How to make a handmade card even if you cannot draw

Till I moved to the U.K I had no idea that card making is actually a hobby for hundreds (perhaps thousands) of people. There are many magazines here entirely devoted to this craft. There are many books too on the same. I was fascinated to discover them.

I have always enjoyed creating things. Some times I have given away cards on my blog, as a thank you to all of you who read me. (Remember my pop up cards  and the post where I had asked about the make of the car )
 Shru and  Amit have patiently waited for their cards and I finally got down to making them. Here they are! They will be in your hands soon!





Somehow I love handmade things! Getting a real card instead of an electronic one (which is also rare these days. Most people are happy just writing a hurried message on Facebook wall or sending scraps on Orkut ) truly brightens the day of the recipient. At least it does that to me. I love it when someone has taken the trouble to make that phone call or send a real card.

I had decided that I'd be giving away a handmade card to the 300th follower of this blog. I kept watching as the numbers went up, wondering who the 300th would be. When it reached the magic figure I went to the blog and left a comment asking for his postal address. He was delighted. The 300th follower was Addy.
 Addy, here is your card! It is in the mail and will reach you soon!






The first card was entirely painted by me. It is a water colour where I have used wet on wet technique. The second card, I painted the fish, then cut it out and mounted it on thick card. I then stuck crumpled blue handmade paper as a background and stuck the fish on it. For those of you who cannot paint, you can still make cards for your loved ones,  if you want to.(Use a printed picture instead of the fish I used)

The third card that I made for Addy requires no drawing skill at all.  Here are the things you will need and here is how to make it.

 Things needed:
1.A very sharp craft knife, (I used a Derwent Craft knife).Take extreme care while using this , else you could end up in surgery :P :)


2.Foam sheets of different colours which you can get in any craft store or stores that sell Art supplies in India.

3. A craft  punch  You get them now in India too. They cost about Rs.50 -70/- if I remember . Choose a punch whose shape you like

4. Hand made paper of different kinds. Keep looking for scraps of paper around you.(wedding invites, gift wraps, event invites) You will be surprised what different textures and what different kinds you can find. Even the smallest bit can be used for something. Collect them!

5. Fancy buttons: Again you can keep looking. Perhaps that Kurti which you have worn till it is threadbare has buttons that can be salvaged? Visit any craft store or a place where they sell embroidery threads and they are sure to have them.

6. A good glue. Fevicol is great :) I missed my fevicol while making this! I used something called Gel glue instead.

Now--the most important step: Use your imagination!!

What I did  to make the above card was
1. I cut out light blue handmade paper and stuck it as a background

2. Next I measured the base of the light blue back ground and cut a sheet of green foam with the same length and one third its height. Then I used the craft knife to cut the 'bumps' on it. I stuck this right at the bottom.

3.I punched out various flowers using the flower punch. You can use pictures from magazines if you like. Or you can cut them by hand if you don't want to buy a punch. You can also vary the shapes of the flowers and use your own imagination. Perhaps you want to stick a car? Or a bike? Or a tree? I stuck the punched out flowers. I also stuck a cloud.

4.I cut out thin strips from yellow foam to make the rays of the sun and stuck them.

5. I used corrugated sheet and cut out a small piece. I  wrote the word 'smile' on a cream paper which would contrast the corrugated piece. I stuck this on the corrugated sheet. Then I stitched a little tag with some embroidery thread. (you could stick this too)

6. I stuck the buttons and made the tag hang from the button. I also used a little glue while making it hang so it wouldn't come off.

Voila!! A handmade card is ready!!

Isn't it pretty?

Guys--make this for your girlfriend (Imagine the surprise on her face) and watch her MELT! :-)


All you single people : Make this for that great  friend  and make them feel on top of the world :-)


Moms and Dads:  You can make this as a special project with your kids

Oh--and don't forget to thank me  for showing you how to do this :-)

Comments

  1. Beautiful cards :)
    ANd thanks :)

    I love making cards! Now thinking of one reason to make card.

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  2. oooooooooooooooooooh!! Loved this post, Preeti. I LOVE making cards too. I have a bunch of them made that is pending to be put up on my post. I still have the one you sent me on my refrigerator. It makes me smile every day and I prouldly boast about it to my friends and family. Wish I was the 300th...hehehe :-P...Great work, Preeti. I LOVED all of them!!
    Cheers,
    Gayu

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  3. tht ws a lovely post preeti... n sendin it across to ur 300th follower - hw sweet is that?! wish i was the 300th - lol :P

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  4. i'm jealous of addy :P

    thanks for the tips because i suck at drawing! lol
    n pretty cards, as always :)

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  5. I haven't made an appearance in this space in a long time now. My apologies. Went through a couple of your posts and I am SO SO happy to see your website. It is fabulous! Oh so professional looking and perfect. Your picture takes the cake :-) I love that website.

    It's lovely to see the transition from writing a blog, to publishing a book, to learning painting, to a website....Wow :) Hats off to you Ma'm :)

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  6. lovely cards... i love hand made things ... they seem so sweet and cuter than manufactured ones... will give it a try :)

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  7. damn! those looks good.

    i have been wanting to send you that handwriting sample u had asked for long ago, somehow it keeps getting put in the back burner. One of these days...

    loved ur book. is it corny to say that in some kinda wierd way Iam feeling very proud of u?

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  8. BTW, what will be your next reason to send a card...let me make sure i fall in that list :)

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  9. Thank you. It was nice of u to share.

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  10. Loved the post Preethi.....u make it seem so easy. Tho I wdnt have the imagination my Nikita is interested in all crafty stuff. Will definitely note it down for her:-). Thanks!!!!!!

    And Addy is one lucky person:-))...which reminds me I still havent sent my address to u, dont tell me u've forgotten;-o

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  11. Me sending the post link to hubby dearest :D

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  12. awww its just so cute n most importantly so easy.. I will try this very very soon for my mum..
    Bt why did you choose the 300th follower only? Any special reason brhind this?? Uhumh M so unlucky :(

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  13. I thought u forgot :)
    I am soooooo going to use ur card making tips n make one. Or two. Or more :) :) :) I do have some very lovely people around me... they don't really do anything to make me feel on top of the world.. but I still feel so, just knowing that I have them around me :)
    Btw.. there is one thing u forgot :P The fact that I'm on Better Butter now. Not High Spot :) But its ok. Don't make any corrections. I don't write sense anywhere these days anyway :P

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  14. Wow lovely cards Preeti :)
    Remember making those during school days but lost that habit somewhere down the line.. thermocol or dried leaves/flower petals of different shapes are also a good alternative for those who can't paint..

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  15. Wow...Great tips...am sure gonna try makin a hand-made card soon!!!

    And, Addy is one lucky guy...wish i was the 300th follower :)

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  16. this is soooo pretty....brightened my morning a bit more :)

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  17. Nice :)

    I'll try making one and send you :P

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  18. Mamta: Wow :)

    Suma: Glad it did!

    Palsworld : :-)happy card making

    Dhanya: Oh yes--dried flowers also is a very good idea.

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  19. Shru: oh yes--i am so sorry i linked your old one :P let me know when you get it. Have sent you the watercolour one.

    Aish: No reason! I just thought 300 made a nice number :)

    Aathira: heheheh. You are one smart woman!! :)But you already know that ;-)

    Reflections: Cringing and hiding :P why did i ask you to send me your address? Jiggle my memory please!! I am trying to remember why!! Is it for appams? :P

    rm: so sweet-only you thanked me :)

    Life begins: heheh. I will announce it here :P :) thanks!!

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  20. Tys: Thanks!Not corny at all! Thanks so much. honoured!

    Tranquility: thank you, thank you!! When i need a boost I know whom to call :P :)

    Sucheta: thanks!! :) and thank you so much for loyally commenting on each post of mine too!

    Sulo badri: A blog is nothing without is readers. So i guess i'm showing appreciation. I wish i could send to all 300!!

    Gayu: Wow!! Feels great to know you have my card on your fridge! honoured!! :)Thanks for your wonderful comments here.

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