Rubber Stamping

I can't think of a time when it has been easier to buy and sell handmade items online! Online marketplaces such as Etsy, Artfire and the large number of other specialist handmade marketplaces that have opened over the last few years, means that buyers and sellers from all over the world can virtually 'meet' to do business. This is a great opportunity for people wanting to make and sell cards - and it is also ideal for buyers who are looking for handmade items and can't find what they want locally or who are looking for something a little different.

If you are thinking about selling handmade cards then the following articles may be of interest:

• How to Sell Handmade Cards
• How to Price Handmade Cards

Buying and Selling Handmade Cards Online

If you have experience of buying or selling handmade cards online then you are welcome to share your experience with others. Use these forms to submit your thoughts:

• Tips for Buying Cards Online
• Tips for Selling Cards Online

Chalks are one of my favorite methods of adding color to rubber stamping projects. I enjoy the way that different effects can be achieved. A light dusting of chalk gives a gentle blush of color to a stamping project, whereas bolder colors can be achieved by using chalks with a wet paint brush. Chalks are great for creating backgrounds for rubber stamping projects too. An effective marbled background is simple to create using chalk shavings floated on water. See Chalk Shaving Background for more information.

Another benefit of chalks is that they are relatively low cost and last a long time! Read more about using chalks in this article - Using Chalks in Rubber Stamping Projects. Do you use chalks and have a favorite hint or tip to share? If so, why not leave a comment below and share your thoughts with others!

These little paper stars make pretty decorations. They are deceptively simple to make from a single strip of paper. Stamp decorations onto the paper before folding to create your own unique designs. This is an ideal way to use up odds and ends of paper from other projects.

For step by step instructions see this tutorial - How to Make a 3d Star.

If you don't have a suitable sentiment or text stamp for Mother's Day, try adding these free printable Mother's Day sentiments to handmade cards. Adding printed words to handmade cards is a quick and easy way to add the perfect sentiment or greeting without having to buy a new stamp. Alphabet stamps are another alternative, however these can be a little fiddly when stamping a long greeting or sentiment.

Here are some tips to help you get the most from your printed sentiments:

• Use pattern edge scissors when cutting out the sentiments. These give pretty decorative edges.
• After cutting out the sentiment, ink the edges of the paper or color the edges with pens or chalks. This will help to make the sentiment blend in to the card design.
• Layer the sentiment onto pieces of similarly shaped papers in varying sizes to add dimension to the card.

Card blanks can be a great time saver when you are making a lot of handmade cards or invitations. Card blanks can, however, work out more costly in the long run. As card blanks are simple to make from folding a piece of cardstock, making your own can be a good way to save money. One of the most cost effective ways to make your own card blanks, particularly if you have a lot to make, is to use standard sized cardstock. Standard sized cardstock can be folded in a variety of ways to produce different end results. Therefore a single pack of cardstock can be used to create a wide number of different shaped cards. See Cards from Standard Sized Card Stock for more information.

When you make your own card blanks, ensuring that you have good crisp folds is key to achieving professional looking results. Take a look at this tutorial for a step by step guide - How to Fold Cards.

Do you have pictures of handmade cards that you'd like to share? You are welcome to show off your work here - Handmade Cards Show and Tell!

Look at this great Mother's Day card that has been created by Lesley Shepherd, our About.com Miniatures Guide. Lesley has kindly shared the printable template for this project, along with full step by step instructions and this can be found here - Mother's Day Card Template.

This project will work well with rubber stamps and can be customized with all sorts of embellishments.

More Mother's Day rubber stamping and craft ideas can be found here - Mother's Day Projects.

Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May and in 2012 it will be celebrated on Sunday May 13th. Handmade items make lovely and thoughtful gifts which are always much appreciated.

Use your rubber stamps to make a special gift this Mother's Day. Here are some ideas for interesting Mother's Day projects - Mother's Day Rubber Stamping.

This bookmark is quick and easy to make, however there is lots of scope to customize and decorate the bookmark with rubber stamps and other embellishments. The bookmark is made from the corner of an envelope which means that as well as being fast to make, it is also a fun green craft.

See Corner Bookmark for more information and Green Rubber Stamping Projects for more green craft ideas.

Tearing paper is a simple technique yet one that can produce interesting results. When a piece of paper is torn it leaves a textured edge. This can be accentuated with a touch of color.

Torn paper is ideal for layering projects, where pieces of torn edge paper are placed over each other. The torn edges add to the texture of the finished piece. Some papers have a different colored core, and this is revealed as an interesting feature when the paper is torn. Handmade papers, such as mulberry paper, are particularly good for creating interesting torn edges.

Some of the benefits of torn paper edges include:

• They don't need to be too precise - the odd wobble enhances finished effect
• A dust of chalk or dab of ink will help color co-ordinate a torn paper image with a project
• This is a good way to 'recycle' old projects - tear shapes from projects otherwise destined for the bin to make unusual embellishments for cards and other items

See Tearing Paper for more information.

Here's a round-up of Earth Day themed projects from around the Hobbies category at About.com.

• Green Rubber Stamping Projects - environmentally friendly rubber stamping ideas
• Tips for Greener Crafting - Add your suggestions to the Tips for Greener Crafting on the Miniatures site
• Crochet an Earth Friendly Market Bag - with this pattern from Crochet Contributing Writer Erica Jackofsky. She suggests making it in organic cotton
• Items to Recycle - turn junk into treasures
• Make a Corner Bookmark - one way to recycle used envelopes
• Earth Day Crafts - from About.com Family Crafts
• Stylish Uses for Plastic Bags - craft projects using plastic bags
• Recycle, Reuse, Recycle Motif - to stitch from About.com Cross Stitch and there's also some great tree patterns you can work along side it.
• Recycle Gift Cards - craft ideas using old gift cards from About.com Contests
• Frugal Jewelry Making Ideas - ideas for making jewelry using recycled materials from About.com Jewelry Making
• Green Sewing Ideas - Earth friendly sewing ideas from About.com Sewing
• Knitting Guide Sarah White has three great ways to create recycled yarns, Make Yarn From Old T Shirts, How to recycle Yarn From a Sweater and How to Make Plastic Yarn (Plarn) from Recycled Plastic Bags

If you have any ideas for recycling and crafting then why not add them here and share your thoughts with others - How to Turn Junk Into Treasures.