IT'S A DATE! IMAGINATIVE INVITATIONS WITH PERSONAL TOUCHES HOLD THE PROMISE OF A GREAT PARTY GO AHEAD - YOU'RE INVITED TO BE CREATIVE.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Staff Writer

Whether planning a wedding or a more casual engagement, birthday or cocktail soiree, people these days are making their invitations more colorful and imaginative to set the mood and promise a good time.

And with computers, stickers and stamps, anyone can create personalized invitations without the high cost of custom designs and engraving.

``Start with the envelope. It should stand out from the rest of your mail - like a black envelope with silver or white writing done with a calligraphy pen or even a Sharpie marker, and then think of a way to express what the party is about,'' suggests Lara Shriftman of Harrison & Shriftman, one of the city's biggest party planners.

Shriftman, who co-authored a new party planning book, ``Fete Accompli: The Ultimate Guide to Creative Entertaining,'' to be published next year by Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House, also thinks cute copy is a great tease.

``If you can't afford something professionally printed, just write, 'Meet me at 6 p.m. for cocktails and candy. And put a piece of candy in the envelope ... or how about using your Sharpie to write, 'You're a lemon if you don't attend' on a bright yellow card?'' she continues.

Childish themes also work well for adult parties. Barbie doll cards from the drug store and matching stickers can provoke a sense of fun.

A favorite for tea parties and showers is a dainty-looking invitation with a vellum overlay tied with ribbon. Sandi Bertoldo, manager of Parchment in Westlake Village, thinks the trend, which started about five years ago, keeps growing because women can personalize them with ribbon choices from satin to velvet or even raffia. Lindy Powell, designer supervisor at the new Paper Source store in Beverly Hills, says this year she's using grommets instead of ribbon for a more contemporary theme.

And L.A. party planner Jose Martinez says it doesn't matter whether the vellum is even held in place - it's just visually fun. ``People like inserts and the vellum is sheer so it doesn't hide what's printed underneath,'' Martinez explains.

Another paper with panache is handmade paper - the kind that is wrinkled-looking and sometimes has flowers or leaves pressed into it. This paper style looks best with calligraphy and a matching envelope, possibly tied like a package with a raffia bow.

Layers of colorful paper, perhaps cut with pinking shears and stamped with designs, also are in, as are zany photographs stapled to Popsicle sticks to be used as fans (put details on flip side), twigs glued onto brown paper and the use of foil.

On the envelope, add a decorative handmade sticker or sealing wax. Hallmark stores ceased production of sealing wax and its stamps featuring initials and romantic icons (hearts, flowers) years ago, but you can still find them at specialty shops such as Papyrus in Canoga Park. For those who haven't tried putting a stamp of approval on the back of their envelope, it takes a little practice. You'll need about a quarter-sized glob of hot wax to make the stamp look impressive - and you should make sure the initial is right-side up.

If you need technical or creative assistance, stores such as Kinko's have computers (and savvy salespeople) to help you do it quickly and cheaply, and many Hallmark stores have a similar system specifically designed for invitations.

``A person can now bring in anything and turn it into a customized invitation,'' says Claudia Ferraris, co-owner of Andi's Hallmark Shop in Thousand Oaks.

Not only can the customer choose the paper type and color, but also the ink color (purple is a best seller) and the font (lettering style). An invitation that looks like nobody else's can cost as little as $1.50 each with a matching envelope. Black-and-white photographs can also be scanned into the invitation, she says, for an additional 75 cents per card.

Even formal invitations rarely are professionally engraved these days, nor do they have that fancy little square of tissue paper tucked inside (originally used to keep wet ink from smudging).

Some are still semi-traditional, choosing white or ivory paper stock, but perhaps rounding the edges and using baby blue ink, says Shriftman. And the envelope should be lined to match or complement the invitation - another artful trend.

At the Paper Source, wedding invitations could be red with white lettering, stuffed in red envelopes or white with red lining - or in wilder combos such as violet and chartreuse.

``We're seeing a real saturation of color in invitations these days, and they're more modern looking ... with a greater reflection on the couple. Perhaps it's because couples are more often making the selection instead of the bride-to-be and her mother,'' says Powell.

For those with big budgets for any occasion, hand-delivered invitations in a box are all the rage, say numerous professionals who have stuffed their decorative boxes with everything from chocolate shoes to exquisite sea shells to laser-cut paper flowers.

Thinking outside the box, Bertoldo has even sent invitations stuffed in bottles for a sailing party. She says the trend started with children's parties but is catching on with adults.

But the bottom line in invitations (besides RSVP) is still personalization.

``Nothing is better than seeing an invitation with your name in calligraphy,'' says Shriftman, who adds that her least favorite invitations are postcards that make you feel like everybody in the world got one, too. Or a typed invitation that looks like a business letter. And printed fliers? They're over unless you're still going to frat parties.

The right invite is key to success, say pro planners

Friends will come to your party because they like you, but jaded members of the press and society's A-list are a tougher crowd.

If the invitation doesn't grab their attention with its wit, personalization or stunning elegance, they may not attend. And that's the kiss of death for a professional party planner.

``The invitation is more important than many realize, because it makes the first impression ... and it has to convey the theme and promise a fun party or great event that you won't want to miss. So when we hear reporters say they loved it so much they displayed it on their desks, we know we've got a winner,'' says Mike Boyd, vice president of marketing at Home & Garden Television.

One of his most recent success stories was a press party to promote TV specials on Hollywood homes.

``The venue was the home of a silent screen star, and we had vintage cars parked outside to set the scene, with synchronized swimmers as a tribute to swimmer/actress Esther Williams, so I told designer Dan Frye to create an invitation that reflected the era,'' Boyd explains.

The final result was a paper invitation highly embossed and laser-cut to look like an old press camera - the kind that used real flash bulbs. According to Frye, ``It was an expensive invitation, costing about $7 each, but worth it because the press expects to be dazzled.''

When it came time to announce the opening of a new store called the Paper Source, Snowball Public Relations in Los Angeles alerted the press with an exquisite paper replica of a magnolia blossom tucked inside a dainty stationery box with the invitation, all tied up with a purple satin ribbon. The message was clear: This is a store for creative paper goods.

And when Harrison & Shriftman created the invitations for the launch of three new Express stores, they made envelopes out of real denim.

``Since Express is known for jeans, we knew the denim envelope would instantly set the theme of a jeans party. Not only will guests discover denim couches and rugs when they get there, but they'll be served Blue Denim martinis and go home with a pair of new jeans,'' explains Jose Martinez, a member of the party planning team.

Another novelty designed to impress the press was a fan that featured a photo of a glamorous model with her head inside a lion's mouth and instructions on the other side to bring it to the new Deep nightclub in Hollywood for free admission. Why a lion? The People's Revolution PR firm thought it was wild enough to complement the club's jungle decor that includes a stuffed lion.

- Barbara De Witt

INVITING TRENDS:

Sealing wax and stickers

Layers of colored paper

Calligraphy in colored ink

Vellum overlays with ribbon trim

Envelopes lined in paper or fabric

Handmade paper with torn edges

Unusual shapes and sizes

Delivery in a gift box by courier

RETURN TO SENDER:

Invitations that don't reflect the party theme

Glitter and sand in the envelope (too messy)

Overly formal or feminine designs

Kitschy wedding invitations

Invitations that read like chain letters

Plain white envelopes (dullsville)

Printed fliers (unless it's a dorm party)

Post cards (looks like a sale announcement)

CAPTION(S):

6 photos, 3 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) You're invited to learn how to make a stunning first impression for your next gathering

(2 -- color) A hand-delivered invitation, such as this candy-filled martini glass with cocktail napkin, can make a big impression on a prospective guest.

(3 -- color) Wedding and baby shower invitations that feature handmade or transparent paper reflect a shift from stock cards with engraving.

(4 -- color) This invitation for the Deep nightclub echoed the venue's jungle decor.

(5 -- color) A camera theme beckoned invites to a Home & Garden TV event.

(6) no caption (Sealing wax and stamp)

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) The right invite is key to success, say pro planners (see text)

(2) INVITING TRENDS (see text)

(3) RETURN TO SENDER (see text)