Handmade Cards

So I know I tend to post maybe twice a year.  I have been doing something creative though.

The inspiration came from a friend.  In high school she gave me a card for my birthday.  I generally love saving my birthday cards, but hers was exceptional because it was handmade.  She used a heavy paper (card stock) and several bright colors.  She put balloons on the front and a pile of presents inside and a pocket with a note to pull on the ribbon.  It was tied to paperclip attached to a note that said Get What You Want and a $20 bill.  She had handwritten Happy Birthday in fun loopy writing using a thick marker and a had added little trios of dots randomly in the open spaces and then used a fine ink pen to trace around the balloons and presents using dashes and dots in patterns.

I loved the details that went into every part of the card.  Finally, I decided I wanted to do the same thing.  I forked over money to the local Office Depot for card stock in multiple colors and began imitating her design with the 5 colors I had available.

Then I got inspired to try new ideas.  I made a train card for my nephew's birthday.  I had to think through each layer because I laid down tracks and the cars and wheels and the engine of course.

I thought I would make handmade Christmas cards.  I only send them out our immediate family and the few cousins or friends that send us a card, but I usually send out about 20 cards (16 siblings between my husband and I!) and I just didn't have time to make that many.

But I did make a Gift card for my brother who was moving to a colder climate for the first time ever and I thought he might want to spend money on warmer gear there.  (California doesn't have great cold weather gear)

So I made this card to put his gift card in:

Did I mention I have a set of fancy scissors?  Yeah, I use them for the cards too.  My mom gave them to me.  Thanks mom. I used a plain ink pen to make the dashes and dots.  And I bought a second set of card stock to increase my color choices.  For the inside I simply used my fancy scissors and glued that bright green card stock leaving a gap so I could slide the gift card in place.

For Mother's day I came up with a fun idea of tracing my kids hands and printing out a small head shot of them and pasting it in their hand print.  For the front I used a picture I loved of all of them.  I got a cute set of colored felt markers from the dollar store so I could use multiple colors for tracing with dots and lines.

We also got envelopes from Micheal's craft store that can hold a full size paper folded in half.  Perfect for a large handmade card you want to mail.  I have also made my own envelopes too.  When I cut the paper in half width wise and fold it in half I can make an envelope from another sheet of paper.  

I saved my favorite for last.  My mother's birthday card.  I got some lighter weight paper to try out more colors and to see how it works with the layering.  It works great.  So I used my fancy scizzors to make this card too.  

I wrote the poem for it too so I will type it here in case you can't read my handwriting:

Treasures are born each day of the year.

Each one is priceless and fills us with cheer.

We remember your day and the longer you live,

The more we are blessed by the treasures you give:

Treasures of teaching, kindness and love,

Your testimony of Jesus and Father above,

Treasures of service and work and play...

We celebrate you!  Happy Birthday!

You too can become a card maker extraordinaire!  The basic materials I use are:
Card stock white and colored, scissors, glue, and a pen.  Start from there and you will be surprised at the inspirations that can come to you.  Don't be afraid to add ribbon or other colors or ideas.  Anything you try will give your cards a personal touch.  Obviously the more details you add the more time you take for making the card.  Simpler designs can take less time and still look just as great.  Have fun!

For a baby shower card you could use the poem I wrote and posted back in January of 2011.