Basic Card Creation

• 1). Choose a heavy weight paper. Select the paper color, finish and texture to enhance your desired effect. For autumnal cards use beiges, gold and warm-hued papers. Winter-themed cards should have a cool color scheme. Bright brilliant colors work best for summer, while pastel colors are optimal for spring-themed cards.
  
  
• 2). Create original poetry or borrow poetry from past poets. Make sure that whatever words or poetry you use do not have a copyright, and credit their author. Either print the interior of the card or use markers and stencils to hand-write your words. The inside of your card may also be left blank.
  
  
• 3). Select an image, artwork or overall theme for your card. Take original pictures or locate GNU photography, which is licensed to the general public, to enhance your card. Photographs may be printed in vivid color, grey scale, sepia tone or black and white. It is okay to crop images or blow up images so that only a certain portion of a picture is used.
  
  
• 4). Pictures should be applied directly onto cardstock paper with industrial strength glue, or printed onto the card's surface. Notice that if you glue your images onto your card, any interior designs or wording must be printed before the pictures and embellishments are added.
  
  
• 5). Determine the focal point of your card. A card can have a center focal point or an off-center focal point. Choose your desired layout, and place your main image on that section of the page. Be be mindful of the card's visual flow for any additional image placement.
  
  
• 6). Add buttons, ribbon or attractive odds and ends to the front of your card. Most craft stores are loaded with scrapbooking materials that would provide an extra touch of class to a handmade card. Place finished cards in plastic sleeves for protection.
  
  

Sell Your Cards

• 1). Create a sample kit. Take samples of your handmade cards to local businesses. Non-franchised pharmacies, florists and mom and pop bookstores are great places to sell your cards. Always be polite when speaking to store owners, and have a good attitude. Remember, you are offering your services.
  
  
• 2). Sell your cards online. There are several online craft malls that sell handmade crafts. Many of these sites charge a small fee for their services, so always read the fine print in any contract.
  
  
• 3). Purchase booth space at a craft mall or craft fair. Handmade crafts sell well in that kind of environment. Again, it is important to know how much the booth costs and if a craft mall takes a percentage of your sales before agreeing to any contract.