Holiday Cards

With so many gorgeous greeting cards to choose from today, it may take something really special like Japanese paper to motivate you to make your own. Everything about these papers is inspiring, like their texture, patterns, colours and visible fibres. And if children can use a glue stick, they’re old enough to make these wonderful collages.

Materials

• blank cards
• envelopes
• card stock or bristol board to make collages on
• coloured papers/card board for backing
• assortment of Japanese paper
• glue stick
• double sided tape
• scissors

If you’re in Toronto, The Paper Place sells Snack Packs and Variety Packs, providing you with an assortment of Japanese papers for a very reasonable price. If you order online, there’s no better place than The Japanese Paper Place. You can also try art supply stores or stationary shops. If you have difficulty finding Japanese papers, obviously any kind of colourful, decorative paper will do.

Instructions

1. Blank cards and envelopes can be found in sets at art supply stores and stationary shops. A cheaper way can be to buy envelopes, and cut the cards yourself from large pieces of cardboard/paper. This also allows you to control the colour of the card. Either way, you’ll need to begin with some inexpensive card stock or bristol board as a base to make your collage. The size of the base depends on the size of the card you have chosen, and if you are going to mount it on coloured stock.

2. Select papers with colours and patterns that work well together. You may choose to cut the paper, or tear it depending on your design. Gently tearing these beautiful papers separates some of the fibers, allowing them to blend nicely with other papers in the collage. Lay the papers down on the card stock and once you’re happy with the design, glue them on. Make sure to cover the card completely, and trim any paper that goes over the edges with scissors.

3. Place a small piece of double sided tape on each corner of the back of your collage. Mount the collage on black card board/paper, which really brings out the colours. Make sure to leave a small border of about 1/8th of an inch all the way around. Add double sided tape to the back again and mount your design on a coloured card board/paper, leaving about 1/8th of an inch all the way around. Choosing a colour that is in your design works well. Add double sided tape to each corner of the back a final time, and tape it to the blank card. I’m sure you’ll be impressed by how beautiful your cards look. I’ve had the pleasure of making these cards with many children, and they’re always impressed with the end result.