How to Create Your Own Sweet 15 Birthday Party Invitations

Use the invitation to give guests a preview of your party.

Turning 15 is a milestone worthy of celebration: Several television programs show teens throwing extravagant affairs complete with ice sculptures, DJs, rented hotel ballrooms and designer attire. Even if your 15th birthday party is low-key, the invitations are the first indicator of the party's theme and style to your guests. Show them your creativity by designing gorgeous, unique invitations.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Color scheme
• Images
• Fonts
• Decorative materials (glitter, stamps, ribbon)
• Envelopes
• Stamps

Instructions

1. Choose a medium for the invitation. Showcase your computer design skills by making a PowerPoint presentation invitation or an email invitation. Otherwise, grab your craft supplies and make paper-based invitations.

   Consider your budget when deciding on the invitation format: Email or slide-show invitations are free, but anticipate spending money for print-based invitations due to material and postage costs.

2. Choose a color scheme. Envision how the party will be designed and decorated to guide your choice of colors for the invitation. Select bright pinks and purple for the invitation if the party features large flower arrangements of lilacs and dusty roses. Or choose brown and cream colors for a sweet 15 birthday bash centered on a chocolate fondue theme. If unsure of the theme or decoration, opt for the simple-yet-classy combination of ivory and black. Use the color scheme as guidance when purchasing paper and decorative materials.

3. Gather decorative materials. Find pictures that highlight your theme. For example, find images of lanterns, belly dancers and stars for an exotic Moroccan-themed party invitation. Select pictures of piñatas, sombreros and bright flowers for a fiesta-themed bash.

   Or, just place a picture of the birthday girl or boy on the invitation: decide on a formal photo, action-based sports photo or even a humorous picture. Choose a combination of several photos matching taste and theme for slide-show invitations.

   Buy additional items with which to decorate the invitation, such as glitter, stickers, ribbon and other objects for print-based invitation. For example, glue white sand on the invitation to create a sandy beach for a summer pool party bash.

4. Select the font for the invitation. Use fonts already listed in your word processor or go to a font website and download one for free. Find a font that best represents the party theme: use Tempus Sans for a jungle-themed sweet 15 party or Papyrus for an Egyptian-themed bash. Select script fonts with cursive loops for a formal black-tie affair.

5. Choose a creative delivery method. Though slide-show and email cards are submitted through your email, print invitations can be delivered in several creative ways. For instance, hand-deliver a tea party-themed invitation by rolling up the invitation and placing it on a mini cup and saucer purchased from the dollar store.

   Author Gloria Hander Lyons suggests other methods in her book, "Flamingos, Poodle Skirts and Red Hots": roll tropical party invitations into seashells, use mini records for retro '50s and '60s themed parties or use mini party crackers for parties featuring fireworks.

References

• "Flamingos, Poodle Skirts and Red Hots"; Gloria Hander Lyons; 2008