Last weekend Andrew took Charlotte and Louise to Home Depot because apparently looking at lawn mowers is “fun.” I wasn’t arguing. That gave me like…an hour of uninterrupted coffee time, and I started digging through my old invitation folders. I kept opening my old Super Mario Bros Invitation designs thinking, “Okay…these are still cute, but I know I can make these way more fun.” So I did.
Unleash the Fun: Why I Keep Coming Back to Super Mario Bros Invitations
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I swear Mario never goes out of style.
One month it’s dinosaurs. Then sharks. Then somehow we’re back to Mario because somebody at school had a Mario birthday and now every kid suddenly remembers how much they love collecting coins and stomping Goombas. Kids are funny like that.
So when I refreshed this Super Mario Bros Invitation collection, I leaned into all the stuff kids actually notice.
Bright reds, royal blues, sunny yellows, pops of green…basically colors that scream “party” before anyone even reads the details. I tucked in floating coins, question blocks, stars, mushrooms, warp pipes, brick walls, little fire flowers…all those tiny things that make kids stop for a second and go, “WAIT…LOOK!”
Louise literally pointed at one design and went, “Mom, you forgot another coin over here.”
Sir…I absolutely did.
Honestly? That extra coin stayed because he was right. It balanced the page way better.
And one thing I’ve noticed after making invitations for our family and half our neighborhood at this point…kids LOVE hunting for little details. Adults read invitations. Kids inspect them like tiny detectives.
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I didn’t want twenty invitations that looked like somebody copied and pasted the same layout over and over. That bugs me so much.
Some kids want BIG Mario front and center.
Some are all about Luigi.
Some think Bowser is cooler than Mario, which…okay, I don’t get it, but I’m not here to judge.
So I mixed everything up.
Classic Mario Adventure
Perfect if your kid wants the full Mario world with all the familiar characters.
Rainbow Road Party
Super colorful and honestly gives off “best birthday ever” energy.
Bowser Battle
This one feels a little cooler for older kids who aren’t really into the super baby-looking invitations anymore.
Princess Peach Celebration
Still very Mario, just softer with pretty pink details that aren’t over-the-top.
Yoshi’s Island
Probably my favorite for preschool birthdays because it’s colorful without making your eyeballs work overtime.
Level Up Your Invites: Editing in Canva Was Way Easier Than I Remembered
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Everything is editable in Canva, which is lucky because I change my mind…constantly.
Like, CONSTANTLY.
The very first version had yellow text sitting on top of those brick blocks.
On my laptop?
Cute.
Printed?
Girl…
I had to hold it up toward the kitchen window just to read what time the party started.
Nope.
So I switched the wording to white with a little outline, made Charlotte’s name way bigger because she said—and I quote—”People need to know whose birthday it is first.”
Fair enough.
Then I accidentally moved one little mushroom while dragging the RSVP box.
Didn’t notice.
Downloaded it.
Printed it.
The mushroom was basically sitting on top of our address.
Not the end of the world, but definitely one of those “welp…guess we’re printing that again” moments.
Now I always zoom all the way out before downloading.
It sounds ridiculously simple, but catching weird little overlaps before printing has probably saved me way more paper than I’d like to admit.
Printing & Sharing Tips: Here’s What Actually Worked for Me
I’m not loyal to one place or anything.
It honestly depends where I’m already running errands.
If I’m grabbing birthday candles or snacks, I’ll usually swing by Walgreens and print 5×7 photos. They’re often around twenty cents each when a promo is running, which honestly feels cheaper than convincing my printer to behave.
Because listen…
Home printers have personalities.
Mine always decides somebody’s face needs a random purple streak the night before a birthday.
Every. Single. Time.
Staples has been awesome too whenever I wanted thicker cardstock that feels more like a real invitation.
As for matte versus glossy…
I almost always pick matte.
Mostly because one of the kids inevitably spills juice, somebody writes “can’t wait!” on an invitation, or I remember another detail five minutes before handing them out.
Matte hides fingerprints better too, which…small thing…but once thirty sticky little hands touch something, you’ll appreciate it.
Glossy definitely makes those Mario colors pop though, so if you’re going for really bright photos, it’s a fun option too.
Oh—and don’t stress if paper invitations disappear into the mysterious black hole known as elementary school backpacks.
I’ve definitely texted the Canva file to parents the night before the party more than once.
No shame.
Beyond the Invite: Easy Mario Party Stuff That Didn’t Cost a Fortune
I’m all for cute decorations.
I’m just…not trying to spend grocery money on balloons.
So I usually mix a couple Mario decorations with plain red, blue, yellow, and green party supplies from Target or the dollar store. Once everything’s on the table, nobody can tell what cost five bucks and what cost fifty.
A few places I always peek before buying anything:
Amazon for balloon kits, favor bags, cupcake toppers, table covers, and plates.
Etsy for printable banners, cupcake wrappers, and personalized party signs.
Pinterest because those moms are out there building question blocks out of cardboard like it’s an HGTV competition, and honestly…I’ve borrowed a few ideas.
One thing the kids absolutely lost their minds over?
Chocolate coins.
I tossed them around the backyard while Andrew distracted everyone with bubbles.
The second I yelled “GO!” those kids took OFF.
It bought us a solid fifteen minutes where nobody asked me for juice.
Honestly…worth every chocolate coin.
After the Party
The invitation honestly did exactly what I hoped it’d do.
One little boy walked in holding his invite and immediately started comparing all the characters to the decorations.
Another mom laughed and asked if I bought the invitations somewhere because they looked “too nice to be homemade,” which honestly made my day a little.
Louise kept telling everybody, “Mom made these.”
About seventeen times.
Maybe eighteen.
And Charlotte?
She carefully tucked one invitation into her keepsake box with birthday cards and little notes from friends.
That kind of melted me a little.
It’s funny because we spend so much time thinking about cake or favors or decorations…
But invitations are really the first little piece of the party kids get to hold.
That’s the part that gets them counting down the days.
Frequently Asked Questions About Super Mario Bros Invitations
Can I change everything in Canva?
Yep. Names, fonts, colors, wording, photos…pretty much everything. I tweak something every single time because apparently I can never leave well enough alone.
What age works best for a Super Mario Bros Invitation?
I’d say anywhere from about four to ten. The different layouts make it easy to pick something that feels playful for younger kids or a little cooler for older ones.
Walgreens or Staples?
Honestly? Both have never let me down. Walgreens is my “I’m already out grabbing cupcakes” stop, and Staples is great when I want that thicker cardstock feel.
Matte or glossy?
Team matte over here. It’s easier to write on, hides fingerprints better, and survives kid chaos a little longer. But glossy makes those bright Mario colors really pop if that’s your thing.
Can I send it digitally instead?
Oh, 100%. Half the parents I know actually prefer getting the Canva file by text because it’s way easier to find later than digging through backpacks.
Do I need matching Mario decorations?
Not at all. Grab a few themed pieces, mix in solid-colored balloons and tableware, and you’re good. Kids notice the giant Mario balloon way before they notice whether your napkins officially match.
