I Still Have To Send Out Invitations!
Party coming up? Need to mail those invitations asap? Not to worry! Use your computer to create them!
Making your own invitation is like picking the right card for the person you are sending it to. Your design can show what type of event and the type of person you are designing it for. For ex--if it's a child's party, use bright colors and maybe an image that is for children.
Before you begin, sit down and write down the date, time, location and any other information you might want to include on the invitation.
TIP: Decide what size you want the invitation to be before you start. If they are small enough, you can print 2 or 3 on a standard piece of paper.
You will use Microsoft Word to create them. Go to 'start' -- 'programs' -- 'Microsoft Word'. When the new document appears, go to the 'file' menu and click on 'Save As'. Choose a location to save it. I suggest 'My Documents'. That way you can find it easy. Type in a name for the file (Ex -- Janes BD Invititation. BD stands for Birthday.) Click 'Save'.
Go to the 'File' menu and click on 'Page Setup'. Click on the 'Paper Size' tab and make sure 'Letter (8.5 x 11in) is selected in the 'Paper Size' box. Click on the 'Margins' tab and choose '0 in', for the bottom and top margins. When you click 'ok', a warning box will appear -- Click 'Fix', then 'ok'.
Now we are ready to add text. Type in the text you want. Next we will 'style' it. Do this by, highlighting the text -- go to the 'Format' menu and click on 'Font'. This is where you choose the font type, color of the text, size and effect of the text. Click 'ok' when finished. You can now style the rest of your text or you can use 'Special Graphic Effects' (WordArt). We will explore 'WordArt' next week.
Tips For You:
1) If you are creating a traditional invitation, you might want to use the following fonts:
Baskerville Old Face Book Antiqua Brush Script MT Copperplate Gothic Light Garamond
2) For a Fun look, you may want to try these fonts:
Beesknees ITC Comic Sans MS Curlz MT Juice ITC Lucida Handwriting
You can use a wizard, if you choose, by going to 'Start' -- 'Programs' -- ' Microsoft Works. Go to the 'Works Task Launcher' and choose the 'Task Wizard' tab. Double-click on the 'Correspondance' folder in the window, then double-click on 'Flyer' and follow the instructions.
Let's Put In Some WordArt!
In the WordArt Gallery, you will find different text designs that you can edit and customize for your own use. Highlight the text you want different. Click on the 'Cut' toolbar button. Your text will disappear from your document, but will be in your PC's memory.
Go to the 'Insert Menu' and choose 'Picture'. Then click on 'WordArt'. You will then choose a style. After you make your choice, click 'OK'. You will then be asked to type in your text. Hold down the 'Ctrl' button (located at the bottom left of your keyboard), and press the 'V' key. Your text that you cut from the original document will appear, in the style you have chosen. Go to the top of this box. You will see a 'Drop-Down Box', with the word 'Font' above it. Click on the arrow and choose the font you like. Right next to the 'Font' box, you can choose the size of the font. Next to that, you can choose 'Bold or Italic style (you don't have to use this if you don't want to). The choices you have made for the font will appear on your screen, so that you can preview it. You can change the settings until you get just the right effect. Click 'OK'. You can also choose a different color for the font, if you choose. The changes will then appear in your document.
To change the color of the text,go to the toolbar and click on the 'Format WordArt' button. Click on the 'Color and Lines' tab. In the 'Fill' section, choose the color for your text. If you want you can have an outline around the text. You can do this by, choosing a color for the line (s), in the 'Line' section. TIP: Black gives a shadow effect. Click 'OK'.
NOTE: To adjust the spacing between the letters, click on the 'Character Spacing' button, on the toolbar and click on your choice from the menu.
Let's say you want to move the text or resize it. You can move the text by, clicking on it and dragging it. If you want to resize it, highlight the text by clicking on it. Click on one of the corner handles, keep the mouse button pressed down and drag it across the screen.
A Note: to look professional, your invitation should be printed on card stock (heavy paper like regular cards you buy are printed on). If your computer can't handle this type of paper, you could copy it to a 'Floppy Disk' How to do this, can be found at: http://janes-place.com/contents_newbie-tips.htm then take it to a printing shop.
Now, to continue making our invitation. You can adjust the shape of your WordArt by, clicking on it (to highlight), then click on 'WordArt Shape', locate on the toolbar. A palette will appear, offering you a selection of options. Make you choices. You will be able to view how your choices will look before your final selection.
We are now ready to position the rest of our text. You do this, by highlighting each section and clicking on the 'Left', 'Center' and 'Right' alignment toolbar buttons.
Add 'ClipArt' images, if you would like. To put 'ClipArt' on the invitation, put your cursor where you want the 'ClipArt' to appear. Go to the top of the toolbar and find the 'Insert' menu, 'Picture', click on 'ClipArt'. Choose the image you want, then click 'Insert Clip' button, on the pop-up toolbar. Go to the 'Format' menu and click 'Picture'. Click on the 'Position' tab. Make sure that the 'Float Over Text' box is checked.
Hold down the 'Ctrl' button and press 'A' on your keyboard, to highlight the text and ClipArt. on the toolbar, you will see an icon for 'Copy'. Click on it. Place your cursor at the end of the text and press the 'Return' key, on your keyboard, then click on the 'Paste' icon on the toolbar. Adjust the spacing to your liking, then print your invitation or copy it to a 'Floppy Disk' to take to the printer.
Now you have made your own unique invitations, to send to your guests. There are a lot of different things you could do with invitations, to make them reflect your personality. TIP: If you have a scanner, you can upload your pictures and use them on the invitations. Ex- It's your son's birthday party. You could upload a picture of your son. You can also do the same, if you have a digital camera. When you take pictures with your digital camera, you upload them to your computer and save them on your hard drive. That way, they are there, if you want to use them.
Use Your Imagination!
About the author: Jane Fulton is the owner of 5 sites and has been helping people since 2000. Sign-up for SOS Newsletter at http://janes-place.com to receive these type of articles twice a month and to get your special mailing of interviews with some of the greatest Marketing minds!