How to Make Your Own Invititation

Design Your Own Invitiations!

Creating and designing your own invitations for birthdays, weddings or an anniversary party is one way to economize the party budget. Implementing decorative paper or card stock with a specific font style adds a professional touch. Crafters use embellishing pens, such as glitter or watercolor to add a handcrafted feel to the card, as well as decorative scissors to change the invitation's border. Specific information, such as location, time and event type are key ingredients added to complete the invitation.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Card stock (optional)
• Font type
• Printer
• Graphic software program
• Personal computer
• Invitation template
• Internet
• Scrap paper
• Desk embosser
• Embossing heat tool
• Rubber stamp
• Embossing powder (your choice)

Instructions

1. Choose your paper quality by selecting the paper texture, such as linen or card stock. Keep in mind that textured paper that is handmade or embossed must state that it is printable.

2. Choose your font style by selecting a type that is appropriate for the type of party or event. The font refers to a specific letter type style. For example, choose font types such as "Comic Sans," "Jokerman" or "Ransom" for a child's birthday party. For a formal dance or event, incorporate fonts such as "Edwardian Script," "Lucinda Handwriting" or "Papyrus." You can also opt to choose a calligraphy font style.

3. Choose your invitation's folding pattern layout such as a half top, quarter, or half-side fold. The folding pattern layout will influence your artwork and information placement, as well as how you feed the paper into your printer.

4. Choose a portrait or landscape style print layout for your folding pattern. You will not be able to create your invitation's template without selecting your print layout.

5. Set up your folding pattern layout page in your graphic software program within your print layout. For example, a half-fold is generally folding the card in half. If you have selected a portrait style print layout, draw a horizontal dotted line at the center of the portrait page. The dotted line indicates the fold line for your invitation. Save your information in a separate computer file.

   Keep in mind that each software program varies and must be compatible with your personal computer's system requirements.

6. Create your invitation's template within your folding pattern and print layout. Make sure your template has adequate spacing for information like date, time, location, directions and special notes, such as attire or parking instructions. Save all your changes in a separate computer file in the event you want to design different versions prior to printing.

   You can also conduct an Internet search and download a free invitation template onto your computer.

7. Type and set your information directly on your template. Save your information in a separate computer file with the added changes.

8. Change your printer's settings to accommodate your paper type and size, as well as the print resolution. It is beneficial to print your invitation on scrap paper to proofread your information as well as check the position of the motifs. A higher resolution will result in a better-quality printout.

9. Add novelty touches to your invitation, such as embossing. Use a desk embosser to add a special pattern onto the corners of your invitation. Insert a corner within the tool's upper and lower plate. Press on the handle, and as the plates lock, the raised, embossed pattern will surface.

   Use an embossing heat tool by adding a rubber stamp message or design motif. Add embossing powder with a gloss or glitter finish to the stamp's surface and apply the embossing tool's direct heat for a raised, embossed surface.

References

• "Paper Crafting with Carol Duvall: More Than 45 Projects from the Queen of Crafting!"; Carol Duvall; 2007

Resources

• http://www.americangreetings.com/products/invitations.pd