Handmade Card Ideas Using Craft Punches

Handmade card ideas can start from pretty paper prints, beautiful stickers or even a favorite tool like a craft punch. Making greeting cards can be fun but sometimes frustrating when you are just staring at a blank card.

There are so many tools and embellishments available these days that coming up with card making ideas seem endless. You can create beautiful, handmade birthday, thank you, Valentines, Christmas and get well cards using a plethora of materials.

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One popular tool is craft punches. I love using craft punches because my cutting skills aren't so refined. Since the cut is pretty precise, using craft punches give your card a professional, polished appearance.

Handmade Card Ideas Using Craft Punches

One of my favorites is the 1/2" corner punch. You can round off one, two or all four corners of your card. Rounded corners help soften the look of a card.

• TIP #1: Cut two or three different sizes of rectangles or squares in different colors that coordinate with your card, each 1/8" smaller than the other, and round off the corners. Then layer them about 1/8" apart to give a dimensional effect.
• TIP #2: To give depth to a card, cut out a rectangle or square shape, round off all four corners using a corner punch and then adhere foam tape on the back. Put your sentiment, sticker or other embellishment onto the rectangle or square shape.
• TIP #3: You can also use a corner craft punch on your photos. Cut a shape from cardstock, 1/8" larger than your photo and round off the corners with a corner punch. Round off corners of your photo as well and then place your photo over the larger shape which will create a frame for your photo.

A ¼" corner punch is great for making tags as well as rounding off corners from square or rectangle shapes. Apply chalk paint to soften and highlight the edges.
 
Decorative corner punches are pretty and delicate. I like to use it on solid color paper or paper that isn't so busy because you lose the fine detail of the punch design.

My other favorite craft punch is border punches. As of this article, I only have one design but it has been so versatile, I've utilized it on many cards. You can include a punched border on the sides, middle and bottom of your card.

• TIP #4: Cut strips of paper using different colors that coordinate with your card. Punch out one side of the edge of each strip and layer by overlapping the strips. Circle punches are great for adding a sentiment or featuring an embellishment.
• TIP #5: Using a graphic software program, create a dotted circle large enough that it fits just inside the circle, close to the edge of the punch. You can also include a sentiment or personalized message. Print it out on light cardstock paper. Center and punch out the dotted circle or sentiment with your circle punch. Punch a tiny hole just close to the top and use it as a tag.

If you can find two circle punches, one about 1/8" smaller circumference than the other, the larger circle creates a nice frame and is just another idea to include in your card making techniques.
 
I think craft punches are a great addition to your card making supplies because they are so versatile and you can reuse it over and over again.

Handmade Card Ideas Using Craft Punches

My name is Chloe, a card making enthusiast, and I love to share my ideas with those of you that have the same passion for card making.

Find these tips, examples and instructions of how punches are used at http://card-making-corner.com/handmade-card-ideas.html

Creative Handmade Card Ideas on a Budget

Inspiration for creative handmade card ideas can be found everywhere. Unique handmade cards should not require a lot of fancy crafting tools and materials - just a lot of imagination and creativity. In fact, just by looking around the house you can probably find lots of fun stuff that can be used to make a one-of-a-kind greeting card. The recipient of a handmade card does not typically scrutinize the craftsmanship of the card because they are usually so overwhelmed with joy in knowing that you took the time to make them a very special homemade card.

Using found objects around the house could definitely be an activity worthy of involving your kids. It can be a scavenger hunt turned craft making party! Let your kids roam free and collect objects and things that they would find suitable for the hand-making card occasion.

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Here are a few suggestions for some creative handmade card ideas:

Creative Handmade Card Ideas on a Budget

* Postage Stamps
Getting a letter in the mail is always fun, why not keep the postage stamps so that you can add them to a collage card one day? Finding cool postage stamps might also encourage the old time tradition of letter writing in youngsters. Send a letter with a cool postage stamp and receive one back in return! Grandparents would make great pen pals for their grandchildren; so who knows what some card making ideas will lead to?

* Junk Mail & Old Magazines
Sort through your junk mail and old magazines because you could probably find cool fonts for letters and perhaps some background patterns that you can use on a handmade card. You can always cut out individual letters and phrases to use for messages on the cards. Think of those ransom notes that you see in movies for some inspiration. How cool and modern looking would a handmade card could be with glossy letters in different fonts and colors?

* Wrapping Paper
Wrapping paper is usually designed for a certain occasions, think birthdays and holidays, so the designs on the paper can easily be cut up to make new greeting cards! Keeping scraps of wrapping paper does not take up a lot of space and the pre-designed pictures and messages could work when making a handmade card in a pinch.

* Old Calendars
Old Calenders are great for beautiful images that you can use for the front of your cards - or even for the background of a card. Cut out those majestic mountain peaks for a cool backdrop to a personalized message. Or trim down that lovely picture of a tropical island for a "Bon Voyage!" card for a friend going on vacation.

Creative Handmade Card Ideas on a Budget

For more creative handmade card ideas, including birthday card ideas, anniversary card ideas, congratulations card ideas, and more, please visit http://www.creative-card-ideas.com, a website dedicated to making greeting cards on a budget!

Handmade Thank You Card Ideas Using Silk Flowers

Handmade thank you card ideas can come be inspired by nature or even by looking at items around the home. Silk flowers are beautiful and relatively inexpensive handmade card embellishment that can be used to add dimension and character to any handmade thank you card.

Silk flowers can be purchased at most craft supply stores and even a lot of discount dollar stores carry silk flowers that can be used for making greeting cards. Another great advantage to using flowers as a handmade card embellishment is that purchasing flowers will often result in many flower bulbs and pedals that can be used for multiple cards.

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When choosing silk flowers especially for greeting cards you should consider a few things. For instance, if you are mailing the card, then you may want to choose flowers that are relatively flat, such as silk daisies or sunflowers. Another consideration for choosing silk flowers would be the colors. If it is for a wedding card, then beautiful white flowers would make for a elegant card. If you know the wedding colors, then you might choose to match them with the flowers on the card.

Handmade Thank You Card Ideas Using Silk Flowers

For thank you card ideas, silk flowers can essentially be any color and in any design. If you are inclined, you may choose flowers that are reflective of the current season or the occasion for which you are thanking the card recipient. Silk poinsettia flowers can be wonderful to use during the holiday seasons. While pastel colored flowers would be perfect for springtime thank you cards.

Also consider that if the card is for a child, then silk flowers may not be a good choice as they can fall off and become a choking hazard.

After choosing your silk flowers, you should use a pair of sharp scissors to carefully cut the flower from its stem. Get as close to the back of the flower as you can without losing any pedals or other delicate pieces of the flower. If the stem is too thick to cut off, then you can carefully cut off the petals and arrange your own flower on the front of the card with a button as the centerpiece or some other creative centerpiece.

When the flowers have been successfully cut off of their stems, then spend some time arranging the flowers on the face of your handmade greeting card. Consider what type of design you will be aiming for with the flowers. Most times flowers are used to decorate existing focal points of a handmade card. For instance, smaller flowers can become a border to "Thanks a Million" text on the card. Or flowers can be used to bring out the background colors of a card.

While silk flowers can be used for decorations on a card, they can also be used as the main focal point, especially if you are not planning on including text on the front of the card. Or if you are making a few blank handmade thank you cards for future occasions that are unknown at the moment. A simple background with the flower in the middle can be quite enough to make a handmade thank you card stand out.

Attaching the silk flower to your handmade thank you card can be tricky. Consider practicing with flowers that you are planning on discarding. A hot glue gun is one of the best ways to attach embellishments to the front of cards with precision. Carefully use the hot glue gun to add a bit of glue to the back of the flower. Press the flower into position on the card and hold firmly for several seconds. Allow the glue to dry completely before handing the card again.

Handmade Thank You Card Ideas Using Silk Flowers

With practice, silk flowers can become a favorite handmade greeting card embellishment for all your thank you card ideas. Aside from thank you cards, silk flowers are a beautiful addition to anniversary card ideas, birthday card ideas, or even wedding card ideas.