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… to help Miss Lab create her invitations!
I’m stumped, hive. I’m closing in fast on the recommended two month mark to send out invitations and all I have are a few scrapbook papers that caught my eye while I was killing time in a Michaels. I’m slowly starting down the short path to full-blown wedding freak-out mode. *gulp!* Help?
Okay, here’s what I’ve got:
All my Michaels finds in our wedding colors.
I love this shimmery patterned pink paper, probably the most.
This is probably my second favorite paper of the lot.
The more I look at this one, the more I’m not really feeling it.
This is a close up of the solid cream paper. The color of the paper is truer in the first photo.
Here’s the chocolate brown paper’s detailing. I like this because it has a subtle damask feel to it.
I have no idea where to start. Which paper to use, how to combine them, whether to use these at all or to get additional paper…*sigh*
I was also hoping to add some kind of detail from our ceremony or reception sites to the invitations as well. Like a gazebo or train motif:
As far as the “look” I’m going for, I want something simple with a romantic, Southern feel. I love love love Miss Cowboy Boot’s invitations:
I won’t have an entire suite like this because I’m not doing response cards (just an RSVP at our wedding website or by phone) or a map. But some of the invites will have a rehearsal dinner invitation included. So maybe I can incorporate some of my/your ideas into one or the other?
Or, maybe I should just cave in and buy some invitations? Anyone seen anything that reminds you of what I’m looking for? They’ve gotta be inexpensive!
Would you consider working with an Etsy designer to get a digital file, then print and assemble them yourself?
Oh lab, you’re like me! A pile of pretty paper and no clue what to do with it. I’m sure you’ll come up with something great! (With paper that pretty, just wad it all up in a ball together and it’ll look totally awesome. hah.)
Target always has great beginning invites to me…maybe you could find something there that resembles your color scheme and add the paper you have to the other elements of the invitation…i’ve had numerous people come up to me to remark about how beautiful my invites were and when i say they were tartget invitations they can’t believe it…and all I did was add ribbon in my wedding colors as a belly band…
Check out Sweet Penelope. She has beautiful artwork which you print on your own paper. I’m feeling the ‘Magnolia’ suite for you.
I found to-die-for paper at AC Moore, which I used to line my outer envelopes. Each invitation was slightly different, but it all worked out!
One idea would be to use your paper stash as envelope liners for thinner less expensive envelopes.
I’m thinking have an etsy vendor provide you a printable file, which you (or Office Depot) can print on inexpensive plain ivory invitations from Michael’s or Hobby Lobby…then use your fab paper as a belly band and/or envelope liner. Your largest expense would be the file from the etsy vendor. We did really simple invites I threw together for our hometown reception this way for around $50 for 120 invites.
i don’t have any ideas for you… but i love that pink shimmery paper. good choice!
You could always mat your invitations on the pretty paper or use it as envelope liners as ggsb suggested. Target has a pretty good selection of printable invitations (I was this close to getting some for ours).
Oh, and has anyone else that the quality/quantity of Michael’s paper selection has increased? They have some really good finds!!
I also love the pink shimmary paper the most. 
I think this is an awesome set, and totally easy to DIY! It would work really well with the damask and the trains…
Gah! I’m going through the same thing! I officially starting hyperventilating over the invites today. I found a designer on Etsy that will create a design and I’m taking it to Kinko’s. I can’t take it anymore… I’m not crafty enough to make my own and that deadline is looming…….
I would suggest buying a set of printable invitations in a ivory (they have many of these at places like Michaels and Target). Then I would use the pink to create belly bands for them. I would also look at stamps and see if there are any rubber stamps of gazebos or trains that you like. You could stamp small tags that could either hang, or be a medallion in the middle of the belly band (maybe chocolate embossed on ivory cardstock). You can use the rest of the paper to line the envelopes (the brown with flowers), as program jacket covers, wrapped around votive holders, etc.
Uniquity is like many of the Etsy designers that you can just print their files.
http://www.uniquityinvitations.com/wedding.php
And like others said, use your great finds to line the envelopes.
I love your paper choices! I highly recommend trying someone on Etsy to see if they can help you create something. There’s someone for every budget there. If not, Michaels,
Target, http://www.target.com/gp/search/179-7654057-4226054?field-keywords=wedding+invitation+kit&url=index%3Dtarget%26search-alias%3Dtgt-index&ref=sr_bx_1_1&x=0&y=0
and even Walmart (they have a Martha Stewart line) have some beautiful and inexpensive invitation options.
@andreaandchinelo: I second your suggest after Miss French Bulldog. They perfectly match your theme, Lab! I’d be all about the less muss and fuss route at this stage in the game.
Using ggsb’s idea for the pretty paper. Maybe you can have a small trolley image in the right lower corner to go with your event transportation. Google image search for trolley drawings had some that you might like.
I got invitations from vistaprint.com. you can upload your own design (maybe scan in one of the papers). I took a picture of a paper-cutting I had done, edited it in Picasa (because I’m not high-tech enough for photoshop) and then had it put on the front of the invite. I left the backs of mine blank with the intention of cutting out a paper to use as a background (never happened). If you sign up for their newsletter you will get a barrage of free/discounted offers via email.
since vistaprint doesn’t sell pretty envelopes, I bought some from papersouce and made my own envelope liners to go inside with pretty paper. The envelopes ended up costing more than the invites.
Awwww…that’s so sweet. Thank you. *blush*. I love the last paper in your line-up. It’s simple but a beautiful color and texture.
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Mrs. Labrador Retriever, Athens/Savannah Age and Occupation: 24, Student/Sports Reporter Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Physical Therapy Assistant Student/Future Dr. of PT Engagement Date: December 31, 2008 Wedding Date: November 2009 Venue: Whitfield Square/Savannah Station About Me: I'm working on my second degree from UGA (Go Dawgs!). I'm a self-proclaimed attention-w****. If it involves a camera, I'm in front of it! You'll never meet a girlier tomboy than me. I can go toe to toe with any guy on the subject of college football, and lift more than any girl in my gym, all without chipping a nail. I hope to someday be the only person you want delivering your sports news. My FI and I are the loving parents of three Labrador Retrievers (one of each color) and are planning a "Southern Romantic Charm" wedding in the beautiful, historic city of Savannah. I'm not extreme in anything except moderation... and wedding planning.
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