| Card making is a popular hobby which allows | | | | advantages, as once you have downloaded the |
| individuals to express their creativity in a simple paper | | | | design you can use it over and over again reducing |
| craft medium. Making you own designer cards is easy | | | | the cost of your hobby. What is more, by printing the |
| to do once you have located some interesting focal | | | | images onto different card stock, with different finishes, |
| pictures or designs known as card toppers. | | | | your can create different effects. |
| To make a simple yet elegant cards, take an A4 | | | | Once you have chosen your card topper, whether it |
| (approx 11 inches by 8 inches) sheet of card and fold it | | | | be bought from a crafts store or downloaded and |
| in half. To get a smooth fold, use the base of spoon to | | | | printed onto your chosen card stock, you need to trim |
| make the crease. Now taking a piece of card in a | | | | it to your desired size and place onto your matting and |
| coordinating colour, cut to 7 inches by 5 inches, and | | | | laying. Now you will have created a frame and a focal |
| using adhesive, stick to the front of the card in a | | | | point to your card. |
| centred position. Now taking some gold mirror card or | | | | To finish off your card, print off a greeting onto paper |
| mirri board, cut a slightly smaller rectangle, which you | | | | and trim with decorated edge scissors, and stick to the |
| can just cut and layer on top of your previous card, | | | | front of the card at the top in the centre. Alternatively |
| again using adhesive to secure it in place. This | | | | you may choose a rubber stamp with a pre-made |
| technique is called matting and layering, and it is a great | | | | greeting, and stamp your greeting onto the card using |
| way to and feature depth and dimension to your card | | | | an ink pad. To add an extra special touch, take about |
| making projects. | | | | half a metre of organza ribbon and tie around the |
| At this point you need to locate a card topper. A card | | | | spine and front page of your card, then tie into a bow. |
| topper is a ready-made design or image that you can | | | | And for even further detail, you can add more |
| place on your cards as the focal point. Card toppers | | | | embellishments such as glitter or faux gems. |
| are sold pre-printed in craft stores, or you can print | | | | Paper crafting is one of the most versatile crafts |
| your own card topper using your computer and printer. | | | | around, and card making can be enjoyed by all |
| When locating card toppers, it is essential that you | | | | members of the family. Card making is a great craft |
| choose images where the copyright is not in question. | | | | activity for parents and children, and is particularly fun |
| It is also important in terms of cost to locate images | | | | to do in the run up Christmas and the Holiday Season. |
| which are royalty free, other wise your card making | | | | The use of card toppers makes card crafting quick |
| projects can become quite expensive. Nowadays, | | | | and fun to do, and this enables younger children to |
| there are websites available to download images or | | | | become involved with the crafting activity very easily. |
| designs for card toppers and these can have | | | | |