Create Wedding Invitations That Only Look Expensive
How to Get the Invitations You Want, at a Price You Can Afford
(ARA) - Save a substantial amount of money on invitations, without sacrificing quality, by making them yourself using your computer. It’s easy and fun to create distinctive invitations, at a price you can afford, by layering fine printable paper over a heavyweight card and fastening them together with a unique embellishment.
Select a Background
Start by choosing heavy cover stock for the background. A wide variety of papers are available in many distinctive colors and textures — try rich solids, shimmering metallics, printed cards with subtle designs, or handmade paper embedded with real flower petals.
Choose a Top Layer
Next, choose the paper you will print on to layer on top of the background card. Select from translucent vellum to reveal the background card beneath, or a crisp opaque white for contrast against darker cards. Be sure your chosen paper is compatible with the printer you will be using; a laser printer or copier is recommended. However, water resistant inkjet ink is available or you could use an inkjet printer to create the artwork, and then photocopy it onto the overlay. Add your text and any desired graphics, experimenting with different fonts and sizes to design a unique custom look.
Fasten Away
You can use various methods to fasten the printed overlay to the background card. A faux wax seal could be used to bind the papers together for a sophisticated look; for pure romance, tie them together with sheer chiffon ribbon. For a unique touch, add a small metal charm, use a dainty crush-proof flower or fine paper sash.
Off to the Post Office
Your local post office can weigh your finished product to determine the correct postage. Your guests will be impressed by your one-of-a-kind unique invitations and no one will ever guess you made them yourself!
More ideas for unique and affordable invitations can be found at www.formal-invitations.com.
does any1 know were to get chochlate and cream cards so i can make my nice her wedding invites:D
Is there anyone that knows how to make cute invites that would work with a tiffany blue themed wedding??????:?
One creative way of doing this is to buy a black and white photo printer ink catridge (if you’re printer supoorts this otherwise all other cartridges are fine). A friend of mine printed a photo of her and hubby-to-be on white cardstock walking on a bridge so as to barely see their faces. Over that she printed all the details on vellum and punched holes in them at the top and tied off with a green colored ribbon (matched what her bridesmaids were going to wear). Because she bought paper in the 12×12 size she could make 6 invites at the 4×6 size per sheet of paper and came out making about 150 invitations for less than $100. I plan on using this idea for my invites as well.
Card stock can still be expensive if you go to a specialty paper place or even somewhere like Michaels. However, more places like Staples and Office Depot carry cardstock in packages of 150 - 250 for $10-16. Office Depot in particular have quite a few colors. Fold anyway you want to make the perfect invite. Envelopes may also constructed from cardstock or lighter weight paper. Look online for instructions. Use leftover cardstock for place cards and favor tags. You can even make your own favor boxes from cardstock - patterns can be found online.
Do not use a glue stick as it often doesn’t last very long. A hot glue gun may be used for heavy cardstock in TINY amounts. I have found that spray adhesive works very well but cover eveything in newspaper as the spray travels a lot furthur than you may imagine. Careful when working with light colored paper as black ink from the newspaper will transfer and dirty your invites.
For the decoration bit - pretty paper can be very expensive for a 8.5 x 11. You can find for quality wrapping paper that comes in large roles or squares in many colors and patterns.
Consider making that beautiful pattern you’ve been eyeing with ink stamps or paper punchs (from florals to graphics like diamonds). Buy plain white or ivory envelopes and decorate with a stamp as well.
Consider making your own monogram - I did this for our ceremony programs. WordArt works but is usually easier in Powerpoint. Your printer can handle almost anything - just make sure you budget to buy a new ink cartridge (still less than the set up charge most professionals will charge you)
I made 110 invitations for less than $100 even though I bought expensive chocolate brown cardstock. We also opted not to include response cards to save paper (I like the earth) and the cost of stamps. We set up an email account or had people phone us. If you think that tradition wins and want something guests can mail back, consider postcards you will at least save on envelopes.