Help with Writing Memorial Cards

When a loved one passes and it's time to write the memorial cards, it is important to select wording that honours the deceased and encourages those present.

Here are two new resources for helping you when planning and writing a memorial card:

Article: Memorial Cards - How To Write With Meaning

Article: Many long and short format Memorial Verses

What's happening at Botanical PaperWorks

Hello!

Since my last post on this blog, life at Botanical PaperWorks has been interesting and exciting. Today, I'll update you on the many different ways to interact with Botanical PaperWorks!

• Seed paper and envelopes - information about buying sheets of high-quality seed paper and seed paper envelopes.
• Plantable Paper Printing Guidelines - everything you need to know about printing on seed paper (also known as plantable paper).
• Green Gifts Guide - our fabulous, season-specific green gifts guide to give you tons of ideas for gift-giving.
• Plantable Paper on Twitter - regular tweets from the creative team at Botanical PaperWorks.
• Plantable Paper on Facebook - all the current news and special offers
• Botanical PaperWorks Blog - craft DIY ideas, press, tips and articles

So please join us!

Blog Has a New Home

My blog has a new home! Check out Stationery Scoop which replaces Heidi's Paper Musings. I switched to the TypePad service because of the extra features available - check out the photo album and the RSS feed. Let me know what you think.

Reply Card Album

I was chatting with Gillie from Fairchild Bridal Group today (publishers of Bride's, Modern Bride and Elegant Bride), talking about reply cards and what to do with them after the wedding is over. We spoke about how many guests write personal notes to the bride and groom on the cards. These become special momentos of the special pre-wedding time, and of the friends and family who were invited to share in it. Gillie suggested that brides create a Reply Card Album. Using a simple scrapbook album or a guestbook such as this Handbound Guestbook from Botanical PaperWorks, affix the reply cards to the page. And voila - a beautiful keepsake album to treasure for years to come!

New Ribbons

Have you seen our new ribbons? Shown here - Vibrant Pink, Vibrant Orange, Celery Green and Medium Blue. This fabulous new ribbons are available on all of our handmade wedding invitations and Plantable Seeded Favors. All are available from Botanical PaperWorks.

Fall Bridal Gown Fashions

Modern Bride has photos fresh from the runway. Check out the wedding gown styles by visiting Fall Runway 2005. You can even vote for your favorite dress!

Martha Stewart Ad

On shelves soon...the Fall 2005 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings. Look for Botanical PaperWorks' ad in the Marketplace section at the back of the magazine. This issue's ad features the Butterfly in Flight plantable seed favors.

Butterfly Favors

We're working on some new photography for our website, and I wanted to share this bevy of beautiful butterflies. Shown at left, the Plantable Butterfly Seed Favors are available in white, pink, blue, yellow, lavender and new green. Plant the butterfly and the paper will grow into a pot of beautiful flowers. Each butterfly is made with Garden Greetings handmade wildflower seed paper. This special paper is plantable, which means that the seeds germinate right from the paper. Click here for more plantable seed favors. More lovely photos to come...stick around!

Update on DIY Prep

I'm off to Burbank in just 1 week, to tape the papermaking episode of Craft Lab, a new show from the DIY Network. On Friday, the head papermaking from Botanical PaperWorks and I spent the day getting materials and equipment ready for the show. There were many samples to be made, and bits and pieces to gather. We had to make extras of every sample, in case one gets lost or ruined during taping. I'll be traveling to Burbank with an odd assortment of equipment in my luggage - kitchen blender, dried pulp, handmade paper, whisks, plastic buckets. What will customs say?!

Introducing Toni

I would like to introduce you to Toni, Botanical PaperWorks' Customer Care Manager and Assistant General Manager. When you call to place an order, track a package or inquire about a product, most likely you will speak with Toni (or another member of her customer care team). Toni has been with Botanical PaperWorks since 2001, and her experience means that she can help you quickly and competently. I love this photo of us at the National Stationery Show in May 2005. We're dressed in identical t-shirts, as part of the booth uniform. Toni is here to help, so please call or email her with your questions and comments. She'd love to hear from you!

Free Wedding Planner Workbook

I love this wedding planner from Martha Stewart. It's called the Wedding Workbook and it's free for you to download. Use it to track expenses, plan the photography and more. It also includes a super helpful timeline for ordering invitations, booking facilities, etc.

Forgotten Thank You Note - What to Do

Here's a great Q&A from Modern Bride, addressing an awkward situation - what to do if you forget to send someone a thank you note. Yikes! It happens to the best of us. Click here for the answer.

Handmade Paper, An Overview

One more article that I suggest: Handmade Paper - An Overview is a useful introduction to handmade paper, the process of making handmade paper and other interesting details. It was written by the papermakers of Botanical PaperWorks, experienced in making handmade paper.

Handmade Wedding Invitations

Here's a helpful article called Tips for Ordering Handmade Wedding Invitations.

Good Manners During Wedding Preparations

On the way into work this morning, I was reminded of the importance of having good manners during a season of wedding preparations. I have recently been trying to contact a friend who is getting married, and she just is never returning my emails or calls. Now, I understand that she is insanely busy. More than insanely - unbelievably, crazy, over-the-top busy, with a lot on her mind. But I really need to get in touch with her, and short of renting a hot air balloon, I've run out of ideas for getting her attention. With so many details and concerns on our minds, pre-wedding, it's so easy to be on overload. And when we're on overload, we just don't care, or simply can't manage, to juggle all the balls in the air. I understand. Really. I've been there. But here's my word of caution: pulling off a wedding takes a lot of people who care about you and are willing to pitch in by throwing bridal showers, decorating the reception facility, addressing your invitations and listening to you ruminate on bridesmaids dresses and flower choices. In short, you need these people now, and you'll need them as friends later, once all the wedding insanity is over. Be careful to care for these friends now. You'll be so glad later that you did. Heidi Botanical PaperWorks