Creating Wedding Invites: Diy Pocket Folds For Beginners

Planning a wedding can be expensive, and creating your own pocketfold wedding invitations can save you money. It can be a lot of work and time-consuming, but it is worth the effort if you want something unique and elegant. You will need card stock, envelopes, a paper cutter, a bone folder, and other stationery. There are online tutorials and templates to help you create your own invitations, which can be customised to your wedding colours and style.

Choosing the right paper

The paper you choose for your wedding invitations can set the tone for the entire event. The type of paper you select will depend on the printing process, invitation style, postage, and personal preference.

Printing Process

The printing process is an important factor in determining the kind of paper to use. If you plan to print your invitations at home, consider the paper weight capabilities of your home printer. Most consumer-grade home printers can handle 80lb (216gsm) to 100lb (270gsm) cardstock, but it's important to consult your printer manual for specific recommendations. On the other hand, if you plan to use a professional print shop, contact them beforehand to understand their equipment, print processes, and capabilities.

Invitation Style

The style of your invitation also plays a role in choosing the right paper weight. Flat invitation cards, being a single sheet of cardstock, typically use heavier weight cardstock (80lb cover and up). Folding invitation cards, on the other hand, use lighter stock as they are doubled in thickness after folding. A popular weight range for these is between 65lb-100lb cover. For layered invitation cards or those inside pockets, it's recommended to keep the top layer light (80lb cover and under) and attach it to a heavier card (80lb cover and up).

Postage

Another consideration is the postage cost, as any invite weighing over 1 ounce will require additional postage. Keeping the weight of your invitation cardstock down will help keep postage costs down.

Preference

Finally, personal preference matters. Some people prefer thick, heavy cardstock, while others prefer lighter, thinner stock. Ultimately, choose the paper weight that aligns with your design and budget constraints.

Paper Type

In addition to weight, the type of paper you choose can also impact the look and feel of your invitations. Here are some common paper types to consider:

• 100% cotton: Smooth and pure, this paper is the most desirable and formal option, but it comes at a higher cost.
• Linen: A popular choice for invitations due to its linen cross-weave texture, which differs from smooth cotton stock.
• Mylar: A shiny, mirror-like material often seen in balloons. It is popular for casual events but may be an option for a fun and unique wedding invitation.
• Moire: This stock features subtle watermarks and is named after the fabric.
• Jacquard: Paper that appears layered, achieved through screen printing.
• Corrugated: Resembles ridged, wavy cardboard and is commonly found in contemporary, edgier invitations.
• Vellum: Originally, this referred to a cream cotton blend paper with a smooth finish, less expensive than 100% cotton. Today, "vellum" often refers to translucent vellum, which is transparent and smooth. It is commonly used as overlays or even for invitations to create a modern and elegant look.

Cutting the paper

Firstly, print the template for the pocket fold design onto 11 x 17 cardstock. This template will serve as your cutting guide. Using a ruler and a craft knife, carefully cut along the guidelines. This cut-out template will now be your pattern for creating the pocket folds.

Place the pattern on top of a sheet of cardstock and either lightly trace the outline with a pencil or directly cut along the edges with your craft knife. If you are making multiple invitations, cut the paper for each invitation individually to ensure precision. This step requires careful attention to detail to ensure all the pocket folds are uniform.

For those using an electronic die-cutting machine, upload the template to the appropriate software. Adjust the template size to fit your cutting mat and make any necessary machine setting adjustments according to the thickness of your paper. Once the settings are configured, load the paper and initiate the cutting process.

After cutting the paper to size, you will need to score the edges that will be folded. Scoring creates a crisp fold line and makes it easier to achieve a neat finish. Use a scoring tool like a bone folder or the end of a chopstick to create these fold lines.

For the main invitation enclosure, cut two pieces of cardstock with precise measurements. The first piece should be 11" x 6.25", and the second piece should be 6.75" x 6.25". Score the smaller piece at the 4" mark, and the larger piece at 3/8" and 7". These scores will create the enclosure for the invitation and its accompanying cards.

Finally, cut out the pocket for the enclosure. Create a template for the pocket size out of cardstock, ensuring it fits inside the scored section of the smaller enclosure piece. Place this template on the small enclosure piece and mark the centre with a pen or pencil. Using a ruler and an X-Acto knife, cut along the marked lines to create the pocket. Ensure the cut-out triangle faces the correct direction, as indicated in the images.

Scoring the paper

Understanding Paper Grain:

Before scoring, it's important to understand the concept of paper grain. Paper is made up of tiny grains of fibre that align in the same direction during manufacturing, similar to a school of fish. The grain typically runs with the length of a rectangular sheet. To identify the grain, simply bend the paper as if to fold it in different directions. You'll notice less resistance when folding with the grain. Scoring will help you achieve clean folds, whether with or against the grain.

Tools for Scoring:

You can use a variety of tools to score your paper:

• Scoring Board: Using a scoring board, like the Martha Stewart Scoring Board, will make the process extremely easy and precise.
• Ruler and Bone Folder: Alternatively, you can use the back of a knife with a ruler, or a dedicated tool like a bone folder, which can be found in craft stores near the card-making supplies.
• Scoring Blade: If you're using a personal trimmer, rotary cutter, or craft knife, make sure to use a dull blade. A sharp blade can cut or puncture the paper, while a dull blade will create a clean depression.

Scoring Process:

Now, let's get into the step-by-step process of scoring:

• Create a Depression: Using your chosen tool, make a depression or valley in the paper where you want the fold to be. This depression guides the paper to fold easily and cleanly.
• Depth and Width of Score: The depth of the score should be deeper for heavier papers. Additionally, the score should be wider and deeper than the thickness of the paper being scored.
• Follow the Score Line: Gently fold the paper along the score line using your hands.
• Smooth the Fold: Using your bone folder or the flat edge of a ruler, press down firmly on the fold and slide it across. This will smooth out the fold and create a crisp edge. For cardstock or heavyweight papers, you may need to repeat this step.
• Preventing Cracks: Scoring before folding helps prevent unsightly cracks and crooked folds. It's important to work with the grain of the paper rather than against it.
• Burnishing: After folding, you can further enhance the crease by burnishing. Simply use a firm, dull implement, such as a pen, to press firmly along the crease.

Folding the paper

Now that you have cut your paper to size and made the necessary scores, it's time to fold! Using your ruler and craft knife, or bone folder, reinforce the score lines by running the tools over the lines. This will make it easier to fold the paper neatly and precisely.

Start by folding over all the score marks. You can use a ruler or the flat edge of a ruler to smooth out the folds and ensure they are crisp and neat. For the tabs that will form the pocket, apply adhesive to the underside and fold them over, pressing them to the inside of the paper. You can use permanent adhesive glue, a glue runner, double-sided tape, or quick-dry adhesive. If you use quick-dry adhesive, you will need to hold the paper shut for about 30 seconds to a minute to allow the glue to dry. Alternatively, you can use paper clips to hold the folds in place and remove them once the glue is dry.

For the main enclosure, use double-sided tape to tape every edge of the back of the pocketfold piece. This will ensure that it looks like one piece of paper instead of two. Attach the pocketfold piece to the edge of the larger piece of paper, being careful not to attach it to the crease. Press down on the tape with your ruler or bone folder to ensure a strong hold.

Next, fold the right side of the paper towards the centre, and then fold the left side in, creating a neat, three-panel invitation. You can now insert your invitation and any additional cards into the pocket.

Using adhesive

There are several types of adhesive you can use for this purpose. Double-sided tape is a popular option, as it is less messy than glue and provides instant gratification, as you don't need to wait for it to dry. Permanent adhesive glue runners, glue sticks, and spray adhesive can also be used, but you will need to hold the paper shut for a short time to allow the glue to dry. If you use a glue stick, be aware that it may cause bubbling of the paper.

If you don't want to use traditional glue, you can try glue dots, which are small, round pieces of adhesive that you can stick to the paper. These are available in permanent and repositionable varieties and are easy to use.

When applying your adhesive, be sure to only apply a thin layer, as you don't want the glue to squish out from under the paper. Carefully centre the pieces of paper you are attaching, and press down lightly along the edges.

Frequently asked questions