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House number collageCreate a photo collage of your neighbors' homes for your invitation. Ask permission, then take photos of each house using the same orientation (portrait or landscape), then combine them in a grid-like collage to use as your invitation card front. Open your desktop publishing software and go to the Blank Template section. Choose a matching card template for your blank card stock which will either be a half-fold or four-fold card. Insert your graphics (the house pictures) by dragging and dropping or by going to "Insert," "Browse" and then to your file. Size them to match. Finally, line them up on your card front. If there are too many houses to include, create a collage of homes and neighbors by taking photos of them tending their yards or posing with their families. Mix house pictures and family photos on the invitations.
You can also make a collage using just the house numbers from your block. Get permission and take photos of all of the house numbers, then choose a variety of house number styles to represent your block in your photo collage. Arrange the images as described above to create a unique block party invitation. -
Street sign card frontTake a photo of your street sign and use that as the basis for your invitation. Create a long, narrow invitation similar in size to a business-sized envelope. Print out your rectangular photo of your street name on your invitation front, and include the party information on the inside of the card. To get the proper-sized image, crop it to a rectangular dimension. Open your desktop publishing software and choose a landscape three-fold pamphlet template. You will print your invitations on regular computer paper or store-bought blank pamphlet stock. Follow the directions for your template in placing your street sign image and party information. -
Google Satellite image block party card frontDo an Internet search for a mapping program such as Google Maps and input your neighborhood information. Get a satellite view and then go to the "Print" option over the map. As you can't copy and paste some maps, you'll have to print and then scan in the map image to create a jpeg. file. Use your own printer/scanner or take the map to a photo kiosk to create the digital image.
Open your desktop publishing program and choose a template that matches your invitation card stock, which will most likely be a half-fold or quarter-fold card. Place the satellite image on the card front by dragging and dropping the image from its location on your desktop or disc, or going to "Insert," and "Browse" for your file. Add text by creating a text box or simply typing in the text (depending on your software.) Insert the rest of the party information on the inside of the card following your template plan. -
Sample newsletter set upCreate a fake newspaper or newsletter cover with the block party information as the main headline. Write up additional "articles" that cover the party specifics such as food and play area plans. Add some fun articles about space aliens buying that empty house on the corner or a column about how your block has been voted "Best Looking" by your city's mayor.
