45+ Handmade Card Ideas: How to Make Greeting Cards

1. Make or buy a blank single-fold card in your size of choice.
Standard sizes include:
A1 - 3.5" x 4.875"
A2 - 4.25" x 5.5"
4 Bar - 4.875" x 3.375"
A6 - 4.5" x 6.25"
A7 - 5" x 7"
A8 - 5 3/8 x 7 ¾
A9 - 5 1/2 x 8 ½
#10 - 3 7/8" x 9 1/4"
Biz/Business - 3.5" x 2"
Square - 5.5" x 5.5"

2. Plan out the front of your card.
Fold your card in half and determine if you want your DIY card to be horizontal or vertical.
Decide which materials you will need for your project.

Some common materials include:
- Scissors/straightedge, ruler, and adhesive
- Extra decorative paper, such as cardstock, scrapbook, or vellum
- Writing utensils, such as pens, markers, or colored pencils
- Stamps and ink pads
- Paper punches, die cuts, or stencils
- Embellishments, such as rhinestones, ribbon, glitter, buttons, or washi tape

Use stamps to create designs, determine your sentiment, or choose embellishments to start. With greeting cards, the occasion could be anything from “Hello” to “Thinking of You” to “Wish You Were Here,” and more, so consider that when coming up with your DIY greeting card design.

When planning your handmade card, you can draw up a mock-up with pencil and paper or set materials over the front of the card to compare sizes and shapes and see what would look best for the final product.

3. Design your base outside layer or background.
The first part of building your card should be to create the background on the front. This will be the first part your recipient sees and the most detailed.
Are you adding layers of paper or stamping, drawing, or stenciling a pattern on the front of your card? Do this first.

4. Design your second outside layer.
After creating your background layer, your next layer is usually reserved for your main image and sentiment. Adhere your picture, stamp your main image, or whatever is the focal point of your card.

5. Add finishing touches to the outside.
Add your final touches to the card, which usually includes embellishments like ribbon or buttons. You can add some dimension by using glue dots or 3D adhesive squares under your embellishments when appropriate. Let dry if needed.

6. Design the inside of your card.
Usually the inside of a card is not deeply detailed but you can add a layer of paper or some of your background pattern to make it more exciting. You will write your well wishes on the inside of the card.

Tips: Write out a draft of your message before writing it in the card so that you are prepared. If you make a mistake, you may be able to adhere a layer of scrapbook or cardstock over the writing you want to cover and start over on the new paper.

7. Finish your card.
Take a step back and decide if you need to make any changes. If everything looks good, then place your card in an envelope to send.

PLUS! Click on the picture to get a PDF version of How to Make Greeting Cards that you can save!

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