Jan's Library

Crafts, Tips, and Ideas for Making Cards

By: Jan K., The Proofer

Kids aren't the only ones who will enjoy making cards the old-fashioned way by cutting out pictures and pasting them onto paper! Cards made like this can be very simple (easy enough even for really little kids) or can be quite "crafty" and elaborate (for we "older kids"-at-heart).

Although having a computer would be helpful, you really don't need one for making personalized cards. All you need are personal photos, magazines, newspapers, brochures---really anything that is paper-based---and something to use as the card like construction paper or card stock (even the pre-folded cards and envelopes that are packaged together, such as Avery Half-Fold Greeting Cards, Avery #3265). You can also use plain computer paper and accordion-fold the card so that it fits in a standard business (#10) envelope.

Be sure to have on hand craft items such as kid-friendly scissors, glue sticks, glitter, colored markers (colored pencils or crayons), curl ribbon, paper "lace" doilies---anything that will help you to craft your very special greeting card! You can get a little fancier and go with hot glue guns, ribbon, specialty papers, stamps with colored inkpads, etc. (Roam around a craft store like Michael's for lots of ideas---and be sure to "think outside the box" or rather "outside the card"!)

You are probably already getting the idea that "getting back to basics" and actually creating and making cards---rather than simply picking out a card at the store---can be fun. Everyone enjoys getting cards, especially when the cards are made personally for that person. And there's always some occasion that calls for sending or giving a card, so this is a great craft idea for those long rainy Saturdays or days when school is cancelled due to snow (or hurricanes!). And since this craft doesn't require the use of a computer, you can even do it when there's no power.

For kids, just keep it simple! The younger the kids, the more basic the card. It is helpful for really young kids to have pre-folded card stock and envelopes handy. That way they don't have to think too hard about which side is the "front" of the card, etc. Give them the card and the envelope at the same time so that the decorations will match. Kid-friendly scissors and glue sticks work best---very little "mess" to worry about. Most brands of glue sticks hold water-based, washable glue and the tubes are easy to work with for those little fingers!

For kids who are a little older, and can "dream up" ways to decorate cards a little better, you can spread out newspaper (or an old sheet) on the table, and set out glitter, stickers, colored markers, even fingerpaints or watercolor paints. Glue sticks work fine with glitter and dry more quickly than other "white" glues.

Much older kids can be trusted with hot glue guns, which are best if making fairly elaborate cards that have ribbon or cloth pasted onto them.

To decorate the card, anything that is paper-based or that has pictures (sports logos, landscape scenes, zoo animals, etc.) on it is ideal for making cards. Is your son's best friend a Yankees fan? Find some baseball-related pictures (even an old program from a game you attended) and let your son have fun making a birthday card that scores a homerun!

Be crafty! Were you surfing the web when you saw a great picture of the kind of rose bush that Grandma just loves? Print out the web page (you might want to change the settings on your printing preference so that you get a good quality printout) and cut out the picture for her birthday card! Decorate the card any way you desire, and then give it to Grandma with brand new gardening gloves! She'll love it!

Do you subscribe to nature or outdoor magazines? Find a humorous picture of an orangutan and give it to a friend who needs a pick-me-up. Add a saying "Talk about having a bad hair day..." and it is sure to bring a smile. Go a little further, and add in a gift card to her favorite styling salon.

Here's a great idea that takes a little bit of pre-planning, and is really fun. During your next vacation (or trip to Grandma's), pick up things like travel brochures, restaurant paper placements (most places will give you a clean one if you ask for one), a local newspaper, matchbooks---just anything that is paper-based. When you get home, make a card using an array of cut-outs from everything (like a collage) and send a GREAT thank-you card to your host, Grandma, or the friends you traveled with! (Picking up brochures and things like this is one of my favorite ways to make one-of-a-kind cards!)

Many websites offer free printables, for all different events, holidays, parties, etc. Some sites actually offer pre-printed card-types that you can download and personalize, or kinds that you just cut out and fold. Other sites offer free clipart for baby showers, weddings, birthdays, Mother's Day, Christmas, etc. (the list is endless). Just search for "free printable XYZ" (and put in whatever it is you are searching for in place of XYZ) and surf through the sites that offer free printables or free downloadables that you are looking for.

 The whole point here is that making cards can be as simple and easy, or as elaborate and detailed, a craft as desired. It's something that can keep kids busy---and for a purpose. Or it is something you can do to let loose that creative person you'd like to be.

No matter what the occasion---birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, baby showers, get well, or a holiday---making a card is always right. Cards that are personally made, with someone special in mind, are so well received and make the person who gets the card feel really special.

Things to keep in mind:

• Computer paper (any paper that is 8-1/2 x 11) can be accordion-folded to fit in a regular business envelope, and is good for cards that are going to be decorated with glued-on pictures.
• Card stock (heavier than computer paper) holds up nicely for cards that are going to be decorated with markers, glitter, or paint.
• Pre-folded cards that are packaged with matching envelopes are nice to have on hand to make special cards (look for different paper types, such as matte, feather-edge, embossed-edge, or glossy for the kind of cards you especially want to make).
• Office supply stores usually sell reams of colored paper, and have matching color envelopes (this is a very inexpensive idea, and you can usually find separate packages of envelopes that will fit quarter-fold, tri-fold, or half-fold cards).
• Don't forget postcard stock! Very simply decorated postcards can be sent through the mail without needing an envelope.

For some examples of the types of cards that you can make without using card-making software, go to:

• http://readingroom.janktheproofer.com/Sample-Card-Crafts.htm

Jan K., The Proofer is a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. Visit http://www.jansportal.com for more information about Jan's free crafts, recipes, tutorials, other resource sites, and free content articles, as well as Jan’s business services. Be sure to visit Mom's Break (http://www.momsbreak.com/) for free printable crafts and projects. © Copyright 2005 to present. All rights reserved.