How to Make Poetic 80th Birthday Party Invitations

Birthday party invitations are a crucial part in party planning. They invite and inform your guests about celebration. In growing older and wiser than all, becoming 80 years old is a thought-provoking achievement. This specific birthday is about reflection of past events and seeing off the future generation follow in the path blazed by the previous generation. Provided is an instruction manual to make birthday party invitations as significant as the occasion itself. In a few simple steps you will be proud of your creation. You might even feel like you should become a pro!

Materials

• Paper

• Card Stock Paper

• Scrap booking Paper

• Envelopes

• Glue

• Scissors

• Computer Software/ Printer/ Scanner

• Thoughtful Poems

• Relevant Photographs

Background Steps

1. You will need a supply of 8 1/2" x 11" card stock for the invitation. Card stock is heavy weighted and more durable than plain paper. The card stock will eventually be cut in half and folded into an envelope.

2. Search through photos of the V.I.P. in times of happiness or photos that bring back memories of great joy. Scan and save the photos in a word document. If photos are not available, search the Internet for cheerful images the V.I.P. could relate with and enjoy. Always save the images in a word document.

3. To add flair and depth, find a short poem about celebrating a momentous life. Good places to look are through books and the Internet. If the V.I.P. has a favorite poem or author, use something from those bodies of work. Scan or type the poem in a word document. Make sure you save everything!

An example of an excellent poem:

Prosperous journey

Of a life well lived dawns

Commemoration

4. Open a new word document to type the party information. Use an easy to read font, size, and color. If people cannot read the invitation, there is no point for the invitation. Remember less is more, so keep it short and simple!

Things you might want to include:

Date, time, and location of party

R.S.V.P. Phone number/ email address

Age of the V.I.P. will be turning

Announce this is an invitation for a birthday party

Any other relevant details

Invitation Assembly Steps

1. Use scissors to cut the card stock paper into halves hamburger style (cutting the 11" side down the middle). Each piece of paper should be 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". Then fold the paper over in hamburger style again. Make sure the fold is even. The final invitation size will be 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" when folded. You will be able to open the invitation like a book.

2. Print the materials from previous Steps 2, 3, and 4. You need one image and one poem for the front of the card and one other image for the inside of the card. The information for the party in step 4 will go on the inside as well. Keep in mind everything needs to fit on the invitation so double-check the sizes before printing to save ink and paper.

3. Use glue to mat your printed material to scrap booking paper.

4. Depending on your preference and time allotted you can either:

A.) Mat the scrap booking paper to the card stock. Size the scrapbook paper to be equal or less than 4" x 5" when it is glued on the card stock for a framing effect.

B.) Cut the scrap booking paper about a 1/4" around the glued images and texts for a clean outlined effect.

5. Glue the short poem on the front of the card. You might want to include something signifying this is a birthday party invitation i.e. "It's Party Time!" On the inside of the card, glue the party details and other images.

6. Feel free to be creative and add decorations or details. This is a simple and quick way to make a professional, thoughtful birthday invitation.

7. If you are mailing the invitations make sure to buy envelopes that would fit the 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card. You can purchase special invitation envelopes that would fit perfectly.

8. Sit back and get ready to enjoy the birthday celebration!

Tips

• Invitations do not need to be expensive! Search around for good deals on paper and other materials.

• Measure twice, cut once. If you have a lot of invitations to make, be sure each placement, cut, and fold is where you want it to be.

• Double check the spelling and the information are correct before printing.

• Use caution when gluing, too much glue will ruin the invitation.

• Figure out how many people will be invited and plan the materials accordingly.

• Remember: Age can be a sensitive issue for some people! Use pictures and poems that will be enjoyed rather than those that could bring mixed feelings. Be sure your content, however funny, is appropriate.

• This craft can also be a great activity to get children involved in the project too!

• Some ideas for photos/ images: activities with friends and family, as a child, getting married, receiving awards, favorite pastime fun, and personal artwork/ poems.