Pretty in Pink Hanging Wedding Invitations

by Angelique
(San Luis Obispo, CA)

Supplies used to make these wedding invitations:

• * Card stock (solid darker color for backing, and white/ivory for invitation pieces)
  
• * Fabric and Fusible Interface
  
• * Ribbon
  
• * Eyelet and Eyelet Setter
  
• * Nepalese Paper (or any other special paper to match color theme)
  
• * Rotary Cutter and Healing Mat (you will thank me)
  
• * Gocco (optional)
  

This project is just about finishing up and I'm so excited to share it with you! This was inspired by so many things, but mainly from the hanging frames I would see every time I walked into Anthropologie. I thought to myself one day...hmm...those could be cute invitations. I wanted something not too traditional and this was perfect!

The backs of the invitation are covered in fabric, followed by a solid backing, two ribbon strips, topped with the invitation piece.

First, you will need to trim down all the card stock to size (except for the fabric piece...apply interface first, then trim). You'll notice I have a separate backing for each piece to sandwich the ribbon. Sizes are as followed:

• Invitation: 4.75 x 6.25
  
• Reception Card: 4 x 2.5
  
• Direction Card: 4.5 x 4.5
  
• RSVP Card: 6.75 x 3
  

** Be sure to add .25 " to all pieces for the backing layer.

I printed all of the text on my home printer and gocco'd the return addresses for my envelopes. Since I wasn't smart enough to work backwards from the envelope size, I ended up with extra large presentation folders I found on clearance at Paper Source. Unless you're okay with the large envelopes...feel free to change the size up a little bit.

To apply the fabric to the backs of each piece, I ironed on fusible interface and trimmed them down to size with a rotary cutter. This makes the fabric a little more stiff to adhere to the card stock with tacky glue. This part was inspired by Merriment Designs: (http://www.merrimentdesign.com/sewn-invitations.php). Once you attach your fabric to the backing cards, you'll turn it over to attach your two ribbons. I measured them each out 1.25" from the center. My best advice would be to draw a line down your card with a ruler and with a tacky glue bottle, follow it down all the way, and then attach your ribbon. That way, you never have a crooked ribbon in place.

When you get to the RSVP card, you'll actually punch two holes and set in two eyelets. The ribbon will loop through and tie into a pretty bow. Guests will then be able to fill out the card, undo the ribbon, detach the r.s.v.p. card and send it back to you. This fits perfectly into a #10 standard envelope with some room to spare. Again, I was lucky enough to find some on clearance that matched the presentation envelopes.

As for the inner envelope, this was pretty simple. I trimmed down magenta Nepal paper (once again, found on clearance at paper source) and folded the sides in creating flaps on each side. Attach double sided tape and and then you immediately have a sleeve. I layered it with a few different ribbons and attached a wooden swatch card at the end that was gocco'd: "You're Invited." Tie the ribbon into another bow and voila! It's now all ready to go into your BIG envelope.

There are many ways to efficiently complete this project, but my best advice would be to measure, measure, measure. And once you have your sizes down and pieces ready for trim, you'll be set! Turn on the t.v. and get ready for many nights of assembling. Spend each night doing one step and you won't drive yourself too crazy. For instance...my favorite night was the one attaching the strips of ribbon. And then I rested and moved on the next night to another step. Give yourself plenty of time to finish this project so you won't feel rushed or overwhelmed by trying to meet a deadline.