Fri
25
Make Photo Greeting Cards
Why make photo greeting cards? Wouldn’t it be easier to pick up a ready made card in town? If you searched make photo greeting cards and found this article, you already know this isn’t an option for you.
You love photography and you’ve been taking some really great shots. (Yes, you have…don’t be modest!) Your sister’s birthday is imminent and your creative self won’t let you send some run-of-the-mill, over the counter, mass produced card. Remember that candid shot you took of her on the beach when she thought no one was looking? Well, you could print some photos and insert them into your store bought card, right? Wrong. Your sister (brother, mother, father, friend, etc.) deserves to be showcased and so does your photography. These cards are simple to make with no flashy colors or borders to distract from your original artwork.
Get ready, because when you make a few of these original photo greeting cards, people will say, “You should sell these!”
Things You’ll Need:
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photos
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blank note cards and envelopes
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photo paper
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Greeting card software or photo editing software
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Gluestick (acid free)
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Glasseine sleeves (optional)
Instructions:
1. Purchase your cardstock or blank notecards and envelopes first. If you buy a ream of white cardstock from an office supply store, you can cut your cards any size. Find envelopes in the size you like, then cut the cardstock slightly smaller for an easy fit. For a more professional look, I would suggest buying blank note cards with a fold crease already in them and matching envelopes. I bought my first supplies from a local printer, but soon found I could obtain them at a much reduced price online. I personally prefer smaller cards and use the A2 size, which is 4 3/8″ x 5 3/4″.
2. Get those great photographs organized in your photo software. Move them to a folder called photo greeting cards, because you will be asked for more and you want to find them readily! If you have a fairly good printer, you will want to print your own photos so you have total control over the quality, crop and size. I usually buy Epson glossy 4×6 paper when I make photo greeting cards. Just make sure the paper you buy is compatible with your printer. Print the photos smaller than your notecards and trim off any white border.
3. At this point, you could just glue the photo onto your notecard. Again, this won’t cut it for you. Your photographs have moved into the realm of art and should be treated accordingly. A fine artist doesn’t just sell the painted canvas or watercolor paper; she sells it framed or at least matted. All you need is a thin line border to create the same effect. I use a greeting card software that comes with numerous border options. I select a really simple double line border shown below to create a double matted look.
4. We’re not finished! When you receive a beautiful card that knocks your socks off, what do you do? If you are like me (and most people), you flip the card over to see who made it. This is where you put modesty aside and give yourself full credit. Again, I use my greeting card software to design the back of the card. Something like, “Original photography by ….”, and maybe an e-mail address or website where people can contact you when they want to buy your cards. Be creative on this side also. Find some clipart on your software and make your own logo.
5. Print the front and back of the card first before gluing your photo into the center of the border with an acid free glue stick.
6. Finally, when you start selling your photo greeting cards (and you will!), you should put them in clear glasseine sleeves. This not only protects them, but it gives them that professional looking edge. You can order notecards, envelopes and the clear bags from a few different sources on the Internet.
Voila! You are now a professional photographer … or at least you look like one!
Additional Info can be found by clicking below:
See my Contest Winning Photographs at:
(Page 5, Photographs #58 & 59)
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Friday, September 25th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
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