ANOTHER UPDATE: First Birthday Invites (with Pic) - suggestions needed please!

[ciaobella]

I can't believe that my little baby boy is turning one this month! I can honestly say that this has been the fastest year of my life! When I tell my mother this she just looks at me and says something like ... "It seems like yesterday YOU were a baby!"

Going through all of Andrew's pictures has been a lot of fun and I am so amazed at how much he has grown.

I have put together this collage for this first birthday party invitation (based on instructions I found searching the boards!). I just need to "dress it up" now. I have made a first attempt, but I am not happy with it at all. I am having trouble with background colors, fonts, etc. So, please tell me what you think! I am planning to print it as a 4X6 or 5X7 photo, drop them in envelopes and send them out.


So, here are my questions for the experts (i.e. other moms!):


1 - Do you prefer color or black and white?

2 - What do you think of the words on the invite? I am trying to keep the language on the invite to a minimum.

3 - Font and /or background color suggestions? There seems to be a lot of blank space. I can also cut the space off after it is printed ...

4 - What about clip art or somethinig like that to fill some of the blank space? We were thinking of having a luau and aksing everyone to come wearing Hawaiian gear. Where can I find fonts and art related to that theme?

5 - Please share any other ideas you have.


Thank you, thank you, thank you for your help!

UPDATE -
Thank you all so much for the compliments and the ideas!

Based on everyone's feedback I have made some changes. I couldn't resist a little clip art at the top and bottom. I
I appreciate any feedback on the revision.




http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/27945.jpg

[HannaAddict]

Andrew is adorable and I love the collage. I think I like the color pictures. And I think the wording is great, short and sweet. Perfect. Maybe center the "where and when" wording at the bottom and see how that looks? It may take up some of the empty space. I will defer to the incredible mamas on the board for what clip art is available and where to put it, but I really like your start and think the pictures turned out fabulous.

Kimberly
DS 3/18/04

[jamsmu]

I really like the one-side card that you made (rather than one you have to open. And I love the black background with the bright colored pics!) I don't think there's much I'd change. Definitely wouldn't add clipart--it distracts from the adorable pictures.

[amp]

I like the color version, although both are nice. If you choose B&W, maybe use a different background color and/or font to set the pics and the words off more.

Also, I agree w/ centering the text on the bottom for more uniformity.

Your kid is cute!

[August Mom]

I like it! I don't think I'd add clipart either, but you might want to mention the luau/wearing Hawaiian outfit on the invitation and that would take up space. If you don't add more lines of text, I would put the space between the pictures and the text rather than the text and the border, I think.

I like the color photos and they look really good on the black background. The only thing I'm wondering is whether a brighter color would fit more with the luau theme. Maybe the color could be in the font instead. I might try red and see how that looks because several photos have red in them.

The font you chose is fun.

Happy upcoming birthday, Andrew!

[mharling]

I like the B&W. When I look at that one, I tend to focus on his features more vs. my eyes jumping from color to color on the other one.

I also agree about centering the text. Maybe this is just me, but I would also consider getting rid of "When:" and "Where:". They don't seem necessary to me.

Very cute!!!

Mary - Some days work. Some days don't.
Lane - April 2003
Faye - March 2005

[RwnMayfair]

I like it with the color pictures best. I dunno, it makes it pop more to me. :) I think the wording is fine too, though I'd suggest centering the when/where/RSVP text at the bottom. That'll help with that spot of empty space on the one side as well. And I wouldn't go with clip art either, since I really think that'll detract from the pictures of him. :)

If you want to do the luau, I'd either come up with a catchy phrase where you mention he's turning one that also mentions luau, or mention it at the bottom. (I'm only occasionally good with catchy phrases, and nothing's coming to me right now...) You could try to find a tropical-ish font, I suppose. That wouldn't detract too much from the pictures I don't think. I don't have any good suggestion on where to find fonts, though.

Otherwise, I like it a lot! :)

-Melissa

Taran, November 20, 2003

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_emerald_18m.gif - Eighteen months!
http://lilypie.com/baby2/031120/0/5/0/-5/.png
http://lilypie.com/days/050821/4/0/0/-5/.png

[pixelprincess]

Andrew is very cute!!

How about using black and white with a spot of color ie. one of your fav pictures in color?

[KrisM]

I like the color, too. I don't think you need any clip art. If you want to say something about a luau, you could shift everything up a bit and get some space at the bottom.

[August Mom]

I kind of like the clipart, as it turns out. I think I might try doing some of the text in the yellow color of your flowers.

Also, because you centered the text at the bottom, I would try centering the text at the top too.

[amp]

I like the centering much better. Looks pretty good!

[aliceinwonderland]

Very cute!! And, I love the name Andrew ;)

e.

[RwnMayfair]

I like it centered like that! I agree what someone else said though - maybe center the text at the top? And perhaps put the "It's s Luau!" in the same yellow as the flowers? (Or whatever color you find your Hawaiian shirts in, provided it's not a really dark color.)

It looks great though! :)

-Melissa

Taran, November 20, 2003

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_emerald_18m.gif - Eighteen months!
http://lilypie.com/baby2/031120/0/5/0/-5/.png
http://lilypie.com/days/050821/4/0/0/-5/.png