Help for First Time Card Maker

Nonna2Dreja

Nonna2Dreja

New member
I am so impressed with the fabulous cards that I have seen so many of you share here, as well as through the various Blogs I subscribe to....Can any of you please share with me what "tools" you use to cut out scallop circle shapes, what type of adhesive/tape do you use to adhere your paper embellishments, ribbon, etc. What size do you traditionally make your cards? I'm concerned with being able to find envelopes to fit any cards I might make....

I would appreciate any other tips, you might want to share....

Thanks so much!:thumbup:
 
Hmmm... lets see....

Cutting scalloped circles I will either cut the by hand (so not fun!) or I'll use a die on my Cuttlebug die cutter. (it was a christmas gift from hubby!).

Adhesive is something very personal. I use several types. I use Glue Dots (Craft and Mini) for flowers, buttons and small cutout embellies. I use the 3L EZ Runner by 3L Adhesives for ribbon, it has tiny strips of adhesive that it dispenses and I find it easy to put just one or two strips at a time across narrow ribbon. And I use a regular tape runner for everything else.

Card size, usually I make my cards 4x5.5 inches. I buy card bases cheap at Walmart (8$ for 50 card bases with envelopes) or if I have lots of spare envelopes around I'll make my own bases using cardstock.

I also wanted to say that for printing, I will create my designs on 4x6 inches documents and print them at Walmart with a Matte finish. Then I just trim off the extra half inch.

Hope this helps! Good luck!
 
Hey Sheila

I use card blanks too - I get them via e-bay from a paper manufacturer who's catering for card makers as well as companies. They come prefolded and with envelopes. I have started to get card with a weight of 300gsm as I find if I add lots of embellishments, the finished card still stand upright beautifully. I use any and all the regular shapes available, but love the square and long thin (DL) variety best I think.

I also use the same supplier for sheets of plain white card onto which I print embellishments from the digi-kits.

I use sharp scissors (a large and small pair) and a very sharpe bladed knife for cutting (don't forget extra blades) - but you must have a cutting mat to protect your work surface :) I have some punches for regular sizes plain and scalloped circles, squares etc, otherwise I snip out by hand too - it can be quite theraputic with some music on! Honestly!

Again like Monique, I use glue dots and double-sided tape in various widths (great for sticking ribbon onto your card). I also use a normal glue stick and a glue pen for accuracy at the very edges of my card when sticking paper onto my card stock. I like having a stock of stick foam pads too to add a little dimension to images too.

If you are just starting to see if you you like making your own, just try your local stores, but when you are convinced that homemade cards are the best (which you will!!) then do take a browse on e-bay as there are lots (and LOTS) of stores with good deals on paper, glue, tape etc..

One more thing I'd recommend - a nail file! I use mine to gently sand any rough edges on anything I cut out.

I warn to, once you start, you'll be contantly adding to your kit - its addicitve! Just think: ink pads, chalk, brads, ribbon..... lots of pretty things to play with :thumbup:

Enjoy!
 
Hi Sara, Thanks so much for all of your help & tips....I will give my local stores a try to pick up a few things, as you recommended and when I become addicted to making my own cards, I'll be sure to check out ebay for a good deals on supplies....I'm abit scared about cutting out detailed, small pieces to start with, but will definitely work my way into it....LOL
I'm excited and can't wait to get started!:thumbup:
 
Hi Sheila! To save some cash from buying cardstock, I use postcards as a base for my card, and cover it with my printed papers. For adhesives, I like to use double-sided tape to adhere papers (perfect for the lazy and impatient, like me LOL) and usually either glue dots or foam tape for embellishments.

FOr any type of shape, I don't have any type of specialized cutter. Just use scissors and hope for the best. LOL
 
Hi Jill, Thank you so much for your help! I am very impatient also, but unfortunately, I do not have any postcards....Otherwise, I definitely would try using them....Maybe I'll ask my family to start recycling their postcards for me....

I love your idea of using scissors and hoping for the best....LOL That will most likely be me too....:thumbup:

Thanks again!
 
Hey Sheila! I'm so excited you're jumping into card-making!!

As a paper-crafter turned digiscrapper turned hybrid girl (are you still following me??) I have a TON of super fun paper tools and my hybrid cards tend to be very much like my "regular" paper cards. I typically print out my digi paper and then cut it up and use it just like I would regular cardstock and patterned paper - stamp on it, use my punches on it, add physical ribbon and buttons and other embellishments, etc etc etc.

As for the circle scallops you might see on my cards, I use Nestabilities Dies by Spellbinders (PM me if you want more info) and they are AWESOME - they work in most die cutting machines (Big Shot, Cuttlebug, etc). They have "nesting" dies in different sizes/shapes and come about 6/pack. I LOVE them and use them SOOOO much!!

As for adhesive - I use the cheap kind of double-sided tapeunner style adhesive from the brand Scrapbook Adhesives. It's called E-Z Runner. I use that on most of my papers. For ribbon, I use Sticky Strip (from Stampin' Up, but you can find it in other brands - it's a double-sided tape with red backing on it). For 3-D embellishments I use foam pop dots or Stampin' Dimensionals from Stampin' Up. For heavier embellishments (like buttons) I use glue dots.

You really don't need all of these fancy tools though to start out, though if you're like me, you'll eventually accumulate them!! Really a decent pair of scissors and some adhesive is all you need to get started.

Please feel free to PM me if you want to chat!! Can't wait to see what you create!
 
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