Watercolor Menus, Table Numbers, and Escort Cards (a look at the extras)

View of the table setting with my custom watercolor wedding menu card | courtney khail watercolors | photo by Elle Golden

The Extras- watercolor escort cards, menus, and table numbers by courtney khail watercolors

Oh the extras. A lot of people forget about these, but it's these pieces that can really tie everything together design wise. You also a little more freedom to play around with pieces like menus or table numbers since there are-usually- less of them and therefore not as visually overwhelming or expensive. Since I've already shared the watercolor wedding invitations I created for the Weddings Unveiled shoot, I thought today would be a great day to share more of the "day of" elements.

For the menus and table numbers, I utilized the same basic designs and artwork as the invitations, but I played with the shapes to give them more visual interest. (If you missed the post on how I created the artwork, you can find that here.) My circular menus fit perfectly inside the (absolutely beautiful) gradient blue plates Raquel chose from Ponce City Market's West Elm, which in turn acted as "frames" for the menu artwork. (Full disclosure, this was actually just a happy accident. I thought circles would be more fun than common rectangle or square menus, not to mention that the artwork really lent itself to the shape so I just went for it and hoped for the best. I had no clue if it would work with the design, but luckily, it worked perfectly.)

my original sketch for the menu cards | via courtney khail watercolors

The table number was also a spontaneous decision. Originally a square, I thought it needed something so the night before the shoot I started cutting away at the white space. In the end, the cut out mimics the border of the painted "bouquet" and ended up blending in seamlessly to the center pieces. Which was pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

Custom watercolor table number by courtney khail | photo by Elle Golden

As for the escort cards, Raquel told me the idea she had for displaying them, so I knew they couldn't be too busy. By removing the line work, the names (handwritten to mimic the invitation) pop from the paper, while the lighter artwork forms a floating garden when all of the names are arranged together.

View of Table | Custom watercolor wedding extras by courtney khail | photo by Elle Golden

Custom watercolor escort card detail | created by courtney khail | photo by Elle Golden

Alt Summit: All about the business cards

The business cards of ALT Summit

One of these days I'll get to my recap of Alt. Maybe. Alt is kind of a whirlwind of people, conversations, information, and colors. An amazing whirlwind, but a whirlwind nonetheless. And in the end-after you get home and the laundry is finished and the suitcase it put back up- you find yourself wondering how to put the experience into words. Well that and the realization that you are now surrounded by hundreds of business cards and gifts that you somehow managed to squeeze into your carry on. (Or maybe you're smart and checked your bag. Personally, I like the challenge of getting everything home in one bag and just treat it like an interesting game of Tetris. One that involves a lot of shoes, vintage skirts, and business cards.) Anyhoo. Back to the business cards. Alt loves it's business cards. From "Hello my name is" stickers to full on swag bags (seriously. I was given a scarf, the softest pair of leggings ever, and a necklace all as business cards. Way to knock it out of the park, people.) you can pretty much find every example of business cards at the conference. (Even invisible ones if you're like one of my roommates, Conni , who accidentally left hers at home. Whoops.) So once the dust in my mind settled (and I'd taken no less than 3 naps) I slowly went through them all while we watched House of Cards. Such beautiful cards (and even more amazing people.) And since I normally do a round up of them anyhow, I thought I'd mix it up a little and share a few trends that seemed to emerge from the pile.

alt summit graphic business cards via courtney khail.jpg

Cards featured: j. sorelle, Hilary Rose, Dear Miss Modern, izzy hudgins photography, Meg Conley, agnes & dora, french knot studios

#1 The graphic business card. Clean, crisp, normally all in black and white. Definitely not a new concept, but always a winner in my book.

alt summit handwritten business cards via courtney khail.jpg

Cards Featured: the nectar collective, emily mcdowell, melissa esplin, tammy petro

#2 The handwritten card. Loved by stationery designers, artists, calligraphers, and pretty much any one else who works with paper- this card feels intimate with it's use of brushstrokes and/or hand lettering. (My business cards actually combine this style with the graphic card style above.)

alt summit letterpress business cards via courtney khail.jpg

Cards Featured: finder not keeper, 1000 threads, zelma rose, annie reeves, noteworthy paper, handmade charlotte

#3 The letterpress card. Oh letterpress, you are so very pretty with your thick paper and your indentions left from the press. One of the most chameleon-like cards, this type can fit with pretty much any occupation thanks to it's ability to be both traditional and modern (depending on the type, colors, etc.)

alt summit photo business cards via courtney khail.jpg

Cards Featured: let's play dear, marion green, our style stories, sarah deragon, cyndie spiegel, anne hellman,thrift me pretty

#4 The photo card. Pretty self explanatory, this card features a photo of either the people handing it out or their work. Loved by photographers (it's like a mini portfolio!) it can be used by anyone who wants to make sure you remember who they are long after the conference. And with a conference as large and jam packed as Alt, these are incredibly smart to have.

alt summit present business cards via courtney khail

Cards Featured: one little minute, christina williams, the bannerie, oh what love studios, the banner shoppe

#5 And lastly, the present card. A fan favorite at Alt, these all come with a  "surprise." Think of them like the kids meal of business cards. Mini paper banners, confetti, pencils, ornaments, sewing kits, temporary tattoos- this is where the DIY/craft/party blogger really gets to shine. While maybe not practical for the everyday, these are huge hits at creative conferences and definitely make an impression on receivers. (I'm still finding confetti in my purse 4 days later and it always makes me smile.)

What's your favorite? I tend to gravitate towards the graphic and handwritten ones (hence my own card) but there is just something so fun about a mini package!

Good Design: Umbrellas

via fffound

I love this umbrella piece. You can almost feel the wind, feel the tension build against the metal and fabric, see the poles begin to bend, and then finally the crack of the collapse. I know a broken umbrella can be a day ruin-er, but there is something beautiful about a utilitarian piece breaking under pressure and becoming something completely different. Something that- after losing all it's function- simply becomes a beautiful piece of sculpture.

Speaking of umbrellas, moving made me realize that we have way too many of them. Like an insane number of umbrellas. And seeing as it doesn't really rain in Colorado we really have absolutely no need for them. We whittled it down to 2 I believe, but even that seems like too many. Then again, you never really want to be completely without one, right?

good design: Anagrama's Bonnard Bakery

Bonnard Bakery via Anagrama

To be honest, when I first saw these I thought it was for a cosmetic company. After I read further though, I learned it was for Bonnard- a Mexican french-inspired tea and confectionery shop.  (Not surprisingly, it was designed to look like a luxurious high fashion brand. Think they achieved that!) Created by Anagrama and based on Pierre Bonnard's post-impressionist paintings, it's not just the macaroons that look like little pieces of art.

Good Design: More Rare (enjoying design for the sake of design)

via more rare

Okay. Normally my good design posts are kind of biased. Not just because I just pick what I enjoy (it's biased that way too,) but also because we all have predisposed ideas of what things should be and look like. Example: when I show you a menu I really enjoy, you automatically envision looking at the menu. Within seconds you know whether you enjoy the design/layout/etc. or not- but you make those assumptions based on the fact it's menu. So what about if you have ABSOLUTELY no clue exactly what you're looking at? Wouldn't that mean you are simply enjoying design for the sake of design?

That's what happened to me here. I have no clue what More Rare does. I'm guessing it's a shop, but they may do product photography, or industrial design, or maybe none of those at all. The thing is, it doesn't really matter. The photos are crisp, bright, and well done and are placed in a very symmetrical and orderly manner. The name "More Rare" is crisp, clean, and easy to read. No matter what they do in actuality, they found a design that is pleasing overall (and kind of universal.) While it wouldn't work in every sense, to me, that's a pretty awesome thing to accomplish.

good design: pietro gala pasta

via the dieline

From the Dieline:

"Pietro Gala" is a new premium pasta brand, distinguished by handcraft manufacturing and high quality ingredients. Fresh chicken agency developed the brand name, character and designed production package. Pietro Gala is an italian chief cook, whose image features different kinds of pasta. Cardboard texture and one-colour print emphasize naturalness of pasta and generate positive emotions."

That's all fine and good but, I just imagine the chef singing "That's Amore!" Which, let's be honest, would make me buy this in an instant.

good design: Bombay Bakery Cookie Business Cards

via trend hunter

So I know we were all told never to take candy from a stranger, but what are the rules on taking cookies from them? (Also the germ-a-phobe in me can't help but wonder if they come in a package as well. I mean, I'm sure I speak for everyone in saying that no one wants a lint covered cookie from some guys pocket...)

good design: Brooklyn Fare "wipe that smile" Napkins

found via eat me daily

Sometimes, people can be so witty.

Did anyone's mom actually say "wipe that smile off your face" to them? Or is this one of those things that was mostly on TV? I am most definitely an inappropriate smiler. When I was in trouble you'd never know my stomach was doing flips since I'd almost always crack a smile. Or I'd start to cry. Seriously, I have the worst poker face EVER.

good design: hubert's half and half

guess they didn't want to follow their "only the best will do" motto. photo via courtney khail

One wrong turn at the grocery store and I came face to face with a massive drink display- cans upon cans of a lemonade/tea blend waiting for me to take some home. I hesitated for two reasons. First, I've never had a canned tea that was good so I normally steer clear from them, and second, I don't really see the purpose in paying for something that's canned when I can make it fresh at home. But there they were. Happy, smiling faces coaxing me "to just try them" and how could I not? It was all natural! The packaging was super fun! Cheerful, bright, slightly retro type. And they were on sale. So I bought two, took some photos to share with y'all, and cracked one open to try.

What happened next I didn't quite anticipate. My mouth was flooded with the most artificial taste I've ever had (and this includes orange Fanta.) It was horrible! Thinking it might just be me, I asked J to try it. Apparently it wasn't just me.

Just goes to show you how much packaging affects what we buy. I had my doubts, but because it was so cheerful and well done, I went against my gut and took a chance. Here's to hoping I learned my lesson.

good design: Cask & Larder menu

via art if the menu

I love well designed menus. I find it so disappointing when an amazing restaurant does everything right, but then the menu just falls short (think computer paper, mixed common fonts, and a horrible layout.) Very few restaurants can pull off the "we just printed this off in the back office" but so many try. This menu the same for Cask & Larder proves just how much menus can do for a restaurant. By carrying the same fonts, colors, and retro feel throughout the menu, it looks cohesive, well thought out, and professional.

good design: adam kurtz balloons

via adam j. kurtz

I can't be the only person who has needed these balloons before. (What a way to apologize right? I mean, you can't stay help but smile at someone with an handful of these!)