Bright Invites

Set a playful tone for summer parties with lantern-themed invitations. Start by penciling lines for "ropes" on plain cards. Punch holes with a tack every 1/2 inch; erase lines. Using knotted embroidery floss, sew running stitches along each line, then double back, filling in spaces between stitches. With pinking shears, cut "lanterns" from wide-striped grosgrain ribbon. Cut "tassels" from colored paper; fold in half. Affix lanterns and tassels with a glue stick; write message.