Skip The Greeting Card Aisle: 18 Ways to DIY Your Stationery

Allyson Dickman
Jul 07, 2014

In the age of texts and emails, it’s easy to forget how fun it is to receive some snail mail. But what makes it even more fun is when you make the cards yourself! These DIY’ed cards — from dip-dyed to printable — are anything but store-bought. So whether it’s a thank you note, a party invitation or just a friendly hello, these 18 notes come with a whole lot of (DIY) love.

1. Washi Tape Script Cards: Turn plain paper cards into a pattern frenzy with messages spelled out in washi tape. The best part? If you mess up, washi tape peels right off without ripping the paper. (via Omiyage Blogs)

2. Watercolor Postcards: Add a little color to your cards! Use glue to spell out your message, be it “Hi” or “Save the Date,” then paint over the card in abstract water colors. (via Project Wedding)

3. Housewarming Announcements: Just moved? Your friends will be extra excited to check out the new digs when they see these super cute housewarming invites! Make your own by folding and cutting print outs. (via Oh Happy Day)

4. Your Love is a Work of Art: Who says Valentine’s Day is the only time to show your love for your SO? Use this printable template to create a handheld art gallery of photos of you two. (via Brit + Co)

5. Dip-Dyed Stationery: All you need to make this colorful stationery stack is hot water, fabric dye and cardstock. We love that you can make this ombre pattern in a whole collection of colors. (via Poppytalk)

6. Gilded Cards Three Ways: All that glitters is gold, especially when it comes to this shimmery set of thank you notes. Follow the tutorial for using gold glitter and paint for these fab designs. (via Camille Styles)

7. Light-Up Card: That’s right. A card that LIGHTS up?! If you give this a try and want to learn more about LED electronics, check out our e-class! (via Brit + Co)

8. Print Power: These crabby cards may look hand-stamped, but if you have a computer, a printer and a stack of cardstock, you can make custom notes in minutes. (via Coordinately Yours)

9. Leaf Your Mark: It’s the oldest trick in the book. With just a freshly plucked leaf and a hammer, you can make a naturally pretty stamp. Just place a paper towel over your leaf and hammer away. It leaves (pun intended!) behind a great all-natural watermark. (via Delighted Momma)

10. Bit by Bit: This one is for your techie friends. You can choose whatever shape you like, then follow a basic weave pattern using slits in your card and strips of ombre-toned paper. (via TrendHunter)

11. Pop Up Polaroid Card: This one’s an oldie but a goodie, but it’s a fun one to make for any occasion because it’s so easy to customize! (via Brit + Co)

12. Fabric Swatch Cards: This set has all the vintage charm you’ll need! First, stain the cards with coffee and tea for an old-timey feel, then adhere strips of old fabric on top for a beautiful and colorful inlay. (via A Beautiful Mess)

13. It Takes a Village: This tutorial is two DIYs in one (yay!) — but you can do them both in no time at all. First, make your own stamps with a pen and a rubber stamp block (try houses or letters for fun). Then use that DIY’ed stamp to, well, put your stamp on your cards! (via Fellow Fellow)

14. Gold Leaf Cards: Words can be golden, especially when spelled out in real gold leaf. Get fancy with your stationery using gold leaf paper, glue and a makeup brush. (via Lovely Indeed)

15. Marbled Stationery: You already know we love anything marbled, so why should your stationery set miss out on the fun? These colorful cards are easier to make than you think. (via Minieco)

16. Make Your Own Letterpress Cards: If you’re a DIYer with your own letterpress machine, you can easily DIY these playful cards. If not, get the same look with paint (you can even use puzzle pieces as your stencil) or stamps. (via These Moments of Mine)

17. Stitched Up Letters: Your friends will be in stitches when they open up an envelope stuffed with these cleverly hand-stitched designs. (via Brit + Co)

18. Patterned Watercolor Cards: More watercolors! As you can see, watercolor isn’t just for kids anymore ;) (via Brit + Co)

Send us a note below! Tell us who you’re going to send your DIY’ed stationery to in the comments below.

18 Must-Have 2024 Calendars to Keep You On Track In Style

When it comes to New Year rituals, the naysayers might scoff, but we know there's something utterly transformational about kickstarting the year with a fresh calendar in hand. Admittedly, it might end up buried in your tote by March, or you'll find it snuggled among the books you've been planning to read. So, why not switch things up this time? Skip the planner that may play hide-and-seek and go for a wall or desk calendar instead. The best part? These stationary stunners are immune to getting lost during transit or making you feel guilty for missing that daily itinerary. We've rounded up a flock of unique options that'll keep your ducks in a row, no matter what life throws at you.

Wall Calendars

Opalhouse 2024 Wall Calendar

Add a touch of boho chic to your decor with this visually stunning wall calendar from Opalhouse. It's not just a calendar; it's a piece of decor for your space.

The Everygirl x Day Designer 2024 Wall Calendar

Collaborating with The Everygirl, Day Designer brings you an elegant wall calendar that marries functionality and style. Stay organized in the most fashionable way possible.

Houseplants Foil Poster 2024 Wall Calendar

Embrace the plant mom life with this foil poster wall calendar. Each month showcases a unique houseplant, making it an excellent choice for green thumbs and wannabe plant parents.

Rifle Paper Co. 2024 Greetings from Around the World Wall Calendar

Transport yourself to far-off places with this Around the World Wall Calendar by Rifle Paper Co. Each month features greetings from a different country, perfect for travel enthusiasts.

Blue Sky Meadows 2024 Wall Calendar (Kelly Ventura For Blue Sky)

Let this navy blue and floral design help you tackle your important projects in style.

Phoebe and June Shops & Markets 2024 Wall Calendar

This adorable wall calendar makes us want to live our best soft girl lives.

Wild House Paper Intentional Calendar 2024

Wild House Paper's Intentional Calendar is all about setting goals and crushing them. Stay motivated and track your progress with this inspirational gem.

Papier The Month Of Calendar

Papier's Month Of Calendar is a wonderful way to celebrate life's little moments. Customize it with your favorite photos and memories to make each day special.

Aesthetic Minimalistic 2024 Wall Calendar

Keep it simple and stylish with an Aesthetic Minimalistic Wall Calendar. It's a great choice for those who appreciate clean lines and a clutter-free look.

Live Oak Print Mountain 2024 Wall Calendar

Want to spend more time in nature next year? Let this 2024 calendar help you map out your vacation days.

SofestoreShop 2024 Groovy Pink Calendar

2024 calendars should be fun and aesthetically pleasing, so add this groovy pink design to your cart today!

Papier Multi Photo Personalized 2024 Wall Calendar

Bring a slice of home to your office with this personalized wall calendar.

Desk Calendars

Day Designer Wild Blooms 2024 Desk Pad Calendar

For those who prefer their planning right in front of them, the Wild Blooms desk pad calendar from Day Designer is an absolute must-have. It's like having a stylish bouquet on your desk every day.

2024 Good Boys Easel Calendar

Prepare for your heart to melt with this adorable dog-themed easel calendar. Every month features different good boys to keep you smiling all year long.

Rifle Paper Co. Blossom Appointment Calendar

Rifle Paper Co. is back with their signature whimsical style in the Blossom Appointment Calendar. Plan your days with a touch of floral elegance.

Hadley Designs Doodle Large 2024-2025 Desk Calendar

This desk calendar is for the girlies who finds themselves doodling during their zoom meetings — we see you.

Pen+pillar For Cambridge 2024 Desk Calendar

We can't get enough of floral 2024 calendars.

Trends International Inc. Harry Potter 2024 Desk Calendar

Immortalize scenes from the Harry Potter franchise on your desk — at least for 12 months.

For more organization inspiration, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Jasmine Williams.

Header image via Anthropologie

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Not Close With Your Family? Here's How To Have a Joyous And Connected Holiday Season

Last year, some of us celebrated the holidays apart from our families for the first time. COVID has brought with it many changes, some of them arguably positive (like increased flexibility to work from home), some difficult (such as the realization of vastly different political and social views between family and friends), and some horrible (obviously, the health implications of a global pandemic). However, for some of us, celebrating the holidays without family members isn't exclusively due to COVID. In addition to so many of us living in different areas than our families of origin, some of us simply don't have close bonds with the people we grew up around. Sometimes, this can cause loneliness.

If you're not close with your family members, the holidays can be a difficult time. This is doubly true if you don't have a close circle of friends to call upon. But make no mistake, if this sounds like your situation, you're not alone — there are thousands of other people going through the same struggles you are. We sat down with Irad Eichler, founder of Circles, a website that connects people who are sharing similar struggles, like heartbreak, grief, or loneliness. Here are some of Eichler's tips for coping — and even thriving! — during the holiday season when you're not planning on spending it with your family, for one reason or another.

Don't Fall For "Perfect Families" On Social Media

Laura Chouette

The first VERY important step to having a joyous holiday season when you're going it alone is to stop believing the narrative that others' family situations are perfect, Eichler says.

"Remember people only post a moment in time, and only the moments when they look their happiest and best."

In addition to the fact that everything you see on social media is curated for the 'gram, it's also important to remember that by focusing on what others have and you lack, you risk failing to see the great things at play in your own life.

"These holiday periods can become a time of focusing on who and what we don't have, rather than who or what we do, and can cause a negative spiral into depressing and dreadful feelings of inadequacy," says Eichler.

Gratitude is the reason for the season, after all. So instead of only seeing the negative, try some gratitude journal prompts to help you focus on what's actually really wonderful about your life right now.

Make An Effort To Deepen New Connections

Joel Muniz

While it may seem like everyone has friends and family to spend time with during the holiday season, that doesn't mean no one is available for deepening a blossoming relationship or new friendship.

"Make a list of people you can or would like to connect with, and try to reach out to at least one of them," advises Eichler.

Reaching out doesn't have to mean a big plan or an hour-long conversation. Even a quick text letting a friendly coworker know you're thinking about them can go a long way toward deepening the relationship and moving it in the direction of closer friendship.

Don't have an acquaintance in mind? Then it's time to make new acquaintances. What's more in line with the Christmas spirit than attending a Meetup or event full of people eager to make new friends?

"Join groups with similar interests to yours, such as hiking, baking, or games. Push your boundaries and be brave - you might find new people who have much in common with you."

Give Back

Priscilla Du Preez

The holiday season is a great time to focus on giving back to your community, and coincidentally, acts of generosity and kindness are known to reduce loneliness and help people feel happier. One study found that knowing a few of your neighbors and doing small acts of kindness for them — such as cheering them up, listening to them, mowing their lawn, providing advice about local business recommendations and job opportunities, and chatting over the fence — was statistically correlated with feeling less lonely and having a lower risk of depression.

Helping out elderly neighbors can be a particularly gratifying way to give back.

"Notice older lonely people in your neighborhood or community who might have no family at all, and offer to help them," says Eichler. "These can become mutually meaningful connections, and help you 'adopt' a grandparent."

Connect With Others Online

Thought Catalog

Finally, use the Internet for its highest and best purpose: to connect people. Whether you're using Meetup to find in-person events, digital forums for having conversations about special interests, or programs like Circle for getting support from others in your situation, the opportunities to create new connections are practically endless.

"There are many interest groups that can be found digitally, where or any person can connect with others in the same life stage, going through the same challenges, or who would like to explore the same interests," Eichler states. "Meaningful connections can be formed easily in these circumstances. The Internet enables us to find and connect to people all over the world who fit this, and to whom we can become more easily attached, as we are able to find people with the exact interests that energize us."

If you're struggling with loneliness, you're not alone. Connect with our digital community of makers and creatives here at Brit+Co by following us on IG and signing up for our newsletter!

This post has been updated.

relationship advicewellnessfriendshiprelationshipsholidays

11 Valentine’s Day Cards for Your Little DIY-er

Are you in a rut trying to figure out a cute Valentine's Day card for your little one to DIY? Well, we've got 11 perfect solutions for you! We scoured the web for the cutest handmade cards for your kids to hand out (or snail mail) this Valentine's Day. Happy making!

Donut You Know Bags

These bags are adorable! Littles can help fill them in with treats and older kids can DIY with their own personal message! (via LittlebeaneBoutique)

Easy and Funny DIY Card

This Valentine's Day card is a winner. Have your little one pose for a photo and combine it with silly mustaches from your local party store. (via Modern Magpie)

Printable Maze Valentine

We love this printable (and interactive) Valentine's Day card! It holds a pencil between the slots and your little can add one for her fave people. (via MadiLovesKiwi)

A Tasty DIY

This is the perfect Valentine's Day card for your little Minion. So adorable! (via Crafty Morning)

A Stylish Card

This barrette card is sweet and easy to make! (via Spoonful)

A Cute And Useful Card

What a cute idea! Don't worry about buying Valentine's Day-themed socks; just purchase white socks and dye them a pink! (via Saltwater-kids)

A Colorful Valentine's DIY

Do you have tons of old broken crayons laying around in various drawers? Well, turn them into new multi-colored crayons by melting them down into heart-shaped molds. (via Whipper Berry)

A Snack-able Gift

Mix things up and try little fishes instead of hearts! Check out the free printable download. (via Bliss Bloom Blog)

Glowing Valentines

These glow-stick cards get the message across brightly! We're loving the Milton Glaser-inspired design. You can download these beauties. (via Kommunicated)

An Interactive Card

We're sure your little ones know all the words to every One Direction song, but this card will teach your children about one of the greatest boy bands of all time. (via Made Everyday)

A Sparkly DIY

Are you and your little one pro DIY-ers? This is the project for you! We love how they added a bit of glitter to the dough. (via Red Ted Art)


Follow us on Pinterest from more DIY ideas

This article has been updated from a previous post.

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Zach Bryan & Brianna Chickenfry's Break Up Is COMPLICATED — Here's What To Know

Zach Bryan and Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia's explosive breakup is everywhere right now. From his seemingly one-sided social media posts to all the bombshell revelations she keeps dropping, it's clear this split is NOT amicable. Both parties are dropping tons of lore, info, and everything in between — including new music?! — right now, so it makes sense if you can't keep up. Luckily, I'm here to help break this breakup down for you! Here's everything you need to know about Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry's relationship...or lack thereof.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

October 22, 2024 – Zach Bryan Announces His Breakup With Brianna Chickenfry

On October 22, 2024, after some recent speculation that Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry split up, Zach took to his Instagram stories. The country star said, "Addressing something: Brianna and me have broken up with [each other] and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I'll always thank her."

He continued, noting, "I have had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be. Please respect Brianna's privacy and space in this and if you have it in your heart, mine too."

To wrap it all up, he closed by apologizing to his fans. He said, "With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry. I try my best in everything. I failed people that love me and mostly myself."

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

Brianna hopped on her own Instagram stories shortly there after. She posted, "Hey guys I'm feeling really blindsided right now. Gonna hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately, when I'm ready I'll be back and ready to talk. I love you guys so much thank you for all of your kind words. Remember you are so loved and everything's always gonna be okay 🫶"

The Brianna got on Youtube next, posting a raw, emotional video about the situation. Sitting on the floor of her bathroom, she opened up as much as she could in the moment about her breakup. She said, "I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up and I had no idea that post was going up. He didn't text me, he didn't call me. I just woke up to a bunch of texts, like, 'Are you okay?'"

Brianna, with her teary eyes and red face, explained she's been crying for "five days straight." She said, "I'm at the point where it's like, how can you give someone everything and love them so unconditionally, like through stuff that you shouldn't because you just love them and you want them... like you see the good in them?"

The internet personality said that this is all "so embarrassing" and "really, really heartbreaking." She elaborated that the couple broke up on October 21, but wanted to process on her own and "didn't want it to be public."

Much like her Instagram story, she told her audience that she'll come back when she's ready.

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

November 7, 2024 — Brianna Claims Zach's Emotionally Abusive, Wanted $12Mil NDA

Well, it appears this week, Brianna decided she's ready. On Barstool Sports' BFF's Pod November 7, 2024, Brianna gave an inside look at the breakup unlike any other. Not only did she claim Zach was abusive, but she also alleged that he offered her a $12 million NDA to "not talk about the relationship."

After saying it's been the hardest year of her life, she said. "I'm still scared right now because I'm scared of him. My brain's rewired and I'm scared to make him mad and last week, I didn't want to talk about it 'cause I was scared."

Brianna then described the alleged emotional abuse. She noted that everything was cyclical and that he would build her up only to break her back down again. "There was always another excuse as to why he was treating me so poorly and why I'm crying myself to sleep every night, why he's screaming at me," she said. "And then you wake up, it's the apology, it's the 'I'm going to be better like I need you in my life,' but if you've been through this — I don't expect people to understand emotional abuse if you haven't been through it. I hope you never have to go through it but if you've been there you know what I'm talking about."

Not only does Brianna allege she was offered an NDA, but she said that other women that came before her had to sign their own agreements. She declined the offer because she didn't want to "sign away [her] experiences and what [she] went through to protect someone that hurt [her]." She also wanted to share this experience for other women who've suffered something similar.

And when it comes to the logistics of losing out on the famous lifestyle and alleged $12 million? She said, "It was never about the money — I was with the dude because I loved the dude."

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival

November 8, 2024 — Zach Quit Touring Amid Abuse Allegations

On November 8, 2024, Zach posted on Instagram — where he clearly loves to share all his big news — that not only is his new single "High Road" out today, but that he's also ending his tour early. Read his full statement here:

After not being home for a year and a half I drove out to my mothers gravestone in the dead of night a few days back on familiar Oklahoma roads and I came to realize just like in the past, that she never would call me again

Told her I quit touring because I got accepted to get my masters in Paris next year, I told her I was back in Oklahoma, told her about all my best friends in New York and all the nights we howled with the moon, told her about the immeasurable laughter my band and me have shared these last five years, all the calluses on my finger tips, every tear shed, told her about making it on The Rolling Stone and most importantly told her about porch swinging with my beautiful sister.
I wrote the chorus for this song a month or two back and finished it when I realized I was blessed with all these things.

I figured it was about time I released it.

Thank you guys for listening to ‘This Worlds a Giant’ last night and thank you to all the people who love me; who have truly carried the weight with me.

Seems that all these Quiet Dreams have gotten much too heavy but I’m home now and I’ll hold you through the pain.

High Road is out today and I appreciate all of you"

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83 Budget-Friendly Finds Under $30 That'll Have You Gifting Ready This Season

Discover 83 Amazon products under $30 that are nothing short of pure gold. From stylish fashion finds to the latest beauty trends, these steals offer exceptional value without compromising on quality. We always ask, what's better than the perfect gift? Well, it's the gift that also doesn't break the bank! We're confident you'll find something in here to at least appease a few loved ones this holiday season.

Thanks for reading about our favorite finds from across the internet! FYI: We participate in affiliate programs and may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.