Creative Cards: 40 Projects for Handmade Invitations, Greeting Cards, Gift Wrap and More - Hardcover

Pascual, Paula

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1554071275 ISBN 13: 9781554071272

Publisher: Firefly Books, 2006

Synopsis

Perfect for paper crafters, beginner and experienced.

Creative Cards is a how-to guide to turning plain paper into personalized and unique gift cards, boxes, bags, tags, and wrapping paper. The book shows how to transform plain paper into something special, and how to wrap a gift for a beautiful presentation.

The techniques section explains all the basics, such as using a bone folder, embellishing edges, choosing the right adhesive, working with 3-D decorations, stamping, gilding, die-cutting, and folding, with lots of how-to photographs.

Projects are suited to making a single card or large quantities, and are coded to indicate how long they may take to complete. Tip boxes offer handy pointers and there are ready-to-use templates at the back of the book plus a section on choosing and laying out text on a computer.

The step-by-step projects include:

• Baby shower invitation
• Birth announcement
• Children's party invitation
• Birthday card for a man
• Wedding folder
• 50th anniversary card
• New home
• Valentine
• Halloween
• Christmas card

For the occasional crafter or the experienced hobbyist, Creative Cards is rich with expert advice and colorful inspiration.

About this title

About the Author

Paula Pascual has been crafting since she was 12 and selling her cards since the age of 15. She writes for Crafts Beautiful magazine and keeps in touch with home crafters by working in a craft shop. Originally from Spain, Paula and her husband live in Westerham, Kent, England.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

I have been making cards for many years, not only for myself but also for other people. Often I am asked to do invitations to weddings or other special events and although this is very similar to making just one birthday card it is not quite the same. There are many elements to consider when making large batches of cards, but the most important one of all is that you will need to make many cards that are all the same -- or, at the very least, that have the same design. There is nothing quite so satisfying for a crafter than to see 100 wedding invitations finished and ready to be mailed! All the cards in this book have been specially designed so large quantities can be made quickly.

Sometimes, making lots of cards takes far more time than you expect and some techniques take longer than others. I have included a useful chart on pages 66-67 that will help you determine what project to try and what products to use. Each of the projects is also coded to give you an idea how long it will take to make -- the key to this code is shown on the opposite page. And remember: the best way to make lots of cards in a short time is to set up a mini production line, so you do all the cutting first, then all the scoring, then the sticking.

Gift giving is also a part of weddings and parties. How many times do you have a present to give but don't have wrapping paper that's just right? The techniques section shows how to make simple boxes and bags, decorate wrapping paper and how to wrap a present beautifully with just pieces of scrap paper. Using these basic techniques as a guide, you can make boxes and paper to match your card and have a fully coordinated event!

Handmade cards, invitations and gift wraps mean far more to the recipient, because you have put time and energy into making something special. You can also add extra details, personal touches and make them far more beautiful than a store-bought version. I do hope you enjoy making the projects in this book as much as I have enjoyed working on it.

Paula Pascual

Edition details

• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1554071275
• ISBN 13: 9781554071272
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 144