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For a fun-filled project, consider making homemade greeting cards for any special occasion. Your friends and family will cherish the fact that you took time off from your busy schedule to make them a personal gift, instead of rushing out to the nearest store and buying a card that has been mass produced.
If you are one of the lucky who have been blessed with the talent to draw or paint well, or if you know how to do calligraphy, these special touches add an extra zing to your cards.
But for those, like me, who are artistically challenged, then there are a variety of ways to be creative while adding your own brand of special uniqueness to your cards.
While this is a project that can be done alone, it is more fun if you set aside an afternoon or evening to have several friends over and/or your kids. Doing this allows your creative juices to flow more freely in a pure exchange of ideas. It also can help cut down on expenses when you can share materials. So chill a bottle of wine, invite a few people over and get creative.
Basic Materials you will need:
Stick Glue
Plain Stationary Paper and Envelopes
Rubber Stamps
Ink Pads
Tranlucent Vellum Paper
Thin Ribbon
Hole Puncher
Scissors (straight edge or one that will scallop the material or paper)
Embossing Pad
Embossing Powder
Embossing Gun (you can use a blow dryer, just be sure to place on a low setting and only apply the heat and air for a few seconds.)
Extra materials you might wish to use:
Markers
Glitter Glue
Paper from brown (or white) paper bags
Photos
Pictures from magazine cut outs, old books, ect.
Buttons
Ribbons
Decorative sticks
Hand prints from your children
Cloth material
Stickers
To begin, you will need to cover your workspace with an old shower curtain or newspaper to protect your table or floor.
Expirament on plain paper until you get the design you wish, before working on your stationary paper and vellum paper.
Fold your stationary paper at the crease in the middle of the paper.
Pick out the stamps you wish to use, and the ink pads and begin stamping. Make sure you re-ink each time you stamp the paper.
Use bowl of water and rags (old toothbrushes work well) to clean your stamps before changing color on your stamp. You do not want to soak your stamps in water for a long time, nor do you want to let the paint harden and reamin caked on the rubber part for long periods of time. To do so will ruin the rubber.
Next, cut a piece of vellum paper to the size of the card. Use a ruler or a paper cutter for accuracy.
Glue across the top of the card with your glue stick. It may go on blue, or some other color but it will be clear once it dries. Then place the vellum card over the paper. You may wish to glue the whole vellum paper down, or just the top edge.
Take a stamp that has the appropriate message (example: Happy Birthday) or pattern and ink it with the embossing pad before placing it on top of the vellum paper. Then shake your chosen color of embossing powder over the inked message and use like you would glitter, shaking away the excess powder.
Quickly take your embossing gun and hold the hot air over the message or pattern for a few seconds only. Do not overheat and do not hold too closely. The appearance should change slightly from wet to dry, but you don't want it too dry. It should still have a glittery, shiny look to it.
Next, punch two small holes in the top center of the card. You only want it in the first page of the folded envelope. Place and tie a bow ribbon in the holes.
On the inside of the card, place your message to the person you are sending the card to. Be as creative as you wish. You may wish the inside to be fairly plain, or more decorative, as with your envelopes also.
Another fun thing would be to seal your envelopes with wax and seals.
Other ideas for different types of cards. Paste pictures or photo on the stationary paper. Layer the paper with different types of paper and decoration.
Again, use your imagination, open up your creative side and have fun above all.
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