Simple Card Ideas: Playful Borders

So, I’m a bit of a perfectionist. (And that’ a bit of an underestimate…) What does this have to do with me sharing simple card ideas?

My perfectionism can make it hard for me to start making a craft or card knowing I am not going to have the energy to make it elaborate. I have the tendency to think that if I’m going to craft, I have to CRAFT. As in, all-caps, all-out, something new and creative that uses all the crafting skills I’ve acquired over my life.

Not super realistic right now due to my health.

I’ve been trying to embrace more simplistic forms of creativity. Something doesn’t have to be intricate in order to turn out beautiful.

After all, some of the best cards I’ve ever received are simple handmade ones from friends with heartfelt messages inside.

It really is the message and the thought that counts. And a card that’s made simply and received is better than a card that is never sent.

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I like having a template or theme in mind before I start making cards so that I spend less time thinking about creating, and actually creating. The template I’ve been experimenting with lately is finding a patterned paper for the center of the card, and drawing a border around it.

I really like the Project Life kits of journaling cards for making simple cards. The journaling cards used on the cards in this post are from these kits: Project Life Core Kit – Jade Edition and Project Life Core Kit – Midnight Edition. I used the smaller 3” x 4”  journaling cards in the below examples. They are mounted on 4” x 6” cards I made using cardstock.    

I like to make the border match the design. Little lines around the edge of this paper make it look stitched, which matches the stitched pattern around the hearts on journaling card.

Polka dot paper definitely calls for a big polka dot border.

These polka dots were easy to make using a thick marker. This is my favorite makerfor scrapbooking and cardmaking. The two different tips sizes are perfect. But of course, any marker will do!

I used scrapbook stickers from K&C Company to add “hi!” to the card. This works well on days when I get tired of how my handwriting looks! Here are some similar stickers you could use to embellish your own cards.

Are my stitches and dots perfect? Nope! But they add a personal touch and give the cards a more finished looked.

My final idea is to use a cursive-style word to make a border. I’ve seen a simalar design that just features the word “love” in cursive, but you could do this with any word, or several.

This journaling card makes me want to try doodling words in the shape of letters…

Full disclosure: the earlier design of this card turned out dreadful. I tried to do a border of chevrons all around patterned paper, and my chevrons turned out all lopsided. “It looks like spiders,” my mom commented when I asked for her honest opinion. Yep. Yikes. I tossed that card, and as usual (perfectionist, remember?) felt frustrated that I had “ruined” something I made. But then, after a bit of thinking, I came up with this design that I liked better. So, as I often have to remind myself, sometimes you have to make what appears to be a mistake in order to find a better way to do something.

Bonus idea: place two Project Life journal cards side by side on a card for contrasting patterns. Or fold one of the cute journal cards in half to make a mini card to tuck inside a regular size card. Yes, that totally counts as a card! (This works great in case you ever want to send a card to both your friend, and her cat. Or, I suppose you could send both cards to a human…is that what normal people do?)

Looking for more inspiration?

I have collected card ideas on Pinterest, from sweet and simple to more decorative. Check them out! 

Looking for more paper to inspire your card-making? This is my favorite set I have from Project Life. Becky Higgin’s Project Life Core Kit 5th & Frolic Edition

I’m also eyeballing these adorable sets of paper: 

The first one is so cute, and the second one is so bookish. 

Which of these simple card ideas do you like best? Share photos of the cards you’re inspired to make below if you’d like!

I’d love to hear how your crafting goes when you feel free to craft more simply.

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