ThePowerOfACard: Can you use Tissue Paper in Card Making? You Bet!

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Can you use Tissue Paper in Card Making? You Bet!

Recently, my brother and his wife visited up on their way from Florida to Western New York. Joanne asked me if I still used tissue paper when making cards. I answered yes, but realized that I hadn't done this technique in a very long time. When she got to her home, she sent me an envelope full of tissue papers in all sorts of styles, colors and designs - it was wonderful! So the first thing I did was use some of it in my card class this month, where everyone loved learning the tissue paper technique. Next, I decided to make this video so that everyone could learn (or be reminded) of this fun way to repurpose and reuse tissue paper.

The key part to using tissue paper in card making is adhering it to something to give it support. You don't have to use your good card stock - in fact, this is a perfect opportunity to use lightweight, inexpensive cardstock. What is important is the coverage of adhesive on this cardstock. I talk about the different ways you can adhere the tissue in the video, but my favorite is spray adhesive, closely followed by Adhesive Sheets.

I have plenty of samples to share and you'll see that in reality, the tissue paper acts just like any piece of DSP (Designer Series Paper). You can use it as a focal point, die cut it into shapes, or just use a strip as an an accent. The paper doesn't have to be new, so reuse and give it a second life!

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Melon Mambo 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" scored at 4-1/4", 4" x 1-1/2"; Basic White 4" x 5-1/4", 2" x 2"; Cheap white cardstock 4" x 5-1/4", 3" x 6"
Stamp: Phrases & Frames
Die: Stylish Shapes
Ink: Melon Mambo
Embellishment: Garden Epoxy Dots
Blends: Dark Melon Mambo
Ribbon: Silver Metallic Edge (retired) 13"
Adhesive and Tools
Tissue Paper (large enough to cover the two pieces of cheap cardstock - you can be generous with the sizing)

We will start with the star of the show - the tissue paper. Take your piece and crumple it tightly in a ball - really give it a good squeeze! Then unfurl it and flatten it out, but don't try to smooth out all the wrinkles, which are part of the charm of the finished piece. Place the tissue paper on your work surface wrong side up. Cover your two pieces of cheap cardstock with adhesive. I used spray adhesive in the video because I love the full coverage and it's quick to do. I did spray this outside, so it that's not an option for you, then my next favorite is Adhesive Sheets (add them to the cheap cardstock and peel off the backing before adding the tissue paper). Press the sticky cardstock on the tissue paper and press with your hands to make sure it's all stuck down, especially on the edges. Trim the excess tissue with your scissors (or trimmer if you prefer).

Normally, I start with the card and do the envelope last, but today, we are going to use the larger piece of tissue covered paper to cover the envelope flap. Add small amounts of glue all over the flap, trying to get some close to the edges. Add the tissue piece and trim. With the remaining piece, cut this into a 3/4" strip to use on the inside of the card.

Our card layout is quite simple. Add the rectangle of Melon Mambo to the bottom of the 4" x 5-1/4" piece of tissue covered paper. For my ribbon, I wanted a pink to match the colors in the card base and tissue, so I used a retired ribbon and colored it with my dark Melon Mambo Stampin' Blend. This is a great way to get more usage of your ribbons and customize them for your project! Tie this in a knot at the seam of the two papers and glue it to the card base, which was folded in half and burnished with a bone folder.

From the small piece of Basic White, cut out a circle using the Stylish Shapes dies and stamp the sentiment in Melon Mambo ink. Pop this up over the ribbon with Dimensionals and decorate with some dots (I forgot to do this in the video!). For the inside panel, add the remaining strip of tissued paper and trim. Then stamp your sentiment in Melon Mambo ink and you're all done!

My next two cards were made from the same gorgeous piece of tissue paper. It has several different birds and a variety of flowers. However, depending on where you piece it, the results look like they came from different papers! In the first one, I paired the panel with Blackberry Bliss and Very Vanilla. To coordinate with the tissue, I used gold embossing for my sentiment and Gold Striped Mesh ribbon. The edges and tag were created with the Bordered in Beauty dies. While we no longer sell Very Vanilla envelopes, I still have a small stash and really wanted to have a matching envelope. For the second card, the bird and flowers were so lovely all by themselves, all I needed to add was a small sentiment (also embossed in gold). The Cherry Cobbler cardstock picked up the colors in the two flowers quite nicely (and so different from the previous card!). I use the sentiments from Garden Gathering, which also has a flower cluster that coordinated perfectly too.

This next tissue paper is so bright and colorful and I love it! After adhering it, I cut a large scalloped circle with the Scalloped Blooms dies. I cut another of the die on scrap paper and folded this in half to use as a guide to cut my pretty piece in half. The embossed panel under the scalloped half circle is the Paradise Garden Hybrid embossing folder. This Scalloped Blooms bundle has awesome shapes and good sentiments!

Initially, I had sorted this tissue with the Christmas ones. But I really love the colors and since the leaves weren't holly leaves, I decided I could use it for a masculine birthday card. I love how I could use three shades of green (Garden Green, Granny Apple Green and Lemon Lime Twist) and work so well with the leaves! I used the Nature's Symphony bundle for the sentiment and leaves and embellished with Adhesive Backed Metallic Gems. I also use the birthday greeting from the 2026 Virtual Card Making Retreat set (one of my favorites!).

My last tissue has rows of circles in all sorts of fun colors. Since they are rows, my daughter (Kristin) suggested I cut them into strips for this classic layout. A simple sentiment strip from Words & Wishes is all that is needed to finish this cheerful birthday card.

I hope you've enjoyed this oldie, but goodie technique! And thanks again to my sister-in-law for saving and sending me such beautiful tissue papers!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

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