Christmas Open House Invitation Ideas

Design creative invitations to invite guests to your holiday open house.

A Christmas open house allows you to visit with friends and family in a relaxed atmosphere since the event isn't restricted to the two to three activity-packed hours of a traditional event. Although guests can attend the informal festivities at various hours, design holiday open house invitations with the general starting and ending time. Creative invitations should also include the date, location, whether children are welcome and request if the event is a potluck.

Dimensional Objects

If you plan to distribute the holiday open house invitations in person, design invitations featuring Christmas-related objects. Simply write or print the pertinent party details on a shipping tag sold at office or teacher supply stores. Use colorful ribbon to tie the tag to festive item such as a glass Christmas tree ornament, a bottle of wine, a compact disc of holiday music or a glass mug that the guests can bring to the open house to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.

Creative Shapes

Make Christmas open house invitations in shapes that capture the feel of the season such as Christmas trees, ornaments, holly leaves, sleighs or snowmen. If you can't find pre-cut cards in holiday shapes, make your own by tracing shape stencils or cookie cutters onto red, green or white card stock. Use scissors or a craft knife to cut the shapes out. After writing the party details on one side of the card, adorn the back with embellishments such as glitter glue, sequins, markers or stickers.

Christmas Cards

Save time by combining your Christmas open house invitations with your annual holiday cards. Print the open house details on a slip of paper or write them on a 3-by-5-inch index card. Simply keep your open house guest list on the table as you write and address your Christmas cards and slip the party information into the cards of friends and family members who are also on your party list. If you typically wait until the last minute to send out your Christmas cards, you'll need to get the mailing out earlier to give the guests enough time to plan for the party.

Photo Invitations

Personalize blank, folded cards sold at scrapbooking and craft stores with a picture of your family welcoming guests to the holiday open house. Take a picture of your family standing on the front porch, near the open front door, by the Christmas tree or fireplace. Make one reprint of the photo for each invitation you need. Attach the picture to the front of the card with a glue stick and write or print the party details inside the card.

Holiday Postcards

Capture the images of the season and save on mailing costs by turning postcards with winter, Christmas or holiday images into open house invitations. Simply address each postcard and write brief details about the holiday open house in the postcard's message field. Include your phone number and invite guests to call if they have questions about the event.

References

• Real Simple Magazine: Holiday Open House Checklist
• Do-It-Yourself Invitations: Making Invitations

Resources

• Family Fun: Holiday Open House Ideas