Opinions Needed on Birthday Invitation - UPDATED PHOTOS

[August Mom]

I've been working on DS's birthday party invitation and thought I'd share. You always have such great advice on these sorts of things. (I scrapped the earlier montage idea for those of you following my saga).

This is a rough draft. I need to clean up the edges around DS and Thomas, I know.

I'm mainly interested in thoughts on background/font colors, fonts and general layout.

Also, on the little sign, do you like "You're Invited" or "It's a Party"?

Finally, does DS's hand look weird? It was the best photo I had of him in Thomas gear from our Day Out with Thomas, but he was leaning against something, which is why I thought I'd make a sign of sorts for him to hold against the background.

Any other thoughts would be great. The party info will be on the inside. The photo is the cover of the invitation.

ETA: In case you couldn't guess, we're having a Thomas party now. DS changed his mind from the firetruck theme I mentioned earlier.

TIA

UPDATE: I have incorporated some suggestions - thank you all - and now wonder what you think. One is the original format with a yellow background. The other has a RR crossing sign (thanks for that idea) with a red background. On the sign - do you think it's the right proportion? Please let me know what you think. I obsess over these things too much. :) TIA


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/27948.jpg


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[MelissaTC]

I think it is adorable. We have the same t-shirt. :)

We just did a Thomas/train party. I bought the cutest engineer hats and goodie boxes from www.birthdayexpress.com . I was really happy with their service, etc.. in case you are needing to find favors, etc.. I bought train whistles from www.orientaltrading.com . They are ok.

[August Mom]

Thanks for that advice. I had been thinking firetrucks, so I need to switch gears for Thomas. Thanks for the links.

[kristenk]

This is just a quick on-my-way-to-bed thought, but what if it looked like he was holding the sign (or a birthday invite) instead of leaning against it? I can't tell if it would work or not, but I'm thinking of shifting the sign up a little and having his thumb "on" the sign but having his fingers hidden behind the sign. Would that work? Or would it be too much work?! LOL It's also really cute just the way it is!

[DebbieJ]

I would change the background color. Maybe yellow? It just looks too blue to me.

~ deb
DS 12/03
And a niece or nephew arriving in early August!

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[zuzu]

So cute! What a big boy. :)

I really admire those of you who have the talent and patience to make your own invitations/cards.

I agree that the hand looks a little off, but I'm not sure the best way to fix it. Can you make the sign be on a post that is angled to match the angle of his hand? You could make it like a railroad sign, and if his hand is on the post and not the sign itself, it may draw attention away from his hand. (Not sure if that makes any sense or is possible - I'm a Photoshop novice, at best.) Maybe try a yellow background to bring the focus more on Justin and less on the blue background?

Melissa, mom to Sarah (5/03)

[amp]

I'm also thinking maybe too much blue. Thomas gets a little lost in the blue.

And just personally, I would put an exclamation point after "Justin's Turning 3!" 'Cause it's a big deal!

[luvbeinmama]

I like the red one!

[nigele]

I think the red one is precious. His hand lookes adorable on the R/R sign! Great job!

[ett]

I like the red one. Very cute!

[amp]

Both the red and yellow work better for me than the original blue, but I prefer the red, w/ the yellow RR Crossing sign. I can't believe Justin is turning 3!

[kalebsmama]

I like them both, but the red is my favorite! I think the original blue was a little too blue. Looks like Justin had a great time at DOWT!

[mudder17]

Wow, the red one is wonderful! I love how the colors work in that one! I think it's a keeper! ;)


Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif for Leah

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 16 months & counting


http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_4_Kaya+is.png

[DebbieJ]

I vote for the red one.

Excellent job!

~ deb
DS 12/03
And a niece or nephew arriving in early August!

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/10029.gif

[Tongtong]

I love the red one.

I am looking for some suggestions from you all.Currently I am planning a B-Day party for my 3 year old. I can't decide on the invitations.

I have been looking for shutterfly.com, and other site- where I could upload my son' picture with Thomas train. But all Shutterfly.com and other site where I could customize invitations, are so expensive- $2.49 per invitation+ shipping. I am thinking to send at least 24 invitations.

I don't like to write on the blank Thomas card that you could buy from Party City, or the complimentary cards I get from Gymboree.

Any idea, I could do it with less time and money, but train theme party invitations? Possibly with my son' picture on it?

Thanks in advance

[jamsmu]

We did Kinkos for DS' first party. I just took the image their on a CD and the guy helped me to make sure the size was right. They printed it, I cut it, and they had envelopes there. Very easy!

For our holiday card, I purchased photo paper from Staples and printed and cut at home. They have the envelopes at Staples as well.

[ribbit1019]

I like the red one Chanda. Makes Justin stand out more.
It looks really great though.

Christy
Maddy - walking finally!

http://lilypie.com/baby2/040609/3/4/0/-5/.png
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[August Mom]

I wound up getting mine printed at www.winkflash.com. The 5x7 invitations are $.99 each and the 3.5x5 (I think that's the size - I might be off) are $.89 each. Flat rate shipping of $1.99 for cards ($.99 for prints). I was pleased with how they turned out. The other suggestion poster had for less expensive alternatives was to go to Michaels and get blank cards that let you insert your own photo. I think they were 12 for $10 or something like that. And, if you used a 40% off coupon, of course they'd be less. The other thing I considered was uploading the photo and ordering notecards from Shutterfly and then printing the inside text at home, but I wasn't sure how that would turn out. HTH

[wilelm]

I like the yellow background.

Sheila
Mother of Miriam, 03/10/03 and
Gabriel, 12/30/04

[Tongtong]

Hi
Thanks for suggestions. How much does it cost at Kinko? Did that turn out nice? Which one looks nicer- printing on Photo Paper with color ink printer or print out at Kinko?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts

Tongtong

[jamsmu]

I don't remember the cost, maybe a dollar per sheet? But I'm totally guessing--and the sheets fit 4 post card sized cards on them.

They both turned out nicely. The ones at Kinko's were on cardstock while the ones at home were on photopaper, so they were more glossy. Just a matter of what you like.