Handmade Cards Bring Back Old Artistry with New TechnologyPaper art has been a popular form of expression for hundreds of years, starting with origami in Japan. As an artistic medium, paper doesn't dry out or spill, it is relatively inexpensive and stores flat. Customizing greeting cards and building personalized memory books have become popular because of how many amazing details and designs are possible by simply layering cuts of card stock to create flourishes. Far more high-tech than the paper art of years past, scrapbooking is not only artistic, it's a fun and creative hobby.
Traditionally, paper art was a manual process with painstaking hand-cuts. It would take hours for artists to carve every leaf on a paper tree with a sharp knife. Scenes with depth were created by layering, showing distant hills, the tree-line and the foreground images cut out of different sheets of paper. It was such a difficult process that not many people had the time and talent, although everyone could appreciate it. Once modern card companies started mass producing sentiments with lovely images that were inexpensive to purchase, the more detailed artwork started to fade from popularity.
Thanks to technology, anyone who can appreciate the art of paper craft can participate. The layers needed for fine details are planned now in cartridges, and die-cut machines do the cutting. Anyone who can follow directions can create complicated characters with the right cartridge. Scrapbookers load different color paper onto a cutting mat according to the design, feed it in to the machine and watch as a computerized cutter sends the blade whizzing around, scrolling out the image so it can be lifted off the mat and glued into place on the final image.
Other tools of the trade include special markers that won't negatively impact photographs and all sorts of embellishments that make every card and scrapbook unique. Edges and trims can be created for every page with scrolled and patterned scissor-sets, and punches are available in many shapes and corner designs. Finding a discount store online is a good way to begin the process of collecting the tools of the trade. When just getting started it's important to have at least a few tools to work with, like what may be available from a bundled set for beginners or a basic class toolkit from a local craft store, but in time most scrapbookers will collect a whole lot more than they started with.
Back when there was no such thing as television, artists took the time to create everything by hand and there were no factories to produce cheaply-made alternatives. Once modern manufacturing came along, many of the handmade crafts fell by the wayside. Now, handmade is making a comeback, showing loved ones that they are worth the time and developing an artistic style that's unique and personal. Beginning the collection of tools is also beginning a journey to take back the meaning and mastery in cards and scrapbooks, and some discount tools online can be the first step to something truly beautiful.
-- Edward Kinlaw is long time industry writer and powerful industry voice. He enjoys keeping up on industry trends, blogging, and eating sushi. Get more details about this article's subject: copic markers You can find more information on the author's profile page.