We’re having a party for Eleanor’s third birthday soon. She loves trains, and while searching google images for “Little Golden Books Trains”, I came across The Train to Timbuctoo by Margaret Wise Brown, with illustrations by Art Seiden.
It was originally published in 1951 and though it is now out of print, it’s easy enough to find used copies for sale. I ordered one from eBay (a first edition copy!) with plans to use some of the illustrations inside for our party invitations. The title page had the perfect layout, so I scanned it, cleaned it up, and based our invitations off of it.
I printed them on cream colored paper and rounded the edges with a corner punch, then paired each invite with a burnt orange envelope.
I’ve created a free blank version, available for download below. You can print them four to a page (the second link has them laid out for you already), and the invitations will fit perfectly in an A2 envelope (like these).
These are for personal, non-commercial use only, falling under the Fair Use Copyright Act.
so beautiful. i will be using these for my train-loving 2 year old’s 3rd birthday party for sure! thank you so much for sharing and happy birthday to lovely eleanor!
I can’t figure out how to edit the writing in them once I download them…. Sorry, not overly computer literate
The ones to download are just fill-in-the-blank style.
You are so dang creative Nicole. I love seeing what you come up with. The invites are adorable. Happy 3rd Birthday Eleanor!
Thank you!! Sounds like it will be a fun party! Happy birthday, Eleanor!
These are darling!
Great job Nicole!!! I can’t wait to see the party and thanks for sharing the invites. Thats really nice of you.
So cute! But I ask this out of professional curiosity. How does this not infringe on copyright for the illustrations?
I looked into it before sharing it as a download. These would fall under the Fair Use act. The illustrations are still protected by copyright, but this is a derivative work that does not impede on the market value on the book (especially since it is out of print), and is being distributed for free.
Can you share where you purchased the paper and it’s weight?
I used Whitewash Construction Paper from French Paper, cover weight, 80#. It’s recycled and has just the slightest bit of flecking to it and a nice creamy color.
gorgeous. I love your design esthetic.
Those are SO CUTE. How clever.
Hi – I also had the same question a previous commenter had about infringing on the copyright of the illustration…maybe append the comment to the post? You are super talented and the invitation’s gorgeous…
There is a line directly below the links to download stating that “these are for personal, non-commercial use only, falling under the Fair Use act.” I will amend that to “Fair Use Copyright Act” to make it more clear.
Oh, Little Golden Books — brings me back to my childhood!
what a gorgeous invite! So clever ;)
I love printed invitations and wish I hosted more events so I cold make more invitations! When I did the paper products for my wedding I did something similar with a vintage book from ebay. I scanned the illustrations and used them on the invitations, website and cards.
I have got to get me one of those corner punches though. I love rounded corners.
I’m sorry, but this does not constitute fair use under the Copyright Act. The use would have to be in some way for the greater good: in teaching, in research, for a documentary, etc.
If nothing else, you’re distributing the derivative work. This is expressly forbidden.
The way that I understood it was that it applied in this case much the same way that mash-up artists use and sample songs and then distribute the derivative works for free.
Aren’t birthday parties really for the greater good? ;)
Actually, Karen, no. Only if these were offered for SALE, would this be an infringement. As long as the download is used for personal use only, it is perfectly acceptable. You can even scan current Disney characters and make an invitation out of it (or print them out and make a quilt with them, then give it to your nephew), as long as it is JUST FOR YOU or offered freely as a gift (i.e. personal, non-commercial use).
But if Nicole makes money from her blog, isn’t posting it here commerical use? Not trying to start an argument, I’m genuinely curious.
There is a lot of ambiguity in copyright law, but in the simplest terms, commercial use pertains to selling something directly.
Copyright law is indeed ambiguous, and I wouldn’t necessarily advocate offering up a free diy Disney invitation on the internet, but since these are illustrations made before 1963 AND have not been republished, they are technically in the public domain, which means Nicole could feasibly sell these if she wanted to, without repercussions.
This is a great site if you have more questions: http://www.publicdomainsherpa.com/
Those are adorable! Eleanor is lucky to have such a creative mom!
So adorable! I’m feeling inspired!
Thank you so much for sharing this. I’m a freight train conductor and plan to tuck this away for when I have my first baby. It’s so delicate and sweet.
Love love LOVE this! I’m such a sucker for vintage book illustrations.
does designing invitations make you want to reopen your shop?!?
I love you for choosing a train theme over a princess theme.
These are so freakin’ adorable! You’re so creative.
I just love everything you do!
Thanks.
How can she be 3 already. I can’t get over how cute those choo choo invites came out.
Perfect for my sons small birthday party which is in 3 weeks! Thanks!
These are SO cute!! Love this. Very, very creative.
These are really cute, the illustration works out so well as an invite.
WOO HOO! Just found your blog [addicted] and it must be a sign since my little man is turning 4 next month and we are having a…wait for it…TRAIN PARTY!!! He is OBSESSED!!!
So, call me a newbie or whatever, but when I go to print your invitations, they are about 2×2 inches?!?!?! Also, how do I change the text??? Please help a train-lovers mom out!!
Thanks – LOVE THE BLOG!!!!
Nicole, I am so glad that you were able to do this. I have a little girl who loves trains as well. We just had a Choo-Choo 2nd Birthday Party for her in March. It is so hard to find girl friendly train invites. Thanks so much for sharing. I am so glad that you were able to with the © issues. Thanks again!!
this is sooo pretty!!great work!!
Those are so cute! Unfortunately, my little boy is into cars… so that will be the theme of our birthday party. Thanks!
This is genuis. Thank you for sharing. Completely inspiring. And as I understand copyright, this is fair use.
Those train birthday party invites are ADORABLE! You are so creative! My son, Jack turned 3 at the beginning of April! Guess what! We rode the mini train in our town for his birthday party! :) Three year olds LOVE trains! Enjoy celebrating your 3 year old!
Okay, this may be crossing the line (so please forgive me if I’m being greedy) I remember LOVING the rainbow colored invitation you made for your daughter’s 2nd birthday! Any chance you’ll offer those invites as a free download too? No worries, if you don’t want to post those invites! I’ll always come back to your LOVELY blog..its the best! :)
~ Ali
What is the font type and size you used on each line of the invitation?
The font is Eames Century, and I used a mix of sizes, but the main two were 22 pt and 10 pt.
The invitations are darling and I really enjoy your blog! What kind of printer do you use for these kinds of projects?
I have an Epson R1900.
Thanks so much for these adorable invites. I was just tooling around with my son’s 4 year old invite when these popped into my inbox. My lucky day!
One question, I’m not tech-savvy AT ALL–is there a “not-too-difficult” way to fill out my own fields? Thanks so much.
Pen. ;)
Ah, yes, it’s all so clear now :). I thought maybe there was nothing I had missed and I guess there was! Thanks again. These are adorable
“something” I had missed
What a generous gift! My near three-year old son has a birthday coming up in June. This will get put to good use, as he has a super healthy obsession with trains. What great timing!
Using these for my little man’s 4th birthday in June~ he LOVES trains, but has never been into the cartoon-y ones… :) This is perfect! Thank you so much!
super cute!
Thanks so much for this! I’m going to use them for my little man’s first birthday!
Thank you SO much for providing this free, adorable template. I did an evite for my son’s train party, but needed something for people who’s email I didn’t have. These were perfect!
LOVE LOVE this invitation! I ALSO love your blog! I saw these on pinterest. So fun!
This is a beautiful invitation!! Thank you SO much for being so generous with it. I’m using these for my 3 year old’s birthday party. :)
I think I’ll be using these invites for my son’s second birthday party. Thank you.
Adorable! Thank you for sharing :)
That’s lovely! Can I ask that what sort of program you use for open this file? I’ve download this one but have no idea how to edit on it.
Thanks
That’s lovely!
Could you tell me what program I need for opening with? I’ve download but can’t type in. Thanks
I’m so excited to use these. Thanks for setting them up! I can’t seem to be able to edit the font though. When I click on the link it opens in a new window but it won’t let me edit. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks!