Handmade invitations are the best. Right? I figured I have the skills to make my own invites so why not just make them the way I would want them to look. People are always asking me to make them a quick this or that so the least I can do is help myself out. It’s hard to design for yourself in a way because you have to ask yourself what it is that you want and are trying to accomplish.

I started with imagery. I wanted something personal. I wanted something that felt like me and I also wanted people to know they were going to a tea party. I have been getting images of myself taken each week with the size of fruit or vegetable my baby was for the week. I went through those images to see what I had that might work. I am just sort of starting to show in the picture I chose and I zoomed in so the focus was the bump. Which is what the focus of the party was.

I made the copy clear on the card in case the bump wasn’t that I was pregnant and you are invited to the baby’s party! Which everyone who got an invitation already knew I was pregnant. I wanted the card to be cute and lighthearted.

On the back I needed it to be all business. I needed you to know what to expect. Which was a tea party and where and when it was going to take place.

I used a free stock site for this tea image. I used this site which is totally free. The party was going to be a backyard tea party and I wanted this image to elude to that feeling.

Then I filled out what seemed to be a million addresses! (I bought some self-addressed adhesive return labels after this experience – to save myself some time.) Stamped and sent out these invites for the big day!

For the Thank You cards I chose an image that was from the shower. I took it before anyone arrived. It was the calm before the storm of the party.

I personalized the thank you cards by putting all of our names on the back of the card including our cat. He’s a part of the family too!

Then it took me even longer to fill these out. About two days, doing a little bit here and there. It was a happy reminder recounting a magical day with people I love.