How to Get Started in the Art of Card Making

Personal expression through making handmade cards and envelopes is fun and rewarding. The art of card making is fairly simple; however, there are a several specialties within this craft hobby.

Card making techniques include:

* Simple note cards decorated with stickers and scraps of patterned scrapbook paper

* Elaborate one-of-a-kind cards using advanced rubber stamping techniques

* Pop-up cards

* Shaped cards

* Cards with see through windows

There are many reasons why people like the hobby of card making:

* To make use of supplies leftover from other craft projects

* As an alternative or extra special personal expression to commercial greeting cards

* Earning extra money selling card creations
Card Making Training:

How do you learn the art of card making?

Online Tutorials:

* Making Greeting Cards Website: Is a series of simple tutorials that covers a variety of basic card making topics. Topics cover making your own envelopes, how to design a card using stencils and rubber stamps

* Paper Wishes Website: Offers step-by-step instructions for several card making projects appropriate for beginners and intermediate levels

* Craft Ideas Website: Features easy to follow directions for many of the card making techniques such as hand stitching, chalking and decorative punches to make small frame embellishments

* Hero Arts Website: Instructions for card making that uses rubber stamping techniques

Books:

* The Big Book of Handmade Cards and Gift Wrap: Over 50 step-by-step Projects by Vivienne Bolton

* The Complete Practical Guide to Card Making by Cheryl Owen
In Person Training:

If you like in person training there are many craft stores and stationery shops holding regular workshops. Lessons are generally free of charge. You might have to pay a small fee to cover cost of materials in projects.

Home party demonstrations hosted by Stampin’ Up or Close to My Heart consultants are another way to get in person hands on training in the art of card making. They teach the basics of rubber stamping, card making and paper crafting.

Where to go for card making ideas:

Although the internet is a great resource for offering free card making ideas, a magazine subscription is also helpful for the serious card making crafter. Magazines delivered to your mailbox often provide instant up-to-date paper crafter information. If you like the idea of magazines starts a card maker project file and keeps a pair of scissors nearby for clipping and filing project ideas.

Popular card making magazines:

* CardMaker: Published bimonthly providing step-by-step directions and beautiful photos covering simple to elaborate projects

* Just Cards: Is a quarterly publication providing over 300 unique projects per issue.

Card making designs and ideas are endless, and not only provide a means of personal expression, but also can be cost effective if you use odds and ends of left over materials from other projects. If you get good enough at card making, you can also bring in an extra cash flow. Start your own neighborhood demonstration parties and sell your cards in online websites. Card making is a whole lot of fun and a wonderful expression of art.

About the Author

Written by: Connie Limon Visit my website for more information about the art of card making at http://smalldogs2.com/CardMaking