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I’ve been a crafter nearly all my life. But 3 years ago I discovered card making. One of the main attractions is the instant gratification of completing a beautiful project in less than an hour and being able to bless someone with your heartfelt greeting. Cards have been nicknamed “happy mail”, “hugs in the mail” and “paper hugs” to name a few.
And card making is making a strong come back with us all staying home practicing social distancing because of this virus. So, I thought I would share 3 things I feel every beginning card maker needs to know.
I first shared it on my Youtube Channel Creating with Kristina but thought I would also write it out also.
1. THE BASICS
- Paper – card stock comes in different weights. The ideal weight for a card base is 110 lb. The lighter weight, 60-80 lb is best for layers. The other kind of paper is designer paper. This pretty pattered paper is an inexpensive way to add color and interest to your cards
- Ink – There are 2 main types of ink, water based and alcohol based. You will need opposite inks for coloring. For example, if you want to color with alcohol markers then you need a water base ink to stamp your image and if you want to color with water color then you need an alcohol based ink to stamp your image
- Stamps – There are 2 types of stamps as well. Red rubber stamps are able to give finer details and Clear stamps allow you to easily layer because you can see through them. However, clear stamps need a foam mat, such as a piercing pad under your paper to get a clear image.
2. BASIC TOOLS
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3. DON’T TRY TO BUY EVERYTHING AT ONCE
It will be temping to want to buy it all. But what I found was I was buying so much I couldn’t even remember what I had bought. Also it took me several card project to find my style.
If you do want fancier cards than just a basic one like I made in the video I would suggest you invest in some card kits. The kits come with all the fancy elements like sequin and ribbon but in a more cost effective way.
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I hope you found this information useful. If you ever have any questions about card making I would be happy to help. Email me at kristina@creatingwithkristina.com Also be sure to follow my Youtube Channel and Facebook Page where you will find more helpful cardmaking information. Links are at the top of this blog page.
Happy Stamping!
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