We’re so excited to be kicking off our first ever Bella Figura design contest! We’ve reviewed the best-of-the-best invitations sent to us by our amazing retailers, and over the next 10 days we’ll be featuring the contest honorees, as well as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Our first honoree was sent to us by the Village Invites II in New York, New York. Kudos to the Village Invites II for figuring out how to take two classic Bella designs and turn them into a whole new animal!

This bold, modern letterpress invitation customization combines the best of our Alice (by Tara Hogan) and Deveril (by Beth Ann Seal) designs, and uses ink colors that really pack a punch!

There was no question in our minds that this invite deserved a spot on our design competition lineup. A big thanks to the Village Invites II for sending us this gorgeous customization!

ink: black + spring green | fonts: danube + impression | paper: 2-ply white | invite size: F-8 |  liner: vintage stripes in spring green ink | edge painting: spring green

This design won an honorable mention in our Bella Figura design competition for the first half of 2011. This twice-a-year competition recognizes outstanding and inspired design submitted by our beloved dealers.

We get to work with amazing people from every corner of this beautiful world on a daily basis, but it’s not everyday we get to ship invitations all the way to Bahrain (and that’s too bad really).  These Connemara (by Beth Ann Seal) letterpress wedding invitations are printed larger than our largest standard invitation sizes.  Measuring in at an impressive 8.25″ x 8.25″ they’re so big in fact that we needed to run them on our larger 13″ x 18″ Heidelberg Windmill press (affectionately nicknamed ‘Hindenburg‘ by our printers because it tends to be a little cranky).  Sea Mist and Navy inks,  Metallic Gold edge painting, rounded corners, and hand calligraphed Arabic text, all come together beautifully here on our 2-ply ivory paper.  We particularly love the way the fluid Arabic calligraphy compliments the repeating floral motif of the background.

inks: sea mist + navy | paper: 2-ply ivory | invite size: 8.25 x 8.25″ | edge painting: metallic gold | client coordinator: chris gannon | in-house designer: sarah walroth

Our Honoured Guest design (by Sarah Hanna) looks stunning paired with this custom color letterpress invitation set. We love the wording of the reply card and whimsical touch of the menu motifs (we can add menu motifs like these for free to your reply card – just ask one of our client  coordinators for more information).

ink: custom Pantone 669 | calligraphy style: honoured by sarah hanna | paper: 2-ply white | invite size: a-7 | liner: the reverse elegant chainlink pattern in custom Pantone 669 | edge painting: metallic silver | client coordinator: christie jones | in-house designer: racheal decker

by Christie Jones, Client Coordinator.

We recently had the pleasure of working with an amazing local bride on her letterpress wedding invitation suite.  A gorgeous customization of our Plume design (by Amy Graham Stigler), these invitations were printed with two custom-mixed ink colors to match her wedding color palette – perfect for an elegant evening reception!

ink: custom pantone 7490 at 20% + custom pantone 7449 | fonts: nysa + jubilant | paper: 2-ply white | invite size: a-7 | liner: classic color pattern in custom pantone 7449 | edge painting: custom pantone 7490 | client coordinator: chris gannon | in-house designer: sarah walroth

by Sarah Walroth, In-House Designer.

Umber and Chartreuse inks laid down on our ivory paper lend this lovely letterpress wedding invitation set a distinctly earthy and organic look, while at the same time showing off some very sophisticated style.  The bride and grooms names have been written out in Maura style hand calligraphy by Kelle McCarter, which gives a gorgeous dash of individuality to the Vendage design (by Kamal).  To coordinate with their invitations, this couple also decided to print matching menus and program covers for their wedding.  Homemade pies and cookies you say?  YES PLEASE!

inks: chartreuse + umber | fonts: streamline + antoinette | calligraphy accents: maura by kelle anne mccarter | paper: 2-ply ivory | invite size: f-8 | edge painting: chartreuse | client coordinator: chris gannon | in-house designer: racheal decker

by Chris Gannon, Client Coordinator.

This Sonoma Calligraphy (by Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls) letterpress wedding invitation set is without a doubt absolutely gorgeous! The invitation is printed in Black and Colorless Blind Deboss inks on our 1-ply white paper. Both the invitations and flat place cards are edge painted in our striking metallic gold ink. Using Light Peach ink as an accent on their flat place cards, and envelope liner really adds character to this unique set! We see this invitation being used for a very intimate and elegant wedding.

ink: black + light peach + blind deboss | fonts: streamline | calligraphy style: belle by maybelle | paper: 1-ply white | invite size: f-8 | liner: the classic color pattern in light peach ink | edge painting: metallic gold | client coordinator: jessica hanaman | in-house designer: lindsy aragona

by Jessica Hanaman, Client Coordinator.

While we love bold, modern designs, sometimes it’s the simplest of letterpress wedding invitations that are the most elegant. Take this version of our Modern Calligraphy design for example. It’s printed in espresso on our ivory paper with coordinating espresso edge painting and an espresso envelope liner for a look that is incredibly chic and timeless.

These incredible letterpress wedding invitations feature a vibrant color palette inspired by Italian pottery. The wedding announcements were printed in Mediterranean and daffodil inks on our luxurious 2-ply paper, and were embellished with surf edge painting. We also printed a petite letterpress save the date card in surf ink along with a letterpress thank you card in daffodil to match.

Recently we had the pleasure of working with a local bride who designed her own letterpress wedding invitations that we then printed. The invitations are a square shape, printed in pewter and papaya inks on our 2-ply paper. To complete the playful design, the bride chose pewter edge painting and a bright pop of color with a fuchsia envelope liner.

Our Vendage letterpress wedding invitation design has become one of 2010′s greatest hits. This customization is printed in pool and umber inks and features a horizontal orientation instead of the square featured in the original design. The envelopes are lined in pool to match the pool edge painting and the set is printed on our luxury 2-ply paper. Classic black ink for the envelope printing makes this set sophisticated, a bit whimsical and cool blend of modern and traditional design.