One of the funnest parts of having a baby is the baby shower. You get to visit with your closest friends and family, eat yummy food, and open presents—all while celebrating your bundle of joy! But the cost of a baby shower can add up quickly, and there’s nothing worse than being stressed about money. I’m all about cutting costs wherever possible by utilizing my DIY skills, so today we’re going to talk about how to make inexpensive DIY baby shower invitations. Whether you’re throwing a shower for a friend, or trying to keep your own shower under budget, this info is perfect for you.
Baby showers are expensive
Really, showers in general are expensive. When you add up the cost of food (and stuff to eat it off), drinks, favors, supplies for games, prizes, cake, it’s real easy to spend an arm and a leg on the perfect shower.
Add invitations on top of that, and you’re looking at breaking the bank real quick. Just like weddings, baby shower invitations can get pricey; there’s really no limit to what you can spend if you’ve got the money. But chances are, most of us don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on invitations that will hang on someone’s fridge for a few weeks and then end up in the trash.
DIY baby shower invitations are a great way to save money
There are several different routes to creating DIY baby shower invites. Here are some steps you can take to make your own.
First, find or create a template
There are lots of amazing templates out there for DIY baby shower invitations.
Etsy
I’ve found quite a few cute templates on Etsy. Generally the way it works is you pay for the template (usually less than $10), and the seller sends you an electronic version that is editable. Then, you fill in all the details. It’s really easy!
Canva
Another great option for templates is Canva. This is a free online program that’s great for those of us who aren’t super great at graphic design. They have tons of templates for DIY baby shower invitations, and most of them are free. Just find one you like, edit the details, and you’re done!
If you’re a little more savvy with design, you can even create your own template in Canva. Just make sure to pick dimensions that will work for the size you want to print. For example, don’t design a square invitation if you can’t find a printer that will do square cards or envelopes.
I love creating my own designs for things, but many times there are a lot of little details that go into invitations. Make sure you don’t get in over your head and end up frustrated!
PicMonkey
PicMonkey is another great online design tool. It’s a little more involved on the design side of things, although they do have a few templates. This tool is great if you’re comfortable and confident in your design skills. They have really good photo editing features, so if you want to add some cute baby bump pictures to your DIY baby shower invitations, PicMonkey is a great option.
PicMonkey is a paid service, but it’s really not that expensive. I use it to design the graphics you see here on the blog, and I really like it. It’s $7.99 a month, but they have an option for a free trial. So if you want to use it to design your invitations, sign up for the free trial and go crazy. Just remember to cancel your subscription when the trial ends, otherwise you’ll be charged.
Finally, print your DIY baby shower invitations
This is the part that can get a little pricey if you aren’t careful. Luckily, I’ve done some research and can tell you the best options!
Print-at-home
This is probably the most cost-effective way to print your invites. Unless you have a printer that takes really expensive ink, it really won’t break the bank.
I have an HP Instant Ink subscription, and I can’t believe I waited so long to get it! I pay $2.99 a month and get fifty pages. They send the ink right to my mailbox before I run out, so there aren’t any late-night trips to the store because I’m on a time crunch and out of ink. Their plans vary in price (the next tier up is $4.99 for 100 pages), but if you go over on your page count, you just pay $1 per every fifteen additional sheets. And you can change your plan at any time. I absolutely love it! If you use my Refer-A-Friend link, you can even get a free month (and I will, too!).
You can find lots of great paper options for your print-at-home DIY baby shower invitations. The possibilities are endless! You can do card stock, photo paper—pretty much anything you want! I printed the invitations you see in the photos on some regular card stock on my home printer. It might take some adjusting to get your template to print correctly, so be patient.
Envelopes for the print-at-home option aren’t really as hard to find as you’d think. You can get them in almost any size at an office supply store. I’ve even purchased some 5×7 envelopes at Walmart before, and they worked great.
Find an inexpensive printer
This option is a little more expensive, but so much easier. I’ve used Walmart, Staples, and Walgreens to print invitations before, and they’ve always turned out great. First, just go to the store’s website and look for the printing and photo department.
Second, locate either the greeting card or invitation category, and select the size you want (I usually use 5×7). Then, select the “Upload Your Own Design” option. The program will prompt you to upload the design from your computer.
Finally, make sure you proof the design very carefully. Make sure all the important text and graphics are inside the crop marks and bleed space so it doesn’t get cut off. Select your quantity (high quantity usually means a little bit of a discount) and check out.
A couple notes on using a printer:
Make sure to check how long it will take to fulfill your order. Some printers offer a same-day option, and others may take longer. If you’re on a time-crunch, you definitely want to pay attention to this.
Also, make sure to verify whether your print order comes with envelopes or not. If you selected “greeting card” as your option, most likely you’ll receive envelopes, but always check to make sure. If the printer doesn’t include envelopes, remember you’ll need to purchase them separately.
So there you have it, mama. Whether you’re throwing a baby shower for a friend or helping out with your own, making your own DIY baby shower invitations is a great way to save some money. With a little time, patience, and a dash of creativity, you can create beautiful invites that won’t break the bank.
Have you made your own DIY baby shower invitations? Show us in the comments!
Getting ready to greet a new little one? Check out my post on How to Create a Gender-Neutral Nursery.
