Card making is one of the great lost crafts

Card making is one of the great lost crafts. In an age of disposability and mass-production, the idea of hand made cards may seem quaint. However, as anyone who has tried to find the perfect card in the rows of their local gift shop, only to turn away disappointed, knows, the precise message is often hard to convey through someone else’s design and greeting.

Handmade cards do away with this problem. They are simple enough to make: card making materials are readily available in craft shops or even the newsagents. Those personal celebrations, whether they are the birth of a child, a wedding or even something more obscure, are made all the more special by a card that comes from the heart, and not the racks. They show a degree of care and interest that can’t come from the standard messages, which are notorious for their poor poetry and sentimentality.

Twenty years ago, society stuck to more common beliefs and feelings. The increasingly popularity of different religious paths and social milestones has left the professional card making companies behind, as more and more holidays are appearing on the calendar. Yet the exchange of cards is a traditional way of sharing an event: it can be a token gesture, perhaps, but handmade cards are a way of making the exchange more touching.

A quick search in the charity shop often reveals books from the past with ideas for card making. For a low cost, the card maker is able to create something either elaborate or simple, using interesting materials and tailoring the gift to the tastes of the recipient. And it is simple, too: memories of Blue Peter programmes can bring back ideas for the structure, and a glance through a magazine or illustrated book can be inspirational.

For young children, a few panels from their favourite comic make a delightful surprise. Even adults will be surprised by an image of their favourite band or film star. The joy of handmade cards is not just in the giving though: it is a relaxing hobby and a fascinating outlet for creative impulses.