DIY: Baby Shower Invitations

In this tutorial, I will show you step by step how I created some cute, 'woodsy' themed baby shower invitations! I made these for my dear friends (and my son's God -parents) who are expecting their first little bundle in October...EXCITED!!

I created links for the types of stamps, pads and double edge punch that I used, however, all these are optional. As with all my tutorials, my goal is to just give you an idea and let you explore your own creativity :)

 Let's start with the supplies! Here is pretty much everything you will need:

Not Pictured: foam brush and glue/glue stick

• Cardstock Paper (colors of choice)
• Package of Cards and Envelopes (size & color of choice) 
• Ruler
• Exacto Knife (or cutting board)
• Distress Ink Pad - Tea Dye
• Freezer Paper (or craft board)
• Glue (or glue stick)
• Foam Brush
• Martha Stewart Double Edge Punch - Vine
• Rubber Stamp - Flouished Fall Tree
• Ink Pad - Black
• Photo Corners (style of choice)
• "It's A Boy! (or Girl!) Embellishment

To begin, I measured and cut all the paper needed for the invitations, excluding the "info" and "directions" portions due to them needing to be printed out first.....but I will get to that :)

I also "punched" out all the leaves I would need. I absolutely fell in LOVE with this double edged punch and think that I shall be using it for our wedding invitations!

The sides of the punch are amazing and work great for lining up your vine and getting that perfect cut!

Next, I used the distress ink pad to give the "aged" effect around the malt colored paper that will be going on the front of the invitation.

Laying the malt paper on top of your freezer paper (or craft board) wax side UP, dab a paper towel on the distress ink pad and in a circular motion, work around the edge of the paper.

When learning this technique, I found an EXTREMELY helpful video that also introduced other ways to use the distress ink pad. This was AMAZING to me and made me want to get more distress pads in different colors! Below is this very same video I speak of:

Ok, so now that ALL those malt pieces are rubbed down, distressed and dried, it's time to move on to stamping them!! Yay!!

Using your black ink pad and tree stamp, dab the ink on the stamp, press the stamp firmly on the malt paper, lift and tah-dah!

Now.......... we glue!!! I started out using Elmer's in a bowl with a foam brush, but towards the end, I realized a glue stick worked a bit better. However, I did like how the glue in a bowl with a foam brush worked with the leaves. Don't worry, I will get to that one too.... :)

Brush the glue on the back of the malt paper and carefully place it on the top of the card (glue side down,, obviously), pressing down in the middle and along the edges. NOTE: Elmer's curled more than the glue stick, but eventually flattened itself out.

Next, we are going to glue the leaves using the tip of the foam brush and dabbing it along the middle of the vine.

Gently place the leaves on the top and bottom of the card (or the sides!) and using your fingers, press the vine down.

Phew! Now that all that is done, we get to move on to the inside of the card. This is were we get to use those handy dandy registry cards they received and our cute embellishments!

Let's start by using our photo corners and putting them on the edges of the registry cards. Next, place the registry card on the top portion of the inside.



I used clear photo corners, but feel free to use any color or design that you please :)

Next, using your foam brush and glue OR your glue stick, glue your powder blue piece and place it on the bottom portion of the inside.





Next, I printed and cut out all the information and direction sheets for the invitations. The wording that you use is all up to you. I shall translate the wording and poem that I used due to the pictures being slightly blurry and certain names and addresses being brushed out for privacy reasons :)

I am sure you noticed I added an extra vine in a different color.... I preferred for it to be on the left side and underneath the "it's a boy!" embellishment, but unfortunately my measurements were off and I didn't think of pulling off a leaf from the ONE area that was overlapping the text......silly me! I am still pleased with the outcome either way. The wording for the "info" section is as follows"

Alaina and Joey, always so cool;

We'll see how they look wearing baby drool

Please join us for a baby shower honoring:

Alaina LastName and Josef LastName

Saturday,  August 27th @ 5:30 p.m.

Amber LastName's House

Enter Address

Here

Please R.S.V.P by  August 27th

Phone: (555) 555-5555 or Email: enter email here

*Bring a box of diapers & have your name entered in a drawing to win a door prize!

(Size 2 or larger is appreciated)

Glue down your info sheet, the vine embellishment and add the "it's a boy" sticker to wherever your heart desires. Finally, place the directions sheet on top, leaving it loose in the invitation annnnnd..... you are finally done!

For my own special touches, I stamped the backs of the cards with a "Handmade From The Heart" stamp and the flaps of the envelopes with a cute little bug!

Hopefully this tutorial will inspire you to make ANY card/invitation creations of your own! Have fun with it, I know I did!!!!