How to make your own Wedding Invitations

Making wedding invitations doesn't require an apprenticeship in printing, or a degree in graphic design. Using your own computer and a little creativity, you can plan a wedding invite that will set the scene for your special ceremony. Here are some do's and don'ts for making your wedding invitations.

Do consider DIY kits.
DIY kits are homemade wedding invitations made easy. Kits contain unprinted pre-cut stationery. You might print the invitations on your home computer, or, to save the time it takes for a DIY printing project, take your paper and template to the local copy shop.

As you shop for kits, be sure you understand the contents of what you're purchasing. For example, some kits contain only invitations and envelopes and require you to purchase enclosure cards separately. However, other kits contain invites, enclosure cards and envelopes--so be sure to confirm exactly what you're getting.

Online printing specialists are making wedding invites easy to do yourself by posting downloadable templates on their websites. Templates are available to fit nearly any size and style of DIY kit and are typically available in common word processing programs.

Don't forget to order stationery samples.

Before you print a single invite, find out if you can order samples of the paper you'll be using. You can judge the quality of the paper, and you might be able to put a copy through your printer to confirm what the finished product will look like. With a stationery sample, you can also experiment with embellishments, such as charms, ribbons, and ties.

Do call in the troops.

Printing, assembling and addressing all of those invites can be a daunting task for even the most enthusiastic bride-to-be. Ask friends and family to help make your homemade wedding invitations. Remember to enlist your bridesmaids, too, after all, that's what they're there for. You might need to bribe them into making wedding invites by providing snacks or drinks.

Don't forget to set a budget.

If you're going the homemade route to save on professional printing fees, make sure you set a budget for a do-it-yourself job. You can get caught up in designing a beautiful invitation that's just as expensive as anything you'd order from a boutique print shop. That simple text invitation you'd planned on can quickly turn into an elaborate budget-busting invite complete with a vellum overlay, ribbons, charms and a pocket-type envelope. Set a spending limit before you start designing a homemade wedding invitation--your wallet will thank you!

Do shop online for the best deals.

For many years, brides were forced to order invitations through local print shops or through middlemen, like flower shops or bridal boutiques. While this process created one-stop shops for wedding day needs, it also added to the cost. Online wedding invite specialists, however, have made ordering stationery and embellishments for invites easy and cheap.

Do have fun!

Teeny-tiny budgets can force the most craft-phobic bride to rely on homemade wedding invitations. Approach the project with a get-it-done attitude. Who knows? Maybe you'll find an inner-craftiness you never knew you had. While you will invest your time, you'll also get the satisfaction of making wedding invitations yourself.

How To Find Home Business Ideas For Moms

Working from home has never been so popular and as easy to do as it is now, and it is not hard to see why. A home-based business gives you the opportunity to set your own working hours and be your own boss. Moms in particular are finding that working from home helps them to earn money while still being there for family. If you are a mom who is thinking about working from home, this article provides four (4) home business ideas that might be perfect for you.

1. Set up a day care center. If your home is big enough and you are willing to get the proper licensing and certification, then a day care business could be for you. Not only do you get to work from the comfort of home, you also get to help other moms who go to work and need someone to care for their children.

2. Think about joining an existing business as a home agent. Good examples of this include selling gifts and products from home. To do this you will usually have to deliver brochures and collect orders. Then when the orders arrive, you will have to deliver them to the homes and receive a commission. This is one home business that is very popular with moms all over the world.

3. Consider setting up a virtual secretary service. Anyone who has had prior office experience could do very well in this type of home business. You will need a computer, Internet access, a telephone and experience doing secretarial work. Moms who do this act perform the functions of a regular secretary, only they do not have to go to the office - they work from home.

4. Pet sitting is also a great home business that many moms are now setting up. As a pet sitter, you look after other people's pets and get paid for it. It's much like what you might do as a baby sitter, except you are taking care of pet animals, such as dog, cats, hamsters, parakeets, etc. What could be easier?

In conclusion, we have seen how opening a day care center, working as a home agent, setting up a virtual secretary service and pet sitting are just a few of many great ideas home business ideas for moms. Now that you have some ideas, it is up to you to take action on one of them or find some other area of opportunity for home-based work. There is nothing to stop you from setting up your own business if you have the desire to do it. Take the initiative, set up your own home business and enjoy the benefits that come from working for yourself.