This sturdy gatefold birthday card features a sash with a reinforced paper monogram. I love coming up with new handmade birthday card concepts, and this stately piece is one of my favorites! The outside features a plain card stock body that is held together by an elegant monogrammed sash. When you open the flaps of the card, hand-lettering ensures that the inside is anything but plain. 1. Gather Your Supplies Before you begin creating this card, you’ll need to gather a few supplies. Scroll down to see my supply list (and feel free to make substitutions to accommodate what you ha ..read more

If you were anything like me when you were a kid, then you probably wished for the coolest new toy for your birthday. Cards just came with the gift; they were largely ignored. In adult life, however, we tend to value time more than things. That’s why it’s so gratifying to receive a DIY birthday card: you know that whoever sent it spent a considerable chunk of care and energy crafting the card, thinking of you all the while! In today’s tutorial, I’ll show you how to make a pretty watercolor birthday card concept that centers around the recipient’s initial. 1. Gather Your Supplies To ..read more

We are well into the “holidaze” and close to the end of the year, which is exciting, fun, and just a tad stressful. Today, I have two free printable envelope templates to encourage you to take a creative time-out to recharge and make something cool! The Christmas Tree + Lights Printable Mail Art Templates These mail art templates were originally designed in 2013, when I was working a lot with acrylic paint. There’s a lot of fun texture in the tree, and the string lights are vibrant and eye-catching! To put together these templates, start by downloading them for free here. DOWNLOAD THESE FREE ..read more

It seems like no matter what phase of life you’re in, the holiday season is busy. You’re not only planning to gather with family and take time off, but you’re also wrapping up personal and professional affairs for the end of the year! For that reason, I’m a big fan of quick DIY holiday cards. Bonus points if the concept works in an assembly line. That’s why I love today’s festive blown watercolor ornaments motif! It’s beautiful, comes together quickly, and is a great project to make alone or with friends or family (kids, especially). If you’re feeling creative, try drawing different shapes of ..read more

This watercolor roses holiday card combines the traditional holiday colors of red and green with a timeless floral motif. Make it on a lazy morning or a quiet afternoon, when you have some time to enjoy the creation process! Those who feel intimidated by illustration work will be happy to hear that today’s tutorial includes both printable and traceable elements to make easy work of this gorgeous greeting card. 1. Gather Your Supplies This card tutorial requires a collection of supplies that you can tweak to fit what you have on hand. 80 lb. drawing paper (affiliate link) Scissors Pencil + e ..read more

If you’re tired of sending run-of-the-mill cards, try this watercolor birthday card tutorial. It puts a twist on the “happy birthday” sentiment with its “I’m glad that you exist” message, written in bold brushed calligraphy. A colorful citrus border frames the phrase, making this a card that your recipient will treasure for years to come! Before We Get Started … I know that watercolor can be intimidating at first. I can promise you this: once you’ve got a little bit of practice, you’ll find that it’s a dream to work with. You’ll enjoy a creation process that’s simultaneously relaxing and chal ..read more

If you’re looking for a unique DIY holiday card project, consider this beauty. This holiday card tutorial will quickly become a favorite because of the delightful cutout! When your recipient receives the card, he or she can simply remove the ornament from the center and hang it on their tree. Not only are you sending a holiday card, then, but you’re also sending a unique ornament! In this article, you’ll find detailed instructions and a video that will teach you exactly how to create this cool little project. Make yourself some hot cocoa, set aside 30-45 minutes to tune out the world, and y ..read more

Before I begin this tutorial, I’d like to say that this isn’t your run-of-the-mill Father’s Day card. I know that because I was looking for inspiration on Pinterest, and all I ran into were grilling-, fishing-, and toolbox-themed cards. I wanted to design a card featuring elegant masculinity. As a result, this card uses patterns and colors that will appeal to a lot of dads, not just those who enjoy manly pastimes. I hope that you have fun making it! 1. Prepare Your Paper To start, cut a piece of black cardstock to 8.5″ x 6.25″ (21.6 cm x 15.9 cm). Then, fold it in half to make a 4.25″ x 6.25 ..read more

In my opinion, the best kind of handmade card is one that surprises you! In today’s tutorial, you’ll learn how to make a DIY Valentine’s Day card that features a folded heart tied together with string. When the recipient unties the string, the heart folds out to reveal a message. The Inspiration for This DIY Valentine’s Day Card This DIY Valentine’s Day card idea was inspired by my immensely talented friend, Phyllis Macaluso. (If you don’t follow her on Instagram — @fpmmac — you are missing out; she is so creative!) I received a beautiful handmade card from her featuring a heart similar to ..read more

This watercolor birthday card reminds me of an art gallery with its six perfect frames. Every step of the creation process is relaxing and creative — and you’ll especially like making the little watercolor dots. Here’s what you need to get started: 2 pieces of cardstock in contrasting colors (I chose a shimmery orange and a royal blue) Watercolor paper Watercolor paints A glue stick, glue, or double-sided tape Scissors or a paper cutter 1. Cut the Paper Cutting everything to its proper size is the first step in making your watercolor birthday card. First, you’ll want to cut one of the pie ..read more