How do I design my own invites?

Hi Ladies,

I've seen some stunning invites on here and I think I've made a decision on how I want mine to look but I need to be able to do them on a budget. So, how can I design my own? I don't really have any design skills, all I want is vintage brown card with cream polka dots, like my sweet bags (sorry I can't flash but here's a link http://www.weddinginateacup.co.uk/shop/products/polka-dot-kraft-goody-bags ) using this sort of layout (again, no flash, only link http://www.weddinginateacup.co.uk/shop/products/love-is-sweet-wedding-stationery )

So how can I do this without asking a designer for a bespoke invite that would cost a fortune!!

You wouldn't really want that design on a spotty background though? It would make it quite hard to read, I think.

Do you have any design type skills? It can be harder than it looks to do this but I would suggest downloading a free trial of publisher. You can move things around a lot more in there to get that sort of effect.

You can download free fonts from Dafont if the ones on your comp aren't suitable.

I would use wordart to create the fonts and move them around.

I like faffing with stuff like that so if you want me to have a go for you, I'm more than happy to. 

The dots would only be around the edge, like a border but random dots. And the font would be in navy blue. It sounds rather technical, if it's not too much of a hassle would you be able to see what it looks like? That would be fab!!!!

Do you want to PM me with your invitation details? 

Sounds fab... although you won't be able to print cream dots into brown paper.

You may need polka dot backing paper, then the invitation added on top.

Can you change the size of the font from Dafont once you have downloaded it or do you have to download small medium or large and settle for those 3 sizes?

oggers86:

Can you change the size of the font from Dafont once you have downloaded it or do you have to download small medium or large and settle for those 3 sizes?

A font loaded onto your system from any font site will work in the same way as the fonts already installed on your pc.

Mrs C:

Sounds fab... although you won't be able to print cream dots into brown paper.

You may need polka dot backing paper, then the invitation added on top.

This. Or I'd add the polka dots in a darker colour maybe to match the font. 

You could print on cream and have brown polka dots.

This is round 2 of mine, ignore my manky thumb and the black border, thats my text box which tells me where to cut. I designed mine on Word using a rose for the background watermark and a border I got from google images.

These will then be printed onto ivory parchment paper.

kharv:

Mrs C:

Sounds fab... although you won't be able to print cream dots into brown paper.

You may need polka dot backing paper, then the invitation added on top.

This. Or I'd add the polka dots in a darker colour maybe to match the font. 

You could print on cream and have brown polka dots.

That would look nice too...

Mrs C:

oggers86:

Can you change the size of the font from Dafont once you have downloaded it or do you have to download small medium or large and settle for those 3 sizes?

A font loaded onto your system from any font site will work in the same way as the fonts already installed on your pc.

Ah thats good then as I have to change the size for each individual insert once I get all the wording finalised.

Thanks :)

Would it be easier if I just printed on to card & hand stamped the dots on with cream paint? I know it would take forever but polka dots are part of my theme. Kharv, if you do an imaginary invite for a wedding that's all at one venue (ie. a hotel) then that would be great! Just to give me an idea as to whether or not it would work.

How about just printing brown onto cream paper? then leaving gaps where you want the cream dots to be? (if you know what I mean)

Your best bet is to follow the dots arrangement of the paper bag so that you end up with layout that is full of dots then draw a white rectangular box smaller than the document and lay it over the dots. That way you'll get a more natural polka dot frame. If you're printing on your home printer, don't forget to add your own bit of a margin around the card. If you're printing it professionally, you can bleed off the edge.

Give me a shout if you need anymore advice. I work in the design industry.

Done very VERY quickly so sorry it's a bit pants!

Can look into it a bit more when have more time!