General Tips for Card Crafters
It's great to know a couple of tips and guides that will help us create better results, make fewer mistakes, and save on costs. Whether you are an experienced card maker or a beginner, you will find these tips handy and helpful as you pursue your craft.
Stamps. Use easy-to-remove or washable inks, especially if you are doing the card project with children. Kids love to stamp everywhere, including their skin. Have a pack of wet wipes so that you can clean the stamp in between change of color and before you store it away. If you are running out of ink, store your ink pad upside down so that the ink will sink to the upper surface of the ink pad. Store your rubber stamps away from direct sunlight and heat to prevent it from shrinking. When the rubber turns white, put on a small amount of glycerin, which is available at any drugstore.
Adhesives. Put glue on the end of a thread and let it dry before threading your beads. You may also apply wax on the thread to stiffen it. Use re-positional or removable adhesive to your design elements if you are uncertain where to position them on a card blank. To make hard-to-remove tapes removable, stick them onto a cloth, like your shirt or jeans.
Layers. Use lightweight paper to layer your card so that you can save on postal fees. If you are uncertain what color of paper to use, choose a color from the design with the lighter shade.
Protection. Place your cards and embellishments inside a box to protect them from damage. Also, use boxes not envelopes when posting invitations with embossed or three-dimensional designs.
Scraps. Keep scraps of paper and other card elements that you think you can use in the future. Organize scraps during your free time, such as during television viewing. Use storage boxes or protective containers for scraps. Place these containers beside your working table so that you can dump in your scraps as you go along. If you roll paper scraps, cover them in plastic, particularly the edges to prevent tearing and discoloring.
Others. To fold card stock, use a wallpaper roller or a rolling pin to create a neat fold. Buy a large poster board or cardboard and cut it into card sizes to save money. Invest on a good quality paper trimmer, especially one that doesn't need much blade replacements. Burn the edges of ribbons with blue flame or apply clear nail polish to prevent fraying.
Stamps. Use easy-to-remove or washable inks, especially if you are doing the card project with children. Kids love to stamp everywhere, including their skin. Have a pack of wet wipes so that you can clean the stamp in between change of color and before you store it away. If you are running out of ink, store your ink pad upside down so that the ink will sink to the upper surface of the ink pad. Store your rubber stamps away from direct sunlight and heat to prevent it from shrinking. When the rubber turns white, put on a small amount of glycerin, which is available at any drugstore.
Adhesives. Put glue on the end of a thread and let it dry before threading your beads. You may also apply wax on the thread to stiffen it. Use re-positional or removable adhesive to your design elements if you are uncertain where to position them on a card blank. To make hard-to-remove tapes removable, stick them onto a cloth, like your shirt or jeans.
Layers. Use lightweight paper to layer your card so that you can save on postal fees. If you are uncertain what color of paper to use, choose a color from the design with the lighter shade.
Protection. Place your cards and embellishments inside a box to protect them from damage. Also, use boxes not envelopes when posting invitations with embossed or three-dimensional designs.
Scraps. Keep scraps of paper and other card elements that you think you can use in the future. Organize scraps during your free time, such as during television viewing. Use storage boxes or protective containers for scraps. Place these containers beside your working table so that you can dump in your scraps as you go along. If you roll paper scraps, cover them in plastic, particularly the edges to prevent tearing and discoloring.
Others. To fold card stock, use a wallpaper roller or a rolling pin to create a neat fold. Buy a large poster board or cardboard and cut it into card sizes to save money. Invest on a good quality paper trimmer, especially one that doesn't need much blade replacements. Burn the edges of ribbons with blue flame or apply clear nail polish to prevent fraying.
