Inexpensive Baby Shower Invitations: Using a Sonogram for Invitations
Sonograms are the parents’ first way of laying eyes on their offspring. Using a sonogram image for your baby shower invitations is a creative way to make unique invites and share the photo with friends and family. If you are throwing a shower for a Mom-to-be, borrow the image for a few hours to make a one-of-a-kind shower invitation that will go in the scrapbook!
Scan your sonogram. Most people get their sonogram as a hard copy off the equipment at the doctor’s office so you need to get a digital copy of it to use for your shower invitation. Scan the sonogram at a high resolution off your home scanner or take it to a pharmacy or super center like Walgreens or Wal-Mart and scan it on their photo equipment. Save the image on a disc or memory stick to use at home.
Design your invitation. Get card stock for your inkjet printer and download a template for the cards from the manufacturer or open a card template from your own desktop publishing software. Conversely, if you want to simply make a flier or postcard just open the appropriate template or blank page in your word-processing software.
Place your sonogram image on the front of the card or at the top of a flyer invitation. Make sure you size the image so that it’s big enough to be seen clearly. It should be the focal point of the card.
Come up with your front-page slogan or sentiment. You can type in something like “It’s a boy!” or “Bun in the Oven,” or “Help celebrate little Nathan” if the Mom and Dad know the sex of the child. Then type in your text on the front page.
Adjust the font. Use a fun font for the front cover or “headline” of your invitation. If your software doesn’t offer a lot of font options, download some online. Follow the links in Resources for some cool fonts you may like to use.
Add the rest of the information. On the inside of the card, or under the sonogram for a flier-type invitation, include the name of the guest of honor, date, location and any other pertinent information for the big day. You may want to include information on the theme for the shower and where the parents-to-be are registered.
Print out your cards. Use the Best setting for your printer.
Tips:
- Add a little circle around the baby in the sonogram so that recipients can clearly see the little bundle of joy. You can do this with photo software or by hand once cards are finished. For an extra bit of fun, print a smaller version of the sonogram on the card envelope near where the return address label will go or on the back flap. This will give the recipient a little hint as to what lies inside.
- Be sure to get permission from the Mom before publishing her sonogram. Some people are private and may not want to share this special image.
