Hello!!! Thank you so much for stopping at Simply Crafting today! I'm so happy you're here!
If you're interested in making your own handmade cards then you're in the right place. Keep on reading and you will find everything you need to colour and make this card as well as all my best tips and tricks to make it a fun and enjoyable hobby.
Where to Buy Handmade Cards
If you prefer to buy ready made take a look at my NuMonday shop. I sell a range of unique handmade cards and children's clothing that's designed to last.
Making Your Own Handmade Cards
Making your own handmade cards is a fun and relaxing (if addictive!!) hobby that will allow you to make truely personalised greetings cards for your familly and friends. You don't need any fancy equipment or materials to get started. Don't get me wrong you'll want ALL THE THINGS but you can start enjoying cardmaking without spending much. I love impressing my loved ones with unique handmade cards that really show them how much I care.
Craft Supplies You’ll Need
Some of these links are affiliate links. This means that I earn a small commission when products are purchased through the links I post here (at no additional cost to you)
Printing Digital Stamps
The digi image I have used is from Polkadoodles, from their new Too Cute Agnes & Bella Collection. This one is Bella the Bear. Isn't she just the cutest!? Click on the image to get her for yourself. The images are availible individually or you can save money by buying the whole set like I did - I can never choose just one!! Once you've got your own copy of the digital stamp print it out using a normal printer onto high quality paper or thin card. It's best if you can leave the image to dry overnight as this reduces the chances of the ink smudging.
Colouring the Digital Stamp
I've used the following ProMarkers and ProMarker Brush pens to colour my digital stamp:
Bella Bear
Clothes and Accessories
Preparing the Layers of the Card
This card is made up of two layers of mounted papers plus the image and die cut flower. I start by cutitng the largest layer and then work my way down to the smallest. This way I can make use of the scraps leftover from cutting the bigger pieces of paper.
Each layer of paper is mounted onto a piece of kraft cardstock that measures 3mm larger than the paper. This gives a lovely little border around the papers. Kraft card is great for this because it subtly goes with everything leaving the lovely designer papers to take centre stage.
For this card the layers measure: Base Layer: 14cm square Strip: 13cm x 6.5cm
The digital stamped image is die cut to make it a perefct oval.
The mount for the digital image is die cut from more of the kraft card. I've used a slightly bigger scalloped oval die.
The card blanks come scored but unfolded. It's simple to fold them along the crease line and press the crease really sharp with a bone folder.
Inking the Layers
Instead of buying and storing lots of different colours of card blanks I save money and buy a bulk pack of white card blanks. Then I use my Distress inks to give the edges of the card a hint of a colour that perfectly co-ordinates with my design.
I use the same colour of distress ink to shade the edges of my ditital stamp. It stops them looking like they're floating in a bowl of ice cream as my school art teacher used to say.
But I don't just use them on card and paper. Distress inks can also be used on lace. I have just one big roll of lace and I can colour it any shade I like to perfectly match the rest of my card.
I'm always looking for distressable white embellishments because it's so east to co-ordinate them. I've given these glittered white flowers a little hint of the distress colour I'm using.
Distress inks can also be used to colour plain card for die cutting embellishments. I'm using Peeled Paint for these leaves.
You might notice that I'm making use of the scraps leftover from the bigger layers of my card. Waste not want not!
The distressed scraps are easy to die cut just the same as if I'd bought lots of colours of plain card.
Applying the Ribbon and Lace
Ribbon can be tricky to stick onto cards. This is my favoiurite technique for neatly hiding the raw ends and stoping them from fraying. I start by sticking the strip of paper to the kraft card mount using double sided tape. It's quick and easy to use and it always leaves a neat finish. Removing the back of the tape can be tricky so I use a pokey tool to lift up a corner. I recently retired my old pokey tool and repaced it with the Design Knife, it's a pokey tool, craft knife and embossing tool all in one.
Next I lay my strip of mounted paper flat on my craft mat and stick a length of double sided tape where I want my ribbon. I make sure that the ends of the tape extend over the ends of the paper and left them stick lightly to the mat.
Then I place my length of ribbon to the exposed tape and press it onto the paper.
I gently lift the paper off the craft mat and turn it over. It's easy to press the ribbon and the extra tape to the back of the paper so that the ends are neatly hidden from the front of the card.
Assembling the Card
I start by sticking the base layer to the card blank with double sided tape.
Bent tweezers are fantastic for perfectly positioning all the layers.
I love adding dimension to my cards with 3D foam pads. They make it so quick and easy. You don't need a lot of them, just one in each corner and one along each edge if it's a bigger piece of card.
The digital stamp and it's mount is added last.
Making the Embellishments
Sometimes an embelishment needs a little extra adhesion, like these little paper flowers. Silicone glue is my go-to glue for embellishments that won't be lying flat on the card. I use my pokey tool to scoop a blob of silicone glue from the end of the tube. Then I put it on the back of the flower and roll the pokey tool away, leaving a neat blob of silicone glue on my embellishment.
I pop my flower onto my card and leave it to dry. Sometimes I hold the embellishment in place with a paperclip while the silicone glue dries but these flowers are light enough to make this unnessessary.
Instead of flat and boring die cut shapes I like to add a little dimension by placing them onto a soft matt then rubbing the shape with the rounded edge of my bone folder. This makes the petals pop up beautifully.
I've used 3D foam pads to stick my die cut and shaped flower onto the corner of my card.
I love adding a little something extra to die cuts and in this case I've used silicone glue
and added a little ivory button from my stash - it's probably come off an old shirt that went in the bin. I love making use of what would otherwise be thrown away and best of all it's free!
I confess I'm not a fan of buttons on cards, they never look quite right to me. So I have a habit of putting a little gem in the centre to finish it off nicely.
Angled tweezers are great for gripping gems and pearls while you stick them in place.
Inside the Card
The inside of the card is also decorated with matching papers along with a blank square for a personal message.
I do hope this card making project inspires you to have a go at making your own cards. Follow me on your favourite social media channel to see more craft projects like this.
Making Your Own Handmade Cards
Making your own handmade cards is a fun and relaxing (if addictive!!) hobby that will allow you to make truely personalised greetings cards for your familly and friends. You don't need any fancy equipment or materials to get started. Don't get me wrong you'll want ALL THE THINGS but you can start enjoying cardmaking without spending much. I love impressing my loved ones with unique handmade cards that really show them how much I care.
Craft Supplies You’ll Need
Some of these links are affiliate links. This means that I earn a small commission when products are purchased through the links I post here (at no additional cost to you)
Linking Up To:
Digi Choosday Challenge
Card Making Challenge at Polkadoodles
A Gem of a Challenge
Your Whims Wednesday
Tuesday Turn About
Wonderful Wednesday
Party in Your PJs
{wow me} Wednesday
Creative Muster
Craftastic Monday Link Party
Create, Bake, Grow & Gather Party
Through the Craft Room Door
Crafting Happiness
Pin it now, Craft it later
About Simply Crafting
At Simply Crafting you can choose from tens of thousands of crafty goodies from the brands you know and love. Our prices are the lowest we can possibly make them. You can expect to save at least 20% off standard retail prices. Orders are usually delivered within 14 days. Most of our products are not held in stock and are ordered from our suppliers after you order them through our website - that's how we can offer you such amazingly low prices.
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