A great party invitation sets the mood for every gathering, and that includes Fourth of July parties. Why buy the same old tired, off-the-shelf invitations, when you can create your own with a little time, a few basic supplies and some imagination.
Paper invitations are preferable over electronic invitations for many reasons, not the least of which is the thrill of finding a fun-looking invitation in the mailbox.
“You get the touch-and-feel effect with a paper invitation,” said Corynn Good, owner of The Paper Boutique in Springfield. “When someone touches and holds the invitation, they get a personal vibe for the party. It’s less likely to get mistaken for junk mail, and it’s just plain fun. Who doesn’t like to get mail the old-fashioned way?”
Here are some tips for designing a custom invitation for your Independence Day party, whether you’re planning a casual backyard barbecue or a fireworks extravaganza that your friends will be talking about for years to come.
1: Begin by settling on a theme for your party. The theme will set the tone for your invitation. Maybe it’s a patriotic pool party for a crowd, a dinner party for six, a family cookout or a margarita night with friends.
2: Decide on a size and style for your invitation. Do you want the invitation to be folded or flat? What is your budget? A 4×6 invitation will maximize paper use. A 5×7 invitation is useful if you need to convey a large amount of information to your guests. You also could make a square invitation or something more off the wall, such as a die cut of a margarita glass. The more complicated the invitation, the more paper, time and materials you will need. Envelope and postage costs can vary.
3: Browse paper-crafting magazines and Web sites if you are stumped for ideas, or drop by your local scrapbooking or paper-crafting store. It’s easy to adapt an idea to make it your own.
4: Choose the papers and embellishments. You can dig through the stash of materials you already have at home or head to the nearest paper-crafting store, such as The Paper Boutique, for supplies. Special touches, such as ribbon, thread, bottle caps, stickers and ink, will spice up your invitations and will have all your guests eagerly RSVPing ‘yes.’ And don’t forget the adhesives, brads and other supplies you might need.
5: Remember the envelopes! They are the first colorful clue a guest will receive about your party. A fun envelope is eye catching and most likely will be the first thing your friends dig out of their mailboxes and tear open.
6: If you have ideas about what you want in an invitation but feel you lack the skills or time to carry them out, let Corynn at The Paper Boutique do the work for you. She can turn your ideas into a carefully hand-crafted invitation your friends will remember for years to come. Drop by the store at 2112 S. MacArthur Blvd. to find out more.
Paper Patter is a weekly column brought to you by the crafting experts at The Paper Boutique in Springfield, Ill.. Have a question or column idea? Email us at staff@paper-boutique.com.
