How to make the perfect greeting card

What never fails to make an emotional connection? A handwritten note simply can’t be beaten! If you need to say something extra special, why not make your own card too? It’s a perfect summer crafting project. Business Optimizer shows you how.

Making your own greetings card for a special friend, relative or occasion is simple. In just a few steps, you can add extra impact to your perfect message.

#1. Choose the right paper

For a really thoughtful card, you could have a go at making your own paper. Handcrafted paper is perfect for using for greeting cards, labels and wrapping paper – really for any special occasion.

For something really special, you could even embed the petals and seeds of  your friend’s favourite flower in the paper while making it. This way, your card can bring extra delight if your friend later plants the paper.

If you don’t have time to make your own paper, choose a good quality card stock or heavy-weight office paper (at least 160gsm) to ensure your card stands nicely on your friend’s mantlepiece or display shelf.

#2. Add a beautiful, bright or memorable image

The cover image of your card should, ideally, feature an eye-catching and meaningful image.

Choose something that is special to your friend – a favourite hobby perhaps? Or a favourite vacation location? Or perhaps it is a memory you share or somewhere you have visited together?

You might choose to add a photo, in which case an app like Adobe Express or Canva is a great way to add text and graphics to the photo before you print.

Alternatively, for an extra special greetings card, why not add a hand-drawn illustration?

You can find tips on how to start doodling here. Or find our tips for getting started with illustration here. We love pencil crayons for doodling and illustration. You can find some tips on the best way to use them here.

#3. Add a heartfelt message

There is simply nothing better than a handwritten message. It’s the perfect way to complete your greetings card.

As we mentioned in an earlier article, letter writing connects in a powerful way. We quoted Catherine Field, writing in the New York Times: “A good handwritten letter is a creative act, and not just because it is a visual and tactile pleasure. It is a deliberate act of exposure, a form of vulnerability because handwriting opens a window on the soul in a way that cyber communication can never do. You savour their arrival and later take care to place them in a box for safekeeping.”

If you aren’t sure what to write, try our tips for dealing with writer’s block and getting over the hurdle of the blank page. Alternatively, if you’re really stuck over what to write, you could add a verse of your favourite poem or of a poet that your friends really enjoys or admires.

In these three simple steps, you’re on your way to creating the perfect greetings card for best friend. All you need to do now is add an envelope, a stamp and put it in the post!

What now?

• Here are some more of our ideas for staying in touch with people using paper.
• How about some ideas for creating your own postcard?
• Or for a summer scrapbooking project, here’s a great article on how to create your own notebook.
• Or have a go at making your own photo album.
• Plus, read our guide to choosing paper for your art project.