Cardmaking On A Shoestring: Birthday Card For A Boy

In the previous blog I shared a couple of ideas with you on making cards on a shoestring budget. I continue with this idea in today's blog, although we will be making a birthday card for a boy this time. Once again the design I use is taken from my book Designs By Miekie 1.

When my niece and nephew demanded we do a card project, they selected these two designs from my book. I printed the designs, but drew dot-to-dot pictures for them to redraw. The result was that I was left with the printout of the designs. Not wanting these to go to waste (how frugal am I?!), I chose to use these printouts for the two blogs in this shoestring series. You can read all about the project I did with this kids by following this link.

 I cut the designs apart. I will be working with this design in today's project.

I will start by coloring the picture using my Derwent Coloursoft pencils. These are very expensive pencils, but you can use any cheaper version with equal success for this kind of project. You really don't need artist grade pencils for what we intend to do.

I start by colouring the background a muted green, resembling grass.

The wheels and eyebrows are done in shades of grey and black.

The lawnmower itself is done in red with the eye in green. The eyeballs and teeth are coloured white.

I then use rubbing alcohol to smooth the colouring lines. This can be obtained from a good pharmacy and is inexpensive.

Much better.

I carefully cut along the frame to get rid of the white edges.

The picture is now coloured and ready to be used on the card.

I find a 12" x 12" craft sheet matching the colours in the picture. I will use this to fold the card from.

Fold the craft paper in half to form a card.

I cut the top off my card, making the card 19 cm tall.

I now go in search of a sheet of plain A4 paper in a colour contrasting with that of the card, but coordinating with the colours in the design. I will use this paper to matt the picture to.

I measure the picture and cut the matting to be 1 cm larger in both width and height.

The picture is mounted to the matting and then to the card. I use double-sided tape for this. Note how I worked off center to make things a little less predictable and more interesting.

I have a set of alphabet punches that I can use to punch the lettering for my card out with. These are expensive though. A pretty handwriting and a calligraphy pen can have great results for the wording as well.

I also punch out the age of the intended recipient.

The lettering is mounted on the card using 3D double-sided squares.

I again opt to use inexpensive foam rubber stickers to finish the card off with.

Two fabric butterflies add a bit of interest.

An apple-shaped button completes the card.

A fun card to present to a birthday boy and it did not break the bank.

Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy my books here:
You can purchase Designs By Miekie 1 here.
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You can follow Miekie's daily Bible Study blog, Bybel Legkaart, here in English & Afrikaans.
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