It is not in my nature to over promise and under deliver. I’m not a great fan of living life that way however I have to come clean right away. There is no secondary craft as promised here last week. I couldn’t do it… quite simply I could not carve up the pink tablecloth. I love it too much the way it is and have enjoyed it like so several times. As I stood with the fabric scissors in my eager little mitt, I came over all of a to-do and stopped short of chopping right through the middle to make napkins. And I don’t need any more of those either. So instead this week I’m bringing you another typewriter craft which I’ve had waiting in the wings for such moments. Homemade cards. They are a staple part of my arsenal and these personal and thoughtful handmade cards are quick, simple and better still, original card ideas…
I’ve always liked making handmade cards, I think. I certainly have since I became a grown up. And I always encouraged my son and daughter to think of card ideas and make homemade cards and not buy when they were younger. I still do encourage this practise since homemade cards are relatively inexpensive and thoughtfully individual and their shop bought counterparts are often neither. And cards don’t seem to be out on display for too long whereas I tend to keep homemade cards out a little longer. You’ll recall I recently purchased a new old typewriter and showed you these craft ideas for displaying garden flowers. Todays handmade cards are my second typewriter experiment and I have a few more to show you another time. To start I gathered together all that I needed for these card ideas…
A few tips. I try to buy the same size and shape of undecorated card in pastel or neutral colours. Then when I can, I change the envelopes around and use contrasting colours for interest. I also apply a rule I use in home decor and styling: Layering. One or two layers of card, paper or material in different textures, tends to encourage the eye to look further and see more. When applying glue, use sparingly and the appropriate kind. Too much glue on paper or card will curl and crinkle both out of shape as they dry. I use glue dots and craft glue depending on what material I’m sticking to which base. And if it’s fabric to fabric I tend to use something like this to get a good fix without curling or shrinking. If I’m trying out new glues or mediums, I’ll often create a dummy card first to make sure I know what I’m dealing with. After that there are no more rules; I just play around with ideas until I create something I like and hopefully the recipient will enjoy too.
For this first of my handmade cards I selected a white base since the red of the vintage linen, is fairly vibrant. I tore a strip of pretty handmade cream paper, using a ruler to get that ripped edge look. Then using a small paper punch, I cut out a heart. I made sure the paper was long enough to include a small fold to sit over the top of the card. and secured the fold in place with glue dots. Glue dots don’t tend to show through delicate paper like craft glue would. Then I cut out two pieces of vintage linen using my zig zag scissors (I’m sure they have a proper name) and I typed my message directly onto one, trimming as I went. I simply layered the linen on top of one another and secured to the paper with more glue dots. To get a delicate fix of the paper to the card, I used a tiny amount of craft glue on a cocktail stick, wiping it over the card first and fixing the paper in place. I deliberately left the corners of the paper unstuck, again to add more interest. The tiny heart button finished it off. Now the homemade card sits in my card box waiting for the right someone and the right moment to be sent.
The homemade card on the right of this photo is for a girlfriend of mine who has a birthday soon. I’ve typed the wording directly onto a scrap of vintage cotton once again and pressed on a few sparkles. She likes sparkles and pink, so she should be quite happy with this.
As a final touch, the reverse of each card gets a small stamp stating the obvious…
And finally his handmade card is for a special lady and her family moving into their new home. I thought she might enjoy the scent of summer too with these gorgeously perfumed sweetpeas and not forgetting of course, a pretty jar to keep them in.
Do you ever make homemade cards? I’d love to know about your card ideas, just leave a message below and join in. Whatever you get up to this week, I hope you have a very happy one x
Ahh thank you darling, I am loving the typewriter and very much looking forward to seeing you soon! Love you x
Such beautiful cards that I know everyone always loves and appreciates. Glad to see you got the typewriter working ! Xx
Ahh Mrs S so glad I’m keeping you busy these days!! What a good idea, I shall adorn my jam in the same manner. I have a few more little ideas with the old typewriter yet…have a lovely week and love to the gang!x
Well craftypants
That’s another fine craft you’ve made me do !
I’m mastering the typed messages
On dads old typewriter but it’s a fine margin of thickness on cloth stuck on paper . Practise makes perfect
I think this method will be fab on the cloth tops I cut for my jams and chutneys
Oh and now I have to make my own cards again . Helen you are making my retirement onerous ( tee hee )
Such clever ideas . Well done Mrs M
S xx
Oh I love a brown tag too! So many lovely ways to decorate… so glad you enjoyed the post Molly and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, have a lovely week x
I totally agree with you that a handmade card is such a joy to receive. I love making cards and use little trinkets I have found to stick on and male personal.
However my main love now is brown paper tags. I love making a tag be it for a card…a jar, any excuse!
Thank you Helen for yet another I inspiring blog post. Enjoy your weekend xx
Jennie thank you so much for letting me know this, lining the envelopes sounds just perfect, would never have thought of that. You’re right of course, being creative should be fun…we both clearly get a lot from it, I hope others do to! Have a lovely week and as ever thank you for reading!x
Oh my goodness you are more than welcome Mariella and thank you so much for leaving me a message here, you’ve made my day! I’m so glad you like the card and flowers. I wish you all so much happiness in your new home and hope you get to fill it with lots of lovely treasures! And of course thank you for reading the blog every week, it means the world to me! Enjoy your first weekend in that new garden of yours!!x
I love these! You’re making good use of your new/old typewriter. I’ve made homemade cards and scrapbooked for years too. It’s a great hobby and people really love handmade cards. I make a lot for charity shops and sales and did have some in a shop once, but being creative should be fun and making to order is horrible. I’m a rubber stamp addict. I have, actually best not to think of how many stamps I’ve got! I am thrilled you used a stamp on this project. I think it’s great to emphasise that the card is hand made. I love lining the envelopes with pretty paper too, or even making my own envelopes. It’s the perfect finishing touch. x
Thank you so much for the beautiful card and sweet peas they have pride of place in the new home.The card will be put in a frame and treasured.You have inspired me to try and make a few things for the house.I think my old typewriter got lost in the move but the cards idea is brilliant.Love reading your blogs lovely lady x
Ha ha…you are too funny and too kind, I’ve yet to see you create something that isn’t utterly beautiful! Ahh and the shutters, I have a very good source!!x
I’m with Debbie I could never create anything as beautifully as you do! All of your cards are gorgeous – and very pretty display – love the shutters! 😘 xx
Pinking shears of course! And no I bought the paper…note to self, look into making my own! Thank you for taking the time to reply, I imagine you would make very thoughtful cards knowing you and of course if you asked me to walk in your shoes for a day or so there would be very little achieved! Hope to see you over this wonderful summer we are having, lots of love.
I wonder if he’ll read this on his holiday? You’ll be in trouble if he does! Thank you darling as always x
I love your cards, so thoughtful just like everything you do!! This post reminded me of the hilarious awful cards Master M makes at Christmas!!!!! – maybe he should take a leaf out of his clever Mum’s book!! xxxx
If I tried to do this it would look a complete mess – great skill to have (pinking shears btw) and have your got the kit to make your own paper? looks like your sort of thing…..