Birthdays provide the perfect opportunity to learn how to make your own birthday cards and it's so easy. Remember making cards when you were a child in school? Thankfully some things haven't changed-giving a handmade card still tugs at the heart strings and making a unique birthday card is a wonderful way to tell someone you truly care.
Card making can be as simple as you like or as detailed and intricate as you prefer. Rubber stamps, embossing agents, puffy paints, blending markers, fancy cutting scissors, neat punch designs and hundreds of different cardstock and scrapbooking pages are available to the interested crafter. But, because you'll probably be making a card for someone you know well, you can always lean on the old standby by finding items you already have lying around the house.
Making a Unique Birthday Card
Do you have a photo of the birthday girl or boy? If you do-especially if it's one that you happen to be in-use it to your advantage. If you plan on cutting into the picture in any way, it's best to make a copy first. Either use a scanner to scan a copy and then print it on the computer, or stop at a drugstore that provides photo copying and photo making services. It usually only takes a few minutes and is relatively inexpensive.
Another great idea is to use an old birthday card that was given to you by the soon-to-be recipient. Scan the words they wrote in your card or their signature and repeat the same line or their name over and over on your card as a repeat background. To make it three-dimensional, raise every other word with a piece of double-sided sticky tape, or add a bit of color by tracing the word(s) with colored pencils or markers.
Card Making Designs
If you don't trust your own hand, check out a hobby store for one of many card making designs. While there, pick up a couple of fun paper punches and-just for fun-create a punched out border along the edge of the card. Another fun and decorative method of using punches is to use them to create a design.
If you are using black and white photos, cut out the birthday girl wearing a dress. Then, using a small decorative punch, punch out a few swirls or stars across the dress. Tape a piece of colored paper behind the photo so that when you turn it around, the dress will have pink dots on it or yellow stars. Use a lighter shade of the same color for the card, or add a few larger matching stars in a swirly pattern on the inside.
 | Making greeting cards is a great hobby that doesn't cost a lot of cash. Make your own greeting cards with these tips on paper selection, design and embellishments. |
 | In order to make your own Christmas cards, start with the basics: Determine how many cards you will need and whether each card will be different or the same. |
 | Learning to make flash cards is the perfect solution if you want to save money on school supplies or can't find a particular subject at the store. |
Why go to the kiosk at the store? Chances are that you've got everything you need to make photo greeting cards at home. |
As each new generation of card maker joins the ranks, new and improved card making ideas surface. A few old techniques are making a strong comeback as well. |
