Looking for an easy way to use leftover paper scraps from your creative projects? Making handmade art cards is a beautiful way to transform magazine pages, book paper, gel prints, watercolor experiments, and mixed media leftovers into one-of-a-kind greeting cards. Whether you’re creating cards for birthdays, Mother’s Day, Easter, or simply to brighten someone’s day, this simple project is a wonderful reminder that even the smallest scraps can become something meaningful.
At The Turquoise Iris Journal, we love sharing projects that encourage artists and makers to create with what they already have. In this tutorial, mixed media artist BJ Massa demonstrates how to turn everyday paper scraps into handmade cards full of personality, creativity, and heart.
Editor’s Note: Some of our favorite creative projects begin with the pieces most people would throw away. BJ’s handmade card tutorial is a wonderful reminder that leftover papers, failed prints, and treasured book pages can become thoughtful gifts that someone will actually want to keep.
I must admit I am most definitely not a “card person”. I am thrifty, so the thought of paying five (or more!) dollars for something that will most likely be discarded is crazy. My mother, however, expects a card for every occasion. It is a running joke in our family that you will be in trouble if you don’t send Mom a card. My brother and I call each other with a reminder to get cards in the mail for whatever holiday is upcoming.
With Easter just a hop away, followed by Mother’s Day, I decided to try my hand at making some cards. Who knows… I may even send some out to friends just for fun.
I am a bit of a paper collector, which means I have a stash that includes cardstock, magazine pages, random bits of ephemera, old books, and the like. I’m also a creator who refuses to throw away failed art projects, so I have miscellaneous scraps of Gel plate prints and acrylic and watercolor attempts.
If you do not have a paper hoard like I do or a stack of failed art projects, that’s okay. A quick trip to a thrift store will yield a book or two and maybe some old magazines. Children’s picture books are particularly good because the art is usually bright, colorful, and fun.
So here’s what you need to make your own handmade art cards.
Supplies You’ll Need for Handmade Art Cards
- Blank greeting cards or folded cardstock
- Paper scraps
- Magazine pages
- Old books
- Gel plate prints
- Watercolor or acrylic paper scraps
- Scissors or paper trimmer or Exacto knife
- Glue stick or gel medium
- Markers or paint pens
- Rubber stamps (optional)
- Tissue paper, transfers, or embellishments
- Anything else you can think of to embellish your cards (stamps and ink, bits and pieces of tissue paper, decoupage paper). Nothing is off limits
Step 1:
I bought some packages of pre-made cards on sale at a big box craft store. If you are not using pre-made cards, fold a piece of cardstock in half as the base for your card. Be mindful if you are sending your card through the US Mail, oversized cards require extra postage. You might have to trim your cardstock a bit.
Step 2:
Sort through your scraps to find pieces you like. If you don’t have scraps, go through books or magazines and tear out pages or cut out images you want to use.
Handmade Art Card Creative Tip
Don’t limit yourself to scrapbook paper. Old maps, sheet music, sewing patterns, envelopes, children’s books, botanical illustrations, and even failed paintings can add unexpected texture and personality to your handmade cards.
Step 3:
Start gluing! You can use a plain old glue stick or you can be fancy and use Mod Podge or a gel medium. There is no right way or wrong way to do this. I find it helpful to lay out the arrangement before I start gluing. I can get a general idea of what the card will look like.
Step 4:
After your glue is dry it’s time to get fancy… or not. You can leave your card nice and simple or you can get creative. I always have bits and pieces of decor transfers leftover. I save every tiny piece because you never know when you’ll need them. This is also a great time to break out some stamps and ink. Iron Orchid Designs just released some gorgeous small stamp sets perfect for projects such as this.
If you don’t want to mess with glue, you can skip the paper bits and just use a stamp and some ink. I used the new Velveteen stamp with ink in the color Stone Grey both from Iron Orchid Designs to create an elegant and simple card.
I had fun with this project. I tend to be a bit quirky and some of my cards reflect that. Now I have a stash of blank cards I can send to friends when I think someone needs a little pick-me-up. Because who doesn’t love some happy mail? As for my mom, she might prefer a five-dollar store-bought card but she’ll get over it. (all kidding aside my mom and I have a wonderful relationship).
To purchase the Velveteen stamp I used click here.
Other small-scale stamps that are good for smaller projects are:
Countryside Memoirs
Frequently Asked Questions
What paper works best for handmade cards?
Almost any paper can be used, including cardstock, magazine pages, book pages, gel prints, watercolor paper, tissue paper, scrapbook paper, and handmade papers.
Can beginners make handmade greeting cards?
Absolutely! Handmade cards are one of the easiest mixed media projects because there are no rules. Simple collage techniques, stamping, and layered papers create beautiful results.
What can I do with leftover art paper?
Leftover gel prints, watercolor experiments, acrylic painting scraps, book pages, and magazine clippings are perfect for creating handmade greeting cards, gift tags, bookmarks, journals, and collage art.
Continue Reading
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Turn Everyday Scraps into Something Worth Keeping
One of the joys of creating is discovering that even the smallest scraps can become something beautiful. Handmade cards aren’t just a thoughtful way to celebrate birthdays and holidays; they’re tiny works of art that share encouragement, gratitude, and creativity with the people we care about.
We hope BJ’s project inspires you to look at your own collection of papers with fresh eyes and start creating.
If you enjoy tutorials like this, you’ll love The Turquoise Iris Journal, where artists from around the world share creative techniques, inspiring stories, and projects designed to spark your imagination.
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