There are a number of avenues you can explore when creating your perfect invitation. They are the use of color, use of pattern, addition of layers, use of fonts as design, and the use of multiple materials. So take your theme for a test drive with some of these invitation jump-start ideas. Your destination is an invitation that will give your guests a glimpse of the party to come.

Using Color

Colors can be dramatic, subtle, electrifying, calming, sweet, or bold— they set the tone for your event, and there are endless combination possibilities. Here are some ideas for incorporating color in your invitation design.

• Single color. A single color, used with white or black, is a simple, but highly effective, design choice. Pale pink polka dots or stripes can set a clean, crisp, and happy tone to welcome a baby girl. Turn up the volume to hot pink and sweet becomes trendy. Pale yellow is pretty, but a bright yellow chick cut out of cardstock is bold and modern.

• Multiple colors. The showers your mother attended invariably featured pastels on parade. Ducks, bunnies, bears, and lambs in soft hues were the icons du jour that marched across most invitations. While pastels are always available, current moms-to-be favor trendier palettes: robin’s-egg blue with milk chocolate, turquoise and mandarin orange, sparkling lime and lavender are just a few of today’s modern color combinations.

Using Fonts

Words can become an element of invitation design. By choosing a special font, you can easily create great design without using clip art, drawings, or pictures. There are thousands of font styles available today. Most word-processing software comes with some great fonts as a standard part of the package. You can also purchase fonts from the Web or packaged as add-ons for use with a particular software program.

Some Web sites offer free fonts, which are available for download directly to your computer (as with all downloads, please practice good Web security). The ideas for font usage given here will require the use of a computer and word-processing software. If you are technology-challenged, your local invitation store can help you work with fonts.

Fonts are offered in a variety of sizes, called points. The font called Times New Roman in 12-point format is the default font for most word-processing programs. A 6-point font is tiny, usually found on business cards. A 72-point font is quite large. For invitations, typically a 10- to 12-point font is fine for general information, and you can embellish or emphasize with font sizes ranging from 20 to 30 points.

When using fonts, keep these tips in mind:

• Vary font size: Emphasize key words or phrases in a larger font size. For added emphasis, outline them or use the “bold” command on your word-processing software.

• Vary font style: Fonts are fun. Play around with different styles. Highlight key words or names in a fancy font, like Nuptials or Zapf Chancery, then leave the rest in a simple font, such as Arial or Century Gothic. Although it is possible to use a different font on every word, it can be difficult to read. Two to three font styles can give you an interesting look without creating chaos.

• Vary font colors: Try highlighting certain key words in a theme color. “A Shower for Kerry” could be in hot pink, with the balance of words in gray, black, or brown.

Using Pattern

Pattern—the repeat of shapes, lines, and colors—can be an important element in invitation design. Patterned paper can be used in touches or as the backdrop for an entire invitation; it can also be used to line an envelope. You can create patterns with cutouts, rubber stamps, stickers, and pens, to name a few.

To create a single-element pattern you can feature one large shape, such as a baby bottle, in your design or reduce its size and repeat it all over the invitation in a random or organized arrangement. Cupcakes, hearts, booties, rattles, diaper pins, baby buggies, and baby T-shirts can all be used to create a design.

For our overachievers, try creating a design with more than one element; alternating hearts and rattles, roses and pacifiers, or any other combination. You can also have random patterns—in this case, try overlapping some of the elements to create a cohesive look.