DIY Greeting Card Ideas

A handmade greeting card will make your family or friends feel so special. It speaks volumes about how much you value them by going out of your way to make something for them. However, getting greeting card ideas that can help you make one easily can be quite a challenge. Here are some ideas and tips to help you make the perfect DIY card.

Printable Card Stock

One way to kick start your artistic venture in sending some love is to download printable card stock with florals, patterns, and other things. Remember not to get those that are overly complex as it will beat the DIY logic.

Print the patterns on a thick and substantial paper and get working. You will need some necessities like glue, pencil or marker, and decorative paper. The goal is to get creative and design something outstanding.

Always have the recipient in mind when customizing the printable card stock. For instance, a young boy would love dinosaur cutouts and simple drawings on the card. A friend who loves traveling would appreciate fancy shapes cutout from images of dream destinations.

Embrace 3D in adding the cutouts by placing thick circles of materials between the card and the attachments. The possibilities are limitless.

Junk Mail Card

Do you get junk mail cards in your mailbox and wonder what to do with them? Now you can create an awesome greeting card using these cards. Choose one that’s thick and dive into customization.

It’s all about utilizing the free things around you. Besides the mail card, you will need a random paper, plain paper, pen or marker, and glue. So how do you turn these basic things into something that will leave a mark?

Start by folding the mail card into half. Next, fold the random paper accordion style. Measure its dimensions and cut out a plain paper measuring slightly larger than the dimensions of the folded random paper.

Glue the cut plain paper onto the mail card and draw around it to make it stand out. You can additionally draw some floral or other patterns on the card in the area not covered by the plain paper.

Next, glue the spines of the folded random paper and attach it to the card, centering it on the plain paper. You will have a simple greeting card.

Abstract Card

You can take it a notch higher and put in the slightly more noticeable effort with an abstract card. A watercolor paper is necessary for this card, given its low absorbency. Once you have it, you will be ready to do some magic with the paint.

Start by painting a few random circles and clouds in different colors on the paper using watercolors. Next, take a bubble wrap and apply a couple of drops of gouache or acrylic paint on its puffy side. Distribute the paint on the bubbles using a brush.

Once the watercolors on your card are dry, flip the plastic bubbles over the card and gently apply even pressure that applies the paint on the card. You can repeat this technique using a couple of different colors to your liking.

Add some stamping or embroidery to the card after the paint dries. There you have it, a nice greeting card with an artistic touch.

You can take this card to a whole new level with calligraphy in case you have the ability. Nevertheless, you are free to personalize it as you wish. That’s the beauty of DIY.

Vintage Card

Another option when making a DIY greeting card is to go bold with vintage. The advantage is that most materials are easily accessible to you. It could be the title page of that old book or the cover of that magazine that has been lying around for a long time. Ensure what you choose is heavy and faded.

Fold the paper in half. Get a plain white paper and cut a long thin strip. Glue this strip to the card across the middle. You can write or stamp on the strip of paper whatever you like as long as it doesn’t take up too much space and is either left or right centered.

Draw a floral motif on a plain paper and color it to your liking. Cut it out, leaving some bit of white space between the cutting and the floral.

Next, you want to give it some bit of a 3D effect. Get a thick material and cut circles out of it. Glue the motif to the circle and glue it to the card on the side of the strip that was left plain after your writings. As simple as that, you will have a great vintage greeting card.

Simplistic Butterflies Card

In case you want to go the simple way, you can opt for the simplistic butterfly’s greeting card. It will take you a short time to get done. You will need plain card stock and a magazine pullout with patterns you like.

Fold the plain card stock into half. The plain card could be of any color you think your recipient would appreciate.

It’s now time to work on the butterflies. Find patterns and pictures that you love in the magazine pullout and draw a butterfly shape on the page. Don’t worry about the wing symmetry. Ensure there is a long skinny rectangle for the body of the butterfly.

Cut out the butterfly and fold the wings towards each other, creating a fold crease at the center of the body. However, don’t fold the center of the butterfly.

Apply some glue on the butterfly body and glue it to the card. Make some more butterflies and add them to the card.

Personalize the card with words preferably in calligraphy. You can also search for printable calligraphy that you can use to write your message. Please attach it to the card in a fancy way.

Tips for Making Greeting Cards

Here are some tips as you get creative with a variety of DIY greeting cards.

• Choose the right background-color
• Reuse leftover paper scraps
• Utilize unconventional paper sources like gift bags
• Erase with a white polymer eraser when eliminating the pencil marks
• Use round corners instead of square ones
• Keep your stamps clean
• Keep the ribbon ends from fraying by applying nail polish to the ends

Conclusion

Always remember that DIY greeting cards are all about authenticity. You can search for free printable DIY greeting card ideas to inspire your creativity. All the best, as you make something that will touch your family and friends.