You’d be amazed at how many varieties there are of free party invitations online nowadays. It seems like no matter what the occasion, there are free invitation graphics you can download and print on your printer. As you might guess, there are many mainstream types, like printable wedding invitations templates. But if the beach will be the location for your next party, then you’ll want something more specific.

Thanks to the Internet, there are plenty of beach BBQ invitations that will help get people psyched up for a beach party. And if your party will be a luau, there are even quite a few luau invites available online. These do-it-yourself invitations are relatively easy to produce if you know how to use a word processing program, such as Open Office or MS Word; or a publishing program, like Microsoft Publisher. Simply paste the invitation image into the software, scale it to the size you want and print it. As simple as that may be, however, there are some subtleties it pays to be aware of when making the invitations. The following advice will help you grasp those subtleties and allow you to get the most value out of invitation art:

• When using word processing software application, use tables or text boxes to get two or more invitations on the page. This will save time and card stock. (Using a table is the easier method. If you’re not proficient with tables or text boxes, check your word processing software’s help materials.) Be sure to butt at least one at least one side of one invitation to the other, so you can eliminate one cut.

• When you cut the invitations apart, it’s best to use a paper cutter. If you don’t happen to have one lying around the house, hire someone to cut them, either at a print shop, office supply store or copy center. If there isn’t a store with a paper cutter in your area, the next best approach is to use an X-acto knife, ruler and a cutting board. And if all else fails, you can use scissors. If you decide to go that route, draw light lines with a pencil beforehand, so you know where to cut. If you don’t think you’ll be able to cut straight, you might try using patterned scissors to create a decorative edge that will hide defects.

• Once the invitations are cut out, you can decorate them to make them unique. You’ll find a huge selection of 3D embellishments at your local craft store. These include Polynesian fabric flowers, die cut paper embellishments, brads, rhinestones and many other types of additions. Glitter glue or dimensional paint can also be used to customize the invitations. Be careful with this, however, because this is one area that less is truly more. You might try using the glue or paint on only the highlights, not the main areas of the design. And it’s a good idea to have extra invitations, so you can feel free to experiment.

I hope these tips will help you make truly memorable beach party or luau invitations. Have fun making them and I hope your party is a big success!