This tutorial will walk you through the step-by-step process using the Owl Invitation that is offered by Mom's Break. (See below for the link to Mom's Break to get this free printable party invitation---it is perfect for that Harry Potter Birthday Party that you are planning!)

This illustration shows the pre-printed Owl Invitation before adding text.

Once the text is added, you can print as many party invitations as you need---and you don't have to hand-write in all the party details!

OK, you're all set to learn how to personalize free printables using Microsoft paint! See below for the easy-to-follow, step-by-step illustrated instructions.

Step 1.

Download the free printable to your computer. Be sure to note where you save the free printable.

• Tip: Download free printables and save them to your desktop. This makes it easy to find right away. You can always move it to another folder later. Go to: How to Download a "Printables Collection" for help with this process.

Open the free printable in Paint:

1. Locate the free printable on your computer, and right click on the file name. A drop-down menu will appear.

2. Click on "Open With" and another drop-down menu will appear.

3. Click on "Paint" in the second drop-down menu.

The free printable invitation will open in Paint.

On the toolbar along the left-hand-side of the screen, click on the capital letter A (when you move the mouse over it, a little pop-up will appear that says "Text").

Now you can begin to insert text into the party invitation.

Move the cursor to the first place on the invitation where you want to insert text. Click the cursor, hold down the mouse button, and then drag the cursor down and to the right. This puts a "text box" on the screen. When the box is as big as you need it to be, let go of the mouse button. The cursor will be "blinking" inside the text box.

As seen here, there is a box, with a dotted line, next to the word "When:" on the invitation.

Now, just type what you want to appear in that text box.

As shown here, the text typed into the box says "Friday the 13th."

Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to fill in all of the details of the entire invitation.

You can use any font (the style of the text) and font size (how big the text is), by opening up the Text Toolbar.

On the toolbar, click on View, and then click on Text Toolbar.

The Text Toolbar will appear. Click on the down arrows by font and font size to change the text style and size as desired.

If you have already entered the text before selecting the font and font size you want, you will need to "highlight" the text (click the mouse and drag it over the text) before you select the font and font size to change it to.

Once you've filled in all the party details, be sure to "Save" your changes!

Now, simply print as many invitations as you need!

This completes the tutorial for adding text to your free printable invitation using Microsoft Paint.

Make a Harry Potter Party Owl Invitation

Mom's Break Harry Potter Themed Party Printables

Personalizing Free Printables Using Microsoft Word

Using plain computer paper and self-stick labels, you can learn to make party invitations for any occasion!

Go to:

Making Halloween Party Invitations

For the Baby Shower, go to:

Make A Baby Shower Invitation

For a complete list of tutorials and articles on card-making, go to:

Jan's Reading Room

                           Jan's Reading Room

                           Jan's Dough

        Jan's Free Content

Jan's Tutorials, also available on Jan's Tips, are easy-to-read-and-understand tutorials for using MS Word and MS Paint, as well as using other computer-based features and programs to create cards, gift tags, and labels.