14+ FREE Ruby Gillman Kraken Birthday Invitation Templates (Canva, Editable & Printable 2026)

Okay, so when Charlotte first got into Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, I honestly didn’t expect it to become such a cute party theme. I mean, kids are funny like that. One week they’re obsessed with dinosaurs, then suddenly it’s underwater worlds, sea creatures, and “Mom, can we make everything blue?”

And honestly? I get why this theme works.

Ruby’s world already has everything kids love for birthdays — bright colors, ocean vibes, silly characters, and that whole “secret magical creature” feeling without being too scary. It’s playful but still different from the usual princess or unicorn parties we see everywhere.

For this invitation refresh, I wanted something that felt like a kid’s birthday party right away, not just a movie poster copied onto a card.

Why Ruby Gillman is the Perfect Party Theme

The thing I noticed with kids around Charlotte’s age is they don’t really care if something is “aesthetic” the way adults do. They care if it feels exciting.

They notice the little things:

“Wait, is that Ruby?”

“Why is there a giant kraken?”

“Can we have ocean cupcakes?”

That’s why I leaned into those fun details when making these invitations.

I used a mix of ocean-inspired colors like deep blue, aqua, purple, and pops of pink to keep it playful. I added underwater elements like bubbles, waves, sea creatures, and cute kraken-inspired illustrations instead of making it feel too dark or “monster-ish.”

Because let’s be real, some kids love spooky themes… but some kids are also like, “Nope, that’s creepy,” and suddenly your adorable party idea becomes a hard pass. 😂

The layout is also pretty simple. Big readable birthday details, cute character-inspired decorations around the edges, and enough empty space so the invitation doesn’t feel like everything is screaming at once.

The Magic of FREE Printable Templates

I’ve always felt like the invitation sets the mood before the party even happens.

Before kids see the cake. Before they see decorations. Before they run around with cupcakes all over their faces.

The invite is the first little “preview.”

And honestly, as a mom, I love that I can make something personalized without spending a ton.

I don’t mind buying cute party supplies, but I also don’t want to spend $50 on invitations that mostly end up forgotten in backpacks. Been there, done that.

A Canva editable template gives me that sweet spot — cute enough to feel special, but easy enough that I can change things while I’m sitting on the couch after the kids go to bed.

What I Did When I Made These Ruby Gillman Invitations

So here’s the real mom behind-the-scenes part.

I started designing these invitations after dinner one night while Andrew was cleaning up the kitchen and Louise was supposed to be getting ready for bed.

(Keyword: supposed to.)

He was literally running around with one sock on, asking me random questions every five seconds, so my “peaceful designing time” was definitely not as peaceful as I imagined.

Anyway, I opened Canva and started playing around with the colors.

At first, I went way too heavy on the dark blue.

Like… underwater cave vibes.

Cute? Maybe.

Birthday party vibes? Not really.

Charlotte looked at it and said, “Mom, it needs to be happier.”

And honestly, she was right.

Kids have the best design opinions because they don’t overthink it. They just know if something feels fun or boring.

So I brightened everything up, added more colorful ocean details, softened the background, and made the text bigger.

The funniest little struggle was the printing test.

On my laptop, the colors looked amazing. Then I printed one sample and the purple looked a little muddy. Ugh.

Classic.

So I adjusted the contrast and brightness slightly, then printed another one. Much better.

That’s something I always recommend when making invitations — don’t trust only what you see on screen. Printers love to surprise you at the worst possible moment.

Dive Into Our FREE 14+ Ruby Gillman Invitation Templates

 

 

 

 

There’s this one with Ruby Gillman looking totally fierce, surrounded by bubbles and seaweed. It’s perfect for a party with a bit of edge.

Or, if you want something more playful, there’s this adorable template with a little kraken and a treasure chest.

And for the ultimate ocean adventure, there’s this deep-sea themed invite with glowing jellyfish and a mysterious octopus.

 

 

 

 

 

If you think you need more options to choose from, you may need to see another collection from us. Regarding the theme in this post, I will suggest you look at these Festive Disney Coco, Ready and Go Paw Patrol, Simple Bluey baby shower invitation templates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CUSTOM YOUR FREE RUBY GILLMAN INVITATIONS HERE!

 

 

Okay, I know having 14+ options sounds like a lot (because honestly, choosing fonts alone can become a whole evening situation), so I usually tell moms to pick based on their kid’s personality.

Here are a few favorites from this collection:

Discover Unique Designs & Characters

1. Cute Ruby Ocean Adventure Invitation
Perfect for younger kids who love bright colors, cute sea creatures, and a softer birthday vibe.

2. Kraken Underwater Party Invitation
A fun pick for kids who want a little more adventure and “deep sea explorer” energy.

3. Pink & Blue Ruby Inspired Birthday Invite
Great for kids who love colorful designs with a mix of cute and cool.

4. Undersea Friends Birthday Invitation
A sweet option for a smaller backyard party with ocean decorations and simple games.

5. Teenage Kraken Adventure Invitation
Best for older kids who want something playful but not too baby-ish.

What Makes Our Templates Stand Out?

The biggest thing I wanted with these designs was making them actually usable.

Because sometimes you find a cute template online, but then you’re sitting there like:

“Okay… where do I put the party address?”

“Why is the birthday kid’s name tiny?”

“Why is there no space for anything?”

Been there.

These templates are made with moms in mind. Easy text editing, clear party information sections, and designs that still look good after printing.

You can open them in Canva, change the name, date, location, RSVP details, and basically make it yours.

No fancy design skills needed. Trust me, if you can change your Netflix profile picture, you can handle Canva. 😂

How to Easily Download & Customize Your Invitations

One thing I love about Canva templates is that I don’t have to start from a blank page.

Because honestly? A blank Canva page at 10 PM after getting the kids to bed feels like a homework assignment I didn’t ask for. 😂

With these Ruby Gillman Invitation templates, I usually just pick the design that matches the birthday kid’s personality, open it in Canva, and start changing the important stuff first.

Name.

Age.

Party date.

Location.

RSVP details.

That’s it.

Don’t get sucked into changing every tiny thing like I always do. I swear, I’ll tell myself, “I’m only changing the font,” and suddenly 45 minutes later I’m debating whether the bubbles need to move two inches to the left.

Mom life, right?

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Templates

Here’s usually how I do it:

Step 1: Choose the Ruby Gillman invitation design you love

I normally show Charlotte a few options first because, honestly, kids know what they like.

Adults might spend forever comparing colors, but kids are very straightforward.

“This one looks fun.”

“This one looks boring.”

Done. Decision made.

Step 2: Open the template in Canva

You can edit everything directly inside Canva. No complicated software, no downloading weird files, no trying to figure out some ancient design program.

Step 3: Change the party details

I always update the birthday child’s name first because that’s the part kids get excited about seeing.

Then I add:

• Birthday age
• Date and time
• Party location
• RSVP information

Step 4: Do a quick mom check

Before printing, I always pretend I’m another parent receiving the invitation.

Can I quickly find the date?

Do I know where the party is?

Is the age clear?

Because somehow I’ve forgotten important details before. Not my proudest mom moment, but we move on. 😂

Personalizing Details: Name, Date, & Venue

For this Ruby Gillman theme, I actually recommend not over-editing.

The underwater details are already doing a lot of the fun work.

I usually keep the main birthday information big and simple because parents are usually looking at invitations while:

• standing in the school pickup line,
• waiting at soccer practice,
• making dinner,
• or scrolling their phone at midnight because they finally have five quiet minutes.

Nobody wants to zoom in like they’re solving a mystery.

For Charlotte’s parties, I’ve learned that simple wins.

A cute design + easy-to-find details = happy moms.

Printing Tips for Best Results

Okay, printing invitations is where things can get a little tricky.

Because what looks gorgeous on Canva doesn’t always come out exactly the same from a printer.

I learned this the hard way.

The first time I printed a colorful invitation, I thought the colors looked a little flat compared to my screen. After that, I started doing one test print before printing everything.

Tiny step, saves a headache.

For US moms, my easiest recommendation is usually:

Walgreens 5×7 Photo Prints

I’ve used Walgreens for quick birthday invitations because it’s convenient, especially when I’m already running errands.

A 5×7 print is usually around $0.20 each, which is honestly hard to beat when you’re making invitations for a whole classroom or friend group.

The photo paper also makes colors look bright, which works really nicely for Ruby Gillman’s ocean colors.

You can check Walgreens here:

• Walgreens Photo Printing
• Staples Cardstock Printing

If you want the invitation to feel more like a traditional party card, Staples is another good option.

I personally like matte cardstock because:

• fingerprints don’t show as much,
• writing RSVP notes on it is easier,
• it feels more like a real invitation.

Glossy paper is pretty too, especially for colorful underwater designs because the colors pop more, but sometimes it can have that shiny “photo” feeling.

You can also check:

• Staples Printing Services
• Printing at Home

And honestly?

If you already have a decent home printer, don’t underestimate it.

For smaller parties, printing at home on thick cardstock can totally work.

I usually recommend:

• 80–100 lb cardstock
• matte finish
• good quality ink settings

No need to make it a whole production.

Crafting the Perfect Ruby Gillman Birthday Bash

Okay, now the fun part.

The invitation is cute, but the party itself doesn’t need to become a Pinterest competition.

I have learned this over the years.

Kids remember the fun stuff.

They remember laughing.

They remember games.

They remember eating too many cupcakes.

They do not remember if your table runner perfectly matched your plates. Trust me.

Creative Party Food & Drink Ideas

For a Ruby Gillman party, I’d keep the food simple but make it feel ocean-inspired.

A few easy ideas:

“Ocean Water” Drinks

This one is basically a party classic.

Blue lemonade or a blue sports drink with cute labels instantly becomes an ocean drink.

You can add fun straws or little ocean stickers.

Kids love anything with a silly name.

Kraken Cupcakes

You don’t need professional cake decorating skills.

I would literally grab cupcakes from the grocery store and add:

• blue frosting,
• candy eyes,
• little gummy sea creatures.

Done.

Nobody needs to know you made it in 10 minutes before guests arrived.

Sea Creature Snacks

Some easy ideas:

• Goldfish crackers
• Blue Jell-O cups
• Ocean-themed cookies
• Popcorn labeled “Kraken Crunch”

Pinterest is honestly my rabbit hole for these kinds of ideas.

For affordable party inspiration:
Pinterest Ruby Gillman Party Ideas Search

Fun Activities & Games for Young Krakens

The easiest birthday games are usually the ones kids already understand.

No need to reinvent the wheel.

A few ideas:

Kraken Treasure Hunt

Hide little “treasures” around the party area.

They can search for:

• stickers,
• small toys,
• candy,
• ocean-themed prizes.

You can get inexpensive party favors from Amazon:
Amazon Ocean Party Favors Search

Underwater Craft Station

This one is always a hit.

Set up:

• coloring pages,
• ocean stickers,
• paper crowns,
• DIY kraken masks.

It also gives parents a tiny break because kids are actually sitting down for five minutes. A win is a win.

“Save the Kraken” Game

Basically a silly version of a rescue game.

Kids work together to “save” a stuffed animal or toy hidden somewhere.

Little teamwork games are usually better than anything too competitive.

Decorating Your Undersea World

I love party decorations, but I’m also realistic.

I’m not turning my house into an aquarium.

A few simple things can completely change the room:

• blue balloons,
• hanging streamers like waves,
• bubble decorations,
• ocean-colored table covers,
• printed character signs.

A little trick I love?

Use balloons.

Seriously.

Balloons make everything look more “party” instantly.

You can find affordable decoration inspiration on Etsy too:
Etsy Ruby Gillman Party Decorations Search

After Party Reflection: Was the Ruby Gillman Theme Actually Worth It?

After the party, the funniest thing was not even the decorations.

It was the kids’ reactions to the invitation.

Charlotte’s friend actually brought the invitation back in her backpack because she didn’t want to throw it away yet.

She said, “This looks like the ocean is inside it.”

And honestly?

That made me smile.

Because that’s exactly why I still enjoy making invitations.

It’s such a small thing, but kids notice those little details.

Andrew always jokes that I spend too much time making “tiny pieces of paper,” but then he sees the kids get excited and he’s like… okay, maybe she has a point. 😂

The party itself wasn’t some huge movie-worthy event.

It was just kids running around, eating cupcakes, playing games, and laughing.

Which honestly is the whole goal.

Bonus Freebies – Ruby Gilmman Coloring Pages

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Ruby Gillman Invites

Are the templates truly free?

Yes!

The Ruby Gillman invitation templates are free Canva templates that you can customize for your child’s birthday party.

You don’t need professional design skills.

If you know how to edit text and click around Canva, you’re good.

Can I edit the text on the invitations?

Yes.

You can change:

birthday child’s name,
age,
date,
time,
location,
RSVP information.

That’s actually my favorite part because every kid’s party feels a little more personal.

What paper is best for printing?

For Ruby Gillman invitations, I personally like:

Matte cardstock → best overall choice because it feels like a real invitation and doesn’t show fingerprints easily.

Glossy photo paper → great if you want bright colors and a shiny finish.

Photo printing at Walgreens → easiest budget option, especially for 5×7 invitations.

The “best” choice really depends on your budget and how fancy you want it to feel.