So, how’s your kid’s party planning coming along?
By now you should have decided upon the date, time and the location of the party. You should also have decided upon a theme for the party and finalised the guest list.
The next step in your party planning is to decide about the party invitations. The invitations should fit the theme of the party and should contain all the details about the party.
You can find a list of these details in the 3 Tips for Party Invitation Planning as well as information on when you should send out the invitations.
As you will see, it is not necessary to send out the invitations more than 2 weeks before the party, however, don’t wait until that time to start with the invitations.
It is all too easy to forget about the invitations and before you know it, your child’s birthday party is just around the corner and you will find yourself without any invitation cards (and worse, no guests!)
Once you start thinking about the party invitations, you should also decide if you are going to buy them or make them yourself.
Of course it is easier to buy them and you will be able to find something that will just be right for the theme of the birthday party. In most cases party supply stores stock the whole range of a party theme, from the invitation cards and envelopes right through to the decorations, plates, napkins, cups and cutlery.
On the other hand, it is so much more fun to make the invitations yourself. You can make them as plain as you like or you can put in some extra effort and come up with something totally different from the everyday, normal printed cards.
An invitation card needs an envelope! Move away from boring white or plain coloured envelopes by decorating the party invitation envelopes with paper shapes.
Not in the mood to fold envelopes from scratch and then cut and glue paper shapes to it? Download my tutorial to fill envelope and stamp templates with your own images.
With all the coloured paper and card stock on the market, it is easy to make invitation cards that will delight your child and the party guests.
- Decorate plain coloured cards with different shapes cut from plain paper and arranged into patterns.
- Design shaped cards by drawing round a template to make all the cards the same shape – the party’s theme will be obvious from the shape of the card.
- Party extras like paper hats, crowns and masks can be sent as the invitations to be worn to the party.
- Write invitations on deflated balloons or beach balls with instructions to bring it along to the party.
- Write a message in secret code or with invisible ink for a mystery or science party.
- Use music sheets to write invitations to music parties or make drums from small empty coffee tins and place invitations inside.
- For a safari party you can make binoculars from two empty toilet rolls painted in green and yellow and attach the invitation to the binoculars.
- When you host a spa party for your daughter, you can write the invitations on squares of pastel tissue paper. Place each square in a small box, add a small soap or fizz ball/bath bomb as well as the invitation. Close the box and tie with a narrow ribbon.
With a little bit of imagination and some creativity, you can ensure that your child’s birthday party invitations will be remembered for many weeks after the party.
Your turn: What was the most unusual invitation you ever made for your child’s birthday party? Were the party invitees impressed with it when you delivered it?
Tell us about it, please.
