Foil Wedding Invites: Diy Guide For Perfect Results

Wedding planning can be expensive, so it's no surprise that many couples are looking for ways to cut costs. One way to do this is by making your own wedding invitations. While plain paper invitations might not make the cut, there are ways to create your own foil invitations, which look luxurious and expensive. This can be done using a cheap laminator, toner-reactive foil, and a laser printer. The foil is applied by printing your design onto card or paper, covering it with foil, and then running it through the laminator. The end result is an invitation that looks professional and expensive, for a fraction of the price.

Choosing the right cardstock

When it comes to choosing the right cardstock for your DIY foil wedding invitations, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, the weight of the cardstock is important. Cardstock is classified by weight, and a higher weight indicates a sturdier paper. For wedding invitations, it is generally recommended to use cardstock with a weight of at least 80 lb. This will give your invitations a more elegant and luxurious feel without being too heavy for your home printer.

Another factor to consider is the type of printer you will be using. Different printers have different weight limitations, so it is important to check the specifications of your printer before purchasing cardstock. If you are using a home printer, it is recommended to start with 80# cardstock and increase the weight gradually until you find the optimal weight for your printer. On the other hand, if you plan to use a professional printing service, you can opt for heavier cardstock, such as 110# or 130#.

The texture of the cardstock is also important. If you are using an inkjet printer, consider choosing a textured cardstock such as linen or felt cardstock, as it can help hide imperfections and give your invitations a more sophisticated look. On the other hand, if you are using a laser printer, smooth cardstock or metallic cover weight paper is a better option. Additionally, if you are adding foil to your invitations, choose a cardstock that is not too porous, as paper that is too porous will not transfer the gold foil cleanly.

When selecting cardstock, it is also a good idea to consider the colour. While white or cream cardstock is a classic choice for wedding invitations, you can also opt for coloured cardstock to add a fun and cohesive look to your wedding stationery. You can find cardstock in a variety of colours, including neutrals and metallics, to match your wedding theme.

Lastly, it is important to experiment with different papers before purchasing in bulk. Different papers will work better with certain printers and designs, so it is worth testing out a few options to find the perfect cardstock for your DIY foil wedding invitations.

Using a laminator

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

You will need a laminator, laser printer, toner-reactive foil, and white paper (both card stock and regular paper). Make sure your laminator is a hot laminator as cold laminators will not work for this project. You can find affordable laminators online or at craft stores.

Step 2: Print Your Design

Create your wedding invitation design and print it onto your chosen paper using a laser printer. If you don't have access to a laser printer, you can use a printing service or print shop. The design should be printed in black ink, as the foil will adhere to the toner.

Step 3: Prepare the Foil

Cut the toner-reactive foil to size, ensuring it covers all the areas of your design that you want to be foiled. Place the foil shiny side up on your printed paper. If your foil comes in small rolls, pay attention to the dimensions to ensure it covers the desired area.

Step 4: Sandwich the Foil

Place a piece of card stock over the foil to create a sandwich. This will hold the foil in place as you run it through the laminator. Make sure your laminator is warmed up properly before use.

Step 5: Laminate

Run the sandwiched foil and paper through your laminator. You may need to do this step twice to ensure the foil reacts well to the toner. If your laminator has adjustable temperature settings, set it to around 110 degrees Celsius.

Step 6: Peel and Admire

After laminating, carefully peel back the foil to reveal your foiled design. Your foil should now be attached to the paper. This process can be repeated for each invitation, and you can reuse any leftover foil for other projects.

Applying gold foil

To apply gold foil to your wedding invitations, you can use either a gluing or laminating technique.

Gluing Technique

First, print your wedding invitation design on a heavy-duty card stock, either at home or using a professional printer. Make sure to print a few extras so you can test out your technique beforehand. Trim them out.

Next, apply a light coat of glue to the areas of the invitation where you want to apply gold foil. Think about where you’re going to be placing the gold foil ahead of time and only apply glue where you need to. This will prevent a lot of excess glue from showing around the gold foil.

With clean hands, tear off a small sheet of gold foil. Gently lay the piece of foil on top of the glue and use your fingers to carefully smooth out the foil and remove any air bubbles. Use your fingers to remove any excess foil not held on by glue.

Repeat the process with the other corners or areas of the invitation where you want to apply gold foil.

Laminating Technique

Print your design onto card or paper and cut down to size. Make sure you print in BLACK with a LASER PRINTER.

Turn on your laminator and allow it to warm up. It should be set at approximately 110.

Cut a section of toner-reactive gold foil large enough to cover the text or design. Hold the gold foil against the printed panel and feed it into the laminator until the rollers grab hold of it and start to feed it through.

Once your wording has fed through, peel the toner-reactive foil away from the text and watch the magic! The toner-reactive foil will stick firmly onto the black ink to create a beautiful metallic finish.

Using a paint pen

If you want to add a metallic accent to your wedding invitations, you can do so with a paint pen. This is an easy way to add some shine without the need for expensive machinery.

Supplies:

• Invitation printed on 8.5" x 11" card stock
• Deco Color fine tip liquid gold paint pen
• A7 antique gold stardream envelopes
• Paper cutter or scissors

Steps:

• Print & Trim: Print the invitation on 8.5" x 11" card stock. We recommend paper between 65 lbs and 90 lbs as most home printers can handle this weight. If you want to use heavier paper, do a test print first. The invitation prints two per page. Trim the invitations along the dotted lines using a paper cutter or scissors.
• Test the Paint Pen: If you are using a new paint pen or one that hasn't been used in a while, get the paint flowing by dabbing the tip a few times on a scrap sheet of paper.
• Add Faux Foil: Decide where you want the gold accents and start tracing. Paint small sections at a time. Don't worry about being perfect—your guests will focus on the overall look and feel of the invitation.
• Let Dry & Send: Let the faux foil dry for 24 hours. It will be dry to the touch after about 5 minutes, but we recommend giving it ample drying time before sending it through the mail system. Stuff the invitation into an A7 envelope and send it off!

Printing techniques

There are several ways to add foil to your wedding invitations, depending on the tools you have available and the desired effect. Here are some printing techniques you can use to create DIY foil wedding invitations:

Using a Laminator and Toner Reactive Foil:

This method involves using a cheap laminator (around £12 or $19-£30) and toner reactive foil, which can be purchased online. First, print your desired wording or image onto card stock or paper using a laser printer with black ink. Cut the printed panel to size. Turn on your laminator and allow it to warm up, then cut a section of toner reactive foil large enough to cover the text. Hold the foil against the printed panel and feed it into the laminator until the rollers grab it. Once your wording has fed through, carefully peel back the foil, revealing the metallic finish. This technique is simple and effective, creating an ultra-chic finish.

The Glue and Gold Leaf Method:

Start by printing your wedding invitations on heavy-duty card stock, either at home or using a professional printer. Print a few extras for practice. Apply a light coat of glue to the desired areas of the invitation, such as the corners. With clean hands, tear off small sheets of gold leaf and gently lay them on top of the glue, smoothing out any air bubbles. Remove any excess gold leaf not held by the glue. This technique creates a rustic, chipped gold foil effect, adding a unique touch to your invitations.

The Paint Pen Method:

This technique is perfect if you want to add metallic accents to your invitations without investing in a laminator or laser printer. After printing and trimming your invitations, use a fine-tip liquid gold paint pen to add gold accents. For example, you can trace along the borders or highlight specific design elements. This method is simple, cost-effective, and adds a personalised touch to your invitations.

Professional Printing Options:

If you prefer a more uniform and polished look, you can opt for professional foil printing services. Foil printing can be done in bulk, either in flat print or letterpress. Foil is a versatile printing material, and you can choose to foil-print all or part of the text, add foil edges, create a foil jacket, or even foil your envelopes. Foil is opaque and works well with various paper colours, making it a luxurious and eye-catching choice for wedding invitations.

Frequently asked questions