Invitations are SO important to your party's success. The invitation is the first impression your guests are going to have of your party. It needs to clearly convey the theme of the party so the guests can get excited about what is in store for them. Are you overwhelmed just thinking about making your own invitations? Don't be! I am going to walk you through the process step by step, and you are soon going to be looking at your fabulous creation wondering why you didn't do this last year.
STEP 2: Creating the invitations
The design of the invitation is something you should imagine before you ever leave the house to buy supplies. If you wait until you get to the craft store to be inspired, you're going to be thoroughly overwhelmed. There is a lot of stuff in craft stores. If you don't have a plan before you go, there is a chance that your party invitation supplies will be a combination of wedding, Halloween, and vacation bible school crafts with a few rooster decorations for good measure. (If this is really your theme, please send me an invitation to the party just so I can see how you put this all together.) In other words, it could be disastrous.While everyone needs to choose a design that is appropriate for his/her theme, I am going to walk you through the process of creating Ian's invitations so you can see just how enjoyable and rewarding this process can truly be. In order to create the monster truck wheel invites, you will need to buy and/or gather the following supplies. Then follow the simple instructions that follow, and viola! Custom invitations.
The Supplies
24 5 1/2 in X 5 1/2 in Black folding card stock
24 Envelopes of a complimentary color (don't get square envelopes as they require extra postage)
2 Sheets of reflective silver scrapbook paper (12 in x 12 in sheets)
1 Pack of 250 count red, small hole sequins
3 Sheets of 8 1/2 in X 11 in self adhesive 2 mm black craft foam
3 Packs of metallic dots, adhesive backed scrapbook page trim
1 Box of mounting squares (precut double stick tape)
1 White marker for dark paper
1 Vanishing ink pen
1 5 in diameter bowl or other circular object to use as a pattern for the tire
1 2 in diameter circular object to use as a pattern for the rim
1 Pair of Scissors
1 Ruler
1 Sharpie
The Instructions
1. Using the 5 in diameter bowl, trace a circle onto each of the 24 black cards. Be sure to place the bowl slightly over the edge of the spine of the card so you will still have a bi-fold circle after you cut the card into a circle.
2. After all 24 cards have a circle traced on them, cut the cards into their circular shapes. Hold the scissors steady and only turn the card in order to cut a smooth edge.
**What? What do you mean your fingers hurt? You've only cut 11 tires! No, you can't take a break. Pick up those scissors and cut the remaining 13 tires. PICK UP THOSE SCISSORS!!!**
3. Continue cutting the square cards into circles. Don't worry, I'll wait until you finish.
**Now, that wasn't so bad was it? It probably only took you around an hour and a half to cut the tires. Now, might be a good time to take some Tylenol. Those little fingers of yours are probably a little sore and we still have a lot to cut.**
**The next 11 steps involve creating the treads for the tires. They might seem daunting, but don't worry. I won't lead you astray.**
4. Place one sheet of the 2 mm self adhesive black craft foam face down.
5. With the aid of your ruler, use your Sharpie to draw a parallel line 1 3/4 in. from the bottom of the sheet.
6. With the aid of your ruler, use your Sharpie to draw a parallel line 1/4 in. from the bottom of the sheet.
7. With the aid of your ruler, use your Sharpie to draw a parallel line 1 1/2 in. from the bottom of the sheet.
8. Along the bottom of the sheet of foam, make a small dot every inch starting 1/2 in. from the edge of the sheet.
9. Along the line 1 3/4 inches from the bottom of the sheet of foam, make a small dot every inch starting from the edge of the sheet.
10. Using your ruler connect the dots using a zig-zag pattern from the left edge of the foam all the way to the right.
11. Cut the foam sheet along the line 1/4 inch from the bottom of the sheet.
12. Cut the foam along the line originally 1 1/2 inch, now 1 1/4 inch, from the bottom of the sheet.
13. Cut each of the individual triangles so they will have blunt tips and not points.
14. Repeat steps 4-13 twelve times, only use the remaining 1/4 inch guide line from the previous triangles as the bottom guide line for the next set of triangles.
**See, those instructions were SO simple. Especially number 14! You are going to need 192 triangles to complete your invitations, so don't stop snipping foam until you have BLISTERS! Hahaha. I'm only kidding. But, you should have callouses by now, otherwise, making the wheels is going to be torture. Oh, heavens!**
**When cutting the reflective silver scrapbook paper you are going to want scissors as sharp as Ginsu knives. or else you are going to have mangled circles in stead of "chrome" rims.**
15. Place the reflective silver scrapbook paper face down.
16. Using your 2 in diameter circular object (I used the bottom of a cup), trace 24 circles (you might want to trace 14-15 extra as backups) onto the back of the scrapbook paper. Trace the circles far enough apart that you can cut each tracing out on a square of paper.
17. Trim each square into a circle CARE-FUL-LY!!! Remember to hold your scissors stead and only turn the card in order to cut a smooth edge. Reflective silver scrapbook paper shows EV-ER-Y flaw and mistake.
**Why are you complaining? The prep work is the hardest part of any project. In the long run, you are going to think...."That was the best 3 1/2 hours of my life!" Oh, geez, you big baby, go ice your fingers! I'll be here when your fingers "stop cramping" and your hand no longer "resembles a claw."**
**Oh, good. You're back. Are you ready to assemble? Great! Now it is time to see the fruits of your labor.**
18. Stick four mounting squares onto the back of a circle of reflective silver scrapbook paper.
19. Peal the backing off of the mounting squares.
20. Position the reflective silver circle in the middle of the black card and press firmly onto the card.
21. Stick one mounting square onto the back of a red sequin.
22. Peal the backing off of the mounting square.
23. Position the red sequin in the middle of the reflective silver circle and press firmly onto the circle.
**No, you aren't having an allergic reaction to the mounting squares, they are actually pulling your skin off. Don't worry, it will grow back.**
24. Lightly mark the outer edges of the black card every 90 degrees.
25. Peal the backing off of four black foam triangles and press them into place using the light marks from step 24 as a guide.
26. Peal the backing off of four more black foam triangles and press them into place, centering them between the triangles affixed to the card in step 25.
**Your fingers are turning black from the foam? Yes, well, that will happen. The blackness should fade in 7-10 days. Just remember to use soap, paint thinner, and high octane gasoline every time you wash your hands.**
28. Affix the dots, offset from the "treads", around the reflective silver circle in the middle of the card.
29. Toss the vanishing ink pen into a draw or other storage container because it is of absolutely no help.
Admire your handiwork!!!!!
The Finished Product
Oh, my gosh! You did it. Wasn't that a breeze? I'll bet that you had no idea that all it would take to have custom invitations to your party was $42.38, 4 1/2 hours of labor, 29 simple steps, and quite possibly a case of Carpal Tunnel! You feel silly for all of those years when you just went to the store and bought your invitations, don't you? Well, let's not dwell on the past. Just know that you are now a "Party Planning Diva" (or Divo)!
Don't think that the crafting is over. You still have plenty of party preparations to perfect, but don't worry. I will be here to guide and inspire every step of the way. If you think this was involved, you ain't seen nothin' yet! The next project........entertainment!
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