Signed and sealed: A guide to DIY cardmaking, with tips from local crafters

Text messages and emails are great, but there's something special about getting an actual card in the mail on your birthday or other special occasion. Some card enthusiasts take this a step further by designing their own cards by hand.

Shirley Marquez of Jackson was introduced to cardmaking in the late 1980s, and she liked it so much that she signed up for every class she found, and eventually began teaching her own classes. She teaches cardmaking a couple Fridays a month at Hobby Lobby in Cape Girardeau.

"It's so satisfying and gratifying to put your own artistic touch to it. It's something you made with your own hands, your own time and your own imagination," she says. "It's your own creativity going down on paper for a particular individual -- it's handmade for them. The card is meant to make them feel special."

Greeting cards made by Shirley Marquez and her group. (Laura Simon)

Marquez says you don't need to be an artist to make cards -- you can let stamps and stickers do the artwork for you, and the rest involves skills you probably learned back in elementary school, such as cutting and pasting. From there, you can learn a number of other techniques, such as embossing or using a Cricut machine to cut shapes from the material of your choice.

"The main thing is to pick a direction and start," says Katie Schwent of Bloomsdale, Missouri, who sells her cards on Etsy under the name Happy Doodles by Katie. "You don't have to be able to draw or sketch, and you also don't have to have a huge array of supplies to make cards. Craft classes are great -- it gives you the time with an instructor to guide you and answer questions. The main idea is that you take what you learn and expand it with your own unique ideas."

The cost of craft supplies can add up quickly, so Marquez and Schwent suggest picking up a few basic items you really like, then gradually adding to your collection.

"I would start out with some good cardstock," says Schwent. "Browse the paper aisle of the craft store. They have so many stacks of paper, from embossed to themed to glitter. Pick a few that you like the most. A great type of glue is also necessary."

Next, purchase supplies that complement what you are best at, she advises. If you want to draw the art on your cards, buy some colored pencils, markers or Sharpies. If you like a scrapbook style of cards, choose rubber stamps, punches and embellishments.

"I can spend hours at a craft store, so set a budget for yourself and pick a few things to try," Schwent says.

She adds that many craft stores have weekly coupons, so using them regularly will add up to big savings, especially on pricier items such as craft storage, which you will definitely need to organize your growing collection.

Next, choose a theme for your card and start experimenting with your supplies -- color, pattern, layout, message -- until you're pleased with the results.

Greeting cards made by Shirley Marquez and her group. (Laura Simon)

"There is no template for a greeting card -- it is what you want to make it," says Schwent. "I have a basket of paper scraps, and sometimes when I have 'crafter's block' I randomly pick out a couple of pieces and use that as a starting point. It makes you think outside the box and come up with new designs and combinations. ... Don't be afraid to try something that may seem odd, and don't be discouraged if it doesn't come out as you had wished. I have had many cards that end up in my 'not so good' pile. The best part is, one day you can come back to those with a new viewpoint and make something beautiful!"

Visit www.hobbylobby.com to find your nearest store and a list of upcoming classes. Books and websites on cardmaking also may be helpful, say Marquez and Schwent, as is looking at other crafters' finished products for inspiration.

"I take classes yet myself," says Marquez. "I'm always learning, and I enjoy it as well. I enjoy taking classes and learning other peoples' point of view."

In addition, Saint Francis Medical Center and SoutheastHEALTH hold regular scrapbooking "crops" where crafters meet for an afternoon of scrapbooking, cardmaking and sharing ideas and projects. Visit the hospital websites or www.semoevents.com for details on coming events.

"Nothing beats getting an envelope in your mailbox from someone you love," says Schwent. "It is more personal than a text and more meaningful than an email. A machine can make perfectly straight cuts and evenly spaced lettering, but there is no love or sincerity that goes into every card. Making the card yourself gives it the perfect imperfectness that lies in all handmade crafts."