Really great parties blend three essential ingredients: mouth-watering food, interesting people and a splash of spirits.

If you're a brand-marketing agency like Minneapolis-based FAME, an all-important fourth element -- the invitation -- is key to setting the tone for a fun and entertaining event. Not to mention, it's the perfect opportunity to let the agency's creativity shine.

FAME recently received PaperSpecs Gallery's Take Note Award for the enticing invite created for its annual open house.

Guest judge for the third quarter competition, Gaby Brink, founder and executive creative director of Tomorrow Partners, immediately knew this was the winning piece. "From the fun illustrations that brought the theme to life to the metallic inks and beautiful letterpress work, this entry really stood out above the crowd," explains Brink.

FAME's concept, copy, iconography, typography, paper selection, and printing technique are what made this design stand out. All of the elements involved work together seamlessly to create a modern twist on a classic era -- Prohibition.

"The attention to detail and the tactile feel achieved through the paper choice and the letterpress debossing really set this entry apart," says Sabine Lenz, founder of PaperSpecs.com. "Through the invitation package, I can see why FAME's clients love this agency's branding and design work ... not to mention their annual parties."

To read the inside story on how the FAME Open House Invitation was created, please visit www.paperspecs.com/22602/fame-open-house-invitation-4/.

Click here to see a video about the Take Note Award Winner for Quarter Three 2012.