Your card making ideas can be as simple or as complex as you want them to be. Knowing that someone will receive something that has been personally made and designed, will bring joy to both them and you.

There are many techniques and tips for making fabulous greeting cards, (too many to list on one page), but to get started I have covered some of the basics below. Alternatively check out the step by step guides now.

Read More About Basic Card Making Ideas

Your greeting cards do not need to be expensive. Quite often you will be able to use materials from around your home that you may have thrown away. Before you discard anything always ask yourself:

• Could this paper be used for a greeting card?
• Could this item be modified or used as an embellishment?
• Could it be used as a form of storage for my paper craft supplies?

When I first began making cards I got many of my ideas from magazines, the Internet and by looking at greeting cards in shops. I would take elements of each design and try to recreate new designs using bits and pieces from around the house. It’s surprising what you can produce from a few pieces of paper and some ribbon if you set your mind to it.

When you create your own card projects it is important to have a clean surface. There is nothing worse than putting together something unique, only to find it has a blemish on it.

I find a large cutting mat is the best surface to work on. Using a cutting mat you can easily cut your paper without damaging your table or whatever surface you are working on.

If you are using a scalpel to cut paper or card stock always remember to check  the blade is sharp. Otherwise it will drag the paper when cutting and leave an unattractive tatty edge.

Using different patterned paper and fabrics to create the background of a card is a good way to start. You can attach photos and dried flowers to give your greeting cards some interesting detail. Making a card using different types of paper and card stock such as vellum and Bazzill will give your handmade cards a professional and elegant look and feel.

Rubber stamps and embossing stencils will also produce amazing effects to any of your card ideas and  knowing how to emboss and stamp will take your handmade cards to the next level.

Before long you will be using decoupage and alcohol inks in your designs, and making everything from shaker cards to waterfall cards.

Whatever card making ideas you come up with, the main things to remember are to have fun and enjoy making your handmade cards, and to give them your own style and personal touch.

Please look at the links below to find more card making ideas, designs and projects.

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