Downloads
Toolbox
- white cardstock
- scissors
- craft knife and self-healing cutting mat
- invitation envelopes
- (optional for mounting) 1/8" double-sided tape and coordinating cardstock
As much as I hate to admit it, summer is winding down. The only good thing about that is that it means it’s almost time for us to host our annual chili cook-off with our friends! This is, without a doubt, my favorite party of the year, because it’s so fun and easy and the food is always terrific. After last year’s party, I shared a bunch of ideas and tips for hosting a chili cook-off with you, including my downloadable voting ballots and scoring worksheet, and a fun idea for making scoring/sampling trays.
This year, I’ve got a new party item to throw into the mix — invitations that look like a crock pot
Assembly is really easy. Start by printing out the above template onto white cardstock,
With the pieces cut out, go ahead and fill in your party information on the lid half of the invitation, and list any rules for your cook-off on the back.
Then use a craft knife
You should have an opening that looks like this:
Now you can tuck your lid piece right into the slit you’ve just cut.
Isn’t this adorable?
This invitation is ready to be put into a standard size 4 3/8″ x 5 3/4″ invitation envelope
At this point, you can choose to take it one step further, and mount the invitation onto a card. Start by cutting some coordinating 8 1/2″ x 11″ cardstock (I used dark green) in half and then in half again, resulting in four pieces that are 4 1/4″ x 5.5″, which just so happens to be the perfect size to fit in those same standard invitation envelopes.
Now flip the invitation over and take some VERY thin double-sided tape (I used 1/8″ red-liner tape) and put a piece on each side and on the bottom, taking care not to touch the lid insert piece. Peel the backing off the tape.
Flip the invitation over and stick it on the cardstock.
The invitation operates just as before, and the lid piece will slip in and out of the slit in the crock pot piece.
If you’re hosting a chili cook-off this fall, we’d love to hear all about it!
15 comments so far:
ARGH! That is the cutest invite ever! I love the lid. I’ll be linking.
Oh GEEZ. That is ridiculously cute. My only question is, what if people, um, can’t figure it out? Heh.
Thanks Rachel!
Hehe Lysana! I did think about that when designing this, but I couldn’t bear to put a pull-tab or arrow on the lid and ruin the cute effect. If you think folks won’t be able to figure it out, you can always write “PULL” or draw an arrow on the cardstock, right above the lid
Clever without being too cutesy!
Thanks trek!
This is so cute, thank you so much that’s awesome.
relinking you monday from my blog you rock!!!
hugs
Your ideas are awesome! Thank-you so much for sharing them.
We do a chili cookoff every January for my husband’s birthday. We’re toying with the idea of separate categories, but otherwise we do it a lot like you guys. Thanks for the ideas!
You guys know how to host a party. I would love to hear about your other themed parties for inspiration. Planning on hosting my own chili party this weekend.
Hi Susan. We’ve written up projects from a few of our themed parties in the past. For example, for a zoo-themed birthday party, we did zoo animal cupcakes, zoo animal invites, frozen banana treats, and drawstring giraffe backpacks filled with animal-themed goodies. We also have fun every Kentucky Derby with a betting pool and traditional Derby food.
Check out our parties category for more fun ideas, and we hope something inspires you!
Love it! Can’t wait to use it! On the bottom of your invite, you write, “see back for rules.” Just curious what you write as the rules. Thanks for sharing your great ideas!!!
Hi Erica. For the rules, you can include anything that suits your party. For example, things like like:
- Your recipe must be homemade
- Chili is not required to have meat
- Chili is not required to have beans
- Bring your chili in a crock pot and bring a ladle
- Prizes will be awarded for most traditional and most creative chili
I’ve even attended one cook-off where your chili had to have a name and you had to bring the recipe to share with everyone.
Hope that helps!
Readers, be sure to check out madcity girl’s blog. She used our template to create her cook-off invitations, and they turned out great!
Great Template! I will write on the bottom of the backer card stock…”Lift the lid to see whats cooking!”
LOU, that’s such a cute idea. I love it!