Top 10 Must-Have
Birthday Card Making Materials

Find out what's the essential card making materials that's very useful in your birthday card making projects. Have a clear idea of what you're looking for.

If you're just starting out in making birthday cards or cardmaking, the crafts material for card making can be quite bewildering at first sight. But remember your old school days where you learned to make handmade cards? We were using the bare essentials back then, and the same principle applies here.

So let's take a look at the most useful and common crafting materials and tools used in cardmaking.

1) Cardstock/Card Blank

You need cardstocks to make your tent-fold card blanks. With cardstocks, you can have a bigger choice of colors and textures to make your own card blanks. Besides turning cardstocks into card blanks, you can use them for matting and text block purposes.

Alternatively, you can easily buy a pack of pre-cut and pre-scored card blanks. Ready-made card blanks save you time and there's less wastage. But you'll be working with limited color choices and paper textures.

2) Straight-Cut Scissors

A pair of big sturdy, kitchen scissors is great for general cutting purposes. But for more intricate designs, a small pair of fine-tip precision scissors is the tool to use.

3) Adhesives

The selection of adhesives in the market can be a bit overwhelming. Your best bets are:

a) Double-sided tape - Good for adhering papers, photos, and lightweight elements. Non-messy and won't crinkle papers. Can be easily trimmed down to sizes.

b) Liquid glue/ Tacky glue - Good for adhering heavier elements such as buttons, gems, metal embellishments. Do not apply too thick a layer as it can crinkle the paper. Can get a little messy.

c) Glue stick - Good at adhering large areas of paper to paper.

d) 3-D foam pads/ Glue dots - Good for adding dimensions to elements.

4) Black Pigment-Ink Pen

A fine-tip black pen will let you journal, handwrite greetings, doodle and draw borders. An indispensable item for cardmaking.

5) Craft knife/ Scalpel

Great for cutting out freehand-drawn alphabets, slitting and cutting.

6) Metal Ruler

For general measuring purposes. If you're using a craft knife/scalpel, a metal ruler is a must-have as the craft knife won't cut through metal easily as compared to a plastic ruler.

7) Self-Healing Cutting Mat

To protect your work surface when you cut, pierce, color, ink or set eyelets. It's easier to clean up a cutting mat. The grids on the mat allow you to do your measurements too.

8) Patterned Papers

Thanks to the many patterned paper choices out there, these really spice up the look of your cards. You can layer them, use them as frames, cut them into strips or shapes, create embellishments with them, and use them to dress up your cards.

9) Bone-folder and Scorer

If you intend to make your own card blanks, these two tools will help to ensure smooth scoring, and crisp, straight folds.

10) Paper Trimmer

If you decide that cardmaking is the thing for you, a paper trimmer is perfect for cutting straight lines and squares from bigger pieces of papers. A lightweight 12" trimmer is a good choice as you can cut up 12"x12" papers.

Now that you know the 10 essential card making materials to own, you'll make smarter buying choices instead of wandering up and down the aisles of the craft stores without a clue of what to get.

As you get more excited and involved with cardmaking, feel free to expand on your collection of card making materials and tools!

For suggestions on cardmaking supplies, tools, templates and accessories, click here.

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