Adventures in DIY Christmas Party Invitations

So Christmas time has rolled around and you are once again shopping through the endless stacks of Christmas party invitations at your local BuyALot. If only, you think, this year's part invitations could stand out; if only you could find something that was truly unique and different than what everyone else is sending out. Well, the truth is you can have awesomely original Christmas party invitations, if you commit yourself to making it a Do-It-Yourself project. It doesn't take very much time but it does require some materials and an imagination.

Materials for a basic Do-It-Yourself Invitations:

A stack of paper (color of your choice, but consider your color theme)

A set of markers (you don't need all the colors, just a couple of important ones)

One nice clear-writing pen

One pencil

Some ribbon scraps

List of who you're going to be inviting (optional)

Stack of envelops

Glue

Step One: create a theme. This should match your party theme. Is it a sophisticated cocktail Christmas party? A BYOB fun fest? A children's Christmas celebration? Think of things that go along with this theme. Making a list can help. For this example, we will use the cocktail Christmas party theme. Your list could include martini glasses, a bottle of champagne, and a Santa hat. Possible words to include on the list might be 'holiday evening out' or 'Christmas Party for Grown-Ups'.

Step Two: Design the card. Cut the paper into halves and then fold each half. On the front, draw some of the images you included on your list. You can use the pencil to outline the picture first (so you don't make a mistake and if you do, it's erasable), then trace over with the markers. You can use as much color as you'd like, but try to keep the colors the same as your party decorations.

Step Three: On the inside of the folded paper, write your invitations. For example, 'You're invited to (Your Name)'s holiday event, an evening of Christmas Fun for Grown-Ups'. Use your best handwriting and write with the good pen you have. If you want, you can include a small picture here, somewhere off the in the corner (but it's not necessary).

Step Four: Use the ribbon on the outside edges as a frame. Glue and wait until dried. Once they are dried, you can send them off.

There are many fun ways to make Do-It-Yourself Christmas party invitations. And indeed, making your own party invitations can guarantee their uniqueness and stand out in the crowd of its store-bought counterparts. If you want to get extra creative, you can start using other items, like glitter, but for now, this is a basic guide to do-it-yourself party invitations. Enjoy!