Tutorial Tuesday- birthday cards

Welcome to the first Tutorial Tuesday!  For the next few Tuesdays, I will be sharing how-tos for some of my favorite ideas and projects.  This week, we're talking about birthday cards. 

Here are the supplies you need:

multicolored card stock
markers
glue stick
scissors
card sized envelopes
computer and printer (optional)

Easy enough, right?  I bet you have most of that in your house right now.  And if you don't have card stock, a big pack of multicolored card stock will probably set you back about $4- the price of ONE store bought birthday card. 

You also need 2-3 hours.  Steve and I have made birthday cards like this for the past three years and we like to make them during the week between Christmas and New Year's.  It's cold out and we light pine candles and put on music and the whole thing goes by in a flash. 

First, count up how many birthday cards you think you will need for the year and then add 5 to that number.  You know there are always a few birthdays that sneak up on you each year.  Cut the sheets of card stock in half along the long side so that you have two 8 1/2" by 5 1/2" pieces.  Then fold each of those pieces in half to make a card. 

Then, pick a theme for the year.  So far, we have done birds, birthday cakes, and candles.  For the birds and birthday cakes, we searched online for an image that we liked and then printed it out to make a pattern.  For the candles, we drew our own. 

We happen to have a lot of patterned paper, gifted to us by a friend who was moving, but solids would work equally well.  Trace and cut out as many of your shape as you need and then glue them onto the cards.  It's handy (but not necessary) to have two people for this step because one can cut while the other is tracing.

Now, using your best handwriting, write "happy birthday" on all the cards.  If you're not confident in your handwriting, you could splurge on a "happy birthday" stamp and let that do the writing for you.  Not a bad investment as far as stamps go- people will continue to have birthdays. 

And you're done!  Put them in the closet with the envelopes and some stamps and you will never again have that panicky "I forgot so-and-sos birthday and have to run out and get a card before the mailman gets here" feeling again.  And think of all the money you'll be saving!  We have used the same supplies for all three years and we usually make about 20 cards per year. 

Another bonus- your mom will love it.  You know how moms are about anything handmade.  

Speaking of moms, I am off to mail a little surprise package to mine.  Today is looking quite promising- the sun has returned, after a five day vacation, and I am hoping to get some pictures of the rest of the spring collection to post in the shop.  Hope you're able to enjoy some sunshine as well!