Bella Ink Blog

Bella Ink Designs Gets You in the Game

Bella Ink Designs' gridiron invitations will get any sports enthusiast in the game for NFL pre-season football.  There's only 2 short months until pre-season football begins with the Chicago Bears vs. the St. Louis Rams in the NFL Hall of Fame Game on August 7th, 2011.  

The newest football inspired invitation from Bella Ink is PH-69, Tailgatin', pictured above.  This half sheet invitation (8.5 x 5.5) has been printed on a premium, textured white card stock, giving the tailgate host or hostess all the room they need for the the important who, what, where and when details of their event.

Since pre-season football begins while the summer party season is in full swing, be sure to get your invitations, now, and secure those affirmative RSVPs before your guest's calendars are fully booked!

Visit http://www.bellaink.com/stores.html to find a Bella Ink retailer near you, or online.  Retailers, please contact Bella Ink directly to order this and other stationery products. 

Bella Ink Designs is off to the Races!

The Kentucky Derby, one of the oldest thoroughbred horse races in the United States, will be run on Saturday, May 7th, 2011.  If you can't make it to Churchill Downs, you can still celebrate with Mint Juleps at home.  Fancy hats and friendly bets optional!

Bella Ink Designs' PT-122, The Fosters (above), is a tea-length (#10) invitation printed on smooth white stock.  The design is available with or without hand-glittered embellishment.  For a Bella Ink retailer near you, please visit http://www.bellaink.com/stores.html.  (Retailers, call Bella Ink directly)    

Bella Ink Super Bowl & Pro Bowl Invites

January 30th and February 6th are BIG days for professional football fans.  January brings us the Pro Bowl and February brings us the Super Bowl!  Since most of us will be crowded around our televisions to watch these games, why not invite friends and family over for one big viewing party?  

If you want to focus on the game completely, Bella Ink's PT-79, Score, will keep things traditional.  The football field featured on this card suggests wearing your team's favorite jersey and a menu of beer, brats and hot wings.  Score will work for either big game this winter.

If the Pro Bowl on January 30th has you wishing you were in Hawaii along with the sport's super stars, consider hosting an indoor Luau.  Announce the Hawaiian theme with Bella Ink's PH-32, Tiki Lounge, or PH-62, Here Piggy.  You won't be able to roast a pig inside, but you could have pulled pork sandwiches, honey-baked ham or ribs along with pina coladas and fresh cut pineapple.  

Since the championship game on February 6th will be in Arlington, Texas, let the pair of cowpokes on Bella Ink's PT-138, Yee Hah, invitation welcome everybody to your home.  Serve up a big pot of chili with a side of cornbread or sliced beef brisket with baked beans and potato salad.

Go Team, Go!

{Pictured Clockwise from Left: Bella Ink's PT-79 Score Invitation, PT-138 Yee Hah, Official Logo for the Pro Bowl, PH-42 Here Piggy, Official Logo for Super Bowl XLV, PH-32 Tiki Lounge}

Score with Bella Ink Designs this Season

The official NFL season begins tonight in New Orleans with the Saints vs. the Vikings.  Before kick-off there will be performances by the Dave Matthews Band and Taylor Swift.  

Whether you're Bearing Down or Backing the Pack (we're an NFC North situated business), or just supporting your pee-wee, high school or college player, Bella Ink Designs has the perfect football-theme invitation for your next tailgate.

PT-79, "Score!," is a tea-length invitation pre-printed with "Touchdown!" in one end zone and "Score!" in the other.  The center has been left for you to personalize with all the important who, what, where and when details of your event.

"Score!" would also make a fabulous invitation to an alternative Thanksgiving Day party... One that's a little more like the episode of Friends titled "The One with the Football," perhaps?  And don't forget to use the card at any time of the year for the birthday party of the football loving little boy in your life.  (Or Mother, depending on who the fanatic in your life truly is.)

Need an easy, sweet and savory football snack?  Our tailgaters are currently loving grilled bacon wrapped dates.  All you need is a container of dried dates, a package of applewood smoked bacon and a bottle of honey.  Cut the uncooked bacon slices in half and wrap one half around one whole date.  Slide the bacon wrapped dates onto metal skewers and grill until the bacon is cooked.  Guests can use the honey as a sweet dip on the side.  If you want to take this up another notch, stuff the dates with goat cheese before wrapping in bacon.

Bella Ink invitations may be purchased through boutique card & gift shops nationwide, as well as online.  For a complete list of where to buy, please visit: http://www.bellaink.com/stores.html.

 

Take It To The Tailgate

What does fall mean to you? Clear blue skies, cooler weather and crisp, colorful leaves? Apple picking, pumpkin carving and hay rides? Fall is all of those things, but to hundreds of college and professional football fans fall is also the season to tailgate.

At Bella Ink Designs we each have a favorite tailgate destination. Camille may wander up to the University of Wisconsin where one of her boys is attending school. The pre-game food of choice outside of Camp Randall Stadium? Cheese curds, brats and beer!

Any given Sunday Heather leaves the suburbs by 7:30 A.M. to get to Soldier Field by 8 A.M. There her family sets up two grills and three tables full of breakfast and lunch foods to feed the flurry of friends and family that stop by before the Bears take the field.

And Sue Ann loves heading down to her alma mater, the University of Kentucky, where her daughter is now a student. There you may find Sue Ann sipping on bourbon slush punch in a sea of blue and white. The drink is as much a tradition for her family as tailgating is for the football community. Sue Ann has graciously offered her recipe up for your next game:

Bourbon Slush Punch

2 sm. cans frozen orange juice
2 sm. cans frozen lemonade
4 tea bags
2 cups water
1 & 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups bourbon
7 cups boiling water
7-Up (to top off)

Prepare punch ahead of time. Mix all ingredients together, except for 7-Up. (Makes 1 gallon) Pour punch into sturdy, plastic containers and freeze. Remove each container from the freezer 30 minutes before serving. Break into chunks and fill glasses almost to the top and then add 7-Up. Stir until slushy.

Want to take a turn at tailgating? Turn your event into one that everybody can look forward to by inviting fellow fans to join you with an invitation sent two to three weeks in advance. Your party info will take the field with Bella Ink's PT-79 "Score!" card (pictured). Gear up, get out there and remember to tailgate responsibly!

Three Cheers To You, The Red, White & Blue!

We're feeling patriotic at Bella Ink Designs. Since August 8th we've been captivated by the 2008 Summer Olympic games broadcasting from Beijing. We're still in awe over the United States' dramatic win in the 4x100m free relay, and we don't expect to lose interest in the games until the final medal has been earned. Some of our favorite sports to watch include swimming, tennis, softball and of course, gymnastics. We'll be sad to see the greatest athletes in the world wrap things up on August 16th, but until then we'll be tuning in to see them compete and inspire. Without a doubt we'll be hosting a closing ceremony party in order to send the 2008 games off in style. And, perhaps we'll be welcoming the world to our favorite city, Chicago, in 2016. If you miss any of the winning moments, visit NBC to catch-up on medal standings and to view your favorite athlete's profile. (Pictured above: PH-14 Kimono and below: PC-26 Kimono Photo Card)