Article written using Adobe Photoshop CS5 on a Mac
Our lives today are so driven by technology and our communications through email that we forget the simple joys of sending and receiving what has become known as snail mail. Whatever the occasion, giving a handmade card makes it that much more special, especially when it arrives in a mailbox other than your “inbox.” It seems to carry more meaning than just mere words, and it shows the recipient that you really care.
So, wouldn’t it be great to have a template for an all-purpose card that could be made to reflect your personal style and flair? Whether the occasion is a birthday, a wedding, welcoming a new baby, expressing sympathy, an invitation, congratulations, or a “just because” card, this basic card template can adapt to a variety of needs. Let me show you how to create this template:
Step 1 – Open a 6×6-inch document at 300 pixels. Go to View> Rulers. Next, choose View> New Guide. In the dialogue box, select Horizontal, enter .05 inch, and click OK. Repeat entering 3 inches and 5.5 inches. Enter the same numbers after selecting Vertical.
Step 2 – Use the Elliptical Marquee Tool, set the fixed style to 3×3 inches, and draw four circles on separate layers. Use the Paint Bucket Tool to fill the circles with a color.
Step 3 –Place each circle within a square, making certain that the edges are touching two Guide Lines. You have now formed a cloverleaf shape.
Step 4 – Merge all layers. From the Scrap Girls Boutique, select a paper appropriate for your theme and “clip” it to the template. (Toclip, position the paper layer above the template layer in the Layers Panel, then pressCtrl+Alt+G. In Photoshop Elements,press Ctrl+G.) Print both sides, using a heavy cardstock paper.
Tip: Since my printer is not that accurate, to print the backside, I simply draw a square slightly larger than the template and clip a complimentary paper to it. That way, I’m assured that all of the edges are covered.)
Step 5 – Cut out the cloverleaf shape. Score two sides of the card with a dull-edged knife and fold inward. Make slits for a ribbon or string. Now you have created a versatile “pocket” in which any number of items can be inserted.
While browsing through the Scrap Girls Boutique, I gathered a few ideas for paper products that could be used to tuck into the card pocket. The categories of Pocket Life Cards or the 4 x 6 Products provide a quick and easy way to jot down a sentiment, thought for the day, greeting, Bible verse, announcement, or invitation. Simply resize the item so that the height does not exceed 4 inches.
As an example, I have designed a “Just Because” card using Angie Briggs’s Falling For You Collection Biggie. I printed and cut out a few of the gorgeous flowers, added buttons to their centers, and a tag with a sentiment. Depending on the occasion, you might add a gift certificate, money for the graduate, tickets to a special event, stickers or a balloon for a child, a photo, or your favorite recipe. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
(Note: For postage in the US, there is an extra, non-machinable surcharge of 20 cents to mail a square envelope.)
By giving someone a handmade card that is unique and made with love, you will put a smile on their face. It will put a smile on your face, too, when you see the joy you have brought to that person in your life. And finally, by sharing your creation with others in the Scrap Girls Gallery, you will generate even more smiles!
Digital scrapbooking supplies used:
Tutorial written by Joyce Schardt