Invitations can be printed at home with most laser or ink jet printers.
Parties, weddings, showers and many other occasions call for a well-designed, printed paper invitation. The cost of having these invitations printed by a professional studio can sometimes be expensive. An economical alternative is to create and print invitations at home. Many craft and art supply stores sell a variety of invitation kits, which include envelopes, paper, response cards and decorative items. In addition to kits, cardstock and invitation paper can also be purchased. Most papers print using a standard laser or ink jet printer and standard word processing software.
Instructions
1. Consult an invitation wording book or website to develop ideas for the wording of the invitations. Many books feature sections with options for different occasions. Write down wording examples on a scrap piece of paper.
2. Measure the height and the width of the invitation paper with a ruler. Many kits will also provide a sheet with the paper's dimensions.
3. Insert the paper into printer tray. Most printers feature adjustable paper guides. Locate the paper guides on the printer and slide them to fit the paper snugly. The paper should lay flat inside the guides.
4. Open a word document using word processing software on the computer. Click on the "File" tab and locate the "Page Setup" menu. Adjust the paper size by typing the height and width measurements into the page size menu. Save changes and close the menu.
5. Type the invitation wording into the document. Use the menus in the software to adjust the font, size and color of the wording. Center the wording in the document. Save the document.
6. Click on the "Print" menu. Select the proper printer and click on the "Properties" tab. These menus vary slightly, depending on the type of printer and software being used, warns the LCI Paper website. Reserve plenty of time to play around the menus and adjust the printer settings. Type in the correct width and height in the "Property" tab. Choose the paper type if the printer menu has this option. Click print.
7. Observe the printed document to ensure all of the wording lines up properly. If necessary, adjust the margins in the "Page Setup" menu. Print another sample.
8. Load the printer with more paper. In the "Print" menu on the computer, select the number of copies you wish to print. Print the invitations.
9. Use a calligraphy pen to write addresses and return addresses on the invitation envelopes. Allow the ink to dry on the printed invitations. Carefully fold the invitations and insert them into the corresponding envelopes.
Tags: height width, invitation paper, invitation wording, Page Setup, Page Setup menu, paper guides