How to Make Handmade Cards and Materials

Greeting Card

Creating your own cards as part of the gift-giving process can make for a great, personalized gesture--leaving your recipient feeling appreciated and loved. Handmade cards can be fun, cost-effective and easy to design. With the right supplies and a few crafty tricks, you can produce your very own homemade cards, giving each card its own style and flair specifically suited to the gift-giving occasion at hand. No longer does one card need to fit all.

Things You'll Need

• Cardstock
• Envelopes
• Scrapbook paper
• Scissors
• Double-sided tape, acid-free
• Stickers, ribbons, or other embellishments

Instructions

How to Make Handmade Cards

1. 

   Scrapbook Paper

   Gather supplies. Cardstock makes for a great base, and traditional scrapbooking paper lends itself well to instantly giving a card style. You might also be interested in acquiring additional embellishments such as buttons, ribbons and frames for the use in your handmade cards.

2. 

   Scissors

   Cut cardstock out, using the measurements of your designated envelopes to determine what the height and width of your cards need to be.

3. 

   Patterns

   Choose a patterned scrapbook paper to work with, cutting out a large rectangular shape to tape to the front of the card. Mix and match other scrapbook pages, cutting out various shapes and designs to attach to the card.

4. 

   Embellishments

   Add embellishments as desired. You may also wish to prepare and print a digital word art design, containing a relevant quotation or thought, on the computer which can be attached to the card--either on the front or the inside.

Tips & Warnings

• For even greater customization when it comes to handmade cards, consider using a favorite family picture of the card's recipient in the designing process.

• Be careful not to go overboard with the card's decorations. A few embellishments can go a long way.

References

• Making Greeting Cards: "Great Card Making Tips"