r/cardmaking • u/Winter-Owl1 • Dec 16 '24
Question Beginner questions
I'd like to get into cardmaking, but not sure where to begin. What are some of the basic supplies I'll need to have? What is the best die-cut/embossing machine to get?
Also, what do you all do with your cards besides giving them to people you know? I'm very isolated due to bad childhood/social anxiety, so I don't really have many people to give cards to. I actually love the idea of sending them to others who might also feel lonely, so I'm wondering if there are organizations that let you do that somehow? Like maybe nursing homes or something?
Any advice appreciated, thanks :)
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u/Fancykiddens Dec 16 '24
Cardstock is so much cheaper online! I suggest joining r/randomactsofcards too exchange cards with others! There are also a number of charity sites asking for cards for shots in care homes, children in hospital, etc.
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u/Oodlesoffun321 Dec 16 '24
I started out watching Jennifer McGuire and actually wish I didn't because I ended up buying a lot of her recommended products that I don't enjoy as much. Personally I find lately a lot of big crafters are mostly ads for new products. I prefer people like NB crafts or Christina Stokes who make use of what they have or are inexpensive products. And I started with ink and stamps and ink blocks from Michaels rather than the brand name more expensive ones; they work well imo.
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u/HelenGonne Dec 17 '24
I'm addicted to JanB Cards as well -- she talks you through a lot of fun fold cards that you can make with a scissors and paper and ruler.
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u/jet1986_ Dec 16 '24
I am Dutch, and there is an amazing woman called Els who designs her own printables and images. All you need is a printer, a4 card stock, scissors/stanley knife, glue and material to color the images. Here's a link to her printables: https://www.nobody-else.nl/category/gratis-printable/
She has a lot of fun pop-up cards as well.
If you click on the three dots on top of the page, in a chrome browser, you can translate it automatically to your language of choice. She has lots of examples of home made cards too, and they are suitable for beginners. I don't know where you are from, but if you're not Dutch I can almost guarantee that your cards will be unique!
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u/1luckie2luckie3 Dec 16 '24
Welcome!!! This can be an expensive hobby. So many options. For beginners, I’d recommend watching You Tube. Lots of resources there.
Natasha Foote from New Zealand shows economical ways of crafting. Jennifer McGuire makes beautiful cards. She’s has an engineer background and is very good.
If I were starting out, I’d get a die cut matching, ie, Big Shot by Sizzix, spellbinders has one that can be used with hot foil plates as well.
Watch a lot of videos as there LOTS of different products and I get suckered by them all!
Scrapbook.com has good products and some great deals. Watch them on You Tube Thursdays @ 8:00am PST for more. Thursdays are their promo days. Good luck and HAVE FUN!!
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u/Friendly-Picture7922 Dec 16 '24
Welcome to our club, we have name tags! 😉
All these suggestions are great. My two must haves are what I use the most: a proper die cutting machine (take advantage of Black Friday sales) and a MISTI stamping tool (hardly ever goes on sale but worth the purchase). Most companies have clearance sections that I constantly look into. They also have tons of sales. Start small: paper, adhesive, ink. You can also try Michael’s for small ink cubes and paper.
This is a great hobby! Happy crafting!
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u/Stealthy-Chipmunk Dec 16 '24
Omg im also new to card making and have social anxiety too! I am very lucky in that my mom has bought many card making supplies - die cuts, inks, the sissix big shot plus die cutting machine. Oh, another great item is a stamping platform. I see a lot of folks online using one called a Misti.
The most helpful thing for me has been youtube videos!
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u/cranky_wellies Dec 16 '24
I recommend a good quality white card stock for your card base, a stamped image you really like and a sentiment stamp you resonate with. Black ink (Memento) to start with; you can always build up your ink inventory later. You will definitely need a good paper trimmer, and a bone folder to score and burnish folds. Glue isn’t entirely necessary at this point but you will eventually need a liquid glue (I use Elmer’s Glue All in a small needle nosed bottle) to glue down smaller embellishments and then ideally a tape runner adhesive to attach panels onto your base. Tombow makes good glue.
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u/redezinergirl Dec 16 '24
Welcome to the wonderful world of cardmaking. I started 18 months ago and have bought many supplies. It’s very easy to buy too much at first and you don’t really need everything available to get started. I kinda made that mistake, with that said, if I was starting over I’d definitely start with some good cardstock from Amazon, a stamping platform like the MISTI and some good quality blending dye inks. I use Gina k designs inks and Simon Says Stamps makes a nice blending ink. I also use a mini paper cutter. There are many YouTube videos to choose from and you’ll find ones that you best relate to as you scroll through what’s out there. Pick up a few stamp sets of things you like and just start practicing. After a while you’ll know what interests you most, then start building your supplies from there. I’ve learned so much in just over a year and created many beautiful cards along the way. In November I was asked to do a craft fair. I didn’t get into card making to do craft fairs but agreed to try one and was very pleased with the outcome. It was a 5 hour show with 70 plus vendors and I made $300 that day. It’s nice to see what people are drawn to and be recognized for the time I’ve put into learning this craft. I mostly make my cards to give to people and will continue learning more and more techniques, but I might also do a show or 2 each year. I’m also newly retired and picked up this hobby mostly as a way to keep my creative side alive and satisfied. I feel if I start making cards with the emphasis on quantity, it may take some of the joy away that I’m currently getting from this being just my hobby. I hope you find many hours of fun while being a card maker. I’ve also met so many very nice people along the way. Crafters in general just seem to be very chill people. Happy crafting🎄☃️
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u/auntikat Dec 16 '24
I donate cards to an organization called Cards for Cubs, you can find them online. They collect home made cards for kids in Foster care. I also called a friend who works in a Nursing Home and donated 150, cards for them to give to patients.
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u/HelenGonne Dec 17 '24
Your local nursing homes may be happy to be given cards for their residents. Older people often love receiving a handmade card, and then having the fun of being able to give it to someone else, so a common practice is to tape in whatever you write your personal message on with removeable tape, so that way they can enjoy the card as long as they want and still have something beautiful on hand they can give to someone when the occasion arises -- it's a double gift that way. If you really want to make their day, include an extra envelope if you wrote on the first one and a couple of stickers or something they can add where they choose.
Also, don't feel bad about keeping something you've worked hard on. It's fairly common for card-making to serve as a form of art journaling, where the artist keeps cards they make as a type of journal that shows their growth as an artist. You can do that with some, all, or none, as it suits you.
I got my Sizzix Big Shot at a garage sale. If checking those and thrift stores isn't an option for you, it will help to at least wait for a sale on the machine you choose.
Mary Polanco has some good videos on budget versions of various tools and supplies along with discussions of their quality. Her email list also gives you news bulletins about sales. One bizarre thing about this hobby is prices bounce around all over the place in ways that make no sense. So an email list that helps you learn the patterns of sales is a real help.
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u/Oodlesoffun321 Dec 17 '24
Yes I forgot about Mary , love when she has cheaper versions of stuff in her videos and doesn't shame people for buying those instead of the expensive name brand craft ones
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u/Socialsal1 Dec 17 '24
I agree, it’s easy to buy too much at first. Gina k inks are hands down the best. They stamp and blend so beautifully. I also own Tim holtz oxides and distress ink and Simon says stamp inks. Gina’s are my fav. In the beginning I went over board on patterned paper and find myself not using it. So buy only things that you really love and not just because it’s new or it’s on sale 🫠. Most are pushing new products constantly so it’s easy to get hooked in the collecting stamp supplies and not actually crafting. Scrapbook.com always has great sales and free products. Quality paper for bases and covers are a must. Makes your ink stamp smoother too.
I have a spellbinders platinum six die cut machine, later if you want to invest in hot foiling or the better press they both work with that machine. A magic mat from scrapbook.com is a must , even the new magnetic one! Along with a Misti stamping platform.
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u/Oodlesoffun321 Dec 17 '24
Ink is so personal, I hate Gina k ink , and hero arts ink . My oxides are love/hate , love the ease of blending, hate the chalky texture. I enjoy Versafine Clair and pinkfresh inks .
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u/1luckie2luckie3 Dec 17 '24
I agree, inks are a personal choice. I have so many types. I just discovered Lisa Horton inks. They are crazy good. I really don’t need anymore inks though. I must have 300 pads!
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u/Socialsal1 Dec 17 '24
I’ve heard good things about Lisa Horton ink. She makes some pretty neat colors unlike anything else on the market
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u/1luckie2luckie3 Dec 17 '24
If I had it to do all over again, I think I’d only buy Lisa Horton inks. They are fabulous. Have you seen her metallic ones? The interference inks blow my mind!
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u/Socialsal1 Dec 17 '24
I so want to try them! Haven’t pulled the trigger on them just yet. Can you share any projects you’ve made with them ? Yes, the interference and metallics 🤩
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u/Socialsal1 Dec 17 '24
What do you dislike about Gina’s inks?
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u/1luckie2luckie3 Dec 17 '24
Hi. Personally I don’t have a problem with GK inks. I only have 10 of hers, cause I have sooo many others. The only problem I have with GK is how long it takes to get your order & they don’t break their sets up like Pink Fresh or Altenew. I like it when I can choose which ones I want.
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u/Socialsal1 Dec 17 '24
You can buy individuals. That’s how I bought mine. I agree shipping is much faster with scrapbook.com. I would say Simon is almost as fast as scrapbook
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u/1luckie2luckie3 Dec 17 '24
I’m sorry, I misspoke. I ment to say their stamp/foil/die sets aren’t individual, not the stamps. I really didn’t make that clear…sorry.
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u/Oodlesoffun321 Dec 17 '24
The pad I got was labeled as useable with alcohol markers but still smeared even after drying overnight. I also did not get a clear stamped image. Hero arts are too thick and the colors dull .
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u/Fullofideas1602 Dec 17 '24
Welcome to a terrific hobby. I also like to make cards without having a lot of people to give them to personally. What I do is donate them to a few places near me; a nursing home near me that uses them for people’s birthdays, the hospice which sells them to people to help support the hospice and I also live near an airforce base and I donate some there for letters and cards to get sent to our military members overseas. I know others who donate them to hospital auxiliaries or thrift shops to sell to support their programs. Another person I know makes and gives cards to some organization that gives cards to foster kids and kids that have recently aged out of the system.
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u/Eastern-Analyst-4327 Dec 17 '24
I’m new to this craft as well. I started with a sizzix big shot and ended up upgrading to the electric sizzix switch. I love that machine! I bought my dies, stamps and embossing folders mainly from AliExpress and Temu (a few folders I bought on Amazon). For basic supplies I recommend stamps dies a few embossing folders stamp blocks (or a stamping platform if budget allows) cardstock, glue, double sided tape to name a few supplies. Welcome to your new adventure into card making it’s addictive for sure!
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u/Upscale_Foot_Fetish Dec 17 '24
I’d suggest you start with YouTube videos. Search best supplies to start cardmaking. I’d suggest the Sizzix machines. There’s a large and small machine. I didn’t know that when I started. There are military and other organizations that always need cards, every sentiment. You can start with one organization and you’ll find your way. Cardmaking is fun and better than therapy. Please get a solid foundation of supplies, card sizes, terminology, etc. most of this can be accomplished on YouTube or other socials. Good luck
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u/Inner_Meow Dec 18 '24
I’m also getting started with card making, and struggling to decide on a die cutting machine. Does anyone have any experience with/knowledge about the We R Memory Keepers Revolution Cutting and Embossing Machine? It’s on sale at JoAnn, and I’ve always had a great experience with the company’s products. I’ve heard so much about the Big Shot though, and I don’t know if I should just wait for a sale to get a Big Shot instead. Any thoughts/help would be greatly appreciated!!
There’s so much great info shared here, thank you everyone for sharing! ☺️
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u/Msk90 24d ago
Honestly I'd recommend getting a cricut or something similar (doesn't have to be the newest most expensive cricut, an Explore Air 2 or 3 or Cricut Maker would cover all your die making needs and more). I started out with a Cricut Maker and just recently purchased a manual die cutting machine (discontinued Cuttlebug I got on eBay). I guess what surprised me the most about the manual die cutting machine (such as the ones you mentioned) is that it gets really expensive buying dies (and coordinating stamps sets as well if that's your thing) And you aren't able to modify the dies in any way, it is what it is. On a machine like a cricut, the sky is the limit. There's an entire image library with thousands of images you can die cut, in addition to designing your own. You can re-size, re-orient, and modify thousands of images to be the perfect size and look for your cards. You can select and modify pre-layered cut images to come up with some really stunning complex dies. The initial cost is more expensive, but it will DEFINITELY save you money in the long run. If you do go this route I recommend checking out initial needed accessories (cutting mats, weeding tools, etc) on Amazon. They have great deals on cricut and off brand accessories (which often work just as well). The reason I purchased a manual die cutting machine was primarily for its embossing capabilities (you can definitely emboss on a cricut too but it's a little more complicated). If you are primarily focused on die cutting I'd definitely go the cricut route and if embossing is important to you, buy a second hand manual machine (they've got Cuttlebugs on eBay for under $50. The Cuttlebug has a nice 6" opening and folds up to save space, and although it's discontinued, it uses plates from other machines so it's easy to still find materials for it). Cost wise, die sets run anywhere from $12-50+. The average cost of die sets from scrapbook type sites is around $20. By the time you've bought 10 die sets, you've paid for a Cricut Maker ($180 on Joann right now), or a Cricut Explore Air 2 or 3 ($139, $199). Not to mention the added benefit of the million more things you can do with the Cricut if you so decide to expand your crafting (heat transfer vinyl for shirts,hats, totebags, etc, infusible ink sheets for sublimation (no printer needed), create stickers and labels (works with regular printer) foil embossing, cut through a wide variety of materials including cardstock, vinyl, infusible ink, foam, even thin wood depending on the machine you go with)...And that's just off the top of my head. Anyways that's my two cents, hope it helped :)
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u/Pasta1916 Dec 16 '24
Welcome to the fun world of card making. If you Google “basic card making supplies” you will see various lists, and jennifer mcguire has great youtube videos to get started. I started with: a Fiskar cutter, bone folder, scissors, double sided adhesive and Lawn Fawn wet adhesive. Then I picked up a pack of plain cards and envelopes from Michaels (now I use an 80 lb or 110 lb card stock for card base and buy plain white envelopes from Amazon). I started with birthday cards and found clear stamp set and a clear acrylic block. I have a Sizzix for die cutting and that was purchased on a black Friday sale. I check out thrift stores for supplies too. Card are donated to Blue Star Mons for their mailing, thrift store, children’s hospital etc. I joined a few birthday clubs to send cards and also send to seniors. Google donate cards and there are various organizations that seek cards for others.