DIY invitations...where to start?

First thing really is what style of invitations are you thinking of, and have you a 'theme'?

We made our own - but they were very simple, basically 2 double sided sheets of printed paper and a cover of card stapled and folded into a little book, with an insert RSVP card and reply envelope.

Others make a sort of 'chequebook' style with everything stapled on long thin pages containing all the information.

Others have simple cards folded but then embelish them with flowers, feathers, ribbon, bows, you name it.

I guess the best thing is to decide whether you are going to send out all the information now, or a simple "time/date/location/rsvp" card now, then send out further information such as local accommodation, maps, menu, times etc when you get a positive response. Sending all information to everyone costs more money initially but saves on postage in the end as you aren't sending out twice.

I don't know if any of this has helped at all but it might trigger some thought processes. There's a lot of suppliers round here that, particularly if you are looking for something complicated, will quite possibly be no more expensive in the long run than, say, you go into Hobbycraft/Staples and buy all the bits yourself because they have the power of bulk buying from wholesalers so putting their time on top may be no more expensive than buying bits retail - and of course you still have to do all the work yourself!

What sort of number of invites are we talking about? 20 or 200?

Learn Totally Different Tips to Reinstate wedding dresses from Anne HathawayWhat's Latest now?: bridal wedding dresses 10 Reasons for You to Choose wedding dresses Designer wedding gown dress Provided at Low Price.wedding dresses Boots Before New Year's EveWanna Transform Your Original Image In 2010 Autumn and Winter? Try bridal gowns The Top 5 Best bridal wedding dresses Gifts of Wedding Dresses for All Budget.Excellent Rachel McAdams for bridal wedding dresses InspirationSeveral Profits and Misconceptions of wedding dresses The Top 5 Best wedding dresses The Glamest Gifts Ever: wedding gowns dresses for Interpreters.

Hi

I would start by looking online for inspiration. There is so much available currently in any shape, size and colour that you want so use the Internet for your inspiration.

I would then get out a piece of paper and scribble down some ideas that you have. I would then pop along to Hobbycraft ot any other craft store you have in your area for inspiration. Shopes like this are fab for that. Take a look at everything you can get from the actual card to the embellishments and then go home and think about what you've seen. I would definitely get online to buy your material though so it works out cheaper.

HTH

Nat

I would agree with the looking online for inspiration, google images is a good start i always find.

There are a lot of online stores that sell crafts items i think you are better buying online than buying at hobbycraft etc. There is also confetti who sell the bits to make the invites and they also have a print centre that you can use which is quite handy.

Hammah x

Hey,

I found a design in google images that I loved. Ribbon and an orchid, with names and date - simple but classy! I had this idea in my head so bought all i needed on ebay. Square linen invites, orchid, ribbon, jewels, stamps too as I wanted to add butterflies. Played around all day using a few designs and put them on my coffee table! I put them there so I could see over time which i liked best!

Jx

Hi!

We're making our own invites too, I've just finished the "prototype"

Agree re google for inspiration then visit local craft shops etc for supplies and inspiration.

I can recommend Pure Invitations website. They will make invites for you or you can buy bits and bobs from them. There's another good one that a lot of people on here recommended. P and A craft....or something like that?! The name is on the tip of my tongue!

These are ours....we're buying the silver sleeve, ribbon and hearts from Pure Invitations, then the card, parchment and "wedding invitation" stickers from the local craft shop. Will cost about £100 inc glue, envelopes, stamps etc for 70 invites.

It took us a while to agree the final design, I ordered lots of different sleeves/pocketfolds from various websites, we narrowed it down to this shape, then played around with the ribbon etc.

The (teal) green card slots inside the silver sleeve and we're going to slot in an A4 piece of paper too with directions, hotel details etc.

Hope this helps, sorry to gate crash your post with my flashes! let me know what you all think!

x

It's not always cheaper to do your own, as you may end up having to buy a bulk load of stuff only to use a little bit. But it's certainly fun!

You need to decide on a style or theme for your wedding first, or at least a colour scheme, then you can tie in the invites. We're having a simple folded card with little buttonhole type flowers and OH's tartan. We've got outline stickers and angel hair paper, and inserts for direction, where to stay etc.

Heres a quick flash of the little flowers - they're only about an inch and a half high and I got cramp in my thumbs putting 50 of them together!

BEFORE you buy anything you need to plan what you'll need and what design you want. It really does depend on how complicated you are doing them. Vista print do simple and cheap designs but if you are wanting something personal it sounds as if you'll want to do the cutting, sticking and printing yourself!

For mine, (after my sister designed them for me!) I did a word document listing each bit of stationary e.g. STD's, Invites, evening invites, RSVP's, table place names, thank you cards, menus, post box, table plan etc etc. Under each heading I've worked out what I'll need to make them and how much card I'll need for each e.g. 80 invites, 5 pages per invite, get 2 pages per sheet of card therefore need 175 sheets of card...it takes time but will mean you can save money by buying all the card in one go! I totalled it all up and then bought all the card, envelopes etc in one go. You can also get pre-scored card which makes things easier but is slightly more expensive.

Also dont assume Ebay is cheapest - I've found it isnt for envelopes and hammered card.

Including bows, diamontes' and ribbons its cost me under £150 for everything I need to make them all. Now its just the time and effort to make all of them!

If you want any help or tips regarding where I got my card etc from give me a shout!

Here's a flash of my STD's (crap pic sorry!)

I am making ours, it is working out cheaper but I also wanted to make them personal and unique to us.

I bought all the wallets, envelopes and matching card for the inserts from PDA cards and crafts and the coloured card, paper and diamantes off ebay. I bought all the bits like the double sided tape, punch etc from Hobbycraft as I got most of it on offer so was pretty cheap.

These are ours:

I ordered all sorts of samples of the web and looked at online images and then combined a few of them to design our final choice

Sorry to crash your post Keeleyk but i am making my own too and just wondered how people went about printing onto card?

xx

I plan on doing 50/50! I found these invitations - simple but stunning and ribbon co-ordinates with colour of your wedding -

http://www.invitingweddinginvitations.co.uk/catalog/extra-inserts-pocketfold-invitation-p-223.html

Basically they print them for you and then you collate i.e. stick, fold, tie ribbon...

V cheap at £1.79 an invite and cheap inserts too... xx

Oh got a sample from them - they are lovely - if budget allows we may well go with them! The lady there was really nice and also sent me an extra sample with the coloured card (aqua) and a white ribbon to see which I would prefer which was very kind!

As long as its relatively simple printing you should be ok on a normal printer. My sister has done my STD's on her printer! I'm not sure what printer she has - its not an amazingly expensive one but its not a cheap one either. We've tested out printing onto hammered card too as we werent sure how it would come out but it looks fine!

HTH

xxx

Thank you MrsB_2B that does help very much so! We have a middle range printer too so will do a test run before I buy anything and go from there xxx

It's not just whether the printer will print onto your card, it's getting the damn things to print in the right place! My printer prints onto card, textured card, does photos, high quality printing and everything - but I can't get the computer and the printer to agree HOW and WHERE to print!

Recommendation - use cheap paper for test prints.

Hi judeclarke - This was my other concern of how much wastage I will end up with if I can't get them to print in the right place! I was hoping i could find a printing template online that I could download and use that maybe I'm hoping for a bit much there!! ☹️

Yes I definitely agree if you have a pattern that needs to be aligned/square etc to the card do test prints first as the slightest mm out and you'll have wonky print!

Also its worth investing in a Guillotine as it makes life soooo much easier when cutting things out and getting straight edges!

xxx

Oh yes guillotine - will do!! Thank you xx

Thanks for this. very helpful. Yes I like the simple designs. We haven't really got a theme as such but we're having light pinks and greens for a spring feel as we're getting married in May. Having 50 for the ceremony and then probably an extra 100 for the evening so need quite a lot!

I think we'll probably send everything out (directions etc) all together.

My trouble is there's SO much choice and I'm the worst decision maker ever!x

OK i need to ask possibly a really stupid question!!!

When you do your invites, should you write who it's to at the top or just assume that because it's addressed to someone then it must be for them?

I made our invitations. Bought the black cards (pre-scored) online (pack of 50 with envelopes)

invested in some printer ink, decent quality paper, some silver peel off borders and wording....and double sided tape (oh, and a paper cutter as it's much quicker than scissors).

Here's what they look like

and the inside:

I also bought a nice gel pen which writes in metallic silver to write the guests names on the inside of the invitations

(also, ebay is fab for craft bargains)