Greeting Cards
Created by: Barbara Townsend

Before starting your project, some preparation is necessary. If you are going to do just a few cards you will need pre-cut greeting cards with envelopes. Should you decide that you will be making many cards this list contains supplies you will need:

1. Card stock
2. Envelopes for large cards
3. Bone folder to make a sharp crease in the fold
4. Scoring tool
5. T-square ruler is a good idea to line up where you want to score your card stock
6. Non-acid glue
7. Paper cutter/trimmer

If you are using the pre-cut kits then all the other supplies are not needed. Most of these can be found at an office-supply store but some may be purchased at a craft store.

Before starting it is important that you arm yourself with a little more knowledge of how a card is assembled.

Do a trial run. To understand how a card is put together make a test card using plain paper with simple markings. Cards can be a lot of trial and error and I have made a few. The average large bi-fold card measures 5.5 by 8.5 inches. This is half the size of a sheet of paper.

We do not want to print a card from edge to edge as that would invite some printing mistakes. You will find the template we will use has a cell for each page of the card with a bordered outline. This border does not show when the card is printed. A good card requires a lot of ink. It would be wise to make careful plans first.

Creating a Paper Pattern for the Trial Run

To make a paper pattern use a letter-size sheet of less expensive paper. Mark the exact center on both sides. Using the T-square, draw a line across the middle of the paper. You do not want to crease this until the card is finished.

Now that your paper pattern card is marked, turn it to the landscape position and use a pen or pencil to mark a 2 on the left side and a 3 on the right side. The 2 marks the inside left page of the card. This can remain blank or a nice personal note can be written on it. The number 3 marks the inside right page where the main messages are written.

The back of number 2 will be number 1, the front page and the back of number 3 will be number 4, the back of the card.

Keep this paper pattern convenient to help you keep your perspective on what you are doing. Plan what images and message you want your card to convey. Clipart, picture tubes or photos can work well for images. If you are working on a less size scale than the actual size card a photo with a mask edge could look nice, especially if it is a picture that means something to the person you are giving it to.

The card is a personal gift. Use whatever the receiver would like to see. Once I did a birthday card for an elderly uncle with a picture of him forty or fifty years ago and wrote on the card "Remember this?", then continued through with past and present sentiments.

Creating the Greeting Card

Open two new images in PSP, 425 x 725 pixels, transparent background.

If you are planning on doing more cards, save these settings to the presets, naming them 'Greeting Card'. Working side by side you will create the front and back first and in that order.

On the first I am using a tube. I will have to resize it to fit the card.

Select your color or colors for the text, then activate the Text tool (T). Choose your font. If you do not have a good selection of fonts you can search the internet for free ones. For my card I am using SplintHmk bold, Create as Vector = checked, Bold, Align = center, and Size = 60. (60 is not an average number so I had to type it in.) Your size will depend on whatever text you choose.

After adding the top text I added a drop shadow. Which drop shadow you use will be determined by what text you use. Using the Move tool, the text was put into place.

Next I changed color and size for the bottom text, added the same drop shadow and moved it into place. When everything is as I wanted it, I saved it.

Now to the back page. All this is printed on one page so we do the front and back at the same time. Select an icon for the back of your card. Don't make it too large and do use a drop shadow. Keep the text size small. Look at the back of a purchased card and imitate that. Keep the "Created by ..." personal and add the date. When you are satisfied, save it.

Setting Up the Print Layout Template

Go to File || Print Layout. Take a few minutes to acquaint yourself with the menu of the Print Layout window by placing the cursor on each icon and reading its description on the bottom of the workspace.

Go to File || Open Template and choose the right template for your needs (I selected no. 8316). If you have a purchased card kit the template number may be on the jacket. The templates are set to give you the best printing results for the paper they are made with. I have found no. 8316 to be pretty generic.

The front and back images you created for this project should be on the side panel of the workspace. If you need to locate others you can do so by going to File || Open Image.

Select your front-page image, click, drag and drop it into the top cell. Go to Image || Rotate -90 to rotate the image by 90 degrees to the left.

The image needs to be sized for that cell. Right-click into the image and choose "Cell Placement || Fit to Cell Top" from the pop-up menu.

Now drag and drop the graphic for the back page into the bottom cell. Rotate it as well, then right-click into that cell and choose "Cell Placement || Fit to Cell Bottom" from the pop-up menu.

Printing the Card

Click on Print Setup button in the toolbar or go to File || Print Setup. Choose the best settings and print the first page.

Line up and prepare the #2 and #3 pages as you did for front and back. At this point you can print the other side on the same card if you understand your printer and how to insert the top page.

I take the careful way out by trimming a very small edge off of another sheet of light weight paper (perhaps a colored one) and printing the inside page separately.

When you're done with printing your card, leave the Print Layout window by going to File || Close Print Layout.

Using the bone folder, crease these two pages well and insert the inside page into the front/back page. Use a very small touch of acid free glue to keep it in place and there you have a nice personal greeting card for someone special.

Now relax and enjoy your work, you earned it.

Barbara T.