When greeting cards jumped to $3.99 and above, I decided a boycott was in order. I can’t justify spending almost $5 on something that gets read and quickly thrown out. I’m pretty sure my gift recipient would rather I spend that $5 on their gift instead of a card, anyways.
This high price of cards combined with my love for crafting and passion for recycling brought me to making my own stationery. I bought a 50 pack of blank cards at a local craft store with a 50% off coupon (they cost me less than $5 – the price of one greeting card!), and some other miscellaneous supplies (scrapbook paper, cardstock punchouts, stamps, ink, etc.). Now when an occasion comes up that calls for a card, I feel like I can give something with meaning since it’s handmade, and it saves me a ton of money at the same time.
Some of my favorite ways to make cards include:
- Using stamps; I pick them up in the $1 section at Target, and the $1 bins at Michaels or Joann’s whenever I see them.
- I love sewing paper, the stitching just adds a little somethin’, somethin’ and I don’t have to mess with glue all over my fingers (a small pet peeve…).
- Using fabric scraps! Check out my favorite tutorial from Moda Bake Shop.
Here is some stationery inspiration from cards I’ve made and others I’ve found on the good ol’ interwebs:
Recycled stationery
The other day, I was browsing one of my favorite blogs, Poppytalk.blogspot.com, and came across this awesome video they posted from Yellow Owl Workshop on making stationery from junk mail. I think it’s so creative and such a great way to recycle! They even let you download a printable template to use, making it super simple.
Junk Mail Stationery from Yellow Owl Workshop on Vimeo.
Link Parties:
Pingback: Making your own stationery | The Mombot - Urban Angels()