Make Some Fun Retro Handmade Cards!

Check out this design for fun retro handmade cards made with an instantly recognizable motif!

Lately I have been seeing lots of ideas for nostalgic, fun retro handmade cards using all kinds of midcentury modern elements. When Rubbernecker came out with this very cool Retro Camera die set, I immediately thought of all the instant cameras that everyone had to have “a few decades” ago. (I don’t want to name the date because who wants to feel old remembering their own experiences? Not me!) Even those people who didn’t get to stand around shaking the film as it came out of the camera – why did we do that anyway? – will recognize the design of this set and want to jump in on the fun.

To make this card I used the new Rubbernecker Retro Camera, Polaroid Tabbed Set and Snowmen with Presents.  Don’t die of shock but I actually got out my watercolor brush and Distress reinkers and watercolored my snowmen images.  I have to admit it’s been quite a while since I watercolored and I am very rusty but I think they look good enough!

A design for fun retro handmade cards made on a slimline base with an instant camera all made using die cuts.

Slimline Card Base

  • Use white cardstock to cut an 8.50″ x 7.00″ card base, place on Scor-Pal board with the 7:00″ side along the top and score down the center at the 3.50″ mark.
  • Cut an 8.50″ x 3.50″ piece of red cardstock and attach it to the card base using double stick tape.  Pro Tip:  I always like to use white or cream cardstock for my card base and then cover with a colored layer.  It allows me to save my colored cardstock and also leaves the inside ready for a sentiment.
  • Use white corrugated cardstock to cut a 8.25″ x 3.25″ layer and attach it to the card base using double stick tape.  Note:  I’ve had this corrugated paper for a long time and couldn’t find it anywhere to link for you.  I love that it adds dimension to this simple card.

Retro Camera

  • Cut the Retro Camera parts using red, light blue, medium blue, black and yellow cardstock.
  • Assemble the pieces and attach them together using double stick tape and mounting tape.  
    • Attach the red, darker blue  and black tabs directly to the light blue camera base using glossy accents.
    • Attach the darker blue layer and red lens base to the camera base using strips of mounting tape.
    • Apply pieces of mounting tape to the back of the camera, center it and attach it to the card base.

A old style camera all made from die cuts on one of my fun retro handmade cards.

Snowmen and Polaroid Style Frames

  • Use red cardstock to cut two Polaroid style frames.
  • Secure watercolor paper and snowmen stamps in the MISTI and stamp them using Nocturne ink.  
  • Apply a small drop of Distress Reinkers in the lids of the coordinating Distress Ink pads.  Pro Tip:  I like to use the lids as a palette for the reinkers when I watercolor.  A little bit of reinker goes a long way so you don’t need much. Whatever is left in the lid will be there the next time I want to use them.   No Waste!!!  
  • Use a small round brush with touches of watered down reinker to paint the snowmen.  Pro Tip:  Heat dry each painted section so the inks won’t run.  
  • Trim the snowmen layers and attach to the back of the frames using double stick tape.
  • Apply double stick tape to the back of the frames and attach them to the card base. 

A camera and two Polaroid style "photos" all made from die cuts featured on a design for fun retro handmade cards.

Here are the items I used for today’s design for fun retro handmade cards:

 
5519-06D Retro Camera Die
[ RBB ]
5512-04D Polaroid Tabbed set
[ RBB ]
3336 Snowmen with Presents
[ RBB ]
 

 
Arches Watercolor Pad – 9′ x 12′, 140…
[ BLIC ]
VersaFine Clair Ink Pad – Nocturne
[ BLIC | SBC ]
Ranger Distress Ink Pad Re-Inker -…
[ BLIC ]
Ranger Distress Ink Pad Re-Inker -…
[ BLIC ]
Ranger Distress Ink Pad Re-Inker -…
[ BLIC ]
Ranger Distress Ink Pad Re-Inker -…
[ BLIC ]
Winsor & Newton Professional…
[ BLIC ]
Scrapbook.com – Magic Mat – Standard…
[ SBC ]
Scrapbook.com – Magic Mat – Standard…
[ SBC ]
Crossover II Fabric & Paper Cutting…
[ RBB ]
Amazon.com : Dahle 550 Professional…
[ AMZUS ]
Susan’s Garden Ultimate Tool Kit
[ SPL ]
Sizzix – Paper Sculpting Kit
[ SBC | BLIC ]
Scotch Advanced Tape Glider & Tape
[ RBB ]
Mini Glossy Accents, Ranger Accents
[ ELH ]
Connect Glue, Gina K Designs
[ ELH ]
Amazon.com: 1000 Pieces Foam Sticky…
[ AMZUS ]
Amazon.com: Mini Foam Dots…
[ AMZUS ]
Amazon.com: Scotch 1/2-Inch by…
[ AMZUS ]
Teflon Bone Folder, Bonefolder
[ ELH ]
Scor-Pal Measuring & Scoring Board 12×12
[ ELH ]
Glue Dots, Mini (3/16″)
[ ELH ]
Amazon.com : Accent Opaque White 8.5”…
[ AMZUS ]
New & Improved MISTI Laser Etched…
[ ELH | SBC ]
Scor-Tape 1/8′ (3mm), Scor-Pal Tape
[ ELH ]
Scor-Tape 1/4″ (5mm), Scor-Pal Tape
[ ELH ]
 

I get a kick out making fun retro handmade cards to send to those I know will recognize the designs and have a fun little flashback. What about you? Who do you know who loved taking pics with these cameras and might enjoy getting one of these stunning works of art from you?

4 thoughts on “Make Some Fun Retro Handmade Cards!”

  1. Thank you, Kittie. Your coloring skills are not as rusty as you think, as the snowmen look terrific. I love how you use corrugated and crimped papers on your cards. I did try to create my own crimped paper since I think I donated my paper crimper. Using my score board, I scored my cardstock at every 1/8″. Then I flipped it over, scooted the cardstock over about 1/16″, and scored at every 1/8″. It doesn’t look as good as when a paper crimper is used, but it did provide some texture.
    Thanks again for sharing such a wonderful card using the new dies and stamps.

    Reply

Leave a Comment