Reasons to Craft: To Show Appreciation
They say a picture is worth a thousand words; we think the same can be said about a thoughtful, handcrafted card. Expressing gratitude comes in many forms, but there’s something special about crafting a card and writing it by hand. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the heart behind DIY thank you cards and creative inspiration to get you started.
Why DIY Thank You Crafts Mean More
DIY thank you cards stand out from store-bought cards like a plate of freshly baked, homemade cookies does. Taking the extra time to create something specifically to honor and acknowledge their impact on you is powerful. Crafting a DIY thank you card involves a lot of thoughtfulness and genuine care. Each friendship and relationship is different; only you can create a message and card that will touch their heart. You know their favorite color, interests, and shared inside jokes better than a store-bought generic card ever could.
But it’s not just what is on the outside of the card that counts. What’s on the inside of your thank you card makes all the effort you put into the outside worth it. Your art will make their eyes light up, but your words can stick with them for a lifetime. Thank you cards are the norm for birthdays and big events like weddings and baby showers. Still, the most impactful expressions of gratitude are based on our appreciation for those everyday actions that make a difference.
Design Inspiration and Materials for Your Project
Big or small, expressing appreciation through a DIY thank you card is both a treasure to your recipient and a joy to create. Let’s dive into some crafting materials and inspiration to get you started.
Selecting the Right Supplies
As long as you have some foundational supplies and tools, you can create a wide variety of cards. Some essential crafting supplies we recommend for creating intricate, DIY thank you cards include cardstock, stamps, embellishments, and a paper trimmer.
Cardstock is fundamental to card making, and it’s important to have a quality paper trimmer to size out your DIY thank you cards. Cardstock acts as a sturdy base to hold multiple layers and embellishments, and it’s also great for using die cuts and embossing folders to add beautiful shapes and textures. Patterned paper and specialty paper are also great for adding accents and backgrounds to your cards.
This card includes a variety of wonderful details that complement each other well. The combination of leaf die cuts, gradient colors, and the stamped sentiment against a sparkling piece of specialty paper all add up to a one-of-a-kind card.
If you’re ready to add even more detail to your projects, The Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine is a great tool for quickly creating detailed shapes and applying interesting textures with die cuts and embossing folders. To add crisp sentiments and images to your DIY thank you card, stamping sets and stamp ink are must-haves. To top it all off, embellishments like rhinestones, ribbons, and trinkets are a great way to add that extra personal touch.
Finding Your Card-Making Inspiration
Stampin’ Up! catalogs are a great place to gain inspiration from crafting samples, find new tools and supplies to add to your collection and learn about new crafting techniques. Enjoy a cup of coffee while leisurely browsing the catalog or utilize the table of contents to jump into the section you’re looking for.
Countless Ways to Say Thank You
There are so many different ways you can express your gratitude and creativity through crafting. Not only is crafting a fun, creative outlet, but it’s also a way to connect with other people in meaningful ways. While there is no limit to how you can say thank you through crafting, we wanted to share a couple of our favorites.
DIY Thank You Cards
With the crafting tools we mentioned earlier, the creative combinations you can explore when making DIY thank you cards are truly exciting. Deciding which techniques to use depends on the message you want to send and the person you’re sending it to. Incorporating your recipient’s favorite colors and themes is just one more way that you can communicate your appreciation alongside the words you write. Here are a few examples to help you brainstorm some ideas.
This card comes together quickly by combining a “Thank You” message from the Greetings For All pack with florals from the Celebrate Love pack. Our ephemera packs make it easy to create an impactful card so you can invest in the heartfelt message on the inside.
This card is packed with whimsy. The coordinating stamps and punches make creating this mini toadstool forest easy, and the sweet little thank you is perfect for any grateful occasion.
So much emotion can be expressed through colors. Adding vibrant colors and lively ephemera to your cards is a fun way to convey your appreciation.
Gift Tags
Although gifts are the main event, gift tags have the potential to be the strong supporting act that brings everything together. Use an edge tag topper punch to turn any small piece of paper into an elegant thank you gift tag. Even if all you have is a hole punch, you can create a gift tag that is as intricate or simple as you’d like. It really is the thought that counts.
Expressing Gratitude with More Than Words
Expressing your appreciation in a genuine and heartfelt way to people is one of the many ways to deepen those relationships. One of the beautiful things about crafting is that it connects you to a community of people, and we hope that both creating and gifting your next DIY thank you card will bring you a sense of that connection. Check out our latest releases and start crafting your next project. We’re so happy you’re here!
Get More Ideas from a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator
Want to bounce some thank you note ideas off of a pro? Our friendly community of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators is ready to help! Connect with a demonstrator today.