and many couples have taken a liking to our cute little rabbit motifs.

A simple floral plant is paired with two rabbits in green and yellow, creating a lively garden atmosphere.

This one here exudes a mystical, magical feel with a rabbit and a cat.

Bright blue and pink adds to the feel.

What do you think of bunnies on wedding invitations?

My babies' first-month gift pack

2011-06-14T05:24:00.000-07:00

I love making beautiful gift boxes for baby first-month celebrations, so when it came to doing my own babies' celebration, I had a great time designing and producing these precious things.

Every box came with a little card with their photo and birth details. I included a few adorable animals like giraffe and bird - just because I like them - and two baby bunnies as my babies are born in the year of the rabbit.

Good friend awwesomepossum baked gorgeous chocolate and strawberry cupcakes...

...and these were included in the box with red eggs and traditional ang ku kueh. I had no time to individually wrap the red eggs, and decided on little rabbit stickers to enhance them.

At the back, we included a short thank you note to our guests.

If you would like a gift box for your party or baby first-month celebration, do drop us an email, and we'd try our best to assist you. :)

Navy & Pink

2011-06-14T01:51:00.000-07:00

We've been loving this colour combination for some time...but nobody's been adventurous enough to try it! Until these couples came by and gamely asked for them.

There's this one with a lovely oriental pattern in navy and pink.

This one comes in a coral pink baroque pattern with navy monogram.

Elegant and sophisticated, yet with a touch of whimsy.

There's also this one with a purplish-blue and pink border...

...and matching purplish-pink orchids.

We are so very happy to try new things like these!

A wedding of grand proportions

2011-05-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

This post is titled such because it's not often we get to do a wedding that's held in The Royal Chapel in Windsor Great Park in London. Just the location itself conjures up prim and proper English pleasantries!

An ornate baroque motif in green with touches of pink create a lovely stationery suite. We simply love the invitation, which comes with a map (one of the best we've done!), RSVP card, and information sheets.

There was a save-the-date prior to the event as well...in a matching design.

Palm trees and Beach destinations

2011-04-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a sunny wedding in purple and yellow. The couple are a cheery bunch and they wanted a bright yellow theme to excite their guests for their destination wedding in Phuket.

They did matching placecards and menus which had quizzes on the back for their guests to play...

...and also had a cute leaf-shaped programme which doubled up as a fan to keep guests cool at their outdoor reception.

Shades of Purple

2011-03-18T01:39:00.002-07:00

If you love purple, you'd really love these.

Purple invitations in different shades on white textured card, matched with a pale purple satin ribbon and pale purple envelopes.

One can imagine how beautiful the wedding would be like if it was shades of purple too!

Living your passion

2011-03-07T22:59:00.000-08:00

We were approached to be interviewed by SPH for these articles in The New Paper and Sunday Times Recruit. It's a series about individuals who live and work their passion. This is definitely up our alley, having fun doing the things we love. Finances can be tight sometimes with inflation and increasing overheads, but things are worth it when customers are appreciative and happy with the work we give them.

We hope we can continue to be of service to you in years to come. Appreciate all the support we can get! :) (psst...tell all your friends about us, join us on Facebook to interact!)

Big Banquets – A Personal Experience

2011-03-01T00:15:00.000-08:00

We’re seeing smaller weddings nowadays. But big banquets are still common, especially in Singapore where most Asian families are big, and having a big wedding sometimes signifies status and financial affluence. A big banquet, however, can pose a big challenge to your pocket. It poses many other challenges too, like logistics and seating arrangements… but that’s another story.

Having had a big wedding myself, I fully understand how any couple would panic over the costs of organising such a huge event. Here are some ideas I devised for my own wedding (and some after!) to achieve what I wanted at a budget-friendly price.

Seating Cards
Having a seating card for each and every one of your 500 guests would probably be unnecessary and excessive. Who knows if 3rd auntie or great uncle would suddenly change seats and join another table of relatives. Not to mention, 500 cards would cost more, and need more time to collate and organise. At my wedding, I had small strips of printed card stock with a message behind indicating table numbers. I didn’t want guests to forget their table numbers so when they arrived at reception, their table number was written on the card and they could keep it with them until they got seated. The printed cards could even double up as bookmarks if guests brought them home.

Read more on ExtraOrdinary Weddings Blog...

Travelling the World Together

2011-02-22T00:54:00.000-08:00

Having recently met a few couples who have globe-trotted the world together, I’ve been inspired to do a set of wedding stationery revolving around a travel theme, using illustrations, maps, and atlases.

Here are some ideas I found which would work great.

An invitation suite designed to look like a passport, this design works well for a wedding with guests from all over the world.

Favours wrapped in printed map paper. Couples can buy maps of cities they have lived in around the world, scan and print them out to make wrapping paper...

Read more at ExtraOrdinary Weddings Blog...

Ribboned Booklet

2011-02-19T01:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a pretty red and pink booklet for a church wedding.

Thin red ribbons add a special touch to the mostly pink cover.

The cover in textured off-white card enhanced the look and feel of the booklet as well. Inside pages were printed on smooth off-white paper for easy reading.

A modern Chinois wedding

2011-02-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

Check out these table number cards, and lovely chocolate bars that double up as seating cards. They were done for a customer as a wedding gift for the bride and groom. Chinese patterns were used to match the banquet venue, and pink and green were chosen for a modern Chinois look.

We think we'd be pretty pleased if we were given favours personalised with our names. How special!

Bridal Trends 2011 - as seen on ExtraOrdinary Blog

2011-01-31T21:10:00.000-08:00

2011 will be a popular year for weddings. Not only because the economy is slowly improving, but also because many couples, especially those of Chinese ethnicity, would probably like to try their luck at conceiving in the year after – the “Dragon year” in the Chinese zodiac, commonly seen as an auspicious year to give birth. Besides this, there are the many opportunities for nice dates – 11/11/ 2011, 20/11/2011, 1/11/2011, 11/02/2011…..and the list goes on.

As for trends in the wedding industry, we will be expecting a continued interest in destination weddings, vintage details, and customised stationery.

Destination Weddings
It’s only the beginning of the year, but we at Cardblanche have had many enquiries for weddings taking place in sunny beach destinations towards the middle of this year. Many couples know the importance of letting their guests know early-on about their special day, and are getting ready with invitations. Weddings at the beach tend to be small, intimate affairs, and there is more emphasis on creating a personal touch for guests. It could be a welcome gift pack, or a special itinerary created for a week-long celebration. And for beach weddings, couples are requesting for specially-designed stationery to match their theme or the place where their wedding is being held.

Destination Wedding Invite by CardBlanche

Destination weddings elsewhere are of growing popularity as well. From Japan to England, Australia to India, couples are celebrating their big day overseas although they might live, work, and have friends and family in Singapore. Perhaps their venue could be in their hometown, or maybe somewhere special where they’ve met. Stationery for destination weddings like this could rely on their ethnicity, origins, and the culture of their venue. All exciting themes for weddings!

Vintage Touches
Whilst ball gowns with bustier continue to be a popular favourite, the trumpet gown will be taking centrestage this season. Fitted around the waist and hips, it creates a sleek shapely silhouette and ‘explodes’ at the bottom in fluffy tulle or a long train. Details will be subtle and simple to allow for the dramatic skirt.

Left: Fiona
Asymmetrically draped strapless stretch Mikado mermaid gown with full tissue organza skirt with ladder technique by Vera Wang.

Right: Silk Taffeta Toscana Ball Gown

Read more at ExtraOrdinary Weddings Blog...

恭喜发财！ Gong Xi Fa Cai!

2011-01-30T09:29:00.000-08:00

Here's wishing you a prosperous and abundant Lunar New Year and an auspicious rabbit year ahead! =)

Dymo Tape

2011-01-26T23:15:00.000-08:00

Are you old enough to remember this? We are...sounds a bit sad that way... But anyway, I have kept this since I was a kid, when my parents used it to type out instructions and stick them in the bathroom (they're waterproof!). I wonder if the shops still sell this.

~ Ally

Cheena Love

2011-01-25T19:37:00.000-08:00

This has been lying around for ages. I picked it up because Lunar New Year is just next week and I am in the mood for some "cheena-lovin'". Or, in other words, I am being inspired by traditional and kitschy ethnic Chinese designs. :)

~ Ally

A grand birthday

2011-01-10T01:56:00.000-08:00

This invitation was done for a lady whose family was celebrating her father's 90th birthday.

Using a traditional oriental motif in gold, we incorporated their family surname for extra oomph!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T01:18:00.000-08:00

There's nothing quite like spending the last day of the year celebrating with your family, friends and loved ones. That's what Eric & Canny did, with their customary wedding banquet.

To add to the fanfare of the festive season, they had "champagne" poppers for everyone to play, and a few larger poppers for dramatic effect (and sparkly streamers).

With their curly monogram and customised message on the back, the poppers were a nice little touch for their guests to remember the day by.

Merry Christmas & A Happy Boxing Day!

2010-12-26T00:48:00.000-08:00

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

Just thought we'd like to share with you an invitation done for a wedding on Boxing Day.

In lovely shades of turquoise on shimmery paper, this invitation is a fantastic complement to the season.

Festive chocolates for a December wedding

2010-12-19T22:57:00.001-08:00

Done for a wedding last weekend, these favours are classy and shimmery to match the festive season.

Dark chocolate Hershey Kisses with white and purple stickers...

And milk chocolate Hershey Kisses with blue and purple stickers.

Pink & Cream Vintage

2010-12-13T20:54:00.000-08:00

We've done quite a number of Bali weddings this year, and all of them were beautiful.

For this couple who wanted a pink and cream vintage theme, we used a baroque motif and paired it with dark pink and cursive lettering.

They had table number cards, program fans...

...favour tags...

...and little wish cards for guests to write their blessings and notes of advice to the newlyweds!

Monogrammed Goodies

2010-11-23T02:48:00.000-08:00

Everything with your monogram (or names) looks pretty...and extra magical when it's sweet, edible, and comes with little pearls. Aren't they precious? :)

Tasteful & Sophisticated Grey

2010-11-22T02:15:00.000-08:00

You might recognise this set of stationery, which is an extension of this other set done for a client.

To match their invitation suite, Loretta & Thiago asked us to do wishing cards, table cards, seating cards, favour tags, and a poster.

The stationery was done in white and grey with peonies and a little bird, all elements of their invitation suite.

Silvery satin ribbons were used everywhere too, especially to tie the favour tags to their favours, and to hang the wish cards on a tree.

Themed weddings & parties

2010-11-17T22:57:00.000-08:00

We've been working on some themed shoots...here are a couple of photos to whet your appetite. Your patience will be rewarded. :)

Of Pink Chandeliers and Baroque Charm

2010-11-09T22:56:00.000-08:00

We recently did a set of pink and black stationery for a couple who got married in Novus at the National Museum.

In keeping with the venue's dark baroque theme, we used a graphic of a chandelier and printed on shimmer paper for their invitation card.

Placecards and a poster were printed on plain white paper but with light pink chandeliers in the background to create a texture.

More Sweet Somethings

2010-11-08T23:31:00.000-08:00

A childhood delight, the lollipop, is transformed into a lovely centrepiece at your wedding or party. The colourful swirls and sweet smells are sure to lure your guests with feelings of nostalgia and reminiscence.

More sweet things with this little cup holder for rock candy. You can use it for small candy or biscuits as well. Great as a take-me-home favour...that is if your guest doesn't finish it by the end of the event.

Cookie Delights

2010-10-20T03:47:00.000-07:00

Here are more favour ideas to delight you. We really love the monogrammed wedding cake cookies, the cookie lollies, and the stacked cookies that look like mini wedding cakes. Oh hey, that's all of it! :)

Monogrammed cupcakes!

2010-10-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

We were terribly excited to show you these! Monogrammed cupcakes!

Just imagine, cute little cupcakes with your monogram on icing on top. Do your whole suite of stationery with us, and we will design your monogram and apply it to a whole host of items like Invitations, Envelopes, RSVP cards, Table seating cards, Place cards, Thank you cards, Favour tags, etc, etc...

Call us at 62203044 to find out more!

We do your Addressing & Mailing & RSVP!

2010-10-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

Do you find yourself anxious and stressed as your wedding day draws near? You have barely gotten your wedding invitations done and there are still so many things to accomplish. For the very hectic and busy bride and groom, we have a service just for you. We can assist you in designing and printing your wedding invitations, as well as handle the addressing and mailing out of the envelopes. Heck, we can even handle your RSVP replies should you be pressed for time.

Call us at 62203044 to find out more.

In the meantime, take a deep breath...and relax.

Congratulations to a 10.10.10 wedding couple!

2010-10-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

Terence and Wendy had a last minute plan to fill takeout boxes with cookies for their guests. Thankfully we were able to fulfill their wish. With dedication and quick work, we got ready 100 takeout boxes with stickers and ribbons, all ready for them to take out and go. (no pun in intended!)

Birthday souvenirs

2010-10-05T00:40:00.000-07:00

A wondering souvenir for a little boy's 4th birthday. We think it looks like a lovely keepsake but the kids will be tearing into the mini oreos in no time...so there goes the souvenir...

Harbinger of Good Taste

2010-10-01T02:44:00.000-07:00

Just a little taste of good things to come...

Calligraphed envelopes #2

2010-09-20T00:13:00.000-07:00

Check out these envelopes done for a couple. Using a nice cursive font, we laid out the guests' names and addresses and printed them onto gold envelopes. Because the print is done in black, the finish is clear and crisp.

An exquisite finishing touch for a wedding invitation.

Megan's 1st Birthday

2010-09-13T23:47:00.000-07:00

Megan celebrated her 1st birthday a couple of weeks ago and her parents spared no expense in creating a fun and exciting event for her and all her friends.

We at Cardblanche helped by designing a bright and cheery card with birds and flowers for the invitation.

Using a myriad of colours, patterns and motifs, we also created Happy Birthday buntings...

Photo courtesy of Megan's uncle

...cute tags for chocolate favours, and little tags for cupcakes.

Photo courtesy of Megan's uncle

Megan's mommy simply loves doing parties and she had a birthday cake done in matching colours.

Photo courtesy of Megan's uncle

She had the place decorated with photos of baby Megan over this past year...

Photo courtesy of Megan's uncle

...and used our little tags to dress up the dessert table.

Photo courtesy of Megan's uncle

We also printed stickers personalised with each child's name, and Megan's mommy stuck them onto goodie bags which she specially prepared.

Photo courtesy of Megan's uncle

Now...wouldn't you want your little ones to have parties like this too? :P

Classic & Cute monogram

2010-09-08T03:48:00.000-07:00

Danny and Dahlia loved the classic look of the monogram. But they aren't very classic in character. Fun and bubbly, it would have been too serious if they had their whole wedding theme done in brown. Hence, their monogram was done in pink and pink was then used as their secondary colour to enhance the classic and rich brown.

Another unique aspect of their invitation is that they used a shimmery white/gold card, which made the front seem white and silvery, and the back bronzy and glamourous.

One of our favourite couples we've had to date, they requested for matching items like favours, place cards, table numbers, posters and thank you cards. We love this as there's nothing like a well-coordinated wedding!

We also love the two favours they provided for their guests, alternating them so each guest took home something different.

Bubbles on offer!

2010-09-05T21:55:00.000-07:00

Bubbles are back! Get 30 of these classy wine-bottle lookalikes at $36. Each bottle comes with a bubble wand attached to the cap, and a customised label with your name or details. The bubbles are specially made for kids and are non-toxic, but as always, it's not suitable for children under 3 years of age due to the small parts.

Call 62203044 to order.

Placecards & Menus

2010-08-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

Here's a new way of doing seating placecards. A wide card attached to a menu so that each guest can find his/her seat and know what they're getting for dinner.

These menus were done in purple orchids to match the couple's purple invitation. Printed on thick cream-coloured card stock, they were very luxurious to the touch.

View us on your iPhone or iPad!

2010-08-25T03:55:00.000-07:00

Success in 3 days! Our WEDDING website is now compatible with iPhone/iPod/iPad viewing! We've heard your cries of concern, and made the changes to our website. No more worries about not being able to gather inspiration or do research whilst surfing on your way home.

Next up: Favours website on the go!

Coffee-table delights

2010-08-17T22:23:00.000-07:00

What do you do after your wedding is over? Put all those precious photos into a customised coffee-table book! Not only is it a good "read" for your guests, it is oh-so-pretty, and handy to carry around versus a huge and heavy photo album (or two!). It also makes a great gift for both sets of parents.

Here's one we did for a lovely couple, Gloria & John.

Red & Gold

2010-08-15T03:42:00.000-07:00

This is not a National Day tribute post. No Red & White here, but it's a definite Wow!

Specially designed for a shoot styled by Spellbound Weddings in Blissful Brides July issue, this set of red and gold stationery is opulent, classical, and very grand. (We didn't actually use gold ink for this, but a yellowish ochre tone that mimics rich gold tones.)

Using a 3-lettered monogram and a frame of leaves, we designed invitations that came with a monogrammed belly band, menus, seating cards, table number cards, programmes, and favour tags.

We especially love the menu which would look luscious on a serving plate.

This programme which hung on the back of chairs is lovely as well. With this Red, Gold & Wow design, we're sure your guests will be impressed.

Friendship has its privileges

2010-08-12T06:26:00.000-07:00

The best wedding gift you can give your friends who have just announced their engagement is to share the joy of wedding preparation! If you have used our services, why not share your experience (or experiences) with them. Exclusively for friends or fans of CardBlanche, we are delighted to extend up to 20% discount on our wedding stationery services. All you have to do is to download this coupon (the image) and pass it on to your friends. Give your pals the best gift today!

Favours that tell you where you sit

2010-08-12T02:18:00.000-07:00

Have a look at these favours done for a wedding last weekend.

Based on the design of the invitation we did for this couple, these matching favours are little chocolate bars, which doubled up as seating "cards" as well! A very clever and cost effective idea.

They're also individually printed and wrapped, and with your guest's name on it, we're sure your guest will feel mighty important that he/she had his very own chocolate named after him/her!

calligraphy envelopes

2010-08-10T22:19:00.000-07:00

Give your guests a pleasant surprise by having the addresses done in pretty calligraphy style.

Complete your wedding invitations with these elegant and classy addressed envelopes. Btw, these are done via computer and not handwritten, thus making it more affordable :)

Nothing like a customised rubber stamp

2010-07-30T00:48:00.002-07:00

Sometimes, there's nothing like a uniquely-made customised gift to please a friend. This was done by Fern for her friend's birthday. Needless to say, her friend was absolutely touched by this. It is gorgeous eh?

Cupcakes

2010-07-29T04:02:00.000-07:00

These cupcakes for our recent baby first-month gift box are an absolute delight. We find these cupcakes great as wedding favours, and especially precious when they are presented in clear domes like these!

Wedding Invitation Etiquette

2010-07-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

We are often asked by our couples on invitation wording and etiquette. Thankfully for them, we have compiled a list of samples from the past 5 years of doing wedding invitations. If you're doing your wedding invitations with us, fret not about the wording and text, as we will send you the samples for you to choose from, and assist you in getting it written right.

A wedding invitation card will typically contain the bride and groom's names, their parents' names if they are hosting the event, date, time, venue, and RSVP details. Some invitation cards might also include the couple's wedding website, reception and cocktail details, and maybe gift registry details as well. Here are some tips on wedding invitation etiquette.

1. Does the bride or groom's name come first?
In many Asian societies, where the groom is expected to pay for the wedding, it is common to put the groom's name before the bride's. Some might say that men are seen as the head of the household, and hence their name comes first. In Western societies however, the bride's name is placed before the groom's. Traditionally, the bride's family pays for most of the wedding as well so their family's name goes first on the invitation.

2. Must our parents' name be on the card?
If your parents are hosting the wedding and reception, it is respectful to include their names in your invitation. If not, you could use the phrase "Together with our parents" or just omit that altogether. Some couples do this if the guest list consists of mostly friends and few or no family members.

3. How do I list the times of all my events without cluttering the card?
The time of the most important event of the wedding day -- the wedding ceremony, solemnisation or reception -- is usually the one that comes first on the card. After that, you can include the timings of other events like cocktail hour or a dinner banquet. They can be written like this: "Cocktails will be served at 6.30pm. Followed by dinner at 7.30pm."

4. If I have two events and am inviting some guests to both and other guests to either, do I need a few different sets of invitations?
The answer to this is yes. You could have a set of invitations that invite a guest to both events, and have another set that invites a guest to only one event. Another way would be to have an invitation that invites all your guests to one event, and a separate smaller card that invites certain guests to another event. Couples who have special after-dinner parties, or pre-wedding rehearsal dinners, or a church ceremony and dinner reception, often do the latter. If a guest is invited to both events, both the invitations can be included in the same envelope. You do not need separate envelopes.

5. Is it rude to put a gift registry or ask for monetary gifts?
Traditionally it's considered rude to put such things on your invitation. However, today's bold and forward bride and grooms are letting their intentions be known to their guests, requesting for monetary gifts (common in many Asian cultures) or for gifts via a registry. If you don't want to make a social faux pas and yet want to include these, perhaps you could have it written at the back of your invitation in small lettering, or have it on a separate card. One of our couples wanted monetary gifts but as donations to a charity of their choice. So they had a nice poem written out with the details of their charity on a small card to be included with their invitation.

6. How do I tell my guests that their children are not invited to the reception?
An invitation to include children should ideally be addressed as "Mr & Mrs John Tan and Family", or if you're on a personal basis "John, Jane, Tommy & Katie". So if you're not inviting the kids, you should address your invitation and its envelope to Mr & Mrs John Tan. We think this should be sufficient to indicate that the invitation is for two people. However, many guests are unfamiliar with etiquette as well and they might just bring their children along (and maybe the maid too). To ensure that your guest list is adhered to, we suggest you follow up the invitation with a phone call if your guest has not RSVP-ed. Politely explain to your guest that seats are limited and you would appreciate their cooperation, or that you would like your ceremony to be a solemn one without the distracting cries of the little ones.

In a later post, we will answer more questions that may have baffled you regarding wedding invitation etiquette. Stay tuned...

Boxes of Joy

2010-07-21T01:55:00.000-07:00

We are happy to report that our job of a whole bunch of baby gift boxes for two bundles of joy was a success. The two babies, Kylie and Amanda, of course go oblivious to the flurry of excitement surrounding their parents and us. Coordinating the packing of food items from different suppliers was a near nightmare (and it wasn't for one baby but two), but our growing experience enabled us to confidently achieve the impossible! Many many thanks also to our friend Joana who came by to help us pack.

We had to boil a whole load of eggs.

And then wrap them in dots! So lovely...

And these in stripes!

Packing went on for a solid 5-6 hours.

And the finished product...drumroll please...

Amanda's gift box:

And here's Kylie's gift box:

We hope both sets of parents were happy with them, our boxes of joy for their bundles of joy.

Crazy Busy July

2010-07-08T20:46:00.000-07:00

July is shaping up to be a very busy month, and we're overjoyed! There's nothing better than creating the best and most beautiful stationery items for our clients. Will update soon, but in the meantime, here's a picture of what we're currently working on. :)

Bring out the bubbly

2010-06-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

A couple got these limited edition bubbles from us for their wedding in June. Weddings are definitely a cause for celebration, and these are great for guests who don't partake of the usual bubbly delight. :)

Poppers for a festive time

2010-06-20T02:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a huge order of poppers we did for a bride with a Bollywood theme.

We had to unwrap, wrap, and pack about 560 poppers with customised labels in 8 exciting colours.

It then got us thinking that if they were packed into little bags with a tag, the poppers will make great corporate gifts or favours for company dinner & dances! If you're interested, do call us at 62203044. :)

Thank You for your Thank You

2010-06-16T23:52:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Apple Lim from www.hweestudios.com.

We recently did some favours of mint rolls with customised labels for a lovely couple.

And today, we received a wonderful email from them that truly touched our hearts. "Hi Ferne, My wife and I would like to thank you for the lovely wedding favours made for our ROM day. Our family and friends all commented that the wedding favours are very unique and nice!"

They also sent us a fantastic shot of the favours at the reception table.

*Tear* Thanks for appreciating us Koon Guan & Mei Leng! It's things like these that keep us going!

Stamped with Love

2010-06-16T00:38:00.000-07:00

We decided to make these rubber stamps one day on a whim. We haven't had one done up yet with our new address, and a client's order of lovely self-addressed envelopes made us itch for our own. We did ours in a heavily calligraphed fashion. Hope the postman can read them though!

Felt like doing this "LOVE" rubber stamp as well. Just because.

And Ally had one done up for her home address, which her husband gave up trying to read and then asked what the point of it was, if no one can read the return address. -_-

It's just nice, period.

NEW Collection 2010

2010-06-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

It's funny that we didn't put a blog entry to announce our new Collection 2010! Amidst the flurry of work, weddings and getting our new collection together, it must have totally slipped our mind. Nevertheless here are some shots of the new designs, if you haven't seen them on our Facebook page or our website.

WIN a set of Couture Notesheets & Envelopes!

2010-06-08T02:10:00.000-07:00

Time to get your hands on the prize! 5 sets of specially designed and printed Couture Notesheets & Envelopes are up for grabs (includes 10 sheets of notepaper and 10 envelopes). What you have to do is really simple! Just share on Twitter, why you read/like our blog card-blanche.blogspot.com and stand a chance to win!

And if you don't have a Twitter account (and really don't want to sign up for one), just do a retweet on Facebook by adding "@cardblanche" to your status post, making sure the @cardblanche comes out as a link to our FB site, and you're in the pot to be picked as well! :)

This contest runs till end of June, and winners will be picked randomly, aka lucky draw, so good luck!

UPDATE:
OK we just realised that those of you using Facebook via mobile methods will not be able to do the @cardblanche link to our facebook page. So here's the solution:

1. Put the link http://www.facebook.com/cardblanche or http://card-blanche.blogspot.com/
2. Drop us a message on the wall here so we know

Thanks!

Hanging beauties

2010-06-04T01:13:00.002-07:00

We're pleased that one of our new designs has been done up in turquoise and black. Refreshingly simple, clean and stylish, and yet with a vintage touch with the lace and chandeliers.

Adventures in Wonderland

2010-06-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, K came to us to get invitations done for her kids', K & K's, birthday party (Yes, their names all start with K!). Using the ideas she had for the party, we translated it into a fun and colourful invitation, filled with all the things you'd expect to see at the party.

There was a balloonist, balloons, cupcakes, birthday cake, ice-cream, bouncy castle, and all the elements of Wonderland - rabbits, a cheshire cat, butterflies, trees, plants, etc.

K also ordered bubbles with customised labels for the party. We named them "Magic Bubbles" to create a special and magical time for the kids.

We're pretty sure everyone's going to have a good time at the birthday party!

Turquoise & Fuchsia

2010-05-25T05:51:00.000-07:00

Marrying two bright colours together can be a daunting task, one that most people shy from (these very same people will probably go for gold and cream for their wedding, but that's another story...), but this couple here made it work for their fun and fresh wedding in Koh Samui.

Using our cherry blossom motif, we designed a range of stationery for the wedding in alternating combinations of turquoise and fuchsia. The end result was very bright, very striking and very dynamic indeed. The colours reflected the couple's fun nature and desire to have a warm, casual weekend with friends and family.

A great idea that they came up with as well, is to have their seating cards paired with little cocktail umbrellas. Their seating cards were folded like beach chairs, and this added to the look of their island wedding.

All in all, this was a great example on how a comprehensive set of wedding stationery can enhance the theme of a wedding.

Scarlet & Spotty

2010-05-24T02:49:00.000-07:00

When Dilki first came to us with her plan for her daughter's first birthday, we were excited and inspired by her dedication to using a soft toy as the theme for the party. Spotty the bear (or dog rather, though he looks bear-like) was her daughter's favourite toy, and she wanted it to be part of the birthday celebration.

Using Spotty, his spots, and the colour red (the birthday girl is named Scarlet), we created an illustration of Spotty holding a balloon. This was then translated into save-the-date cards, invitations, stickers and labels. Note: This Spotty design is specially commissioned and not available for invitations or stationery.

Photo courtesy of ET Artisan Sweets.

Taking cue from Spotty's lovely self, ET Artisan Sweets created a fabulous red and white cake with ribbons, and good ol' Spotty lounging on the cake. Scarlet's mommy and Anna from Spellbound then decorated and themed the entire party with black, white and red balloons, and matching spotted signage...

...and also these fabulous Spotty crowns!

There were also goodie bags prepared for the kids, embellished with stickers that we did, as well as macarons by ET Artisan Sweets.

All photos courtesy of Daniel Allender Photography unless otherwise stated. Email him here.

It was a wonderful birthday Scarlet and her friends will remember for years to come! (and if not, at least the adults will!)

Printing methods that we use

2010-05-06T02:32:00.000-07:00

A lot of you would probably like to know why there are differing prices in printing invitations. In this post, we'd try our best to give you an easy-to-understand explanation, and if you're still in doubt, do give us a call -- 62203044.

At Cardblanche, we strive to give you the highest quality printing, on lovely textured papers or shimmery card stock. As many of these papers are thick, we cannot use a regular laser or inkjet printer to print on them. The method we most prefer to use is known as offset printing. In offset printing, invitation card designs are sent off to professional printers to be printed on the textured or shimmer papers. Offset printing is similar to the type of printing you see in books or magazines, which is one of the highest standards of printing today. However, because the machines used are pretty big and run many copies by the minute, a minimum of 100 cards are required. More time is also needed as the printed cards need time to dry before cutting and/or folding.

What if you don't meet the minimum number of cards required? The answer is to rely on digital printing. Digital printing is a process where a much smaller machine capable of handling one piece at a time is used. At Cardblanche, we offer two types of digital printing. The first is the laser printer, which prints quickly on demand, and the finish is usually glossy in nature. However, because of the machine's paper restrictions, only smooth papers can be used, and they cannot be very thick as the machine can be jammed.

The other, more superior type of digital printing we use is similar to offset printing. In this method, shimmer, textured or smooth card stock can be used. The outcome is sharp, clear and vibrant, and the process is also faster than offset printing. For both types of digital printing, a minimum of 20 pieces is required. However, because of the small quantities, we will need to manually trim the cards so more labour costs are involved. There is also the limitation of colours in digital printing. With offset printing, special inks are used so bright colours like fuchsia, orange and lime green are achievable. In digital printing, colours are mixed via CMYK inks and thus, very bright colours are not possible.

Whether you're considering offset printing, laser, or digital printing, do make an appointment with us to see the samples we have of each method, so that you can make a more discerning decision.

Back to basics

2010-04-27T03:27:00.000-07:00

We had a fun time creating this set of wedding stationery for a photoshoot. The theme was "Back to School" and we dug deep into the recesses of our memories for ideas for each item in the set. The inspiration was derived from school report cards, jotter book paper, 555 notebooks, and school badges.

Check it out...

Invitations:

Programme:

RSVP Card:

Menu and stickers:

This set of stationery is featured on Extraordinary Weddings as part of a fabulous theme shoot in Mint Museum. Click here to see how the venue was transformed into a reception for nostalgia lovers. More photos here as well.

Colourful food

2010-04-27T03:23:00.000-07:00

I came across this today when I was out for breakfast. I don't think I really felt like eating kueh (nonya sticky dessert), but the colours were so inviting I just had to buy it.

Aqua blue and brown definitely makes a nice colour combination for cards doesn't it? :P

~Ally

Destination Weddings

2010-04-20T00:05:00.000-07:00

We've had the honour of doing invitations and stationery for many destination weddings over these past few years. From Thailand and Bali, to Hong Kong and Japan, Canada and the UK, the one thing that impresses us about these weddings is the couples' dedication to creating a wonderful event for their guests. Here are some photos of a recent Bali wedding we had the privilege to design for.

Using a tropical theme and the colour purple, we designed a classic invitation featuring an illustration of palm trees swaying in the wind. Note: This palm tree design is specially commissioned and not available for invitations or stationery.

The couple also had matching stationery done, like placecards...

...and favours, and a paddle fan for guests to keep cool in the outdoors.

If you have a destination wedding to plan for, do make an appointment to discuss your ideas. We'd definitely help you design stationery that will match your wedding venue.

A fusion of cherry blossoms

2010-04-17T02:04:00.000-07:00

Kylie & James are both Australians, but having travelled extensively all over Asia, they took a liking to our cherry blossom design and decided to use the motif for their wedding.

Printed in fuchsia pink on shimmer card stock, their invitations were a lovely sight to behold. It was nice too that they requested for a whole suite of items to be done in matching designs - RSVP cards, favour bags, favour tags and standing menus with table numbers incorporated on them.

We also custom-made a guestbook for them, using a beautiful shimmery pink-purple brocade cloth with matching cherry blossoms that Kylie found in Arab street.

With a perfectly matched theme like that, This will surely be a wedding to remember.

Introducing Customised Matchboxes

2010-04-12T02:54:00.000-07:00

Say hello to our newest favour item, the customised hand-made match box.

This simple box is elevated to "designer" status with colours and our wide variety of motifs and patterns.

Each box is made to order – usually to match your invitations – printed on 200gsm matt white card, hand-cut and then formed into this cute little shape.

Sizes can be customised to fit your favour as well. This one here is a small sized one and fits incense cones and a holder.

Call or email us for enquiries. :)

Inspiration - cakes & cake books

2010-04-08T04:49:00.000-07:00

We love looking at cakes, wedding cakes, and even party and birthday cakes. The amazing creations that bakers are making nowadays are a fantastic source of inspiration. We chanced upon this book from the bookstore, and oohed and ahhed for ten minutes. These photos are from Sweet & Simple Party Cakes, and we hope you'd enjoy looking at them too.

Clusters of mini flowers cascading down, so lush and happy.

Sweet cupcakes with ruffles and diamante touches. Ruffles are so sweet.

Circular patterns in blue and brown. Blue and brown is a fantastic colour combination for weddings.

And this one is so cute!! Edible buttons in pastel colours! To die for!

Emma Singh Maan (Part 2)

2010-03-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

As promised, more photos of our baby gift pack.

Eggs wrapped in two colours and a polka-dot brown band.

Cupcakes in containers with pink bands.

Neatly packed into the checkered box.

Check out both colour combinations!

Contents of a happy full moon baby gift box.

And the final product, presented with a brown band and baby's name and date. Voila~

Emma Singh Maan (Part 1)

2010-03-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

When Jayda & Herdev decided they wanted us to do their baby's first month gift set, we knew we had to work fast. A month can fly by in a blink of an eye and being the perfectionists we are, we planned our course of action and set about getting everything done beautifully.

We had an incredible time hunting for pretty boxes, never easy with short notice, and found these.

Emma's parents wanted the pacifier design we did for her baby's announcement card, so we adapted the pacifier from the announcement card into a repeated pattern in pink and brown.

There's also a brown band...from afar the mini pacifiers look like polka-dots!

Here are some of the items going in:
Rows of eggs roaring to go!

And mini cupcakes!

In Part 2, we'd show you more on the gift box, the packaged items and the final product! Stay tuned!

A light of an idea

2010-03-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

Just thought we'd share this little idea we did for our homes a few years back. This is a simple and very pretty way to dress up your bedroom. A very affordable lamp from Ikea and a carefully hand-cut piece of black paper are all it takes. Of course you'd need a skillful hand with a penknife. :)

The end effect ~ silhouette of a pretty bird in a tree by your bedside every night.

Foreign Languages

2010-03-17T22:51:00.000-07:00

In our years of working with couples for their weddings, we have come across many foreign languages used for invitations. Whilst we don't speak French, German, Japanese, etc, we have had the experience in doing invitations in those languages, and have come to understand how some of these invitations differ from a regular English language one.

Here are some invitations in French:

Invitations in Japanese:

Invitation in Korean:

Dutch:

Invitation in Thai & Chinese:

Invitations and Info sheet in German:

And this interesting invitation with English, German and Korean incorporated together:

Oriental Fusion

2010-03-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Daphne is a close friend of ours, so when she and Nathan tied the knot, she instantly knew that we would be able to create the perfect stationery set for their wedding.

Despite the differences in cultures, Daphne and Nathan both cherished their families and friends, and wanted an intimate celebration in which they could share their joy with them. Their guestlist eventually surpassed 120, and everyone crowded into the small but cosy Flutes at the Fort, a favourite restaurant of theirs.

(Photo courtesy of Jean Loo Photography)

The wedding was an evening of wining, dining and a coming together of western and asian cultures. Similarly, their invitation set and favours reflected the theme - modern oriental with peony flowers and a "Shuang Xi" in teal and cream.

Guests got to take home two favours, a pair of chopsticks, and a takeout box which contained two flower tea balls, a mini scroll with tea-making instructions, and a purple pin that served as a memory of Daphne's father who passed away from pancreatic cancer.

We had a fun time packing the favours and designing invitations for this lovely couple.

NEW! Envelope Liners

2010-03-13T02:09:00.000-08:00

Introducing Envelope Liners!
We all love a customised envelope with the colour and pattern of our choice. However, because we have to make it from scratch, our printed customised envelopes require a minimum of 100 pieces to be done at a go. Not to fret, as we are now selling envelopes with customised liners!

These envelopes are actually ready-made ones that are plain on the inside. You can choose the envelope, then the one colour you like, the print or motif you prefer, and we'd do the rest.

The result is a huge variety of envelopes and liners available for your wedding, party or event!

Whether it's red and silver, purple and gold, pink and white, the possibilities are endless! Call us to find out more about our Envelope Liners.

In the midst of the storm...

2010-03-12T07:13:00.000-08:00

In the midst of the storm, we found a silver lining. We had a terribly tough time finding nice boxes for a baby gift pack, but whilst hunting high and low, we chanced upon some pretty patterns, like this one.

We also got a new tissue box holder for the office!

And not forgetting the baby gift pack...we had to scour the island, but we managed to find this.

More to come soon....

A story book for Ashton

2010-03-12T00:41:00.000-08:00

This pictorial book was done for Ashton, or rather, his parents! Ashton had a fantastic first birthday filled with food, fun, and laughter, and Fern (who's actually Ashton's aunty) wanted to surprise his parents with a book of memories.

We chose a fresh green and yellow for the hardcover book, with leaves and flowers, and a dancing rat (as Ashton's zodiac sign is the rat). The hardcover book was custom-printed on the outside, matt-laminated, and handstiched.

The inside pages were printed on matt textured paper, resulting in the colourful pictures having a warm tone.

Franjipani in Bali

2010-03-11T22:12:00.000-08:00

Over the years we have done many invitations for weddings in Bali. One of them is this frangipani design in pink, white and brown. Using a photo provided by the bride, we illustrated a cascade of franjipani on their invitation card.

To achieve a marvellous end-effect the couple requested for matching stationery done in varying shades of pink and brown. There was a customized envelope, welcome letter, placecards, menu cards, programme booklet, table number tentcards, wine & cocktail menu cards, favour tags, thank you cards and posters.

We also custom-made a guestbook in pink and white for them.

The couple also had a smaller, more intimate celebration in Sydney for family and friends. For that we adapted their Bali invites into soft tones of turquoise and grey. We also assisted in the addressing of the envelopes and posting of the invitations as the couple were overseas.

If you envision a perfectly matched wedding for yourself, do give us a call to see how we can assist you in fulfilling your dream.

A brand new way to connect to you

2010-03-09T23:03:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

We at Cardblanche have been busy updating our designs, collection of invitation cards and favours, website, and Facebook fan page, not to mention giving daily updates via Twitter. Because we've been busy, we never really gave much thought to starting a blog to share our adventures in stationery with you. So on this day (one of our team member's birthday actually), we have decided to commit to maintaining a blog to connect to our fans and customers, and share with you the fun we have with paper, invitations, favours and more.

We look forward to having you here as often as you can.

(In the meantime, do swing by our website and Facebook page for news and photos)

Cheers~
The dedicated Stationery Specialists at Cardblanche