by Kristine Munda

Created on: January 20, 2009   Last Updated: August 09, 2010

Thank you cards are a wonderful way to express your appreciation to someone who's made a wonderful impact in your life.

A nice thank you card by itself can cost anywhere from $4.00- $7.00. It's so much better to make the card yourself to save yourself the extra money and to add your personal touch to it at the same. It's actually easy to make your own cards from home.

Here are a few tricks that you can use to make your own thank you cards for a fraction of a retail card and still make it look priceless:

1. Use heavy card stock- The heavier the card stock the better. Some office supply stores only carry 90lb card stocks. They are sold in reams of 50-500 sheets. Another option is going to a stationery or art supply store and buying them in smaller counts. This is a good option if you're only making one or a few cards.

2. Practice the layout of your card before adhering your elements- If you're stamping images or sentiments on the card, make sure you move them around your card to figure out the best design for your project.

3. Use the computer- You can use the computer to print out clip art, photos or even to print the text right onto your card. Script or handwriting fonts are perfect for the inside greeting of your card. Many websites even offer free fonts you can download to match the design of your card.

4. When in doubt, stay simple- This idea will work the best if you're new to creating cards. If you want to decorate your card with a flower embellishment or flower punch out, start with just one and see if that works for you. You can add more embellishments later, but that's completely up to you. Too many elements can make your card look to busy, cluttered and cheap.

5. Color Coordinate- Find color themes in current magazine ads to use for your design. Some cards look cheap because they color combination looks outdated. Try using an embellishment contrasting the color of your cardstock to make your card come alive.

6. Write out your thank you- Whether you're writing out the message by hand or using the computer, them most important part of a thank you card is the "thank you!" Spend some time thinking through what you want to say in your card. More than a beautiful card, the recipient will remember the message you put inside of it.

Creating cards for someone special is not only thoughtful but can also be economical. It's amazing what you can do with lots of imagination and careful planning.

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