How to make cards on the computer: tutorial and inspiration for making artistic notecards

Tutorial and inspiration for making cards on the computer

How to make a horizontal format quarter-fold card (opens from bottom) using 11 x 8.5" paper and a computer word-processing program such as Microsoft Word.

Start with a blank document, under layout and page setup, choose landscape orientation (wider than tall). To understand the layout, make a prototype using plain or scratch paper—called mockup a dummy in the graphic arts industry.

Hold the paper in front of you so it is wider than it is tall.

First, fold the paper in half (left to right)

Next, fold into fourths (top to bottom)

Sketch the word “front” on the panel that has a fold edge on the long top and the short left side

Lift the cover up to open and sketch the word “inside” or “top” and “bottom”

Turn it over and sketch the word “back”—the open edge is on bottom.

Unfold the paper and lay it flat (with direction of “front” panel upside down). Follow this layout to set up the card in the program you use.

Add graphics and text.

Folded congratulations card using an 11" x 8.5" sheet of paper

1. For best results, use the program’s Draw tools to create text boxes instead of typing straight to the page. Draw tools allow you to move the boxes around the page. Use the Flip or Rotate command to turn the cover art upside down to match your dummy. Consult your software program’s help file for more information.
2. You may want to test it by printing a trial sheet on plain paper before printing on the high-quality stationery paper. 
3. Save the completed file. Make a folder to store clip art and your saved page file for future editing and re-use. 
4. If you don’t have a printer, drag your file to a thumb drive or CD and bring to another place such as library or printing service provider—or attach it to an email to transfer for printing. Check fonts before printing from another device.
5. After printing, fold it in half and then into fourths to match the dummy you mocked-up. Sign and slip card into a matching stationery envelope.

Ideas for making greeting cards

• Printable card digital clip art for all occasions is available in the stationery paper section of FreshRetroGallery. These illustrations serve as a “digital rubber stamp” to have on hand to use whenever and as often as you need them for journaling, scrapbooking, making tags, card making, posters, etc. Standard size white or fancy paper can be folded in fourths to fit in A2 baronial envelopes.
• Traditional rubber stamps
• Colored pencils, markers, crayons, gel pen original sketches or to enhance printed or stamped art
• Stickers—foil, embossed, printed
• Up-cycle with clippings from old cards, photos, layers of torn colored paper, lace, rick-rack, ribbon, etc. These can be added with glue stick.
• The inside bottom is where you put poetry or write personal notes. Handwriting your message is a lovely option, yet, using your computer with fonts you choose gives a polished look. The tutorial above shows how to do this, printing only one side of the sheet.
• Bible verse on the top inside flap.
• Your name and date on back.
• Cards are attractive as horizontal format with a flip-up cover page. Vertical format (open like a book) is appropriate if cover art design fits that shape. See instructions below.

How to create a vertical format quarter-fold card that opens like a book

Instructions for vertical cards are similar to the horizontal version explained above except use the standard 8.5" wide x 11" tall document orientation and different folding order. Make a dummy, first folding top to bottom and then folding left to right. Mark “front” on the panel that has a fold edge on the long-side and short-top. When looking at the cover, the open edges of horizontal and vertical format quarter-fold cards are always on the right and bottom edges.

Cards can be made from blank stationery for many occasions

The links below go to my Etsy shop where you can download cover artwork for cards. Also, here you will find pretty stationery paper with matching envelopes to have sent to your door. 

• Blank Notes
• Thank You
• Photo
• Christmas
• Birthday
• Valentine
• Thinking of You
• I Love You
• Children
• Stamped Art
• Invitation—Any Event, Dinner or Party
• Wedding Card, Reception or Home Decor
• Baby Shower Invitation, Birth Announcement or Gift Card
• Birth Announcement, Baby Shower Invitation or Gift Card
• Congratulations
• Easter
• Anniversary Card or Party Invitation
• Sympathy, Loss, Sorrow
• Get Well, Hospital, Comfort, Make-up
• Announcement
• Recipe Cards
• Graduation, Job Change, Moving, Encouragement
• Sorry
• Monogram
• Save the Date (wedding, anniversary, retirement party, etc.)
• Let it Go
• Miss You 

Sending or delivering a handmade card can brighten someone’s day (and yours, too). Make one now!

Quotes of wit, wisdom and inspiration

Wit

When thou dost not know what to blog
Let quotes of others clear the fog
Get outside and take a jog
Find your friends and play leapfrog

—Elizabeth Knaus

Wisdom

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

James 3:17

more verses on wisdom

Devotion from Lutheran Hour Ministries: Changeless

Inspiration

Pinterest

• Re-purpose the file drawer
• Skip the scrapbook
• Cork for wine, not for wall board
• Visual library

GPS

• Hope for the map-folding challenged
• Relief for wives as passengers with lost men
• Voice of direction to places unseen

Etsy

• 24/7 Shopping convenience
• Analytical search assistance
• Art, vintage, creative supplies

Google

• Everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask
• Resolution for the Scrabble double challenge
• Search the Scripture

YouTube, Vimeo

• Upload, view and share videos

Facebook

• Friends
• Likes
• Places
• Pages
• Timeline
• Trivia
• Messaging
• Photos
• Journal
• Games
• Social network

—Elizabeth Knaus

How to be humble. 33 thoughts on the virtue of humility.

Humility means not being proud or arrogant, but being modest and courteously respectful. How attractive is an attitude of meekness and gentleness!

1. Listen more than talk. Follow the words of the other, without being overly concerned about sharing your ideas.
2. Ask people for their opinion.
3. Be ready to give credit for another person’s idea, even if you are the one to carry it out.
4. Count to five before adding to a conversation. Be sure that the other person has finished his thought, and reflect on what he said.
5. Provide positive feedback.
6. Say, “I’d be honored” when asked to help.
7. Say, “It’s my pleasure” when thanked.
8. Admit when you don’t understand or know something.
9. When you screw up, say, “I was wrong.”
10. Teach someone what you know.
11. Cautiously use criticism, constructively and sparingly.
12. Give God the glory for skills, talents, blessings and successes.
13. Understand that timing is important.
14. Prioritize your time.
15. Think less about money for self, more about money for charity or for the building up of important things.
16. Think of others first, before yourself.
17. Pass on thanks to those who help you achieve something for which you were thanked.
18. Be quiet about your goals.
19. Be quiet about your achievements.
20. Look for potential in others.
21. Help others with their goals.
22. Value other people’s time.
23. Remember you have faults and are a sinner—you are no better than anyone else.
24. Give others the benefit of the doubt.
25. Pray for humility.
26. Seek wisdom by choosing wise friends.
27. Be willing to learn in all areas of education, especially about moral issues. Spiritual knowledge is found in church, Bible study and personal devotions.
28. Keep calm and carry on.
29. Be willing to accept new ideas and change.
30. Graciously accept praise with a sincere and simple, “thank you” without expounding upon it.
31. Don’t compare yourself to others.
32. Stick with your convictions. Recognize differences in others, but don’t conform if it doesn’t respect your values.
33. Forgive others who’ve wronged you without responding in revenge. Then move on.

These ideas are easier said than done, however, God is pleased when we try. The pleasure the Lord takes is not because of what we do, but because of the perfect life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to earn our redemption. Teach us, oh Lord, to have a humble spirit.

For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; He adorns the humble with salvation.—Psalm 149:4 ESV
Teach us oh Lord. 
Christmas Inspirations Postcard Number Four ©Elizabeth B. Knaus

The Savior Redeems

Read more about these postcards for sale at the Christian Postcard Section in my Etsy Shop