Save Money on Baby Shower Cards

When you’re hosting a baby shower, you can keep your expenses in check by choosing to make your own baby shower cards. Depending on your level of crafting skill, you can purchase preprinted cards to fill in or even make your own cards. Another option is to personalize your cards through your choice of postage.

The most expensive card option is to order custom printed cards. However, with the advent of modern color printers, you can reproduce the look of custom printed cards in your own home using simple graphics programs. You can use software specifically made for card designing or just get creative with the colors and fonts in your word processing software. In addition, there are a number of sites online that will allow you to design free baby shower cards and invitations. Choose quality paper for best results and allow the ink plenty of time to dry before mailing your cards. If you don't have a color printer, check with your local Kinko's or photocopying store. Most have computers you can use for a fee, as well as printers and color photocopiers to create your cards.

Another option is to create your own cards through an established service. For example, Hallmark – well known for its cards – allows you to personalize cards directly on their site. You can even upload photographs for a truly personal touch. When you’re finished, you can have the cards shipped to you for mailing or they’ll mail them out for you for no additional charge above postage.

You can also buy preprinted baby shower cards to fill in. These are inexpensive and available in a variety of designs and themes. Check with your local party store – they’re often available in styles that will coordinate with your shower theme.

You could also choose a simple, solid color baby shower card and let your postage be your accent. You have to pay for postage anyway, so why not pay a small bit more and choose personalized postage? You can choose from a variety of stock designs or upload your own photograph through a website like Stamps.com. A custom postage stamp on even a plain white postcard will certainly make for a memorable card.

Speaking of postage, don’t forget that you can save money on invitations by emailing them instead of sending them via traditional mail.

But for a truly one-of-a-kind card, allow your own creativity to flow. You can purchase simple, blank cards from a variety of sources and decorate them using rubber stamps, ribbon, paint, appliques, embroidery or any number of craft items. If you’re skilled at handwriting, you might try your hand at calligraphy. Even a pre-printed card can be upgraded and given a personal touch with the addition of ribbons, stickers or other inexpensive accents.

Whatever kind of baby shower card you use, remember to set aside a few for the guest of honor to use in her baby book. In addition, if you’re creating custom cards, you might consider creating companion thank you cards as a gift for the mom. After all, she’ll soon be writing lots and lots of thank you notes!