Chalk Talk: Greeting Cards

The project was basically making your own note cards, and in this case I quite literally meant making your own cards and not just decorating them. At the time there was not a craft store on every corner, so I went to the art supply store for my paper and bought a 9" x 12" tablet of writing paper (figure A), cds1803_1a cut each sheet in half horizontally and then scored and folded each of the two halves in half to make a 4-1/2" x 6" note card. Note: Today an 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of paper or card stock is much preferred so that you end up with a standard 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card.

To make the envelopes:

Materials:

8-1/2" square paper for envelope
sturdy cardboard 1/8" smaller on all sides than the note card
square of waxed paper to fold around cardboard
white glue
white vinegar
brush
glue stick (optional)

1. Place cardboard diagonally in the center of the waxed paper and wrap the paper around it (figure B). Tape to hold if necessary.

2. Place waxed paper-covered cardboard diagonally in the center of the square of paper. Fold the bottom point up and press along the edge of the cardboard. Fold the two side edges in and press and fold the top down and press (figure C). Unfold (figure D).

3. Remove the cardboard and cut out a notch at each corner as indicated by the intersecting folds in the paper (figure E).

4. Replace the cardboard. Fold the two sides in toward the center again and either run a strip of white glue along the two inside edges or use a glue stick. Fold the bottom up and press to hold. The waxed paper-covered cardboard will prevent any excess glue from getting on the envelope (figure F).

5. Make the adhesive for the envelope flap by mixing three parts white glue with one part white vinegar. Brush a strip of it along the edges of the top or the envelope. Wait about 10 seconds for it to dry and repeat the process. The envelope is now ready to be sealed in the usual way when you are ready to use it.

Materials:

pastel chalks (not oil-based chalks)
paper
finger or a cotton ball or small pompom

Steps:

1. Cut a strip of paper about 4 inches wide and, with the chalk, color a strip about 1-1/2 inch wide along one edge. Repeat with several other colors and strips of paper (figure G).

2. Tear along the colored edge to make a rough edge. Tear away from you and not toward you, so the color comes all the way to the torn edge (figure H). Repeat with the other strips of paper.

3. Place the torn edge on top of the note card and use your finger or pompom to brush the chalk onto the note card along the full length of the card (figure I).

4. Move the torn paper down 1/4 inch or so and repeat the process, or use another color (figure J). Repeat this process with the same color or many colors until the card is covered (figure K).

5. Experiment with many variations: Color the 1-1/2-inch strip along the edge of a piece of paper, but do not tear it. Place a rectangle of cardboard in the center of your note card and place the colored paper edge on top of it. Brush the color onto the note card to make a border (figure L). Or, cut out shapes like hearts, circles or diamonds, and use both the cut-out portion and the negative portion to make designs on the card (figures M and N).

And so it went when I made these cards in the past. Today's versions can of course be much easier, quicker and more varied:

Use pre-made note cards and envelopes, and spend your time decorating instead of cutting and folding and gluing your own.

Instead of cutting hearts and circles and such, use paper punches or make your own die-cuts. The variety is endless (figures O and P).

Instead of tearing the strips of paper, use your decorative scissors.

Add decorative chalked touches to your scrapbooks.

Chalk a design on a card and rubber stamp over it (figures R and S).

Note: I've had no problem with the chalk coming off onto other surfaces, but it is always a good idea to check. If needed, set the chalk with a light coating of hair spray.