I {LOVE} how they turned out, and they were so easy to make. I used PicMonkey–one of my favorite places to edit pictures and fancy them up a little for posts. If you don’t have access to Photoshop or something similar, and want an easy option to make your own cards, you’ll definitely want to try this.
{2} Re-size to a business card size, 1062 x 615 pixels.
{3} Click the “overlays” icon (the group of three–with the heart) on the far left hand side of your page. It will open up a lot of options, including one at the top that says “your own”. This is an awesome tool! This is where you can upload your own images, including a logo, picture, QR code, social icons, and even digital scrapbook paper and other embellishments. I created all of this ahead of time, so I could easily add it when I was ready to create my card. There are a ton of other fun overlays–banners, arrows, labels–that will help you design your card. **Keep a border around your cards of at least 100 pixels, to allow for what will probably be cut off when printing.
Need a QR Code? They are SO SO easy to create–literally 5 seconds, and you’ll have one for your site. Just go to QRstuff.com, enter your website address, and choose how you want to receive your code. That’s it!!!
{4} I combined all of the overlays with fun fonts to create all of the necessary information: Name, Title, Website, and Contact Info. Because this was more of a “blogger” card, as opposed to a “business” card, I didn’t add any of my personal information. Since my business is in my home, and I don’t want to be sharing my home info with a million people I don’t know, I opted to just share my e-mail address, which is a great way to get in touch with me. You can always create a separate card with personal info on it and print just a few to give to people that you don’t want to share that info with.
{5} After I completed one side of the card, I repeated the process for the front side of the card IN A SEPARATE TAB, so I could toggle back and forth between the front and back sides. I uploaded my logo, and the scrapbook paper I made in photoshop. If you’re using digital paper other than any that you created yourself, make sure you’re allowed to use it commercially, or if you’ll need to purchase a commercial license.
{6} Once both sides were made and saved, I headed over to vistaprint.com to get them printed.
HUGE HINT: Even though you’ve saved your card, DO NOT close down picmonkey, or either tabs until you’ve pushed the order button! When you’re editing your cards in vistaprint (or most likely anywhere you go to get them printed), it may cut off some of your design to print, and you may need to make some changes to your card. Once you shut down picmonkey, your editable picture is gone—you would have to start all over to make any more changes or edits, and you don’t want to do this!!
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Rachel w k says
these are so beautiful!! they turned out great. thank you for sharing the process
Kari VanNoy says
Super cute! You did a great job!
Vicki says
These look so great! I LOVE polka dots :)
Ginger says
Cute!
simply {kierste} says
Thank you, Miss Ginger. :)
Kiara says
Hello Kierste,
I LOVE how your cards came out and you have helped me in the rut I find myself in when it comes to my business card design. I would love to know how do you get the social media icons? And how do you make them so many different colors?
Thanks for the inspiration.
– Kiara
www.beyondaveil.etsy.com
simply {kierste} says
Thank you, Kim!!! I actually used the social media icons that my graphic designer did for me when creating my website. I have those same colors and icons in my header, and I loved them, and wanted to keep with the same design. It might be worth it to you to hire someone to do some design. If you’d like a referral, please e-mail me, and I’ll send you some names!!! simplykierste@yahoo.com
Miss Charming says
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I followed it to the letter and ordered my business cards this morning. Last year, before Haven, I tried to use Vistaprint’s template and it wouldn’t accept my photos no matter what I did. So I ended up just going with a pre-made design. I’m so happy that I was able to design my own cards this time. (Now just crossing my fingers that they turn out.)
Thanks again!
simply {kierste} says
Oh yay, I’m SO glad!!! I want to see your cards!! I’ll cross my fingers for you too, but I really think they’ll be great. I wasn’t disappointed at all when I received mine!! xo
Abby says
Thank you for posting this! You are a life saver for a girl on a budget!
simply {kierste} says
You are SO welcome!!! xo
Richard Thompson @ Alphagraphics says
Thanks for sharing that bit about QR codes. Super easy to make, but I don’t know if any of my friends know how to get one.
Abby says
Thank you so VERY much for this!
Simply Kierste says
You are so welcome!!! xoxo
Meredith Ethington says
Thanks so much for this! Going to my first blog conference, and needed something I could do easily. This was just perfect. :)
Simply Kierste says
You are so welcome! So glad it helped. Have SO much fun at your blog conference!! xoxo
Dana says
I’m in love with picmonkey. I’m trying to make my own as well and i encountered your diy. I’m following it step-by-step and actually finished my own batch of business cards.
Simply Kierste says
Awesome!! I’m so glad you found me, and made your business cards. I love picmonkey too. :) xoxo
Amanda Gomez says
They look great! Congratulations! PicMonkey is awesome.
Simply Kierste says
Thanks!!