School Theme Baby Shower: The Invitations

Photos by Kate Kintzel Photography

I styled the main invitation card for my sister in law’s baby shower after a library book card.  This worked perfectly with the school theme I had planned! 


A note was included at the bottom, explaining that we were collecting books to build the baby’s library and asked everyone to bring a new book, unwrapped to the event. It was so much fun to see what books everyone brought!


I made sure to use a typewriter font for the appropriate items, but then used a handwriting font for the bottom note. I’m convinced that little details like this establish a tone or mood for an invitation. The handwriting font gave the note at the bottom more of a conversational tone, while the typewriter font seemed more official (and vintage!) for the details of the event.



Included in the invitation was a handstamped bookplate. We asked guests to include a special note to Baby Duncan on this bookplate and adhere it inside the book. This was such a sweet addition to the gifts. These books will be treasured by Baby Duncan (and his mama and daddy) for years to come.


Finally, behind all this was another card, the same size as the invitation “library card”. This note gave directions to the shower and listed where they were registered, etc. (Credits for the digital word art and borders on this card – Echo Park, “For the Record”).


Everything was contained in a cute little pocket of alphabet block and polka dot papers, adorned with a paper ruler and a little tag announcing “it’s a boy!”. Then each invitation was included in a coordinating lined envelope.


I was so excited to make these invitations – I can say without a doubt that I had more fun making these than any other invitation I’ve made (including the Hello Kitty wedding dress ones, but that’s another story!). There is something special about putting so much love into a detail like this when you are throwing an event for someone you care about. I hope the guests could tell from the invitation that this was an important event!


Of course, these invitations can be customized for so many other fun events – a back to school bash, a graduation party, a book club or book swap party! This school theme works with so many different events.


Coming up Friday, I’ll share the coordinating wreath I made for our front door!


UPDATED: I've decided to offer the library card (plain and with the Date/Time/RSVP headings) as a free printable based on popular demand! You can find it in various formats here. If you use it, please let us know! We'd love to see how you use it! Cheers!



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