…our invitations have got to be it! I have been waiting to post about this for so long, and after weeks on weeks of printing and cutting and pasting, the invitations are out!
I have always loved designing invitations. I had the pleasure of doing so for a few of my friends either for their weddings or for other various events, and I just couldn’t wait to design our own! I knew I wanted it to convey a very carefree, sweet, and lighthearted tone, and I also wanted it to be classic yet original at the same time.
As an avid scrapbooker and also having loved arts and crafts ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to go the DIY route. I love nothing more than creating something by hand as a gift for a loved one, so given that this would be the one event where our loved ones would be traveling from near and far, I really wanted to make our invitations special. Of course, there’s a difference in making one card or scrapbook page versus having to make over 200 invitations, so I have to admit I did underestimate the time involved 
. We made everything, from the pocketfolds to the inserts even to the graphic on the body of the invite, which I designed using various rubber stamps 
!
Anyway, without further ado, here are the fruits of our labor! Thanks to Mr. D, Sister Daffodil, and my northern CA bridesmaids who helped out!
The cover…
The inside (it’s so much prettier without the info blocked out!)…
Closeup of the detail…I gave the invitations some texture by using string and paper flowers…
My raw materials:
The paper:
The detail:
The glue that held everything together:
I will share the details on how we made them in another post, but for now, I just really wanted to share these with you all!
They look wonderful. All of your hard work really paid off.
How beautiful! I love the cover and how they have to be opened by untying the bow! And the invitation design, with its fonts and colors and flowers, is so charming! These are more than invitations…they are little gifts! Good job!
these are beyond amazing! i can not believe that they are diy! they look so professional and expensive!!!!!!! good job!!!
They are beautiful! I love the colors and the paper flowers.
So pret-tay! The string and the paper flowers really skyrockets them to the next level! Your hard work is gonna pay off…people are gonna love them!
yes yes, definitely look professional. i am obsessed with the 3D effects of the string and flowers.
The string and the flowers are such a nice touch! So subtle, but it really adds a lot. Love them!
wow, these are amazing! that 3-d effect is awesome, and it’s just so pretty overall. i’d say your hard work really paid offl.
wow- gorgeous!
the sting is my favorite touch!
hahaha sting… i meant string
so pretty!!!
Can I scream that your invitations are the prettiest I’ve seen?! Can I draw my inspirations (hem, hem, copy) your ideas? Thank you for sharing!!
Wait, I was too excited before I read how difficult it is 
Great job!!
Another high five for the 3-D. Hurrah for texture! Great job.
Those are seriously beautiful!!! The 3d flowers were a brilliant touch. I’m inspired.
gorgeous! you make me think that maybe…jsut maybe i could do my own invites and they come off looking as awesome as yours? minus the cool 3-D flowers, and cool sting detailing.
please do share…how long DID it take you to do all of those?
Wow, that’s awesome. You are so talented!
They are lovely!
gorgeous!!! great use of texture and layering and proportions. seriously, i love ‘em.
how was customer service from blue dot paper shop by the way?
Those are beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You did an awesome job. I also love envelope mall.
thanks yall!!
sphbride, feel free! 
GetMarried4Less, i worked on them on and off, so it took me literally about 4-5 weeks, partly b/c i ended up having to make a lot more invitations than expected (due to changes in the guest list)…generally, it took maybe a week on just tying the pink thread since i could only work on them at night after work. We made all the pocketfolds over one weekend. Then another two weeks of staying up super late every night mounting, printing/cutting the inserts, and putting everything together. Then maybe just one day on tying the ribbon on the outside.
btw, miki, bluedotpapershop’s service was very awesome actually. they are very responsive and ship things out pretty much the next day, whether you are ordering samples or the actual items. plus their prices are great!
I love your inviations and am looking forward to your post on how to do them!
This type of invitation is very much my taste… I absolutely love them! Great job!
Great job, they are absolutely lovely! How did you print the invites? Were they printed from your own printer?
Hi Miss W,
yep i printed them on my own…i used a canon pixma mp530 printer. it is great!!
Miss Daffodil,
how did you go about getting the map done for the directions insert? I really want a map similar to yours and don’t know where to get one without all the ‘extra’ stuff.
Thanks in advance
Miss Daffodil - have you done a follow up post on your invitations yet? i heart them!
@leesuh1: Hi leesuh1, not yet, but it is coming! starting the end of next week, i’ll start a series of DIY posts for all of my DIY projects I’ll be sure to let you know when the invites one is up!!
[...] my DIY invitations? Well, here are my long overdue instructions, starting with the pocketfolds! In an effort to keep [...]
How much money did you spend per invite? Was it cost effective to DIY? Great job,they look fabulous!
Your invitation look beautiful. In your opinon is it cheaper to do it yourself? Or did you pay same as you would have by catalog? Do you mine telling us roughly what it cost you tom make them? The reason I ask becuase sometimes it’s cheaper to buy them made then to make them. However, the personal touch is not there.
Thanks for sharing!
[...] I’m looking for someone who has a little spare time to help me. I’m in the process in making some invitations for my sisters wedding and I need someone to create a “cherry blossom” Here is the website for inviations http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/04/02/if-there-ever-was-a-labor-of-love/ [...]
Mrs. Daffodil, San Francisco/Los Angeles
Age and Occupation: 26, Nonprofit Strategy Consultant
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Resident Physician
Engagement Date: December 29, 2006
Wedding Date: May, 2008
Blogging Since: August, 2007
Venue: Church w/ floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Valley; Westin in downtown LA
About Me: I moved around a lot growing up, but consider myself a Southerner at heart. I love scrapbooking, dancing, doggies, and diet coke. I am all about personalizing everything and hence, I'm a DIY bride who is just loving the entire wedding planning process! Mr. Daffodil and I met in our college fellowship group and were "just friends" for three years before we started dating. We've been together for four years now and can't wait to get married in sunny SoCal, Mr. Daffodil's hometown.
That is exactly how I felt about my invites. I loved them but I am not trying to do them again! Yours are lovely!