Week 3 - A free step by step guide to card making for beginners: How to make your handmade cards look professional

A Free Step by Step Guide to card making for beginners

This is a one off unique blog series where you will learn everything you need to know about handmade cards

Week Three – A free step by step guide to card making for beginners: How to make your handmade cards look professional

How to make your handmade cards look professional

I’ll explain briefly some of the basic card making techniques out there and try not to overload you with too much information:

Now, as this is a guide aimed at beginner card makers I have pitched it to suit this specific audience. I will explain, from my point of view, what makes a handmade card look professional. Please remember there are more advanced techniques out there to achieve even more professional results – but I want to keep this as easy as possible for you guys.

In my business I make sample cards almost everyday and I want them to not only be attractive to beginners, but also attractive to the eye too! 90% of my sample cards are donated to a Scottish Charity called Children’s Hospice Across Scotland #CHAS so that they can sell them in a store local to my area, and I want them to sell and make as much extra pennies for the charity as possible – every little really does help!

In my opinion, there is one easy, no fuss, no confusion, no wasted time standing in a shop looking at all the craft goodies… type of method to use to get professional looking cards. And that is…..two words.

Now, if you do not know what a product suite is, let me explain.

Product suites are a fully co-ordinated collection of crafting goodies that were designed to co-ordinate altogether and… to make life a little easier for us crafters. I swear by these suites which are available from the company I demonstrate for, that is Stampin’ Up!

Suites consist of not just consumables such as designer series paper, ribbon and embellishments, but also include stampsets, punches and dies too! Heaven right? Yes indeed.

Product suites are close to my heart as they have really helped me bring on my crafting ability (we are all learning everyday regardless of experience) and has helped me to product quality professional looking sample cards to showcase to the world!

I have been in that position whereby I have bought hundreds of budget craft papers, stamps, as well as more expensive ones but the issue is when we try to create a card. Our cardstock doesn’t match our inks, or we have too much of one supply and not enough of the other – do we go vintage, shabby chic, modern or decoupage? All of that confusion and uncertaintly disappeared when I found Stampin’ Up! Now I’m not just saying this because I am an active demonstrator, but because it is true.

Here are just some of the suites on offer, you can click the links to see more detail if you have time:

These suites I have shown you above are availabe now in my online shop but we also have more suites that are available during certain times of the year such as the Autumn Winter Catalogue launching on 4th September and the Spring / Summer Catalogue that launches next year. Let me know if you would like a copy of the Autumn Winter Catalogue posted out to you (UK) by clicking here

There are some basics tips to help too such as making sure your card is cut straight as is your card layers, that your envelope is the right size for your card – you can stamp on your envelope too to make it match! If you sell your cards make sure they are protected in a cello card sleeve too, it will protect it.

Remember to make your card your own! Do some preparation beforehand to get an idea of what you want to do…. is it male, birthday, wedding, what colours do I need, do I need to die cut anything out, etc. etc. Whatever you make will be a one-off unique design, designed by you! and you should be proud of your creation!

One last tip…..three words….. WINK OF STELLA ! I add this to almost all of my projects to add some sparkle, you don’t need a lot and simply apply like a pen to whatever area you fancy blinging up. I’m allergic to real glitter so find this wink of stella brilliant as there’s no residue that irritates my skin.

YouTube Handmade Card Tutorial (Stampin’ Up! 2019) live premiere at 9pm Saturday 31st August….

Have a view of Stampin’ Up!s video which shows you what a fabulous item the wink of stella is! Wink Of Stella (Stampin’ Up!)

Just incase you missed the last two episodes…….

Previous Episodes

Week One How to make a handmade card, supplies design and finding inspiration Click to view BLOG POST

Week Two How to make a handmade card, basic card making techniques, equipment and terminology Click to view BLOG POST

Thank you so much for tuning in today, I hope that the information has been helpful. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Next Week…

Next week (week 4) we will look at the benefits of making hand made cards and taking up card making as a new hobby

Thanks for tuning in 🙂

Love Tricia x

Remember if you shop with me in any month you will get a handmade card and a small gift / product share at the end of each month from me – as a thank you for choosing me as your demonstrator.

With the new catalogue finally here and LIVE online at my online shop, now is the time to start shopping. Simply click the Shop Now image above to get started (grab a cuppa first you could be while!) If you prefer, I can send you a copy of the catalogue but it you will need to cover the £3.95 P&P (this will be refunded after you make your first order with me). Alternatively, click link here 2019-2020_Annual_Catalogue to download a copy to save onto your PC.

Remember if you shop with me in any month you will get a handmade card and a small gift / product share at the end of each month from me – as a thank you for choosing me as your demonstrator.

Use my monthly Hostess Code

Now remember to use my hostess code which you will find on the right hand side of this page and under my Hostess Code Page – this changes every month so make sure you use the correct one. When customer orders cumulatively add up to £150 I can claim Stampin’ Rewards for free product to share amongst those who order that month. If you plan to spend £150 on your own, do not use the code as you will earn your own rewards for free product at time of ordering! If you are unsure please use my Contact Me page to ask any questions.

Spending £99 or more?

We have a great joining offer on all year round – sign up today as a demonstrator for £99 and receive £31 of free product! Plus… no P&P costs on your starter kit. Why not join me in this wonderful crafty world that is Stampin’ Up! If I can do it, so can you! Not to mention the 20% discount for the first six months minimum. Please refer to my Join my Team page for full details and benefits

Stampin’ Up! Offers such as clearance, product medley, freebies and new products

Stampin’Up! offer various promotions and offers throughout the year, and this is to keep things exciting for both you (the customer) and I (the demonstrator). Click on any image below to view our current promotions individually –

Magnolia Lane