I love scrapbooking. It's one of my weird, nerdy passions. It wasn't until I worked at a craft store, however, until I started making my own cards -- and when I first started, I drove myself insane trying to make them absolutely perfect. I think making your own cards -- for your close friends, family, and significant other -- is really great, because they're so personal. But they don't have to be perfect! Part of what makes homemade cards so adorable is that, well, you make mistakes!
1. Gather your supplies. You'll need 2-3 sheets of paper, in the colors and prints of your choice. For the bargain hunters out there, the Target dollar section usually has seasonal scrapbooking paper for a dollar. That's where I got my Valentine's Day card supplies. Otherwise, I buy the basic colors paper stacks during sales at craft stores for basics like red and white. You'll also need whatever stickers, stamps and embellishments you want to use, plus glue, scissors, a ruler and, if you have them, photo mounting strips.
2. We'll start by cutting our base paper. I used plain white cardstock. You don't just want to take a piece of printer paper and fold it over -- it's too thin to handle embellishments and the like. I cut mine to six inches wide. (You can use scissors and a ruler for this -- you definitely don't need a fancy paper cutter!)
Then I cut that six-inch strip to ten inches long.
So when I fold it over, the card itself is a six-by-five inch card.
3. Next, let's decorate the front. I always like to do in-laid printed paper. I used this red paper with silver hearts -- from Target! -- for this. All you do is take the measurements of the card -- mine is six-by-five -- and removed however much you want it to be set in. I usually like to do a half-inch, because I find that looks the best and least messy. So I cute this piece of paper five-and-a-half inches by four-and-a-half inches.
Then you just glue it to the front of your card, making sure all the sides are even. (Mine's a little crooked, but that's okay!)
4. Pick your embellishments. I like to keep things simple. I usually get my embellishments in scrapbooking kits I find on clearance. Yeah, I'm one of those people. I've had this key embellishment for
two years that I've been waiting to use. Today is the day.
One of the hardest things for me is always where I place embellishments. Generally, I like them to line text or be in the center of the page because they either create visual interest or
are the visual interest. I chose to put the ket in the left upper corner.
5. What about letters? Cost effective tip: don't use letter stickers. I have a large collection of them that I got on clearance, but I usually find I never have enough letters. My solution is to splurge for a set of cute letter stamps and some ink pads. They'll last longer than stickers and you'll never run out of letters. If you're happier using stickers, definitely go for it. But my heart belongs to stamps.
I like to stamp, or place letter stickers, on white paper to mount separately onto the card. You can definitely just stamp onto the paper, but I find this gives the cleanest look. Pick something cute and go for it.
Here you can see a lopsided "T" that I abandoned.
Then just cut out the text and figure out how to place it on the card!
For thinner objects, I like to use mounting squares. They can be kind of ridiculously expensive, but they're so worth it. This box has lasted me a year and a half, whereas glue sticks tend to last me a week or so.
Whatever you decide to use, just stick to the card and... you're done! Now you can write something on the inside and give it to someone you love.
This is my finished product. I'm very happy with it and can't wait to give it to my fiance.
Lovelies, have you ever made your own Valentine's Day cards? Do you like to scrapbook? Do you have any tips for keeping scrapbooking cost effective?
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Comments (8)
I make and sell valentines on my Etsy, but they're in a unique technique called iris-folding.
That card you made is quite cute! :)
You made a very cute card ;D So far, I'm making my own valentine's day card but it's going to be very different from what you're doing. I've already got most of it done save a few things. I'm always used to making cards for any occasion.
Since I try to make Valentine's Day as silly (and cheap) as possible, I usually make my own cards. Last year was my boyfriend's and my first Valentine's Day together, and we'd only been dating for almost two months. We spent the majority of our relationship watching LOST at that point, so I knew I wanted it to be LOST themed. I also knew that he likes pugs. I drew two pugs lying together on the front along with the text, "No bones about it..." On the inside, I showed the back of the pugs' heads and a TV screen with the LOST intro on it with the text, "I'd be LOST without you!"
This year, I decided to play on his personality and pick on him a bit. He's always doing gross things like picking at his toes or something. I designed this in a photo editing program, and printed it out so it's digital, as opposed to drawing it by hand. I covered the entire card, inside and out, in pink with black hairs, so it just looks like a hairy bit of flesh. Then I drew a big scab, and cut it out and attached velcro to the front so you can pull it off and stick it back on. On the inside I wrote, "I'm glad you picked me!"
This is seriously one of my favorite things to do, especially if I get an idea that inspires me!
I think everything I've given to my husband in past 3 years has been handmade. Mostly 'cause I can't afford any gadget he wants.
Your card is adorable. I need to someone to give a card to before I make it :P
Your card is really cute!!
Very cute card! I don't have the time right now. But maybe one day I will have time for this fun craft!
CUTEEEEEEEEEE!