Make New Greeting Cards from Vintage Cards

Repurposing vintage greeting cards can be done in many ways: decorative vintage covers evenly cut for framing or becoming part of a mixed media work of art, but they can also be integrated into new homemade cards with blank interiors where personal messages can be written. The best part of repurposing old greetings cards is that they can bear the mark of the maker on the back of the card, for example, a stamp that might read: “Repurposed by…(your name)”.

When selecting vintage greeting cards to transform into new ones, look for ones that have covers in excellent condition, no tears or wearing at the corners or edges, and no writing on the inside of the cover. Greetings cards usually have pre-printed writing plus a handwritten message on the inside of the back cover. Cards like this are okay to use since the backing will be disposed of during the creation of a new greeting card.

Ephemera shows, thrift stores, antique stores are the best places to look for greetings cards dating back to the 1960’s and earlier. Birthday, wedding anniversary, get well cards are just a few of the different topical cards to select from. If your family saves old greeting cards, sift through them to discover the best ones that will make appealing new cards for use. Chances are there are used greeting cards with personal messages written in them that are waiting to be repurposed into new ones.

You will need:

One straight-edge paper cutter

Vintage greeting cards without any writing on the inside of the cover

Beacon Zip-Dry glue

Package of card stock

Rubber stamp bearing your name

Ruler

Scissors

Pencil

For practice before working with the actual vintage greeting card, take one piece of card stock from the package and lay it flat on the table in front of you. Practice cutting two 4 ¼” x 5 ½” size pieces of card stock using the straight-edge paper cutter. Set aside the practice cuts.

Next, decide which vintage greeting card you want to work with. Turn the card over. In order to attach a piece of cardstock the same size as the front of the card, a 1/4” wide strip from the fold on the vintage card will be needed, as shown in the illustration of the dotted line on the back cover of the vintage greeting card:

Open the vintage greeting card and on the inside near the fold, measure a 1/4” wide strip, and lightly mark it with a pencil. Use a pair of scissors to cut along the pencil line, keeping it straight across.

Next, take the piece of cardstock and line it up to the fold on the vintage card cover. Glue it to the 1/4” wide strip, keeping it straight. Make sure no glue seeps out around the edges; if it does, wipe immediately before it dries. Allow the glue to fully dry before closing the card. Once the glue is dry, close the new cardstock back against the vintage card cover and lightly press against the crease.

For the final step in greeting card crafting, use a rubber stamp bearing your name, and using any colored ink, mark the very back of the card in the center. Don’t forget to include an envelope with the card.

These newly repurposed vintage greeting cards can be used to send to family and friends or sold at an arts and crafts fair.

Image Credit: Collection: Museum of Childhood, Victoria and Albert Museum.