Merry Christmas!

We want to take this moment to wish you, our amazing readers, clients, and friends, a very Merry Christmas! We hope today and tomorrow are filled with love, joy, and peace as you celebrate the season with loved ones.

{Via}

We are so very thankful for you!

Merry Christmas!

XOXO

'Twas the Friday Before Christmas...

Hello 2 Hearts readers!

We hope this Friday finds you well, as you tie up loose ends before Christmas next week so that you can enjoy the sweetness of the season! We know this time of year can be stress, anxiety, and a mix of  emotions for many--all the more reason to take some time to relax, slow down, and remember the reason for the season.

If you need some last minute holiday inspiration for gift wrap, we're here to help: check out our holiday gift guides below:

Holiday A to Z Guide: A through C

Holiday A to Z Guide: D through F

Holiday A to Z Guide: G through I

Holiday A to Z Guide: J through M

Holiday A to Z Guide: N through Z

And don't forget, we are here to help with your last minute gift-wrapping needs as well! Simply contact us for turn-around time and availability.

Please take some time this weekend and next week to sit, savor, and enjoy this special time. We are so thankful for you, our faithful readers and clients! We wish you peace, love, and joy this holiday season.

See you next week!

{Calligraphy Monday} Simply Elegant Calligraphy Tags

Happy Monday 2 Hearts readers!

We hope you had a weekend filled with family, fun, and good food--and took time to count all your many blessings :) We certainly are thankful for you!

If you can believe it, today is December 1st…which means most of us are gearing up for full-on holiday mode :) But don't worry, 2 Hearts B 1 Designs is here for you this month to give you tips and tricks to make your holiday festivities easier!

For example, you can take a simple tag, tie it with twine, and have Jillian calligraphy the names of guests or gift recipients on them:

What an elegant way to dress up a simple favor, a bottle of wine, or any special gift you're giving this year. These can even serve double-duty as place cards if each place setting is set with the gift!

Stay tuned for more festive ideas in the weeks ahead…and a special announcement toward the end of the month!

And don't forget to check out our special Holiday A to Z Guide from last year:

Holiday A to Z Guide: A through C

Holiday A to Z Guide: D through F

Holiday A to Z Guide: G through I

Holiday A to Z Guide: J through M

Holiday A to Z Guide: N through Z

Have a wonderful Monday!

{Calligraphy Monday} The Blessing of a Sister

Hello there and Happy Monday!

We hope you had a wonderful weekend; ours was filled with a baby shower (Kylie's baby shower!) and consultations with new brides! Such a busy and wonderful time of year.

Today we wanted to share this beautiful gift we created for a client wanting to honor her big sister Tiffany. She came to us with this sentiment and asked if Jillian could write it in calligraphy on this floral textured paper.

The result was a beautiful, heartfelt gift that we know her sister will treasure for years to come!

Let us help you come up with a unique, thoughtful gift, perfect for a birthday or the holidays!

Enjoy this Monday and see you back soon :)

{Happy Fall} Autumn Place Cards

With October and Halloween behind us, our minds are focusing on the month ahead…November!

The weather gets chillier, plans are being made for Thanksgiving, and even a bit of holiday shopping gets started…it's a wonderful time of year!

I love how Emily of Jones Design Company described November in her recent blog post:

"November feels like comfort. Cozy. Warmth. Crackling fires and spiced cider. Brown, crunchy leaves, and chunky-knit sweaters. It's a time to be grateful, reflect, eat once-a-year feasts and usher in the most wonderful time of the year."

We couldn't agree more! :)

To get your creative juices flowing for some of your November gatherings, we wanted to share these autumn place cards we did last year for a client:

A little kraft paper, card stock in fall hues, and sweet little critter embellishments make these fun and festive for your autumn table. Let us know if you have a particular theme or color scheme in mind and we'd be happy to help you create something that coordinates perfectly!

Have a wonderful week, and don't forget to stop and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of fall! :)

Halloween Treats!

Happy Friday 2 Hearts readers, and Happy Halloween!

Don't forget to download your FREE Halloween printables that we showcased last year (perfect for cupcake toppers or table signage) HERE!

Halloween 2013 Free Printable by 2HeartsB1

Have a fun and safe weekend!

{Halloween Ideas} Dressed Up Pumpkin Centerpieces

Hi there!

If you need a last minute decorating idea for your Halloween gathering this Friday, look no further! We're sharing these fabulous "dressed up" pumpkin centerpieces we did recently for a client throwing a  Halloween party…the best part? Guests got to take a centerpiece home!

We used a variety of paints, ribbons, and embellishments to take these ordinary pumpkins from festive to fabulous!

It's amazing what a little ribbon and rhinestones can do, isn't it?

Simply take your favorite ribbon and tie it around the stem, and voila! A fun and festive centerpiece.

I love the colors of this one…how great would this look if you were doing a black and white themed party?

You had me at glitter! The burlap ribbon and cute little squirrel can take this pumpkin well into November.

Metallic paint on a pumpkin makes a gorgeous statement! Again we embellished this one with rhinestones, a little owl, and faux flowers and leaves.

Tying a simple ribbon sash around the middle of this pumpkin (and around the stem) takes it up a notch.

Another style that could easily grace your Thanksgiving table!

The nice thing about the pumpkins in the gold, orange, and brown tones is that they can easily transition from Halloween decor to Thanksgiving centerpieces…especially the ones with faux leaf embellishments!

We hope you have fun decorating your own fabulous pumpkins this week, and we'd love to see pictures of your creative ideas! Feel free to share! :)

Have a wonderful Wednesday :)

{Calligraphy Monday} Outlander Shoot Featured on Green Wedding Shoes

Hello and Happy Monday!

We have some exciting news to share today! Recently our own Jillian Yee-Pham did some calligraphy for a wedding shoot styled by Joyce of La Vie Le Gage Couture Events. The shoot was based on the Outlander books by Diana Galbaldon, which is now a hit television series on Starz. She did the calligraphy for the vows and the apothecary notes shown below, and the gorgeous photos below are by Lisa O'Dwyer.

The shoot is featured on Green Wedding Shoes today as well!

And here are a few additional close-up shots of the calligraphy that we took in our studio before the shoot:

For the full feature and to see more photos of this beautiful shoot, visit Green Wedding Shoes!

{Wedding Wednesday} Beautiful Orange & Navy Wedding Invitations

Hi there!

Today we're showcasing some gorgeous wedding invitations we did for a wonderful client a few months ago. Sofia and (her now husband) Dmitry got married in Miami earlier this year, then decided to do another wedding celebration in September with family in Spain! What a marvelous idea! :)

We did a shimmer card stock enclosure, then matted the actual invitation with navy card stock. The orange printed border gave it a nice pop of color without being too bold, and the gorgeous orange satin ribbon finished it off with a look of luxe elegance. It's fresh and sophisticated at the same time. Who wouldn't be excited to receive one of these invitations?

We were thrilled to be a part of Sofia and Dmitry's wedding celebration--thank you for the opportunity to share in this special time in your lives!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

{Frosting Friday} Royal & Sweet Birthday Card

Hi there and Happy Friday!

Ahhh, Fridays are the best, aren't they? Especially in the midst of school commitments, work, football games, errands, and everything else you have going on in the fall, there's just a sense of relief when Friday arrives.

Today we're sharing one of the cards we designed for our friends at Sweet E's Bake Shop. It's a sweet birthday card with a fun, embellished, 3D cupcake on the front :)

These can be found in the shop, along with many other designs that we've created--and will be sharing on the blog in the weeks to come. So stay tuned, and also stop by Sweet E's to see the selection! And don't forget to pick up a sweet treat of course while you're there! ;)

And if your week has been especially busy or hectic this week, then this sentiment goes out to you too, even if it's not your birthday--you deserve the royal treatment! Take some time this weekend to get a pedicure, read a magazine while sipping your favorite latte, or simply put your feet up and take in the beautiful weather. Whatever you do, take some time to relax and enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

{Invitations} Festive Frozen Birthday Invitations

Hi there!

We're excited to share these adorable Frozen-themed birthday invitations with you all today. We designed them for a friend and think they just turned out adorable! (Thanks to the cutie on the front! ;)

With the popularity of Frozen-themed birthdays right now, we think it's especially important to put your personal touch on the invitation. That's why we loved the addition of the picture of sweet Ainsley in her Frozen costume on this one! Plus the die-cut snowflakes, patterned paper, and vellum give a nice texture and dimension.

Let us know if you need help putting your personal touch on your party invitations--we'd be happy to help! :)

Happy Monday!

{Invitation} Festive Kite Birthday Invitation

I hope this Monday is finding you all doing well!

With one official week of summer left to go (the first day of fall is next Tuesday, September 23rd…it's not like we're counting or anything ;), we are savoring the last moments of the season. We know we will be trading the sun, sand, and outdoor gatherings for scarves and sweaters before we know it…although here in southern California, we are having a major heatwave…so it's hard to even imagine wearing a sweater right now!

Two weekends ago we celebrated Jillian's husband's birthday at a beautiful park in Malibu.

Here was the festive invitation she created for him:

Jillian printed the invitation on a shimmer card stock, then cut it in a diamond-shape to look like a kite. She punched a hole in the bottom, then used a variety of twine and ribbon to create the tail.

An airy, festive, fun birthday invitation, perfect for the beach or park, is the result!

It was a wonderful celebration, full of good food, good friends, and fun. 

So here's your reminder to soak up the rest of the season this week, and give a toast to summer!

Have a wonderful Monday!

{Frosting Friday} Sesame Street-Themed Dessert Table Signage

Hi there!

Today we're showcasing some adorable dessert table signage we did for a client throwing a Sesame Street-themed birthday party. How fun! The desserts from the party were provided by Sweet E's Bake Shop, so  you can imagine how cute they were. 

These were more than just your average tented card…to really give them the Sesame Street vibe, we made tiny signs saying "Happy Birthday Jax!" to pop out of the card. We love the effect!

While we didn't get any photos of the actual party, we found a super cute Sesame Street dessert table on Pinterest that would've been a beautiful setting for our signage!

{Photo by Catch My Party, via Pinterest}

Hopefully this will provide some inspiration for your next themed party (if you have a little one, that is ;)

We hope you have a sweet weekend!

Happy Friday!

{Frosting Friday} Shake It Up

It's the last Friday of summer!

How are you spending it?

Whatever your plans are this weekend, hopefully you get some time to soak in some rays, eat some yummy food, and hang out with people you love!

Speaking of yummy food and treats, many of you are familiar with our collaboration with the amazing Toast Bakery Cafe. We've had the privilege of creating menus, signage, and custom tags for them, so when they asked us to help put together these special treat packages, of course we were on board!

These cute little packages consist of two small containers that resemble salt and pepper shakers. Instead of salt and pepper, though, they're filled with black and white jelly beans! (Black licorice and coconut flavors, in case you were wondering ;) 

The tags we created say "Shake it up at Toast!"

These packages were given to some of the local hotels, but are also sold in the restaurant.

What a sweet way to deliver a little treat!

If you haven't yet, be sure to stop by Toast for some amazing food and desserts!

You'll be so happy you did!

And make sure to enjoy this last weekend of summer!

We'll be back next week with a taste of fall on the blog :)

Happy Friday!

{Calligraphy Monday} Calligraphy Mixed with Art

It's the last Monday of August lovelies!

Can you believe it? Next Monday we will officially be in the fall season! I am so excited :) You know we love us some fall around here! But we do want to savor this last bit of summer, so we plan to do that this week!

First up, we're sharing a special wedding card we created for a client.

Our client was actually attending a wedding, and wanted to give a card along with their gift that would be a keepsake for the couple to treasure. 

One of the client's family members actually painted this beautiful scene.

She painted it on card stock so that it could be matted on a 5x7 card.

In step 2 Hearts B 1 Designs :)

We created a folded card and adhered the painting to the front; then Jillian wrote the sentiment in calligraphy on the inside.

She finished it by writing the couple's name on the envelope in coordinating green ink.

A perfectly thoughtful and sweet card for a summer wedding, don't you think?

This is just one example of how we can help put the small, finishing touches on your projects to give them that extra pop!

We love this idea and feel so honored to have helped with these special details!

Make sure to enjoy this last summer Monday and we'll see you again on the blog this week!

Don't forget you can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

XOXO

{Frosting Friday} Cheers to Mom!

Since it is our tradition to celebrate all things sweet here on the blog on Fridays, I thought this Friday would be a perfect opportunity to give a shout out to one of the sweetest people in my life--my mom!

About a month ago, we had the chance to spend a few days together while we attended the Scrapbooking Expo in San Diego. There's nothing better than spending some girl time with your mom, doing something you love, and then indulging on some yummy food after the day's over! Here are a few photos from our fun together:

At the expo, we enjoyed all the different workshops and checking out new products. Mom is holding up an adorable album and line of papers by Simple Stories.

Love her!

After a day of walking, shopping, and creating, we were ready to eat! 

Truluck's in San Diego was the perfect place to end our day!

Here's a look at what we ordered (it's making me hungry just thinking about it)…

The wedge salad

 King crab claws :)

Crab macaroni and cheese…oh yeah

 Chilean sea bass with parmesan potatoes…can you say heaven?

The food was phenomenal and the service was just as excellent! Our server, Jaime, was a doll and treated my mom like a queen! She really made our experience there special.

I would highly recommend trying Truluck's if you're in the area; you'll be glad you did!

So here's to my best friend and the best mom a girl could ask for!

And here's to a fabulous weekend for you!

Thank you dear readers for stopping by!

Cheers!

{Calligraphy Monday} Baby Baptism Invitation

Hello friends!

Today we're sharing a simple yet elegant baby baptism invitation that we did for a dear client--in fact, Brittany & Javier were one of our wedding couples, and you can see their gorgeous wedding details here! 

Fast forward a few years, and now this amazing couple has a sweet baby girl!

Brittany and Javier's sweet daughter Amaya was getting baptized, and we couldn't think of a more beautiful way to honor the occasion than with a handwritten invitation done in calligraphy. 

Thank you Javier & Brittany for letting us be a part of your daughter's special day! :)

For more baby girl baptism ideas, visit our Pinterest board here:

Have a wonderful Monday!

{Invitations} Elegant Pink & Gray Baby Shower Invitation

There is something so sweet about doing baby shower invitations--we just can't get enough of them :)

It's so fun infusing the invitation with the momma's style while making it showcase the little one at the same time.

It's a little hard to tell from the coloration in this photo, but we used a silver shimmer envelope and card stock as the base for this invitation.

A white card stock was printed with grays and pinks, and embellished with a pretty ribbon sash and sparkle detail on the flourishes. The envelope was lined with a coordinating pink polka dot paper to spread the news, "We're tickled pink!" :)

We love the elegant feel of this invite, and the design could easily be modified for a variety of occasions (including a baby shower for a boy, simply by changing the pinks out for blues or greens).

For more "tickled pink" inspiration, check out our inspiration boards on Pinterest and the invitations we created from them :

Paris-Inspired Inspiration Board

Paris-Inspired Baby Shower Invitation Here

Baby Girl Baptism Inspiration Board

Baby Girl Baptism/Christening Invitation Here

Have a wonderful Wednesday! :)