Your baby’s first birthday invitation is special. Sure, there will be plenty of parties that follow, but until she or he hits the big 1-0, it is the first invite that makes it into the scrap books of parents and grandparents, and it is no small wonder that parents want to make it meaningful.
The following first birthday party invitation ideas are available online and in stores, but each also includes an easy to make do it yourself version.
Photo First Birthday Invitation
Bugaboo Announcements offers a wonderful service that enables parents to invite guests to their little one’s first birthday by letting a photo do the talking. These first birthday invitation cards double as keepsakes, and those who might have family living further away will appreciate the thoughtful creativity that went into the designs. Some offer enough space to place eight pictures on the invite and you may chart your little one’s growth throughout the year from arrival to excited birthday boy or girl.
Photo cards run about $1.75 per card when ordering between 30 and 50 cards, and if you want to upgrade to a press printed panel card it will be more still.
DIY tip:
Find your favorite baby picture of your child and take it to a convenience store for copying. On the back, glue a printed and copied invite and mail them out. You will have the same effect for a fraction of the cost. A snapshot of junior in the highchair wearing his peas or peaches is sure to be a hit with friends and family!
Send Out Party Duds
This is a tip for the parent who will invite mostly friends who are parents of infants or toddlers as well. At the Make a Onesie site you can add pre-made graphics, your own photos and text and have it screened onto a sleeper, onesie, shirt, or bib. The latter is a surefire way of inviting friends or even family members to some messy cake!
DIY tip:
While this price is cost prohibitive to many on a budget, why not purchase a wholesale package of white bibs and then visit the craft store for some fabric paint. Write your first birthday invitation on each bib and decorate it as you see fit. Send it out as invitations and your idea is sure to be the talk of the town!
Custom Printed First Birthday Invitations
The Baby Face Cards website offers a plethora of card options that are neatly preprinted with the party details and also offer unique shapes and sizes that set them apart from the grocery store “fill in the blank” cards. Take your time to shop around.
Stacks of 100 may cost anywhere from $100 to $185, depending on the detail intricacies you are ordering.
DIY tip:
Make this a printable first birthday invitation with the help of your home printer! Visit your local office supply store and purchase some high end cardstock. Using your printer, create a master copy of the invitation. You may choose to either print the rest of the invitations on your printer, or take the master copy back to your office supply store for copying onto the cardstock. Doing it yourself guarantees a great custom designed invitation at a small percentage of the price you would pay online to have it done.
Display Your Child’s Magnetic Personality
Magnetic Messenger will print your 1stbirthday invitations on thick cardstock and then apply a magnetic strip to the back. This unique first birthday invitation is sure not to get lost since grandma and everyone else can simply stick it on the fridge. Even after the big bash the invite will be a wonderful keepsake, especially if you decide to include a photo!
30 invitations cost about $49 and include the magnet as well as an envelope.
DIY tip:
Although not that expensive, you can cut your cost by printing the invitations as home on card stock and applying a magnetic strip you can purchase at the craft store or the big box home improvement store for pennies.
Footsteps First Birthday Invitation
This is a quick and easy DIY craft for 1st birthday party invitations. Use a stamp pad, construction paper, and your child’s foot! Place the baby’s foot onto the stamp pad and then onto the paper and you will have a wonderful footprint! Ensure that the pad is well inked, and that you have plenty of baby wipes on hand to clean those little toes.
A wonderful first birthday invitation especially for Christian parents who see the symbolism in the child’s footprint and may actually accompany the written invitation with their favorite Bible verse.
Tip:
Unless your baby is willing to cooperate, this does not work!
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For those parents who might not want to go the DIY route and do not mind spending a bit of extra cash to get out the perfect invitation, why not pick the kind of first birthday invitation that bespeaks the theme for the party and also gently hints at what junior might need.
Encourage a Future Reader with a First Birthday Book Party Invitation
Let friends and family know about the theme of your party by using a photo of your child that depicts her or him surrounded by books and book related props. Shutterfly is a great site where this photo may become part of a custom designed first birthday invitation that specifies your desire to build the little one’s library in picture and print.
Tip:
Avoid receiving multiple copies of the same children’s book by asking guests to bring their favorite children’s book that has a title beginning with the same letter as their first name.
Should you decide to purchase high end preprinted cards, use a print shop that specializes in high quality paper and design. Invitation Consultants are known for their generous use of superior materials and even as 25 invitations will cost about $118, your guests will be impressed with the craftsmanship.
Tip:
Keep it simple when having an invitation preprinted professionally and do not forget to proof read it upon receipt!
Unique Tickets for Admission to a First Birthday Party
You cannot make these up yourself! Special Event Ticketing will print an authentic looking special event ticket displaying your child’s birthday party information. You can be sure that nobody else is handing out these kinds of invites! At a cost of $1.29 per first birthday invitation, this is a wonderfully unique invitation!
Do not stop there! Read more children’s birthday articles by Sylvia Cochran and find great ways to plan the party now that your guest list is complete!
~ San Diego residents, find awesome Children’s Birthday Party Venues in San Diego, California ~ Brooklyn residents, celebrate at one of The 10 Best Family Restaurants in Brooklyn ~ Memphis parents, party at the Best Family Restaurants in Memphis, Tennessee ~ Staten Island families, take your party to one of The Eight Best Family Restaurants on Staten Island
