Card making is the art of creating a handmade greeting card by hand using color, dimension, texture, and mixed media elements. A handmade card is not a printed card pulled from a store shelf. It is something you made with intention, with your own hands, for a specific person.

Color comes from cardstock, patterned paper, ink, paints, paper piecing, and more. Dimension comes from layering, foam tape, and die cuts that lift off the card surface. Texture comes from embossing, specialty papers, and mixed media elements like glitter, enamel dots, and ribbon. Mixed media means you are not limited to one technique or one supply type. You combine whatever serves the card.

At Crafts on the Move we focus on wafer-thin die cutting and paper piecing as the foundation of card making. It is a approachable technique for beginners and endlessly creative for experienced makers.

A handmade card does something a store bought card never can. It tells the person who receives it that you took the time.

These are the tools you will reach for the most when you sit down to make a card.

A paper trimmer gives you clean straight cuts on cardstock and card bases. Scissors are still essential for smaller cuts and trimming die cuts. A bone folder is used for scoring and creating crisp clean folds.

Adhesive comes in a few forms and you will need liquid and dry. Liquid adhesive works best for small pieces, intricate die cuts, and anything that needs a precise application. Dry adhesive, like foam tape or double sided tape, is ideal for layering and adding dimension to your cards. Read our full guide on choosing the right adhesive here.

Tweezers are non-negotiable once you start working with small die cuts. Your fingers simply cannot place tiny pieces accurately. A good pair of craft tweezers saves time and frustration.

Card bases and paper round out your supply list. Pre-made card bases in A2 size are a great starting point. Patterned paper and coordinating cardstock give your cards color, texture, and depth

Start with cardstock, a paper trimmer, adhesive, scissors, a ruler, and a few stamps or dies. (Links are to blog posts for additional information.). Grab your FREE Beginner Basics Tools and Supplies list here.

That is enough to make clean, finished cards without filling your shelves right away. White cardstock and a few colored sheets go a long way. A paper trimmer gives you straight cuts, and adhesive keeps everything where it belongs.

If you already have a stamp set and ink pad, you can start with that. If you prefer dies, pick one simple die set and a compatible die cutting machine and build from there.

Grab your basic card making tools and supplies checklist here.

Get started with no overwhelm.

A die cut is a shape cut from cardstock using a metal die and a die cutting machine. You sandwich the die between cardstock and cutting plates, run it through the machine, and the die presses through the cardstock to cut the shape cleanly. Die cuts can be simple geometric shapes or intricate detailed designs. At Crafts on the Move we specialize in wafer-thin dies, which produce clean precise cuts with minimal effort.

You need a manual die cutting machine, wafer-thin dies, cardstock in a few colors, a bone folder, a cutting mat, and adhesive. Start simple. One machine, one die set, one pack of cardstock. You can build from there once you know what you enjoy making.

The most important thing to know is that not all dies work in all machines. At Crafts on the Move we carry wafer-thin dies, which work in most manual die cutting machines on the market. The Spellbinders Platinum and the Sizzix Big Shot are both solid starting points. Both are manual, both are reliable, and both work with the dies we carry. If you are just starting out, either one will serve you well. Click here to learn more about die cutting mistakes.

Paper piecing is coloring with paper. Instead of picking up a crayon or marker to add color to an image, you cut pieces of cardstock or patterned paper and use them to build the image instead. The result is a dimensional, textured look that you simply cannot achieve with traditional coloring.

Think of it like assembling a puzzle. Each die cut piece has its place. You put them together and a complete image emerges.

Paper piecing does not always mean layers. Some dies are designed to be assembled flat, with each piece fitting neatly alongside the next. Others are built up in layers for added dimension. The die itself tells you which approach to take. At Crafts on the Move we specialize in wafer-thin dies designed specifically for paper piecing, from simple two piece designs to intricate multi layered images.

You need a die cutting machine, wafer-thin dies designed for paper piecing, cardstock, adhesive, tweezers, and a pick up tool.

Cardstock weight matters for paper piecing. Use 85 lb to 110 lb cardstock. It is substantial enough to hold its shape when cut into small pieces but not so thick that it creates unwanted bulk when layered.

Adhesive makes or breaks your finished piece. Liquid adhesive with a fine metal tip gives you the flow control and precision that paper piecing requires. You are often working with very small pieces and you need to place adhesive exactly where you want it without flooding the piece or missing an edge.

Tweezers and a pick up tool are game changers. Your fingers cannot place small die cut pieces accurately or consistently. A good pair of craft tweezers and a pick up tool give you the control you need to assemble your puzzle pieces cleanly and exactly where they belong.

Want to see what paper piecing looks like in finished form? Click here.

Cardstock weight is measured in pounds or grams per square meter. For card making, 65 lb cardstock is your standard weight for die cuts and paper piecing. It cuts cleanly and layers without adding too much bulk. 80 lb and above is better for card bases where you need structure. Anything lighter than 65 lb tends to tear when run through a die cutting machine. We primarily carry 100lb cardstock for our solid colors, and patterned papers will vary. Read more about cardstock here.

An A2 card base is the standard size for handmade cards and fits a standard A2 envelope. Here is the process from start to finish.

You will need a sheet of 110 lb cardstock, a 12-inch paper trimmer with a score tool, and a bone folder.

Cut your cardstock to 8.5 x 5.5 inches. This gives you the exact size needed to fold down to a finished A2 card base of 4.25 x 5.5 inches.

Place the trimmed piece in your scorer at the 4.25 inch mark and score across the full width of the card. The score line creates a clean, crisp fold line.

Fold the card along the score line with the scored side facing up. Run your bone folder firmly along the fold to set a sharp, clean edge.

Your card base is ready.

For a full video tutorial and tips on choosing the right cardstock, visit our complete beginner guide here.

A score line is a pressed crease in your cardstock that tells it exactly where to fold. Without scoring, cardstock cracks or folds unevenly. You make a score line using a scoring tool or bone folder along a ruler before you fold. For an A2 card base, you score at 4.25 inches on an 8.5 x 11 sheet, then fold. It takes ten seconds and makes a significant difference in the finished card.

Want to go deeper? Read our full guide on scoring here.

That happens. Use it or set it aside until it fits a project.

A first purchase is not a final decision. A stamp set you thought you would use on every card may become the one you reach for at holiday time. A die set you bought for one reason may work for three others.

Start small and keep going. You will learn what belongs in your kit by actually making cards.

Some products are trial an error. For example, you might purchase a paper trimmer and find one that offers more benefits. This happens a lot.

Pro tip - If you can try it out, that is one of the best ways to see if the item will work for you. Ask your friends, a group, drop us a question.

Tap the stamp onto the ink pad rather than pressing the pad onto the stamp. You want an even coat of ink without overloading.

Stamp straight down onto your cardstock with firm even pressure. Do not rock or slide the stamp or you will get a blurred image. Lift straight up.

Clean your stamp immediately after use with a stamp cleaner and a soft cloth. Ink left to dry on a stamp shortens its life significantly.

Faux stained glass card making is a technique that replicates the look of stained glass using paper crafting supplies. The result is a card with rich translucent color, defined outlines, and the kind of depth you simply do not see in standard card making. It is a technique developed here at Crafts on the Move.

The process combines several supplies working together. You start with heat safe acetate as your base. Embossing ink and a heat tool create the raised outline structure that mimics the lead lines in traditional stained glass. Distress Embossing Glaze adds the rich saturated color and translucent quality that gives the technique its stained glass appearance. A Glimmer Foil machine and foil finish the piece with a reflective quality that catches light exactly the way real stained glass does.

The supplies are specific and the process is precise. When it comes together the effect is unlike anything else in card making. The technique is hard to replicate with alcohol inks and markers.

More faux glass details here.