Need a quick, easy and fun invitation for an upcoming gathering? I want to share an invitation I just completed. The design can be used for any type of event: birthday party, baby shower, moving announcement, etc.
You will first need to choose which patterned paper you want to use. I suggest using a sheet that is double sided so that both the outside and inside of the card will have color. The paper I chose to use had a pattern on one side and a coordinating solid color on the other.
Here is the short list of materials you will need:
1. Patterned paper – 12 x 12 works well because you can get exactly 3 invitations from each sheet of paper.
2. Coordinating cardstock – I used this to print the party invitation information on by running it through my printer after typing out the information. I also used this paper for the name on the front.
3. Brads – I used Making Memories decorative brads because the size of the brad worked well to hold the paper together. Mini brads will not work well for this project.
4. Alphabet Stamps (optional) – I used letter stamps to personalize each of the invitations by adding each child’s name to the front of their invitation. This also helped me keep track of who I had given the invitations to. I only had to make eight invitations, so it didn’t take much time. You could also stamp the title of the event on the front of the card.
Here are the steps for putting the card together:
1. Cut 12 x 12 patterned paper into 3 equal strips so that each one measures 12 x 4 inches.
2. Set the trimmer paper in front of you with one of the 4-inch sides face you. Score and fold the end closest to you 1 1/4 inch from the bottom of the strip of paper.
3. Fold the top of the paper toward you, placing the top edge in the crease made when you folded the bottom of the paper.
4. With the card folded, use a pencil to mark where the top of the short end of paper ends. This marks where you will put the brad.
5. Poke the brad through the paper where you made your mark. You may want to poke a small hole with a paper piercer to help the brad through the paper.
6. Slip the short piece of paper under the brad to hold the invitation closed.
7. Print the inside information onto cardstock and attach to the inside of card.