Matchbook Invitation

Is a great example of a new twist on an everyday shape. With a few tiny details and a pop of color, these invitations are the perfect way to send out one-of-a-kind invites with a sophisticated flourish.

They are simple and inexpensive to put together, too. You can print up all the information on your color printer at home. Combine prints and solid colors or choose a muted color scheme to create any type of style. Then, just fold them up and pop them in the mail.

Here are the materials you will need to make one matchbook invite:

• one 3 1/4" x 8 3/4 (8.5 x 22 cm) card, white
• one 3 7/8” x 10 1/4" (9.5 x 26 cm) card, light blue
• one 3 1/2” x 9” (9 x 23 cm) card, red
• 1/8” (3 mm)-wide ribbon, cut to 16” (40.5 cm) length
• single-hole punch

STEP 1. Print your invitation on the white card with your color printer. Make sure the event information is printed on the front of the card, at least 9 1/2” (4 cm) from the top edge. You can print two cards at once by formatting the document to have two columns. Then split the card in half and trim each to size.

STEP 2. Make a 1” (2.5 cm) fold at one end of the blue card. Lay the red card on top of the blue card. Then lay the white card on top of the red card, aligning the card ends at the fold.

STEP 3. Make a pencil mark 1” (2.5 cm) from each side of the fold. Punch two holes through the fold and through the two cards underneath ¡t.

STEP 4. Feed the ribbon through the holes. Tie the ends at the center to attach all three cards.

STEP 5. Fold the card up from the bottom. Tuck the end into the top fold to create a “matchbook.”