Handmade Card Making Supplies List For Everything You Need

This handmade card making supplies list contains all the items I wish I had known about when I was just starting out.

I created this handmade card making supplies list of all my best recommendations to save you time and money. Especially if you are a beginner, having this list will be useful to know which products are worth buying.

It is a good idea to buy only a handful of products at a time. I always recommend that people build up their craft supply stash little by little. This way, you can take inventory easily and save money along the way.

Helpful Handmade Card Making Supplies List

The items included in this list are my tried-and-true card making supplies I use daily.

After many years of testing different brands and tools, I have found the overall best and highest quality supplies. Everything from adhesive to stamping tools, these items will take your cards to the next level!

1. Cardstock For Cardmaking

This first item on the list is a “no-brainer”. You will need high-quality cardstock for your card bases.

The average size of a card is A2, or 4.25 by 5.5 inches. Although, you can make cards bigger or smaller if you want to. The important thing is that the paper is thick enough to hold ink and the weight of embellishments.

Another thing to consider is which color of cardstock is best to use. Choose from white, black, kraft, or any variety of colored paper. I personally love to use watercolor cardstock because I like to paint on my cards.

You can definitely find pre-cut and scored card bases to save you the extra work. However, to save some money you can also letter sized paper down to exact size.

2. Best Adhesive For Card Making

If you’ve been around for a while, you have probably heard me preach about the importance of acid-free adhesives.

The last thing you want is to put in a lot of time and effort into your cards and have them fall apart. By using high-quality adhesive, you are ensuring the longevity of your cards.

There are different types of adhesives to choose from. The most commonly used are double-sided tape, wet glue, glue dots, and foam tape.

In all honesty, the type of project I am working on depends which adhesive I use. For thick card bases, I prefer double-sided tape. And for tiny embellishments I enjoy using a small tip glue for precision. Foam tape is also great for adding some dimension to your cards.

I have included my trusty glue adhesives that I use daily. However, when shopping for glue just look for the non-acid, or archival quality labels. I recommend to stay away from the typical school glues.

Using the right adhesives will give your cards the best foundation.

3. Best Card Making Tools For Stamping

Now for the fun card making supplies: stamps!

Obviously, creating the card design is the most fun part about card making. Stamps are a fun way to bring your cards to life, with all sorts of designs to choose from. Everything from scenic views, animals, patterns, florals, and anything else you can think of.

There are two main types of stamps, block stamps and acrylic. Block stamps are the traditional stamps that come on a wooden block. Newer acrylic stamps, also called cling stamps, are clear and need to be placed on an acrylic block before using (Source: Splitcoast Stampers).

My favorite thing about using stamps is the fact that they can be used over and over again. Unlike stickers or embellishments, you can use one stamp on hundreds of cards.

Stamps are easy to clean and store for future use. You can slowly build up a collection of stamp designs for every holiday or occasion.

4. Ink Pads

The type of ink you use will also affect the look of your card designs.

Having a high-quality ink will help the stamped image go on smoothly and prevent any smudging. There are dozens of different ink brands to choose from. No matter what brand you choose it is important that it has these qualities:

• Archival safe
• Non-toxic
• Water resistant or water proof
• Fade resistant
• Smudge proof

My favorite brands of ink are Ranger, and Crafter’s Companion. I specifically love the Crafter’s Companion waterproof ink pad for watercolor painting. Even after applying paint directly after stamping, the ink does not smear.

Make sure you have a reliable black ink to start. Then, as you grow your craft supplies you can included different colored inks. There are so many different colors to choose from! It may be a good idea to try the mini sample packs of inks to test which brands and colors you like best.

5. Handmade Card Making Supplies List – Paper Cutter

Having a good pair of scissors or a paper trimmer will give your cards clean, crisp edges.

You will of course need scissors to cut out designs and embellishments. I always have a mini pair of scissors on hand to cut out tiny embellishments. The sharper the scissors, the more precise you can make your cuts.

A paper trimmer is also good to have, especially for cutting down cardstock into card bases. The last thing you want is rough edges around the card.

I love the We R Makers paper trimmer and scoreboard for beginners. It has everything you need for measuring, cutting, and scoring your cards. Plus, it is fairly affordable compared to other paper cutters.

If you are somebody whose hands get tired after crafting for a while, look for comfort grip scissors. This will make a big difference in your mobility and comfort in your hands.

6. Embellishments To Decorate Cards

Embellishments refer to the decorative materials used to brighten up any card. Sequins, stickers, flowers, buttons, and ribbon are just a few embellishments you can use on cards.

You can find good embellishments almost anywhere. Check your junk drawers for any spare buttons, or find items in your supply scraps.

Once you decide on a theme for your cards, you can start planning how you want to decorate. Also, think of a color scheme to follow that will make your cards stand out.

One thing to consider when using embellishments on your cards is how bulky, or how much weight, they will bring. Make sure the decorations will still fit inside of an envelope. And if you are mailing out your cards, think of the postage costs.

Embellishments are a fun way to add themed elements to your card designs.

7. Handmade Card Supplies For Coloring

Another must-have on my handmade card making supplies list are coloring tools. Markers and paint are a great way to add color to stamped images and backgrounds.

Alcohol-based markers are best for coloring in solid images. The brush tips make blending super easy and gives a realistic look.

Copic markers are a favorite among many card makers. However, copic markers tend to be a bit pricey if you buy a collection of colors. When I first started, I bought the more affordable brand of markers that work good enough.

My preferred way of coloring on cards is by watercolor paint. I love watercolor for a variety of reasons. One of those being how beginner-friendly the paint is. Watercolor painting is easy to learn, and if you make a mistake it is easy to fix.

Watercolor paint gives such a fun and effortless finish to card designs.

Another coloring tool to consider are paint pens. These are an essential on my card making materials list for getting that bold and vibrant appearance. I typically use paint pens for outlining images, and making titles.

8. Die Cutting Tools

If you are not keen on drawing, painting, or coloring, then die-cutting may be right up your alley!

Die cut images are pre-established designs that are cut out with metal dies from a machine. All you have to do is glue the pieces together and personalize the design.

There are endless die cut designs out there for all holidays and celebrations. The most fun thing about die-cutting is how much you can personalize the design. You choose whichever paper you want the image to be cut out from.

Die cutting and stamping go hand-in-hand with one another. Most of the time, stamp collections will include a die cut pattern to make it easy for cutting out the stamped image. Especially for small or irregular shaped stamps, die cutting makes it incredibly quick and easy. I always rely on die cuts when making multiple cards at once to help save me time!

I do recommend a weeding tool to help remove the paper from the metal dies. Paper tends to get stuck in those crevices, and a weeding tool helps to remove the paper without ripping it.

9. Extra Homemade Card Supplies

Now that we have covered the basic handmade card making supplies, here are some extras to elevate your skills.

Embossing Folders

If you have ever seen raised patterns on the background of cards, they are considered embossed. You can find stunning floral and geometric patterns on embossing folders. Simply place a piece of paper into the folder and run it through a die cut machine.

Stencils

Stencils are another fun tool to add patterns to your background. Lay the stencils down and place ink or paint onto it. Once you lift the stencil up, the design will be left on the paper! This is a great way to customize any card background.

Bone Folder

Bone folders are a tool that helps to crease and fold over paper. It makes it easy to get precise folds that will stay. A bone folder also comes in handy to help get rid of any air bubbles that form under paper. Easily smooth away the bubbles without ripping the paper. (Source: Make Beautiful Cards)

Stamping Pressure Tool

If you use a stamping tool such as the Misti to place down stamps, a pressure tool is super helpful for applying weight. The main benefit of the pressure tool is to relieve stress from your hands when pressing down the stamps. It also helps to achieve an even application of ink on the card.

What Goes Into Making Handmade Greeting Cards

Making your own handmade cards can be as intricate or as simple as you want it to be. The best part about making cards yourself is the ability to customize the designs. This means you can use any sort of decorations or supplies that you have on hand.

Refer back to my handmade card making supplies list for items you may use, or search around your craft room for supplies you already have. Get creative and find ways to repurpose designs into a new card.

This Post Gives You A Handmade Card Making Supplies List

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