"The Nutcracker Party" is a holiday party poster in a theatrical storybook style. The title letters look like toy soldiers in red tunics with black caps and boots, set on a cream panel under a gilded arch between two nutcracker figures and red velvet curtains. Swap the party name, date and time to make your own invitation.

a Nutcracker-themed Christmas illustration, poster, party invitation, wallpaper or card that a family, dance school or holiday shop would actually use. GRAPHIC LANGUAGE: a theatrical storybook world - nutcracker soldier figures in red tunics, tall black hats and gold buttons standing guard at the sides or as the hero of an illustration, a ballet stage arch or ornate gilded frame with velvet curtains, garlands, ribbons, candy, drums, rocking horses and toy castles - framing a central panel or open area for the words; clipart and illustrations can show a single nutcracker figure on a plain ground. LIGHT: warm stage light with a soft golden glow from the centre and a gentle vignette at the edges. COLOUR: rich crimson red and deep emerald green with antique gold trim and a cream panel for the words. TEXTURE: velvet curtains, gilded filigree, painted wooden toy surfaces with a slight gloss, a hint of glitter. TIERS: the classic ballet tier is crimson, emerald and gold, ornate and theatrical; the sugar plum tier is pastel pink, mint and gold, with pink nutcracker soldiers, ballet slippers and sweets, whimsical. LETTERFORM COLOR PRIORITY: if the selected font defines its own letterform colour or material, that takes absolute priority; crimson or antique gold colours the letters only when the font does not specify. ATMOSPHERE: the nutcracker figures, the stage frame and the warm golden light always appear around the words regardless of letterform colour. When no specific material is defined by the font: default lighting - the words sit on a cream panel inside a gilded stage arch under warm golden light. A Nutcracker Christmas party invitation: 'The Nutcracker Party' as the title on a cream panel inside a gilded stage arch with red velvet curtains, a nutcracker soldier on each side, 'Saturday, December 20 · 6 PM' small below.