Baby Announcements

[natthecataz]

I am working on the design of my announcements for my twins due this spring. I am trying to find vellum paper that can be used in an inkjet printer. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with making thier own announcements and using vellum to do so? THX

[brigmaman]

Hi, I used pastel polka-dot vellum that I just happened to find on clearance at Walmart (in the scrapbooking aisle). Our Walmart has a nice craft section. The sheets came in 8 1/2 x 11 and so I ended up cutting them, printing the info on my computer, and attaching them with a ribbon to blank notecards that I also found at Walmart. Before that, I feel like I looked everywhere. Last time I was at Target they had some printer-friendly invitation kits. I know I saw a kit that would have made my project 100 times easier.
HTH, good luck!

[Dyonia]

Hi --

Try Michaels craft stores ( www.Michaels.com ) to see if they have it on hand -- be sure and check the wedding section as well b/c there are plain kits available that will make life easier.

If Michaels doesn't have an inkjet-compatible vellum, then it gets tougher. I found very few online sources, but try these links:

http://www.mcgpaper.com/vellum1.html

http://www.thecraftypc.com/funpapers.html (halfway down the page)

http://www.artsuppliesonline.com/cat...m?cata_id=7610

http://www.digitalartsupplies.com/vellum.html

http://handmade-paper.us/page/CPO/CTGY/las

http://www.mccallisters.com/decorati...rs/vellums.htm

http://www.####blick.com/zz117/22/pr...m=0&ig_id=5615


I've used vellum for projects, but only in a laserjet printer, so I'm not much help there.

Have you tried calling Staples or Office Depot on the off chance that they would have something suitable? Most of the links above sell the vellum in quanities of around 10 sheets, so it could really add up.

Hope this helps somehow!
--Donna

[papal]

Ohhh exciting.. something i finally know something about!
We made our own announcements using vellum. It was a 12x12 vellum so we cut it to 8.5x11 (at kinkos using the cutter). I designed my cards to fit on a 8.5x11 and then printed it out on regular cardstock on a laser printer. THEN, you use the laser photocopier machine (at kinkos) and COPY that onto the vellum sheets. Does that make sense? You will save some $$ too since it is just a photocopy. It turns out really nice too.
Here is the vellum i used:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/2416.jpg

I got it here:
http://store.scrapbook.com/sei-255-76221.html

I used white cardstock behind the vellum and tied both together with eyelets.
Here is what the final result looked like (not a very good scan.. but you get the idea).
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/2417.jpg


Ask away if you have any further questions!!

ETA: I just modified the announcement picture to block out our last name.

Rashmi
(mom to Leela, born 10.17.03)

[amp]

I was concerned about this too when we made ours, especially since I'd had some problems with ink running/smearing on some cheap vellum I had. I ended up just buying some from my local scrapbook store and it worked out fine. I just made sure not to stack any of the printouts until they had sat and dried for like 3 days. Overkill, I know, but I didn't want any screwups! It worked out just fine. And I made sure when I attached them, that my hand didn't sit on the type so I couldn't smear it that way either. FWIW, I did a google search at the time I was looking for the vellum and I did find some that claimed to work fine with inkjet printers, but I didn't end up buying any, so I can't even tell you where it was. Good luck!

[lmariana]

Here's a Christmas party invitation I made using some vellum that I found at our local office supply store, Staples. It comes in a pack of 25, 8.5" x 11" sheets for about $6. It includes clear, pastel pink, pastel blue, pastel yellow, and pastel green vellum. You can find it in the invitations section, where they have a bunch of wedding stationary for printing your own inviations.

I just designed the invitation on my computer using Powerpoint and printed out 4 per page in my inkjet. Instead of using a paper cutter, I just used a ruler and ripped the edges for the "unfinished" look, which I like. I found some blank white note cards at Michael's which I cut in half to get the backing. The note cards already brought the envelopes, so I was all set to go! I just assembled the invitations by punching two holes at the top and running a ribbon through to hold everyting together.

Hopes this helps!

Mariana
Mother of Gabriel, 08/14/2003

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/2545.jpg

[caheinz]

We're planning to make announcements that are somewhat similar to Mariana's Christmas invite. Pastel blue vellum over white card stock, with a ribbon through the top.

I got the vellum at this site: http://www.paperandmore.com/cat-vellum.html

Seemed to be a decent price (lots cheaper than the per-sheet price at our Michaels!), and lots of color options. It came really fast (within 3 days, I think!), and they upgraded the shipping for free. Haven't printed on it yet, but it says it can be laser- or inkjet- (black only) printed.

I just got the card stock and half-sheet sized envelopes from Office Depot.

I think I did a search on vellum on Google, and ended up with a bunch of places. DH liked the blue they had here, though, which I think was the main reason I ordered here.

Cheryl
EDD#1: 3/24/04

[Lynnie]

what great ideas !

anyone make any photo announcements ?? i have friends who sent beautiful holiday photo cards, and would like to try to make my own birth announcements with a pic of my 2 year old and the new baby, and would love some hints or ideas ... i have a digital camera, a color printer, and don't live too far from a kinkos, but don't know where to start, like if i would need a special program or software like photoshop, etc.

thanks !