May 18th, 2009 by Solange

If you have been inspired by our articles and would like to start making you own greeting cards, you will soon find that you are joining an increasingly popular hobby.

Creating your own cards makes financial sense, the up-front investment is minimal. Your cards will be even more special to their recipients because they are not mass-produced  and this way you will be able to express your sentiment in a personal manner.

People will comment on your cards and it will encourage you to make more or to send your personalized greetings using free e-cards.

Although there are hundreds of card-making techniques, none is better than the other. Some are more appropriate when it comes to special occasions, for example we looked at quilling (filigree) and parchment (lace effect) which produce delicate timeless beauty, perfect for Weddings but will not be out of place for a Thank You cards either.

All you need are ideas and basic essentials.

There is no ideas factory, you’ll have to create you own! Get yourself a box and start collecting: cards you like, little items which crop up in the most unexpected of places. The other day, on my way back home, my eye got caught by a sweet pink object on the pavement, it was the tiniest garland of flowers probably from a child hair-pin, it made a fabulous embellishment. Then you need to record what you like, your ideas: keep a scrap book fill it colors, torn out samples from magazines and of course a record of your own cards.

Basic essentials:
You don’t need a lot of expensive tools. To start, arm yourself with this handy guide and you’ll be busy creating great cards in no time:

Card and paper: stock up on plain cards to begin with, treat yourself to a few different textured and decorative papers to really brighten your designs. Save wrapping paper, old cards etc…
I find envelops to be the most expensive buys, so I am always on the look-out for bargains.

Scalpel and scissors:
Use a scalpel for detailed cutting. Buy two pairs of scissors a small pair and a large pair and keep them exclusively for your card-making.

Paper trimmer also called paper guillotine: it cuts card and paper to the size you want, you might prefer a self-healing cutting mat and a metal ruler.

Glue and sticky tapes are essential but start with one and you will soon build up your collection. Same goes for embellishments, there is a huge variety of charms, beads, paper effects, buttons letters, peel-off and much more. A whole wide world to explore so get started straight away.

May 4th, 2009 by Solange

There is not a sweeter occasion than Mother’s day to send a card. The date varies depending where you are in the world . In France, it is traditionally on the Last Sunday in May, on the fourth Sunday in the Christian festival of lent in the UK, but mothering Sunday is celebrated the second Sunday in the US this year on May 10th 2009.

It does not really matter if the dates are different, if the fashion in which the day is celebrated varies from country to country, the feeling behind this special day is universal. The idea across the globe is to honour mums for their love and supportand in doing so making them feel very special.

Mother’s day has its traditions:
Mother’s Day Card,
a small gift,
It is a pampering day when mothers should not be allowed in the kitchen.

Mother’s day cards: what is the trend, this year?

Mother’s Day e-cards: No doubt that this year, e-cards will be be on the increase as many more children are on-line (at home, at school) and in case of “grown kids” at work.
E-cards features mean that they are perfect for the job at hand: not only are they animated but the new cards play music, with some you can record your own message, adding your own voice give the card another dimension it give it that “me to you” which is the essence of such a day. another advantage is that they are received in a click and are often free. Interestingly the increase in sending e-cards has had an unsuspecting effect:  it boosted the sales of paper cards

Mothers Day’s greeting cards designs: Part of my job is to observe the trends in this sector. In the  last past couple of years,  we have seen a resurgence of  vintage designs, retro nostalgic designs which evoke an era long gone with their sepia and faded soft colors were all the rage. But the emerging trend this year which will be all over the shops by the time mothers day arrives is a range of Greeting cards featuring high-style looks, inventive designs, unusual paper stocks. Eye-catching embellishments are gaining favor with consumers who are seeking “something special” in their card-giving. This led to the creation of more hand-crafted cards, cards that are intricately designed or innovatively engineered, incorporating ribbons, feathers, glitter, beads, etc.
Despite their higher cost, the designer-fashion flare and artistic uniqueness of these cards  will certainly be in favor with many card purchasers.

The fantastic thing about mother’s day is what ever you do for your mother on that day, your card, you idea will always be best in the eyes of the recipient. We all remember pictures made out of cooking lentils and rows of pasta necklaces don’t we just?