As I said in my last post, I wasn’t about to pay over $300 for 50 letterpress STDs—as much as my paper-loving self was dying to.
I used the magical Adobe Illustrator CS5 to design a basic floral and lace STD, using free vector graphics found online. GASP—we didn’t use any e-photos! There is a huge trend goin’ on right now that STDs must contain a very cute engagement-shoot photo. We aren’t taking our engagement photos until much, much closer to the wedding—so we were a bit SOL on that one. We liked the basic non-photo design better anyhow! My favourite part is the back (ha!):
Personal photos from Illustrator design
From Vistaprint, we ordered 50 linen-finish cards with the cute back image, and then we also ordered 50 of their magnets in the same A2 size. As I said in my last post, I really wanted to jazz these babies up. I decided that I would purchase some shimmer envelopes from Envelopes.com. We ordered these. I also made an envelope liner out of some basic gold floral wrapping paper.
I also really wanted vintage stamps. My grandpa was a stamp collector, so I knew where to get them—other stamp collectors! I Googled the philatelic society for my city and found a few old-guy stamp collectors who sold me hundreds of vintage stamps for either face value or below face value. That means I actually saved money buying vintage stamps. (I’m going to use the giant leftover pile I have for invitations, too).
And last but not least, I decided that I would get a calligraphy dip pen and some ink, and write the addresses out myself. We also added a wax seal on the back; we purchased some faux sealing wax in “antique rose” and a basic heart stamp. We tied up the card and the magnet like a present with a ribbon and popped it into the envelope.
I promise to post some DIY tutorials in the future—but this project is pretty much nine very simple DIY projects in one, so I shall just leave you with photos.
Here are our STDs!
Our guests loved them! I kept getting the comment that they were “too pretty to open,” which actually upset me a little. In my bridal brain, I imagined everyone putting the magnet up on the fridge to hold the envelope (oh, my naivety!). My own mother didn’t even open the STD until I hounded her to do it! I’m glad our guests liked them as much as I hoped they would. I worked on these in steps over about three months, and finally sent them out in October 2011.
And just for fun, since Vistaprint ended up sending us 100 instead of 50 magnets, yes, our fridge does look like this! 
Personal photo
Did you put a lot of time into your STDs? Were your STDs nine DIY projects in one like ours were? Would you open our STD?!
I ordered our STD’s from Vista Print too. I scored a groupon type deal and got 80 of them for like $30. What a deal and they turned out beautiful! We are also using Vista Print for our formal invitations. I can’t justify spending tons of money on things people will throw out. Who actually holds onto wedding invitations or STDs. Think about it!
Love them! I’m sorry to say I wouldn’t have wanted to open the envelope either, they are gorgeous! Really fantastic Save the Dates!
those look amazing! So impressed with your calligraphy skills and the faux wax seals.
These are gorgeous, Eagle!!! I’m so in love.. you did up the envelopes incredibly and I’m so impressed with your design skills. Love all the magnets on the fridge. 
Those look great — I would definitely open them!
OUr STDs didn’t have our picture on them either. We also didn’t take our e-pics until later, and I also wasn’t sure how I felt about sending people a magnet with my face on it to put in their fridge. Felt a little presumptuous, but I love getting STDs with people’s pictures on them, so I don’t know why I felt that way!
We also have WAY too many STDs! I came home one day and my fiance had stuck them all over the washing machine!
Wow these came out great!! We have multi-step STDs too… but not nearly as detailed as yours… I love them!
Thanks for these great tips! Vintage stamps, sealing wax… The best part is that you’re in Canada (I’m a Vancouverite), so I know that I can find these things myself and they will ship to Canada!
Not gonna lie, I just spent about 20 minutes on the wax seal website 
your STDs look great!!!
That envelope is so lovely!! And I love your fridge, just awesome
Haha I love your fridge! Great job on the save-the-dates.
We designed our own save the dates too AND we used vistprint magnets for the final design. So lovely and affordable! We’re also using the vintage stamp assortments but for our invitations instead. You are a lady after my own heart, Eagle!
@littleprettyliz: I totally agree – no one will keep them! VP is a steal. @futuremrsloveday: Thank you! @Mrs. Ticket: Thanks so much Mrs Ticket @Miss Elk: The faux wax wasn’t too hard and the calligraphy is pretty much just my handwriting. I need to practice an actual “style” of calligraphy before the invites! @redheadem: Thank you!
@Miss Hawk: Thanks Hawk!
Maybe I’m in the minority, but I SO prefer a traditional save the date as opposed to these ones with photos of the couple, which I find a little odd, maybe too self serving? That’s just me! Yours turned out LOVELY and I think adding the vintage stamps was a fantastic idea, really unique. Vista print kicks ass! I just got 100 free holiday postcards from them- I uploaded our own design and they came out fantastic!
@Miss Fox: My design skills are not great – I only know how to use Illustrator because I use it to make figures for academic publications. I’m no graphic designer! *yet*
@KYbride86:Haha I love the washing machine comment! Funny.
@TinyTina: Thanks girl! I’m sure yours are just as multi step and you’re just being modest 
@Great Gatsby: The wax seal people were great. I’d recommend them a hundred times over!
@Mrs. Pony: Thank you! <3
@Miss Honey: Thanks! I love the envelope too. @Miss Mole: Thanks Miss Mole! The fridge is getting annoying though, haha. I may remove them.
@Haley: Aw! I’m so glad that you liked them. The vintage stamps are a great way to save money actually. (although I did buy more than I’ll need I think, haha).
@ddavila2001: Awesome! I love the personal designs being printed thru VP. Their templates are great too, though. I think the photo STDs are great, but they weren’t for us. We wanted something a little more traditional too, since our families were like “Save the whata?” – they’d never received one before.
THOSE. ARE. GORGEOUS.
I designed our STDs… but they were way less detailed (because I have zero patience).
@Miss Opossum: Thanks! I’m sure yours were just as detailed. And I wish I didn’t have so much patience. My “simple DIY” projects turn into full on crafting wars and end up being an outlet for my OCD tendencies, haha.
Mrs. Eagle, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Age and Occupation: 22, Medical Sciences Graduate Student / Science Instructor Fiancee's Age and Occupation: 23, Nurse Engagement Date: April 2011 Wedding Date: August 2012 Venue: Historic Lougheed House About Me: I'm a science-geek graduate student who is studying craniofacial malformations and evolutionary developmental biology. I have a passion for DIY crafts, amazing red wine, and all-things-wedding. Together with my wonderful fiancée, we are planning a formal black tie wedding filled with DIY projects and vintage decor. When I'm not reading about science-y things or wedding blogs, I enjoy teaching science-y things to kids and trying to be Martha Stewart incarnate.
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