How to Make Japanese Cards

Create elegant cards with Japanese motifs and themes.

Japanese-style cards have an air of exotic elegance that set the tone for invitations to a formal celebration or add a touch of sincerity to thank-you cards and birthday greetings. Though it may be difficult to find Japanese cards that fit your style in the stores, you can solve this problem by making them at home. Japanese cards don't have to be written in Japanese, though you may certainly include characters or write in Japanese if you know how. Japanese cards simply include Japanese-style art and letter fonts that give them an Asian feel.

Things You'll Need

• Colored cardstock (light spring green, lotus pink, cream, etc.)
• Craft knife
• Straight-edge
• Ruler
• White paper
• Glue stick
• Rubber stamps
• Black ink pad
• Computer (optional)
• Printer (optional)
• Watercolor markers

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of cardstock about 6 inches by 7 inches and a piece of white paper about 5 inches by 6 inches. Apply a thin layer of glue over the cardstock and press the paper onto it, making sure it's centered on the card stock. Let the glue dry for about 30 minutes.

2. Arrange your rubber stamps on your paper, adjusting them until you find a pattern you like. Keep in mind you can stamp with one stamp many times to create a swirl of cherry blossoms, a trail of delicate bubbles, or a pattern of water lilies. You may also use a single large stamp, like a Japanese cherry tree or a koi fish to decorate one-half of your card and place the message on the other. If you have a computer and printer, pick an Asian-themed letter font such as "bamboo" that looks like Asian calligraphy written in English letters. Or you can write your message by hand, or use letter rubber stamps and a black ink pad.

3. Color the rubber sides of your decorative stamps (flowers, fish, meaningful Japanese characters, etc.) with watercolor markers. Choose colors that complement the color of your cardstock and each other. Press the stamps to your paper in your pre-determined design. Allow the ink to dry for about 30 minutes to prevent smearing.

Tips & Warnings

• Place a layer of colorful origami paper between the white paper and cardstock as an added splash of color. Simply cut your cardstock slightly larger so you can see all three layers of paper.

References

• Making Greeting Cards: Japanese Style Spring Card
• Making Greeting Cards: Japanese Rubber Stamps