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by krusty

Card Making Crafts-Transform a Standard Greeting Card in to Classic Memorabilia

With a little bit of creativity and just a few simple steps, you can easily convert any card with a special meaning to you in to an unforgettable card making craft and keepsake for you or your loved ones.  Here is how you do it. 

Recently, my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with all the fanfare and memories that should be afforded a couple that make it to that point in their loving relationship.  They also loved what I was able to do with the announcement I kept from the happy event when I transformed it in to a crafty keepsake and a marvelous card making craft.  

You will need the following supplies:  Please keep in mind that you will need extra rub-on lettering in case you make a mistake and have to redo any of the lettering.  You will also want to pick colors that coordinate with your greeting card as noted below.

 Greeting card:  For this project I used my parents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary announcement. 1 clear acetate sheet:  Must be durable enough that when folded, it can stand up on its own. 1 sheet of decorative scrapbooking paper:  We chose a sheer background with a cream colored floral design. 1 package of letter rub-ons (190 count):  We chose brown to coordinate with the gold anniversary card and cream colored scrapbooking paper. Satin ribbon ½ yard:  We chose a brownish gold color. 1 package of decorative jewelry used for jewelry making:  We chose a gold colored heart shaped pendant with a rhinestone.  The pendant has two openings, which will make it easier to insert the ribbon. Gold cording 1/8  yard Glue adhesive stick 1 package of crafters adhesive foam stickers Scissors Hole puncher 1 card envelope or gift box to protect your card design

Step 1:  Fold plastic acetate sheet in half creating a card base.  Next, center greeting card under your plastic sheet to determine how much of the plastic you want seen once the greeting card is secured in place.  Be sure to leave enough space at the top so that a hole can be punched through the plastic without touching the card underneath.  Remove greeting card and set aside.

Step 2:  Measure and cut scrapbooking paper to cover one side of the plastic.  Next, apply glue adhesive to the back of your decorative scrapbooking paper and position on to the clear plastic acetate in the bottom inside half only.

Step 3:  Apply clear foam stickers to the back of your greeting card, attaching one to each corner of the card.  Once adhesive stickers are secure, carefully insert and attach greeting card to the center of your decorative paper, leaving enough space for a punched hole to be made at the top of the plastic.

Step 4:  Remove and apply rub-on lettering according to package instructions to the top outside area of the clear plastic acetate.  Note: Having your greeting card underneath will help to guide you in placing your rub-on letters.

Step 5:  Using your hole puncher, punch out one hole at the top middle of your clear plastic. Punch a second hole right next to the first one.  Next, fold ribbon in half and loop through the back side of each hole pulling the ribbon up until both ends are even.  Secure with a loose knot.

Step 6:  Thread cording through the heart pendant openings and secure around the ribbon knot.  You are now ready to make a decorative bow, tying the ribbon and allowing the heart pendant to hang loosely as a focal point.  Once your card making project is completed, place your decorative keepsake in a pretty gift box or envelope.  Another idea would be to display your design on a wooden or metal easel.

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by Pink Pug, INK

Where to find card making ideas

When people find out I make cards they often comment that they couldn’t do that. They automatically assume every card I create is something I came up with but the truth of the matter is anyone can make cards and you don’t have to come up with the ideas yourself. The world is full of ideas and inspiration and lots of them for little or no cost. So where do I find ideas and inspiration?

I can remember when I first learned about rubber stamping and card making. I got some supplies and went to a gathering with a few friends who also enjoyed paper crafting. I sat down at the table with everyone, pulled out my supplies and then had no idea what to do next. I didn’t know what to make. I sat there thinking and thinking, getting more frustrated by the minute. Then I was let in on a little secret. Most card makers don’t just sit down and create cards from scratch. They begin with an inspiration piece. Quite often a card someone else made.

Online

Since you are probably online reading this article let’s start here. The online world is full of ideas for card makers. There are entire sites dedicated to galleries of card samples. Many card makers now write blogs as a place to share their creations. The companies that make and sell card making supplies often have galleries dedicated to cards made with their products. Many of the card making and paper crafting magazines also have online content. Some is what you would find in their regular paper publication while more often there are ideas and examples they couldn’t fit in the printed version. This leads me to the next place to find ideas.

Magazines

There are dozens of magazines currently in print dedicated solely to card making, paper crafting or paper arts. Check your local book store, craft & hobby store, or big box departments store and you’re sure to find plenty.

Stores

Many local paper crafting, card making, stamping or scrapbooking stores have projects on display that change with the season or when new products are released. You can even take your camera or camera phone into the store and snap a photo of any projects you like to refer to later when you sit down to create.

Think Outside the Box

While this idea may not appeal to beginners many experienced card makers look to nontraditional places for ideas and inspiration. Our world today is more saturated with advertisements and color than ever before. Look through any magazine at the ads, the layouts, the fonts and color combinations. See what colors and color combinations are popping up in local stores. What trends are hot in home fashions and interior decorating? Ideas and inspiration are everywhere. You could even be inspired by the front of a box of cereal. Just keep your eyes open and pay attention.

What’s most important to remember is that you don’t have to pull ideas from thin air. There are plenty of places to look for inspiration. Start with something and once you get going the ideas will flow. You’ll find yourself making small changes to the idea you began with and soon the creation will be your own. Now find an inspiration piece and get started.

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