Another DIY Engagement Announcement using Microsoft Word
This is part 2 in our series of DIY projects for those of you who recently got engaged. Just as in the last tutorial, we will be making engagement announcements using Microsoft Word (Windows Vista). Our previous one was pink, this one is brown and blue, and we will be using some different techniques and tools. To see larger versions of the screen shots, just click on them. They’ll open in a new window.
Engagement announcements are sent to friends and family to let them know your big news, just like baby announcements. In the coming weeks, I will also post tutorials on how to make announcements using Illustrator, as well as step by step instructions for making engagement party invitations in both Word and Illustrator.
A Note About Vista Word
When using Vista, in order to make some of the adjustments to the photo, make sure that the document you’re working in is saved in the current Vista format (you’ll see a .docx extension). I have set the defaults in my Word application to save everything as Word 97-2003 documents (.doc) since .docx isn’t compatible with earlier versions of Word, or Macs. Working in the 97-2003 format also has other advantages such as the option to select all the pictures and textboxes at the same time, great for aligning them, or moving the entire design around on the sheet. However, there are limited special effects available when working in 97-2003 mode, so in order to play with the photo (see step 5), you need to save your file as a .docx document.
Today’s announcement looks like this:
I have sized it to 4.5×6.25, which will fit perfectly in a standard A6 envelope (but you can obviously make it any size you want).
1. In Word, go to “file” (i.e. the Windows symbol that replaces the old “File” menu) – New and under Templates, click on Invitations. This brings up a new menu on the right hand side. Click on Other Invitations. You’ll see the same layout in 4 different colors. You can choose any one you want of course, but I went with the blue and brown one.
Click on the color you want, and click on Download. That will bring up a document that looks like this:
Click on the blue box on the right hand side and copy it (either by right clicking or pressing CNTRL+C). Open a new document (letter size is good) and paste the box here (by right clicking or pressing CNTRL+V). Right click on it, go to Text Wrapping and select In Front Of Text. Right click again and go to Size. Uncheck the Lock Aspect Ratio box, and in the height window, put in 6.25 and in the width 4.5. Click Close.
2. Now, let’s add the text. Go to Insert – Text Box – Draw Text Box and draw a box anywhere in 
your document. It will most likely be filled with white, but that’s fine, we’ll fix it later. Select the font you want under the Home menu (you can change it later) and type in your text. I used GeoSlab703 Lt BT, 22p Bold for the top box and 14p bold for the bottom one. (If you want to use that font but don’t have it on your computer, read this post about adding fonts.) Click outside the textbox and go back to Insert and draw another text box for the text below the picture. Type in your text and click outside the box to deselect it.
3. To format the text boxes, right click on one of them, and go to Format Text Box. Under Colors and Lines, you want to make sure to select No Color and No Line. Repeat for the second one.
I also made the text color brown, and to do that, you want to select the text (i.e. highlight it with your cursor), right click, click on the A with a color bar underneath, go to More Colors and select the one in the bottom left hand corner for a nice, deep brown.
4. Now, let’s add your photo (I used a clip art picture). Go to Insert – Picture and locate your photo on your computer. It will most likely end up behind the blue box, so right click on it (the photo), go to Text Wrapping and select In Front Of Text. Right click again and go to Size. This time, you want o make sure that the Lock Aspect Ratio box is checked, and put in the size you want in either the height or width (the other side will change proportionately), I set my photo to a height of 2.89″ (but this is obviously totally up to you, whatever looks good is good). Click Close.
5. Drag the photo to where you want it to be on the blue box and, if you want to, add some extra layout features to it. I added a frame with a reflection on the bottom. To to this, select the photo and go to Picture Tools Format (it’s in the menu on top of your page). There you’ll see a line of frames and if you click on the down arrow next to them, you’ll get a whole menu of different looks. Hover over each with your mouse, and you’ll see the effect on your photo. Select the one you like, and if you want to play with it even more, try all the different options on either side of the frames. There is an endless variety of shapes and special effects to choose from.
6. Make sure everything is aligned by selecting the photo and blue box and go to Picture Tools – Align and click on Align Center. Next, select the two text boxes and go to Text Box Tools – Align – Align Center. Now you just have to eyeball it and use the arrow keys to move the text so that it is lined up with the photo. (Why, oh why, did they set Vista up this way?). That’s it, you’re done!
You can fit two of these cards on one sheet of 8.5×11, and then all you need to do is trim them to size and mail them out. If you prefer to send them as postcards, you could get a rubber stamp with a postcard back and just stamp the back of each card.
Filed under Design, Engagement, Inspiration, Microsoft Word, Tutorial | Comment (0)More Font Ideas For Your Wedding Stationery
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the fonts you choose for your stationery help set the tone for the entire event. If you have a theme for your wedding, be it the 60s, Arabian nights or a Victorian tea party, you can be sure there is a font out there that works.
Of course, even if you don’t have a theme for your wedding, you still need fonts, and fortunately, there are tons of free fonts available online. Below are some examples of cool fonts that I really like. Read my “How To Add Fonts To Your Computer” post if you need help finding and downloading them. For layout ideas, check out my word and Illustrator tutorials.
Handwriting Fonts
For a more informal look, fonts simulating handwriting are great, and give the whole affair a more laid back, casual look.
Bernhard Fashion BT
Bettys Hand
Brush Script
Brush Flash
Dali
Daniela
Handscript
Joe Hand 2
LizzieLongstocking
Mistral
Stylograph
Tekton Bold
Classic Sans Serif Fonts
Some classic fonts that always are in style are the sans serif Helvetica, Optima, Gill Sans and Arial. It’s hard to go wrong with either of them. For a similar look with a tad more pizzazz, check out Champagne & Limousines. It’s a bit more rounded with thin, elegant lines.
Arial
Avian
Aubrey
Berlin Sans FB
Champagne & Limousines
Gill Sans
Helvetica
Optima
Tyro Sans
Script Fonts
These fonts give the invitation a nice formal look. If you don’t want to use them for the entire text, they are great for making the bride and groom’s names stand out.
Adine Kirnberg Script
Champignon
English Script
Kunstler Script
Linotype Zapfino
Nuptial Script
Park Avenue
Ribbon 131 Bold BT
Small Caps
Small caps are very popular and add a sophisticated feel. And they are easy to read.
Atlantic Inline-Normal
Bank Gothic Light BT
Biondi
Carleton
Copperplate Gothic Light
Encino
Farfel ICG
Graverplate
Kismet-Normal
LitographLight
Perpetua titling
Socrates
Miscellaneous Favorites
These are a few other of my favorite fonts that don’t really fit into any of the other categories:
Aerofoil
Arcane Wide
Architecture
Colonna MT
Croix Regular
Elisia Openface Regular
Papyrus
Stylus BT
University
What about fonts for the aforementioned 60s, Arabian nights or a Victorian tea party themes? I think any one of these would work nicely:
1960s
Alba
BellBottomLaser
Dreamland
LMS Hippy Chick
Arabian Nights
Arabian
Arabolical
XXII Arabian Onenightstand
Kara Ben Nemsi
Victorian Tea Party
Armenian Circus
Belshaw
Trinigan
Happy font hunting! 
5 Ways To Get Inspiration For Your Printable Wedding Invitations
Printing your own invites is a great way to add personality to your wedding, but sometimes we all get stuck and need some new, good ideas. Here are a few ways to get your creative juices flowing:
1. Look (online, unless you happen to be traveling) at what they are doing in other countries. “Wedding invitation” is called “huwelijks uitnodiging” in Dutch, “invitation de marriage” in French, “hochzeitseinladung” in German, “invito di cerimonia nuziale” in Italian, “convite do casamento” in Portugese, “invitación de la boda” in Spanish and “brollopsinbjudan” in Swedish. And don’t forget to look in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa and other countries where English is the main language, or widely spoken (it does make it easier!).
2. Look at the websites of creative artists. They don’t necessarily have to be wedding-related – just looking at the art by a photographer, graphic designer, painter, interior decorator, or DIY blogger may trigger ideas.
3. Look in magazines. Any magazine, not just wedding ones. I especially like Creating Keepsakes and Martha Stewart Crafts online, and Real Simple and Domino in print. Look at the layouts and even the ads. See what you like and what might translate nicely to an invitation. Remember, there is no rule saying your invite has to look like everyone else’s.
4. Brainstorm with a bunch of friends. This one is sort of a no-brainer, but it’s easy to forget that great ideas sometimes come from a fun evening with friends. Open a few bottles of wine, order pizza or put out some cheese and crackers and let the ideas flow. I always get my best ides when I’m not trying too hard.
5. Take a creative class at a local shop or adult education facility. Anything that sounds interesting to you – rubber stamping, embossing, jewelry making, die-cutting, decoupage, scrapbooking, using various craft tools – all will jumpstart your creativity.
Filed under Inspiration | Comment (1)