Paper Crafting, Rubber Stamping, Scrapbooking, and more

3 Tips for Faster Cardmaking and Sketch Challenge: sk020813

I spent the entire day yesterday working on cards. I decided that I was just flat out tired of not having the time or the card when I needed one. I decided I’d give you guys a couple of tips:

1) Start with a sketch

When you’re mentally fried or just can’t find your mojo, starting with a sketch is a great solution. You’ll be amazed at how different your cards look from each other, despite being all the same layout.

2) Go digital:

This one, features my adorable puppy, Bo. I CASED a card I saw on the TinyPrints.com website. I whipped it up in Photoshop and then printed it on Epson 8.5X11 Matte Premium Presentation Paper. This paper, recommended by Jessica Sprague, has changed my life. Unlike presentation paper that I’ve bought before, this is cardstock weight, but holds the ink in a wonderful way that makes it look “true” to what you saw on the screen. I strongly suspect that I’ll be making some birthday cards in a similar fashion that can just be printed in an emergency.

3) Work ahead:

The other thing I made yesterday was “card bases.” I took several mini decks and scraps of paper that I had laying around and made card fronts without the stamped image. They are completely blank. (see images below). This allowed me to pull out the sewing machine ONE time and add stitching and have a pile of prepared “bases” for when I just want to stamp. It’s the first time this idea has occurred to me and I’m really quite excited about it. I tried to be basic in my color pallette. I did several masculine bases, and then the others were a soft pallette that would work with any season or occassion.

The “cat” card, above, is Rob’s Valentine. He bought me this stamp as a stocking stuffer, and I thought it worked well for his card today. I just stamped it on a leftover Nestie cutout, colored it in, and popped it up on the card base! I told him he’s the “cat’s meow” because I’m hokey like that

Have a great day!

1 member likes this

Comment

You need to be a member of Paper Craft Planet to add comments!

Join Paper Craft Planet

Comment by Catherine Kraft on February 13, 2013 at 2:39pm: There are several things I do when I have time on my hands that makes it easy to make "quick" cards. I have a filing system set up for my backgrounds - I will emboss different embossing folders in different colors, watercolor backgrounds, polish stone, shaving cream method, etc.....I made tabs so i can quickly go through my file to find what I want. I do several of the same background - especially if it's a more messy technique.

After receiving a gift, another background I like to make is crumpled tissue paper that you back straighten out and then using glue stick, glue tissue paper to trimmed down cardstock. Tissue paper comes in all colors and fun prints, easy to make a head of time and then they are ready to use.

While watching TV I cut out images (and color) either by hand or with my silhouette so that the main work is done and these are ready to use.

Another thing I've been doing is cutting out fancy labels and stamp and emboss with different sentiments so all I have to do is adhere them to the front or in the inside of the card.

Comment by Lenoria Kelly on February 13, 2013 at 2:06pm: I don't usually make cards that are alike but since my husband wanted me to make cards for the ladies he works with I made them all the same. The front of the card is made using two free cut files that I use on my Cricut (before the upgrade) with the SCAL program. I hope my machine doesn't die and if it does I hope someone on here can recommend a machine that works with the SCAL. The files are from barking_bird and she has some nice free files if anyone is interested. I am going to try to post a picture of the card in my gallery on here. I would like to see the tutorial on sewing on cards also, I have never tried it.

Comment by Kia Mellor on February 13, 2013 at 2:01pm: Wow Susanna thanks for this post super excited and wondering why I have never thought to get ahead and make blank bases before???managed to catch up on my card making yesterday adding 10 to my stash but with that sketch and using the blank bases concept I could have pumped out another 10:) oh well looks like I will have to spend another day crafting .... Shame ;)

Comment by Susanna Boyd on February 13, 2013 at 1:18pm: Joy, we currently do NOT have a tutorial for sewing on cards, but it's a great suggestion. I'll ask the team to pull one together!

Comment by Joy Hauck on February 13, 2013 at 1:00pm: Great tips Susanna! I am fairly new to this site - are there tips on sewing on cards like you did, what settings to use etc? I put my sewing machine away to make space on my craft table, but doing a batch like that would make it worth it to dig it out and set it up!

I am trying to make several duplicate cards once I have finished agonising over a card design - they often whip up very quickly and you can make variations as you get more ideas. That way I have extras to use as needed. That's typically how my xmas cards go, but I'm trying to apply it to birthday and other cards as well.

thanks for your great ideas!

Comment by Jane Stevenson on February 13, 2013 at 12:36pm: I like the idea of making card bases. I do that as well. I have also cut out several greeting with my cricut like Happy Birthday, Thank you, Congratulations, Happy Anniversary. Cut out in white. When I need to throw a card together quickly, I pull from my die cuts the greeting, use ink to tie the colors together with the card base.

3 Tips for Faster Cardmaking and Sketch Challenge: sk020813

You need to be a member of Paper Craft Planet to add comments!

Stores we trust

Badge