We’re Looking for a Design Intern!

3 May

Paper Rock Scissors is looking for a design intern(s) for Summer 2011.  We are excited to offer one or two opportunities to college-aged students who are looking for an internship in the graphic design field.

What We Do: Paper Rock Scissors is a boutique design firm in Conshohocken, PA that specializes in custom stationery for all events (weddings, mitzvahs, graduations, births, etc) and logo design for small businesses.

Intern Job Description and Responsibilities: Our intern(s) will assist in assembly of stationery projects as well as have an opportunity to hone skills in graphic design while utilizing various Adobe programs, such as Illustrator and InDesign.

Our internships offer an extensive opportunity to learn about print methods (offset, letterpress, thermograph, and engraving), different paper types, and the events industry in general.  This position will offer exposure to other event professionals (florists, planners, caterers, venues, event designers, etc) to build a network.

This internship is best suited for a junior or senior in college, with a background in designing layouts in Illustrator.  The ideal applicant will have a general level of craftiness and understand how to read a ruler down to the 1/16”.  We are looking for an individual who is creative and detail-oriented, who has excellent spelling and grammar skills, and who is eager to put his/her knowledge to use immediately.

Our internships are a part-time level, which will encompass approximately 12-15 hours per week.  Some opportunities will exist to work on events on the weekend, but this participation will be optional.

Timeframe: Summer 2011

Additional Information: Internships with Paper Rock Scissors are unpaid but offer an opportunity to earn college credits (please provide your college/university’s set of guidelines for review when you send your resume).

How to Apply: Please submit a current resume with cover letter to Paper Rock Scissors, 700 Fayette Street, Conshohocken, PA 19428.  Applicants should include a small portfolio (3-4 pieces) of past work that is relevant to the position offered (business card designs, logo designs, stationery designs, other print materials, etc).  If you are seeking college credit for the position, please note this on your cover letter and submit your college/university guidelines for the internship.

Deadline for Application: While there is no official deadline, we are looking to bring someone on board for the late spring (May).

 

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Paper Rock Scissors: Who are we? What do we do?

29 Mar

A common question I have heard lately from people I meet is, “So, exactly what DO you do?”

Long story short: We’re designers.  We create beautiful stationery and calligraphy for our clients’ life events.  We create logos for small businesses who are looking for a new beginning or a fresh spin on an established brand.  We make ideas come to life.

Our business was started in 2005 by me – Christina - in 2005 as a part-time gig, helping friends with calligraphy for their weddings.  One thing led to another, and I found myself back at school, learning about things that no Econ/Finance grad should ever need to know – PMS colors, Illustrator, paper milling methods, and industrial print methods.  Last year, I left the corporate world to pursue the business full-time, opening an office at 700 Fayette Street in Conshohocken, and haven’t looked back since.

In late 2010, we added a production assistant – Georgeann.  G came to us through a series of mutual friends, and she is nothing short of fantastic.  She’s the loop behind that bow, the adhesive between the layers.  She’s the master of the scissors, the keeper of the paper cutter.  We love G and what she does to help our clients’ ideas come to life.

Last month, we added a billing manager – Maryann.  Maryann is working with our clients to keep contracts and payments in line.  She is an asset to our company, as she comes to us from a corporate accounting role and keeps us up to date with all of our “checks and balances.”  Maryann is truly a major part in helping to grow the company.

So back to WHAT WE DO…as I mentioned, we make ideas come to life.  We meet with our clients, understand what it is that they need, their style and aestetic, and get to work.  A lot of what we do is interpreting and understanding – then doing the dirty (but fun!) work of designing and creating to meet those needs. 

We take pride in educating our customers in what they are purchasing -  stationery and branding is an investment.  As such, we want you to know and understand what goes into your project.  Why does one print method cost more than another?  Why do we recommend one type of paper over another for your specific print job?  Why did we pick a specific design element versus another on a project? 

We’re here for you, to make your ideas come to life, not ours (ok, we admit it – we are always creating our own projects too, but that’s because we’re just slightly obsessed with paper, ink, envelopes, and designing in general).  We want you to love who you work with for your {pick one: wedding invitations, wedding-day stationery, calligraphy, mitzvah invitations, baby announcements, logo design, business card printing, brochure design, etc.}.  

Designing is a two-way street – your ideas come in, our designs come out.  We want to make that experience the best it can be for you, and the final design showcases the culmination of that teamwork between client and Paper Rock Scissors. 

That’s just a little bit about who we are and what we do…till the next post when we bring you some of our most recent corporate projects we’ve been working on.  Stay tuned!

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Erika and Patrick – Red, White and (Light) Blue in the City of Brotherly Love

21 Mar

erika_patrick_wed12

It was a perfect spring day when Erika and Patrick were married in Downtown Philadelphia.  Erika, from Northeast Philadelphia, and Patrick from Wyomissing, PA, hosted their ceremony at the church where Erika had grown up, St. Katherine of Siena, and then took their guests to the Liberty View Ballroom at the Independence Visitors Center.

The couple met at work, and they now reside in Center City.  It was only natural that their reception reflected their affinity for the City of Brother Love.  The couple selected a color palette that included light blue and red to accent their day.

Erika and Patrick chose our banded-back invitation (inserts are tucked behind the invitation underneath the satin ribbon) with a patterned red and gold paper, accented with the light aqua blue.  We also created “street sign” table numbers and seating charts, which were labeled with some of the couple’s favorite places in Philadelphia and a description of the importance to them.  We also designed programs for them that added just the right touch of color with the red ampersand and light blue ribbon.

One of my favorite things about this wedding is the overall simplicity of the design elements.  Everything was cohesive and carried through their color and theme, without being overbearing.

The dress by Priscilla of Boston (Cricket style from the Vineyard collection): clean lines, wide halter style, not too much “poof” yet not too straight – the bride looked amazing in this classic dress.

The white cake from Doughmain Bakery – simple yet chic (and delicious – it was strawberry and cream – the “best cake I ever had,” said the bride) with small amounts of ribbon accent and flowers to tie in the wedding colors.

The florals created by Carl Alan Floral Design: multiple smaller arrangements that added great punches of color on the tables that were draped in white linens.  Carl Alan also hung the lanterns in the ballroom, lending just another small touch of the red and light blue.

Erika also added some DIY touches to her wedding: the bride made the napkin holders from grosgrain ribbon, painted the “B” and “G” wooden letters on the back of the couple’s chairs, AND she also made the card box herself!  These are all totally fantastic ways to lend DIY elements to a wedding, and Erika did a really great job with these items.

Street sign seating charts embedded in a red carnation bed; blue and red card box made DIY by the bride

The photographer, Heather DiPiazza (THANK YOU for these great images!), put together a photo booth for the couple, and the candids that came from the booth are great.  We are particularly glad that “Joe loved the filet” – that’s our production assistant, Georgeann, and her boyfriend Joe.   Georgeann and Erika have been friends since they were kids.

We’ve heard from many people this wedding was a great time – from the pictures we have from the photo booth, that looks to be the case (who doesn’t love wedding boozin’?!)

Erika and Patrick, it was a pleasure to work with you both on your wedding.  It’s even more of a pleasure to you know you both as friends.  We’re never happier than to be asked by someone we know to create invitations and stationery for their special day.  Thanks for letting Paper Rock Scissors be a part of your memories.

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It’s Hip to Be Square

8 Mar

Square wedding invitations – they came into vogue a few years back, and they continue to push full-steam ahead as a popular style for 2011.  Square invitations are a contemporary twist on the traditional wedding invitation, offering the modern bride something more chic than the plain ol’ 5×7.  Ranging from 5″ square to 8″ square, you’re sure to find a size that fits both your needs and your style.

In the past few years, Paper Rock Scissors has created many square invitations for our clients – we would like to offer some inspiration to those of you out there who are considering something that’s slightly outside the “envelope” of the standard rectangular invitation. 

Kristi and Matt

Kristi and Matt’s square invitation is an elegant mix of ivory, navy blue, and gold, which are all hot colors for 2011 weddings.  It’s a triple-layer invitation, finished off with a hand-tied knot at the upper left corner.  We wrapped the inserts separately in satin ribbon to keep them together in the envelope.  Printing is grey raised (thermography), and we finished off the envelope with a matching navy blue metallic envelope liner.  The added ribbon on the corners of this invitation makes this invitation stand out from the crowd, really marking that the couple is “tying the knot.” 

Joy and Mike

Joy and Mike’s wedding invitation is ivory tone-on-tone, using two shades of metallic ivory paper.  The couple used a snowflake theme for their December wedding – we adorned each snowflake on the invitation with a Swarovski crystal in the center.  The inserts were tucked into the lower right corner ribbon, and the printing was done in a cobalt blue raised (thermography).  Though simple in elements, the Swarovski crystals added the perfect amount of twinkle and shine to this winter wedding invitation.

Katie and Dan

Katie and Dan’s invitation is a booklet style, also done in an ivory tone-on-tone, this time incorporating a patterned paper into the mix.  The inserts are all organized in the left side of the booklet, secured with thick satin ribbon.  The print is a brown raised (thermography), and the envelope is finished off with the matching floral pattern liner.  Booklet invitations are a great way to keep things organized without having the bulk of a pocket on the one side.  The ribbon keeps everything secure, while it also lends an elegant addition of a textile to the invitation.

Erika and Ben

Erika and Ben’s invitation combined an imported, sheer Unryu paper (which is made from mulberry fiber) with the sheen of a metallic invitation inside.  We added a dried flower to the front of the invitation and used a grey ink to add to the overall antiqued feel of this ensemble.  The inserts were enclosed in the Unryu outer layer to make a neat parcel.  The invitations went into a lined envelope and were hand-addressed in calligraphy.  This invitation is a favorite amongst our designers at Paper Rock Scissors, as the combination of papers and the addition of the pressed flower really sets this invitation apart and offers the recipient a true tactile adventure.

Kim and Mike

Kim and Mike wanted a “tuxedo” style invitation for their wedding, and commissioned Paper Rock Scissors to create something that had the “black tie” feel.  We started by crafting a black pocket – shaped like a suit jacket, of course – and added satin ribbon to create a cummerbund look.  The invitation was backed in a silver metallic layer, and  all of the items were printed in a black ink to keep a formal look going.  This style is a great option for black-and-white weddings or other black-tie affairs.

One last thought on square invitations: square invitations will require more postage than the standard rectangle, but it’s a small price to pay for something that stands out from the crowd.

Stay tuned for our upcoming blog on Erika and Patrick’s light blue-and-red themed wedding at the Liberty View Ballroom…a must-read for spring brides being married in Center City Philadelphia.

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A Beach-Themed October Wedding for Lauren and Jeremy

23 Feb

Lauren and Jeremy came to us at Paper Rock Scissors via a referral from a mutual acquaintance (thanks Emily!).  The couple was searching for a perfect invitation and wedding-day stationery for their beach-themed October 2010 wedding and had been through countless invitation books and websites without finding “the one.”

A little background on the couple: Lauren and Jeremy met at Lauren’s cousin’s wedding.  Jeremy and Lauren’s cousin had been roommates at East Stroudsburg University, and unbeknownst to them, this single meeting would lead to something special.  Over the next year, Lauren and Jeremy traveled back and forth from Lauren’s hometown in New Jersey to Jeremy’s residence in South Carolina until they moved to Annapolis, Maryland to take the next step in their lives.   On October 30, 2009, Jeremy proposed to Lauren in front of Cinderella’s castle in Walt Disney World.

Once engaged, Lauren knew she wanted a beach-themed wedding.  Having grown up in New Jersey in close proximity to the beach, it was only natural to incorporate it into the wedding.

Lauren and Jeremy chose an square ivory shimmer invitation with a light gold backer.  We hand-stamped and embossed a gold starfish at the top.  Using a dark brown ink, we hand calligraphed the invitations in a matching script on the outer envelopes and topped off the envelopes with a matching light gold liner.

Ivory and Gold with Hand-Stamped Gold Starfish

Invitation by Paper Rock Scissors Programs by Paper Rock Scissors (photo courtesy of Emil Bartsche of Contemporary Image)

Our Swoosh Script in Sepia (dark brown) ink

Programs were also designed using the same stock and design elements from the invitations.

Programs by Paper Rock Scissors (photo courtesy of Emil Bartsche of Contemporary Image)

Jeremy’s mother is a graphic designer by trade, and Lauren asked her to draw and digitize the starfish image that was used on the table name cards and place cards.  The place cards were tied to actual starfish using raffia.

Place Cards by Paper Rock Scissors (starfish design by mother of the groom; photo courtesy of Emil Bartsche of Contemporary Image)

Emil Bartsche of Contemporary Image was there to capture the day’s events and details at The Palace at Somerset Park; amazing florals were by A Touch of Elegance; Bride’s Dress by Pnina Tornai (purchased at Kleinfeld’s); Bridesmaid’s Dresses by Alvina Valenta; Hair by Lauren Cirillo Johnson; Make-up by Leigh Ann Brubaker of Pure Elegance Makeup; Jeremy’s Tux by Ralph Lauren (from Men’s Warehouse).

I just love this image of Lauren and her bridesmaids on the beach (photo courtesy of Emil Bartsche of Contemporary Image)

Check out the amazing florals by A Touch of Elegance; Dress by Pnina Tornai (photo courtesy of Emil Bartsche of Contemporary Image)

We are so pleased to have worked on this amazing wedding with such a wonderful, loving couple!

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