by Janean S. Thompson

The creation of greeting cards has been simplified and made much more fun by the availability of many software packages and specialty papers. You can personalize cards to make the results completely your own; and you can create mini artworks with those card selections, making any occasion the perfect time to communicate with friends and family.

There are two alternatives for paper selection. You may purchase ready-made cards and then create the artwork and writing on them or you can begin with plain card stock and make the entire package yourself. Either way you have an open palette upon which to create your images. My preference is the latter because I love the options it offers. There is no limitation as to paper texture, color, design or thickness and you can do whatever you feel like doing. I love that!

I will use my trusted Iwata Eclipse BCS, ECL 2000, one of my all-time favorite creative tools; a sharp stencil knife (I used my Artool knife); acrylic airbrush paints of your choice; metallic gift wrap cut to the size of your card; glue stick and stencil material. But, first comes the design.

Keep in mind the cuts, shapes, stencil openings, etc., that you will employ in that design when you purchase your blank card or card stock. For my cards, I will use common card stock available at any art material retailer or office supply. Color is entirely up to you, but I wanted to use white as my background tone. My layout allowed two cards from each 8½ x 11 sheet of card stock, which fits envelopes that are easy to find. You could use a lighter weight paper and fold it in half and then half again to fit the same envelope. All art supply and office material dealers sell multi-packs in a variety of colors. The holiday season is a good time to stock up because they have the best selections at this time.

This layout is my old standby favorite holiday design - the Christmas tree. I begin by creating a positive cutout of the tree shape that I’ll use as a mask that will keep that area white. The background color is applied over the mask shape.

The use of a carefully cut mask as a stencil will also create the negative shape of the tree. This negative could be used when you airbrush the tree shape, but I choose to do it a bit differently. After the background is completely dry I cut, leaving a tiny connection at the top and bottom. I gently fold the tree shape upward and then cut a slot in a piece of scrap and slide the scrap over the background with the tree shape on top. The result is a fast, very neat way to tone the tree shape which will remain curled above the background color.

With the background and subject airbrushed, it is time to do the finishing touches. Line the inside of the front of the card with metallic gift wrap, cut to size. (Attach with a glue stick.) That will give some illumination. Add details to the tree shape if desired. I love to use metallic markers or small glitter spots to give pizzazz to the finished card. Add a star or other embellishments and you have a tiny art card that will delight any recipient.

With all the choices you have and the different designs you can create, card making is fun and can become addictive. Start creating today and have a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!!

Reprinted with permission of ARTtalk.com