Card Making Basics

Handmade cards are all the rage these days and you don't have to be a craft whiz to master the art of card making. It's a fun hobby that indulges your creativity; besides, it makes your loved ones feel special because you invested time and effort in making unique cards for them that aren't available in stores. Read on for some handy tips and ideas for making cards:

Get card making supplies: Go to your nearest arts and craft store and pick out colourful cardstock (pasteboard) or ready made card making paper that comes decorated or patterned. You'll also need colourful stickers, stencils, fabric, buttons, alphabet tiles, marker and gel pens, ribbons, velvet, scrapper's floss, bows, vellum, brads, shape die cuts, glitter and glitter glue, double-sided tape, clear and masking tape, plastic slide holders, envelopes and a covered plastic box for storing it all. These are not expensive supplies and in the long run, you'll save money by making cards yourself instead of buying them from stores.
 

Card Making Ideas

Dried flowers: Make your card stand out by sticking dried flowers on it. Use glue to stick pressed moisture-free petals onto the card surface and allow plenty of time to dry. Also consider using potpourri to make scented cards! 

Word stickers: Buy stickers with words like 'laugh', 'pray', 'thanks', 'give', 'love', and 'dance' and use them on the cover or inside the card for instant appeal.

Imitate patterns: Give your card an overall theme such as quilts, argyle, polka dots, basket weave, or stripes. Use different items to develop a theme for a quirky look.

Use gems and jewels: Not real ones, obviously.

Go for the unusual: Grab the recipient's attention with random objects such as beads, magnets, embellishments, buttons and so on.

Card Making Tips

Use clear nail polish at the ends of ribbons and cords to prevent damage. If you make a mistake, cover it up with stickers or other kinds of embellishments.

Put glitter in a salt shaker for easy use. Learn how to use techniques such as embossing or origami. These are really not as difficult as you might think. 

Use bright, pastel, warm, cool, complementary, monochromatic and achromatic colours, depending on the occasion and theme. Feel free to experiment. There are no hard and fast rules in card making. Let your imagination run wild!