Have you roamed that card aisle so many times you’re beginning to think you could start to make a card yourself? Well, crafty friend, harness that inner creative confidence because you TOTALLY CAN make a card!
No matter the occasion, from birthday cards to adorable penguin cards just because, you can make a card and truly make someone feel special, seen, and loved. Simply because you took the time to make a card for them instead of hustling over to the store last minute and signing something in the car. Yep, we’ve been there, too; we all have that card moment.
Save some money and tap into your blooming creativity with this easy and very versatile how to make a card DIY!
How to Make a Card With Materials at Home
Discovering how to make a card at home with supplies you already have lying around in your craft drawer really is a game changer. No more spending 5 dollars on a fancy card (although we can admit, we haven’t gotten craft-savvy enough to add a fun little voice box inside of a card); why you can even DIY your own envelope for your homemade card!
What’s wonderful about this easy how to make a card DIY is that even if you have little “imperfections,” those simply add to the charm and loveliness of making a homemade card. Sure, if you bought a card from the store and there was a misprint, you’d want your money back. But, if you accidentally cut a little paper off or have a smudge here and there on your homemade card, then you’re adding to that homemade-charm touch.
Your card is going to turn out WONDERFUL! And stick around after the DIY to add some extras and get ideas for when to make a card. Let’s go!
Supplies to Make a Card
Time for the supplies it takes to make a card. What’s lovely about this DIY is most of these items (we’ll bet ALL of them) can be found in your crafting box! Use up scraps or go out and buy some decorative paper that you’ll use up for cards in the future; this DIY is as low maintenance as it gets!
These are the essential supplies items to make a card; you can add extra materials to jazz your card up!
- Colorful Paper (Thicker paper works best)
- White Paper (For inside the card)
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Tape
Step One: Choose Your Paper
Our very first step is picking out your paper. You’ll need at least 3 sheets (different colors)!
- One of the sheets will be the base of your card
- The other will be used as a decorative layer on the outside
- And the last (the white/light-colored paper) will serve as the inside section in which you can write your desired message
Step Two: Measure & Cut Your Paper
For this DIY card, we’ll be making it a traditional size of around 5in x 7in. But you can always adjust this size to your card needs!
Taking the paper that will be the base of your card, fold it in half.
Next, you’ll want to measure out 5in across and 7in down.
Use your ruler and pencil to jot this out, and then take your handy dandy scissors and cut off the extra.
TIP: Keep the scraps handy for a step later on!
To really get a solid crease in, use the handle of your scissors and run it up and down with pressure on the crease to really form it. Just like in the picture down below!
Ta-da! A 5-in x 7-in card is in the works! And be sure to keep those scraps for later.
Next up is the decorative paper for the front and back side of the outside of your card. This will give a nice layered effect when you make a card.
The size of the decorative paper cut below is 4in x 6in.
Step Three: Tear & Tape
The word tear may look a little alarming when you’re working with paper, but don’t worry! This is a good kind of tear, and we’ll get to that bit in a moment.
First, you’ll want to lay out the base of your card so it is flat like in the photo below.
Then, you’ll tape each of the decorative pieces of paper in the middle of the front and back side on the outside of the base paper. Don’t worry about being “perfect”; remember, it all adds to that make a card charm!
Here’s the tear part! Making an estimation, take your white piece of paper, or lightly colored paper, and fold and tear the edges off until you’re at your desired size.
TIP: You can use this fold-and-tear method instead of using scissors to give your card a warm and fuzzy feeling. Plus, it’s very easy to do!
After you’ve got your folding and tearing out of the way, you can tape your piece of paper inside your card.
BONUS: Want to elevate your card? Use the edge of your scissors and gently fray the edges of the base paper. This will give your DIY make a card a vintage/distressed look that adds a ton of character to it.
Look at those neat frayed edges; you’d have to pay extra for that in the store!
Step Four: Decorate/Sign Your Card
The last step is arguably the most fun; it’s time to decorate your card!
This is where those scraps come in handy when you make a card because they work great for cutting out cute designs. Plus, you’re keeping a color theme going!
You can get as creative, wild, silly, and cute as you want when decorating your card, and you can fit it to any occasion.
For this sample card, we’ve cut out some very simple hearts and flowers to give you a feel for the endless possibilities you can tap into.
If you can cut it and tape it on, there’s no stopping your make a card DIY!
Get playful with your cut-outs and make a layered effect to add some depth and character. Who doesn’t love cute little hearts?
When to Make a Card for Someone
It’s fun to make a card, but you don’t want to go card-making-crazy if you don’t have a purpose for the card, right?
So, the big crafty question is, when should you make a card for someone?
Well, we have got some fine suggestions for you, along with links to fantastic resources for quotes and lovely things to put in the cards that you make.
It’s a win-win all over!
- Birthday Celebration
- Anniversary
- Valentine’s Day
- Surprise Love Letter
- Mother’s Day
- Father’s Day
- Mather’s Day
- Teacher Appreciation Day
- Sympathy Card
- Christmas Joy
- Thanksgiving Gratitude
- Uplifting Inspirational Cards
- Wedding Congratulations
- Baby Shower
- Boss Day
- Apology Card
- Boyfriend Day
- Girlfriend Day
- Thank You Messages
- And MORE!
Make a Card Special With These Fun Extras!
Add some pizzazz to make a card; not only is it fun, but it adds extra love and a dazzling pop for the receiver of the card!
Here are some fun ideas you can incorporate and extra materials you can use to make a card even more playful and gorgeous.
- Rubber stamps
- Printed photos
- Collage from torn magazine pages
- Decorative paper from Black Out Poetry books
- String
- Stickers
- Glitter
- Write lyrics in the background of the base paper
- Draw doodles
- Paint backgrounds
Just by using a simple black pen, you can add lots of unique detail to your DIY make a card.
Below all we’ve done is add dashes and tiny Xs as borders to the papers. You can also add customized messages, inside jokes, and lovely notes depending on who your recipient is!
And there we have it; a one-of-a-kind make a card that you can do in the comfort of your home without breaking the bank. We’ve all got crafting supplies that go untouched for a bit of time, so why not repurpose them and make a card for someone we love?
We hope you’ve enjoyed this make a card DIY and you have lots of fun with your card-making craft times in the future!