How to Make Simple Greeting Card

Sometimes we think handmade cards require stacks of patterned papers, fancy tools, and expensive supplies. But the truth is—you can make a beautiful card with what you already have at home. Today I want to share with you one of the easiest cards I’ve ever made. It turned out so pretty, and the best part is, you don’t need to buy anything special to create it.

What You’ll Need

• A page from an old magazine (look for full-page photos with flowers, textures, or anything that catches your eye)

• Cardstock (I used purple as my base)

• White cardstock or scrap paper for backing

• Scissors or a craft knife

• Paper glue

• Printable sentiments (check out my collection)

• Foam tape (optional, but adds a nice dimension)

How I Made This Card

1. Finding the perfect image.
   While flipping through an old magazine, I found a page with a girl holding a huge bouquet of lilac flowers. The colors and natural look of the paper instantly caught my eye. Magazine paper has a softer, recycled texture that works beautifully for handmade cards, especially compared to glossy pages that sometimes look too shiny against cardstock.

2. Cutting it out.
   I used a die-cut rectangle to cut the image, but scissors or a craft knife work just as well. Don’t worry if the cut isn’t perfectly straight—this card is all about simplicity and ease.

3. Backing the image.
   Because magazine paper can be thin, I glued the cutout onto white cardstock to make it sturdier and easier to work with.

4. Creating the base.
   For the card base, I chose purple cardstock so the lilacs would really pop. I glued my backed image right onto it, and instantly the card started to come together.

5. Adding the sentiment.
   To finish it off, I used one of my printable sentiments from my Fall Card Making Kit that says “For You.” I printed it on regular copy paper, glued it to white cardstock, and then attached it with foam tape for a little dimension.

A Little Note on Imperfections

Now, here’s a detail you might—or might not—have noticed: I didn’t cut the sentiment perfectly straight. And you know what? That’s totally okay. Handmade cards aren’t meant to look factory-made. They carry character, warmth, and personality.

If you noticed the uneven cut, congrats—you’ve reached the cardmaking level where details and finishes stand out to you. If you didn’t notice, then chances are the person receiving the card won’t notice either. And even if they did, they would still see the effort and love behind it, not the tiny imperfection. That’s the beauty of handmade cards—they’re perfectly imperfect.

Why This Is the Easiest Card to Make

• You don’t need patterned paper—magazines, recycled papers, or even wrapping paper work wonderfully.

• No fancy tools are required—just scissors, glue, and cardstock.

• You can personalize it with printable sentiments, which are especially handy if you don’t own sentiment stamps, inks, or die-cuts. If you’d like to try mine, you can find them here.

Need Printable Sentiments?

For more card making printables, visit my card making section in my store. Card making kits, sentiments, elements, sketches - it's all there.

Cardmaking doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Sometimes the simplest materials create the most heartfelt designs. Next time you’re about to toss an old magazine, flip through it first—you might just find the perfect image for your next card.

So, grab some scraps, print a sentiment, and try making your own easy card. Who knows—you might surprise yourself with how beautiful it turns out.