Brides are always looking for a fun and unique way to set their stationery apart from others out there. Well we just ran into a great idea for a DIY save-the-date card over at Martha Stewart Weddings. It’s not only cute but interactive as well! Guests are sure to clear their calendar for your special day with this original card.
- Ink-jet and laser printer
- 8 1/2-by-11-inch card stock in white or cream (you will print 2 cards per sheet)
- Craft knife and metal ruler
- Metallic acrylic paint (we used Golden Artist Colors acrylic paint in iridescent silver, $4.75, utrechtart.com)
- Liquid dish soap
- 1/4-inch-wide watercolor brush
- A7 envelopes (5 1/4 by 7 1/4 inches)
- Pennies
Basic How-To
- Download Martha’s PDF file, and open it using Adobe Acrobat Reader (if you are using a Mac, use Reader instead of Apple’s Preview application).
- Replace the placeholder text with your own (you only need to do this in one box; the form will automatically fill in the rest), and print onto card stock.
- Use the craft knife and metal ruler to cut between the crop marks (do not cut all the way to the edges of the paper; this will leave the crop marks intact around all the edges to guide subsequent cuts).
- Combine one part dish soap with two parts metallic acrylic paint. Paint neatly over the number in the center of the hearts with a thin layer. Let it dry thoroughly, about 1 hour, and then add a second layer. Let second coat dry thoroughly (about 1 more hour) before putting the cards in the envelopes.
- Mail the card with a “lucky” penny for scratching (you will need extra postage for this).
Remember to weigh your save-the-dates just as you would your invitations to insure that each and every one arrives at its destination.