Late last month, a good friend of mine told me that her daughter had recently gotten engaged, and she asked if I could make the invitations for the wedding.  “Sure, Selina!  I’d love to!  When do you need them?” I asked, thinking I’d have tons of time to look for inspiration, designing, and then production.  Well, her response made me go wide-eyed: “Oh, not too soon.  How about two weeks?” she casually asked, thinking nothing of it.  Say WHAT?!?

TWO weeks??  TWO WEEKS??  Selina, I love you to death, but that’s a wee bit tight.  I mean, I am a stay-at-home-mom and most people think we have nothing but free time on our hands (ha, I wish!), but that is a very quick turn around time, because I’ve, ya know, got life going on.

Needless to say, I quickly got to scouring the interwebs looking for inspiration: nothing too fancy or expensive, but still special and memorable.  Got it.  That I could do….only during my son’s nap times though. {wink}

Oh, it’s also Silhouette Challenge time again!  This month’s theme is Parties (wedding = party) with a bonus challenge of Share a Free Cut File (which I’m also doing), so keep reading to check out my contribution as well as 17 others from my bloggy buddies!

[This post contains affiliate links.]

 

DIY Wedding Invites with a Mobile App and QR Code (and FREE Cut Files!)

Now these two lovebirds, Ashley and Jonathan, have been together for years and have a four-year-old daughter together, so this wedding is just going to be a casual affair for close family and friends.  Nothing too fancy, formal, or complicated….that’s right up my alley!

Selina (a.k.a Mommy Dearest) and I looked at a bunch of invitation examples online until we decided on a general style of paper invitation, then I got to work finalizing all the details.  I also surprised her with a mobile invitation, app, and QR code too!

 

Supplies for the Paper Invitations

• Printed invitations (I sent my print & cut file to Staples)
• 12″ x 12″ scrapbook paper for the decorative envelopes
• Printed QR code slips
• Double-sided tape
• Purple ribbon
• Silhouette Cameo & 12″ x 12″ cutting mat
• Scissors

 

The Invitations

I created the invitations in Silhouette Studio since I’d be cutting them out with my Cameo, and then saved the print & cut file (with registration marks) as a PDF.  That way, I could send the file to Staples to be printed….my printer eats ink like it’s free, plus I’d be able to use some heavy duty paper and make the invites *extra* fancy (but not too fancy).

NOTE: For complete details on all things print & cut, check this out!

 

My Remote Printing Experience

I first uploaded my PDF to Staples’ online print center, but my proof looked very fuzzy.  I was concerned that that’s how they would be printed (no bueno), so I decided to just run down the street to my local store with my Mac in hand and talked with the associate there.  She agreed that for some reason the file was being uploaded all wonky, so she gave me a USB and had me transfer my PDF onto it, then she loaded it directly into the printer’s computer.  That way we could bypass the “middleman” and keep the image sharp.

Several minutes later, my invites were printed…and they were sharp.  Wahoo!  We decided to have them printed on some heavy matte paper.  I’m not sure exactly what it’s called or its weight (shoulda saved the receipt!), but the Staples girl suggested it since it’s their most popular paper for invitations, and it’s cheaper than their heavy cardstock.  With that, I was sold.

 

Cutting Out the Wedding Invitations

Once my invitations were hot off the presses, I loaded a sheet onto my cutting mat and then into my Silhouette Cameo.  I also made sure to NOT MOVE MY DESIGN IN SILHOUETTE STUDIO AFTER PRINTING.  That would have resulted in all my cuts being off, and a whole lot of wasted time and money.

Silhouette Cut Settings for the Invitations: A test cut revealed that the default Chipboard cut settings worked perfectly.  These settings also work great at cutting cereal boxes too!

• Speed: 1
• Thickness: 33
• Blade: 5
• Cutting Mat: Checked

I then detected my registration marks and got to cutting….

 

….and my invites started to take shape!  I did have a few hiccups with this step though since some of the invites started to be cut incorrectly for some reason….gotta love technology that cops an attitude on ya.  That’s why it’s always wise to print out a few extra copies just in case.

 

The Decorative Envelopes

Once all the invites were cut, it was on to the decorative envelopes.  These were created for the invites and QR codes (more on those below!) to slip right inside and add a cute little element.  Also, since the wedding is going to be a small affair, most of the invites will be handed out as opposed to getting mailed, so these are way cooler than your average envelope.

I’m not a big scrapbooking gal and don’t know much about different paper weights, where to score good deals, what type of paper cuts well, and so on….but my bloggy buddy Kelly from Simply Kelly Designs does!  I refer to her as the Queen of Scrapbooking because she is very deserving of that title.  Needless to say, I sent her a bunch of questions, so thanks for the advice, Kelly! :)

The cut file for these envelopes was really easy to create.  Just a few shapes, some subtracting, and a little welding was all it took.  A standard cut line around the edges and two perforated cut lines where the folds would be were then designated and it was complete.  I also made the flap on one of the sides a little longer than the other, that way some adhesive could be added to attach the flaps together.

Oh, you can snag the free file for this decorative envelope as well as the invitation below!

 

Their wedding colors are purple and silver, so I used some pretty purple scrapbook paper that had decorative swirls in a lighter shade of purple.

Silhouette Cut Settings for the Decorative Envelopes: I used the default settings for Patterned Paper since this was a little thicker than standard print paper and my Cameo cut it perfectly!

• Speed: 5
• Thickness: 30
• Blade: 3
• Cutting Mat: Checked

 

Working one sheet at a time, I loaded it onto my cutting mat then into my Silhouette and got to cutting.

 

In no time, I had custom-made envelopes.  Those perforations make folding a breeze….plus the sound that the Silhouette makes while cutting a perforated line gets me feeling like I’m at a rave and I need to bust out a glow stick and ring pop.  It’s got a nice beat. ;)

(Side note: I have never actually been to a rave.  I’m boring.  And can’t dance.)

 

To close up the envelope, I just used a strip of double-sided tape that I first cut in half so it wasn’t so wide….

 

….then folded the tabs onto each other.  Wham-o!  Instant decorative envelope.

 

I then fancied them up a bit more with some purple ribbon and a cute bow (or at least as cute as I can make them).

 

Mobile Wedding Invitation/App & QR Code, Too!

Now THIS is where it gets exciting….the Mobile Wedding Invite/App and QR Code!!

I know a guy who happens to create mobile invitations and apps for weddings, birthday parties, showers, corporate events, or any other type of gathering.

Since Selina is a good friend of mine, I asked him if he could throw one together for this shindig.  This way they could save a little money by not needing as many paper invites, and still send these mobile invites out quickly as a sort of fancy save-the-date card and invitation all in one.

 

The Mobile Wedding Invite:  After scanning a QR code (more on this below) or using a link that Selina and/or Ashley can email/text/share on social media, guests can then access Ashley’s mobile invitation where they’ll be able to:

• See all the details that are included in the traditional paper invite (date, time, location, etc.).
• RSVP (which gets sent directly to Ashley’s email or in an Excel file….great for planning!).
• Access a Google map and get directions to the wedding location.
• Browse and make a purchase off the wedding registry (super convenient!).
• View any social networks (like a Facebook page) or wedding site.
• Scroll through a photo album of engagement photos.

Here’s a screenshot of the invitation’s homepage, complete with their matching wedding colors and little Lily flower icons in honor of their adorable daughter.  The paper invites I created coordinate nicely with it.

 

The Mobile Invite Can Become an App:  Invitees can even save the mobile wedding invite to their home screen as an app or bookmark it for quick and easy viewing.  This comes in super handy in the event of lost or forgotten paper invites….I know my husband and I have left the house for a party only to have to turn around and retrieve the invitation since my scatterbrain left it on the refrigerator!

Ashley and Jonathan didn’t mess with a registry or engagement photos since they’ve been together for so long (my husband and I did the same thing), but you can include links to Bed, Bath, & Beyond, Macy’s, Amazon, Target, or wherever you’re registered, as well as any other wedding sites you may have created, again making it super easy and convenient for your guests.  Technology for the win!

Here are screenshots of their mobile invite’s pages….pretty cool, huh?

 

The QR Code: You’ve probably seen these QR (or quick response) codes around.  They’re squares filled in with a seemingly random pattern of black and white markings that look more like an alien language as opposed to a cool easily-useable technology for mere humans.  They certainly don’t look like they belong in a wedding invitation, amiright?  Well, it’s time to join the 21st century, friends!

I got married long before this QR code thing was a thing, but while researching invites for this project, I noticed that including them with wedding invitations is becoming quite popular.  Some people actually print the QR code on the invitation itself, but since I wanted to include some instructions with how/why to use it, I decided to make a separate slip of paper.  Also, Selina and Ashley will probably want to save some invites as keepsakes for the wedding album, and having a super techy ET-phone-home-esque box is kind of a buzz kill in the lovey-dovey department, so the code was kept separate.

The QR code was sent to me, and then I designed the strips with some more added details in Silhouette Studio.  I skipped the print & cut process with these since they were easy enough to cut out with my paper trimmer.  They were instead just printed sans registration marks on regular printer paper.

 

And here they are!  They’re just basic little strips of paper that can easily be slid in with the invitation. Now folks can simply scan the QR code with a free app on their phones/tablets (here’s the one I use) and access all kinds of info and fun stuff!

 

The Completed Wedding Invitation, Decorative Envelope, & QR Code!

And here’s the completed paper invite, decorative envelope, and QR code slip!  Nothing too fancy, but still pretty special for a big day.

 

Everything slips together into this cute little package and can easily be handed out to invitees, or mailed in a separate envelope.

 

FREE Cut Files!

I’m also sharing the cut files I made for this project!  Feel free to download the .studio template for the invitation and/or the decorative envelope and use them for your next party!  They’re sized to fit within a 5″ x 7″ envelope but can easily be resized.

>>> CLICK HERE to download these free party invitation cut files! <<<

{The Fine Print: These free cut files are for PERSONAL USE ONLY.  That means you are permitted to use them for yourself or as a gift, but you may NOT sell things created with them or redistribute the files themselves.  Please review my policy information for more details.  Thanks!}

 

More FREE Silhouette Cut Files!

My Project Gallery has lots of other freebies I’ve shared so far, including a bunch of free Silhouette cut files….you may find something that tickles your fancy!

 

The Silhouette Challenge!

It’s Silhouette Challenge time again!  Woot woot!  Like I said, this month’s theme is Parties with a bonus challenge of Share a Free Cut File, so hop around and see what 17 of my bloggy buddies are showing off today!

1. Two Purple Couches // 2. Practically Functional // 3. Crafty Bonds // 4. Dragonfly & Lily Pads // 5. From Whine to Whine // 6. Simply Kelly Designs // 7. unOriginal Mom // 8. MamaSonshine // 9. Get Silvered // 10. Made in a Day // 11. Weekend Craft // 12. Little Blue’s Room // 13. The Stamp Doc // 14. The Thinking Closet // 15. Cupcakes&Crowbars // 16. Where The Smiles Have Been // 17. DIYJustCuz // 18. My Paper Craze

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!