die-cut star & washi tape note cards

Happy Friday! Today I’m sharing my DIY Die-cut Star & Washi Tape Note Cards. Boy that was a mouthful! These note cards are super easy to make and I have even provided a star template that you can download, print and use as a guide.

Die-cutting is a process used in many different industries to cut specific shapes into a thin flat material {in our case, paper} by using a steel cutting die {in our case, an X-acto knife}. In other words, it’s a way of making a hole in paper in a desired shape. This is usually done in the same process as printing but since we’re going DIY, we’re also doing our own die-cutting. Pretty advanced, huh.

I always seem to need a card for things like birthdays, a thank you, a school message, or just a simple card to send a note to a friend. Cards are so expensive and store-bought ones can be so impersonal. Being a graphic designer, I have made a lot of my own cards and stationary but when my daughter needed to send out thank you notes for her birthday, I wanted to make something a little different.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Blank note cards & envelopes. You can find this pack of 10 blank cards and envelopes from Michael’s for $3.99. Or, you can use plain letter sized card stock and make your own blank cards. Just trim the card stock in half to make 2 cards that are 5.5″ x 8.5″. Fold them in half to 5.5″ x 4.25″ and you have your own blank note cards. If you make your own note cards, you’ll need to buy A2 sized envelopes at any paper or art supply store. I love these from Paper Source.
• An X-acto knife
• Washi tape in a variety of colors
• Pencil & thin black marker {if you want to add text}
• My star stencil {if needed}

And here’s the step-by-step instructions:

1. Visit my freebies page to print the template. To get my freebies, you must be a subscriber to my blog. If you’re not yet a subscriber to my blog, it’s easy to do, there’s no commitment and you get access to lots of free stuff. Enter your email address in the box on the right (above the SUBSCRIBE button). Click the SUBSCRIBE button then follow the instructions fully. Be sure to confirm your subscription – and then you’ll have access to all my free stuff! If you’re already a subscriber, you should have received an email with a password to access these fun freebies already.

I used the smallest star for this project. Feel free to use them for any other needed projects too.

2. Cut out the star and trace it onto the front of the note cards. I drew my star on the top center of the card so there would be room for writing inside. This also allows space for a message – like “thank you” or “hello” – to go on the front under the star if you choose to include one – or you could keep the front blank.

3. Using your x-acto knife, trim the the star out carefully. I didn’t use a ruler because it made it harder to see where the lines started and ended. Erase any pencil marks.

A little tip about cutting a straight line: always look slightly ahead of where you’re cutting and it will be much straighter than if you look directly where you’re cutting. 

4. Open the card and apply 4 strips of washi tape on the inside bottom half of the note card so that they show through the star die-cut.

5. If you want to include a hand written message on the front of the cards, simply print out a font that you like and either trace it onto the card or freehand it with a pencil and then a thin black marker. Mine’s not perfect but it adds to the homemade look of these cards.

6. Make a bunch in a variety of colors and patterns.

7. Mix these note cards with colorful envelopes so they stand out nicely. Add even more interest by sealing them with a strip or two of washi tape. Now you have your own, die-cut washi tape note cards to use for any occasion!

Feel free to make your die-cut in any shape you’d like: hearts, arrows, scallop edges. I hope you’re inspired to make your own cards and have fun with it. And I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!