Creating Edge painted Business cards [DIY]
Edge paint your own business cards at home ~$20
What you’ll need (What I used to achieve the effect above):
● Business cards: http://us.moo.com/
● Clamps: http://goo.gl/CQOEGE
● Ironlak Spray paint: http://www.ironlak.com/
● Download business card templates: http://bit.ly/1T4MiYk
The supplies provided above are what I used to paint the edge on the business cards all for around ~$20. You can definitely experiment and try your own methods with different supplies and styles. Tweet me @Symmetrytuts with your final results!
It’s been almost two years since I’ve posted this video and it is still one of the only few videos online that help provide you a way to edge paint business cards at home — for super cheap (compared to other services, etc).
Now, the video explains it really well on how I produced the effect. But today I’m going to explain a little more on why I did it and what feedback I have gotten over the last year or so.
[Reading continued…]
The video itself has been very popular and I have gotten great feedback from others. But the actual cards themself have gotten an even better reaction from people I have interviewed, networked and talked with since I’ve made the cards. The Luxe cards from moo.com are thick and assertive — and it really adds to the aesthetics of the cards.
So, How’d you do it?
The process is actually really simple and I was shocked more people haven’t tried this yet. For less than ~$20 you can get professional looking cards (professional printers will charge $100 & up!). With a quick trip to the hardware / craft store you can easily get what you need all in one go. Once you’ve gathered all your materials, just go to an open space that is well ventilated (Such as garage, backyard, or workshop). Grab a handful of your business cards cards or desired paper and stack them together evenly.
This is important: You want to make sure that you take your time on this step. If there is a gap, the is a high chance that spray paint / ink will bleed into the cards and ruin them. [See video]
Once you have you cards perfectly align, start clamping them down until they are “hand-tighten”. You want to make sure you cover the top and bottom of your cards with something sturdy so your cards don’t get ruined. For example, I used to peices of wood that fitted the cards perfectly — but you can also use books to hold them down as well. Once you have everything ready to go, you can start spray painting, but don’t go crazy! Start spraying from about 15–20 inches away from the cards spraying in spurts. (Do some tests firsts — get the hang of using the spray paint). Patience is key, you want to do multiple coats to avoid it bleeding into the cards. Wait like 10–15 mins between coats…depending on what kind of spray paint you have, it may dry faster. After you applied the sufficient paint needed, let them sit for about 1 hour to make sure everything settles into place and your cards don’t get ruined by wet paint.
Then slowly start to take the cards apart (some cards might stick together, that’s normal.) It may take a few tries, but I was able to get a good run first time around.
Ok — So now what?
Go out into the world and show off your beautiful edge painted business cards of course! Your cards will be turning heads and you did them all yourself, at home — for less than ~$20!
“Be proud of what you made.”
