How to Make Baby Shower Invitations on Photo Paper
With the advent of digital photography, it is no longer necessary to act selectively when finding the shot, and photographers have near-instant gratification in seeing the picture instantly and deleting anything that doesn't work. For friends and family of soon-to-be parents, this is often a blessing, making it easier to capture every moment of a baby's development. It's a good idea to practice with your digital camera before the big day. If you've already decided to throw a baby shower for the couple in question, then making invitations using a picture you've snapped can help give you the practice you'll need when it really counts.
Things You'll Need
- Digital camera
- Computer
- Card-making or word-processing software
- Printer
- Photo paper
Instructions
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Snap a photograph of something that commemorates the parents-to-be. This might be something as simple as a photograph of the couple holding up an empty article of baby clothing, an empty crib or playroom, or even a close-up of the mother's stomach (for couple's that don't mind sharing). Practice getting the perfect exposure for this photograph, to familiarize yourself with how to use the camera once you're tasked with capturing an active baby on the other end of the lens.
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Plug your digital camera or its memory card into your computer and view the baby shower photo on your computer screen. If your camera doesn't have a USB connection, and your computer doesn't have a memory card slot reader, then you can buy card readers with a USB hookup at most computer stores.
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Open a card-making program on your computer and start designing the front of your invitations. Import your picture into the program and size it to your liking, while incorporating any backgrounds, party-themed fonts, and appropriate graphics. Generally, designing a post-card sized invitation is appropriate. If you don't have a card-making program, you could even use something as simple as a word-processor to design the invitation, though this may take more time than with a dedicated program. Try to make your card the same size as a standard post card, between 5 to 6 inches in length, and 3.5 to 4.5 inches in width. This way, you won't need envelopes for each picture; you can simply send them as you would send a post card.
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Place photo paper in your printer once you've finished your design. If you have full-size pages of photo paper, then it's a good idea to print two invitations on each piece of paper. Some companies also make smaller-sized photo paper, including some that are already postcard-sized at 6 by 4 inches. If you have time, experiment with different brands, sizes, and finishes of photo paper to see which one you like best.
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Print a test invitation in draft mode on normal paper that's the same size as your photo paper. This will help ensure that the invitation is the right size and that all the elements are there in the correct place on the paper.
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Print your invitations on the photo paper. Use your printer's highest settings with a new ink cartridge for the most faithful reproduction.
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Design the non-photo side of your invitations. This generally includes information such as the parents' names, date and time of the party, the address, and the RSVP phone number. You should also include a spot to put a stamp. Make this side of the invitation simple in order to make the photo side stand out.
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Wait until the photo side of the invitations has dried, then put them back into the printer and print the new information on the other side of the photo paper. Run a test through beforehand to ensure that you're printing on the correct side of the paper and that it's printing at the correct size. Once you're satisfied with the results of the test, print the back side of your invitations on the back side of the photo paper that the photos are printed on.
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Tips & Warnings
Give yourself at least an hour to design and print these invitations.
If it's a surprise baby shower, be as inconspicuous as possible when taking a picture for your baby shower invitations.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
