Easy to make note cards

#3667 in DIY & Hobbies
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No creative talent required- note cards to make and send

In my series no creative talent needed I will walk you through ideas and how to's for making creative low cost gifts to make and give. No artistic talent needed!!!

Lets make greeting cards to send or as gifts 

In this day and age of emails and ecards we sometimes forget to take the time to send a note in the mail. You go to the mail you get your bills, magazines and junk but what happens when you see that plain envelope addressed from someone you know. For me it translates into a huge smile and most of the time I have it opened before I get inside. There is something about holding it in your hands rather than viewing it on a screen.

I can hear you now " but I am not creative" I am here to tell you that anyone of any age can make a note card. No creative talent required

Basic materials 

*card stock
*envelopes
*clear plastic sleeves to hold single card with envelope ( this is optimal but if you are planing on giving note cards as gifts it makes a great presentation)
*glue or double sided tape
*scissors or paper cutter (no running )
*images from photos or original art ( your art or your kids)
*computer and printer

More than one way 

This is how I make them

I make my cards a little different than most, I print the image then cut it out and attach it to card stock. For me my images are how I make my living so they need to be clear crisp and as close to the original as I can get, I have found that this process is the best. If you are not going to sell your note cards it may not matter. Another reason for this it that you can have your card stock ready and available then add your images at any time. But I am getting ahead of myself

Card stock can be found everywhere these days but for my own cards I like a good quality card and envelope so I buy from a store specializing in paper products. But remember card stock can be had almost anywhere and the amount you spend is all over the place. Get the best you can afford but don't go crazy cards are meant to be shared but they don't have to last a life time.

Grab your images 

If using your own images, either from your art or photos, scan and save them on your computer. Remember to name them and start a folder calling it something like "images for cards". This way you will always be able to find them.

Next resize the images, play around with this and find a size that you like. Lets say for this article you will resize them at 2 x 3 inches. Copy the image and then paste into another page, do this until your little images fill the page.

Next print the image then cut them from the page. I store these little images in baggy's and then in a box so they are kept clean and safe until I need them.


Next attach glue or tape and position them on the front of the card stock. Don't worry about getting then centered or even straight, I often place them off center for a more custom interesting look.



That's it, your card is ready to send. If you want to give these cards as a gift place the card with envelope clear plastic sleeve, stack 5 or 6 of them and tie with a ribbon, you have an instant hand made personalized gift.

About Images 

What images are best for these cards, the skies the limit. Grab your camera and go take pictures, maybe you love flowers, or the ocean, or you're a dog person, go to the park and just snap away, with digital's you can take hundreds of images and them pick through to find something that you really like. Candid images of you and your family are great to send, want a thank you for your kids teacher take a photo of a bowl of apples or a stack of pencils, maybe you need a card for your mechanic, open the hood of your car and take a close up of the engine. Think outside the box you may be surprised at what you can come up with.

Why I cut and paste my images

I print my images using Epson 2200 printer on archival paper, this gives me a fine art quality image. Don't worry about this, if you are printing for your own usage, any printer will do.

To see my cards visit my web site 

Fine art note cards

Art Studio
Barking Dog Studio is my on line virtual art studio. I specialize in horses, dogs and still life objects. Commissions taken

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ArtisticHorse

ArtisticHorse
Hi my name is Dawn I am an artist who works mostly in acrylics. My favorite subjects are horses and dogs but I will paint almost anything you put in front of me....  more