This is a post for all of you scrapbookers and card makers.
Maybe you can give me some tips!
I had never ventured into the world of card making until last year. It all began when I decided to make my own wedding invitations due to not finding what I was looking for at a reasonable price. After much trial and error, I finally settled on a simple design I liked. That initial project led to card making for everything else, and I haven't stopped since.
I left one card to the professionals -- turning to
Etsy for help. I had an Etsy seller customize a handmade wedding card from me to Matt, based on my descriptions of what I had in mind. I loved the finished product and how she used a lot of straight lines for a
more masculine look, combined with the elegant portions that would be considered much less masculine. I doubt I could have created this same format on my own.
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The Cuttlebug machine is very user friendly and quickly
produces die cuts and embossed patterns. |
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The only problem with
my card making hobby is that I look online and am inspired by such creative handmade cards, but I don't know how to mimic that creativity most of the time. I researched a little on embossing back while making wedding invitations and failed miserably in the attempt. I would still like to master embossing (the style where you use powder and heat) some day if any card makers have any good tips or know of a great tutorial.
Fortunately, I received the Cuttlebug machine last year for Christmas, and LOVE it! It has been great for dressing up my cards a little more. I love handmade cards with different textures and layers. It is definitely my favorite card making tool, and I highly recommend one if you don't already have it. Anyone have a Cricut cutting machine? Any opinions on those?
The internet is overflowing with site after site of scrapbook page designs and cards. It can be rather overwhelming, so if you have a favorite site, please recommend it to me! Here are a few creative cards I just found, and I included a link below each card to the original location for where I found each of them. Some of them have tutorials for how the card was made:
And here is a link to a neat tutorial I found while looking for cards. I had never heard of using crayons for this before, so I thought I would share in case anyone else wants to check it out. I will definitely have to give it a try!
Here are some questions for you card makers:
- What is your most prized card making tool?
- What five items do you think are the most essential for making cards?
- What is the best method for attaching paper/embellishments? (I use glue dots -- is there something better?)
- Do you cut out, assemble, and arrange all of your items for each card before attaching anything?
- Do you have any tips or tricks to better card making?
- What card making site is your favorite for inspiration?
I have to go order the groceries, but I saw this! I love anything from "Stampin' up!" and I use their stuff to make all my cards. They have some adorable stuff to make cards! They even have some adorable stamps for baby announcements. They also have a stamp cleaning pad, and spray to clean the stamps. (The spray is able to be made yourself. Just use a spray bottle and water and a little bit of soap.)
ReplyDeleteIf I think of anything else I will let you know!
I LOVE my Cricut Expression!!! Best thing Ive gotten in awhile. I also have the software "Make The Cut" so I dont have to buy the expensive cartridges! It can cut out fabric too and you can use it to iron onto shirts. (havent done that yet)
ReplyDeleteMy top 5 things are my small sharp scissors, tape runner, adhesive mat stacks, Cricut,and sticker maker.
For adhesive I use the sticker maker (the pink one is like $8 at Walmart) for the small things and then a tape runner for everything else. (I hate waiting for glue to dry and the dots always made me nervous something would rip in between them)
Honestly, I just make the cards as I go and dont really prearrange anything. I also love to do the "One Sheet Wonder" cards to get the creativity juices going.
No tips or tricks...just have fun with it.
I LOVE the Cricut website! They have like a community forum thing and one section for cards and scrapbook layouts. I could spend all day on there.
What is your most prized card making tool?
ReplyDeleteMy ATG - adhesive gun. It's amazing!
What five items do you think are the most essential for making cards?
Cardstock, ribbon, patterned paper, buttons or bling, and letter stickers or sentiment stickers.
What is the best method for attaching paper/embellishments? (I use glue dots -- is there something better?)
Scotch ATG 714 (I love glue dots for embellies)
Do you cut out, assemble, and arrange all of your items for each card before attaching anything?
I pick out papers and arrange them first- I glue last. I use scraps from my layouts for most of my cards.
Do you have any tips or tricks to better card making?
Use card sketches- blogs like 2 Sketches 4 You, Sketchy Thursdays, PageMaps, etc. Makes card making so much easier!
What card making site is your favorite for inspiration?
I love My Scrapbook Nook as a forum in general- the girls are fabulous!
Thanks for all the helpful info, ladies! I will definitely be checking these things out and adding some items to my wish list of supplies. I think right now I need to focus more on increasing my supply of punch out tools and work on better layouts. I appreciate all the valuable help!
ReplyDeleteI use the embossing powder...any particular tips you want on it? I really like the gold and silver powder, and use the glue stamp pad and those rubbery stamps that you peel and stick onto an acrylic base. Once the adhesive has been covered, I gently tap off the excess, then I use a dry paintbrush to clean off the plain paper areas because otherwise you get little speckles everywhere. Then I stick it in the oven at about 275 degrees b/c I don't have a heat gun. :D Otherwise I'm a big fan of double sided tape for everything...I've tried so many glues but they all seem to warp paper cards.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I could try the oven thing instead of my heat gun. How do you get the embossed design to look smooth? When I tried, it was always bumpy instead of a nice solid pattern. Am I possibly heating it improperly? I also have trouble getting the powder to stick to the entire stamped design.
ReplyDeleteI was checking out some of the tape/glue options at Hobby Lobby earlier this week, but I am going to wait until I can get some on sale. I am a big time cheapo!