OK, be honest, how many of you have ever made a handmade card for someone? Perhaps it was for their birthday or maybe you were ambitious and tackled Christmas cards for everyone on your list.OK, now how many of you have then turned around and given a (gasp) store-purchased card to one of these same people and gotten "the look"?You know, the look that clearly demonstrates dismay at the fact that you, an artist, didn't use your talents to create a handmade card just for them. I've been there, my friends, and I have found a solution that will ease those feelings of guilt. I use store-purchased cards, but then add my own creative touches to them.
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Of course, you can buy these cards or recycle ones that you've received. I don't know about you, but I always feel a deep pang of sorrow throwing out these beauties after enjoying them. I look for cards that are fairly plain but that have potential for the addition of images, background papers, embellishments, etc. Sometimes I work right on the front of the card and other times I cut up the card as I see fit.Here are a couple of greeting cards that I've altered using those wonderful French Kissed images. Note that you can even cut up the message inside the card and reuse it in new and interesting ways. Challenge yourself -- it's fun and you'll find that those "looks" you get turn into squeals of delight. The one at the beginning of this post began its life as a sympathy card. Sorry, I forgot to scan it in its initial form. Yes, that's beeswax that you see on its surface!!
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7 comments:
That's an excellent idea and yours are very cool. I think I like 'Home' best, but the first one is neat too.
You are sooo very clever! I love the personal enhancements you added to the store-bought cards!
Great idea! Of course i never throw old greeting cards, but I never thought of buying plain ones to use as a base for your own creation!! Patsy from
HeARTworks
Well, I feel exposed now. lol I not only have been doing this in order to use up the old card packs I have from the 1990's, but I've also been recycling parts of card fronts people have made and sent me. I'm now beginning to eye my binders of very old traded atcs to see if any can be added to card fronts. I think part of it is our desire to keep pushing envelopes. I do wish I could get over my shyness (sometimes I feel like it is shame) about sharing this on my blog. At present, I feel embarrassed that I'm doing this sometimes. That's pretty silly, isn't it? Help! xoxo
So clever, Heather. I am surprised I had not thought of doing that myself. Your altered ones are great and have so much more "oomph" than the originals.
Fantastic idea!!
_Great_ idea!!! Thank you! :)
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