Try your hand at making greeting cards for your friends and family. This is a great way to use up leftover scrapbook paper and card. You might also find it saves you money.
I started cardmaking a long time before scrapbooking and maintain both hobbies. Giving people a handmade card is very satisfying and the recipient will be much more interested in a handmade card than a bought one. There are some family members that I always make cards for and they never throw them away. I then enjoy looking through the cards again every few years to see how my style has changed over the years!
You can use your sheets of 12 x 12 inch card and perhaps make two 6 x 6 inch cards, or purchase blank cards from your craft shop. They are fairly inexpensive and you probably only need to buy white and cream cards. I find they are the basis of a lot of my cards, particularly to give to women. If you need to make a lot of mens cards, black or brown will always work well.
Here are some ideas for both men and women to give you a starting point.
Card Ideas
It is not unusual for scrapbookers and cardmakers to cross over into each other hobbies and this is what I do. Cardmaking is one way scrapbookers can use up leftover card and paper. Here are some ways you can use up remnants of scrapbook paper but at the same turn out a professional looking card. In my Scrapbook Ideas Guide I have also used photos in some of my cards.
Square Cards
The examples above are 6 x 6 inches but any square size will do. I have a pad with lots of different patterns and colors of paper and have just taken strips from each pattern and placed them evenly on the cards. I found the frame by Googling ‘Frame Shapes’ and printed my sentiment inside this. Cut out leaving a small border. Embellish as desired.
Pink Happy Birthday Card
You may have a border punch similar to what I have used on this card. If not, just leave the edges plain as it will still look fine. I have used two pieces of scrapbook paper the same color but a different pattern but try any combination of pattern or color you like. I have stamped ‘Happy Birthday, but you could print this directly on the card or print on a separate piece and matt onto the card.
Boy Oh Boy Baby Card / You Really Are One Of A Kind
Use the same method as the Happy Birthday card. The design of these cards would suit any theme, ie anniversary, wedding, thank you, sympathy, etc.
Below is a baby card that has been hand cut to shape.
Brown Happy Birthday Card
This card is great for using up scraps. My sample measures 8 x 4 inches. Print your sentiment on white card in a font color to suit your main card color. For the tags I have used lots of different card scraps and made them all 1½ inches long and in varying widths and even different textures for effect. Just cut a ‘V’ out of one end. The colored scraps are taped to the back of your white card. Be sure to line up your ‘V’ edges and the other edge is not important.
I have pricked the top, bottom and right edge of the white card just for effect and you can do this if you want using a needle or paper pricker.
Baby Card With Template
This card is quite easy to make with the template provided and you can decorate in your sorts of ways. It is a fun and quick card to make.
Serviette/Napkin
There are some gorgeous serviettes available these days and they make great cards, not to mention they are easy and quick to make. Check out this one ‘You’re Special’.
Inside of Cards
Cut a piece of paper just smaller than your card and fold in half. Write your print your message on the insert. Run your glue stick along the fold and slide your insert in.
Envelops
I quite often make my own envelops with colored paper. To get the template for the envelope I unpick a bought one and unfold it all and voilá there is your template to trace around. If you will use the template a lot, make it from card. Use a glue stick to stick your folds down.