Cardmaking Secrets

Whether it’s simple and stylish or elegant and embellished, a handmade card is always appreciated. Whether you’re a cardmaking newbie or a pro, we’ve got a few designer tips and tricks to share.

Covering the Card Front

Covering the card front with paper is one of the best techniques—here’s our designer shortcut.

Tearing Paper

This technique gives a soft edge and it’s easy to do, too.

Brads

Brads (or fasteners) are great for adding a touch of metallic shine to a card, or to attach vellum to a card front or to accent a tag. Eyelets are another great option.

Chalking

Chalk adds soft color to your cards. Here’s how to apply it:

• use the foam applicator that comes with the chalk set
• use a dry paintbrush to chalk a larger area
• use the sponge applicator or a cotton swab to highlight particular words
• use the tip of a cotton swab to add fine detail—hold the swab at a 90 degree angle, then touch to the surface with a soft, pouncing action

Walnut Ink

Walnut ink is a great way to add a faux aged look, or shabby chic effect to your cards. It comes in crystal or liquid forms and can be applied in lots of ways:

• Spattering: Dip the bristle ends of a stiff toothbrush into the ink, then pull your thumb lightly over the bristles.
• Edging: Dip the tip of a sponge brush in ink, then dab it along the edge of your quote or paper.
• Stippling: Tap the bristles in the ink, then dab the excess on a paper towel. Hold the brush straight up and down, then tap it gently on the surface.
• Spritzing: Mix the crystals with water and put it in a small spray bottle, or purchase it premixed. Spray the ink onto your paper.
• Brushing: Use a foam brush to apply the ink directly onto the paper.

Direct to Paper Inking

Direct to paper inking is applying ink directly from the inkpad onto your paper. Here's how.

• Peaks & valleys: Crumple your paper, then smooth it out (sanding is optional). Skim the paper with an ink pad, applying color to the “peaks”.
• Light coverage: Put the inkpad face down on the paper and lightly tap it to apply color.
• Heavy coverage: Put the inkpad face down on your paper and skim it across the paper, pressing the inkpad down as you go.
• Edging: Hold the paper in one hand and the inkpad in the other. Run the ink along the edge of the paper.
• Sweeping: Tap the bristles of the stippling brush onto the ink pad. Hold the brush at an angle and sweep it across the paper to color.
• Tapping: Tap the bristles of a stippling brush onto the ink pad. Hold the brush perpendicular to the paper and gently tap it onto the paper.

Note: Some inkpads are “juicier” than others. Test them out on a piece of scrap paper so you know how much pressure to apply.