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Come Party With Me: Annabelle's Birthday - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:15:55 -0700

Meet Annabelle Buffy Durbin, FabSugar's cutie-pie, social butterfly Frenchie. Always the adorable center of attention, Annabelle's fourth birthday is on July 14 and Fab's throwing her a paw-ty next weekend.

She asked me to help with the the planning, so all this week I'm sharing the details with you. Consider hosting a party for your pet! Before we can talk doggie cupcakes, Fab has to send the invite.

To learn how I turned this picture of Annabelle into an emailable invitation, read more.

I started by dropping and dragging the image into Photoshop. Then, I cropped the image, cutting out the excess top and bottom. I copied and pasted it into a new larger window. From there, I added this text:

Annabelle Is Turning 4!

To celebrate she wants to give you a kiss at her birthday pawty!

Sunday, July 25, 2009, 3:00 p.m.
The Durbin Domaine, Oaktown

Please RSVP to FabSugar. Doggie BFs welcome!

With the eyedropper tool, I was able to change the color of the text to match Annabelle's lei. After getting Fab's stamp of approval, I saved the image as a jpeg, attached in an email, and sent. Have you ever hosted a birthday party for a pet?

Come Party With Me: Chinese New Year - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:13:18 -0800

This year, the start of Chinese New Year falls on Feb. 7, and the celebratory festivities last for 15 whole days! To kick off the fun, I'm putting together a Chinese-themed dinner party. Gather together a group of friends and throw your own version of this party. All week I'll provide you with tips and ideas for a fabulous Chinese New Year. Before the event can begin, we have to send invitations. To see how I made these sparkling invites that can be modified to suit any lunar New year celebration, read more.

To make a similar invitation you will need the following supplies:

sparkling paper
cardstock
decorative paper
scissors
glue
tape
single hole punch
ribbon
computer and printer
image of a rat

To assemble the invite:

Start by creating a new document in Microsoft Word. Drag the image of the rat into the document. Write out the details of the party. On mine I used the font Herculanum in size 14 to write:

Please join me in celebrating
the Chinese New Year

Saturday, February 9
Dinner 7:30 pm
Fireworks to follow

PartySugar’s House
San Francisco
Please RSVP 415.513.9815

Print out on a plain piece of paper and check for grammar and spelling mistakes. Once satisfied with the look of the text, print out on the cardstock. Cut down to size.

With a glue stick, glue the decorative paper to the back side of the invite. Cut down to size and set aside to dry.

Fold the other piece of cardstock in half widthwise and cut along the line.

Fold one of the cardstock halves in half so you end up with a quarter of the cardstock. Close up both the bottom and side of the folded cardstock with tape. What you want to create is an envelope.

Glue the sparkling paper to the outside of the envelope, set aside to dry.

Punch a hole in the center top of the text portion of the invite. Pull the ribbon through and tie a knot as you would with a bookmark.

Slide the text portion of the invite into the sparkling red envelope. Place in another envelope, address with your best handwriting, and send.

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Come Party With Me: Super Bowl - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:20:19 -0800

Although it's not an official holiday, the Super Bowl is a wonderful excuse to host a party! I'm sure plenty of you are planning some sort of watching event this weekend, so feel free to take my ideas and make them your own. All week we'll be featuring winning recipes and touchdown tips. To start things off we have to send invitations. While you could remain neutral in the invite, I like to show spirit for the team I'm rooting for. To see how I made these simple, not-too-feminine New England Patriot invites, read more.

To make an invite similar to the one seen here you will need the following supplies:

cardstock
scissors
glue
image of a football field
computer and printer

To assemble the invite:

Start by dragging the image into a new document on Microsoft Word. Add the text You're Invited to the image. This will serve as the front of the invite. Print out on a white piece of cardstock and cut down to size. Set aside.

Open another new document and write out the details of the party. For my invite I used the font BlairMdITC TT-Medium in size 16 to write:

No matter who wins, odds are you’ll have fun at my Super Bowl Party!

Sunday, February 3, 2008
The party kicks off at 2:30 p.m.

PartySugar’s House, San Francisco
Please rsvp: 415.555.5555

Go Patriots!

Center the text to the bottom half of the page. Print out on a plain sheet of paper and check for grammar or spelling mistakes. Once satisfied with the text, print out on the cardstock.

Fold the cardstock in half over the text.

Glue the football field image to the front cover of the invite.

Slide into an envelope and send.

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Come Party With Me: My First Thanksgiving - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:15:13 -0700

To help you prepare the most perfect Thanksgiving dinner ever, I will be planning not one, but three fabulous Thanksgiving parties throughout the month of November!

To start things off, I'm creating a plan for those of you who are hosting your first Thanksgiving dinner. I planned and cooked my first Thanksgiving dinner the fall after I graduated from college. While it had plenty of crises, it was a fabulous success! By following my detailed plan of ideas yours too can be a memorable event. Let's start by making a simple, but gorgegous invitation. To see how I made the glittery one at right, read more

To make an invitation similar to the one seen here you will need the following supplies:

cardstock
scissors
glitter
glue
ribbon
computer and printer>

To assemble the invitation:

Create a new document in Microsoft Word on your computer. Center the text to the left hand column and write out the details of the dinner. On my invite, in Mona Lisa Solid ITC TT, I wrote:

Your presence is requested at a dinner celebration.
Please join me in giving thanks.

Thursday, November 22, 2007
5 in the afternoon

PartySugar’s House,
San Francisco

Rsvp 415.555.5555
by Nov. 19

Print out a test copy on a blank sheet of paper. Once satisfied with the text, print out on the cardstock.

Fold the cardstock in half, closing the text inside like a book.

Press glue onto back of ribbon and paste on the invite in a decorative way.

Cover with a piece of foil.

With the glue, cover the front of the invite entirely. Sprinkle with the glitter. Set aside and let dry overnight.

Take the foil off of the invite and carefully slide into an envelope and send, addressed in your best handwriting.

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Come Party With Me: My Birthday Party - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 08:57:13 -0700

It's only 13 short days until my 26th birthday, so it's time I get moving on the party! I take my birthdays very seriously and by serious I mean I celebrate the entire month of September and always have a fabulous party. My last birthday blow out bash was in 2003, so this year I am hosting a huge cocktail party and inviting everyone I know. I've reserved a bar called Wish, here in San Francisco, and instead of asking guests to wear cocktail attire, I'm asking them to come dressed as their favorite cocktail. How will I do this? With a cleaver and crafty invitation, of course! To see how I made it, read more

To make an invitation like the one seen here you will need:

cardstock
shiny vellum paper
scissors
hole punch
ribbon
computer & printer

To assemble the invite:

Start by finding images that you like. I used silhouettes of glassware. A martini glass, a champagne glass, a wine glass, etc. and scattered them randomly around the cover. On the front write a similar message: You're Invited To A Cocktail Party. Next print out a test copy on plain white paper to check for mistakes. Once satisfied with the look and text, print out on the cardstock of your choice. Set aside.

On to the second page: find an image of a lemon twist and drag it into a new Word document. Add the text: With A Twist... next to the lemon. Print out a test copy on plain white paper to check for mistakes. Once satisfied with the look and text, print out on the vellum paper. Set aside.

For the final and last page, open a new Word document and write the details of the party. I used Zafiro font in size 12 to write

Please come dressed as your favorite cocktail!
Celebrate PartySugar’s 26th Birthday
Thursday, September 27 2007
10:00 PM

Wish Bar
1539 Folsom, SF

rsvp 415.555.5555 gifts welcome

Print out a test copy on plain white paper to check for mistakes. Once satisfied with the look and text, print out on the same color cardstock as the front of the invite.

Cut each down to 5 inches by 5 inches.

Punch two holes in the left hand side of mini booklet invite. Slide a piece of ribbon into each hole and tie a pretty bow to secure the invite.

Send in an envelope addressed with your best handwriting sealed with a golden cocktail sticker.

Got an awesome idea for my birthday party? I would love to hear it! Please share it with me below!

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Come Party With Me: Father's Day - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 07:01:07 -0700

Since my little sister is graduating on Father's Day, my dad and I agreed to postpone the real father's day festivities until the following weekend - just in time for a big, local Nascar race. To celebrate dad, I'm inviting all of his buddies (and mine) for a chic picnic at the car races. Since they take place in Sonoma, it will be more of a wine and sandwich party rather than a beer and hot dog sort of thing. To start things off I'm making the invitation, a red, white, and black affair so come party with me, just read more

To make an invitation similar to this one you will need:

a race car image
scissors
glue
nice black pen
cardstock in the color of your choice
computer & printer

To assemble a similar invitation:

Stat by pasting your race car image into a new document in Microsoft Word. Insert a text box to the right of the image. Fill text box with the details of the party. On mine I wrote:

In celebration of my Father…
You’re invited to a day at the races

Sunday June 24, 2007
High Noon

Infineon Raceway
Gate 6, Picnic Tables
Sonoma, CA

BYOB
Please rsvp 415.555.5555

I also included the directions.

Next I inserted small square boxes along the top and bottom to create a checkerboard border inspired by the flags at the races.
Print the invitation out and double check for spelling/grammatical errors. Once satisfied with the invitation, cut down to size leaving a teeny border around the edge of the pages.

Glue to the red cardstock.

Cut the cardstock down to size.

Instead of sending in an envelope, simply address and stamp the backside of the invitation. If the size of your invite is larger than a normal card, be sure to add an extra stamp to ensure its arrival.

How will you and your dad celebrate father's day?? Share your plans below!

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Come Party With Me: KatieSugar's First Birthday Party - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 16:08:13 -0700

Well folks, KatieSugar is nearing in on a very important date...her first birthday! To commemorate this momentous occasion, I'm planning a fabulous birthday extravaganza for her! KatieSugar is our very own little celebrity baby, so the party should rival the little birthday bashes of other fabulous famous baby girls: Suri, Violet, Ramona and Shiloh. The party is not until June, but it's time to get the planning under way. A baby's first birthday is a celebration more for the parents, family, and friends of the baby rather than for the baby herself. For a parent it's one of the most memorable birthdays in a child's life, so I am going to do everything I can to make it as wonderful as possible for Lisa and Brian. The party will take its theme from the blue and pink stripes that grace the walls of Katie's bedroom and the food will be inspired by all things little. So stay tuned all week for more on KatieSugar's birthday. To see the invitation I'll be sending to her grandparents, aunts, and uncles, and special friends, read more

To make KatieSugar's 1st birthday invitation you will need:

pink cardstock (or if you have a baby boy who is turning 1, substitute blue)
decorative paper
pinking shears or other decorative edge scissors
satin ribbon
glue
scissors
computer and printer

To assemble the invite:

Start by creating a new word document on your computer. In the font of your choice (I used Helvetica Neue in size 14 bold) write out the information concerning your party:

Katie Sugar Is Turning 1!

Lisa & Brian invite you to join
them for a little celebration
in honor of Katie’s birthday

Saturday June 2
1:00 pm
The Sugar House
San Francisco, CA

Please rsvp to PartySugar 415.555.5555

Print a test copy of the detail sheet to check for correct size, layout, and grammar. Make the necessary changes and when you are happy with the final product, print out on the pink cardstock. Set aside.

Cut the decorative paper down to size with the pinking shears. This is going to be the backing of the front of the invite to which you will mount the pink text page.

If desired, glue a decorative backing to the invite - so if flipped over it won't be a plain white sheet. (I did this.)

Cut the pink text sheet down to size making it about 1 inch smaller than the decorative backing.

Glue the text info to the backing.

Carefully cut 2 small slits or holes at the top. Slide a small piece of ribbon through and tie a pretty bow. Voila! Your invite is complete!

Send in lovely little envelopes with the names of your guests written in your best handwriting.

What sort of invite did you send when planning your child's first birthday celebration? There is lots more to come on this party, so check back throughout the week for more KatieSugar!

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Announcing Our Free Invites on Pingg!

partysugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:30:02 -0700

Just in time for wedding season, I'm extremely excited to announce our partnership with my favorite online-invitation service, Pingg! Our fabulous designer has created a series of invitations for you to customize and send for free. Whether you're looking for an invite to an engagement or bachelorette party, bridal or baby shower, we've got you covered with multiple designs for each occasion. Pingg is incredibly easy to use: you simply upload the event information, customize the invite to your liking, and select your preferred method for sending (you can email, Facebook, or print and snail mail). I hope you will enjoy these wonderful invites as much as I do!

Come Party With Me: My Birthday Party - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:50:55 -0700

Well folks, it's time for me to plan my favorite event of the year - my birthday party! Since I threw a blow-out bash at a bar for 27 and a big picnic at an oyster farm for 27.5, I've decided that, for 28, things should be more subdued. Thus, I'm hosting an intimate dinner party for me and my 20 closest friends. The dinner will be served in my grandfather's gorgeous backyard, but before I can think about the menu, I have to send invitations. To learn how I made the ones seen here, read more.

I wanted an invite that looks clean, fun, and is representative of my personality. After searching several paper stores in San Francisco, I decided on a navy, cream, and turquoise theme. I purchased the majority of my supplies at Paper Source. Here's what I used:

Dark blue cardstock
Decorative paper
Glittery paper
Satin ribbon
Single hole punch
Sequins
Glue
Cream printer paper
computer
printer

Here's how I made the invite:

First, I decided on the long rectangular shape (4 1/8x9 1/2 inch) of the envelope. Next I cut the navy cardstock down to 4-x-9 inches. This would be the base of the invite.
I created a stencil of the word party by opening a blank workbook sized at 4-x-9 inches in Photoshop. I made the font as large as it could be (to fit in the space) and printed on regular paper. Using a pencil, I carefully connected the letters and cut out the word. I traced it onto a thick piece of cardstock and cut out again to create a stencil.
I traced the stencil onto the glittery paper and cut out 20.

Next I focused on the text. I opened another blank workbook, this time sized at 3-x-8 inches. Then I wrote the following message:

Your presence is requested at a birthday dinner to honor PartySugar

Saturday, September 19, 2009
Cocktails begin at 6:45

Al Hogan's House
Alamo, California 94507

Dress your best!
Regrets only: 415.444.4444

I printed this out and had FabSugar check for spelling and grammatical errors. When I was satisfied with the text, I printed it with a thin border on 23 sheets of nice paper. I cut these down to size.

To create a border for the back of the invite, I cut the decorative paper into 1-inch strips.
Next I cut the satin ribbon down to 3-4 inch pieces. I needed 4 ribbons for each invite, in total 80 ribbons.

Once I had all of the elements ready, it was time to assemble. I punched a whole in the glittery word Party and the base navy cardstock in four places: at the bottom and top of the P and the bottom and top of the Y. I used the ribbon to tie the glittery party stencil to the navy-blue cardstock, and repeated until all the invites were complete.

Then I turned the invite over and glued the decorative paper strips onto the edge of the navy cardstock to create a border. I trimmed off the excess and used this to fill in the remaining sides, repeating until each invite back had a border.

I glued the text to the middle of the back of the invite and repeated until all the invite backs were finished.

To give the invites some sparkle, I glued several sequins to the front (the side with the word party) of each invite. Then I set all of the invites aside to dry for several hours.

I slide the completed invites into the envelopes, addressed them with a nice navy pen, and sent!

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Gorgeous and Glamourous Wedding Invitations

partysugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:12:58 -0700

After selecting the location and date of your wedding, the next most important decision is the design of your invitation. The invite should clearly illustrate the mood, atmosphere, and overall theme of your wedding. Before deciding on a look for your wedding's invitation, be sure to browse plenty of invites to figure out what kind is right for you and your fiancé. To inspire you, I've rounded up a bunch of my favorite invites. To check them out please click on the "Start" button.

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