French Ostrich Design

2010-11-29T15:08:00.000-05:00

Tofu Paper Co. is now French Ostrich Design. So stay tuned for more information in the upcoming days!

Featured Product: Veggisaurus

2010-08-19T11:38:00.000-04:00

"Only the Cool Dinosaurs were Vegetarian"

True that. Available for purchase here.

Workin' Hard or Hardly workin'?

2010-07-22T14:18:00.000-04:00

The answer is working hard, hence the lack of posts. Tofu Paper Co is busy with orders and custom wedding packages for some upcoming fall weddings. We had a rush of designs that we had to get out once the store opened, but now we are all caught up and things should be smooth sailing from here on out.

Studio buds

2010-06-30T14:44:00.000-04:00

Well besides the store opening, things have been pretty crazy at the studio. We have two girls working for us now that have done nothing but sleep on the job. Their names are Kona and Kloe. They better get their act together if they expect a bonus at the end of the year.

Shop is OPEN!

2010-06-21T12:18:00.000-04:00

Open for business! Click on the image to the right or visit it at http://www.tofupapercoshop.com More products coming, but this is the stock that we have right now. Everything is printed on recycled paper using soy ink. Enjoy! I've pulled a few all nighters to get everything together, so if you'll excuse me, I am going to go take a nap. Cheers.

Store opens on MONDAY!

2010-06-18T15:10:00.000-04:00

Well the big day is almost here! The Online Shop is opening on MONDAY! I have been working really hard trying to get everything together and I think everything is a go! I need to work on getting the domain linked this weekend so everything will be up and running by Monday. Needless to say it's going to be a busy weekend! Tell your friends about the grand opening on Monday!

Shop Sneak Peak: You Stole My Heart

2010-06-08T14:25:00.000-04:00

Just a quick sneak peak at one of our greeting cards that we will be offering in the online store. Dinos seem to be a theme this month. Vegan product on recycled paper.

Friday Find: Vegan Vinyl Bags

2010-06-04T10:43:00.000-04:00

I just ordered an iPad and I have been searching high and low for a vegan case that I can use to carry it. I found "Kitty Empire" a vegan bag company on Etsy and spent quite a while browsing bags (my iPad case search lay forgotten).

I found a lot of cute bags, clutches, and wallets. The hardest part is deciding which one to order! It is nearly impossible to go to a department store and buy a bag or wallet because they are all made with leather, and as a vegan thats a big no-no. So to find similar styles that are in vinyl, it is quite awesome to say the least.

Kitty Empire's store can be found here.

Shop Sneak Peak: Recipe Cards

2010-06-03T14:02:00.000-04:00

These little guys will be sold in the online shop here in a few weeks. I designed these at first for myself because as someone with special dietary needs, I end up making a lot of my food. And as a designer I like everything that I have to look awesome. So thus these sets of recipe cards were born. They come in sets of 10 in either teal or lime green. And who wouldn't want a recipe card with a dinosaur on it?

Friday Find: Vegan Memorial Day Cookout

2010-05-28T11:45:00.000-04:00

So I found this really awesome recipe for a vegan alternative for your cookout this weekend! I will be at my younger sisters graduation this memorial day in Cincinnati, but knowing my parents there will be plenty of vegan options for me. But I would like to try these when I get back home sometime though. Found this via the NutritionMD.org. (great website if you like to know the fine nuances of nutrition like I do, lol).

Barbeque Vegetable Brochettes

Makes 8 brochettes

These colorful brochettes can be roasted in the oven or tossed on the grill for delicious picnic fare. Serve them on a bed of brown rice, pasta, or bulgur.

1 pound extra-firm tofu (optional)
1 bottle of your favorite barbeque sauce
1 small red onion
1 green bell pepper, seeded
1 red bell pepper, seeded
¹/₂ pound cremini or button mushrooms
2 cups cherry tomatoes (optional)
1 medium zucchini (optional)

Cut tofu, if using, into 1-inch cubes and marinate in some of the barbeque sauce for 30 minutes or more. Cut onion into 1" chunks, then separate the layers. Cut bell peppers into generous bite-size pieces. Remove stems from mushrooms and tomatoes, if using. Cut zucchini, if using, into 1/2" slices.

Preheat oven to 450°F or light the grill.

Thread the vegetables and tofu, if using, onto 8 skewers.

For oven-roasted brochettes: Line a 9"×13" baking pan with foil, then place the brochettes across the pan so the ends of the skewers rest on the edges of the pan. Brush liberally with barbeque sauce and bake for 20 minutes, brushing with additional barbeque sauce about halfway through cooking and at the end of the cooking time.

For grilled brochettes: Brush the brochettes with barbeque sauce and place over medium-hot coals for 10 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally and basting with additional barbeque sauce.

Per brochette

Calories: 48
Fat: 0.2 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Calories from Fat: 3.3%
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Protein: 0.9 g
Carbohydrates: 11.8 g
Sugar: 8.1 g
Fiber: 1 g
Sodium: 208 mg
Calcium: 16 mg
Iron: 0.8 mg
Vitamin C: 36.7 mg
Beta Carotene: 367 mcg
Vitamin E: 0.4 mg

Studio is done!

2010-05-26T15:42:00.000-04:00

Well the design studio is up and running! We ripped up carpets, painted, laid down new flooring, and put together A LOT of IKEA furniture. But I am happy that this is a now a creative space that I can work in comfortably. (and unlike the studio that I had when I was living with my parents, it's not in the basement! I have real windows in this studio!) But seriously, I thank my mom and dad for buying and installing the floor for me, that was more than awesome, so thanks Dad! I am already spending all my time in this studio and I am loving it. Here are some pictures. I didn't take any before photos (stupid, I know, but it was such an ugly room I don't even want to remember the peach walls and green carpet.)

Well that's the studio. I love it. Hehe.

Shop Sneak Peak

2010-05-25T10:40:00.000-04:00

Well I am actually AHEAD of schedule for my online shop! I was tempted to open it up early, but I am sure things will come up in the 11th hour, so I'm not going to risk it. The shop will open June 21st. And it will be awesome.

Friday Find: Animal Shelter Stamps

2010-05-21T10:43:00.000-04:00

Last month, The Post Office issued a set of 44 cent stamps that helps promote the idea of adopting animals from the animal shelter. By buying these stamps and using them, not only are you spreading the word about adopting animals from the shelter, you are also donating money to keep these animals alive. I saw these when I was at the post office earlier this week and I bought some to use on all of my mailings. What is more appropriate than these stamps for a vegan design company? (and to celebrate that in a few weeks we will be adopting two dogs from our local animal shelter!)

If you are interested in purchasing these stamps, just ask for them at the post office, I don't think they are available at the automated machines.

Prepping the new studio...

2010-05-18T16:55:00.000-04:00

Well my studio got a complete make over for the preparation of the opening of the Tofu Paper Co store. I just have a few more finishing touches to complete such as hanging pictures and do a little cleaning. I will post before and after shots later on this week.

I promise.

2010-05-18T15:07:00.000-04:00

Friday Find: Artifacts, a Vegan Meatlocker

2010-05-13T15:53:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I found this amazing art show that is in New York. Of course I am sitting here in Orlando, Florida. But if you are in the New York area, you should totally check this out. Here is a link to the actual website. It is an art exhibit that celebrates the vegan lifestyle. It includes images of animals, modern culture, and even famous vegetarian portraits. It is very interesting and it is always great to see famous people that live the vegan lifestyle.

Pretty Purple Mood Board

2010-05-12T14:15:00.000-04:00

This Mood Board was designed for a meeting with an October bride I had this past week. Looking forward to designing some Petite People for her and her hubby-to-be!

Photography: Art Beauty Life

It's Better Together Meet Up

2010-05-10T10:37:00.000-04:00

Last week I had the opportunity to be a part of a wedding professional group called "It's Better Together". It is a group of young wedding professionals in the Central Florida area that meet up every quarter to network and discuss different topics. The topic for this meet up was running your own business. How appropriate since I've only been running my business about 6 months now.

It was a lot of fun meeting people in the same field as me and learning about running my own business. There was a question and answer session that was really cool. Above is a picture from Mi Tomatina, a restaurant that we met at in Winter Park. Photo thanks to Studio222Photography. (I'm the girl in the teal sweater. Judging by the back of my head I clearly need a hair cut).

Friday Find: Vegan Starbucks!

2010-05-07T10:40:00.001-04:00

I know this news has been making its' rounds around the vegan community, but I am just so excited to be able to drink speciality coffee drinks again that I wanted to share it too!I heard about this news yesterday via the PETA files. I was so excited I woke up early today just so I could walk down to the Starbucks in Celebration to get my very own vegan coffee drink. I stopped drinking these in college when I went vegan and I missed them greatly. Even when I had my slip ups and had a sip of someone's drink I usually got sick because I am also lactose and tolerant. But now I can enjoy these and no animals are harmed at all!

And PS. This is the first time I have had this much coffee since sophomore year in college when I was taking that global studies class and needed the caffein to stay awake. So I am not sure if I am bouncing off the walls right now due to the caffein, the sugar, or the pure excitement of being able to drink these drinks again.

Go Vegan, avoid dairy

2010-05-03T10:27:00.000-04:00

I know this isn't a design post or a wedding post, but it's something that we are passionate about here at Tofu Paper Co. and with scientific findings, we wanted to post it.

While reading some news this morning, I came across an article on HuffingtonPost.com which was all about the hazards of eating dairy. Now, I have been vegan for sometime and everyone seems to turn a deaf ear whenever I start preaching about how bad dairy is, so I am used to people ignoring me. And I am also used to the main stream media promoting the benefits of dairy even though there are scientific findings that state that dairy is indeed, bad for your health. So I was very surprised to find an article on a respectable news website that supported my beliefs and nutritional findings. Below is an excerpt from the article. If you would like to read the full article, it can be found here.

Here is a excerpt from the article about the truth about dairy:

According to Dr. Willett, who has done many studies and reviewed the research on this topic, there are many reasons to pass up milk, including:

1. Milk doesn't reduce fractures.(i) Contrary to popular belief, eating dairy products has never been shown to reduce fracture risk. In fact, according to the Nurses' Health Study dairy may increase risk of fractures by 50 percent!

2. Less dairy, better bones. Countries with lowest rates of dairy and calcium consumption (like those in Africa and Asia) have the lowest rates of osteoporosis.

3. Calcium isn't as bone-protective as we thought.(ii) Studies of calcium supplementation have shown no benefit in reducing fracture risk. Vitamin D appears to be much more important than calcium in preventing fractures.

4. Calcium may raise cancer risk. Research shows that higher intakes of both calcium and dairy products may increase a man's risk of prostate cancer by 30 to 50 percent.(iii) Plus, dairy consumption increases the body's level of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) -- a known cancer promoter.

5. Calcium has benefits that dairy doesn't. Calcium supplements, but not dairy products, may reduce the risk of colon cancer.(iv)

6. Not everyone can stomach dairy.(v) About 75 percent of the world's population is genetically unable to properly digest milk and other dairy products -- a problem called lactose intolerance.

Based on such findings, Dr. Willet has come to some important conclusions:

• Everybody needs calcium -- but probably not as much as our government's recommended daily allowance (RDA) and calcium from diet, including greens and beans is better utilized by the body with less risk than calcium supplements.

• Calcium probably doesn't prevent broken bones. Few people in this country are likely to reduce their fracture risk by getting more calcium.

• Men may not want to take calcium supplements. Supplements of calcium and vitamin D may be reasonable for women.

• Dairy may be unhealthy. Advocating dairy consumption may have negative effects on health.
If all that isn't enough to swear you off milk, there are a few other scientific findings worth noting. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently asked the UDSA to look into the scientific basis of the claims made in the "milk mustache" ads. Their panel of scientists stated the truth clearly:

• Milk doesn't benefit sports performance.

• There's no evidence that dairy is good for your bones or prevents osteoporosis -- in fact, the animal protein it contains may help cause bone loss!

• Dairy is linked to prostate cancer.

• It's full of saturated fat and is linked to heart disease.

• Dairy causes digestive problems for the 75 percent of people with lactose intolerance.

• Dairy aggravates irritable bowel syndrome.

Simply put, the FTC asked the dairy industry, "Got Proof?" -- and the answer was NO!

Plus, dairy may contribute to even more health problems, like:

• Allergies (vi)
• Sinus problems
• Ear infections
• Type 1 diabetes (vii)
• Chronic constipation (viii)
• Anemia (in children)

Due to these concerns, many have begun to consider raw milk an alternative. But that isn't really a healthy form of dairy either ...

Yes, raw, whole, organic milk eliminates concerns like pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and the effects of homogenization and pasteurization -- but to me, these benefits don't outweigh dairy's potential risks.
From an evolutionary point of view, milk is a strange food for humans. Until 10,000 years ago we didn't domesticate animals and weren't able to drink milk (unless some brave hunter-gather milked a wild tiger or buffalo!).

If you don't believe that, consider this: The majority of humans naturally stop producing significant amounts of lactase - the enzyme needed to properly metabolize lactose, the sugar in milk -- sometime between the ages of two and five. In fact, for most mammals, the normal condition is to stop producing the enzymes needed to properly digest and metabolize milk after they have been weaned.

Our bodies just weren't made to digest milk on a regular basis. Instead, most scientists agree that it's better for us to get calcium, potassium, protein, and fats from other food sources, like whole plant foods -- vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and seaweed.

Well I thought it was an interesting article and for once I actually agree with it! I took nutritional classes in college and discovered these findings but it's very hard to tell people what they should and shouldn't eat. I don't make people eat my diet and I don't make them live my vegan lifestyle. I just wish people knew the facts about eating animal products and how they are bad for the animals, your health, and the environment.

Happy Arbor Day!

2010-04-30T10:29:00.000-04:00

Happy Arbor Day everyone! Save a tree today and use recycled paper! And if you really want to be awesome plant a tree and help save the Earth!

Trees help control the CO2 in the Atmosphere and directly affect the lives of all creatures on this planet. Even cute polar bear cubs. So keep that in mind when you print something out next time and make sure to use recycled paper!

Jessica and Aaron

2010-04-29T09:13:00.000-04:00

Jessica and Aaron were a very cute couple that tied the knot at sunset at Clearwater Beach in the Tampa area. It was a beautiful wedding and these Petite People Invites were a hit with both their families.

Save the Dates

2010-04-26T13:13:00.000-04:00

These save the dates are for, well, me! My husband and I are renewing out vows this December and we are having a pirate themed wedding! I just ordered them from the printer and will post pictures when they arrive. But I was really excited with the design system I came up with for this and had to post it. I love it when you just get so into a design you stay up until midnight because you just can't stop working. Ah, it's the little things in life, right?

And as always, this is printed with soy on recycled paper.

Friday Find: Upcycled Coffee Bag Laptop

2010-04-23T09:01:00.000-04:00

In honor of Earth Day yesterday, I wanted to feature something that wasn't only vegan, but recycled and helped promote living the vegan lifestyle. This upcycled laptop bag is from Labudde's etsy shop found here.

Here is a description from the website:

This stylish laptop sleeve is made from an upcycled coffee bag; this one reads "KVW Hamburg" in black. Colorful contrast piping in raspberry plaid. It is padded with two layers of poly batting and lined with a smooth white cotton fabric. Velcro closure. This sleeve will protect your precious electronic companion on your way to and from your favorite wifi hotspot.

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-22T10:09:00.000-04:00

Happy Earth Day, Everyone!

Be kind to the environment and all of the creatures on this planet. Everyone has the right to be here--humans AND animals. We do not have the right to kill any of these creatures. So please be kind to everyone on this planet and go vegan for today.

The benefits of Soy ink

2010-04-19T13:41:00.000-04:00

I thought I would go into detail about why we use soy ink and what is so special about it.

Soy ink is available for newspapers, magazines, commercial printing, packaging, business forms and many other uses. Each form of printing requires a different type of ink and manufacturers have made various efforts to meet with the demands of customers. Soy inkt has following benefits:

Vibrant colors - Soybean oil’s clarity allows pigments to reach their full potential, resulting in deep, rich bright colors. In addition, used in newspaper ink, it shows an excellent outcome of pigments. Soy ink delivers a high quality print when you switch from petroleum-based ink to soy ink, and you may even see an improvement!

Lower rub-off - Soy inks show a greater rub resistance. This is especially of important for newspaper readers.

Soy ink is cost effective - The prices of soy ink colors are competitive with conventional ink colors since most of the cost in the colored inks comes from the pigments used and not the vehicle portion of the formulation. Because soy ink provides more intense color, printers may not use as much ink. As a result, more materials can be printed with less ink and thereby reducing their costs.

Laser proof - This is important when ink needs to be exposed to the heat of a laser printer or copy machine. As the boiling point of soy ink is lower, there is less chance of the ink being transferred to the machine parts instead of the paper.

Stability - Soy ink maintains its lithographic stability throughout the entire print job, so the press operator makes fewer adjustments during production and rejects fewer copies because of inferior quality.

References: Soya.be, Recycledproducts.com

Friday Find: I Heart Tofu (don't you?)

2010-04-16T10:39:00.001-04:00

I was doing my usual Friday rounds on Etsy when I spotted these cute I heart Tofu beads for knitting. They were featured in Yarn Forward Magazine. They are available at VeganCraftTastic's Etsy Shop Here.

Here is the description:

"I heart tofu, you heart tofu, everyone hearts tofu! This very special stitch marker set is for all the vegan and vegetarian tofu lovin' knitters out there! These are just the thing to show your veggie pride to the world.

Handmade by me, the markers are made from white and black plastic beads, silver plated jump rings, and brass/nickel head pins. The set includes 4 I heart tofu stitch markers. Stitch markers fit up to a US size 9 knitting needle.

Handmade by me in a 100% smooke-free and animal-free home."

New Opening Date

2010-04-13T14:07:00.001-04:00

Well, opening an online store takes a lot longer than I originally thought. But I am really passionate about Tofu Paper Company and I want to make sure I do this thing right. So we have pushed back our opening date until the first day of summer (and the day before my birthday!). That way we will have everything back from the printers and make sure all of our legal filings have been correctly completed, etc, etc.

So just sit back and relax and help spread the word about Tofu Paper Company before our online opening in June.

Alphabet poster

2010-03-16T18:16:00.001-04:00

Here is one of the posters that we have spent many many weeks designing. It is now at the printers but we are all just so excited that we had to post about it now. So we designed a font based on animals that would look great in a child's room or any whimsical setting. These animal fonts are well considered and very well designed. And as with our other posters, these are getting printed in soy on recycled paper.

Here is the white poster
The whimsical children's poster

Customized name poster: you send us what you what it to say, perfect for a kid's room.

And here are a few of my favorite letters so you can see the details.

Friday Find: Vegan Marshmallows

2010-03-12T09:08:00.000-05:00

In case you were unaware, but regular marshmallows are not vegetarian. (they are made with geletan which inturn has animal bone and hoof in it). So needless to say I have not had them for a long time. But that is soon about to change. I was watching Unwrapped on the food channel last night and they did a special on Sweet & Sara: vegan marshmallows. Can you say awesome? I sure can, or at least my stomach is more than willing to order these! They can be found on their online shop: http://www.sweetandsara.com/products.php

Sneak Peak

2010-03-08T16:23:00.000-05:00

Here is a sneak peak at one of our nursery rhyme posters that we will be printing in soy ink on recycled paper. We have so much stuff almost done we can't wait to open our shop and show you guys!

Busy Busy!

2010-03-01T08:50:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts this past week. My dad was in town to help us get our backyard finished. We are planning on rescuing two mutts this summer from the animal shelter and we want to make sure our back yard is ready. When we moved in there was a lot of over grown plants and two ponds. Yeah, not exactly puppy friendly. So we had a very productive week digging, moving large rocks, and laying sod. So now it is back to the grindstone of making some awesome graphics! Our Earth Day opening is just around the corner!

But here are some before and after shots of our backyard and our week of hard work:

Before:

During:

and After:

Dog approved!

Friday Find: Vegan Laundry Soap

2010-02-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

This week I found a really cool Friday Find and it is Vegan Laundry Soap. I had no idea most laundry soaps are not vegan! There are so many chemicals in regular laundry detergent that these natural alternatives are a great find! They can be found at Shower Treat Soap's Etsy store.

Business cards are finally here!

2010-02-10T15:18:00.000-05:00

Just got these little beauties from the printer today! They are printed using soy on recycled paper. Can't wait to start handing these out!

Friday Find: Veggie Protein Booklets

2010-02-05T09:06:00.000-05:00

As a vegan I have been asked so many times, "How do you get your protein?" Well it usually isn't a hard question to answer, I get plenty of protein. In fact Americans eat 3 times the amount of protein that is required for our bodies. But I get plenty of protein from veggies and non-animal sources. But I think next time I get asked this question (which happens on a regular basis) I am going to show the questioner this book!

How I get my protein booklets are found at BooksbyBexx on etsy! For only 3 dollars they are a deal! (If I had 3 dollars everytime someone asked me how I get my protein as a vegan...)

A Wedding in the Making: Katie and Eric

2010-02-01T15:28:00.000-05:00

Some dear friends of ours just recently got engaged in December and are embarking on the fun journey of planning a wedding. Katie, a fellow designer and best friend, is pulling out all the stops and making her day one to remember. With inspirations posts, color and design tips, and wedding planning adventures, her blog is a joy to read. As a fellow bride-to-be (kinda) I enjoy reading her posts and appreciate her showcasing her talents in design. Her blog can be found here: kt + e are gettin' hitched!

We will check in throughout her wedding planning process and post design tips and wedding planning stories.

Congrats to Kathleen and Richard! Petite People of course!

2010-01-25T20:05:00.000-05:00

A darling couple that I met while working in London last year, Kathleen and Richard are both graphic designers. I was so honored and thrilled to be asked to design their wedding invites. They were married in a beautiful venue in Central London with a whimsical winter theme. Congrats to both of them!

Friday Find: Vinyl vs. Leather

2010-01-15T08:51:00.000-05:00

When one takes the vegan route it is very hard to find belts, wallets, and shoes that don't have some component of leather in them. But a great alternative to animal skin is Vinyl. A product of chemical reactions from plastic polymers, this synthetic "leather like" material is just as strong and texture rich as leather. So to help reduced the demand for leather and other meat industry bi-products, choose vinyl over leather next time you are out shopping for a belt or wallet.

But if you are in the market for some vegan-friendly wallets, I highly recommend shopping at Trelabela's etsy shop, which can be found here. This shop uses up-cycled animal free products. I think it is a great cause and I am proud to feature this shop on my blog.

Happy weekend everybody!

Not only are we designers, we are MARATHONERS!

2010-01-13T21:16:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts this week, we have been recovering from running a marathon! Let me correct that, running a marathon in 25 degree weather! I moved to Florida, right?

Anyway, we are back to the grind stone here at Tofu Paper Co working hard on some custom orders and keeping our sights set on an Earth Day opening. But in the meantime if you would like to read our marathon recap, you can find it here:

http://mandyandjoshfrance.blogspot.com/

Now that I am not as sore anymore I am already considering doing the Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge next year. Someone slap me please.

Friday Find: Tofu Buttons!

2010-01-08T12:29:00.000-05:00

Buttons are totally coming back into style, at least in my closet they are. I really like how these buttons feature some cute little tofu all dressed up! Just adorable. They can be found on Etsy in KawaiiButton's Shop. Here is the description on the item page:

"each handmade by me

a collage with original Japanese kawaii ephemera protected with a sweet & shiny waterproof mylar covering one inch in diameter"

Very cute and love the tofu theme!

Online store opens on Earth Day 2010!

2010-01-06T10:47:00.000-05:00

After some planning and some discussions, we have decided to open our online store on Earth Day 2010. April 22nd, 2010 will be the day that we officially open our doors and help celebrate this planet by offering green paper products made from recycled paper, recycled ink, and biodegradable soy inks. We want to show everyone that being vegan extends far beyond ones diet, it affects our choices, our health, and our one-of-a-kind planet.

Well now that we have a date picked out we have quite a bit of work to do! Cheers!

Hello there 2010!

2010-01-04T10:52:00.000-05:00

Well we hope that you had a fantastic holiday season with friends and family like we did. But now it's a new year and a new week here at Tofu Paper Co. and we are rearing to go! We are still working hard towards our goal of opening our online shop and will have an opening date picked out here very soon. I am leaning towards opening on Earth day and with us being a vegan company, thought it would be appropriate. But we will make a formal announcement this upcoming week.

In the mean time here is a sneak peak at one of our illustrative note card lines. We paint on recycled wood using cell vinyl and recycled acrylic paints. These will be printed using soy or recycled ink (we are still doing some test prints to see which ones work best on which papers).

Friday Find: Veggie Super Hero Notecards

2009-12-18T10:27:00.000-05:00

I found a great set of veggie super hero note cards while internet surfing this week, (even though I should have been packing!) These note cards are printed on watercolor paper and are just adorable. They are available from Michelle Caviglian's Etsy shop, here.

Here is the description of the note cards:

"All cards are printed on Epson watercolor paper, radiant white, and are left blank inside so you can write your own love notes, friend notes, thank you's, happy birthdays, and "you're awesome" notes to your favorite people (or "you stink" to your enemies!) Also quite lovely displayed in a frame or around the home as miniature artworks. "

Wizard Wedding

2009-12-16T11:43:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that I am a big fan of the Harry Potter book series, and that is how I met bride and groom Ashley and John. Attending Harry Potter fan conventions is a lot of fun and you have the opportunity to meet people from around the world who, like me, would love to attend Hogwarts. Ashley and John met at one of these conventions several years ago in Chicago. They have since attended many other Harry Potter events. They got engaged last year at non other than Platform 9 3/4 in London! How cute! And if their love for each other and Harry Potter wasn't enough, they just had their wedding in Edinburgh, Scotland, where Harry Potter was written and is the geographic fictional location of Hogwarts.

They had a destination wedding and had already given their guests a package with travel and hotel info. So they contacted me looking for just a simple and fun cover invitation. Their colors were a rich purple and cream, very Hogwarts-ish. I styled their Petite People in their likeness and of course, put them in wizarding attire.

Their wedding was a few weeks ago and it turned out to be a great success! Here is what Ashley wrote in an email before they set off on their Honeymoon around Europe:

"The wedding was absolutely beautiful! Our wizard theme was perfect and thanks to your invitations, our story was carried out to the fullest! All throughout our trip we received complements on our invitations and our customized little people! Our guests were very amazed to see that these invites were printed with soy ink and on recycled paper. As a wedding present, my in-laws framed one of the invites for us and I can't wait to hang it up. Thanks for all your hard work and your dedication to this project..."

Thank you Ashley and John, and thank you for letting us feature your invite on our blog!

(this was the backdrop to their wedding! Looks just like Hogwarts!)

Spread recycled holiday cheer

2009-12-14T13:01:00.001-05:00

We have extended our free shipping for our holiday cards until THIS FRIDAY! After that we will be slowing things down for the holidays. So if you are still in need of some cute holiday cards that are made from recycled ink and recycled paper, send us an email with the subject header: Free Shipping. In your email let us know which cards you are interested in. Prices are on the holiday cards bog post from last Wednesday. It's not too late to order your cards!

Approved Green Bride Vendor

2009-12-11T18:00:00.000-05:00

Very excited to announce that we are now members of the Green Bride Vendor Directory! We were assessed on our carbon output, recycled materials, green message, vegan work environment, green transportation, and recycled packing and shipping methods. (I think we got bonus points for my mint green bike with the basket that I use for riding around town).

Friday Find: Upcycled Tofu Apron

2009-12-11T10:33:00.000-05:00

Just in time for the holidays, this cute apron would make a perfect gift for any vegetarian in the kitchen. I found this while doing my weekly surfing on Etsy. It is available at Panda With Cookie's shop. Here is the description on the website:

"This is a heavier green cotton material. Upcycled from a pair of old curtains, now they have a new life in the kitchen."

I love how they used to be curtains and now they have a new life! I love things like this!

'Tis the season to send holiday cards!

2009-12-09T11:57:00.001-05:00

Here is our first set of holiday cards that we are debuting here at Tofu Paper Co. These are cute little illustrations with typographic holiday songs. Very fun and whimsical. They are printed on 100% recycled card stock using recycled ink! So save the environment when you send out your holiday cards this year!

Individual card and recycled envelope: $ 4

Set of 4 cards and envelopes (mix and match): $ 12

Set of 10 cards and envelopes (mix and match): $ 20

Email us today at Designers@TofuPaperCo.com to order some of these holiday cards today! Type in "Free Shipping" on the subject line of your email to receive free shipping off your order! (This free shipping offer ends Monday Dec. 14th, so hurry!)

Petite People Wedding Collection

2009-12-07T14:24:00.000-05:00

Well today we are debuting our custom design wedding collection called, "Petite People". This collection is whimsical and fun. Your guests will not throw these invitations away, that is for sure! We provide design and production of Save-the-Dates, Invites, RSVPs, custom directional maps, thank-you cards, and custom designed wedding certificates worthy of a frame. All designs are printed with soy ink on 100% recycled paper. Hooray for saving trees and animals!

All of our designs are one-of-a-kind based on the bride and groom, wedding colors, wedding dress, theme, even what the bride's hair will look like on the big day.

Interested in learning more? Send us an email: Designers@TofuPaperCo.com and in the subject line, please put "Send me info on Petite People Wedding Collection" and we will send you a detailed price guide and informational packet!

We are very excited about this new design collection and hope you enjoy it!

Friday Find: Tofu Christmas Ornament

2009-12-04T12:18:00.000-05:00

Each week we will post some cool finds that are worth checking out. Fridays are great days to relax a bit and look for some inspiration, so it seems a perfect fit to introduce "Friday Finds". If you have any cool vegan design finds, please email them to us and we will post them on the blog for inspiration to everyone.

This week while browsing Etsy.com I stumbled across this cute tofu ornament. This little guy can be found at Etsy in Chris Creature's Shop. Here is the description: "This Cold Tofu Ornament is soft and cuddly. Includes tofu and removable fleece scarf. Each one is hand sewn and unique."

Just moved?

2009-12-03T16:23:00.001-05:00

Just moved? Need to tell family and friends your new address? Well do it with these cute postcards! They are modern with a bit of whimsy that everyone will just love! And being postcards, they are cheaper to mail than letters, which is a big plus.

They are printed on recycled paper with soy ink. Custom orders available with any color. Send us an email today and we can get started!

Follow us on Twitter!

2009-12-02T15:30:00.000-05:00

Got our Twitter account all set up and designed the background. (I wasn't about to use a stock one, come on, we are a design company here!)

Follow us for some inspiration or to just see what we are up to! Looking forward to tweeting and twittering with everyone!

Email Addresses, Check!

2009-12-02T14:00:00.000-05:00

Email addresses are up and running!

Want to contact our designers?

designers@tofupaperco.com

Let the fun begin!

2009-12-02T12:07:00.000-05:00

Well we hit a few snags with the trademark office, but everything seems to be cleared up now. Talk about a confusing and expensive process!

Well with the few months that we were waiting to start our business, I was able to get some custom designs completed and will post them on the blog soon. The online shop is in construction right now and will be up and running in the next few months.

Trademark filed!

2009-08-20T16:41:00.000-04:00

Just filed the trade mark for Tofu Paper Company! Should have the official TM in 3 months.