DIY papercut greeting cards with template

I wanted to make some cards that would be simple to cut with an X-acto knife, and straight lines are the fastest. So I made a template for an outer frame to cut from card stock, and then set up some interchangeable messages that can be printed on colored paper and inserted for various occasions.




To make your own, download the PDF with the cover template and messages, then print out the pages you need. If you prefer to use a digital cutting machine, the .dxf file (cover only) might work for you.

Download the full PDF here.
Download the .dxf cover here.

Cards are 5" x 7" and fit on an 8.5" x 11" sheet.


To cut the cover for the cards by hand, print the cover template on regular computer paper. Tape it to a piece of sturdy card stock around the edges to hold it in place. Using an X-acto knife and a straight edge, cut along the lines through both sheets of paper. I cut all the long lines first, then went back and cut the short lines.


Remove the computer paper and pop out the pieces, freeing any stuck bits with your knife. Then score the card along the center and fold in half.


Cut a printed insert to size, fold it in half, and stick it inside the cover with a line of glue or strip of double stick tape along the top inside back.

Happy Valentine's Day, and have a lovely weekend, all!

Mini DIY washi tape Valentine notes

I was inspired by Patricia's post and Ellie's business cards to make some tiny Valentine's Day notecards using washi tape and baker's twine. These little babies are 2.25" square. To make your own using tape (or decorate however you like), download and print out the blanks I made:

Notecard printable PDF

Print and cut out the cards, then align a couple strips of tape on the front and trim off the edges.


Use a 1/8" hole punch or scissors to notch the edges to keep the twine in place.


Wrap the cover with twine, tie, and write a scandalous message inside. Make mini envelopes out of coordinating paper if you're feeling ambitious!

Free printable donut birthday card

This weekend I wandered around Cincinnati and had my first donut from Holtman's. It was fantastic. Today I spotted this very adorable donut balloon project at Studio DIY.

So I was inspired to craft a tasty, donut-themed printable. You could attach this birthday card to a box of donuts or mail a gift card along with it. Or pair it with mini donut sugar cookies using Bakerella's recipe, as a commenter has suggested.

Download the free PDF here.

DIY stitched fabric notecard

I was rummaging through my fabric stash for guest room pillow possibilities, and I found a little piece of this vintage print. Tiny uniformed guards — so cute! I stiffened the fabric, printed a quote onto plain cotton with my inkjet printer, and stitched the whole works together with a paper insert for writing a message.


The best way to make stiff fabric that I've found is to use Stiffen Stuff (I bought this bottle at Michael's). Mist both sides of the fabric until it's damp. A plastic garbage bag makes a good work surface for this.


Then let the fabric air dry, or for immediate results, microwave it on a paper towel for about 30 seconds or until dry. Don't worry if the fabric gets crumpled up as your turntable spins it around. Press it with an iron until it's nice and flat.


See? The fabric should stand up by itself. If yours feels too floppy, mist on another layer and microwave again.


To print text onto fabric, I set up my document and inkjet printed it on a test piece of letter-sized paper. Then I positioned the plain fabric over it and taped down the leading edge that feeds through the printer first (you MUST tape this edge or you'll end up with a snarl!) I taped the bottom edge down, too, for extra security. Then I reprinted my document onto the fabric. I used unstiffened fabric for this, since it doesn't need the extra structure.




I cut the quote down to size and picked at the edges to fray them a bit for extra character.


Then I trimmed the stiffened fabric into a rectangle and folded it in half. The notecard needed a paper insert for writing a message, so I cut a piece of coordinating paper to the same size.


Then I zigzag-stitched the quote to the front of the notecard and tied the loose ends of the threads together on the reverse side. I used a straight stitch across the fold to attach the insert to the card and tied off the loose threads on each side.


A stationery set with different messages and fabrics would be a really fun gift for someone, right? Add coordinating envelopes and tie the bundle with a ribbon. Cuteness.

Free, printable Father's Day cards

To go with yesterday's bottle tags, I made matching printable Father's Day cards. Choose from three color / text combinations:

Download the blue card
Download the red card
Download the brown card

After folding, cards are 4.25" x 5.5" and fit in a standard A2 envelope.

Lots of free, printable notecards

Caravan is a shop full of digital downloads created by Alma and Mike Loveland and Melanie Burk. And they've just made all of their printable stationery free! Find notecards for teachers, grads, birthdays, and more right here, including a bunch of chalkboard-style designs which are super trendy right now. Save yourself a trip to the store!

DIY stitched Mother's Day Card

Need a last-minute Mother's Day card idea? Stitch one! Chronicle Books has offered us this tutorial from Jessica Marquez, author of Stitched Gifts. The book offers 25 simple embroidery projects for weddings, holidays, baby showers, anniversaries, or just because. Here's one for mums.

Stitching this card should take 30-45 minutes according to the directions, so you don't even need to start until about 10:30 PM on Saturday night, right?

Download the how-to PDF (4 MB, so give it a minute)
Download the stitching pattern

Only a couple types of stitches are needed. These steps are also included in the PDF, but if you need quick refresher...

How to backstitch:


How to make a French knot:

Happy stitching! For more projects, get the book Stitched Gifts right here.

Printable Mother's Day card

Mother's Day is coming up, so I made a little freebie you can download and print for your mum. It's a greeting card that fits in a standard A2 envelope. (4.25" x 5.5" after folding.) And it won't use up much of your ink cartridge. You could output this on linen-textured cardstock to make it really nice, and pair it with a red or green envelope. And a pie.

Download the card right here.

Free, printable thank you cards

I like these simple, modern thank you cards, a free download from Love Vs. Design. They look cool printed on kraft paper, too! Check them out here and download your own set.

Customize and print a free holiday card

Hope you had a lovely break! I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Christmas lights have popped up all over the neighborhood. My brain still thinks it's October.

But I'm seeing lots of designerly Christmas printables appear around the internet, including this fun, free holiday card from Love vs. Design. Download the PDF, type in your own text, and print. You can select a flat or folded card, and get some "ugly sweater" gift tags, too!

Customizable notecards to print

Have you seen the free, printable notecards recently offered by Benign Objects? The file is an editable PDF. You can open it up in Adobe Reader and type in your own name or company for a personalized greeting. Get the cards here.

Printable owl bookmark and card

Look at the printable owl bookmarks made by Irene at Gi Det Videre! You can print out a card with a branch on which to perch a little bird, just in case you want to give one as a gift. Completely charming and perfect for mailing to a kid. Or keeping for yourself in case you need a dose of cuteness.

Via I Share Printables.

Make an origami dress card

A simple origami dress makes a sweet DIY greeting card. It's a good option for Mother's Day, bridesmaids and bridal showers, or birthday cards for fancy ladies. I made a quick chevron pattern in Illustrator and printed it on computer paper, then folded this little frock from a 4-inch square. I printed a greeting on plain cardstock and attached the dress with double-stick tape. Using a map or old book pages would be nice, too. Follow this video to learn how to fold the origami dress.

Free printable birthday/thank you cards

Love Vs. Design has posted printable flat cards with a geometric theme, free for the downloading. Save yourself a trip to the store! Speaking of birthdays, mine was Sunday and this morning I found a belated gift waiting for me in the cupboard. I'll show you tomorrow.

Free things to print and make

Have you seen the ever-expanding collection of free printables at Love vs. Design? Download gift card envelopes, library cards, invitations, and more.

Printable Christmas postcard freebie

Planning to send some quick Christmas greetings? Download printable postcards by Alison Owen right here, featuring the font Skunkling.

Letterpressed e-cards from Paperless Post

I've used Paperless Post in the past to send elegant electronic party invitations and birthday cards. I like the way many of the designs look letterpressed on textured paper. Plus you can customize the typography and add coordinating shiny envelope liners for extra fun. When recipients click the envelope that arrives in their email inbox, a lovely card emerges.

Check it out! I found one that coordinates with my Fireworks fabric. Apparently I need to plan a party that includes this invitation and a big tablecloth. I'd look so put together.

This season there's a new line of holiday invitations, photo cards, and greetings that won't cost you anything to send. Check out the freebies here, or browse the entire collection here.

Printable thank you card

Another fun goody! Jennifer Ferguson, the artist behind the Etsy shop Squirrel in the Attic, draws quirky greetings with patterned backgrounds. Her cards are printed on heavy recycled paper and are even cuter in person. I know cuz I've bought some before. I asked Jennifer if she'd pretty please share a print-it-yourself version of one of her cards, and she agreed. It's one of the designs in her 6-card thank you set. (Do you think it would be weird if I mailed it back to her as a thank you?)

Help yourself to the printable PDF. Then download, open in Adobe Reader, print, trim and fold.

DIY printable thank you notes

Do-It-Yourself Invitations sent over a link to their latest batch of free printables: a selection of thank you cards with matching patterned envelopes. Choose from six designs to print and assemble yourself.

Printable business card freebie

I've whipped up another printable template for use as calling cards or business cards. This time it's an argyle motif, so put on your sweater vest and nerd glasses and help yourself.

Choose from orange cards, pink cards, or blue cards.

To use them:
1. Click a link above and save the PDF to your computer. The file may take a moment to download, so please don't hyperventilate if your browser window remains blank for a moment.
2. Optional: The fonts used in the card design are Serif 6 Bold and Regular, available for free right here from Betatype. Download the .zip file and install these fonts on your machine (see here for how to install fonts). If you're not that picky, you can choose not to install the fonts. In that case, your computer will substitute a font when you open the file and it might look just fine.
3. Open the PDF in Adobe Reader (free) and type your information in the text fields.
4. Save.
5. Print the file at 100% on a sheet of white cardstock. Trim with an X-acto knife or scissors, using the crop marks as guides.

For a different card design, click here!