The wonderful thing about running a DIY wedding blog is that I get to see the coolest, sweetest trends develop and spread throughout the weddingsphere. Like many of you, I watched and then fell in love with chevron a few seasons ago and, though it’s popularity is beginning to wane in the design world, I’m not ready to let it go. When our friends at CutCardStock.com offered us a sample pack of their papers and card stock, the perfect opportunity to give chevron a bit of different spin appeared. Using beautiful Stardream metallic card stocks, a rubber stamp, a glue pad, and glitter, I crafted this modern and slightly blinged out invitation suite: layered invitation, self-mailer RSVP, seating card, and favor box.
The Supply List
Invitation:
1 piece of 4″ x 9″ Stardream Metallic card stock in silver from CutCardStock.com
1 piece of 3 9/16″ x 8 3/4″ Stardream Metallic card stock in violette from CutCardStock.com
1 piece of 3 5/16″ x 8 1/2″ card stock in white from CutCardStock.com
Chevron rubber stamp by Recollections
The Essential Glue Pad by Tsukineko
Martha Stewart Crafts glitter in sterling
Glue dots
#10 Envelope in silver
Small paint brush (like for watercolors)
Invitation Template
RSVP:
1 piece 4″ x 9″ Stardream Metallic card stock in silver from CutCardStock.com
1 piece of 4″ x 4″ Stardream Metallic card stock in violette from CutCardStock.com
1 piece of 3 3/4″ x 3 3/4″ white card stock CutCardStock.com
Chevron rubber stamp by Recollections
The Essential Glue Pad by Tsukineko
Martha Stewart Crafts glitter in sterling
Small paint brush (like for watercolors)
RSVP template
1/8″ wide red line double-sided tape (not shown)
Seating Card:
1 Cougar White place card from CutCardStock.com
1 piece of 1/2” x 5” Stardream card stock in violette
Chevron rubber stamp by Recollections
The Essential Glue Pad by Tsukineko
Martha Stewart Crafts glitter in sterling
Small paint brush (like for watercolors)
Glue Dots
White ink pen
Favor Box:
1 piece of 8 1/2″ x 11″ Stardream Metallic card stock in silver
1/2″ x 6 1/4″ piece of Stardream Metallic card stock in violette
Big Shot or similar manual die cutting machine
Sizzix Bigz XL Matchbox Bigz XL die
Chevron rubber stamp by Recollections
The Essential Glue Pad by Tsukineko
Martha Stewart Crafts glitter in sterling
Small paint brush (like for watercolors)
The Instructions
Invitation:
1. Using our invitation template as a guide, print out your invitation wording on the piece of 3 5/16″ x 8 1/2″ white card stock.
2. The next step is to apply glue to the chevron stamp. Gently tap the glue pad on the surface of the rubber stamp until the stamp is evenly covered in glue.
3. Position the stamp at the top of the invitation, ending just before the text of the invitation begins. Press the stamp firmly and evenly to the invitation. Lift the stamp up and set it aside.
4. While the glue is still damp, sprinkle a generous amount of glitter over the stamped area on the invitation. It’s best to do this over a scrap piece of paper so that you can catch the excess glitter and reuse it. And, heads up, friends: no matter how careful you are, glitter will get EVERYWHERE. Shake off excess glitter into a bowl so it’s somewhat contained.
5. Set the invitation aside to dry, usually 10 – 15 minutes is sufficient for the glue to set. PRO TIP: Use a small paint brush to brush away excess glitter that doesn’t shake off.
6. Now, you’re on to the easiest step: assembling the layers. Using glue dots, adhere the printed invitation to the front of your piece of violette card stock, centering it top to bottom and left to right. Add this layered piece to the silver piece of card stock and, voila!, you’re done.
RSVP:
1. Using our invitation template as a guide, print out your invitation wording on the piece of 4″ by 4″ white card stock.
2. The next step is to stamp the RSVP. Apply glue to the chevron stamp by gently tapping the glue pad on the surface of the rubber stamp until the stamp is evenly covered in glue.
3. Position the stamp at the top of the RSVP, ending just before the text of the RSVP begins. Press the stamp firmly and evenly to the RSVP. Lift the stamp up and set it aside.
4. While the glue is still damp, sprinkle a generous amount of glitter over the stamped area on the RSVP. Shake off excess glitter. Use a small paint brush to whisk away excess glitter that’s sticking to the non-stamped areas of the card stock.
5. Set the RSVP aside to dry, usually 10 – 15 minutes is sufficient for the glue to set.
6. Using a bone folder or stylus, score the 4″ x 9″ piece of silver cardstock 4 1/8″ down from the top (short side) of the card stock. Score again at 8 1/8″ from the top. When you fold the flaps up, you’ll have created an envelope that can be printed, sealed, and sent through the mail. Just address the outside, attach a stamp for return postage and your guest will just drop it in the mail when she’s ready to send in her RSVP.
7. Now, layer the printed RSVP on top of the piece of violette card stock, adhering it with red line double-sided tape. This is an ultra-strong tape that will help ensure that your RSVP pieces don’t slip out during it’s postal journey. Attach the purple and white layer to the 4″ x 4″ space in the silver mailer piece you made in step 6.
8. The last step is to attach a line of red line tape to the bottom edge of the inner flap of the mailer. Do not remove the red liner! Leave that intact. The person who sends the RVSP back will remove the liner to seal the mailer.
Seating Card:
1. The first step is to stamp the seating card with the chevron stamp and glue pad. Gently tap the glue pad on the surface of the rubber stamp until the stamp is evenly covered in glue.
2. Position the stamp at the top of the invitation and press the stamp firmly and evenly to the seating card. Lift the stamp up and set it aside.
3. While the glue is still damp, sprinkle a generous amount of glitter over the stamped area on the seating card. Shake off excess glitter. Set the seating card aside and let it dry.
4. Once the glitter has set, you may write the table number or seating assignment of the person to whom the card will go to.
5. Now it’s time to wrap the strip of violette card stock around the seating card to create a belly band. The ends will overlap a bit; secure them in place with a glue dot.
6. With a white ink pen write the name of the person to whom the card will go to on the front of the belly band. Done!
Favor Box:
1. Place silver Stardream card stock on matchbox portions of the die.
2. Per die cutting machine’s instructions, place die between die machine plates.
3. Run the die through the machine.
4. Fold the matchbox bottom along the scored lines.
5. Using the chevron stamp and the glue pad, apply glue to the top of the matchbox cover. Use a piece of scrap paper to mask portion of matchbox that you don’t want to stamp.
6. Add glitter, let it dry.
7. Once the glitter is set, fold the matchbox cover and secure it with tape.
8. Slide the cover over the bottom.
9. Insert your favors. Close the box. Add strip of 1/2″ x 6″ card stock around the box and secure it with tape on the back.
10. Attach tag. Easy-peasy!
The finished suite. Sweet!
NOTES:
1. If absolute perfect stamp placement is a must for you, do consider investing in a stamp positioner. It’s a nifty little gadget that’ll help you line up a stamp perfectly every time. They run about $10.00 online. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
2. The suite takes about 45 minutes of stamping, layout, and assembly time. If you’re doing 100 of these beauties, that’s 75 hours of work.
3. Always print your pieces before you stamp them!
4. Make peace with glitter. It’s going to be around your house, in your hair, and on your food for MONTHS.
5. There are fixative sprays that you can use over your glittered projects – and they do work in keeping your projects from bleeding sparkles. The problem is that they often dull the glittery part of your glitter. Where’s the fun in that? Fixative sprays can be found at craft and art stores, usually near the paints/chalks/pastels.
6. Cut and print extra pieces. It’s inevitable that a stamped image won’t turn out well or the printer will jam. A general rule: 10% more than what you think you’ll need.
7. All the pieces – except the favor box – fit in a #10 envelope (not shown).
8. Glitter, glorious glitter, comes in a wide variety of colors and levels of chunkiness from ultra-fine to confetti-like. My favorite brand: Martha Stewart Crafts.
9. The Stardream card stocks printed remarkably well in my 3-year old Canon All-In-One inkjet printer. No smudges, streaks, or paper jams.
Of course, this post would not be possible without the generous sample pack of card stock and envelopes from our friends at CutCardStock.com.
I LOVE THIS!!!!!! Guys, this is my favorite project on diybride.
Thanks, Liz! It was a fun one to do!
Omg. So cute. Will you share the templates for this, please? What model is your printer? My HP can’t print on anything heavier than an envelope. There’s no way it’s handle cardstock.
Docia, I’ll attach the templates right away. Look at the end of the post for a link.
I have a Canon MP560. It’s very good with text but not so great with pictures, FYI, but it does take most card stocks like a champ.
Hi Docia! I just want to chime in and say that my printer doesn’t handle cardstock very well either. So even though I DIY’ed the assembly of my invitations, I took them to Staples to have them printed. It was relatively inexpensive and they were great to work with. Pretty much any office supply store could help you out with this aspect of the invitation making. Have fun!
Mindy, would you be willing to give a ballpark figure for what you paid for printing? A lot of people ask us about printing costs at places like Kinko’s and Staples. It’s nice to have a frame of reference.
I think I just found my invitations! First time visitor from pinterest here. 🙂
Can you show how to use the stamp positioner? There’s no way I could stamp that straight on my own. Is it hard to use?
How much glitter did you use?
Princess buzzkill,
A tutorial on stamp positioners is coming up! Thanks for the suggestion. I would’ve lost my mind on this project had I not used one and I’ll probably go back and revise the supplies and instructions to include it because it was so essential. They’re not hard to use but do require a little more time per project when you use one. Better taking time to get the project right the first time than having to stamp 10 times to get a good one, right?
As for glitter: a little goes a long way. I maybe used a tablespoon for all 4 pieces shown with some leftover. If you’re doing 100 of these, I’d buy at least 3 bottles (if using Martha Stewart glitters) just to make sure you have enough of that color.
Glitter AND chevron? Get out of my head DIYBRIDE! Seriously love these … But how much would 125 of these cost to make?
Hayleigh, I’ll have cost breakdown posted by Monday.
Wow.. these are pretty.. I am such a sucker for anything glittery, sparkly or shiny but there is no way I would have that kind of time or patience for doing a large enough amount for a wedding…
I opted to do something a bit more unique and less time consuming! They do look awesome though!
You said to use a bone folder in the rsvp directions. What is that?
Hi Kara! I bone folder tool helps you fold creases in paper. Here is a link to one: http://www.overstock.com/Crafts-Sewing/Martha-Stewart-Bone-Folder-Scrapbooking-Tool/5520479/product.html
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I’m throwing a bridal brunch for my special friends who have helped me with wedding planning and have my heart set on a glitter theme. I haven’t been able to find any invitations with glitter that I like yet, so it looks like it’s time to DIY. Thankfully, I’m only inviting 20, so this shouldn’t be too bad :). I’ll let you know how it turns out!
I was also wondering how much it would cost to make 125 of the invitations and reply card only. Thanks!