Card Making Magazines

A Wise Investment

Although there are plenty of Web sites offering free card making ideas, a magazine subscription can be a wise investment for the serious paper crafter. Magazines offer the following advantages:

• Card making magazines are delivered right to your mailbox, so you don't have to waste time pouring through pages of outdated and irrelevant online information.
• If you don't have a computer in your craft room, a magazine provides a great point of reference when you're working on a project.
• Projects from magazines can be quickly clipped and filed, while online project ideas may be missing by the time you get around to making a particular type of card.

Popular Card Making Magazines

If you're looking for a card making magazine to provide the assistance you need to begin your next project, LoveToKnow Crafts recommends checking out one or more of the following titles:

• CardMaker is published bimonthly and provides step-by-step instructions and clear photos covering projects ranging from simple to elaborate.
• Just Cards is more expensive than most card making magazines, but this quarterly publication boasts over 300 unique projects per issue. Whether you're looking for birthday cards or trying to find a great party invitation idea, this magazine is sure to provide the assistance you need.
• Scrapbook and Cards Today is a fairly new magazine, but a good choice for crafters who are interested in making handmade greeting cards as a way to use up their leftover scrapbooking patterned papers and embellishments.
• Paper Crafts is a great choice for crafters who enjoy scrapbooking, rubber stamping, and making altered art items in addition to designing handmade greeting cards.
• Crafts 'n Things covers paper crafting as well as a number of other hobbies. While this might not be the best choice for an avid card maker, this publication offers many interesting projects for those who like to dabble in a variety of crafting areas.

If you're not familiar with the titles listed above, checking out each publication's Web site can give you a better idea of whether or not the projects featured are a good match with your personal taste and card making skill level. You may also wish to purchase a sample issue of each magazine at your local newsstand or browse through the copies at the nearest public library before committing to a year-long subscription.

Finding Cheap Magazine Subscriptions

Paper Crafts

If you're on a tight budget, magazine subscriptions can easily become a big expense that takes away from your ability to purchase the supplies you need for your craft projects. To find cheap magazine subscriptions, keep in mind the following helpful tips:

• Don't automatically order your magazines direct from the publisher. Comparison shopping is the key to finding the best deals.
• Check out eBay for great deals on magazines. However, you should remember to only buy from sellers with a good feedback record in order to make sure you actually receive the magazines you paid for.
• Look for bargains at your local school. Students selling magazine subscriptions for fundraisers often have great deals on a number of popular titles.
• If you're not happy with the renewal price for a magazine subscription you enjoy, call the customer service number and ask for a better deal. Many times, they can give you the "introductory" rate new subscribers receive if you just ask.
• Consider signing up for a two or three year renewal if you have found a magazine you truly love. Many publications will give discounts to subscribers who are willing to take this approach.

For more advice on finding affordable magazine subscriptions, check out the Discount Magazines article on LoveToKnow Save.