Making handmade cards for the holidays and need some ideas on where to start? Look no further than LCI’s specialty paper collection. A wide range of colors, textures and weights are available, allowing for limitless combinations for making announcements and greeting cards at home. If you need some ideas on where to begin, here are some suggestions for effective paper combinations in keeping with the season’s color palette.

Heavyweight backing cards

Aspire Petallics shimmering, heavyweight card stock makes the perfect foundation for a handmade holiday card. Use the Silver Ore, Gold Ore, white Beargrass or light blue Juniper Berry colors as a backing layer for a smaller, printable card (note that these metallic stocks are laser-printable only).

Another great card stock to use is Gmund’s brand new Vice Versa line with a defined linen-like texture. Difficult to print on but perfect for layering, try using these vibrant colors beneath printable invitation cards, vellum, parchment, or other overlays. For example, select a Vice Versa color such as Vinum (deep red) or Herbeus (moss green) as your first layer, then browse Gmund’s Contact Colors line for colored vellums in equivalent shades. Print your custom text on the vellum, adhere to the Vice Versa backing card, then embellish with ribbons, bows, matching envelopes and seals. An exquisite card stock in an extra-thick 111lb Cover weight.

Yet another heavyweight, colorful stock is Japanese Linen. Available in 10 rich, exotic hues, this card stock is ink jet printable! Makes a perfect backing layer.

Lightweight decorative papers

Aside from the aforementioned Contact Colors vellum line, LCI carries an array of pastel colored vellum, clear vellum, and even pre-cut vellum overlays for convenient card-making. Also consider white or cream colored european parchment for a formal look.

Japanese Ginfuri Tairei Paper is a fitting choice for holiday cards, what with its spattered pattern of silver speckles. A perfect pairing for rich red or green card stocks as well as silver or light blue.

Chiyogami (yuzen) paper is another great choice to make a truly distinguished card that catches the eye. There are a variety of decorative patterns available, and great choices for Christmas cards are Gold & Silver Pines or its sister shade of green Pines. Gold Streamers or Festive Decor are other vibrant patterns to look at. These patterns are offered in convenient 6 x 6 inch sizes as well as full sheets measuring 18 x 24 inches. The large sheets are the economical option when making a big quantity of cards, and the extra paper can be used to make matching envelope liners or slim bands to wrap layered cards.

Using these papers as a starting point. Browse the specialty paper section and see what other combinations you can come up with. With a little creative inspiration, there is no limit to the invitations you can invent. Make your holiday card a unique one!

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holiday paper
handmade cards
holiday cards
card stock
vellum
decorative papers
metallic papers