My post yesterday with my vintage telephones had many people commenting on my flashcards I sprinkled through the post.
I make the majority of my flashcards. I have some vintage ones, but I often need a word I don't have so I decided to make them. They are super easy!
Here is my stash of flashcards that live in my studio. I keep them in this old wire rack.
These are vintage flashcards. They come in an assortment of sizes. The vintage ones seem to often have a tiny word or number up in one corner. I don't bother with that detail when I make mine.
Here are some I have made over the years.
I make the flashcards on my computer and use my printer. I buy manila file folders to use for the paper. I think I got this box at an estate sale. I REALLY like it when I find some older used folders in a free pile at an estate sale as the paper looks a bit more aged. I didn't have any on old ones on hand..so am resorting to new ones.
I cut the folder in half and then cut the two pieces down as close to 8.5 x 11 as I can get them. I am not precise with the size (sometimes when cutting off the tab it compromises the size) and my printer has no problem taking something just under a normal paper size. Sometimes I use my paper cutter and sometimes I just wing it with scissors.
Watch out if your folder has creases like this as you don't want to words to print through them. Also beware that some folders have a logo on one side and you want to make sure that prints on the flip side.
I then just print the words out on the manila paper. I use Times Roman in 60 point type. I use my computer word processing program (Microsoft works). I fit as many words as I can on a page. Eddie from Eddie-Torial Comments left a comment yesterday on my post and asked if I every found cards with words like "Gosh" or "Gee Whillikers". I thought those would be perfect words to use for this tutorial. (thanks Eddie)
I just eyeball them when I cut them out. These are roughly 1.75 wide and then the length of the card depends on the word.
The one trick to make them look like flashcards is to round the corners. I use a corner rounder that I got from Creative Memories years ago. I am sure you can find a similar product at the craft store.
Freshly made flashcards! Super easy! You could age them a bit if you wanted to with some distressing ink, but I usually don't bother.
Happy creating. Happy day!
As a teacher I adore these!!! Soooooo cute!
One more day of school!!!!!!!
Posted by: Melissa | May 21, 2014 at 03:33 PM
Clever!
Posted by: twinkle beverages | May 21, 2014 at 04:36 PM
I always love those flash cards, and hardly come across any! What a wonderful and so very clever idea!! Thank you so much for sharing!! Happy sweet day!! xo Holly
Posted by: Holly | May 21, 2014 at 05:03 PM
Thanks for the tutorial! I love the unique and different words you can make - plus they would make fun signs at shows. Eddie came up with some fun words for you!
Posted by: Shara | May 21, 2014 at 05:10 PM
PS - Survivor finale tonight!
Posted by: Shara | May 21, 2014 at 05:10 PM
Post Much Appreciated!!!!! ;)
Posted by: Beth Boothe | May 21, 2014 at 05:20 PM
Love this behind-the-scenes-tutorial! Thanks for sharing the secret to your fabulous flashcards!
Posted by: Musings from Kim K. | May 21, 2014 at 05:30 PM
Hmmm, great tutorial, thanks! Although I don't see one that says 'Piffles'!
I'm lucky enough to own a vintage one that does and laugh every time I see it!
Wonder what it means.........
Posted by: gail | May 21, 2014 at 06:24 PM
Great craft! Can't wait to try it. Thanks!
rosie
Posted by: rosie | May 21, 2014 at 07:39 PM
this is perfect! i will have to share this with my sister-in-law as my niece is graduating from high school and they are having "school days" as the theme. thanks for sharing.
Posted by: marasmarket.blogspot.com | May 21, 2014 at 07:42 PM
Thank you so much! I can't wait to make my own.
Hugs, Dianne
Posted by: Dianne | May 21, 2014 at 10:22 PM
Clever girl. Thank you for the lesson. I can't wait to try this out.
Sheryl
Posted by: Sheryl Remy | May 22, 2014 at 05:09 AM
Counterfeiting vintage flashcards? I've got my eye on you, Ethel.
:-)
Erica
Posted by: Erica | May 22, 2014 at 05:41 AM
Ok....not sure how in the heck I missed this post on the cards! Your blog is the first thing I look at every morning too!! Guess the pic of the metal handset threw me. I even saw the "Dang" flashcard!I must have thought it was the previous post on the metal phones LOL.
Anyways, thanks for the tutorial on making flashcards!
I thought for sure you found a stash of those somewhere :-)
Posted by: Doreen | May 22, 2014 at 05:49 AM
I've made some that say 'thank you' that are about business card-sized that I slip in with Etsy orders and I used old file folders too--great minds think alike! I never get tired of flash cards...may need to make some more soon. Love yours!
Posted by: Heidi@TheMerryMagpieVintage | May 22, 2014 at 09:04 AM
What a great and easy idea!
Posted by: Melissa's Antiques | May 22, 2014 at 09:36 AM
Oh, my. Why didn't I think of that?? You are one clever woman. The fun words are limitless!!
Posted by: Annette | May 22, 2014 at 10:36 AM
Wow, I would never thought to make them myself!! I just thought that you were super at finding them at estate sales! Thank you for sharing how to make them.
Hugs,
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn | May 22, 2014 at 11:22 AM
How simple, yet so clever! Thanks for the shout out! I was wondering how you got the corners so perfectly round not being a crafter/srapbooker/carmaker/person with any appreciable artistic ability, I had no clue. How cool!
Posted by: Eddie Mitchell | May 22, 2014 at 03:32 PM
Ha!! I love "fiddlesticks"!!
Posted by: Kathy | May 22, 2014 at 08:24 PM
Great idea! I think you're going to have all of blogland coming up with interesting flash cards now! And so you let the secret out about the "Dang" card. I really thought it was vintage!
Posted by: Diane | May 23, 2014 at 07:09 PM
Great post, thanks for the tip! Will file that away under "great magpie ethel ideas". I love that file!
Posted by: Marci | May 23, 2014 at 10:50 PM
What fun!! Now my mind is bubbling with ways to use them in our booth at the Vintage Bazaar. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Janeray | May 24, 2014 at 05:30 AM
Gee Whillikers! What a great tutorial! Thanks!!!
Posted by: Sherry@Back2Vintage | May 25, 2014 at 01:01 PM
Hah! Brilliant Laurie! I was wondering where the heck you found such perfect cards; now the secret is out - thank you for sharing it with us!
Posted by: Maureen | May 25, 2014 at 05:40 PM
Hi there Laurie! I just have to let you know that I made some and just blogged about them! Yay! So fun!! Thanks again!! xo Holly
Posted by: Holly | June 11, 2014 at 07:40 PM
In case you would like to see them!! Blog:: http://damitasprettywrap.blogspot.com/
Thanks!
Posted by: Holly | June 11, 2014 at 07:41 PM
Came over from Damita's to see the tutorial - love this idea.
Posted by: Donna Wilkes | June 12, 2014 at 08:37 AM
Thank you so much for sharing this! I can't wait to make some!!!
warmly,
deb
Posted by: deb | June 12, 2014 at 05:23 PM
Super creative and cute idea!! Will have to make some!! ;) Thanks for sharing! xo Heather
Posted by: vintage grey | June 12, 2014 at 10:15 PM
What a cute idea! I would love trying to make some. Hope I still have some old file folders! hugs!
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | June 18, 2014 at 08:58 AM