Five Tips for Creating Unforgettable Handmade Greeting Cards

Greeting cards are not only fun to make, they serve a valuable purpose. When someone receives a handmade card, they experience a level of joy that cannot be achieved with a store bought card. Make sure your handmade cards deliver the emotional message you intend. Whether you are creating handmade cards for your personal use or selling them for profit, here are five helpful tips for creating attractive, remarkable handmade cards.

1. Layer Papers. Shop the scrapbook aisle of your favorite craft store for many different types of papers, card stock, thick and thin, foiled, embossed and printed pattern papers are just as few. Layer the papers by cutting out shapes and various sizes of papers and then gluing them together to create a very expensive look for your card. Don’t go overboard with too many layers, but at least one different layer can make all the difference.

2. Use the Right Tools. Invest in some paper crimpers, special edged scissors, various sized hole punches, a good glue gun and different types of adhesives. Using different edged scissors to cut your papers greatly adds to the impact and crimped papers and foils add even more interest. New hole punches are available in many sizes and shapes, these cut out shapes add style and definition to your papers. Use the right glues and adhesives for the materials you are working with. There is no point in adding embellishments if they fall off right away. 

3. Add Flat Interest. Depending on the theme or occasion for your card embellish it with some interesting items like ticket stubs, magazine cut outs, old photos, stickers, quotes cut from newspaper articles or cut outs from old calendars and postcards. Other interesting papers include old labels from wine bottles and gourmet foods, confetti and aluminum foil.

4. Add Texture. Here is where your creativity can flourish. An unforgettable card will contain great texture such as pressed flowers, leaves and other plant material, ribbon, yarn, lace, buttons and other sewing supplies. Try using beads, bottle caps, sea shells or colored rubber bands. If your card is to be mailed don’t use too much texture or it will be mangled during transit. 

5. Create Your Own Envelope. Finish your handmade cards properly by creating a matching envelope. Use paper that is heavy enough to protect all your beautiful artwork, embellishments and textures. You should keep the theme going by using the same colored paper as the base of your card. Be sure to mark the envelope Non-Machinable as indicated by the U.S. Post Service guidelines.

Your style, mood and materials are the ingredients that make your handmade card different and memorable. Don’t be afraid to express yourself, uniqueness is what a handmade card is all about. For some inspiration visit the Cards category at HandmadeCatalog.com.