Letters & Numbers on Cards

Written by Anne House

News - Special Features/Collection of the Week

Letters and Numbers

   There are fundamental building blocks to most aspects of life. Atoms make up matter, cells make up our bodies, and letters and numbers make up literature. Letters and numbers have a wonderful textural appeal in the art world. Used in many different ways, they can convey a vintage look, a grungy and punky feel, or even a childlike innocence. The type of mood you're trying to capture depends on the font or style of the letters, not to mention placement and the materials used.

   There are many wonderful ways to incorporate letters and numbers into card making projects, and here are a few ideas: 

• Book Pages: Tearing pages from old books such as dictionaries, hymnals, text books and even ledgers can add incredible age and texture to your project. The yellowing adds instant age and the text itself works as a patterned paper would.
• Stamps: Look around you and you'll find many stamps with letters and numbers. Alphabet stamps are obvious examples, but they can also be found on script backgrounds, and you can even find random letters and numbers.
• Stickers: Making your own background is a magnificent way to use up extra letters and numbers. If you want a uniform color, apply a wash of paint, gesso or mist ink over the top. Stuck lightly, they can also be used to form a mask like effect.
• Focal Point: In card making, a number can be a perfect focal point for a birthday or anniversary card. It will capture attention and reinforce the message. Consider chipboard for this type of application, the 3-D nature will add interest as well.
• Your Handwriting: Using a piece of white core cardstock, grab a bleach pen and start writing. The message doesn't need to be profound. The point is to see your script on the page. When the cardstock dries, you'll be left with an awesome background to use on your cards.

   If you're ready for a few examples, we have some fabulous inspiration to show you. Each of the following projects features letters and/or numbers. The fun part is seeing how many different ways they were used.

Guess Who's One by Jamie Pope Supplies Patterned Paper: Basic Grey; Grungeboard, Mask: Ranger; Stamp: Stampabilities; Distress ink, Alcohol ink: Ranger; Pssst sheer shimmer spray: Tsukineko

Cutie Pie by Cathy Schellenberg Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper & Chipboard Letters: Cosmo Cricket; Ribbon: Creative Impressions; Ribbon Charm: Maya Road

Tip: Coordinating chipboard and paper make throwing together a cute little card very fast and easy.

A Butterfly Thanks by Cindy Coutts Supplies Pattern Paper: Stampin Up!, Basic Grey, Making Memories; Embellishments: Stampin' Up!, Recollections; The Paper Studio; Stamp: Unity Life's Little Moments, Devoted; Ink: Stampin Up

Thinking of You by Cindy Coutts  Supplies Pattern Paper: Stampin' UP!, Cherry Hill; Rub-On: Stampin' Up!;  Embellishments: Basic Crey, Stampin' Up!, Old Olive Playground, Kiwi Kiss; Stamp: Unity; Ink: Copic; Tools: Nestabilities, Martha Stewart

Andrew is 5 by Carol Erlam Supplies Cardstock: Stampin' Up!; Pattern Paper: Cosmo Cricket; Embellishments: Stampin' Up!; Stamp: Hampton Arts, Stampin‘ Up!; Ink: Copic; Tools: Nestabilities, Stampin' Up!

Hello Butterfly by Chloe Schmitt Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Pattern Paper: October Afternoon; Rub-On: Basic Grey; Stamp: Stampin' Up!; Ink: Tsukineko

18 by Chloe Schmitt Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Stickers: American Crafts, Adornit; Rub-on: Making Memories; Embellishments: Making Memories; Stamp: Making Memories; Ink: Stampin' Up; Tools: EK Success

   There's just something so basic and fundamental about letters and numbers. In many ways, they speak to us and give our projects a textural quality that is pleasing to the eye. Incorporating them onto your cards can give your projects a fantastic feel and enjoyable, too.