Handmade Cards for Everyone!

Listen to a conversation amongst paper crafters and eventually you will hear a declaration similar to, “I only give handmade cards to people that will appreciate it.”  This snobby sentiment is merely based on the fact that many paper crafters cannot bear to see their handicrafts treated like common dollar store greetings.  After all, a lot of time, care, adhesive and super cool embellies go into making these beautiful “works of art.”

To be honest, I agree with the statement.  However, I figured there must be a happy medium, a way to give lovely handmade cards to every on my list without the risk of offending my muse in the process.  This year for my Christmas cards I decided to challenge myself by seeing how far I could stretch a single piece of patterned paper.  I was able to create 10 cards with the following product list:

• 1 Sheet of gift box patterned paper from DCWV (use a scissor to cut out each gift box)
• 5 Sheets of 8.5 x 11 white cardstock (cut to 8.5x5.5 and fold to form the card base)
• 1 Background Stamp
• 1 Sentiment Stamp
• 2 Ink Pads
• Adhesive

Upgrade Options

• Use dimensional foam adhesive to create depth.
• Add a piece of cardstock inside the card for more stability

I think they came out pretty good and I didn’t spend a lot of time, money or product creating them.  What can you create using a similar technique?

A Card Trick for You

Do you consider yourself a domestic Diva?  Here is a technique that will have your family and friends raving for days.   It is the paper napkin transfer technique.  This awesome technique will make it easy and cheap to coordinate events and  decor.  You could also send coordinating thank-you cards to your guests using leftover (unused) napkins.  One napkin, depending on the size and the design can yield 2-4 cards.  And paper napkins, even the cute ones, are usually cheap.  When I saw this technique, I ran down to my local Tuesday Morning store and picked up a few:

The texture this technique creates is almost like fabric after it is adhered to cardstock.  No one will probably guess it's a napkin. So here's an easy tutorial to get you started:

Here's what you need:

decorative paper napkin

pre-cut cardstock( cut to the size of your card)

newsprint paper or something similar to it( I used the paper that comes stuffed in purses)

Iron( heated to medium high- NO STEAM)

plastic wrap

First separate your paper napkin(which is probably 2- or 3-ply.  You should have a very thin decorative top layer.  Spread your newspaper print over your ironing surface and then place your cardstock on top of it. Cut a generous piece of plastic wrap and spread it over the cardstock piece so that it overlaps it.  Place your paper napkin over the plastic and the cardstock.

Take another piece of thin paper(like the newsprint type) and place it over the paper napkin, plastic wrap and cardstock sandwich.  Take your iron (that is heated to medium heat -NO STEAM) and go over the sandwich repeatedly until the paper napkin is adhered to the cardstock.  Keep lifting the top paper and checking to see if it is.  

After it appears that all of the napkin is adhered, turn the sandwich over and cut away all the excess plastic and napkin from all four sides.

Adhere this piece to your card base and VOILA!

I hope you like this tutorial and I can't wait to see some of your creations using it.