Greetings Card – What, When and How :
The greetings card is one of the most popular and widely used type of stationery, so people always ask me how to make their own. The truth is it can be a bit tricky, especially if you're new to crafting. But don't worry- this post will give you everything you need to know about greeting cards in general, what supplies you'll need (including links so you can buy them!), and how to make yours.
Today's blog post is an instruction manual for anyone who loves sending or receiving greeting cards! You've got everything from the basic types of supplies needed down to the steps involved in making your own greeting card from start-to-finish.
Types of Greeting Card Supplies :
There are a few different types of supplies you can use when making custom greeting cards- here's the low-down on each one:
Paper: You can choose to use a variety of papers for your greeting cards- the most popular choices are cardstock (usually in white or cream), handmade paper, and scrapbooking paper. You can also choose patterned papers, vellum, glittery papers, and more!
Papers come in all sorts of colors and textures; you can also print photos on them using a printer/ink. Pens/Markers: You can personalize any greeting card with customized text/messages. While you can choose to write with a pencil or pen, it's usually easier to use markers. Pens require a steady hand (like calligraphy) and markers are very forgiving- you can skip lines, undo mistakes, and draw over again easily. While both pens and markers are similar in many ways, they each offer distinct advantages over the other.
Printing: If your custom message is brief (like your name on the front of the card), print it out on a home printer instead of handwriting it, as this will make your work look more professional. Printing also saves you a ton of money, as you won't need to order letters, envelopes, etc. from a stationery store. Ink: You can choose from a variety of inks for your printing projects- these include pastels, metallic colors, and more. Ink comes in real colors and effects like glitter and sparkles; it's also available in smooth or thick varieties. You can choose to use cartridges made especially for printers (like the ones I use personally) or use ballpoint ink pens- either way works great.
Adhesive: The adhesive most people use is a thin, soft, clear tape called stock. This kind of adhesive is often used in crafting projects because it's strong enough to hold onto fabric (like scrapbook paper or cardstock), but it's also strong enough to stick labels and papers on the front of your card without tearing them. You can find this adhesive at art supply stores and craft stores. If you use any kind of tape for your cards, make sure you're familiar with different types of tapes- I'll have more details about this later in the post!
Tracing paper: This is a simple piece of paper that will allow you to draw straight lines on the back of your greeting card. With no ruler or guide lines to follow, it's hard to draw straight leads- but tracing paper makes this easier. Use it to mark where you want your stamp/to write your name, etc. on the front of the card.
Punching Tool: This is a simple tool that you'll use to punch holes in the paper (like for signatures). You can find this tool at craft stores or online.
Stamps and Inks: My favorite stamps are from Born Pretty Store . They have over 1,300 different designs and styles in their collection! Most of their stamps are made with a water-based dye ink which is easy for you to use. If you're looking for stamps in various shapes and sizes, they have a wide selection. You can also use ink pads if you prefer more vibrant stamping colors- I love the Stampendous pads!
Different types of Greeting Cards:
There are many different greeting cards you can choose from; simply decide which one is best for your needs. Here's a breakdown of the most common card types:
Postcards: These are typical standard size, with 4 x 6 being the most common size. They're longer than they are tall (so they're horizontal). They have a single message printed on them (rather than having multiple different messages on them).
Although they're more casual, I like to use postcards to send out holiday greetings (birthday, Easter, etc. cards) because it's easy to reference the address on the back of it in an email. For example, if your family lives in California , you can use the postcard to address relatives once you send them a letter. They're also great for sending friends and family gifts- just print out your favorite greeting/poster image and stick it on the front of your card!
Notes: Similar to a postcard size and shape, notes are slightly taller than they are wide (so they're vertical). The same type of note is used for birthday and Christmas cards.
To personalize or add more personality to the front of your notes, choose a bold design, or print out a digital photo and attach it to the card with some tape.
I like to use 4 x 6 note cards for thank you cards (for gifts, restaurants, etc.) because they're not too casual while not being too formal. As an alternative, you can choose square shaped thank you cards that are similar in size and shape (like those manufactured by Crane).
Greeting Cards: Greeting cards are about 3 x 5 inches in size. This is their standard size and shape; however, greeting cards come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
They can either be blank (printed on only one side with no message or images printed on them), personalized with a message, or personalize with cute photos.
If you'd like to add more personality to the front of your greeting card, you have a few options: print out a digital photo and attach it to the card with some tape (you can find this at any arts and craft store). You can also choose colorful cards if you want to add some fun designs and colors to the front of your card.
When choosing a paper type for your greeting cards, it's important that you select one that's thick enough to hold up well over time. The bare minimum thickness should be 70 lb (or 24 #) and made from 100% recycled paper.
4 x 6 Folded Cards: 4 x 6 folded cards are a little different than the standard size; they're a little shorter and skinnier. These cards are great for adding your own messages and photos, as they have plenty of space inside to write out several sentences.
5 x 7 Folded Cards: These cards are pretty similar to 4 x 6 folded cards, except they're larger in size so you can add more content, like personalized messages or personal photos.
Conclusion:
When you're choosing the best materials for your greeting card, it's important to remember that the most important part of your card is always the message. You can use a standard paper type with a fun design on the front, but if your message is boring or silly (like "Happy Birthday!"), your card will just be plain boring.