How to Make My Own Wedding Invites With Card Stock

A wedding invitation not only tells guests when and where a wedding will take place, but also how formal it will be, whether or not there will be a theme and what the wedding colors are. By making your own wedding invitations out of card stock, you can save money while creating a unique look that will reflect your personal style. Although the design possibilities are endless, following a few simple tips will help to give your invitations the sleek, polished look of professionally printed cards, at a fraction of the price.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Card stock
• Lightweight paper
• Double-sided scrapbooking tape
• Ribbon or other embellishments (optional)
• Paper cutter

Designing Your Invitations

1. Decide on a format. Popular invitation formats include bi-fold and non-folded styles, although they may also be tri-fold or something more unique, such as an origami-style fold.
   
   Once you have decided on your format, determine what size the invitation will be and how many you will need to make. This will help you calculate how much card stock and other materials to buy. Also, be sure you can purchase envelopes in the correct size and shape to hold your invitations.

2. Choose your card stock. Ideally, the card stock you use will reflect the wedding theme and colors. If you cannot find card stock in a shade that reasonably matches your wedding colors, use white or ivory and embellish it with ribbon or other materials.

3. Choose your paper for printing. Although it is possible to print directly on card stock, the easiest and most attractive way to include the wedding information is by printing it onto lightweight paper and attaching the paper to the card stock with scrapbooking tape or ribbon. Vellum and pastel or white scrapbooking paper are popular options.

4. Decide on any artistic embellishments. The possibilities here are infinite. While some couples will prefer a clean, simple invitation with no extraneous features, others will find that a little ribbon, a stamped image or a photograph can turn a generic invitation into a personal statement. Ideas can be found by browsing invitation catalogues, magazines and scrapbooking supply stores.

5. Make a prototype. Before purchasing large amounts of paper and other materials, buy just enough to create one or two invitations. Put together the invitation to be sure that you are happy with the result and that you are comfortable with the assembly process.

Creating Your Invitations

6. Purchase your materials. It is best to slightly overestimate the amount of paper you will need, in case you make a mistake or need a couple of extra invitations. Do not forget envelopes.

7. Print your information. Use a computer to type up the wording for the invitation. Choose a font and color that coordinates with your wedding invitations and reflects your style. Depending on the size and style of your invitations, you will likely be able to print two or four copies per standard sheet of paper.

8. Use a paper-cutter with a new, sharp blade to trim card stock and other paper to the desired size. Not only will this make the process go faster, it will ensure that all of the edges are straight and clean. If you would like a decorative edge, special blades can usually be purchased to create scallops, zig-zags or lacy patterns along the edge of the paper.

9. Assemble the invitations. If possible, set up a factory-style assembly line with a few friends or family members. Have one person fold the card stock (if applicable), while another attaches the printed information to the card stock and a third adds the embellishments.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to create matching response cards or thank-you notes, be sure to purchase the materials for these at the same time as your invitation materials. Otherwise, the store may run out of or discontinue your paper before you have a chance to buy more. Address your envelopes before you insert the invitations to prevent indentations on the front of the invitations. Have your prototype invitation (with envelope) weighed at the post office to determine whether it will require extra postage before you buy all of your materials.