Card Making Basics

While I was working on my very first scrapbook, I decided to sign up for a scrabooking basics class at my local craft store. I didn't know what to expect, but I was hoping to get a few good tips on how to put attractive pages together. Instead, the teacher spent practically the entire time showing us different adhesives, tools, and other products that we could use. Even though knowing about the scrapbooking tools was helpful, it didn't fulfill my expectations at all.

I ended up buying a scrapbooking basics idea book and using the layouts as inspiration for my book. Along the way, I started to pick up on some basic habits and rules that a lot of people seemed to follow. Even though most people say that they just do "whatever looks good," there actually seem to be certain styles, patterns, and techniques that they use. 

Since I finished that scrapbook, I have spent a lot of my crafting time working on cards. I feel a lot more comfortable talking about card making basics than about scrapbooking basics. Rather than just talk about the different card shapes and sizes, and tools that you might want to buy, I am devoting this series to the basic techniques and the rules of good visual composition that go into some of the best cards that I have seen and made.

Everyone has their own card making style, which may or may not be in line with all of the current fads or trends. Whether you have a lot of experience making cards, or have never made one in your life, I think it is beneficial to recognize that there are certain "rules" of card making - just like there are rules for photography, painting, writing, and other arts. By understanding the card making basics and the rules of composition, you can decide which rules and techniques will work for you, and which to throw out the window!