DIY Card Printing by Clara Cook

DY greeting cards by Clara Cook

What you will need:

A5 card stock
A JPG or PDF version of your illustration
Microsoft Word or similar (I have the 2010 version)
Printer
Scrapbooking embellishments (optional)
C6 size envelopes

DIY card making materials

Step 1:

Scan or photograph your illustration. If you’re using an illustration you created for the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, here’s where the time you spent cropping, lightening and perfecting the image of your illustration before posting will give you a head start.

Step 2: 

Open a blank Word document and select the Page Layout tab.

Select the Size option and choose A5.

Select the Margins tab.

Choose Custom Margins. A new window will open in which you can set the top, bottom, left and right margin to equal approx. 1cm.

Select the OK option at the bottom of the window.

Now select Orientation and choose landscape. This will give you a card that opens like a book. You can leave the orientation of the page as portrait if you have a landscape illustration and the card will open upwards.

Step 2 screenshot

Step 3: 

Make sure you can see the ruler at the top and side of your page. If you can’t, go to the View tab and mouse click in the box that is next to the word Ruler.

Your page should be 21cm wide (you will see 19cm in the white working section and a 1cm margin on either side in grey). The half way mark, which will be our fold line, should be at the centre of your white working section, at 9.5cm.

Step 3 screenshot

Step 4: 

Now we’re going to insert your image. Select the Insert tab and choose Picture. A window opens to your pictures folder – locate where you have saved your illustration(s) and choose an image by clicking on it and selecting Insert at the bottom of the window.

Step 4 screenshot

Step 5: 

The illustration you chose will now be on your page and will have a blue line with circles/squares at points around it. The tool bar at the top of your screen will now be on Picture Tools – Format.

Choose the Wrap Text icon (it looks like a lined page with a dog in the middle) and choose In Front of Text. This allows you to move your picture around the page. Move the image to the right side of the page so that one side is at the very right of your margin.

Now we’ll try to make sure we have an even border around the illustration on what will become the front of the card. You have a 1cm border on the right and we will need to have an even border from the fold line (which we worked out to be at approximately 9.5cm).

To adjust the size of your picture without distorting it, you need to move your cursor over one of the small circles at a corner point (a double ended white arrow will appear). I chose to adjust from the left corner of my picture and stopped when the left side was at around 10.5cm (this is about 1cm from the fold line).

Step 5 screenshot

Step 6:

Adding artist information to the back of your card is a nice, professional looking touch. To do this select the Insert tab and choose Text Box (this looks like a page with an A and lines on it).

A window will open and you choose a text box by clicking on the image with your mouse (I chose the Simple Text Box option). A text box will appear on your page and the tool bar will be on Drawing Tools – Format. Select the Wrap Text option and make sure you are In Front of Text. 

Step 6 screenshot (part 1)

 

Select Home on the tool bar so that you can choose your font, font size, centered text (using the icon showing lines above the word Paragraph) and line spacing (using the tiny arrow next to the word Paragraph). I have chosen Single line spacing and 0cm before and after from the window that opens when selecting the tiny arrow next to Paragraph.

Enter your text to say that this card was made by you.

Position the text box by hovering the cursor over the edge of the text box until you see a 4 pointed arrow. Then click and hold the left side of your mouse to drag the text box into position. 

Step 6 screenshot (part 2)

Now select the Drawing Tools – Format tab and choose the Shape Outline option (there is also a Text Outline but you need the Shape option). A small window will open so you can select No Outline.

Step 6 screenshot (part 2)

Step 7: 

Your card is now ready to print!

If you want to add a text box to the front that says Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, etc., simply follow the same steps as adding the text to the back; however, you might wish to keep the text border.

Note:  

It may take a couple of tries before you are happy with the final printed copy. When I was printing the card I used to create this guide, I needed to print a couple before I was pleased with the positioning of the text and image. I had to go back into the document, make some adjustments and reprint.

But don’t worry, there is a way you can use those cards you aren’t quite happy with. I cut out the printed image and used it to create a layered card.

DIV greeting cards by Clara Cook

Hint: 

You could tie a bundle of your homemade cards (with envelopes) together with ribbon, and give them as a gift


Wow! Thank you, Clara Cook, for such detailed step-by-step instructions. They are so helpful! — Kirsty

Meet Clara Cook — Challenge Admin

 

Clara Cook

Tell us what sort of a child you were. Did art play a big part in your growing up?

I’ve been told that I was a bit of a handful when I was very little. I’ve always drawn, and my early 'works' were on the walls of our house! There’s a story that I wasn’t told off for doing this, as my parents thought it would hinder my creativity; however, when I became a parent and my boys drew on the walls, I wasn’t quite as open-minded.

As I got older, I loved to make my school projects look pretty by adding illustrations and colourful borders — all done by hand, as this was before home computers. When I was about 10, I sent a drawing to a children’s TV show and it was shown on television. I was over the moon and still have the book they sent to me!

In my opinion, I was a bit of a tomboy. I remember starting high school and not wanting to study cooking or sewing 'just because I was a girl' — I wanted to be doing woodwork or plastics, like the boys did. Thankfully, we moved and I went to a new high school where I was able to do those subjects, plus Art and Tech Drawing (two of my favourite subjects).

Week 19 2016: Adventure

Why do you make art now?

Honestly, I cannot imagine not drawing — it’s a huge part of me, and it’s what I love to do. That said, not everything I draw turns out the way I hope it will. I joined the 52 Week Illustration Challenge with a plan to draw more often and hoped that by drawing more often, I would become better at it. I certainly draw more often now and am still working on the ‘getting better at it’ bit.

Commissioned portrait of pets in ink (A3), 2017

Have you formally trained as an artist or illustrator? Describe your art background/journey:

I’m not really formally trained. I studied Art and Technical Drawing during high school. In my final year, I achieved the Book Award for Art. My book was ‘A Treasury of Australian Painting’, and it still sits in our bookcase. The year after finishing high school, I undertook evening classes at TAFE to achieve a Certificate in Art Studies.

From 2009 to 2014, I was a member of a local community arts group in Geraldton (WA). I contributed drawings to a couple of member exhibitions and the yearly ‘Christmas Shop’ that was set up each December. My first sale, in 2009, came as a huge surprise.

We moved from Geraldton mid-2014, and I joined the 52 Week Illustration Challenge in January 2015 with the aim of drawing more often and improving. I’ve managed to complete an illustration for every theme since joining (except for two this year – for which I will have to do ‘catch ups’).

Since 2015, I’ve started to receive more commissions. These have included a number of portraits of people and pets (both in pencil and ink), a number of pyrography designs, and creating a logo.

Week 23 2017: Texture

Do you have a favourite medium or subject matter?

I draw portraits using 2B pencils and have started drawing animal portraits using ink pen (mostly 0.05 through to 0.3 size). I think I currently favour the ink pens. I also do a little pyrography work too.

I started drawing portraits when I was 15. My first portraits were of the members of my favourite band at the time. I also love to draw timber using ink pens (I find it really relaxing), and you’ll often find timber in the drawings I add to the Challenge wall.

Week 4 2017: Ode to Favourite Children’s Book

Describe your artistic process, from ‘no idea’ to ‘finished artwork’.

I can be a little bit of a planner – I can hear my friends snorting with laughter at this. Okay, I’m a huge planner (of everything). When planning for the weekly theme, I’ll brainstorm ideas and words associated with the theme. I like to see if I can ‘think outside the box’ to come up with something different. Sometimes I take a few days to mull over ideas. Once I have a basic idea, I might google photographs to get image inspiration. Often I go to bed and find I’m planning layouts in my head. I like to be able to picture myself working on the drawing and imagine it coming together before I start.

After all that planning, the execution is often so much quicker. Although in reality it probably takes a while, it just feels quicker, as I lose track of time when I’m drawing.

For commissioned portrait work, I sketch out the basics then shade in the detail. Between the sketch and the shading, I have a period of doubt and worry that I’m not going to get it right.

Week 13 2017: Cinema – Hugh Jackman as Logan

How do you fit your creative work in with a busy family life? Do you have a routine?

Well for about 10 years, I didn’t fit art in – that was when our boys were young. Once they got a bit older, I picked up my pencils and did a little bit of drawing, as well as making greeting cards (from scrapbooking materials) to give to family and friends.

In 2007, I changed careers and became an Education Assistant. During the term, I mostly draw on weekends, but on the school holidays, I can draw more often and try to get illustrations for the Challenge drawn ahead of time.

Part of my art table & easel (with illustrations from 2017, weeks 1 to 4)

Where is your favourite place to create and illustrate?

At my art table in the corner of our bedroom or at the dining table (if I need my laptop). Over the years, my husband has bought me a desktop easel and a magnifying lamp, which are on my art table. This year he made me a light-box for tracing, which is fantastic!

Week 27 2015: Style – a stile drawn in my style

(This illustration appeared in the Geelong Writers Anthology 2015)

What impact has the Challenge had on your creative journey?

Oh my goodness, such a HUGE impact.

Besides the sheer quantity of drawing that I have done, which helps me improve, I’ve gained confidence due to the support of our community and made wonderful new friends.

In 2015, along with other Challenge members, one of my illustrations was chosen to be published in Tickle the Imagination magazine. That same year, I was contacted (again with other Challenge members) to have a number of my illustrations published in the Geelong Writers anthology of works – Tantalising Tales, An Anthology of Fiction.

Now I’m taking on projects and roles that I never dreamed I would or could tackle, thanks to the support of the Challenge community.

Some of Clara's pyrography work, 2016

Do you have illustrators or artists who give you inspiration?

I love MC Escher’s work and also enjoy the work of artists Alphonso Dunn and Kerby Rosanes. I often watch Alphonso’s ‘how to’ videos or refer to their books, which I own, for ink shading tips. I find the works, techniques, journeys and achievements of our fellow Challenge members to be greatly inspirational.

Week 36 2017: Printing (making a start on the layout)

What are you currently working on and what will we see next from you?

I have a couple of things on the go at the moment:

I’m part way into a commissioned set of three double portraits that will be given as Christmas gifts. I also have a pyrography project as a special gift to work on very soon. As both are surprises, I can’t share any pictures or too many details until after they’ve been given — that’s really hard, as I want to share pictures!

I’ve also started on my sketchbook contribution for the Brooklyn Art Library’s Sketchbook Project 2018.

Of course I also have each week’s theme to create.

Week 48 2016: Clock

Do you have a dream creative project you'd love to be able to do?

My dream would be to become what is in my mind a 'proper' artist — create a web page (or dedicated Facebook page) and have a solo exhibition. I’m still working at being more confident in even using the title of 'artist', so I’m taking baby steps.

Week 29 2017: Swing

Tell us something that we don’t know about you:

I’m a huge fan of Marvel movies and comics, and I love going to Oz Comic Con and Supanova. No, I don’t cosplay — I’m not that adventurous.

My favourite authors are Stephen King, Dean Koontz and John Wyndham — give me a scary book, but not a scary movie any day!

I love listening to movie scores — Kung Fu Panda and Assassin’s Creed are among my favourites.

Oh, and I love chocolate and cake, but I don’t like heights!