Make Cookout Invitations
Many holidays call for a great cookout and any good cookout calls for some cool cookout invitations. You can even use holiday themes to tie into the invitations. Memorial Day or Fourth of July are great examples of holidays beckoning for everyone to throw a cookout. Here I have done a simple invitation good for any cookout.
Tools needed to make these cookout invitations:
8 1/2" by 11" cardstock
2 different solid colored papers
decorative cookout themed paper
decorative scissors
glue stick
---------------------------------
(optional)
Either use:
Scrapbooking embellishments in a cookout theme
or
Green and dark pink construction papers to make watermelon embellishments.
Step One: Use your computer and a good desktop publishing software to set up the text for the front and inside (who, what, when, etc) of the invitation. If you are not the most computer savvy person you can also use a manual layout or simply go to the custom invitations page and order a printable custom text file.
I would reccomend setting up the text as a 2-up layout (two cards to a page) to save money. Print the Invitations onto 8 1/2" by 11" cardstock in a color of your choice preferably one that matches whichever decorative paper you may have picked out. Print the pages back to back. You could also choose to print each page out seperately onto plain white printer paper and bring them to a local copy center. Have them xeroxed and then enlist their cutting services as well!
An alternative method to the 2-up layout is to either buy blank cards or have your cardstock cut in half ahead of time. Print or copy straight onto these cards.
Also, if you decide to go with a manual layout you will have no choice but to have them copied for you. Of course you could also use a self serve copy machine and do it yourself in order to save a couple bucks.
Step Two: Cutting and folding the paper for the cookout invitations. Start by folding the invitations in half. If the fold seems to be coming out a little wrinkled just go over the crease with a straight edge like a ruler.
There are several papers to cut for these cookout invitations. If you had the cookout invitations text copied for you than it will be easy for you to have them cut for you at the copy shop as well. Go here for more about using the services of a copy shop. Otherwise you can easily cut them by hand if you have a good paper cutter. Go here for more about cutting invitations by hand.
If you are using a 2-up layout the first step will be to cut the cardstock you copied or printed the invitation text onto. This paper will be cut in half so that you will be left with 2 pieces measuring 5 1/2" by 4 1/4.
Next cut the decorative paper into squares measuring 3 1/4" by 4 1/2". Now for a very easy and simple invitation you could quite easily stop here. I went the extra mile with mine.
Next create two small squares of paper to showcase the watermelon embellishment. These should be cut out of construction paper or any kind of thicker quality paper. There should be one square of colored paper. This should be cut at about 2 1/2" by 1 3/4".Of course this will not have to be exact. Cut another square out of white paper measuring the same dimensions as the first colored square although with this square you will be using a pencil and ruler to make a small margin all the way around the square about a 1/8 - 1/4" in from the edge. You will use this margin as a guideline to cut the edges with decorative scissors.
Step Three: Assemble the cookout invitations. Using a gluestick apply an even layer of glue to the back of the largest square of decorative paper. Attatch the paper to the front of the invitation aligning it to the bottom right hand corner.
As I've said before, you can choose to stop here for a more simple invite...
Step Four: Add decoration. This is when you will add the watermelon decoration to the front of the cookout invitations. Of course it doesn't have to be a watermelon. Anything cookout or barbecue related would be great!
First use a good gluestick to attatch one of the smaller cut out paper squares. This should be the piece which was not cut with the decorative scissors. Attatch it so it is somewhat centered onto the decorative paper on the front of the invitation. Next attatch the smaller paper square with the decorative edges. Glue this one so that it is centered within the first square.
To top it off place a cookout themed scrapbooking embellishment (I used a watermelon and slice made by Jolee's Boutique "Jolee's by You" go here for more about using scrapbook embellishments) into this square frame. Of course you do not have to use scrapbook embellishments. These kind of decorations can also be created by hand. Using the ready made embellishments is merely a good short cut that I like to use from time to time. Use good construction paper to cut out shapes to complete a watermelon. You can even buy a paper punch shaped like something barbecue related or combine shapes to make your own embellishments. Get creative!
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