Product Description

Perfect for paper crafters, beginner and experienced.

Creative Cards is a how-to guide to turning plain paper into personalized and unique gift cards, boxes, bags, tags, and wrapping paper. The book shows how to transform plain paper into something special, and how to wrap a gift for a beautiful presentation.

The techniques section explains all the basics, such as using a bone folder, embellishing edges, choosing the right adhesive, working with 3-D decorations, stamping, gilding, die-cutting, and folding, with lots of how-to photographs.

Projects are suited to making a single card or large quantities, and are coded to indicate how long they may take to complete. Tip boxes offer handy pointers and there are ready-to-use templates at the back of the book plus a section on choosing and laying out text on a computer.

The step-by-step projects include: - Baby shower invitation - Birth announcement - Children's party invitation - Birthday card for a man - Wedding folder - 50th anniversary card - New home - Valentine - Halloween - Christmas card

For the occasional crafter or the experienced hobbyist, Creative Cards is rich with expert advice and colorful inspiration.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1051083 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 144 pages

Review
This book not only teaches you how to make gift-giving special, [it] makes a great gift for crafty people. (The Cottager 200705)

Tell the recipient he's special. You can learn how to craft cards that send that added message with Creative Cards. (Mary Beth Breckenridge Akron Beacon Journal 20060429)

Describes elegant techniques... The results are very polished, the kind of cards you'd expect to pay $5 or more. (Cathy Frisinger Fort Worth Star-Telegram 20060429)

The 40 projects suggested in this easy-to-follow book bring ideas for homemade cards straight to your table. (Country Almanac 200610)

Whether you're crafty or not, this book...will help you create cards that are gifts in themselves. (Liz Grogan Good Times 20060601)

An excellent choice for the beginner ... projects are easy [and] may inspire more experienced card makers. (CardMaker 20061201)

Tastefully inventive ideas for handcrafted versions... [an] approachable how-to guide. (Jennifer David House and Home Media 20061101)

About the Author
Paula Pascual has been crafting since she was 12 and selling her cards since the age of 15. She writes for Crafts Beautiful magazine and keeps in touch with home crafters by working in a craft shop. Originally from Spain, Paula and her husband live in Westerham, Kent, England.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Introduction

I have been making cards for many years, not only for myself but also for other people. Often I am asked to do invitations to weddings or other special events and although this is very similar to making just one birthday card it is not quite the same. There are many elements to consider when making large batches of cards, but the most important one of all is that you will need to make many cards that are all the same -- or, at the very least, that have the same design. There is nothing quite so satisfying for a crafter than to see 100 wedding invitations finished and ready to be mailed! All the cards in this book have been specially designed so large quantities can be made quickly.

Sometimes, making lots of cards takes far more time than you expect and some techniques take longer than others. I have included a useful chart on pages 66-67 that will help you determine what project to try and what products to use. Each of the projects is also coded to give you an idea how long it will take to make -- the key to this code is shown on the opposite page. And remember: the best way to make lots of cards in a short time is to set up a mini production line, so you do all the cutting first, then all the scoring, then the sticking.

Gift giving is also a part of weddings and parties. How many times do you have a present to give but don't have wrapping paper that's just right? The techniques section shows how to make simple boxes and bags, decorate wrapping paper and how to wrap a present beautifully with just pieces of scrap paper. Using these basic techniques as a guide, you can make boxes and paper to match your card and have a fully coordinated event!

Handmade cards, invitations and gift wraps mean far more to the recipient, because you have put time and energy into making something special. You can also add extra details, personal touches and make them far more beautiful than a store-bought version. I do hope you enjoy making the projects in this book as much as I have enjoyed working on it.

Paula Pascual

Customer Reviews

Good for all levels
This book takes you step-by-step of every project. Good and easy to follow pictures and explanation. Couple of the projects even have templates to work with. Outcome always nice and fancy, 100% surprised by the results. Very excited to get the book!

Excellent!
This book helps a lot in handmade cards proyects. It takes you step by step and it's easy to read and understand. One thing a love about it is the materials and tool list that they give at the beginning of the book. It's so useful that you can search for them in any store near to you.
The pictures are great. I want to start a handmade card business and this book it's a great starting point.