Tastes of Culture

One way or another it is always a pleasure to receive cards. So I got around to thinking of all the types of cards there actually are. Why not try doing cards for different occasions? Particularly when we often have items lying around at home we could use for this!

Like what? You may well say! Here are a few to be going on with. Fabric scraps, little stones, feathers, ribbon, braid, sequins, jewels, gift wrap. See what I mean!

As a change, I am about to explain how to do a menu card. This could be a very useful addition for a special bash like a wedding, dinner party, golden wedding anniversary or for any big party. You will require some thin card, about 24 x 21cm. Choose one that has a nice texture. Then you need to fold this in half.

Before you actually fold it, make a line with a craft knife. I would choose to opt for making a line both near the top and the bottom of the card. For this you could use a coloured paper, but a ribbon or braid would probably be more effective. Strips would need to be 12 x 2cm.

The ribbon you choose could have a small design on it, or just be perfectly plain, or toning colour shades. To this, I would be tempted, to add a fine line in silver just above or below my strips.

If you were doing this for a golden wedding, you could put the items signifying each ten years of marriage, below the bottom line, whilst for the centre, you could stick a small photograph of the couple with a gold border around it.

Then, on the top line, you could have your wording. On the other hand if, say it was a young couple, you could basically take the same idea, but enclose the photo in a heart shape and along the bottom of your card affix little jewels, which are heart shaped. Sticking a few bits of confetti around the outside of the big heart.

What you need now, is your menu. You could, I suppose, write on the inside of the card, but it is probably better to insert and attach a piece of paper with this, hand written or typed.

However, it might be you just want to make place cards, and really, the cost of these soon adds up if you buy these in the shops. I would attempt this in the same way. Using roughly 8cm of card, score it lightly down the centre and then fold it.

Use ribbon to go across your card, about 1 cm from the top. A narrow ribbon will do, but let this go well over the sides. Once it has been glued, simply cut the exta ribbon off.

You will need some heads of little flower buds to stick in the centre of your ribbon. Cut off any stems, or you could make your own from tissue paper and add a small bead to the centre. To finish it, write the name on with a gel pen.