How To: DIY Purple Wedding Invitations

Purple is a popular favorite color and is not surprisingly often used in weddings. However, since shade preferences for purple tend to be as unique and varied as the individuals themselves, it can be difficult to obtain just the right shade of purple without spending a large amount of money for paper to be specially dyed to the exact color. Even then, there is no guarantee that the invitations one receives will be in the right color.

The solution, then, is to create the shade yourself. This can then be applied in a variety of ways onto your invitations. The first thing you need to do is go to your local craft store and purchase acrylic craft paint. It is possible you will find the right shade premixed. If you do not, choose the color that is closest, as well as a blue and a pink that are slightly darker, white, and a 2 inch paint brush. You may also want a bit of black or gray. Before you begin, experiment with mixing the paints, paying attention to how much you are adding of what, until you find the right color. Make a large batch of it so that you don't have to make more later.

If you want to be bold and make the main color of the invitation purple, thin the paint a little at a time with water until the color of the bristles shows through a bit when the brush is dipped into the paint. Use a test piece of cardstock and apply the thinned color in a straight line from side to side. Practice until you can complete the line in one stroke without soaking the paper. Paint the invitation in 3 rows. For a fading effect, paint the second row twice and the third row 3 times.

If you only want a splash of purple, follow above through the mixing instructions, but don't thin the paint. Dip your brush generously into the paint. Hold the brush at an angle, so that one short edge is pointed at a bottom corner and the other short edge is pointed at the opposite top corner. Practice on a test piece of paper first. Starting about ½ inch from the edge, make a sweeping stroke that stops about the same distance from the diagonal corner. The stroke can curve a bit. A corresponding color can be a thinner slash perpendicular to the first. Experiment till you find what looks best to you.