Adorably Spooky: DIY Handmade Halloween Cards
It’s the spookiest time of the year and one of our favorite—and dare we say, most fun!—ways to celebrate is by making a handmade Halloween card! What better way to treat your friends, family, and favorite trick-or-treaters than with spooky card crafts full of adorable eerie creatures and festive phrases?
Crafting Your Handmade Halloween Card
Making your own Halloween card requires just a bit of planning and some quality materials to get started. One way to do this is to choose a Halloween stamp set or patterned paper in those popular Halloween colors (think oranges, purples, greens, and blacks) to build your card or gift tag around.
If you’re looking for ideas to get you started, here’s a list of supplies you may want to have on hand:
CARD SIZING
The great thing about your own handmade Halloween cards is that you can make them however you’d like. Many people choose to take our standard paper sizes and fold them in half for an easy card base. Here’s a quick breakdown of what that might look like:
- A4 – 8.25″ x 5.875″ (21 x 14.9 cm), paper folded in half, final card size: 4.125″ x 5.875″ (10.5 x 14.9 cm)
- A2 – 8.5″ x 5.5″ (21.6 x 14 cm), paper folded in half, final card size: 4.25″ x 5.5″ (10.8 x 14 cm)
- Notecard card base – 7″ x 5″ (17.8 x 12.7 cm), folded base 3.5″ x 5″ (8.9 x 12.7 cm)
This creates a solid direction for a homemade Halloween card that can be made as simple or as elaborate as time, supplies, and creativity allow!
Techniques And Tools For Spooky Cards
Stamping, embossing, and die cutting are some of the best techniques for creating sweet yet spooky card crafts for Halloween. That means investing in the right tools for the job so your handmade Halloween cards are as clean and polished—and as cute—as you imagine from the start.
Using Stamps And Inks For Eerie Effects
Layering with stamps is a great way to create depth and visual interest at every level of your handmade Halloween card. You can use your favorite stamps, like the Sweet Halloween Stamp Set, to create a custom design. Then use dies or fussy cut to add depth, like in the gift tag below. Finish with a handwritten note for a perfectly unique DIY Halloween sentiment.
Another tip for Halloween-themed stamping is to play around with a variety of color combinations. For instance, green, purple, and orange are classic, but you could also try a few deep blues in the same family for an ombre-like effect that reminds you of the night sky. Or take your favorite paper of any color and use VersaMark® ink to achieve an eerie watermark effect (think bats, clouds, and pumpkins, oh my!) on your homemade cards. (You can see an example of this in the image above…just look at those dark blue bubbles!)
Die Cutting and Embossing For Chilling Charm
Halloween card ideas can often be elevated—literally and figuratively—by creating layers with dies cuts and embossing techniques. Using dies also ensures perfectly trimmed stamped images and the professional look that comes with the right tools for the job.
And, while Halloween-themed stamp and die sets are perfect for making your own Halloween cards, you can get creative with other dies and embossing folders, too. Imagine using a swirl pattern to invoke the sensation of nighttime mists, or a woodgrain pattern to evoke the feel of spooky woods, or this plaster texture that gives the feel of playful ghosts floating across your card!
Supernatural Suggestions for Your Next Halloween Craft
Ready for a few more ideas to make sure your Halloween paper crafts are monstrously creative? Try these techniques!
Take advantage of new seasonal bundles to create festive scenes. The example above layers stamp and die elements from our Spooky Halloween Bundle. And don’t be afraid to add embellishments, like our Rainbow Adhesive-Backed Dots, to elevate the charm!
Use an assortment of patterned papers in different colors to create visual interest. Utilize pre-cut images to add messages and fun imagery as you create your own Halloween project with ease and speed!
Keep a small stash of scraps next to your workspace—things like extra string, ribbon, and leftover jewels. Sometimes, the smallest addition can really make your focal point pop!
Think outside the rectangle! Cards and gift tags can be seriously enhanced by letting organic shapes do their own work. Investing in coordinating die sets will make a big difference here!
HALLOWEEN CARD SENTIMENT IDEAS
When it comes to handmade cards, the words matter just as much as the design. Your DIY Halloween card won’t be complete without the perfect sentiment to go along with it. Choosing the right saying helps your card feel personal, heartfelt, and fun for whoever receives it. Here are some ideas of spooky, punny, and cute Halloween phrases to try on your next card design:
- Too cute to spook!
- Have a spook-tacular day!
- Witching you a Happy Halloween!
- No tricks, just treats
- Eat, drink, and be scary
- A little hocus pocus
- A big BOO! just for you!
- Ghouls just wanna have fun
- You’re fang-tastic!
- Sending you ghost hugs
Want Some Halloween Card Help?
Ready to treat yourself to some Halloween fun? Connect with a demonstrator from our Stampin’ Up! community today! These friendly craft experts are ready to share their best tips and tricks for DIY card making, scrapbooking, and paper crafts. Make sure to follow us on Instagram for more great ideas and fun techniques!