I Gotta Create!: Make Handcrafted Card Knock-offs

Everyone loves the look of original, detailed, handcrafted cards. But unless they are very simple, it's impractical for most of us to replicate all the steps to make a card for everyone on our Holiday list. So here's a solution:

Create a wonderfully detailed original piece of "card art."

Rubber Stamps: main vintage image by Stampa Rosa; Sentiment by Inkadinkado

I created several versions. Couldn't help myself.
{Love the vintage stamp used for the main image.}

Then electronically scan your original work...

Lay it out for printing.
Print onto good, glossy paper.

Cut out the image rectangles...

...and adhere them to your card blanks.
Fancy it up a simple notch by adhering a background paper and then layering your printed image on top, like I did here.

Wow, it's fast and easy!

The scan captures all the detail and depth of your original work. See the shadows? The snowflakes look dimensional.

Rubber Stamps: pointing finger by River City Rubber Works

And look at the missed stitches. Looks authentic!

Voila! You can now share your original work with all the people you care about! And without the bulk, they are easy to mail.

You can frame the original handcrafted card for holiday decor.

Keep it, or give it as a special gift.

Now you're convinced it's worth handcrafting a card, right?

So take a look at the next post:
10 techniques for handcrafted cards.

In the meantime, if you want to make simple cards with high impact...

try aluminum foil! More details *here.*

Click for another example *here.*

{Please note that if you are using a rubber stamped image in your work, Angel Policies permit this type of reproduction only when you're making cards for personal use and giving them away. You may not sell these cards.}