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This guide aims to help you get to grips with the basics of cardmaking, looking at the occasions you could create for, the different types of greeting cards you could make, and the materials we recommend you use, amongst many other points of interest!
It's thought that this rewarding craft originated in ancient China, where they'd send messages of good will at New Year using the custom of sending a handmade card. The Chinese weren't the only ones to think up this idea, though - there's also evidence that the early Egyptians relayed their sentiments on papyrus scrolls. It wasn't until the 15th century that Europe got the message and decided to create their own greeting cards to celebrate occasions like New Year and Valentine's Day.
The cardmaking trend increased greatly over time, continuously introducing new and exciting reasons to create and send cards - notably the first commercial Christmas card in 1843. English inventor, Sir Henry Cole, came up with this concept and asked artist, John Callcott Horsley, to design a card that he could send out to his colleagues and loved ones over the festive season. Since that date, the greeting card industry's popularity has only propelled.
Today, buying premade cards can be incredibly expensive - so for that reason, more and more people are creating their own. Cardmaking is not only a cheaper option, but a far more thoughtful one. After all, you get one of the greatest feelings in the world knowing that someone spent their time and energy hand-making and personalising something especially for you!
So, to kick off the cardmaking frenzy, let's look at a range of different occasions you could send cards out for - at the end of the day, the theme of your design will most likely be based around this!
| Anniversary | Traditional (UK) | Traditional (US) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Cotton, Paper | Paper |
| 2nd | Paper, Cotton | Cotton |
| 3rd | Leather | |
| 4th | Linen, Silk | Fruit, Flowers |
| 5th | Wood | |
| 6th | Sugar | Iron |
| 7th | Woollen | Wool, Copper |
| 8th | Salt | Bronze |
| 9th | Copper | Pottery |
| 10th | Tin | Tin, Aluminum |
| 11th | Steel | Steel |
| 12th | Silk & Fine Linen | Silk |
| 13th | Lace | |
| 14th | Ivory | |
| 15th | Crystal | |
| 20th | Porcelain | |
| 25th | Silver | |
| 30th | Pearl | |
| 35th | Coral | Coral, Jade |
| 40th | Ruby | |
| 45th | Sapphire | |
| 50th | Gold | |
| 55th | Emerald | |
| 60th | Diamond | Diamond (yellow) |
| 65th | Blue Sapphire | |
| 70th | Platinum | |
| 75th | Diamond, Gold | |
| 80th | Oak | |
| 85th | Wine | Moonstone |
| 90th | Stone |
