If you’re new to card making, your supplies may be limited. That’s not a problem – less is more, right?! You just need to know how to use your stash in creative ways. We’re here today to share our card making secret when a variety of ink colors or fancy markers are unavailable.
Our first tip is to take advantage of patterned paper. There are so many companies producing gorgeous designs. Papers are available in individual sheets, as well as paper packs. For card making, 6×6 packs are a real treasure. The sheets are color coordinated, which means they all work together, saving us a step. The patterns are usually smaller and fit better on cards than other paper sizes.
In addition to paper, look for stamp sets that have large sentiments that can make a bold statement. For this first card, we stamped the word “smile” in black on a strip of striped paper. We added it to a white card with matching papers and finished with a few enamel dots. The result is a simple card that needed few supplies.
You can repeat the same process with image stamps. Here we have a vintage stamp from Market Street Stamps. As you can see, it’s well loved. We gathered papers from the same 6×6 paper pad. Rather than coloring an image, pick a simple pattern or plain piece of cardstock to stamp.
The papers were cut to size and adhered to the card front. We added plain colors for layers to break up all of the busy patterns. Please note, these cards didn’t require die cuts or punches either – just a paper trimmer. It is possible to create handmade cards without having a large collection of supplies.
A stash of white paper strips – usually scraps – sits on my craft desk. They’re perfect for adding sentiments to cards. On this card the strip ties in the white card base and gives a voice to the cute image.
Now it’s your turn! We can’t wait to see the cards you create. Remember, a large collection of craft supplies isn’t needed to create cards to give away and spread joy.
What do you think?