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How to Make the Perfect Get Well Card

A handmade pop-up get well card features a cartoon bunny holding flowers, cheerful insects, and the message "Here's hoping you feel better soon"—the perfect get well card to brighten anyone’s day.

How to Make the Perfect Get Well Card That Will Brighten Anyone’s Day

Do you need a perfect get well card for someone special who’s feeling under the weather? There’s something magical about receiving a handmade card when you’re not feeling your best—it’s like getting a warm hug delivered right to your mailbox. The time and love you put into creating something with your own hands speak volumes more than any store-bought card ever could.

Creating the perfect get-well card doesn’t require years of crafting experience or a room full of expensive supplies. With just a few key techniques and some adorable stamps, you can craft a card that’s sure to bring a smile to someone’s face and maybe even speed up their recovery. I’ll walk through everything you need to know about stamping crisp images, adding beautiful colors, die-cutting precise shapes, and assembling all the components to create a card that truly shows you care.

Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just starting your cardmaking journey, this step-by-step guide will help you create something truly special that will let your loved one know they’re in your thoughts.

Step 1: Stamp Your Images with Precision

For this get-well card, we’ll be using adorable images that are perfect for spreading cheer—think sweet bunnies from the Hoppy Thoughts Clear Stamps set or charming bugs from the “Don’t Mean to Bug Ya” collection. These whimsical designs are perfect for lifting spirits.

Start by gathering your stamping essentials: crisp black waterproof ink like VersaFine Clair Nocturne, smooth white cardstock, and a Mini-Misti stamping tool for perfect alignment every time. The Mini-Misti is a game-changer for achieving professional-looking results because it allows you to stamp the same image multiple times in the exact same spot, ensuring perfect coverage.

Select the stamps that you want to use. Place an A2 size (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ piece of white cardstock in the corner of the Mini-Misti tool on the “foam side”. Then put the stamps on top of it, stamping side down and pick them up with the Misti. Don’t forget to condition your stamps if they are new (I apply Versamark watermark ink to the stamping surfaces to condition my stamps). Apply even pressure when pressing down—you want to achieve those beautifully detailed lines that will make your coloring pop later. Stamp multiple times to get a good images as opposed to pressing down hard that will smush the lines. The waterproof ink is crucial here because it won’t bleed when you add color, keeping your images looking clean and professional.

Don’t forget to stamp any sentiment you’ll be using as well. Phrases like “Hope you feel better soon” or “Thinking of you” work wonderfully for get-well cards (I used Hare’s hoping you Feel better soon from the set for my card). The key is to stamp all your images while you have your supplies out, creating an efficient workflow that will serve you well throughout the project. And, be sure to leave plenty of room around the sentiment to die-cut the inner placqard layer for the card

Step 2: Color Your Images to Life

Once your stamped images are completely dry, it’s time to bring them to life with color. This is where your card truly begins to sparkle with personality and warmth. Choose colors that feel cheerful and uplifting—soft pastels work beautifully for a gentle, soothing feel, while brighter hues can add energy and joy.

Alcohol markers are excellent for this step because they blend smoothly and provide vibrant, even coverage. We’ll be using a combination of Copic sketch and OLO markers for this card. To create dimension in the images, start with darker colors in the areas that are likely to be shadowed, such as under the nose, and head, or behind the feet, in between body parts, and around the sides of the head, body, arms, and legs. Blend over the darker tones with your lighter ones, gradually working over the whole area of your image. Here is what I use for each of the images:

Bunny

  • Body – Copic C1, C2
  • Ears & Nose – Copic RV000, RV00, RV11
  • Paws – Copic RV000
  • Flowers – OLO YO2.3, YO2.0, YG2.5, YG2.1

Sun

  • Copic RV000, RV11, OLO Y2.3, Y2.2

Ladybug

  • Head, spots, legs – Copic C1, C2, C3
  • Body – Copic RV25, RV29
  • Leaf – OLO 2.5, 2.4

Bee

  • Head – Copic C1, C2, 
  • Wings – OLO YO2.0
  • Body – Copic C3, OLO YO 2.2, YO2.0

Catapillar

  • Body – OLO YO2.5, YO2.3, YO2.1
  • Mouth & Spot – Copic RV11

Snail

  • Shell – OLO 2.2, YO2.0
  • Body – Copic

Take your time with the coloring process—this is where the magic happens. The goal is to create images that look vibrant and alive, ready to jump off the page and into your recipient’s heart.

Consider adding small details like rosy cheeks or sparkly eyes with gel pens or fine-tip markers. These tiny touches make a huge difference in the finished product and show the extra care you’ve put into the card.

Pop-up get well card featuring a bunny holding flowers, a smiling sun, bugs, and a tree, with the message “Here’s hoping you feel better soon”—the perfect get well card to brighten someone’s day.

Step 3: Die-Cutting and Fussy-Cutting

Die-cutting adds professional polish and dimensional interest to your card. For this project, we’ll be incorporating the Platform Pop-Up die set, which creates an interactive element that will truly surprise and delight your recipient. The card will fold flat to fit in an envelope but opens to reveal a delightful pop-up scene. Die-cut all of the main platform pieces from white heavy-weight cardstock. To add interest, we’ll die-cut the stitched inserts for the platform from some flowery printed paper.

Next we’ll die-cut the sentiment placquard. I use the 2″ x 3 3/8″ mini-scalloped rectangle. And then, use the pointed rectangle to die-cut a pretty aqua frame that coordinates with the stitched inserts that we cut earlier.

Cut out the tree. Use basic colors like brown for the trunk of the tree and green for it’s leaves. Next cut your colored images with the coordinating dies if you have them, or carefully fussy-cut them if you prefer hand-cutting.

Step 4: Assemble Your Perfect Get Well Card Masterpiece

Assembly is where all your careful preparation comes together to create something truly special. Start by creating the platform base according to the die set instructions. I like to use Lawn Fawn’s YouTube video). The Platform Pop-Up mechanism is designed to be surprisingly simple to assemble, despite its impressive finished appearance.

Begin with the main platform pieces, carefully scoring along the fold lines and creasing sharply for clean, professional edges. The platform creates a stable base that will support all your decorative elements while maintaining the card’s ability to fold flat for mailing. Pro Hinr: Be sure to use very strong adhesive tape or liquid glue for a strong hold).

Once your platform is secure, it’s time to attach all your colored characters and decorative elements. Think about creating a scene that tells a story—maybe your bunny is sitting among flowers, or your cheerful bugs are playing in a garden setting. Use foam adhesive to add dimension to your main characters, making them appear to pop off the platform surface.

Layer your elements thoughtfully, placing larger pieces like hills and grass first, then adding your characters and finally the smallest details like flowers and hearts. This creates visual depth and guides the viewer’s eye through your created scene.

Pay attention to balance and spacing—you want the card to feel full and interesting without appearing cluttered. Sometimes less is more, and a few well-placed elements can be more impactful than covering every available space.

Essential Supply List for Your Perfect Get Well Card

Creating Cards That Heal Hearts

Making the perfect get-well card is about more than just following techniques—it’s about pouring love and care into something tangible that your recipient can hold and treasure. Every step of this process, from the initial stamping to the final assembly, is an opportunity to think about the person who will receive it and send positive thoughts their way.

The interactive pop-up element adds an extra layer of surprise and joy that will bring a genuine smile to someone’s face when they need it most. There’s something almost magical about watching a flat card transform into a dimensional scene, and that moment of wonder can be exactly what someone needs during a difficult time.

Your handmade get-well card represents time, thought, and genuine care—qualities that are increasingly rare and precious. When your loved one receives it, they’ll know that someone took the time to create something beautiful just for them, and that knowledge can be incredibly healing.

Ready to spread some handmade cheer? Sign up for our newsletter to receive more inspiring card ideas delivered right to your inbox, and don’t forget to explore our Card Ideas section for endless creative inspiration. Whether someone in your life is feeling under the weather or you just want to be prepared for the next time caring thoughts need to be shared, these techniques will serve you well. Gather your supplies, set aside some creative time, and start crafting cards that truly make a difference!

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ABOUT AUTHOR
Teri Duncan - Author
Teri Duncan

Teri has over 30 years of experience as a cardmaker.  Her work has appeared in Spellbinders Paper Arts’ blog as well as with some of their products and on Altenew’s blog. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, stained glass, and teaching. She and her husband live in Crystal River, Florida with their three dogs and a cat.

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