Closed for the holidays

During this Christmas season,

May you be blessed
With the spirit of the season,
which is peace,
The gladness of the season,
which is hope,
And the heart of the season,
which is love

Elsje Designs will be closed from 22 December to 4th of January.  We look forward to a year of creativity and inspiration!

DIY Christmas Decorations

The most beautiful Christmas ornaments are made of white cardboard.


Materials

- thin cardboard
- glue
- pencil
- scissors
- yarn

To do this:

1. Draw the patterns on the cardboard and cut them off.
2. Fold by the dotted lines.
3. Glue the yarn to the desired place.
4. Spread glue on the vanes and fold them inside.
5. Let the decorations dry.

http://www.scandinaviandeko.com/blog/diy-christmas-ornaments/

Year end sale: while stock lasts

Visit our pop up shop in our Durbanville studio for items marked down to less 70%!!! 

Snag some of our paper delights, ribbon and paper off cuts.  Paper humming birds at R1 ea, striped ribbon @ 50c per meter, gift tags, printed placemats from R5 ea, velvet gift bags, Swarovski buckles, texturised paper, scrapbooking paper, printed pencils and much more!

Weekdays between 9am to 5pm (or early evenings by prior arrangement).

We look forward to meeting you! 

18 Burton Road, Aurora, Durbanville - across the Aurora Shopping Centre.  Visit our website http://www.elsje.co.za/ for a map.

Moustache mania!

I have no idea where this trend came from, but I think it's fun and quirky!  Its not only restricted to weddings either, I've seen them everywhere - on glasses, mugs and napkins.

As part of our year end sale we are selling the photobooth props (including moustaches, lips and glasses) at R3 ea.  The pop up shop is still on - so hurry, while stocks last!

 

Budget-savvy ideas to save on your invitations

Weddings are an expensive affair for everyone. These once in a lifetime event do come at price, in literal terms. During one's wedding, saving at any small thing can mean a lot.


If you're a budget-savvy couple, you're probably looking to save money wherever you can. One area you might not have thought of is your wedding invitations. Don't think you need to buy flimsy paper or discounted blurry printing. You can still have an elegant wedding invitation but save money.

Here are a few ways of saving money on your wedding invitations:

1. Do it yourself

If you are a do-it-yourself person, this is the perfect opportunity to get creative. You are welcome to book a consultation with me, and I will help you to get a stunning concept on the table – something quick, easy and stylish for you and your bridesmaids to create. But please do remember that you will need to allow plenty of time to make your invitations, make it a special enjoyable time, invite some family & friends around to help out. Rule of Thumb!! Give Yourself Enough Time. You may think you are saving time and money by making your own wedding invitations, but these crafts are not always as time saving as you may think.

2. The Little Extras

Intricate invitations with jackets, bows, multiple layers of paper and other embellishments are very popular these days. But those little extra details can really add up. Instead go for the classic look of a simple invitation printed on a high-quality paper.

3. Standard Size Invitations

There might be extra costs, so be aware of the following:

• It is a square letter

• It contains very rigid items such as wood or metal

• It has clasps, string, buttons, or similar closure devices

• It has an address parallel to the shorter dimension of the letter

• It contains items that makes the surface to be uneven

• The length divided by height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5


4. Proofread

A no-brainer, perhaps, but you'd be surprised how many people find errors on their wedding invitations and have to re-order with extra rush charges. Get a couple of trusted friends or colleagues to look over the invitation for extra insurance. Make sure you've got all the details of names, date, time, location, and RSVP correct!

5. Postcard RSVP

Rather than a folded card and envelope, use a postcard for your RSVP. Not only will you save on weight for your invitation postage, but you'll save postage for each RSVP.

6. Order extra invitations and envelopes

This might seem counterintuitive, but since almost every couple remembers someone that they HAVE to invite at the last minute, you'll want to have a few extra wedding invitations. And since it's likely that you'll make a few goofs while addressing them, order extra envelopes as well. It will cost you a little extra now, but save you lots of reprinting and rush charges later.

7. Go digital

Another way that is becoming increasingly popular is sending the invitations over the emails. These invitations can be just as creative as well as budget and environmentally friendly. Digital invitations will work for those friends and family who have access to this type of media; however, you may still want to purchase some invitations to send through the mail for those who don’t. This will save on both printing and on postage. We have recently created an old vintage book that can be paged by your guests – truly unique and a show stopper!

8. Barter for the best price!
 
photo:  Lizelle Lotter

Hurry! Our year end sale has just started!!

Paper @ R1 per sheet, Swarovski buckles @ R5 ea, gorgeous gift tags @ R1 ea, fashion jewelry at less 50%, fans @ R10 ea, ribbons @ 50c per meter - and much more!  Come and shop in the studio while enjoying a cup of tea and a cupcake!

colour palette inspiration

Purple really brings a feeling of elegance and beauty. This rich color can be paired with almost any color to make the perfect wedding color palette. Purple symbolizes dignity, tolerance and togetherness, and it is also associacted with royalty and spirituality.


A simple white invitation can be tied with a striking purple ribbon, placed in a white envelope with purple lining. Or a lilac card with deep purple print. For a modern twist, a cream card with bold plum polka-dots can be really different.

And there's such a beautiful range of shades to pick from - mauve, lavender, violet, orchid (a light shade that is almost pink), royal purple, mulberry, plum, grape... and every shade in between!


What colors are a compliment to purple? Try yellows, blues, greens, black, pink, and of course, white.

11 reasons to love elsje designs

1. We love being fashion forward and always embrace new design trends.

2. Elsje Designs turned 10! We have been creative since 2001 and have withstood the test of the times.

3. Not only are we invitation experts, but Elsje and her team are also passionate about sharing ideas on adorning the big picture.

4. We have established a library of more than 20 000 creative stationery designs.

5. We employ a small team of talented women – ensuring that every order is handmade with love.

6. As an innovative design team, we love exploring new techniques like velvet printing, lasercutting and printing on canvas.

7. We are passionate about our planet and have invested in environmentally friendly printers.

8. Our passion for exclusive lettering is visible in our font collection exceeding 12 000.

9. We love local - always aiming to support homegrown talent and produce.

10. Because our clients mean the world to us, we welcome any feedback or suggestion to better our service.

11. We strive to go above and beyond expectations to keep our customers on cloud 9!

Hot summer specials!

Congratulations to Judy & Christo!

Congratulations to Judy & Christo on your special day from all at Elsje Designs. We wish you many years of love & laughter.

We adore this gorgeous couple's wedding pics! Compliments to Herman Agenbag Photography for the inspiration and fabulous pictures.

Lovely laser cut names for the lawn

We absolutely love these large laser cut names available in a range of gorgeous fonts. Not only do they look fabulous, they can be pegged into the lawn to add to the ambiance of your outdoor event.

To add a bit of pizzazz to your summer function, they are also available in various shapes or perfect for company logo's for a corporate event.

For further information or to place an order, please contact admin@elsje.co.za.

Fab Franschhoek Wedding!

The most anticipated wedding of the year, when Hans from the Aleit group got married to Babette. What a privilege to be a wedding guest at this special event! Hans & Babette’s wedding in Franschhoek is definitely one of the most chic and gorgeous ever.


Up to now, no wedding has ever been held at the Huguenot Monument, but that was all to change – Hans & Babette vowed that they wanted to get married at the exact same place that Hans popped the question. As his colleagues at The Aleit Group know, nothing is impossible for Hans – and he honored his reputation by getting a once-off license for the ceremony at the Monument! Don’t ask how…

That was not the only surprise they had in stall…

Guests were made to believe that the ceremony would be conducted at the Dutch Reformed Church. As the pews filled up, Hans entered with an 80′s Boom Box, took position on the pulpit and announced that he was not getting married in the church – he pressed PLAY and waltzed out to the tune of “Phantom of the Opera”!!

The guests followed, still not knowing where they were going… posters by Elsje Designs fixed to lamp posts en route the monument gave subtle hints of the destination – The walk complimented by a half-way champagne stop at Reuben’s – Most people were quite stunned when they arrived at the Huguenot Monument!

This post features all the photos from Babette (La Residence) & Hans’s (Basse Provence) preparations, all the way through to the end of the ceremony.

Please visit Zara-Zoo to see all the beautiful photographs. Andre of Vivid Blue Photography for helped the ZaraZoo team to cover this one!

• Venue - Huguenot Monument

• Make-up - Alicia Buckle

• Coordinator - The Aleit Academy

• Decor - Floral Affairs

• Dress - Abigail Betz

• ZaraZoo Photographer - Stefan Steenkamp

• Assistant - Laura da Paixao

I would just like to add that flowers was the most beautiful I have ever seen!! The bride looked radiant, lovely and beautiful. The food and service was flawless – as with all the Aleit events.


Everything that touches us, me and you,


Takes us together like a violin’s bow,


Which draws one voice out of two separate strings.


Upon what instrument are we two spanned?


And what musician holds us in his hand?


Oh sweetest song.






From “Love Song”, Rainer Maria Rilke 1875 – 1926

printed paper bags!

We are in love with these cute printed paper bags, printed with glossy vegetable ink.  Choose from several fun designs or have your own bag designed at an additional cost of R350.  Gorgeous for your candy buffet, party gifts, lucky packets or anything that you would like to present in a colourfull way.

Colours can be changed to suit your style.

For more info, please contact +27 (0)21 976 7111.

Beautiful Bridesmaid's

Oh boy, how happy are we that horrible bridesmaid's dresses are a thing of the past (well, we hope so, anyway!)

Bridesmaid's dresses don't necessarily have to be boring. Play with different colours, textures, styles and accessories when choosing dresses for your bridesmaid's. Draw inspiration from different fashion periods and give it a modern twist.

And remember: it might not be HER wedding, but she deserves to look great, feel comfortable and show a bit of her own style. She is after all your best friend!

Picture Perfect Wedding Invitation

We love this viewmaster wedding invite from Melangerie Inc and Lesley Weiner. The invite uses a vintage viewmaster and photos from the couple’s engagement to help bring the joy of their union to their guests. It’s an original and engaging experience for the guests, and will definitely get people talking about the wedding.

Christmas e-card special

Ever thought of sending a branded digital Christmas card or e-card to clients, associates and friends?

A bespoke Christmas e-card, branded with your company colours, logo and personal greeting.

E-cards are simply an electronic version of a standard greeting card that you can send by e-mail. You simply choose your card from a selection, customize it and click send, and the lucky recipient will receive your card within seconds. They have become wildly popular in recent years due to the many advantages they have over traditional paper cards.



Hurry, this offer is only valid till 8 November 2011!!

Coral Crush II

 

Paper Parasols

With the Summer events season well on it’s way, we are pleased to offer a fantastic and gorgeous solution to keep your guests cool throughout the day. The paper parasol is fun and quirky as well as functional. They provide a great accessory and are perfect for creating interesting photographs. The parasols can be used at morning or afternoon events, add a great deal of atmosphere and can be used as unique favours or gifts for your guests.

Elsje Designs is pleased to offer white paper parasols at R69.00 each on purchases between now and the end of November 2011. Please note there is a minimum order of 25 units.

Should you wish to place an order, please contact us on admin@elsje.co.za.

The Perfect Pinwheel

This week our production team has been very busy with exciting ideas and inspirations. If you are looking for an innovative concept that can be used for a variety of events including invitations, kids parties, baby showers, table decoration or simply to have something beautiful in a room, we are pleased to be able to offer you a pinwheel solution.
The pinwheel can be printed or non printed. It is available in a variety of stunning paper options and embellishments. Each pinwheel is hand-crafted with scalloped edges and can be personalised to your specific requirements. We love the versatile pinwheel!

Should you require any further information or wish to place an order, please contact us on admin@elsje.co.za

Going digital...

Whilst we still adore the craft associated with colourful print, beautiful paper, ribbon and embellishments it is vital for us to keep up with the changing times. We are pleased to be able to offer electronic solutions for our clients in addition to the printed alternative.

Electronic “Save the Dates’’ and “e-vites” are a cost and time effective way of informing or inviting guests to your event. Be it your wedding, year end work function, birthday party, baby announcement or festive season greeting, digital announcement or invitations, we are able to design according to your theme, colours, look and feel to allow your unique touch to filter through.

We would recommend that electronic announcements are used in conjunction with physical invitations.

To find out more, please contact us on admin@elsje.co.za.

White paper & Bamboo Fan special @ R15 ea

Stay cool this summer with this limited offer at R15 each (normal price R27 each) minimum order: 25 units.  These plain white paper & bamboo fans are an attractive addition to  any summer celebration.  A must have accessory for hot summer celebrations.

As an optional extra, you may choose names and dates to be printed on the handle. Maximum 20 characters. 

Limited offer, while stock last.