Do it Yourself: Birthday Invitations for a 2nd Birthday

Make your 2-year-old's birthday invitations reflect the joy she brings.

Making your own birthday invitations for your 2-year-old can be an entertaining endeavor. With a bit of imagination and some photos (you know you have some) your little one's invitations will bring a smile to your invited guests' faces. Use a computer program such as Microsoft Publisher to customize an invitation template to a 2-year-old's birthday party specifications.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Publisher
• Pictures of your toddler

Instructions

1. Select an invitation template in Microsoft Publisher. Just about any template will do, since you will be customizing it to reflect your little one's birthday. Double-click the invitation icon to open the template.

2. Customize your 2-year-old's birthday party invitations from Publisher's Format Publication pane on the left. Select bright colors and playful font. For example, apply a pink or yellow background with blue font. The font comic sans offers a casual presentation.

3. Navigate invitation pages from the bottom left of the template. Add invitation information, such as your greeting, to pages two or three of the card. A greeting might read, "You're invited to a 2-year-old's event of the season!"

4. Insert images that draw the recipient's attention to the star of the day--your 2-year-old. Select "Insert" at the top of the template page. Choose "Pictures" and "From File" from the drop-down list to choose the photos that you want to use on the invitation.

5. Size pictures to fit the front, interior and back, if you like, of the invitation template. You might like to create a mini-collage of pictures from your child's first day to present to communicate the passage of time. Overlap sides and corners of inserted images for a collage effect. Save your work as you add elements.

6. 

   Email Publsiher invitations.

   Email the invitations or print in color and send them via snail mail. If you use email, make sure recipients can open Publisher files.

Tips & Warnings

• Include standard information, including date, time and the location of the birthday party.

Resources

• Microsoft Office: Build anticipation with a Publisher invitation