Unique Invitation Cards in Three Simple Steps

Invitation cards are necessary yet fun ways to promote any event, whether it's Thanksgiving dinner or a business sales function. The problem is that it's often difficult to find just the right invitation card from your local supermarkets, gift shops and party supply retailers. Instead of wasting time searching for the perfect card, use your time wisely and design your own unique invitation cards in three simple steps.

1. Create your design

You don't have to have incredible design skills to design your own unique invitation cards. Instead, all you need to do is come up with a theme and run a Creative Commons search for licensed images and graphics you can use in your own designs. Take all the guesswork out of file setup by downloading a free invitation card design template and opening it in your favorite photo editor (if you don't have one, there are several free and open source software packages available through a quick Google search). These templates are already set up in the correct resolution, color mode and size for your invitation cards. They also include clear markings for your safe area, cutlines and bleed area so your backgrounds cover all of your final, printed pieces. Now, all you have to do is bring in your Creative Commons images, add your own images and text, and save your file.

2. Print your invitation cards

Your unique invitation cards aren't complete when your design file is ready. You still have to print them, and in fact the manner in which you print your invitation cards is part of the design itself since different paper stocks and finishes have different effects on the final look of your cards. A heavy-duty 16-point gloss paper stock, for example, has a bright sheen that brilliantly highlights colors; while a 13-point recycled matte paper stock makes colors appear rich, deep and compelling. Add a UV coating for extra gloss and durability, and have your unique invitation cards scored and folded at the printer to save your hands the tedious repetition.

3. Mail your invitations

Naturally, the last step is to mail your unique invitation cards. You could do this yourself, but you'll save time when you have your professional printing company place them in envelopes, address them, stamp them and mail them for you. All you have to do is upload your custom mailing list to PsPrint, and your unique invitation cards will be sent out to family, friends, customers, donors and anyone else you're trying to reach with your invitation card campaign. As you can see, designing your own unique invitation cards is a relatively simple process when you follow this outline. What you might not realize is that it's actually quite affordable to have your custom invitation cards professionally printed - compared to the cost of quality paper, ink and the hassle of dealing with paper jams and ink smears, professional printing is more affordable than desktop printing and comes with a quality guarantee.