Handmade Baby and Wedding Cards

To make these bootie and rattle cards, layer Jolee's Boutique stickers on decorative papers or circular notes from Impress Rubber Stamps. For an extra touch, trim notecards (Hero Arts) and layers of paper with pretty scallop or other special-edge scissors.

Everyone loves sweet baby feet, and baby footprints are a classic symbol of a newborn. Stamp Inkadinkadoo's baby footprint stamp in white on vellum, wrapped around pink Rossler square notecard from Kate's Paperie. Attach a "congratulations" threads label from Me & My Big Ideas. Don't forget to scallop the edges using decorative scissors. For an alternative design, stamp the footprint on a small piece of wide ribbon and pin it to the card with a diaper pin. I made baby shower invitations that way once and used the stamped ribbon as a cover for the text of the invitation. For thank-you notes or baby announcements after the baby has arrived, use his/her real footprint or handprint.

This adorable baby embellishment is a paper accent from Meri Meri. Layer one over decorative paper, circular notes from Impress, or directly onto a notecard (Hero Arts). Making Memories' "congratulations" eyelet words complete the sentiment; don't forget your oh-so-cute mini scallop scissors. Note: Attach eyelet embellishments to a scrap of paper and trim so it doesn't show. Then glue it by the paper to your card using Glue Dots and Making Memories metal glue on the prongs; then you won't have to worry about hiding the eyelet prongs.

The Vintage Workshop makes easy work of baby cards with its Little Ones and Card Creations vintage clipart on CD-Rom. Just choose from dozens of images, print them in the size you need and embellish as desired. A tiny ribbon bow or pretty photo corners (Making Memories, attached using metal glue) are just about all you'll need to accent the charming clipart.

Die-cuts have come a long way in the past few years. This simple die-cut dress with stitching details and sweet little baby clothes hanger stand alone on a pale baby green notecard from Hero Arts. For the inside sentiment, use Clover Andabee adhesive quotations, a threads label from Me & My Big Ideas, or write or stamp your own.

Anyone can make cute cards using Me & My Big Ideas' just write! line of cardmaking products. The notecards come in a neat notepad. Just tear out the one you need and the others are saved for later. Some have windows in the front, and some are solid. Stick a sticker from the same line, layered on vellum like this one or not, inside the card so it shows through the window, or on the front. Tie it up with pink gingham ribbon or yarn and attach a sticker or threads label sentiment, both from the just write! line, and voila! You're done, and it's adorable.

Wedding Bells

Attach the appropriate sentiment to any of these blissful cards and you have just the thing for engagement or wedding wishes, gift enclosures or even thank you-notes after the fact.

This card is pretty enough to frame and so simple. Just adhere the Jolee's Boutique wedding cake sticker and accompanying flowers inside an iridescent opal envelopment from Kate's Paperie. Top it off with a shiny "congratulations" sticker from Stampendous and send it along.

For an engagement wish, this black notecard from M&MBI's just write! line is easily embellished with a sweet wedding ring sticker and cute gingham ribbon, both from the same line. A sparkly "congratulations" sticker from Stampendous gets the message across. For the card on the right, layer a just write! sticker over vellum and adhere it to a black just write! notecard without the window opening. "Hooray!" sticker from Stampendous. Note: To write inside black notecards, try the new silver Sharpie markers or any variety of metallic gel pens.