Everyday Creativity- Card Making

Step One- Pick out your scrapbook paper and corresponding cardstock. The scrapbook paper will act as your cover and the cardstock will act as the base for the card. Choose colors that coordinate, and be wary of choosing dark colors for your cardstock, as the writing inside the card won't show up as well.

Step Two- Make the base. Today, I made a smaller card, so I took my cardstock and loosely folded it as shown. Then I cut along the fold. This smaller piece of cardstock I then folded in half to form the card. But because these scissors are lame and can't cut, I went back and trimmed the ragged edges of my card and found some new scissors.


Step Three- Cut the scrapbook paper. To do this, I trace the outline of the folded card onto the back of my scrapbook paper. This way I get the exact size of the front of my card. I then cut it out with scissors. (But because the only scissors I found to replace the lame ones were tiny, I decided to brave the dulled scissors again. Mistake.)

Step Four- Pause and eat some fruit. Because it tastes good and is also good for you. Plus, the orange/blue/pink combo looks really nice. Everybody needs pretty snacks, because making pretty cards is such hard work! (Not really. Unless you have lame scissors.)


Step Five- Glue the scrapbook paper on the card base. I use rubber cement here because it won't show through the paper. And because I craft on a regular basis, my mother bought the giant tub of rubber cement that doesn't come with its own brush, so I had to dig for an old paint brush. Anyway, smear some rubber cement on there, but don't put too much or it will show through the paper. Then place the cut scrapbook paper on the card and make sure to center it.


Step Six- Choose another solid paper (or two) to act as a backdrop for your cover message. However much I love the scrapbook paper, writing doesn't show up very well on it, so I usually glue a small piece of cardstock to write a short note on the front. You don't have to put a note, but I think that it gives the card a sweet look.

I chose this lovely blue and yellow to go with a colorful theme. Cut out a piece of the paper large enough to write the words, but not too big so that it takes up most of the card. Here is where I sometimes like to get out my fancy scissors and cut away!


Step Seven- Glue your message backdrop on the card and write the message. Use your creativity here, and place the note wherever you like! And write something unique, if you want, as well (or just put "happy birthday" like I did).


Step Eight- Now we bring out the embellishments! This is my favorite step, because you can do almost anything here! I like to go around my house and hunt for something that I can stick on a card, fake flowers, lace, old buttons, foil, anything. Using these interesting materials gives my card a unique flair to it! I gathered up a few different embellishments to choose from pictured below.


And I decided upon these adorable buttons! I have a thing for buttons. Big buttons, little buttons, vintage buttons.

When I glue on a larger object, I like to ditch the rubber cement and use regular glue. But for ribbon and thin objects, stick with the rubber cement.


I hope you enjoyed my tutorial on card making! God created us with the ability to create, so let's explore this ability, knowing that it comes from Him!

Do you make your own cards? What have you found useful? Do you want to start card making? Comment below any thoughts or questions on card making! And stay tuned for the third installment of this series: a party lifestyle: it's not what you think!

Princess Hannah