"I love making cards, but I'm busy!"

"I'm interested in card making, but I don't want to invest in a whole new hobby!"

"I want to get make my own cards, but I don't know where to start!"

Sound familiar? Here's help for retailers who want to attract new customers and serve those busy card makers (and potential card makers)! It is possible to create cards quickly and easily, without sacrificing style. We asked Susan Cobb, designer and author of Susan's Paper Engineering Secrets, to share her ideas for making great cards while meeting the deadline!

"This cute card is perfect for those times when you need a card right now!" says Susan. It's also ideal for classes on quick and easy cards. Simply glue the faux-ribbon punch-out horizontally across the card front, trimming off the excess. Add three of the faux-button punch-outs and the "May Your Day" focal to the card. (Attach them with foam tape for extra dimension.) Voila--you're done! Punch-outs from Instant Card Art Citrus Colors.

Want to add a dash of color? It'll only take a few minutes more! Cover the card front with teal paper, then glue a strip of pink dot paper along the top of the card next to the fold. Cut a rectangle of pink faux-texture paper and round the corners with a corner punch, then glue it to the left side of the card. Cut a larger rectangle of purple faux-texture paper, round the corners, and glue it overlapping the pink rectangle. Add the small "Celebrate" punch-out tab to the right side. Glue the "Birthdays Are Good For You" circle to the front of the card. Add three pink mini brads to the top right of the card and three more along the bottom left edge. Use a standard pink brad to attach the teal flower to the upper left corner. Punch-outs from Instant Card Art Citrus Colors, papers from Citrus Creative Pack and embellishments from Citrus Creative Kit.

The large flower focal gives this quick card major impact. Susan computer journaled "Happy Birthday" across the top and bottom of the card front (you could write or stamp it too) then attached the flower punch-out to the center of the card. Punch-out from Instant Card Art Pretty Colors.

Add color and texture quickly and easily. Cover the card front with blue lace paper, then add a torn strip of blue check paper along the left side of the card, along the fold. Punch out "Everything is Better" and add to the card front. Punch out the large flower and glue it slightly overlapping the card message. Use a cream mini brad to attach "forever" and "friends" tags to the upper left corner of the card message. Add one cream mini brad to the upper right corner of the message and another to the bottom right corner. Punch-outs from Instant Card Art Pretty Colors, papers from Pretty Creative Pack and brads from the Pretty Creative Kit.

There you are: Great cards done quickly and easily! Turn these ideas into a class on Instant Cards and watch sales rise as you attract new customers while inspiring those potential card makers (we're betting even experienced card makers will love these quick ideas).