Feeling inspired by this post at Design*Sponge (which I can’t even find anymore - WHY didn’t I Pin it?) I was not surprisingly inspired to make a hand made card for The Cpt. The card I was originally inspired by used paper from old novels and had cute cut outs and it was so cute, the way it looked in the photos. Since I’m on an upcycling kick, I decided that using scrap paper was indeed, the way to go.

My card was a journey - I didn’t start out making what I ended up having, but I still think it’s more than pretty great.

Tools:

1. Scrap paper
2. Scissors
3. Letter stencils
4. Self adhesive photo corners
5. Some sassy and witty to say

Step 1: Scour your house for any and all paper scraps that might work. Newspaper - craft paper - poster board - wrapping paper. Whatever. 

Step 2: Pick your biggest piece of paper (or the piece you like best) and make that the base of your card. In an ideal world, that is a heavier piece of cardstock. Fold in half and wouldn’t you know it, you’ve got a card. 

Step 3: Pick a complimentary piece of paper to have as your “accent” paper. Cut it out a little bit smaller than the size of your main card. See picture if confused. Then, attach it using the decorative photo corners. 

Step 4: So I had these vinyl letter stencils sitting around, I had been meaning to return them. They cost me $16 and I didn’t end up using them for my mugs I did a few weeks ago. Although now that I have used these stencils, I would totally do more mugs using them. 

I decided to use them, because let’s be honest, I was never going to get around to returning them and for $16, waiting in that stupid line at Michaels isn’t worth it. I cracked them out and kind of fell in love with them instantly. Sticky on the back so they don’t get bungled up when you try and actually use them - all I really had to do was come up with something clever. Which in all reality, we all know that’s the hardest part. 

As for what to write - I choose the first thing he said to me when he picked me up for our first date. Charmed still by his odd ball sass - he had me at that hello. 

Step 5: Now that you’ve come up with something clever to actually say, you have to line up your stencils and fill them in. I choose this pen I had sitting around, it’s an opague white that is really more a paint pen that anything. It worked wonders but I did do two coats. 

Harry helped. Bixby pouted because we’re trying to get them to stay off the counters so I kept spraying him every time he went hunting for crumbs. Also - that bracket. I couldn’t find my ruler so I used that bracket instead. And my cut line was crooked anyways.   

On the inside of the card, I listed the date of our first date (I think that’s it) and then added another clever saying and voila! My handmade card is complete.