How to Make Graduation Party Invitations wth Vellum Paper

Graduation parties celebrate the accomplishments of students who have contributed years of study and effort. You can make your graduation party special by creating your own invitations. Sold in office supply stores, vellum is slightly heavier than standard printer paper and is ideal for homemade invitations. It folds well, is reasonably priced and can be run through a printer like regular paper. These directions will help you create striking invitations in the design of your choice.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sheets of white vellum paper
• Computer and printer
• Envelopes
• Pen

1. Choose the orientation for your invitation. Vellum comes in 8.5-by-11-inch sheets. If you want to fold them in half, your finished invitation will be 8.5 by 5.5 inches. Purchase white envelopes in a corresponding size before you begin.

2. Design the front cover. Consider things such as school colors, team mascot or academic major. If your colors are gold, blue and white, you might want to edge the invitation with a gold border, with blue text in the center. If the major is medicine, you can use the caduceus symbol in the center. If the football mascot was a lion, use that. Download the insignia onto the cover, making sure to align it properly, or photocopy it as a template. Other options: List the dates the student attended school, or include a picture of the grad in cap and gown.

3. Compose the inside page of the invitation, giving specifics of the occasion. Announce that a graduation party is being held and include the graduate's name. List the day of the week, date, time and place. Provide a telephone number and date by which guests need to RSVP. You can use full sentences ("You are cordially invited...") or abbreviate the basics ("Event: Graduation party for Alan Smith").

4. Experiment first with one copy to make sure the vellum is lined up properly when it goes through the printer. Then print out the invitations.

5. Print out addresses on envelopes, or write them out by hand.

6. Buy confetti in the school's colors. If it isn't available, purchase tissue paper in the appropriate colors. Cut the tissue into tiny squares several sheets at a time. Add tissue confetti inside the invitation for a festive touch.

Tips & Warnings

• Folding vellum any smaller than the dimensions listed here creases the paper more, making it challenging to work with and to print. For a personal touch, write out invitations by hand rather than using the computer.