Creative Library

1 handmade artist card from Erie, PA

2 clearly not cleopatra

3 Microsoft Designer Pop Yourself Funko Ai image

GATHER YOUR RESOURCES:
Start by collecting your favorite cards in a folder, and put them in order of what you like the most. I’m pretty sure you’ll start seeing some trends in what you like and what you don’t. This doesn’t mean you have to buy them. You could simply take photographs of the ones you like when you’re in a store.

STAY ORGANIZED
If you’re researching online, you can always take a snapshot of your screen (usually a plugin for your browser or “print screen” button and any editor will do.) Or if you have received good ones, definitely keep them. I like to sort them by the feeling they give me. Funny, warm, formal, casual, spiritual etc. are some good starting places.

FOLDERS: DIGITAL & ANALOG
Similarly you’ll want another folder for favorite images, including photographs to support personalization. Let’s say you know you want to provide cards for your family and you happen to know how to use an Ai program like ChatGPT, StarryAi, or the app Image Playground.

CREATE MORE OF WHAT YOU LOVE
Consider exporting a caricature of your favorite family member for the front of a card with a clever or fun holiday greeting. If you’re having problems thinking of one, you can always ask that Ai program for more ideas. These are things you don’t have to print out; you can simply email the card to your loved one.

MAKING APPROPRIATE PRINT CHOICES
If you want to print them out, consider how many people this card might serve? Who can you send this card to with that loved one’s blessing? Better yet, is it possible to get their blessing to print it as your annual holiday card prior to printing it? These are the sticky politics of art, and when it comes to using another person’s image, it always helps to give the subject of your work formal consent (and in writing if there is any memory issue.)

MAKING MULTIPLES WITH YOUR AUDIENCE IN MIND
Write as many stock outer card holiday greetings as you think you’ll need for the people you want to serve. It may help you to make lists of people by denomination or sense of humor. It might also help to create at least three inside stock statements to streamline the process for these cards with a simple personalization to help it feel more authentic.

CLEAR SOME SPACE
When you feel like you have enough material in each of these three folders, then and only then, pull it together at a place and a time when you think you can manage a new project.

WHERE DO I WORK BEST?
Maybe you’ll need to clear off an old desk that you forgot you had, or go to the library and rent out a private booth to focus. Or maybe you just need that favorite coffee shop that has that table space, music you love, and outlets in case you wanted some computer time as well.

READY FOR ANYTHING
Bring your folders with a notebook and/or work it out on a computer with Canva or any other favorite editing program, using what feels right for your project. Don’t try to make a “perfect” card. And keep changing it up. Work it like a collage where anything can happen. Eventually you’ll come up with something. Or maybe you will need to come back when you have more ideas in the folders. It’s always up to you.

START WITH THE EASIEST TASK FIRST
I’ll add one more specific example of some cards that I do from time to time. This is super easy because there are templates online that you can personalize on both Canva and Adobe Express. If you don’t like one, you can always go to the other. And the other thing I like to do to give it a homemade feeling is I’ll create an origami folded card. There are a lot of youtube ideas out there. Come to think of it, don’t forget to look at Pinterest boards.

Card Examples to piggyback ideas from

How to make cards with Videos

The perfect turn of phrase

Here's a new card making app from my Google Opal

Cooked.wiki Crafty Recipes

Groupon Card Printing Resources

Groupon self-Inking Stamp Resource

instructable of Ai images of Funko Pop! Yourself custom dolls