How to Design Graduation Party Invitations

Graduation from high school or college can be a pricey venture. Not only do you have final education costs, but the celebration of your loved one's achievement can put a stress on your finances. Cut costs by designing your own graduation party invitations. With the use of desktop publishing software and artwork, you can quickly create an invitation you can be proud of. Here's how.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Invitation card blanks Clip art Print Explosion desktop publishing software Party details Color printer

How to Design Graduation Party Invitations

1. Decide what style card you want to use. If you are printing the graduation party invitations yourself on your home computer, you will need to choose from the basic half-fold card or a four-fold card. The half-fold card blank gives you more room for graphics and information and is the standard choice.

2. 
   Graphics selection

   Choose graphics that reflect the graduation or the graduate. If this is a party for family of the graduate, a traditional look will include the cap and gown or diploma graphics. If this is a party for the graduates friends, a younger styled graphic could be utilized and could include photos of the graduate and his or her friends.

3. Gather the party information needed for the invitation including day, date, time and location of the party. Discuss any additional theme or other details about the party and include an RSVP phone number or email address.

4. Open your desktop publishing software. Select a blank half-fold card template to begin putting in your invitation design elements. Be sure that your template matches the dimensions of your card blanks. You can also download templates to use in common desktop publishing software from the card blank manufacturer.

5. 
   card front graphic

   Place your first graphic on the card front along with a bold "You're Invited" sentiment. Print Explosion allows you to drag and drop your graphics from your desktop. Click on your image file that you saved on your desktop and drag and drop it onto the card front, or browse clip art files for appropriate images by clicking on the Graphic icon.

6. 
   page three party details

   Go to page three of your card blank template and insert your party details. Click on the Text icon, then type in the party details. Select a readable font such as Comic Sans so that your information gets relayed easily.

7. 
   Inside card page 3

   Add a small additional graphic to create more interest on the cards interior. Click on the Graphics icon and select a relative graphic from the clip art or drag and drop an image from your desktop such as a picture of the graduate or a picture of the grad and his or her family.

8. Print out on a high resolution color printer and allow to dry for fifteen minutes before you fold and mail. Print a test sheet on regular copy paper to proofread and double check your details and spacing.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to the graduate about what style party invitation he or she would like to send to friends. Let the invitation express the graduate's style.
• Don't run out of ink. Always check your printer ink levels before beginning a printing project to insure you don't waste card blanks.

References

• partyinvitations.com

Resources

• graduationcardsshop.com