It really isn't difficult to create a stunning handmade card at home once you've got everything together. All it takes is some careful planning, the right tools and a free amount to time to give to your project. Once that's all in place it's time to get crafting!

As it any activity it pays to plan so going through a checklist will help you to achieve the look of card that you're after.

1. Your skills. Do you have any particular craft skills that you'd like to use for your handmade card? You might be fantastic at one or two (or more) crafts. It makes sense to go with a craft you know unless you've got the time to play. Is there a particular skill that they've always admired or envied?

2. Their interests. Does the lucky recipient have a particular interest? Are they a raving fan for purple or do they just love ribbons and bows? Spend a bit of time thinking about what would really please them and bring a smile to their face.

Perhaps in the past they've said how they would love something that they know you can do. Now's not the time to modest if you're expert in any area. Show off those skills!

3. Available materials. What have you got to play with? Do you need to go and buy something special and if so how long will it take to get/order/arrive? Look at your workbox to find out what you have and what you need. Then you can work out the best things to use and what you need to ‘go get'.

4. Size. Don't tie yourself down in thinking you haven't got enough of everything. Sometimes you only need a ‘bit' of something to work on a card. Think about the card you'll need as a base, and also the size of card you want. How big will it be? Do you want to make a standard size card or something larger and more impressive?

5. Time. Have you got the time it takes to get a particular item or will you need to make do? When calculating time, remember that you'll need to block out a bit of time to both plan and create your card. When will you do this? Is there a particular time of day or night when you are free or when you work best.

Plan to create your card in the time zone that's most productive for you. It's much better to crack on undisturbed than to have 2 or 3 goes at it. If need be send out a ‘do not be disturbed' message to your nearest and dearest.

6. Plan. Once you've thought about your project and what you need, plan how you'll put it all together. Have you really thought about how you'll bring the colors and materials together. What might you ‘do first?

There may be some activities that take longer and that need to be done in a particular order. Do you want to practice first before you work on your main project?

7. Set out your work area. All crafters need a place or order to work in. It doesn't have to be a large area, just somewhere where you can gather all your materials together in one place.

It helps to have a workbox, bag or shelf where you can keep everything. Make sure it's all ready to go so that you won't have to waste time once you start looking for things.

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