How to Make Your Own Greeting Cards

Greeting cards are a wonderful way of letting someone know you are thinking of them. But they can get pricey, and with a few simple steps, you can make your own at home. You can't put a price on sentiment.

Save interesting images of all kinds, pressed flowers and even pieces of fabric to stick on cards, either alone or as collages. Or be more ambitious with these effective, but easy ideas.

You will need

• Card
• Cutting board
• Metal ruler
• X-acto knife
• Leaves or petals
• Low-tack adhesive spray
• White glue
• Spray paint
• Thick coloured paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Eraser
• Crayons
• Pens or paints (optional)

To make a stencilled card

You can use leaves, petals or any cut-out shapes as stencils in this method.

1. Place the base card on a cutting board and cut it to size using scissors or a metal ruler and X-acto knife. Then fix one or more leaves or petals to it with low-tack spray adhesive.
2. Spray paint over the plant material, following the manufacturer's instructions, and leave to dry. Peel off the leaves or petals and carefully rub off any traces of glue. Finish by folding the card ready for use.

To make a pop-up Valentine's Day card

1. Choose a piece of thick coloured paper to contrast with your base cardand fold it in half, pressing it down flat. Draw one half the "winged heart" design with the centre of the design against the fold. Cut it out, just inside your drawing line to make a symmetrical piece that will be used to create the pop-up element of your card.
2. Fold and unfold along the centre fold line several times to make it flexible. Fold in the "wings" at the sides of the heart to crease them, then open them out to the sides. Hold with the main centre fold pointing forwards. Add any further decorations to the heart using crayons, pens or paints and allow them to dry thoroughly.
3. Measure the rectangular base card to at least five centimetres (two inches) larger all around than the pop-up shape and cut it out. Using a ruler and pencil for accuracy, fold it exactly in half widthwise. Rub off any pencil marks. Place the pop-up piece inside of the card, standing proud as it will be in the finished item, and use a pencil to mark where the "wings" will be stuck to the card. The pop-up piece needs to fold neatly into the finished card or can protrude a little, if desired. Apply white glue to these areas, then immediately fix the pop-up design in place.
4. Allow to dry, then carefully rub off any excess glue with your fingertips and erase any pencil marks. Carefully close the card, folding the pop-up along its centre line. The outside of the base card can be decorated further if you wish.