How can I Decorate Stationery?

Many different techniques, from simple to extravagant, are available to decorate stationery. Starting with card stock or craft paper, you can use basic craft items like rubber stamps, metallic pens, markers, scrapbook stickers, and glitter to decorate stationery for special occasions. Use decorative hole punches and scalloped scissors to create shaped edges and patterns to decorate stationery. Foam tape can be used to create multi-dimensional designs.

Tie raffia through punched holes or glue bows made from raffia onto a card. Use calligraphy or elegant handwriting to spruce up stationery. You can even use a sewing machine to stitch a border around stationery or envelopes. Many methods for decorating cards, paper, and envelopes using stamps, markers, and specialty scissors are so simple that children can decorate stationery. Purchased stencils are available in many shapes and are simple to use to decorate stationery.

Use dried flowers, ferns, or leaves to create decorative stationery with a nature theme. Flat faced flowers such as daisies, petunias, pansies and violas are good choices to decorate stationery items. Choose paper that complements the flowers or leaves you have selected. Apply a thin layer of glue using a small paintbrush and attach the flowers or leaves to the paper or envelope. Tweezers and toothpicks are helpful when working with such delicate items.

Many rubber stamps are available individually or in sets in a variety of designs and themes, from elegant flowers and shells to whimsical animals and cartoon characters. Stamping can be basic, using single color inks, or extremely elaborate, incorporating other artistic techniques. Relief printing is similar to stamping in that ink is applied to a raised surface image and then rolled or stamped onto the paper.

Specialized papers such as vellum, a translucent paper that can be used as an overlay, and pressed cotton create beautiful stationery. Vellum stickers are available also. Embossed paper, which is raised like some wallpaper, is good for special effects and accents. Terra cotta cookie molds used with pressed paper and water create unusual pressed cotton cards.

To add a very special touch, use quilling, also known as paper filigree, to decorate stationery. Quilling is a time-honored craft in which the user rolls narrow strips of paper around a pin-like tool into a circle, and then shapes them into three-dimensional designs. Tatting, a form of lace making in which the thread is knotted into either a ring or a chain, can also be used to decorate stationery. With parchment and wrapping paper, you can create vintage-look envelopes to hold your newly decorated handiwork.