Written by our newest contributor, Jess Collier of If Only They Would Nap. Welcome, Jess!
I love to give cards for holidays. Since becoming a mom, one of my favorite things is seeing my kids’ excitement when they receive them. But one of my least favorite things? Spending money on cards that are just going to be thrown away after a day or two.
The solution is simple: make your own cards! I made some super simple felt envelopes and cards using paper and fabric scraps. These are perfect for you OR your kids to make.
Supplies:
- Felt, felted wool, or fleece (all fabrics that are pretty sturdy and won’t fray)
- Embroidery thread
- Needle
- Scissors
- Buttons (one per envelope)
- Cardstock
- Fabric scraps
1. Cut two rectangles of your fabric. The exact size is up to you – it depends how big you want your envelope to be. One of the pieces should be between an inch or two longer and have a rounded edge.
2. Near the rounded edge, cut a small slit just large enough to fit your button.
3. Attach a button to the other fabric piece, using your needle and thread.
4. Put the smaller rectangle on top of the larger and stitch around the edges where they meet. I used a blanket stitch (you can find a tutorial for how to do this on my blog), but you could also use a simple running stitch (which Nicole explained here).
Your fabric envelopes are completed! Now for the cards…
This can be done in so many different ways. I cut hearts out of scraps from a felted wool sweater and then sewed them on the cardstock with a running stitch. You can use any type of fabric, but know that many types (cottons and other woven fabrics) will fray at the edges – which could add a really fun look to your card!
Now you have unique Valentines, with envelopes that can be re-used (they’re perfect for gift cards) and are unlikely to be thrown away the next day.
Do you enjoy making cards? What’s your favorite card making technique?
