20 Creative Ways to Decorate Handmade Greeting Cards

Creating handmade greeting cards is a wonderful way to express your creativity and connect with loved ones. While the card itself is a heartfelt gesture, the true magic often lies in the details. In this blog post, we’ll explore 20 creative ways to elevate your handmade cards, transforming them from simple greetings into stunning works of art.

From using enamel dots to add dimension to your designs to incorporating textures with vellum and embossing paste, these techniques will inspire you to think outside the box. These ideas will help you personalize your greeting cards and make them truly special. Let’s get started!

20 Creative Ways to Decorate Your Handmade Cards

1. Use enamel dots to add interest to geometric designs like mandalas. Level up those intricate mandala designs by adding colors and dimensions with enamel dots! The good news is that we have coordinating inks and enamel dots, making it easier for you to create a cohesive project.

2. Combine enamel dots with sequins. Double the shine, double the fun! Combining enamel dots and sequins is the perfect way to add that extra bling to your DIY paper crafts.

3. Use enamel dots to create shapes and borders. Let’s take a moment to admire this clean, simple, and oh-so-fabulous greeting card by Tenia! This is your sign to try this little trick with enamel dots!

Onyx Gem Sparkles, Build-A-Garden: Sulphur Cosmos

4. Replace the flower centers with enamel dots or gemstones. If you still haven’t tried this trick, then what are you waiting for? It’s the simplest and easiest way to make those flowers pop! 

5. Use enamel dots to create letters, especially vowels. This cardmaking trick might take some time (compared to just die-cutting the letter), BUT the effect is simply amazing and will surely leave a lasting impression on the card’s recipient.

6. Use vellum as a flap or to matte your sentiments. Vellum is a great cardmaking supply to always have on hand. You can use it in so many different ways. Check out this BLOG for more vellum cardmaking techniques.

7. Use vellum to die cut your focal point. In her DIY wedding card above, Erum took it up a notch by adding white pencil coloring to her vellum die-cuts. How awesome is that? 

8. Use embossing paste to add a rustic vibe to the background. Another top tip from Erum (as seen on her card above): swipe some embossing paste to Kraft cardstock for elegant and rustic vibes.

9. Splatters! Do you like adding splatters without the mess? Or adding controlled splatters for a stunning visual effect? No matter what kind of splatters you’re into, this fun idea is another creative way to elevate your handmade greeting cards.

10. Create a chalkboard background. One fun and unique way to make that background pop is by turning it into a “chalkboard.” Find out how in Jaycee’s blog post HERE.

Should I stop adding embellishments to my cards? Find out more.

11. Create a scored background. Scoring your card base is an oldie-but-goodie trick that we absolutely adore and highly recommend! It’s perfect for adding that subtle texture and interest to handmade greeting cards.

12. Add crystal glaze to flower centers, droplets, or other elements in your card design for that stunning, glossy shine. Another fun trick from Jenny’s card above—this is definitely a must-try. Find out more HERE.

Tied with Love Stamp and Die Set

13. Tie it with love! Whether you use a ribbon, a twine, or a ribbon stamp, this creative way to decorate handmade greeting cards is easy but can instantly add that “wow” factor. Here’s a must-try tutorial.

14. Get out your scrapbooking supplies (wood veneers, washi tapes, die-cuts). We know you have them! So get out those scrapbooking supplies and decorations and use them on your handmade greeting cards.

15. Add glitter in any shape or form! If you want to go “old school” and use loose glitter, go on! But have you heard about mess-free glitter cardstock paper? Mind-blowing, right? It’ll make your crafting session more enjoyable and less stressful. Check out our range of glitter gradient cardstock paper.

16. Staples and washi—the perfect combo! Believe it or not, with just a few washi tape designs and a stapler, you can instantly add interest to your handmade greeting cards! Our design team member Tenia’s trademark style is a must-try! 

17. Never underestimate the power of patterned paper. Sometimes you just can’t be bothered to think about how to decorate your handmade card creatively. We get it. Meet our patterned paper collection—the ultimate solution for quick and gorgeous card backgrounds! Here’s a fun tutorial featuring 3 handmade greeting cards with patterned paper backgrounds.

18. Add lines, borders, and details with fine-liner pens! If you’re out of creative ideas for decorating your handmade cards, look no further than a simple fine-liner pen! This tool can do wonders for your greeting cards! Erum used a fine-liner pen to add interest to her card above. In Aga’s card, she also used a fine liner pen to add dots and lines to her gorgeous stenciled mandala, making it pop off the card front! Read more here.

19. Use the negative die-cuts! Don’t let those negative die-cuts go to waste! That’s why we created our popular Zero Waste series! You can still use bits and pieces here and there for decorations or use them for shaker cards instead of sequins!

20. Add subtle shine and texture with metallic thread! If you still haven’t tried this nifty trick, you’re missing out! Adding metallic thread (or any thread you have) to handmade greeting cards is a fun and creative way to decorate them. Plus, it’s super easy too!

We hope you’ve enjoyed exploring these 20 creative ways to decorate your handmade cards! Each technique offers a unique opportunity to express your personal style and enhance your card making skills. Remember, the beauty of handmade cards lies not just in the finished product but in the joy of the creative process.

We’d love to see how you incorporate these techniques into your own handmade card designs! Share your creations with us and inspire fellow crafters in the community using #Altenew. Happy crafting!