Okay, so I'm in love - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

Complicated Woman · #1 11-29-2005, 12:19 AM

These invitations are soooo beautiful...but they're way beyond what I budgeted for. Any ideas on how I can re-create them for less? It wouldn't be too bad in the grand scheme of wedding invitations, but pricing would be just over $300 for 100 complete kits. (That includes response cards and envelopes and reception cards.) I was looking to print my own, and when I googled DIY wedding invitations, there these were.

::sigh::

I looove these. I wish I had never seen them. And to top it off, the envelopes would require extra postage.

maroki13 · #2 11-29-2005, 12:39 AM

I'm spending way more than that on my invitations so my inclination would be to tell you to buy them.

But I know there are places online where you can buy plain cardstock, and you can print on them yourself. All you would have to find is the overlay and the clasp/sticker.

Check out www.mygatsby.com Under Custom invitations, click on the 'cardstock' section. You can get precut cardstock in bulk there. I just ordered some from them today, but only because the color I wanted is being discontinued. For 100 sheets of 5x5 cardstock (which is what it looks like that invitation is) is $31.50. I'm sure there are other places you can buy cardstock too; the tough part will be finding the overlay.

SuzyBride · #3 11-29-2005, 01:59 AM

I think you could do it!!! I would think that you could either use a parchment to get a *similar* look, or you could go to Hobby Lobby or somewhere and get the special paper. Print them using your printer if you have a decent one and you could probably get a bag of little leaves at Hobby Lobby too. Might take some trial and error, but I think it is definately doable!!!!

whiddle · #4 11-29-2005, 03:09 AM

Check to see if any of your local stores have similar DIY kits.

555Ann555 · #5 11-29-2005, 03:42 AM

The cover paper looks like Mulberry paper, (I make homemade cards all the time & this is one of the papers I use) it's pretty easy to get hold of, I normally get mine from the ebay shops because it's cheaper than my local art shop. You could either get a punch to make the leaves out of card stock or possibly use skeleton leaves glued to card.

This shows the texture of the mulberry paper quite clearly...

It's pretty easy to cut (for cards you dampen the shape you want & tear it & it comes out with very pretty frayed edges).

ETA: what I meant to add was that if you're going to make them you can obviously make them whichever size/shape & it'd mean you could save on the cost of postage too!

ljeagle · #6 11-29-2005, 04:25 AM

I really like those I believe you could do these your self. Go buy some sample paper and try first...

Complicated Woman · #7 11-29-2005, 02:37 PM

When I showed these to Tom, it occurred to us that it might take a year on the police force for him to be able to get substantial time off (for our wedding and honeymoon). We'll be able to find out in Feb. what the deal is with that, but I might switch my theme to something more neutral that would work in fall or late winter.

I'm thinking chocolate brown and white as a color palate, but I still really love the layout and look of these invitations and might just get white squares and chocolate brown mulberry paper and try it out...maybe use a white, satiny ribbon to tie it up instead of a leaf...

...tell me how that sounds. I think I'm going to buy some of the stuff today and give it a whirl, I'll take pictures of it and show you girls. Thanks for the advice!!

wembley · #8 11-29-2005, 02:45 PM

Those are beautiful and look pretty simple to make. It's just the square (or rectangle) card stock and the longer rectangle of the mulberry or textured paper. If you modify it to a ribbon, it will be even easier to find your supplies. Then you can make it whatever shape you want to avoid extra postage. I think they'll turn out really nice with the chocolate and white. Very pretty!

maroki13 · #9 11-29-2005, 03:19 PM

I think the chocolate and white/ivory would be an amazing combination. Let us know how it goes. We want to see pictures! I think they would be really easy to make, especially if you are using satin ribbon.

SuzyBride · #10 11-29-2005, 07:01 PM

Oooo.... I love the idea of brown paper and a cream ribbon!! Very elegant and sophisticated! If you try it out post pics!!

cru5h · #11 11-30-2005, 01:39 PM

WOW those are beautiful.

bebe · #12 11-30-2005, 08:09 PM

Check out August Art Paper for supplies. I ordered 100 sheets of sugarcane paper in red for about $40 for our programs. The mulberry paper is even more inexpensive! The have a lighter weight mulberry paper that is almost like tissue. I bet that would give you the sheer overlay effect you are looking for! Vellum would be good for that too. I love your idea, I think it will be beautiful.

www.augustartpaper.com

Here is a good site for pressed natural leaves and flowers. Watch for sales, they have them all the time:

www.naturespressed.com

Complicated Woman · #13 11-30-2005, 09:03 PM

Okay, this is my first prototype...I couldn't find mulberry paper in the color I wanted at my local art supply store, so I tried this bronze colored paper and kind of improvised with the invitation. I think that I will order the mulberry paper from that site you gave me, bebe. I really like the brown one they have! Thank you so much. Anyway, here are the pics.

They'd need a lot of work (I didn't really measure...measuring would be important).

I think I would use a brown ribbon, maybe a thin grossgrain. The cost for these would be about 75 cents an invite, which isn't too bad. IDK. Be brutally honest, tell me what you think.

There's a 5x5 white card inside that could easily be printed on.

bebe · #14 11-30-2005, 09:29 PM

Very pretty! I am impressed with your creativity! This looks really nice, your finished product is going to be great! I personally think that a brown ribbon on this bronzey paper may blend in too much though if it's too close to the same shade. The white is very pretty, but I think ivory would compliment the warm tone of the brown you want to use. A deeper shade of sage green or a light rosey/pinky brown would look really pretty with brown or this bronze color as well. If you want something that really pops, you could even use orange or red/burgundy with the brown.

CupieJen · #15 11-30-2005, 11:01 PM

Good job!

I really like those colors together. Also, if you're concerned about the square shape costing you more $ to mail, you could always (since you're making them yourself) make them a rectangle rather than square.