Dream Valley Challenge 23 - Anything goes: My wedding invitations

Hiya!

Well that didn't exactly go to plan, did it? I had (still have....) all these Christmas cards to show you and I haven't had five minutes to myself to add them to my blog, nevermind visit everyone else's!  So here it is, my first blog post of the year so I thought I'd make it a special one.  Not only is this for Dream Valley's first challenge of the year (which is ANYTHING GOES as it happens....) but it is also my opportunity to show you my wedding invitations and my very first tutorial! I hope you're prepared for a lot of photos....

I needed two versions for the wedding and the evening reception.....

The decorative corner is cut from some beautiful pearlescent champagne coloured paper I got from ebay. I'm afraid I can't tell you exactly what the die is cos I borrowed it from a good friend of mine but if anyone really wants to know I'll go back to her and try to find out for you.... You've seen the punched butterflies a million times before on my cards but this is the reason I originally bought the punch!  The wording stamps are from Papermania.

And then when you open it out......

A blogging pal was looking for a template for a tri-fold pocket card and I joined the hunt and became so cross that I couldn't find one that I decided to make my own..... I grew to love the design so much I decided they just had to be the format for my invites.  Now being a bit tight (perhaps that should be thrifty.... or careful....) I've designed these to be cut from one sheet of A4 each as you will see below (if you haven't lost the will to live before you get there!)

I had so much trouble finding some beautiful decorative scrolls and accents to add to my inserts that in the end I approached the lovely Lynne at Sentiments 4 You and she designed this beautiful set just for me - isn't she a sweetie!  I've printed the wording onto the same champagne coloured pearlescent paper I used on the front.

The little pocket contains tags with all the little bits of information my guests need - directions, accommodation information, gift info and the RSVP card in its own little envelope :-) I decorated the pocket with the antique gold pearlescent paper I had used as a matt for the wording and the butterflies on the front. A pain in the bum to do but worth it!

Paul and I have been together for years so we don't need any pressies so instead we're having a wishing well. If you're not familiar with the idea, your guests can throw some pennies into the wishing well instead of buying a present and make a wish for you instead. There are loads of wishing well poems out there but I couldn't find any that said exactly what I wanted to say, so instead I pinched bits from several and made up my own.  You should be able to read it if you click on the piccie and enlarge it....

When you fold it all up it looks like an envelope at the back so I added a little envelope seal to keep it all intact....

So here's the tutorial bit.....

Start with your piece of A4 card in the landscape orientation.

The measurements starting top RIGHT and moving across to the left are 1cm, 10cm, 10.2cm, 4cm.

Repeat those measurements 14cm down the page.

Make the envelope flap by measuring 6cm out from the point halfway down the left-hand vertical line (7cm down)

The pocket is the tricky bit. Continue the two right-hand vertical lines another 6cm down the sheet. Between these lines you need to form the v-shape to make your pocket. I found the easiest way was to locate the centre of the right-hand panel (this is 6cm from the right-hand edge of the card) and measure down 4.5cm.  Add 1cm wide flaps to each side of the pocket as shown and then trim away the excess card.

Score and fold either side of the central panel, the base of the right-hand panel and the flaps on the pocket.....

If you want to decorate the right-hand panel, I would do that now before you stick the pocket in place.

IMPORTANT: Check the folding of your card is straight. The extra 0.2cm on the middle panel allows room for the pocket when folding so it is all aligned. If, when you fold it, it isn't quite square, cut a tiny way into the line between the pocket and the right-hand panel from the left-hand flap and tuck the flap in a little tighter. This seems to rectify most problems.....

Fix the pocket in place....

Check the folding of your card and decorate as you wish!

I hope that all sounds quite straight forward. It wasn't that hard really, once I'd figured out the measurements that worked. If I haven't explained myself very clearly, try enlarging the piccie with the measurements on it or feel free to ask me any questions. And please, if you have a go, let me know so I can pop over and have a nosey :-)

I'm entering this into the Anything Goes challenge over at CES challenges.

Anyway, if you've made it this far I'm impressed! And thank you! Hope I haven't bored you to tears :-)

Now please do remember to pop over to Dream Valley and join in with our ANYTHING GOES challenge and see what all my fab teamies have made and I PROMISE to go visiting all your blogs very soon.

Love 'n' hugs,