Blog

23
Jun
2011

Here goes with the first of my ‘do it yourself’ guides from our wedding – lots of detail, I know, but this is for anyone wishing to recreate elements themselves.

Would love to know what you think and if there’s anything else you want details of.

Our ‘save the dates’ were envelope-less and quite tiny.  I saw this fantastic idea and thought it was brilliant (some people are so talented!) - so I set about making my own version.

We used 100% recycled brown card from a wonderful website called eco-craft (we bought almost all our paper and card for wedding projects from here) – I love that this brown card is called ‘Hairy Manilla’ – very un-weddingy!

I created the design on Microsoft Word – fitting three ‘save the dates’ to one piece of landscape A4 (I’ll include full details of fonts used at the bottom of the post for anyone interested).

I wanted something simple and quite rustic looking, so we just went for text and a tiny image, similar to the cow parsley that lines the hedges in May at the time of our wedding.

It took a bit of fiddling about and printing off copies to get the text in the right place for where we wanted the folds.  The card is scored in two places, making three parts, and then sealed at the back (hence no need for an envelope).

After printing the ‘save the dates’, I used my trusty guillotine (couldn’t have got through many a moment without it – essential kit for anyone planning on making paper items for their wedding) to slice them into three.  Next I faintly drew on pencil lines for where the folds would be, then used the blade on my scissors to gently score a fold.

Inside we left a space to write the names of family and friends who were invited.  Then on the opposite blank side, on the middle section, I wrote out their address and placed on a gorgeous botanical print stamp.

It might sound silly to go to the extra effort of sourcing ‘fancy’ stamps (I now receive regular promotional material from the Royal Mail Stamp Collecting department!) but I really wanted to show our guests we really valued them coming and it was something special.  And I loved them, so if nothing else they were for me.

I needed something to seal the tiny cards at the back, and I can’t remember how I came across it, but I stumbled upon this brown tape which is gummed on one side and used by picture framers.  I bought a roll (which was about £6 but will last me a lifetime!) and experimented with it.

In the end I cut out paper hearts (using a cardboard template to draw round) – then all you have to do is lick or dampen the gummed side (like a stamp…or how stamps used to be before they became stickers) and stick it down.

At this point you might think they are finished and ready to post, but for some reason I was worried that ‘strangers’ could peek inside the cards so a solution was needed.  I tied up each ‘save the date’ with coloured raffia like a tiny parcel.  I loved how it looked and although perhaps unnecessary, some things just have to be done because they look lovely.

Despite their small size, all of the ‘save the dates’ made it through the postal system safely to their recipients – apart from two that went to Dubai, but nothing you post to Dubai seems to get there.

Update 7th Feb 2012: it’s wonderful to hear so many of you have been inspired by our ‘save the dates’ and I have received increasing requests for the template I created in Word to create them.  Due to the number of requests I am happy to share the template but am asking a small fee of £5 just to cover my time (which can be paid via Paypal).  If you would like to get the Word template I created, please leave me a message in the comments box below and I’ll get in touch.

What we used

100% Recycled ‘Hairy Manilla’ Brown Card
Bought from the eco-craft website, which is full of fantastic eco-friendly paper and card products.  Extremely good service and excellent prices.

‘Plants – Action for Species’ Stamps
From the 2009 collection.  Available from the Royal Mail Stamps and Collecting website, you can buy them online or over the phone on 08457 641 641.  I bought my first lot over the phone as there was a website problem and the man I spoke with was incredibly helpful.

Brown Gummed Tape
I used a product called Gumstrip Sealing Tape that I bought from an art shop.  I did a search online and found the same product available on this art website, but any internet search for ‘framers tape’ or ‘brown gummed paper tape’ turns up what look like similar products.

Raffia
You can buy coloured raffia from HobbyCraft or online from Nutscene.  We used a mixture of blue and purple raffia.  Whenever I see this sort of thing I always buy some and keep a stash of it – raffia is useful for so many things and an essential for a homemade wedding.  The raffia available from Nutscene is harvested from renewable sources in Madagascar and is available in a range of colours.

Fonts
The following text is in a font called Fanfarone Bold: ‘Dear’; ‘Save’; ‘Date’ and ‘Nick and Charlie are getting married in the Cotswolds’.  The following text is in a font called UglyQua: ‘the’; ’21.05.11′ and ‘we hope you can come!’  The small flower image is from a font called Plants and is created using a capital letter X.  All of these are free fonts and most can probably found at DaFont.

Comments

coutureeventsbylottie on 23. June, 2011

What a beautiful DIY idea!

Karina Anne on 23. June, 2011

These are beautiful, and a lot of work!! How many did you do? I am sure they were appreciated :O)

Lucie on 23. June, 2011

These are great! Did you also make invitations? Would love to know what you made. I think the stamps make the whole thing.

CharlieB on 23. June, 2011

Hi Lucie, yes I did make the invitations too – full details and photos of those coming soon! So pleased that you like the stamps :0)

CharlieB on 23. June, 2011

We made about 40 – thankfully we didn’t have lots and lots of guests otherwise we might have popped!

bonnie on 24. June, 2011

Thanks for sharing Charlie, such a clever idea! You and this website are an inspiration!

Jen on 24. June, 2011

These are beautiful!

Elle on 12. July, 2011

These are just gorgeous….exactly the sort of thing i was looking for. Well done!! :)

nikki on 13. July, 2011

Oh my goodness you are BRILLIANT!! i LOVE these! I have just bought some ‘hairy manilla’ from ecocraft and also had some custome made save the date stamps, and although i have a vague idea of how i want the invites(with lace and pearls across the front) i wasnt sure how to do the save the dates especially without envelopes, but you have really inspired me thank you!!
there isnt a chance you could pls email me the word doc for the save the dates so i can use as a template -im bit crap on page set ups/aligment etc!!
thank you (my new hero!)x

Save-The-Date “Sneak Peek”! « Becoming A Landrum on 22. July, 2011

[...] [The Natural Wedding Co.] [...]

CharlieB on 22. July, 2011

Hi Elle, so pleased that our save the dates have inspired you :) Are you making your own?

CharlieB on 22. July, 2011

Hi Nikki, what a lovely message to receive :) Thank you, it is so nice to hear something I designed and made has been so inspirational to people. I know you replied about 10 days ago (I’m so terrible at keeping on top of things at the moment) but will have a root around for my Word template and email it over. Would love to see some pictures of your designs when they’re made xXx

Jess on 16. September, 2011

Wow, I’m in LOVE with your save the dates and cannot wait to see the invitations!! Can I ask you how much this project cost? I would love to attempt it, but might need your help! So inspired…thank you!! =)

CharlieB on 16. September, 2011

Hi Jess, you can find all the invitations and ‘how to’ guides on how I made them on the blog, I’ll email you the links to save you searching for them. So please you like them and I’m more than happy to try and help, so do email me with any questions. Cost wise, I’m not sure of an exact cost – will have to go back to what we bought and try and figure it out and let you know xXx

alizachar on 26. September, 2011

Hi Charlie

I love your blog – you’ve really inspired me! I’ve just made some very similar save the dates cards and I’m ready to post them, but my mum and auntie don’t think they’ll make it through the post as they’re quite small, and they’re worried the rafia will catch during the mailing process. Arrgh! I really don’t want to have to put them in envelopes – did yours all get mailed ok? (I know you said they did but I guess I need some ammunition to back me up!)

Thanks in advance, Ali x

CharlieB on 26. September, 2011

Hi Ali,

If it helps I did a test posting of my save the dates as I had similar worries. So I sent a test one to myself – posted at my work in Manchester to my home in Cheshire and it made it fine, looking exactly the same, no tears or scuffs – pretty pristine! I’m pretty sure that everyone received our save the dates, we didn’t have anyone say they didn’t, so I guess they arrived ok.

If you are sending any overseas then you might want to put them in an envelope, we had a few and we put these in larger envelopes just to be sure they were ok! Hope that’s helpful :) Would love to see a photo if you were able to email one?

Best wishes,

Charlie x

David on 4. December, 2011

Hello,

We love your save the date cards. We would love to do something similar. We have downloaded the fonts required but can’t get the layout right, the “save” and “date” will not come together properly. Did you find your template? If so, We would be soo greatful if you could email a copy to us.

Thank You

David & Louise

CharlieB on 5. December, 2011

I will be in touch x

Ben on 9. December, 2011

Hi Charlie,

I’m much in the same boat as David, my fiancée and I love these and have tried to get the layout right but cant seem to get it right, (not that much of a wizz on Word)… have you any tips or the original template…?

Thanks

Ben & Sarah

CharlieB on 9. December, 2011

Will be in touch by email x

Kelsey on 5. January, 2012

Charlie, these are so gorgeous! I was looking for a quick-ish but beautiful diy idea for my save-the-dates, as I’m working on a budget and need to get them in the mail asap. Very elegant! I’ve been playing around with the page alignments for an hour and just can’t seem to get them right–I’m terrible at things like this! Is there any way you could email me your template so that I’ll have an idea of how to start?

Thanks so much–your blog is an inspiration!

CharlieB on 6. January, 2012

Hi Kelsey, many thanks for your lovely message – I’m so pleased you like our save the dates :) I’ll be in touch about help with the template xXx

aisha on 9. January, 2012

hello these are beautiful.. i really want to make them for my save the dates..however, I am also very bad at word etc or computers in general hehe.. is it possible for you to mail me the template too please? thank you. aisha

Lauren on 10. January, 2012

Hi Charlie,
We love your save the date cards but seem to be having the same problem as the last few posters. We’ve got all the supplies but just can’t get the alignment right, any help would be appreciated.
The current issues of the royal mail stamps don’t quite go with the cards, so we created our own royal mail “smilers”.
Cheers
Lauren & Paul

Chrysta on 11. January, 2012

These are gorgeous! I am also trying to do something similar and am not very good with the format. Is there any way I could get the template emailed to me?

Thank you so much for sharing your great ideas :)

CharlieB on 16. January, 2012

Hi Aisha, I’ll be in touch by email – sorry for the delay!

CharlieB on 16. January, 2012

Hi Lauren, I’ll be in touch by email – sorry for the delay!

CharlieB on 16. January, 2012

Hi Chrysta, I’ll be in touch by email – sorry for the delay!

Sarah on 18. January, 2012

I am having trouble with the layout also, big spaces between lines! Help! I love these so much!
Thanks!

CharlieB on 19. January, 2012

Hi Sarah, I’ll be in touch x

Caryn on 29. January, 2012

Hi. Love the design but also seem to be struggling with line spacing – please could we have a copy of the template, have downloaded the fonts etc. Many thanks in advance. CC

CharlieB on 29. January, 2012

Hi Caryn, will be in touch by email x

stephanie on 1. February, 2012

Hi. I love the design but I am struggling with the line spacing – can you pleas send me a copy of the template. Thanks.

CharlieB on 1. February, 2012

Hi Stephanie, I’ll be in touch xx

Charlotte on 6. February, 2012

hi there, these really are beautiful. If you could send me the template you have used we would be very greatful so we can make a similar version! if you could send me the link to your invites I would be very grateful. thanks x

Hollie on 7. February, 2012

Hi, I love these and want to make my own wedding invites. I see from earlier comments that you made the invites too, I cant seem to find them! Could you send me the link! Thank you!!

CharlieB on 7. February, 2012

Hi Charlotte thanks for your lovely comments – I’ll be in touch by email xXx

CharlieB on 7. February, 2012

Hi Hollie so delighted you like our save the dates :) You can see an overview of our invitations here: http://thenaturalweddingcompany.co.uk/blog/2011/06/our-wedding-handmade-rustic-wedding-stationery-with-red-and-white-string-and-luggage-tags/ and find part 1 of our wedding stationery here: http://thenaturalweddingcompany.co.uk/blog/2011/06/do-it-yourself-rustic-handmade-wedding-stationery-part-1/

But currently parts 2-4 aren’t online so I’ll email with details xXx

Vanessa on 10. February, 2012

Can you please send me the template? I love this idea!

CharlieB on 10. February, 2012

Hi Vanessa, thanks for your message I’ll be in touch by email x

Kristin Turner on 14. February, 2012

As the other readers have stated, these are gorgeous!! Would you please do me the honor of e-mailing me your template? I truly appreciate the time you have taken to supply such detailed step-by-step instructions. Thanks in advance :)

CharlieB on 14. February, 2012

Hi Kristin, thanks for your message I’ll be in touch by email x

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