Welcome, Cuddlebones! One good reason to make your own cards is because it's less expensive! And you can have it say exactly what you want. And if you want a card for Memorial Day, or the Fourth of July, or "Just 'Cuz Day" you aren't limited by what's available in the card store. You might want to take a look at the Paper Arts forum. There are several folks posting there who make greeting cards. Here's a link for you... Here is a link that might be useful: THS Paper Arts Forum

I would gather ideas first. And check what paper items you may already have in the house. any decorative paper or even scrap of material. Practice using a plain paper cut to card size and start layering some of the snippets on it to form an attractive background. Then find a cute pictre of an animal or flower and carefully cut it out and glue it to the front. If you have a nice handwriting write a saying on the front. see how it looks. Then when you go to the store get a little pack of plain notecards with envelopes usually found in the card making area. look at the rubber stamps and pick out a general one that you could use on a lot of different cards and then get a black rubber stamp pad. Take those home and try the sme practice method with those. Then you can expand your supplies Hope this helps.

There are some animated e-cards that I have rec'd from friends from the Jacquie Lawson series for the 4th of July and Valentines Day. They are beautiful and you subscribe to the service. But, you are right to remind me about the about the possibility of a virus. Me, I write hand-written notes for birthdays and times of stress. I really have stuff in my heart for those people and need to let them know. Can't stand sing songy cards that are sent to through the mail with just a signature without much thought of the message on it. Some sent to me have hurt me badly. For example: When my husband was in Vietnam for our first anniversary I got a printed card from his dopey faher's wife that said that this must be the best day of the year for me. When I had cancer I was told that it was operable and my chances were good. After the surgery I got a grim card from a neighbor that said "we are sorry the news is so bad right now and are praying that things get better. I thought everyone was lying to me about my future and became very isolated from my friends and family. Those taking care of me went to her and let her it. Her facts were wrong and she didn't read the card before she sent it.

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