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Memories of a wedding day

Bride and Groom laughingWhat’s the most important thing about your wedding day?  Which moments or details will be something you remember forever and which will fade into the mists of time?

Traditionally marked with a gift made from paper, it may not surprise you to hear that a lot of my commissions are for first anniversary presents.  I’m always fascinated to hear the story of a couple’s big day and the memories which stand out for them. A recent commission based on a wedding photo got me thinking about whether it’s the little details or the big picture that matter most…

Scrolling through a CD full of wedding photos, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking for.  I had been asked to create a wedding anniversary papercut based on a wedding photo but the customer had left the choice of image up to me.  One photograph stood out.  It seemed to tell the whole story…

Wedding couple dancing

First Dance Papercut by Rosie and the Boys

 

Closeup of papercut detail showing tiny buttons on a wedding dress and the groom's hand

The row of tiny buttons on the bride’s dress and the supportive hand of the groom.

Closeup detail of the papercut showing the ruffled fabric of the wedding dress

The wedding dress had a beautiful ruffled skirt.

Closeup of papercut showing bride's hair.

I tried hard to capture the detail and texture of the bride’s hairstyle.

All those little details will be wonderful reminders of a magical day which happened because this couple only have eyes for each other.

 

Wedding Papercuts – a recent commission

Papercut showing wedding couple on a skiing holidayCreating bespoke papercuts for wedding presents is a true privilege. I love working with clients to weave together lots of different elements to tell the couple’s story. It is always a journey of discovery as ideas are sent back and forth and the design takes shape.

Sign post featuring wedding date and location

I’ve been looking forward to sharing this commission with you for a while but as I don’t like spoiling surprises had to keep this under wraps until now.

So much of this papercut design is deeply personal to the wedding couple and yet at face value it’s simply a picture of skiing trip. Everytime the newly weds look at this snowy scene they’ll be able to relive happy memories without feeling like their private love letters are on display.  And if people ask about the papercut they can share as much or as little of the story behind the picture as they like.

Closeup of Papercut Skiing Couple by Rosie and the Boys

Now that’s what I call a wedding present! If you’d like to commission me to create a special papercut for you simply drop me a line at rosie@rosieandtheboys.com

 

 

 

How to have your cake and eat it – guilt free confetti

Raspberry Ripple Eco-friendly confetti by Rosie and the BoysWhether it’s showering the happy couple with confetti on their wedding day or a ticker tape parade in New York, there is something about those tiny bits of paper fluttering down from the sky that makes them an essential part of a celebration.

Confetti is fun! But it’s not always the most environmentally friendly way to celebrate.

So here’s how you can have your confetti cake and eat it too!

Whenever I create a papercut I generate hundreds of teeny tiny scraps of paper like this (pretty aren’t they). Until relatively recently I had just swept them up into the recycling but then my husband brought home a new product from work and I realised that perhaps I could give these tiny scraps a happier more useful life.

Papercut scraps for eco-friendly confettiNow the proud owner of a heart shaped die-punch I could transform these scraps into frivolous, joyful, romantic and environmentally friendly confetti! I’m delighted to say I also found a supplier of biodegradable glassine bags and biodegradable stickers so the packaging is eco-friendly too!

Because they are created from high quality art paper, this confetti is not only coloured on both sides, its also deliciously thick and the range of papers means I have created some rather luscious colour combinations. Raspberry Ripple, seas greens, summer pastels etc.

At the minute the quantities of confetti are rather small but with each papercut stocks will grow. If you’ve got a wedding or event coming up later in the year and would like me to stock pile certain colours for you feel free to get in touch.

Summer Pastels Eco-friendly confetti mix by Rosie and the oysTo take a look at the current range of eco-friendly confetti click here

 

 

How to draw a love story…

papercut heart detail with namesRecently I was commissioned to create a papercut as a wedding present.  As I talked with the client about the design it became obvious that this gift would celebrate not only the love between the wedding couple but also the deep friendship between the customer and bride-to-be.  A catalyst sparking off memories for the couple and for their friends and family who had watch the relationship blossom.

As part of planning the design I try to discover not only the details a client would like to include but also the story behind them.  In this instance, I learnt about a couple who born thousands of miles apart had met in London and been drawn together by a shared interest.  My client told of holidays together, shared passions and special nicknames, a romantic proposal and plans for the big day.

Papercut map of London

With pages of notes, my task was to now create a design that would tell this couple’s wonderful story in a way that was beautiful as well as meaningful.

They had travelled the world and yet so many of the key moments in their relationship took place in just one city. The idea of an illustrated map began to form…and so here is how I chose to draw a love story:

Papercut illustrated map

 

 

The story of a papercut – from inspiration to creation

Picture of sweetpea papercut

Once upon a time there was a wedding and my sister and her new husband chose “Hanging on the wire” by Paul Weller as the song to play when they had their first dance together.  From that day whenever I hear the beautiful, rich voice of Paul Weller memories of that day come flooding back. I will always associate the sound of his voice with love, and it was another of his songs and the simple lyric “Sweetpea, my sweetpea” that inspired this papercut.

Last summer I grew sweetpeas in my front garden and they bloomed continuously for months.  There were so many flowers and such a heady scent that people often stopped as they walked past and I was able to give bunch after bunch away to friends and neighbours. Some of those sweetpeas even went into a neighbours wedding bouquet!

This year as the flowers begin to bloom again I was reminded of the Paul Weller song and the lovely memories of my sister’s wedding.  It led me onto thinking about anniversaries and how the first anniversary gift is traditionally paper. After returning from a walk I found myself sitting down at my desk and starting to draw…

Image: Rosie and the Boys

Image: Rosie and the Boys

So let me tell you the story of how the drawings above became a papercut.

After sketching various sweetpea forms – a stem, a leaf, a bud and open flowers I scanned the finished drawings into the computer.  I then played around with the various elements to create a design in Adobe Illustrator.  By creating a digital image I can easily change or add elements. Once I was happy I reversed the image and printed out a design template. The image is reversed so when the cut is finished and you turn the paper over all the little scratches and any lines where the knife overruns slightly are hidden from view.

I wanted to reflect that the inspiration for this cut came from a song sung in a deep, male voice, so I chose a high quality, slate coloured Murano paper to give a soft, textured look to the finished cut.

The cut starts by stapling the design template to the paper to ensure it won’t slip.

Image: Rosie and the Boys

Image: Rosie and the Boys

Closeup of rotating Xacto KnifeIt’s also important to have the right tools – in this case an A3 cutting mat and an Xacto knife with a rotating blade.  The blades for this knife are comparatively expensive and it can be tempting to keep using a blade even if it starts to blunt. As a result the cut suffers so I change blades as soon as they start to snag the paper otherwise it always ends in tears and frustration.

 

I always start with the small details; ignore these areas at the start and it’s too late to add them in later when the paper is weaker.

Clsoeup pictures of small details cut out

As I keep cutting, it becomes instinctive deciding which piece to cut next.  I find that I get to know the piece of paper and how it will react to being cut. At this stage in the cut, the process becomes almost like a meditation. I find that as I focus on the twists and turns of the knife my mind is strangely free to wander and I find myself either reflecting on the memories that inspired the piece or thinking about who might be going to receive it.

Detail pictures of papercut

Image: Rosie and the Boys

There will always be fragile and difficult areas in a design. I find it best to work on these gradually from early on in the paper cut so that the paper isn’t too weak to withstand the force of the cut causing fragile areas to tear.

Detail of cutting out fragile text

 

 

Here the text is gradually cut away but left in a protective “bubble” until later.

This means that I can apply the necessary pressure with the knife blade to get a crisp, clean cut without worrying that I will rip a fragile strand of paper.

 

 

It’s important to protect the design as it progresses.  Resting a piece of paper over where I have already cut stops me from unintentionally catching  the papercut with myknife, hand or arm causing it to tear or crease.

Closeup detail of papercutting process

Image: Rosie and the Boys

 

Closeup of trace cuts

When working with a textured paper like this Murano paper I find it is sometimes better to make an initial trace cut which I then go over again once the design has been completely traced with the knife.  After I have removed the stapled design I can then cut fiddly turns with confidence rather than making mistakes.

 

 

When the goal is in sight it is easy for me to get impatient and rush.  I have to remind myself that good things come to those who wait!

Nearly finished papercut

 

Once I’ve finished the cut I always get some satisfaction from looking at the pile of paper at my side. It is evidence of the hard work and time I have put into the papercut.

Finished papercut on cutting mat with discarded paper

And then the hours of drawing and cutting come to an end.  It’s time to enjoy the result.

Papercut of sweetpeas

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About Us

Rosie and the Boys is a creative family team with a love of colour and soft spot for parties. Our products are handcrafted with attention to detail, quality materials and a smile on our face! Inspired by Nature and designed with the latest trends in mind, we provide a range of party decorations and greetings cards with a contemporary twist.

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Latest Posts

  • Autumn Decorations
  • Memories of a wedding day
  • Plan the perfect party – six tips to show you how
  • Wedding Papercuts – a recent commission
  • How to have your cake and eat it – guilt free confetti

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