Chapter 1: Introduction
I have been making greeting cards ever since I can remember. They were not the best looking cards but it’s the thought that counts, right?
I want you to know I am an artist but not an illustrator who can draw a person’s portrait. I can do calligraphy and doodling and simple drawing. So don’t think you won’t be able to do this. It can be easy, peasy and fun!!
The other part of some greeting cards is the writing. You can write a poem or use idioms and puns. Idioms and puns are phrases that don’t really make sense. Sometimes they are just plain silly.
I want you to be inspired by this book. Don’t just copy it.
There are so many occasions that cards are appropriate for: birthday, thank you, get well, thinking of you…
When people receive cards, it usually brightens their day. It’s an act of kindness. This world can always use more kindness!
This is a birthday card for my Dad that I did when I was in elementary school. (I told you I was not good at drawing. LOL!)
But I liked to write rhymes. And did some simple calligraphy. Nothing fancy.
This one was done later. I did some calligraphy, doodling and rhyming. I made a logo and a company name. (Front and back of card is shown.)
This is the inside.
And finally this is a card that my Dad made me. I didn’t think much of it at the time. No drawings, no color. But this card means so much to me now! (Outside)
This is the inside.
Chapter 2: Tools Some things to have before you start: (You don’t need them all. Even if you just have a pencil and a piece of paper, that is fine. Lots of cool art is done in black and white.) Paper (new, recycled, construction, etc. Ask before you use.) Pencil Colored pencils Crayons Pens Ruler
Chapter 3: Calligraphy: The meaning of calligraphy is artistic writing. When you start, you can just keep it simple. Begin with the alphabet, then progress to words. Don’t be picky, picky. Relax, have fun! Eventually, let your handwriting go wild! (That’s how new fonts can happen.) P.S. When you are writing, just know that it might not be perfect. If you require ‘perfection’ from yourself, just know it might not happen. And that’s ok.
Here is a simple calligraphy example. Write your letters and add polka dots (or short lines) at the ends of the letters.
Here are some examples of what can be done to an A.
How to make BLOCK LETTERS. 1st write the letters in pencil.
Then draw ‘boxes’ around your letters…..
Erase the inner lines….
Now that you know how, you can draw block letters on construction paper or use colored writing utensils for the card. (Like colored pencils or crayons or markers.)
Here’s another block letter version.
How’s this for fancy shmancy?!!
Block it!
Color it!
Polka dot it!
Decorate it!
You can also draw block letters for a poster. And you can create your design on recycled paper, like magazines, newspapers, old phone books…..with permission, of course.
More calligraphy! Take your time. You can do this. I made up these styles. One style has lots of straight lines. You might want to use a ruler. The other is curvy. Play! Have Fun!
Cursive!
Different!
Chapter 4: Doodling The meaning of ‘doodle’ is an aimless or casual scribble, design or sketch. That means when you start drawing a doodle, you might not know what it’s going to look like. But it can also be repeating a shape like a square or circle. Or lines that make a checkerboard. (This will make more sense as you continue to read.)
On another note about doodling: just sitting down with a pen and paper and doing silly drawing can be relaxing and fun. And some of you like to use a ruler with your art. If you like that, go for it!!!
Doodling examples. Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy!

More doodles!

Oodles of doodles!

More!

And some more!

Doodles made into patterns. Use your imagination.

Here are block letters and nautical doodle patterns.

Draw some lines. Doesn’t need to be fancy.

Fill in with oodles of doodles!

You can color it. This can even be the front of your card. Your words can go on the inside.

Another busy card front.

This was fun!

I did this on fabric. I did not color it. (I colored the other side…so some of the color ‘escaped.’)

A Paisley is a perfect shape to doodle.
Paisley: part 1

Paisley shape: part 2

Let your imagination go wild!

You can be inspired by items around the house.

Here’s my drawing just for fun.

More inspiration!

Here’s my drawing.

How about this?!

This is an easy design. Vine: part 1

Vine: part 2

Vine: part 3

Vine: part 4 (you could color it)

Chapter 5: Drawing
I told you I am not an illustrator. A lot of kids I have met can easily draw better than I can. Maybe you are like that. Doesn’t matter.
If this brings you joy, use some of your spare time drawing instead of playing video games or fighting with your siblings. If drawing doesn’t float your boat, you could spend like 5 minutes a day just doodling. And then throw it away. This chapter gives you simple drawings to be inspired by. Relax and have fun. 
Drawing a candle is an important part of making birthday cards!

Cupcake, anyone?!

Here are some balloons for you!

Draw a tea cup for someone who likes tea.

Make a birthday card.

A tea pot can go with the tea cup.

Start looking for drawing inspirations.

Easy, right?!! For someone who is adventurous? (Look at the drawing and break it down into shapes. Can you see the circle and the rectangle? The rest are lines and doodles.)

Wild and crazy! For someone who likes to dress up?

Happy Birth-Day card!

Peace: always in style.

Flashback to the ’s!

I had lots of fun with this!

Wild and wacky.

If you can draw a heart, draw 2.

Or 3.

Who wouldn’t want a crown for their birthday?!!

Easy flowers. Start by drawing 1.

Then maybe a bouquet!

Animals are another subject matter you might choose to explore. As I said, let your imagination go wild!

This was inspired by a wall hanging I saw. Below is a base for a silly face.

There are so many different things you can do!

Weird but fun.

Easy coloring and doodling.

Chapter 6: Idioms and Puns Now it’s time to decide on what words to write on the card. Idioms and puns: love them!!! As I said earlier, they are phrases which do not really make sense. Play on words, play with words. Or you can write a poem. Or nice words.
Idiom/pun examples for a birthday card: • Here’s food for thought: BIRTHDAY CAKE! or • Don’t bite off more than you can chew! (You might use the 1st one for the front and the 2nd for the inside.) 
And then there are just silly words: Malarkey Whippersnapper Persnickety Flabbergasted Shenanigans Nincompoop Thingamajig Whatchamacallit Gobbledygook Pumpernickel Hoopla Baloney

Chapter 7: Examples
Next are ideas for 2 birthday cards:

Below is the front. (If the cake looks complicated to you, look closer. Break it down in layers. And the more it leans, the funnier it will be!) (And doodling on the cake is a super duper idea!) Inside you can write "Happy Birthday!"

Another card: on the front write:

Inside: draw a cake with fried eggs on it. Write: Mmm… Cake and eggs for breakfast sound yummy!!!!

So there you have it: my book about you making cards.
My hope is that you enjoyed some of the ideas and that you will be inspired to do some calligraphy, doodling, drawing and writing. A lot of people enjoy doing art but some are worried that their work isn’t very good. And so they won’t take a chance on it. Don’t be that person!! Relax and have Fun!
Best wishes, Marian* McGlothlin
THE END P.S.

Chapter 8: P.S.
P.S. Adults might also be inspired by this book. I shared my book with my sister and this is what she did. Yay!!!

