I've only bought one card since buying my computer. I love to make cards, and since I started scrapbooking (only did about 5 or 6 pages so far...) am loving making them even more. I add pictures from photo albums, frames etc. It's so much fun. Which reminds me....I have to make my father a birthday card now......

I started making cards when I got interested in stamping, and now that my new passion is scrapbooking, the ideas just seem to flow when it's time to make a card. I think most store cards are very lame and lack genuine feeling. I have made Christmas, birthday, and even birth announcements, and friends have told me they keep the cards( I think that says a lot). Enjoy yourself!

But where do you find the sayings to put in the card???? I love to make mine on the computer (just getting into scrapbooking and rubber stamping) - but the sayings stump me. I am doing a search right now on the computer for something to say in my dad's b-day card. The ones on my card programs just don't always say the right thing.

I made my mother a birthday card last month and had no idea what to write. So I went to American Greetings website and took a peek at their cards and used one of their verses for her card. I have no imagination when it comes to cards. They all say, "happy birthday, hope it's a good one!" Whoopie! LOL

Here is a link that might be useful: American Greetings

Thanks to everyone for their posts. Also got a few responses on the Craft/Decorations forum. Now I know that when I have a question, someone out there may have an answer. Thanks! Karen

There is software available for greeting card sayings. Oftentimes sayings are included along with the software for card design. It will be listed on the package.

I have also started making my own cards. It's a lot of fun when you have the time, but my main joy is still scrapping. I do a lot of stamping on my cards, and have included ribbon, and extra touches that are really cute. Here is a tip for scrapbookers, turned card lovers: The next time you find that you have purchased some great cardstock that turned out to not be acid free save it for your card making, that is how I got hoooked on it, I was trying to find ways to use up my acidic paper. Also another suggestion is when you end up purchasing a new card, ALWAYS buy a colored envelope. That way you can use the envelope later for your homemade cards as long as you don't need it to mail off your store bought card. Love Penny

Penny, how do you find out if the paper is acid free? Just by going by if it says it on the front of the pack??? Or is there a certain pen or something you can use to test paper?

Thanks! Rachelle

Rachelle,
There is an acid testing pen, (mine is made by fiskers) that when you put a dot of ink on it, if the ink stay purple then it is acid free, if however the ink turns a tan color, the paper is acidic. The pens can usually be bought at walmart or other craft stores and sell for about $2.00. HTH. Love Penny

I make all my own greeting cards mainly using fabric cutouts. I have made some wonderful ones.

I would love to make my own greeting cards. How do I do it? I don't know how to go about doing anything like that. I scrap, and I just started stamping. I am just lost when it comes to making cards though!
HELP! LOL
Stephenei

Stephenei: What got me hooked was a section on home made cards in a Feb issue of either MM or CK magazine. And I REALLY got hooked! Card making has replaced (for the time being) scraping. As for ideas, I got some from the aforementioned magazine, some from looking at cards in card shops, and some from my own imagination. ItÂs amazing what creative creatures we can be when doing something we enjoy! One idea for an Easter card came from a quote I found onlineÂÂGive hugs, if you carrot at all! My sonÂs best friend calls me ÂAunt Carront, so I made a little card out of lime green card stock. I made three little carrots out of orange and brown card stock and cut thin strips of dark green card stock for grass. I attached the grass and the carrots to the front of the card with pop dots (for the 3D effect) and outlined the edges of the front of the card with thin strips of orange card stock. I made one large carrot for the inside to hold the latter part of the quote. It turned out to be a cute card and the idea came after seeing the quote. Other ideas come from looking through my materials and Âplaying with them,Âi.e., seeing what goes together. IÂve never scanned anything for use on the computer, but if you like, IÂd be happy to try and scan and post-to-you some of the cards I made to help you get started with ideas. I know what itÂs like to feel like...where do the ideas come from?! And once you get started, believe me, thereÂs no stopping!!!!!!! Also, some others have posted about tea-bag/paper folding which I have tried yet. As Sally said, when your scraping and stamping, the ideas just seem to flow.

p.s. there are also books on card making and paper projects. My husband gave me one for a present and one was referenced in the magazine that I have been looking for but have yet to find. Hope this helps.
karen

Most all of the techniques, used for scrapping can be used in card making:
Paper dolls,
Stickers
templates,
punches, etc....
The list goes on and on, the great thing is if you are already scrapping then you have most of the tools aready to make cards! Cut a piece of cardstock in half width wise, and fold in half, you now have a card, you can now add stamped images, a mat and a great paper pieceing, etc.. Works great! Love Penny

Thanks for all of the wonderful ideas for making greeting cards! I can't wait to try some! I found this website that i thought you might be interested in. I hope it helps you guys!
Stephenie

Here is a link that might be useful: Greeting Cards

Information on home-crafted greeting cards is not easy to find - e-cards and pre-printed cards seem to be the most popular way to go.

1. use a "Post office Preferred" sized envelope as a template to work out card size

2. reduce dimensions by 3mm, then double the length so it can fold over

3. use that as a template in a word processing programme, to print the greeting as a loose leaf page
OR
stamp a greeting
OR
write by hand

a. I use proverbs, quotable quotes, silly sayings and pieces of poetry

b. choose a suitable font eg script, handwriting, blackletter etc to print the greeting

4. fold the loose leaf in half and run glue along the fold

5. slip the page inside the folded card and press firmly

6. creativity?

trim the loose leaf or cover with deckle scissors - round the corners

edge both or either with gold ink/paint/glitter

stamp, dry emboss/wet emboss/de-boss, stencil, collage, line-draw, paint, sticker, patchwork, crosstitch, quilt, etc the front cover

7. using heavy duty giftwrap or wall-paper as a base, with the envelope ss a template, make your own envelope.

[Don't forget to have clear white stickers so the Post Office can read the Name/Address clearly]

Here is a link that might be useful: TEMPLATES BY DONOVAN

I started out stamping. A friend who was a D.O.T.S. demonstrator got me started and we started with cards. I am now using my tools and more to scrap. I use my card software, it is about $10, with my stamps and papers, etc. I use the sayings or just the fonts to print the message and then embellish with frames, borders, stamps, etc. This is really quick when time is short. I bought a paper cutter, the best thing I ever bought. I also bought a two temp heat gun for embossing. I emboss all my Christmas cards. I make most of my envelopes, but purchased a box of invitation size, they fit the half 8 1/2 x 11 sheet folded, for emergencies. I make almost all of my cards, my excuse for spending the money on all the toys. My first scrapbook is a garden journal up to 1999, I'm still working on 2000 and 2001, and using the computer templates on a publishing program to get a more professional product. I am gathering stickers, papers, etc. for books for my three grandchildren. We have stamped almost anything, fabric, wood, shrinkits. I just wish there was more time.

I came across this UK magazine site with lots of free project sheets for making cards in a variety of media. I found about 15 nice projects to print out!
Karen (one of many, it seems!)

Here is a link that might be useful: great project sheets for cards