How to Embellish Store Bought Cards

All of these cards started at store-bought!

Just because we have the skill and creativity to create show-stopping, handmade, personalized cards for any occasion, doesn't mean we always have the time. Sometimes we just have to suck up our crafter pride and buy a box of cards. This doesn't have to be the end of it, though! There are many ways to spruce up those cards we settled for in the store by both adding and taking away elements and putting our own spin on them. Read on for some ideas.

Things You'll Need

• Purchased cards
• Scissors
• Foam Tape and other adhesives
• Stickers
• Die cuts
• Charms and other notions
• Glitter glues and paints
• Card stock and patterned papers

Instructions

1. 

   Cut out sections from duplicate cards and elevate them with foam tape using paper tole techniques. Bringing the layers forward gives your card front more movement. Brushing the edges of each cut layer with black or brown ink will make the natural shadows more impressive.

2. 

   Dress up a simple, plain card with stickers and die cuts. This is a great way to get the most mileage from your card investment by purchasing elegant cards that work in a variety of situations and adding a few embellishments from your crafts folder. It's also a great way to use up leftover stickers.

3. 

   Use charms and notions to bring out printed elements on the card. Busy scenes can be dressed up; they just need a finer hand. Choose embellishments that match the color scheme and tone and use a matching paint or glitter glue to bring out certain small details.

4. 

   Remove the card front and place it on a spare piece of card stock. Sometimes you have a great card and a not-so-great message inside or out; take what you like from the card and use that for a quickly homemade one. This also works great for recycling cards you've received in previous years. Matting the image with contrasting papers will dress it up in just a few seconds.

5. 

   Rearrange the elements of a card into another design on a blank card and embellish at will. Some cards have such malleable parts that you can play with them almost like a jigsaw puzzle and create all sorts of variations on a theme.

6. 

   Line your envelopes with some coordinating patterned paper (leftover wrapping paper will work too) to spice up the card as soon as they get it in the mail. Stamping and pen doodles on the front of the envelope are a nice touch; just don't obscure the address if you're going to be mailing it.

7. 

   Shorten the outside edge of the card and add a strip of card stock or patterned paper for contrast. Instead of a straight cut, experiment with torn edges or cut with decorative scissors for a different look.