Maybe you chose not to go down the digital invitation route by sending emails to your guests. If you don’t know how to send mass emails, you can send me a message and maybe I can help or connect you with someone that can. I’m going to assume that you decided to make your own invitations instead.  I’m here to tell you that there is no limit to the designs that you can come up with. Many D.I.Y. invitation instructions are focused on creating a set design, but this tutorial is for creating a free-form watercolor invitation.

Watercolors are the perfect medium for creating simple, beautiful images. Watercolor sets can be purchased for a low cost, and you don’t need any solutions or special chemicals for using them (all you need is water, of course!). Let’s go over the basics of creating artistic invitations with watercolors!

1. Get The Right Paper

Watercolor paints will make normal card stock bend and warp. Watercolor paper has little divots in it that soak up excess water and make your paint stay in the right places without dripping or pooling. Find a heavy duty watercolor paper to use, and then cut it with an x-acto knife to create the dimensions that you have in mind.

2. Practice Brush Strokes

Before beginning your project, practice some brush strokes on scrap strips of your watercolor paper. Notice that the more water you use, the softer your colors will be.

3. For A Beautiful Background, Use A Wash

Do you have an idea for your design? You could create a colorful background on which to place a simple bird, heart, butterfly, moon and stars, or other symbol of your choice. Create a background by using ample water with your brush and layering it quickly onto your paper in long horizontal strokes. As you layer the paint on quickly, the watercolors don’t have a chance to soak in until the colors have blended smoothly together.

You could also do a wash on already printed paper. Office supply stores can help you print directly onto watercolor paper, so that your invitations are ready to paint on.

4. Add Details In Ink

Lastly, add a few details in ink!

Did this tutorial inspire you to create free-form watercolor invitations? I hope that it did! If you like the watercolor theme, check out some artistic watercolor-inspired cake ideas. And if you do give this invitation project a try, let me know how it goes in the comments section below!

There are many reasons that couples may prefer not to get gifts for their wedding, but often they are afraid of sounding rude or tacky when they request it! Gift-giving has an intricate weaving of cultural values tied up around it, and it is scary to cut through all of the cobwebs when you make your request. People love to think that they are helping a newly wed couple build a life together, and really want to support you on your journey. Your relatives and loved ones might ignore your direction and decide to give you something anyways, but at least you can try! Here are several great ideas for making your request politely.

1. “Your Presence Is The Present”

This little print out is a lovely way to introduce your request in a positive, polite, and subtle manner.  Include this little slip of paper in your wedding invitation with no muss and no fuss!

2. Give Them Another Option

You may be a minimalist, or feel that you already have too much clutter around the house. However, you could request funding for some non-material item, such as your honeymoon, world travel, or a charity fund.  A poem is a perfect way to make this request in a non-offensive way. There are many varieties of wishing well style poems. Choose one that directs funding to something that feels right to you.

3. Keep It Simple Silly

Use the magic word, “please”, and no one can accuse you of being rude. Right? Right. This would work best for a very informal gathering, like party for friends after a private elopement, or a family celebration after a courthouse wedding. Weddings are not always as uniform and standard as we tend to think! There are many unique situations, and many causes for celebration. This wording would not be suited for a formal, traditional wedding.

Since some people feel strongly that they want to give you gifts, it will help them to understand where you are coming from. Plant the seed behind your choice in a few of your closest pals’ ears. This way, your mom and best friend can explain to all of your other family members and friends the reasoning behind your request. Your favorite great aunt will feel much better about breaking tradition when she learns that you and your hubby are planning on moving to Bali in a year, and will only be taking a suitcase of clothing along on your adventure! Do you think that requesting no gifts is tacky, or are you excited to try it out? I’d love your feedback in the comments section below.

Big Dipper Table Numbers 1-4

Big Dipper Table Numbers 5-8

Big Dipper Table Numbers 9-12

Big Dipper Table Numbers 13-16

Big Dipper Table Numbers 17-20

Big Dipper Table Numbers 21-24

Big Dipper Table Numbers 25-28

Big Dipper Table Numbers 29-32

Big Dipper Table Numbers 33-36

Blooming Antlers

This is ideal for a bride that’s a little old-fashioned and loves nature. The style is simple, but still elegant enough to please the onlooker! Best of all, Basic Invite allows user to easily customize the invitations’ font and shape!

The Awesome Ombre Save-the-Date

The ombre makes takes this design from simple to stunning! This Save-the-Date is tasteful, with an understated beauty, perfect for the bride who prefers a minimalist look rather than over-the-top glamor. Basic Invite users can easily customize the color, font, paper type, and round the corners of this card.

The Photo Banner Bridal Shower Invite

This flat card is anything but boring! Could there possibly be a cuter way to get your friends excited for your bridal shower than with an adorable photo of you and your fiancé? Offering several options for customizable colors, fonts, paper type and card shape, this card is one that everyone is guaranteed to fawn over!

Rustic Country Invitations

This design is no-fuss and simple, but very cute! The customizable colors, fonts, paper type, and beautiful card shapes make this invitation one that will be loved by anyone and everyone, from the most feminine of brides to the country girl who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty! The design looks especially beautiful in the bracket shape!

The Vintage Botanical Save-the-Date Card

Graceful and elegant with a touch of whimsy, this design is just the thing for the bride who loves the beauty and simplicity of classic romance. Jane Austen would approve! Customizable colors, fonts, and paper types allow users to create their ideal invitation, and for a few cents more, you can choose rounded corners for a soft, dreamy look.

Hopefully, we’ve made the whole invite-seeking process a little easier for you. Now that you have your dream invitation in mind, head on over to Basic Invite and create your perfect card!

**  This post is sponsored by Basic Invite. **

After you have fun previewing all the gorgeous designs and colors, you’ll want to order a sample before you place that order for hundreds of invites. You can order a printed sample of your actual invitation with Basic Invite so you can see exactly how it will look and feel before moving forward with your order. Something I’d highly recommend so you don’t get any surprises.

I am in love with this vintage botanical floral invitation suite featuring poppies, violets, and magnolias! How gorgeous would this be for a summer garden wedding? You can literally change the colors of all of the flowers and details in this design (though I personally love how they look already), making it quite a fun experience!

Mark your calendar! These are the stationery milestones you should pencil in on your wedding timeline:

• 6 months prior to your wedding day you should have chosen your colors and ordered samples. You should also order save the dates about this time.
• 4 months prior to your wedding day you should have your wedding invitations ordered, as well as thank you cards and bridal shower invites.
• 2 months prior you should mail out your wedding invitations, and order menu cards and wedding programs.

Choosing postage can be just as fun when personalizing the whole look of your invitation suite. Besides what the USPS has on offer for wedding themed stamps you can also search sites like Etsy and ebay for beautiful vintage stamps that will give your envelopes a unique look. Speaking of envelopes, Basic Invite offers 40 different colors of peel and seal envelopes to coordinate your look effortlessly.

Basic Invite is one of the most interactive wedding stationery website’s I’ve seen and it takes a lot of the frustration out of stationery shopping because you can get exactly what you want with all the custom options. I wish I’d had options like this when I got married!

*This post is sponsored by Basic Invite. All opinions are my own.

                   

                   

*FTC This post contains affiliate links

P.S. You might also be interested in the woodland,  wheat wreath , jam label , pink rose wreath , or romantic vintage rose table numbers.

I recommend printing on white or ivory cardstock. If you need them for more than 32 tables feel free to email me. Enjoy!

Fairytale Table Numbers 1-4
Fairytale Table Numbers 5-8
Fairytale Table Numbers 9-12
Fairytale Table Numbers 13-16
Fairytale Table Numbers 17-20
Fairytale Table Numbers 21-24
Fairytale Table Numbers 25-28
Fairytale Table Numbers 29-32

Minted’s unique website and stationery designs are from their talented community of independent artists.

In addition to that exciting news, today through Monday 9/28 all Minted Wedding Stationery is up to 15% off! Dozens of new designs have recently launched in time for this sale (including a big selection of autumn inspired designs. We especially love Minted’s Foil-Pressed Wedding Invitations.

Promo Offer: 15% off wedding orders $200+, 10% off $150+
Promo Code: SEPTWED
Dates: Now – Mon 9/28

       

       

FTC – This post contains affiliate links

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P.S. You might also be interested in the wheat wreath , jam label , pink rose wreath , or romantic vintage rose table numbers.

I recommend printing on white cardstock. If you need them for more than 32 tables feel free to email me. Enjoy!

Woodland Table Numbers 1-4
Woodland Table Numbers 5-8
Woodland Table Numbers 9-12
Woodland Table Numbers 13-16
Woodland Table Numbers 17-20
Woodland Table Numbers 21-24
Woodland Table Numbers 25-28
Woodland Table Numbers 29-32