Making Your First Card
If you are new to papercrafting, making cards is a great introduction to this creative hobby. Cards can be as simple or elaborate as you wish; your only limitation is your imagination! Even if you don’t think you are particularly creative, you may be surprised at the fantastic results you can achieve with very little effort.
Choose Your Card Blank
Many different pre-cut and pre-scored cards are available in a wide variety of colours, shapes and sizes. For your first card, choose a small, regular-shaped design such as an A6 rectangular card or a square. Think carefully about what occasion you are making this card for (birthday, Christmas, etc.) and who your intended recipient will be (one person, couple or family). This will help you to decide what colours and embellishments to use.
Card Embellishment Techniques
To get started on your card, choose a technique you would like to try. If you are new to papercrafting you might like to try peel-off stickers for your first card. Simply remove the outline sticker from the sheet by gently lifting one edge with your fingers before tucking the end of a craft knife or tweezers underneath and lifting the sticker without pulling or stretching it. This is best done slowly and carefully. You can them place your peel off sticker on the front of the card blank and colour it in using colouring pencils, paint, or craft chalks. Finish with a peel-off greeting and your first card is complete!
Rubber Stamping Cards
More experienced crafters will already be familiar with a wide range of techniques available. Transferring your skills to card making couldn’t be easier. You could try a rubber stamped design and use 3D foam pads to make your image jump off the card. Stamp your chosen design in black ink onto a spare piece of light-coloured card and colour it in using watercolour paints, colouring pencils or craft chalks. Be sure to use a waterproof ink if you will be painting your image or using watercolour pencils. Cut around your stamped image and fix to your card using 3D foam pads. Add a handwritten, stamped or peel-off greeting to put the finishing touches to your card.
Card Making Inspiration & Ideas
There is lots of inspiration available for making cards and you don’t have to spend lots of money on books and magazines to find it. Take a look at the cards in our project section for step-by-step instructions on making a wide range of beautiful cards. We also give you a list of all the products you will need to make that card and clear pictures of our cards being made by our creative team.