Ideas to Make My Own Scrap Wedding Invitations

Designing the Scrap Invite

Before you get started, you need to decide what you want your invites to look like. Sketch out a design and get feedback from your fiancé, mother, and bridal party members. Having a plan will make assembling the invitations easier after you have picked up your scrap supplies.

Decide on the following things as you design your invitations:

• Shape (square, tea-length, tri-fold, specialty)
• Size
• Colors
• Embellishments
• Layout of wording and decorative accents

The best thing about planning ideas to make my own scrap wedding invitations is that you can revise as often as needed without paying a lot of money. Use leftover scrap supplies to make up mock-invitations to see if you want a ribbon around the top, bottom, or middle of the page. Or maybe you want to create a vellum overlay. Whatever you decide, you can revise as often as needed before finalizing the design.

To gather ideas for scrap invites, visit craft stores, scrap websites, or read card-making magazines. You may also want to check out traditional invitations to get your creative process started. Just remember that many designs are copyright protected, so only use other designs as a way to get your artistic genius jumpstarted.

Scrap Supplies and Embellishments

The little touches are what makes scrap wedding invitations unique. Cardstock, patterned paper, and vellum are often used in making handmade custom wedding invitations.

To make your invite stand out, add any of the following embellishments:

• Grommets
• Ribbons
• Beads
• Embossed stamp
• Die cuts
• Stickers
• Clips
• Shaped punches, like hearts or floral motifs
• Chalk techniques
• Stencils
• Eyelets

Three dimensional objects add a bit of pizzazz to a scrap wedding invitation. Consider using a sealing wax on your envelope and stamp with your last name initial. Affixing small charms, like hearts, palm trees, cowboy boots, or rings to the center of a ribbon bow can add a certain appeal to your invitation that preprinted ones lack.

As you choose your papers and embellishments, do not be afraid to experiment with patterns. Paisleys, graphics, dots, and stripes have a contemporary feel to them, while traditional plain pages, flowers, doves, hearts, or scroll work designs give a traditional impression. A western wedding invitation may even have a small stripe of cowboy boots lining the edges.

Using Kits for Ideas to Make My Own Scrap Wedding Invitations

For the less crafty among us—or the time challenged—using a kit to make scrap invitations can be a great time saver but still allow you the freedom to add your own touch. A large number of kits come with everything you need, from envelopes to response cards to the cardstock, while others are simply the invitation and envelope. Kits to consider getting include:

• The Paper Place—Over 20 kits are available from The Paper Place. The company calculates exactly how many of each separate item you need to make the invitation design, making shopping for supplies virtually foolproof. Plan to get a few extra in case of mistakes in putting them together or last minute guest list revisions.
• Designer Papers Wedding Kits—Choose from almost 30 different make-your-own kits. Most are reasonably priced. You can easily add a button, sticker, or ribbon embellishment to the designs to make them scrap invites.
• PrintingPress Wedding Invitation Software—Digital scrapbookers might find using software the easiest way to make their own scrap invitations. This kit allows users to import photos, graphics, and other scrap embellishments to create truly unique invites.

Host an Invitation Assembling Party

Once you have your layout designed, supplies purchased, and information printed, you need to put the invitations together. Because you are taking a personal touch to each invitation, this is the time to call in favors from your mom, bridal party members, future husband, in-laws, and anyone who has volunteered to help with wedding related business.

Make an assembly line, assigning each person a specific duty, such as gluing charms, tying ribbons, or stuffing envelopes. Have supplies and invites laid out before your help arrives.

Have plenty of refreshments on hand or order take-out half way through the project to give everyone a chance to recharge. Just be sure to keep food and drink away from the invitation assembly area. Playing upbeat party music can help pass the time more quickly, too. Don’t forget thank you notes for everyone who has helped out!

For More Ideas on Scrap Invitations

For more inspiration when it comes to making your own scrap invitations, visit LoveToKnow Scrapbooking and LoveToKnow Crafts. If you are unsure of how to assemble scrap invitations, Michaels offers step-by-step instructions to help you get the job done right.