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Cars themed party invitations that look like pit passes on red lanyards.

Homemade Cars Pit Pass Invitation Template and Tutorial

Last Modified: November 5, 2020 // by Tracy Ariza, DDS // September 28, 2013 I may receive a commission if you purchase through links in this post. Learn more here.

es_ES Español

Several Cars themed invitations that look like pit passes on red lanyards.

Perfect for your Cars birthday party, these super cute pit pass invitations will make each kid feel like an extra special VIP. Get the free printout and tutorial to easily make your own.

Several Cars themed invitations that look like pit passes on red lanyards.
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Despite not knowing where the party would even be held (we are doing some construction at home), I had already begun to make the invitations for our Cars birthday party weeks ago.

I had thought about making race ticket invitations, but when I looked up what a race ticket actually looked like, I also saw VIP passes of sorts, and thought a Cars pit pass invitation would be cuter.

Just as almost everything that one can think of, somebody has pretty much always already done it. While searching the internet for ideas, I found people who had already done similar pit passes for their kids’ parties.

A closeup of one Cars themed invitation on a red lanyard with Cars designs painted on it.
Cars logo with the name "Eric" in the center and a "3" underneath.


I also found some templates that could be quickly and easily used for instant invitations, but, even though they were cute, I wanted to make things complicated and make my own. I searched for public domain Cars clipart, and these images are floating around on numerous sites that claim they are public domain images. Hopefully they are, but I don’t think you should have a problem using them for a personal project like a kids’ birthday party. (I would’t suggest selling products using them, though). 😉

To begin making the top part of the invitation with my son’s name written in the Cars logo, I started by downloading the blank logo here.

Then, in Photoshop, I wrote his name in Magneto Bold font (free download).

blank template for a Cars pit pass invitation

I used the second half of this tutorial, and a bit of experimentation, to get the chrome look that I wanted.

I played around with photoshop for awhile, and I came up with the above template. Feel free to download mine (Or here with writing that you can change) and use it yourself for your party!
(If you don’t have photoshop, here is a jpg template (but it won’t be as easy to customize.))

I then added my customized logo and the information about the party with options for both Spanish and English, of course.
Here is my customized logo with my son’s name in photoshop format, so you can easily change it to the name you want without having to adjust all of the settings.

examples of the invitations I made for my son's party in both English and Spanish.
I came up with these.

I added a picture of my son, along with the logo of my friend’s preschool where we will be holding the party, on the Spanish pit pass invitation.

Once I had the pit pass invitation all planned out, I wanted to make them look authentic, so I printed them out on a thick photo paper and laminated each pit pass. I then punched a hole in the top for my homemade lanyards.

I would have bought the lanyards, but surprisingly lanyards, at least the ones available for shipping to Spain, are pretty expensive! Even when buying in bulk, I couldn’t find any for much less than a euro a piece. I wasn’t about to spend that much, especially since we had an idea to give one to everybody who comes to the party. That would add up pretty quickly!

So, instead, I bought red cord wherever I could find any. Even something as simple as that can prove to be difficult here.

One day, though, I found the perfect find: Cars shoelaces. They weren’t as cheap as the red cord, and there were only a few left, but I snatched up all of the remaining shoelaces.

Once I had my cord ready, I still wasn’t sure how I was going attach it to the pit passes. I decided I’d need some sort of lanyard clip, but couldn’t find any anywhere either, so I ordered some tiny ones over the internet.

I still wasn’t sure how to attach the the lanyard clips to the cord.

Just when I was about to give up, I found some crimp end findings at a local store. They’re great because they hold the two ends of the cord together and have a loop for hooking in the lanyard clips.

Closeup of the burned points of red cording together, next to a lanyard clip.

To help fit the cord ends in the crimp end findings more easily, and to ensure they wouldn’t unravel, I first burnt the ends of the cord, and pinched the two ends of the cord together. The melted cord united both ends, keeping them together even without the findings. I then crimped the findings over the burnt ends.

I finally was able to hook the lanyard clips though both the loop on the findings and through my hole in the pit pass invitations, and that was it!

Closeup of the red lanyard clipped into the hole punched in the top of the invitation.

Quick, easy, and cute!

At the party, everybody wore their passes. I had originally planned on only giving them out to the kids, but they ended up being so quick, easy and cheap to make, that I made some for everybody.

Category: Uncategorized

About Tracy Ariza, DDS

Tracy Ariza, B.A., D.D.S., left dentistry and the United States to found Oh, The Things We’ll Make!, writing to you from the Spanish Riviera. She loves making things herself in order to keep control of what goes in them. While far from perfect, she strives each day to live a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.

Previous Post: « Car themed items: white and red little tote bags, VIP pit pass invitations with red lanyard, Chocolate donut party treats, kid watch, and coloring books laid on a wood surface. Cars Party Ideas – My Son’s 3rd Birthday
Next Post: Cars Party: Making Fondant Cars A plate of colorful fondant cars from the movie Cars. »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex

    December 13, 2019 at 5:29 AM

    Thank you so much! You are so kind! Your work in Ps was excellent.

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      December 15, 2019 at 7:44 AM

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. arielle

    March 28, 2018 at 7:07 AM

    How can I edit name on logo once opened in photoshop? TIA!

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      March 28, 2018 at 1:10 PM

      If you click on the text with the text tool, you should be able to change the name. Make sure the layer with the text is highlighted in the layers panel (bottom right) or you won’t be able to edit it.

      Reply
  3. Joyce

    August 1, 2017 at 4:32 AM

    Hi Tracy,
    I love your invite! I’m planning a party for my little boy 3rd birthday and he’s just watched Cars last month and is obsessed! I downloaded them and customised them in Photoshop and now can’t wait to send them out! Thank you so much for sharing them!

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      August 1, 2017 at 4:37 PM

      You’re so welcome, Joyce.
      Happy birthday to your little guy. 🙂

      Reply
  4. hayley

    June 15, 2017 at 6:59 PM

    hey
    i love these so much ive tried really hard to do the invitations but am really struggling as I’m not very good on the computer
    was wondering if you would be able to tell me which photo shop software you used so that I can edit the documents on it as cant seem it find one

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      June 16, 2017 at 12:32 PM

      Hi Hayley,
      I have an old version of Photoshop still. I think it’s Adobe Photoshop CS4 or 5.
      They are Adobe Photoshop files, and need to be edited in some version of Photoshop. I doubt other software would work with the format.
      Are you using some version of Photoshop and still having issues?

      Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      June 24, 2017 at 6:07 PM

      Hi Hayley,
      I was just going through old comments and noticed that my reply to you never went through. I specifically remember answering you, but something must have gone wrong when I tried to post it. I’m very sorry that I didn’t get back to you sooner.
      I used Adobe Photoshop, and older version, CS5. This is a Photoshop file, so you need to use Photoshop to edit them rather than some other photo editing software.
      If there’s anything I can help you with, just let me know!

      Reply
  5. Marjorie

    May 2, 2017 at 3:57 AM

    I just used your template, and played around with Word, and the invitations came out PERFECT! Thank you so very much for allowing us to use your design. My son absolutely loves it!

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      May 3, 2017 at 11:19 AM

      Hi Marjorie,
      I’m so happy to hear it! You’re very welcome!
      I hope he has a very happy birthday. 🙂

      Reply
  6. flor

    March 18, 2017 at 5:17 PM

    Hi, I loved how you did it. Could it be possible for you to send me the editable file? I am not being able to make it, and my son Benja is turning 3.
    I am trying to make the cars logo with his name on it.
    Thanks,

    Flor

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      March 19, 2017 at 8:45 AM

      Hi Flor,
      You can download the file directly here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4n_2eAOMREuR2VuVWZQcjZuNUU/view
      It’s for editing in Photoshop.
      That said, check your email. 😉

      Reply
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Hello, I’m Tracy!

I love making my own natural products like soaps and lotions and my own pantry items like yogurt and salad dressings.
Why do I do it? Sometimes to save money, sometimes because it's healthier, but I always love having control of the ingredients!​
Oh, the things we'll make!...

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