Post 1: Extra Spices

Extra Spices is my other side, it talks about my passions in life. This is were I will share with you the my crafts. Basically my dishes, kitchen, uRinvited and some clothings I made myself.

I hope you'll find time to visit. See yah!

uRinvited: December Blast

December is fast approaching as we all know it's not only all about Christmas, reunions it also the peak season for weddings.

I never thought that I'll be ending up making four confirmed wedding invitations this December. Not bad at all since I am not yet really promoting uRinvited, it is still in the process of conceptualization, how I will go about it, etc. etc. This made me quite busy and silent in blogging. Hehehe.

Below are my booked weddings, production status, snap shots and some stories to share.

Dec 10: Kenneth - Anne Jerine

I blogged about this sometime Sept and yes . . . I was able to close a deal without even meeting the couple. Transaction was made via SMS, email exchange, LBC and thru my sister.

Since Jerine (bride) is my sister's colleague, I asked her to have the 80 pcs invites delivered last Wednesday. 1 wedding done. :-)

Dec 11: Juan Carlo - Brenda

Brenda was inspired with the wedding invitation I made for Janeth so she wanted me to make hers too. She wanted the same style as Janeth's - Classic wrap with an accent. Brenda is a sister of Belle who was a guest at Aris - Janeth's wedding were Aris is a BIL of my officemate. Dami links noh? Hehe. Like Kenneth and Jerine, I guess I'll not have the chance to meet the couple.

I just finished and got invite mock up approved. The 70 pcs order will make my weekend busy.

Dec 19: Jon - Meann

Jon is Carol's (officemate) brother, she was asked to be sponsor their invitations. For christening and wedding invitation needs here at the office they ask for my services. Hehe. So instant client :-) I guess I won't be able to meet this couple too.

I am done with the mock up, just waiting for the other details. They wanted to have same design as Kenneth and Jerine's using green-red-pearl motif instead.

Dec 27: Dexter - Grace

This couple are my friends since preparatory, elementary to high school days. Grace is one of my "friendships" and Dexter is my art buddy together with Sonic. They are one of my longest standing friends. Though we parted schools in college, we still continue communicating and seeing each other. We know each other from head to toe. Hehehe. We never thought that the two would end up together. I am really happy for them and exicted on their forthcoming wedding.

As a wedding gift to them, I'll be rendering my service and materials for free. They even voluntered to help me make the invites. The two are also good in art crafts, they will be a good help for sure and will fast track the production.

To all my Dec wedding couples . . . thank you for entrusting uRinvited your invitations. Congratulations and Best Whishes!

Kenneth - Anne Jerine Invite Mock Up

This is a request from ate Noli because of a getting married colleague this coming December. Below are the sample invite snapshots I custom made for Kenneth and Anne Jerine base on their requirements: choco brown-champagne (for the meantime replaced with cream) and cheque style. Hope they'll love it and end up closing a deal with them :)

Sample 1 - Front
Main Board comes with:
- Belt accented with
- 2 layered Monogram

Sample 1 - Inside
- Main Invite
- 3 inserts
- V pocket






Sample 1 - Freebies:

- Classic envelope marked with couple's initial/surnames/names and or date
- Guest name in computer calligaphy


Sample 2 - Slide Holder
Serves as invite holder and envelope accented with:
- Belt with
- 2 layered Monogram
- Guest name computer calligarphy (back)

Invite can be slide in/out on both sides (right or left)

Sample 2 - Front
Main board comes with:

- Peep on couples surname and wedding date

Sample 2 - Inside

• - Main invite
• - 3 inserts
• - Straight pocket

Shades of brown selection:
Lithos brown - 230 gsm or Chocolate Brown - 285 gsm

(gsm = paper thickness)

* Sample invite made with chocolate brown

Jun - Jessica Wedding Invite (09.20.08)

Another simple invite for simple couple. Simplicity is all what the bride wants. No intricate designs or what so ever . . .

This is how Jessica wanted their wedding invite. Here it goes . . .

the complete set

the envelope were initials are printed in the flip flop and using computer calligraphy for guest names

front view: the invite itself with peep on of the couples' surnames and wedding date

main invite

wedding details

The labor of love serves as my wedding present to the couple. Oh btw, they are my office mates.

This is a very much awaited event here at the office since they have been dating for almost 6 years, they both have good positions and they are in their early 30s and 40s. What are they waiting for??? :P

"Sa wakas" they decided to tie the knot after a long period of time.

Next wedding invite to do is Dex and Grace's. They are both my classmates and friends since gradeschool so this is absolutely a free-of-charge! I will be sponsoring their invites. Again, as a present. I feel so excited to do theirs since the design and layouting is my call. Of course with their approval pa rin. I am done with the layouting and I made it in modern style. Hehe. I'll be posting the output as soon as I finished the mock up.

Related posts:

Aris - Janeth Wedding Invitation

The Invitation Maker in ME

Aris - Janeth Wedding Invitation (08.16.08)

Here's another set of wedding invitation I made for John's (my office mate) BIL & SIL. Their wedding commenced last August 16, 2008.

- the envelope flip flop is accented with the couple's surname and wedding date

- invitation cards wrapped around with metallic transluscent kiwi green embelished with belt bearing the couples name

- the invition cards that comprises of the (1) main invite, (2) bridal party, (3) location map, wedding registry and rsvp

- the complete set

The metallic translucent kiwi green warp around and the invitation cards printed in metallic peridot made the simple invitation very elegant. Just how the couple wanted it.

I didn't actually interact or talked with the couple. Their requirements was relayed to me through John. Good thing that everything turned out perfectly - no names or words were misspelled. As per John the couple are satisfied and happy. Yihee!

Congrats and Best Wishes to Aris & Janeth.

Related post: http://raymond-rhia.blogspot.com/2008/05/invitation-maker.html

The Invitation Maker in ME

I am known here in the office as wedding invitation maker. I already made 8 wedding invitations all in all turning 10 by the end of the year. Most of the invites I made served as a gift. Some couple provided the materials (labor of love for free), some naman are totally free (sa mga super close) and some naman serves as additional income. Hehehe. It’s just another hobby that I love.

I made invitations for the ff couples:
1. Lloyd – Noli
2. Noel – Sharlyn
3. Sherwin – Prime
4. Nicki – Christine
5. Paul – Sheryl
6. Edward – Jhona
7. John – Dette
8. Raymond - Rhia (Our Very Own Wedding Invitation - the hardest invite I ever made)

9. Jun – Jessica (for Sep 20, 2008)
10. Dexter – Grace (for Dec 29, 2008)

Click here for final invitation pictures and here for mock ups.

Last Tuesday I was approached by my officemate Irene to make an invitation for Chanella’s christening and it is super rush daw. Swerte nya the network is down for 2 days – had enough time to conceptualize and layout dahil hindi kmi maka work without the network connection. I just finished the 30 pcs invites last night. Though rush, I guess I did a great job. Everyone admires the simple yet elegant invite I made.

Photos taken by John Garica

Does this mean . . . I can also make invites na rin for christening? Hmmmm . . next time birthdays naman. Hehe. I have to study pa photoshop or other graphics software. For now, word lng ang ginagamit ko – believe it or not.

I always think and a lot of people encourage me to make this as a business. Ewan ko ba bkit I don’t push through with it, to think I am a business minded person. Ang dami ko ng ninegosyo at lhat naman ay patok. I sew slacks for officemates; I sold one of my specialties - homemade stuffed cheese embotido and I sold RTW clothes. The products I sell are patronized naman – magaling ako in terms of sales talking eh. Hehe. Minsan pinipilit pa ako to sell more kaso ako ang sumusuko. I just don’t feel like expanding with this kind of business cguro. But I have this gut feel na swerte ako sa business. Hehe. As of now, I will stay muna as an employee. Wala pa sa isip ko ang mag negosyo as my bread and butter pero it’s definitely a part of our long term plan.