Inspiration

When I make a card series I like to use my materials to help dictate the quantity and content of the cards. Small pieces of fabric or paper that you just love but only have a swatch of, can get all the love they deserve, as the center piece of your card.

Card size

There is nothing more frustrating then making a beautiful card to send to someone and you realize you don’t have an envelope big enough. If it is a non –traveling card this is no problem. I love making funky shaped cards for my honey. For the others I try to think before hand about how it will be delivered. All of these will be mailed. For mailing cards I almost always go with a standard card size envelope and make the card to that size. I really enjoy more creative solutions for envelopes so when it is a hand delivered card you can have more fun. Just keep in mind the postal service has gotten pickier in the last 6 years with mailed packages and you want your precious handmades to get there. So with all that said I made the cards all the same size by picking a scrap paper that would make size appropriate cards.

Paper

I like to use a heavy printmaking paper with some tooth. Printmaking papers are made to stand up to abuse and they press beautifully back into flat pieces of artwork. They also stand up really well under the sewing machine foot.

Burnishing and glue

I like to use a glue stick to secure paper that will later be sewn and really any rather thin paper or small scraps that might fall apart under glue.

The most important part of glueing is burnishing

Use a cover sheet to protect your card and absorb any excess glue.

Be very serious with your burnishing, it will make your card look polished.

I like to use a bone folder (it is really hard)

But a chopstick will also work.