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DIY Greeting Cards Guide

The holidays are officially here. Christmas season is upon us and with that, all the hope and excitement for a happy new year. All that warmth and fuzziness begs to be shared with family and friends. What better way to do so than with some homemade greeting cards. Store bought cards can feel generic and not that thoughtful, whereas handmade greeting cards convey a personal touch that warms the soul.

Many people hear the term, “DIY”, and immediately think it’s too much work. We’re here to knock that assumption out of the water. Making your own greeting cards is easy and fun.

For the first step, you need to choose which type of card you want to work with. There are three main options to choose from. You can use a blank foldover card, a blank colored holiday card, or you can even make your own card using cardstock. For blank foldover cards, you can pick the paper size, the paper weight, and the paper finish. For blank holiday cards, you get the same array of choices, along with vibrant holiday colors.

Lastly, when it comes to making your own cards using cardstock, the possibilities are endless. A general rule to follow is to pay attention to the paper weight, i.e., the cardstock thickness. As the paper gets heavier, it is less likely that your home printer will be compatible with it.

Once you’ve chosen your preferred card of choice, it’s time to get to work on that homemade creation. We’ve made the work easier for you with some handmade card ideas:

DIY Christmas Cards

‘Tis the season of joy, merriment, and making Christmas cards. Spread the cheer with a unique greeting card that is personal yet elegant.

Let’s make this card using the Holiday Christmas Colored Cardstock.

  1. Take a red cardstock paper and fold it in half so that it opens like a book. There, you made your own handmade Christmas card. We’re just kidding around, but step one really is the most important step.
  2. Now that you made your card, it’s time to decorate. Take a sheet of white cardstock paper and cut it in half. Then fold it over on the diagonal and cut off the excess paper so it makes a perfect square. Fold the square in half and then fold it in half again.
  3. With a scissor, start cutting out miniature triangles. When finished, you can open up the folded square to reveal a festive snowflake. Glue the snowflake so that it’s centered on the outside of the card. It will create a beautiful latticework effect.
  4. Then you can take the green cardstock paper and trace and cut out a Christmas Tree. Glue that tree starting at the bottom of the card and reaching over the snowflake.
  5. The decorating is done and the writing can begin. Either on the Christmas tree itself or right below it, you can write in script, “Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, Merry Christmas, or whichever well-wish you prefer.
  6. As to what to write inside the card, that’s all you. It can be meaningful, it can be funny, it can be joyful, it can be all those things and more. The message is completely up to you and what you want your homemade Christmas card to say.

DIY Birthday Cards

Holidays are not the only time when you need a greeting card. There are special occasions throughout the year. The biggest and perhaps most anticipated occasions are birthdays. Making it through another year is no simple accomplishment. It deserves celebration and lots of heartfelt wishes. So stop browsing the pharmacy aisle for a random card that will do the trick. Make a handmade birthday card for mom, for dad, for grandma, or for any other loved one in your life.

Let’s make this card using the Blank Foldover Card.

  1. This one comes pre-folded so that crucial first step is already done for you. You’re already halfway there to your very own homemade birthday card.
  2. Using any color cardstock paper you prefer, cut out small balloon shaped circles. You can make as many as you like; it’s up to you how large the balloon bouquet should be.
  3. Once you’ve cut out your balloons, glue them to the top portion of the front of the card.
  4. Cut out tiny little triangles and glue them right side up underneath each balloon.
  5. Using a different color cardstock, cut very thin ribbon-like strips for the balloon strings and attached them underneath the triangles. As you glue down the strings, bring them together so they form one clean bunch towards the bottom of the card.
  6. With a bright colored marker, draw a large bow right above where the balloon strings end. Underneath that, you can write, “Happy Birthday”. This is just one idea for an easy DIY birthday card. Feel free to take as many creative licenses as you like.

DIY Pop Up Cards

But wait, there’s more. Just when you thought we had the homemade greeting card thing all wrapped up, we have one more exciting card making idea. This one is a little more intricate, but the work pays off when you see your 3D creation. These nifty cards work for any and all occasions. You can make a DIY pop up birthday card or a DIY pop up Christmas card. Let’s not forget about Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. There’s always a special occasion for which to make a homemade pop up card.

Let’s start out with the Orchid Pastel Cardstock.

  1. Fold it in half so that it opens like a book.
  2. Then take a sheet of red cardstock paper (lesser thickness preferable for this one) and draw three hearts in a row, each one touching the next. Cut them out in one piece so that the three hearts form one long strip of paper.
  3. Fold each heart in half and open up your card. Line the hearts so that the center of the middle heart fits into the crease of the card. Be sure to do this with the card not fully open so that you leave space for the pop-up effect. If you stretch out the hearts all the way flat, there will be no room for them to pop up.
  4. Then, glue the outermost side of the right heart onto the right side of the card. Again, don’t pull it too close to the edge of the card or there won’t be excess paper to pop up.
  5. Do the same on the opposite side, gluing half of the left heart to the left side of the card. It can take a few tries to get it to line up properly so take it easy on the glue until you get the pop up effect you desire. Close the card, open it back up and watch the hearts jump out at you.

This pop out card idea works for your mother, your valentine, or your loved one’s birthday. Depending on which occasion it’s for, you can fill it with whichever wishes are most appropriate. Examples include, “You Make My Heart Flutter”, “I’ll Love You Forever”, and “You’ve Taught Me How to Love”. If hearts are not your thing, you can make the exact same card using flower cutouts instead to create a handmade flower pop up card.

When it comes to making DIY greeting cards, the possibilities are limitless. Have some fun and get creative!

Check out our collection of high quality cardstock for any DIY projects!

Pastel Cardstock Bright Color Cardstock Parchment Cardstock Linen Cardstock