You can make your own cards easily and look beautiful in just 10 minutes! Homemade cards are always more attractive and feel more personal than store-bought cards. To make it, you'll need 8 materials: good stationery, cardstock or construction paper, a piece of ribbon, sharp scissors, a glue stick, a small ruler, and a blunt butter knife.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Preparing the Basic Cards
Step 1. Choose a base card
This is the card that will form the foundation of your project. The color you choose will determine the appearance of your finished product. Therefore, consider carefully when choosing a base card.
- Craft shops sell blank and plain cards for making cards. This paper has been neatly folded so that it can be used easily and quickly. These cards are sold in a variety of variations. If you really like making your own cards, it's a good idea to buy a pack of blank cards (or cardstock) the next time you visit a craft store. Thus, these materials are readily available whenever needed!
- You can use any type of paper, but it's best to use paper that is strong and somewhat heavy.
- The card most often used for this purpose is cardstock, which is very good and heavy enough to make your own cards. All craft shops usually sell cardstock with a variety of models.
- You can even choose plain white paper as the base card! In addition, rainbow colored and patterned paper can also be used.
- If possible, try using your child's or your own as a base card! This method will also be useful if you suddenly have to make a card and there are no materials available at that time.
Step 2. Prepare the paper for folding
If you are using a full sheet of paper instead of a ready-made card, you will need to first fold the paper so that it becomes a card. Good cards have neat, sharp folds. You can make it using equipment you already have at home.
- Take a ruler and measure the midpoints of the top and bottom sides of the paper that lie horizontally in front of you.
- Make a faint mark in the center with a pencil at both points, and use a ruler to connect the two dots with a straight line, from the bottom to the top of the page. Don't put too much pressure on the pencil so the lines are a bit blurry.
Step 3. Score the card
If you are skilled enough and have a bone folder, score to make folds in the card. However, you can use a blunt butter knife for similar results. Scoring will ensure that your paper folds are neat and sharp.
- Straighten the ruler next to the center line you just made and take a butter knife to score along that line. Scoring means that you press firmly on the paper so that the folds are clearly visible. However, try not to press too hard!
- When scoring is complete, erase the pencil line on the card.
Step 4. Fold the card
The trick, fold the card along the scoring line. Once done, use a bone folder or other flat tool to close the folds.
- Use the spine if you don't have a bone folder.
- By now, you should have the sharp, neat folds of a card sold in a store!
Part 2 of 4: Gathering Materials
Step 1. Choose a tool for writing
Calligraphy pens or other good writing tools are the best choices. However, all stationery that makes your writing look neat and special you can use.
A calligraphy pen is ideal for this step, but if you don't have one, feel free to use a Sharpie or even a regular marker
Step 2. Select the ribbon for the card
You just need to prepare a ribbon that is less than 1 meter long. Any type of ribbon can be used, but try to match the color and pattern of the ribbon to the color or pattern of the card so that it looks attractive.
Step 3. Prepare the glue stick
You can buy them at almost any bookstore or stationary. Usually handicraft shops also sell this equipment.
You can also use double-sided tape. However, you should prioritize using glue
Step 4. Choose additional decorations
If there are additional decorations you would like to use, select them now. Some good choices include glitter, stamps, assorted paper, stickers, embossed beads, extra ribbon, and fake flowers. Be creative as possible!
Step 5. Involve the child to help you
Children love crafts and, thanks to their help, you can complete a card in less than 10 minutes. Ask the children to collect some of the materials and work with you!
Part 3 of 4: Making Cards
Step 1. Determine the writing to be affixed on the card
When you've done it, sketch it out on the card with a pencil so you can trace it later with a pen.
- You can write only on the inside of the card, or on the inside and outside of the front cover. Everything is up to you.
- Relax your hands so they don't shake when you write. Imagine you're jotting down a regular note to yourself (just make sure it's pretty and legible) if you start to feel nervous about writing.
Step 2. Trace the pencil writing with a calligraphy pen
Do it slowly and carefully, and try not to smear the ink.
If you're writing on the front cover and inside of a card, it's a good idea to write on the front of the card first, and then move on to the inside once the ink on the outside has dried
Step 3. Let the ink dry
You will need to make sure the ink is completely dry before proceeding. Blow slowly so that the ink dries quickly. Usually, the ink has dried after an interval of 60 seconds or less.
Step 4. Locate the ribbon on the card
Try placing the ribbon in various places on the card. Unleash your creativity.
- Make sure the last strip of tape doesn't cover the writing on your card.
- Cut the tape (if needed) so that it matches the size of the card before gluing it together.
Step 5. Glue the tape on the card
Once you've decided on the position and location of the tape, it's time to glue the tape so it's firmly attached to the card permanently. Apply glue to the bottom of the tape and press it firmly against the card.
Part 4 of 4: Completing Cards
Step 1. Let the glue dry completely
We recommend waiting for 60 seconds or more. You can check by lightly touching an embellishment on the card, such as a ribbon, to make sure it doesn't move. However, do so with caution.
Step 2. Add the desired decorations
This step is optional, but if you have stickers, shaped paper, or fake flowers, use them to decorate your card. This decoration is best placed last so you can determine the best decoration look and layout for your card!
Determine where the decorations are on the card and carefully glue them together with glue. Allow the glue to dry completely
Step 3. Select the envelope
This step is also optional, but can be a nice touch to your card. Craft stores sell lots of envelopes of various colors and sizes to complement a craft card. In bookstores or stationary, this envelope is usually displayed next to the cardstock holder.
Carefully insert the card into the envelope and seal as usual. Write the recipient's name on the front of the envelope
Step 4. Submit a card
Your card is now finished and ready to ship. Homemade cards always look prettier and feel more personal than regular commercial cards!
