2017 Calendar and Holiday Cards Now Available in the Shop

I'm so excited to announce that my 2017 Calendar and Holiday Cards are now available in the Shop! This special limited edition calendar is my third collaboration with Jennifer Young Studio (photography).  Inspired by Jennifer’s travels across the U.S., moving from California to New York, and our love of clean, simple design, this calendar is available in an edition of 100 copies. Each calendar is hand numbered on the front cover.

Special bonus: The first 25 calendars purchased will come with a limited edition set of 5 postcards featuring our favorite images from all the calendars.

Get an exclusive set of 5 postcards for the first 25 Calendar purchases!

I've also added new 2017 custom Holiday cards to the Shop.

+ Photos 2-7, 10 and 12 by Jennifer Young
+ Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper), Twitter (@good_on_paper),
Pinterest (@goodonpaperdes) and Tumblr (hellogoodonpaper)
+ Subscribe to receive the latest posts and Good on Paper updates delivered to your inbox.
+ You could also use Blog Lovin' or Feedly to follow along.

Lucas' 6th Birthday Party

A couple of weekends ago we celebrated Lucas' 6th birthday party. Time sure flies--I just can't believe he is now 6! Remember his 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th birthday parties? As usual, I ask Lucas what kind of party he wants each year and then I put my own modern spin on theme. This year Lucas initially asked for a Pokemon party but later decided on a magic theme after having seen a magician called Magical Nathaniel at Playland-Not-At-The-Beach.

I designed the invitations with a clean but slightly vintage feel, complete with custom photo envelope liners and a custom rubber stamp that would be used on favor bags and food packaging. The double thick invitations were mailed in kraft envelopes and sealed with wraparound address labels.

The party took place at the Padre Picnic Area in Tilden Park in Berkeley and the we couldn't have lucked out with better weather--you never know in April! Guests set out blankets and flew kites, played soccer, baseball and tag. We hired Magical Nathaniel to perform a magic show for 45 minutes. He was amazing and kids and adults alike were in awe by his tricks. Funny how every 6-year old seems to think they know how he does his tricks.

The amazing food for the party was generously provided by Whole Foods Market. In case you didn't know, Whole Foods Market cater kids parties too and can customize a menu for you. To go along with our magic theme, the catering team made Popcorn Chicken, Grilled Corn on the Cob, Mini Chicken Corn Dogs (a kid favorite), "Magic Wand" Fruit Skewers, Classic Mac 'N' Cheese, their signature Cabbage Crunch Salad (my fave!), and Potato Salad (several people told me this was the best they have had). They also provided Organic Juice Boxes, Mochi Ice Cream by Bubbies, and Annie's Homegrown Fruit Snacks for the pinata. Thank you Whole Foods Market (specifically the Berkeley and Gilman locations)!

Per Lucas' request, I made him a chocolate cake with vanilla frosting and edible gold stars and a gazillion cupcakes for his friends.

A Jackson birthday party tradition, we had donut holes with custom designed cones--always a huge hit with everyone!

Nick and I made this awesome playing card pinata and giant magic wand for busting it open. It was actually really easy and full DIY instructions can be found on Oh Happy Day blog.

I used the custom rubber stamp for the cotton favor bags that each held Pocky Sticks (they look like magic wands!), a coin trick, fortune teller fish, and mini word game books.

Lucas had the brilliant idea of having a Make-Your-Own-Wand station. Using a wooden dowel with eye hooks, kids could use Japanese washi tape and choose colorful ribbons to make a fun magic ribbon wand.

My baby is 6!! Whaaaaat?!?

Theo ate fruit skewers for lunch.

Classic Mac 'N' Cheese and awesome Popcorn Chicken with two kinds of housemade dipping sauces--BBQ and ranch.

Grilled Corn on the Cob was a crowd favorite.

Okay, how cute is my friend Jeanne's daughter Hayden sipping her organic lemonade? And my niece Tallia waving her wand and my friends Aaron and Corrine's daughter Josephine who LOVED the corn on the cob.

Mini Chicken Corn Dogs were a kid favorite.

Whole Foods Market Gilman provided delicious Mochi Ice Cream from Bubbies. I packaged and labeled them individually in glassine bags and stamped them with Lucas' birthday logo. I chose four flavors--Mango, Green Tea, Strawberry and Vanilla.

If you don't know about this Cabbage Crunch Salad at Whole Foods, you're missing out. Not sure if every location has it, but damn, it's good.

I usually prefer the vinegar-based kind of potato salad, but this was the Best Classic Potato Salad ever!

Magical Nathaniel was awesome! He's a Cal student and does magic on the side but plans to make it his full time gig. If you need a magician for your party, you need to hire him. Nearly every kid sat still for the 45-minute performance. He was entertaining and engaging with the kids, often asking for volunteers to help him with his tricks. The kids loved it!

OMG, Magical Nathaniel solved this Rubik's Cube in a minute and 30 seconds--blindfolded!

This is the look of a 3.5-year old who missed his nap and ate nothing but fruit and donut holes for lunch. Poor Theo.

This pinata was awesome because no one could bust it open which meant every kid got a chance to hit it. Ha!

Eventually, Nick had to discreetly stab a few holes into it.

*This post is in partnership with Whole Foods Market. All words and ideas are my own.

+ Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper), Twitter (@good_on_paper), Pinterest (@goodonpaperdes) and Tumblr (hellogoodonpaper)
+ Subscribe to receive the latest posts and Good on Paper updates delivered to your inbox.  You could also use Blog Lovin' or Feedly to follow along.

Ready Made Party Invitations are Here

Hey friends! I finally made these popular birthday party invitations readily available and customizable in my online Shop. Choose from 5 designs for now--Go Wild, Modern Superhero, Modern Circus, Colorblock and Summer Watermelon. Each one will be printed onto double thick recycled paper and comes with printed envelopes. Let me know what you think! 

+ Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper), Twitter (@good_on_paper), Pinterest (@goodonpaperdes) and Tumblr (hellogoodonpaper)
+ Subscribe to receive the latest posts and Good on Paper updates delivered to your inbox.  You could also use Blog Lovin' or Feedly to follow along.

Favorites: Tulsi Scarves by Tara Hogan

It's been a little crazy weather wise around here--I'm talking 70s during these "winter" months and then all of a sudden rain and high winds. Either way, I get cold really easily and wear a lot of layers like an old Chinese grandma. One way of keeping warm without wearing a hat (note, I do NOT look good in hats) is wearing a scarf. I love love wearing scarves especially ones that are light and long enough that I could wrap around once or twice and feel cozy.

Not only does she design cute t-shirts, but my friend Tara Hogan of Ink & Wit has designed a new line of beautiful Tulsi scarves. I absolutely LOVE these scarves. Printed by master block printers on the outskirts of Jaipur, India using natural non-toxic dyes, these silk and cotton scarves are light with raw edge ends and have the most beautiful patterns and natural colors. Tara sent me the Ojas design and now I think I need the Amrita or Nadi too!

Scroll down for a special discount code in the Ink & Wit shop!

Tara is offering 10% off shirts and scarves with code GOODONPAPER10 in the Ink & Wit shop until Sunday 2/21/16. Thanks so much Tara!

+ Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper), Twitter (@good_on_paper),
Pinterest (@goodonpaperdes) and Tumblr (hellogoodonpaper)
+ Subscribe to receive the latest posts and Good on Paper updates delivered to your inbox.
+ You could also use Blog Lovin' or Feedly to follow along.

West Elm Home Tour

I'm excited to share a tour of our home featured on the West Elm blog.

Pretty proud of our DIY red oak open shelving :)

Love the engineering print above the couch by Jennifer Young--it's a giant print of one of her shots that can be found in our 2016 Calendar collaboration available in my shop. The other print above our bed is from our 2015 calendar. :)

+ See the full write up on the West Elm blog
+ Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper), Twitter (@good_on_paper) and Pinterest (@goodonpaperdes)
+ Subscribe to receive the latest posts and Good on Paper updates delivered to your inbox.  You could also use Blog Lovin' or Feedly to follow along.

Feature on Design.Scout

I just wanted to share that I was recently featured on the design and lifestyle blog Design Scout. The site typically features spaces and the makers of those spaces, but when co-founder and design enthusiast Jude Sue asked me to contribute some design/composition tips for their readers, I jumped at the chance. They were also kind enough to host an Instagram Giveway for one our 2016 Calendars.

I chose four projects to feature--a logo/branding project for a client, a calendar collaboration for my online shop, the birthday party stationery for Lucas, and a holiday gift guide for my blog.

+ Photo of me by Sarah Hebenstreit
+ Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper), Twitter (@good_on_paper) and Pinterest (@goodonpaperdes)
+ Subscribe to receive the latest posts and Good on Paper updates delivered to your inbox.  You could also use Blog Lovin' or Feedly to follow along.

Free Shipping until 12/18 on our 2016 Calendars

If you're still looking for an awesome holiday gift, you can pick up one of our 2016 Calendars with FREE SHIPPING (everything in my shop! woohoo!) until Friday, 12/18 using code FREESHIP at checkout. It's my second collaboration with super talented photographer Jennifer Young and is available as a special limited edition of 250 in each of our shops--each calendar is hand numbered on the front cover.

+ Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper), Twitter (@good_on_paper), Pinterest (@goodonpaperdes) and Tumblr (hellogoodonpaper)
+ Buy it here in my shop or here in Jennifer's shop
+ As seen on Anthology Magazine, Rue Magazine, Shop Sweet Things, Mother Magazine, Oh So Beautiful Paper, and Shutterbean
+ Also available in these awesome shops: Social Studies, Len Collective, Left Field and Ruby Rose

New 2016 Calendar -- Jennifer Young Studio x Good on Paper

I'm so excited to announce my second collaboration with super talented photographer Jennifer Young for our 2016 Calendar! Inspired by Jennifer's travels around the world and our love of clean, minimal design and copper foil printing, it is available in a special limited edition of 250 in each of our shops--each calendar is hand numbered on the front cover.

+ Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper), Twitter (@good_on_paper), Pinterest (@goodonpaperdes) and Tumblr (hellogoodonpaper)
+ Buy it here in my shop or here in Jennifer's shop
+ As seen on Anthology Magazine, Rue Magazine, Shop Sweet Things, Mother Magazine, Oh So Beautiful Paper, and Shutterbean
+ Also available in these awesome shops: Social Studies, Len Collective, Left Field and Ruby Rose

My Work: Picnic Logo Design + Branding

I'm really excited to share some recent logo design/branding I did for my friend Lisa Fontaine's company and blog, Picnic. Lisa wanted a new identity for her small business and blog where she shares crafts, style, recipes and more. She has an Etsy shop, a print shop, and a boutique film production company. There is more to be done in the future but I wanted to share some of the progress. The business cards were letterpress printed in black on cotton paper by Spark Letterpress. The hang tags were letterpress printed onto kraft chipboard for a more crafty feel.

I also designed a custom rubber stamp with a coordinating logo for Camp Picnic, a super cute arts and crafts camp that Lisa will be teaching to children during the summer months. Campers explore weaving, natural dye, vegetable prints, bead making, cooking, painting, collage, and some basic sewing techniques. The camp is already sold out for this summer but If you know any kids (ages 6-11) in the Bay Area who love art and crafting, sign up to get on Camp Picnic's mailing list.

+ Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper)
+ Subscribe to receive the latest posts and Good on Paper updates delivered to your inbox.  You could also use Blog Lovin' or Feedly to follow along.

This and That Lately

Oh man, it's been super crazy busy around here. Between work at both jobs, room parenting for the kids' preschool, the kids' schedules, and just trying to keep up with everything, I am so not ready for the holidays! I need another month to prepare myself mentally. Anyway, here are some recent photos of what's been going on lately.

Lots of cozy brother time / Theo totally chooses to wear those glasses and hat

We got a Christmas tree!

I've been so floored by the love and support for the 2015 Calendar I designed in collaboration with Jennifer Young. It's been such an awesome experience and we've nearly sold out of them. The calendar has made it into several gift guides curated by some rad mags like Rue (see here) and Mother. Thank you!

I was lucky enough to make it to the Lovemade (Hi Jeanne and Janette!) DIY Gift Wrapping event with Yellow Owl Workshop (Hi Christine!) at Rare Device with my friend Lisa and her daughter Bijou. How cute are Bijou and Theo together?

One of my faves -- Lucas said here, "Ahhhhh, this is the life." (stole that from The Pigeon Needs a Bath, and he's right!)

Went with my friend Nancy of Anthology magazine to the West Coast Craft show. Got to see some amazing designers/artists and ooh and ahh at all the things I wish I could make or have in my home. Nancy has been featuring a few stand out designers each day on the Anthology blog with the photos I shot. Can't wait to go back!

In the midst of all the craziness, I somehow find time bake Cranberry Orange Morning Buns and Apple Turnovers. I guess baking (and eating the end product) is kind of therapeutic for me in a way.

I made this countdown to Christmas scratch off treasure hunt calendar for Lucas inspired by one of the projects in my friend Erin's new book Make and and Give. He's been scratching one gold circle off since December 1st. Underneath each circle is a clue to where a small gift is wrapped and hidden around the house -- anything from a pair of new socks, a piece of chocolate, a new book, or a trip to the museum.

Happy weekend friends!

+ Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper)
+ Subscribe to receive the latest posts and Good on Paper updates delivered to your inbox! Simply click here. You could also use Blog Lovin' or Feedly to follow along.