Basic Card Making Information

Basic Materials:
Paper
Card
Card blanks

Basic Tools:
Metal ruler
Craft knife
Scissors
Paper trimmer
Self healing cutting mat
Glues / adhesive tapes

If you are intersted in getting into cardmaking.

Basic Materials:

Paper - available in handmade, patterned, vellum, metallic and more. Paper is perfect for buildin up layers on handcrafted cards. Special papers can also be used as card inserts.

Card - this is thicker and stiffer than paper and is an ideal surface for making cards. It comes in a huge range of colours and finishes and can be bought in a variety of sizes as a single sheet or in packets.

Card Blanks - pre-folded card that has no design on it. These are available in a variety of shapes, colours and finishes and are available with matching envelopes.

Optional Extras:
Outline stickers
Embellishments
Card toppers
Pens and Markers
Handmade paper
Cellophane bags

Basic Tools:
Metal ruler and craft knife
Scissors
Paper trimmer
Self healing cutting mat
Glues / adhesive tapes

Optional Extras:
Craft box
Craft punches
Rubber stamps, ink pads, embossing powders and heat tool
Light box, dry embossing templates and tools


Card Making Techniques

Card toppers
These are pre-made decorations, often with a self adhesive backing. They give an interesting
3-D effect and are a good option for beginners. No glue is required and a simple card need only consist of a card topper placed on a card blank.

Embellishments
These can be used to add that special finishin touch to your card making projects. Embellishments are basically anything you can stick onto your cards to compliment the design and include stickers, card toppers, wooden shapes, skelton leaves, wire, beads, ribbons, eyelets, brads, foam shapes, pom poms, faceted stones, petite flowers, mirror tiles and much much more.

Embossing
Dry embossing - this technque uses either a ligh source, for example a light box, metal templates and an embossing tool or specialist embossing systems to create raised designs and textures on card, vellum paper and metal foil. For added effect, the raised surface can be coloured with a pen or pencil.

Heat embossing - this technique uses embossing powder, pigment or specialist clear embossing ink and a heat tool to create raised designs on card, paper and craft foam. This technique is most often used to add an extra dimension to rubber stamped images.

Glass painting
This involves the use of specialist water or solvent based glass paints and glass paint outliner or peel off stickers to create designs on glass or acetate.

Iris folding
This simple technique involves folded strips of coloured or patterned paper, that are layered, according to a template, into a spiral pattern behind an aperture in a card blank. The name originates from the folded paper designs resembling the iris of a camera

Lace / Coluzzle
This technique involves the use of specialist lace and coluzzle templates to make an intricate pattern of cuts and folds into paper and card. The end result is a distinctive interlacing effect, which can be enhanced by using duo paper or card, which has a different colour on each side.

Outline stickers
These are self adhesive coloured greetings, letters and shapes that offer an easy and stylish way to personalise your cards. They can be used on a variety of surfaces including card, gift boxes, wedding stationery and photo albums. A wide range of messages from Good Luck and Best Wishes to Congratulations and Happy Birthday are available in a variety of colours.

Parchment craft
This technique involves the embossing and piercing of vellum paper with a needle to give it a raised appearance that ofen looks like lace.

Punching and cutting
Hole punches and decorative scissors can be used to create a variety of different patterned edges and shaped holes on paper and light weight card. The 'punched' shapes can also be used to add layers and interest to your cards. Always practice on a piece of scrap paper first.

Quilling
This is the ancient art of rolling thin strips of paper into different shapes and using the shapes to form designs on cards, boxes and pictures.

Rubber stamping
This is a quick and effective method of producing repeat patterns. Stamps are used with an ink pad and can be embellished with embossing powder to create a raised finish. Once dry, stamps can be coloured in with felt pen or watercolour pencils.

Shaker Cards
Shaker cards are made using an aperture card blank and confetti which can be made from sequins or beads or shapes produced from punching. The aperture is sealed with acetate by surrounding it with self-adhesive foam strips, making a cavity which is filled with the 'confetti'.

Teabag folding
This folding technique originated in Holland and was first created by folding the paper envelopes that t-bags were packaged in - hence its name. It is a paper art form used to create 3-D greetings cards and invitations by folding paper. Designs can be created using any paper, although a range of specialist papers are also available.

Using Papercraft Tools

Border punches
Create a continuous border on paper or light weight card by using the white pattern printed onto the border punch. Begin by punching once anywhere along the border, then slide the punched section over to the left or right until it lines up dire ctly with the white printed section on the tool. Continue in both directions until the entire border is punched. Use markings on the punch as a guide to centre or turn corners.

Decorative hold punches
If your punch won't press, the material you're punching could be too thick so use a lighter weight paper or card. To re-sharpen your punch, punch through aluminium foil or sandpaper.

Paper edgers or decorative edges scissors
To cut a straight line with your paper edgers, use a ruler and pencil to draw a straight line on the backside of the paper to be cut. As you cut with the paper edger, make sure the edge of a pattern touches the line exactly the same each time the pattern is cut.

ShapeBoss
Use a ShapeBoss to create crisply embossed designs on almost any thin material from vellum and card through to metallic papers, foil and even metal. Assemble your material and stencil on the ShapeBoss following manufacturers instructions. Use the stylus to outline the stencil design for an instand embossed effect. To make your embossing go more smoothly, place wax paper between the top stencil and the material to emboss.

ShapeCutter
Use a ShapeCutter to crop and cut shapes easily and accurately. Adjust the blade up or down until you are happy with the finished cut. Always practice on scrap paper of different thickness before starting a project to help you get a feel for how firmly you need to press.

Texture plates
Place card or paper over the texture plate, secure with low tack tape and rub with a stylus, coloured pencil or crayon. This gives a great effect for die cuts and backgrounds.

Useful Hints and Tips

When tearing mulberry paper, use a ruler, paintbrush and water. Lightly score the paper along the line you want to tear then brush water onto the line. Use your fingers to tear along the wet line. This will give a fluffy, feathered effect edge.

Use sticky fixers or glue dots to give a raised image to embellishments.

To avoid unslightly glue when using vellum, use spray adhesive or glue intermittently and cover the glue areas with embellshments. Alternatively secure vellum in position by using outline stickers.

Use a cocktail stick or a pair of tweezers to peel outline stickers off their backing sheets.

When making wedding invitations use an inexpensive technique and a design that is quick to replicate and relatively light and flat for posting.

Using an outline sticker the same colour as your card will give an embossed effect.

Outline stickers can be coloured in with felt pens or glass paints.