How to Make Invitations with Charms
For easy instructions how to make invitations with charms and sheer bows, view our video tutorial and step-by-step illustrated guide below. These DIY invitations were designed for ease of use with our free invitation templates and premium invitation supplies, no special software or equipment is required. Components include a pre-cut heavyweight background cards, printable overlay, small metal charms, wire, sheer chiffon ribbon and envelopes.
Helpful tips:
- Put together a couple of invitations from start to finish, the first few will always take much longer until you are familiar with the process.
- Setup your workspace as an assembly line process: complete a step for all of your invitations before moving on the to next step. If you have help, assign a step (or steps) to to one person. For example one person attaches all overlays to background cards, one person attaches the embellishments, one person addresses, stuffs and seals the envelopes.

Items you will need
heavyweight background card, printable overlay, invitation envelope, pencil, paper trimmer or paper cutter, ruler or paper guide, small metal charms, white wire, sheer chiffon ribbon and micro hole punch
Easy instructions to create printable overlay for all layered invitations
1. Download our free wedding invitation templates for Word
The text for layered invitations will be printed or copied onto 8.5"x11" overlay paper using our free wedding invitation templates, the standard sized sheets are provided for ease of printing as small pre-cut overlays would be difficult to setup and feed correctly. Each sheet will provide four 4.25"x5.5" overlays.


2. Change Text and Font
Change wedding invitations wording as desired and experiment with different typefaces to get the look you want. Insert beautiful vintage invitation clip art (click for examples) for a personal touch. The free wedding invitation templates are setup for 11 lines of text using 29pt line spacing...the first line is blank to adjust for the embellishments requiring holes. You may need to make adjustments depending on length of wording and the embellishment chosen. When finished, copy and paste the text into the other three table cells.

3. Print onto Overlay Sheets
Print on test paper before printing on the overlay. Make sure you have several people proofread your text and cut the test paper in half both ways to make sure it is centered. Print on overlay's when you are sure everything is correct. We recommend purchasing water resistant ink jet ink or using a laser printer or copier, for better durability.

4. Cut Overlay with Paper Cutter or Trimmer
After you have finished printing, you will need a paper trimmer or paper cutter to cut the overlay in half vertically and horizontally. If you are using a cutter, cut the paper 5.5" from the edge of the longer side, then again at 4.25" from the edge (longer side up). If you are using a paper trimmer, mark the overlay with a pencil using the lines on our paper guide at the top and sides or measure 5.5" down from the long side and 4.25" from the short side. Starting with the long side up, match up the pencil line with the guide marks on the trimmer. You can cut two sheets of the 65# overlay or three sheets of the vellum at a time. Mark the cut sheets on top and bottom with a pencil using the paper guide or measure 4.25" from the edge and make the final cut.




5. Punch Holes in Background Card
Line up background cards and our yellow paper guide to punch two holes or use a pencil and mark 1 1/4″ down from top and 2 3/8″ in from each side
6. Punch Holes in Overlay
Line up overlay cards and our yellow paper guide to punch two holes (hold up to light to view marks) or use a pencil and mark 1/2″ down from top and 1 7/8″ in from each side.
7. Attach Charm
Line up the background card and overlay holes. Cut white wire to 1″ length, bend in a “V” shape. Slide charm on wire, then feed the ends of the wire into the holes. Twist in back to secure.
8. Attach Ribbon
Cut ribbon on an angle to 14″ length, you can use our paper guide to measure, cut 3″ past the long edge of the guide (11″). Feed both ends of the ribbon in each hole from the back to the front. Tie a bow tie, pull loops to tighten and adjust ends if necessary. Trim ribbon ends on an angle.
Assembling and Addressing Wedding Invitations
We recommend handwriting the addresses to your guests on the front of envelopes for a personal touch, and using our easy-to-print return address envelope labels on the back of envelopes, which double as a seal. The envelope is addressed with the guest’s full name and address, avoid using abbreviations for streets and cities. The return address should be on the back flap of the outer envelope. When assembling your invitations, the reply card with stamped envelope or reply postcard should be on top, then the reception card, then the invitation. Use an envelope seal for an elegant touch.
Mailing your Wedding Invitations
Before stamping, bring a sample of the completed invitations to the post office to determine the correct postage. Invitations should be mailed four weeks before your wedding or six weeks for out-of-town guests or if your wedding falls near a holiday.
Order Supplies to Make Charm Invitations
Select Heavyweight Background Card
Apple Green 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartBerry Pink 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartBurgundy Wine 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartDark Green 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartDusty Pale Blue 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartEggplant Purple 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartEmerald Green 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartFrench Blue 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartHandmade Cotton 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.48 Add to cartHandmade Sage Green 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.48 Add to cartHandmade Teal 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.48 Add to cartJet Black 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartLavender 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartLemon Yellow 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartMagnolia Pale Pink 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartMetallic Gold 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartMetallic Silver 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartMica 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartNatural Handmade 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.48 Add to cartNavy 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartOlive Green 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartPale Green 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartPapaya Orange 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartPear Green 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartSand 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartScarlet Red 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartSea Glass 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartShell Pink 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartSunflower 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartTiffany Blue 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartVanilla Cream 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cartWheat 5×7 Cardstock for Invitations
$0.28 Add to cart
Select Metal Charm Embellishment and Wire
25th Anniversary Charms for Invitations
$0.19 Add to cartAnchor Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartAwareness Ribbon Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartBell Charms for Invitations
$0.26 Add to cartBride and Groom Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartBride Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartButterfly Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartChai Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartChampagne Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartCherub Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartChinese Coin Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartChristmas Tree Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartCowboy Boot Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartCross Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartDolphins Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartFalling Leaf Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartFleur Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartFlower Medallion Charms for Invitations
$0.26 Add to cartGolf Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartGrapes Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartHeart Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartHoliday Mistletoe Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartHoliday Wreath Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartKey Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartLeaf Charms for Invitations
$0.16 Add to cartLove Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartMoon Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartMusic Note Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartPair of Leaves Charms
$0.26 Add to cartPear Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartPrimrose Flower Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartRose Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartSand Dollar Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartSeashell Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartShamrock Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartSilver Heart Charms for Invitations
$0.19 Add to cartSunflower Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartTeddy Bear Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartUmbrella Charms for Invitations
$0.22 Add to cartUmbrella Charms for Invitations – Cutout
$0.22 Add to cartWedding Rings Charms for Invitations
$0.17 Add to cartWire to Attach Charms
$0.02 Add to cart