With the autumn season approaching followed by Thanksgiving and the holidays, you may be thinking about inviting friends over for parties, dinners or special events. The best way to get started is by considering a classy or different invitation to set the tone of your gathering and create a great first impression.

Halloween.

Not only are Halloween costumes being stocked on store shelves, we are seeing Christmas and holiday items too. Ugh on the Christmas ones, it is a tad bit too early in September, don’t you think?  However, seeing the witches and goblins may prompt you to think about having a gathering for adults or kids.  Here are some cute and clever designs by a little paper company in Arkansas called, “Odd Balls Invitations,” offering many wonderful themes and colorful stationary for this holiday and others.

Hayrides, autumn, and foliage.

Riding around on a farm during our beautiful foliage season in the northeast is a treat for adults and children. Include a pumpkin carving contest, a fireside chat, and some fresh apple pie. Then stop by the barn for some country music.  Getting the idea? There are so many choices on the Odd Balls Invitations website, it is difficult to decide.  I know these below ring true for me.

Thanksgiving, goobble-til-u-wobble, or farm fresh harvest dinners.

While you are out shopping or planning for the Halloween season, you may start thinking about Thanksgiving.  My sister told me the other day she visited a winery and is keeping her bottles of wine as a special treat for our annual Thanksgiving dinner at her house.  It is always helpful to plan ahead to reduce stress, and getting your invites ordered and ready is a good tip too.  Surprise your family members this year with something unique or unexpected.  Getting invites in the mail, the old fashioned way, is something special.

Christmas, holidays, and all things evergreen.

Yes, I just said it is too early to be bothered with thoughts of the December holiday season! True, agreed, but in my case planning for events starts next month.  And for those who know already, my December class, is an annual. This invitation would be perfect, wouldn’t it?!  So many themes in water color from traditional, classy to charming, can be found on the website called “Odd Balls Invitations,” where these were spotted when I was just browsing around for themed invitations.

Got a beer lover, horse rider, or other type of person in mind?

There is a plethora of themes to select from.  See HERE for more.  It will take you a while to view them all for there are so many.  And each is well made by the artists, and again, sets the idea, tone, or style of your gathering – and if that gathering is for a particular person in your life, it is ultra special to represent them in your invitation style.

Mardi Gras and Carnival.

Because I have friends in New Orleans and been there a few times, I really enjoyed checking out the themes with masks, boa feathers, and vivid colors.  Something for February or March.  But these couldn’t be left out on this post.

Gardens, patios, and decks.

And I would be remiss if I did not include the floral types and garden themes showcased and offered by “Odd Balls Invitations.”  There are many, many more to view, such as, Bugs and Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Tropical, Topiary, the list goes on. Click HERE to see them all.  These are absolutely perfect for your spring or summer garden related gathering or event.  Think garden tours, wine tastings, or tea time in the warmer season.

But back to the present moment, today being September 20th, there are still some beautiful days remaining to gather up friends to “relish in the golden, glimmering joys of autumn,” as Odd Balls Invitations so clearly represents in the above invitation with a beautiful urn and warm colored pumpkin.  A wonderful representation of combining nature with art – and festivities.

Written by Cathy Testa