| My handmade greeting cards hobby started about | | | | you can think of, the Cricut is the machine for |
| 6 years ago. I needed to have a beautiful album | | | | you. This machine makes handmade greeting |
| to put my wedding pictures in. This hobby then | | | | cards, scrapbooks, bulletin boards, photo albums, |
| turned into a scrapbooking and card making | | | | personal gifts and many other items look |
| addiction, but we'll talk more about that later. | | | | beautiful, and specialized, by cutting out shapes |
| The purpose of this article is to introduce you to | | | | from paper and other materials. The Cricut has a |
| the essentials that you need to know, and how to | | | | series of cartridges that when plugged into the |
| start making handmade greeting cards. There is | | | | machine, can make decorations for any occasion, |
| something here for the novice beginner and the | | | | like a birthday, wedding, Halloween the seasons, |
| expert who is looking for more specific | | | | etc; but don't panic, it does not have to be an |
| information. | | | | expensive hobby. I will show you where to get |
| How many times have you searched the Internet | | | | discount scrapbooking and greeting card materials; |
| for how to "make cards", "scrapbooking supplies", | | | | and other ways that only require a pair of |
| "the Cricut machine", cards for businesses", | | | | scissors and paper. |
| "handmade paper", "card printing", "custom | | | | Discount Scrapbooking |
| greeting cards", "personalized cards", "photo card", | | | | Take a look in any Michael's craft store for |
| "homemade birthday cards", "craft cards", "....etc; | | | | handmade greeting cards supplies and you'll be |
| well all the information you need is right here. | | | | astounded at all the available supplies, most of |
| Making Handmade Cards | | | | which are very pricey. It can be a very |
| Making handmade greeting cards beautiful and | | | | expensive hobby and I am always looking for |
| professional looking is easier than you may think. I | | | | ways to save money on my handmade greeting |
| used to buy all sorts of craft supplies and | | | | cards and scrapbook supplies. One of the best |
| embellishments (decorations) to make my cards | | | | places I have found for my discount homemade |
| look nice, but soon found less expensive and | | | | greeting cards and scrapbooking materials is |
| easier ways to make stunning cards and | | | | Amazon. Amazon has a large selection of |
| scrapbooks for any occasion. After years of | | | | scrapbooking supplies and a first-class selection of |
| buying expensive pre-made embellishments I | | | | product reviews to check out before you buy |
| discovered the "Cricut machine", It was initially an | | | | anything. |
| expensive investment, but now I can customize | | | | In later articles we will look at making cards which |
| any decoration I make. It has taken my | | | | only require using the inexpensive methods that |
| scrapbooking and card making to an entire new | | | | were mentioned above (Embossing, Iris Folding, |
| level; I wish I had bought it years ago. There are | | | | Punches, Paper Quilling, Stencils, Stitching, |
| many other ways to make nice looking handmade | | | | Stamping); most of these methods only require |
| cards without expensive machines, such as | | | | some scissors, paper and some patience. |
| Stamping, Iris Folding, Embossing, Punches, | | | | I would suggest that when starting your |
| Stencils, Stitching, Paper Quilling and many more. | | | | handmade greeting cards journey, it be based on |
| Cricut How To | | | | what you can afford, and getting enough |
| If your looking for a die cutting machine for | | | | information to make informed decisions; I will help |
| letters, words, images and pretty well anything | | | | you do that. |