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1980s Fashion Plate Greeting Cards: FREE Printable

Fashion Plate Greeting Cards: A Fun Retro-Inspired Craft Project for anyone who grew up in the 1980s or 1990s - - and this step by step tutorial includes a free printable and cut file so you can make your own and relive your youth! These fab cards are guaranteed to bring a smile (and wash of nostalgia) to your recipient. Like totally! Fer sure! {Smile.}

First, a little poem to set the stage.  Feel free to lower the lights, put on your beatnik cap, and get your snaps ready.

I am from Annie and Peter Pan on the old record player, which skipped every time we went “flying.”

From homemade scrunchies and wrist-bruising slap-on bracelets.

I am from open upstairs windows on hot summer nights and sticker books ripe for the trading.

I am from mint leaves we collected for Mom in a small tin bucket, the scent that flavored our fingertips all day long.

I am from My Little Pony and Teddy Ruxpin.

From Reynolds and Anderson.

I am from thespians and missionaries and piano players.

From paintbrush-wielding artists.

I am from a lineage of Christ-followers.

I am from Gordon and Philip.

From Swedish meatballs and Italian lasagna.

From a dad who played in a rockband called Goodness,

And from a mom who knew she wanted to be a nurse since kindergarten.

I am from Fashion Plates — mixing and matching different looks circa 1987.

I am from bike rides at sunset, jamming out to Jewel and No Doubt on my SONY discman while life became a music video.

I am from 1983…and the neon-colored adventures that followed.

Psst!  If you’d like to create your own “I am from” poem, here’s the structure I followed.

Today’s craft project–if you haven’t guessed already–is a throwback to my youth!  (And possibly yours, too, dear reader.)

So, my Mom is a saver, and bless her heart, she has long saved one of my favorite childhood “toys,” my Fashion Plates.  Do you remember these?

My original Fashion Plate set from the 1980s! Oh how I loved this "toy."

You could mix n’ match the plates to create different outfits; then use a black crayon to create a rubbing of the design that you’d color in with the 7 colored pencils.  They’re totally retro-80s fabulous!

Well, ever since my Mom sent me my ole Fashion Plates in a care-package nearly a year ago, I’ve had this idea churning in my head to use them to create some greeting cards.  And I finally carried it out!  (7 times over.)

Fashion Plate Greeting Cards: A Retro-Inspired Craft Project | Here's a fun one for anyone who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s - - and this step by step tutorial includes free printable and cut file so you can make your own and relive your youth! These fab cards are guaranteed to bring a smile (and wave of nostalgia) to your recipient. Like totally! Fer sure! {Smile.}

Guess what?  Not only will I be sharing a step-by-step of exactly how I made them today, but I have some fab freebies to share with you to make the process easier!  (Like a printable for the non-Silhouette users and a cut file for the Silhouetters.  Everyone is covered.  Phew!)

So, let’s get this tutorial rollin’-with-the-homeys, shall we?

Cowabunga, dudette!

Tutorial

Step 1: Play with Fashion Plates!  So, I grabbed some paper and a black crayon and set to work, creating outfits for 7 different “fashionistas.”  From henceforth they shall be called the fashionistas!

My original Fashion Plate set from the 1980s! Oh how I loved this "toy."

Heavy pressure is key to getting crisp lines.

My original Fashion Plate set from the 1980s in action! Oh how I loved this "toy."

This is my favorite fashionsta.  But shhh!  Don’t tell the others.

My original Fashion Plate set from the 1980s in action! Oh how I loved this "toy."

If you’re itching to try out Fashion Plates and don’t have one of the retro sets, believe it or not, they are selling newer renditions.  I looked on Amazon and found a few that got great reviews: here’s *a deluxe kit worth checking out and a Melissa & Doug set.

Step 2: Trace and scan your designs.  As impressed as I was with my rubbings, I wanted to have really crisp and clean lines, so I used a thin black marker to trace the 7 looks onto tracing paper.

Traced Fashion Plate Design.

7 traced fashion plate designs, ready to be scanned.
(You’ll note that I started with the faces and had a few false starts!)

Then, I scanned them into my computer and tweaked the contrast, brightness, saturation, and sharpness in Mac Preview.

Editing the scanned designs in Mac Preview so as to create crisp lines in contrasty black-and-white.

Step 3: Prep your designs in Silhouette Studio.  First of all, you don’t have to have a Silhouette machine to conquer this project, but it certainly makes things easier.

Silhouette users: I have found the latest version of the Silhouette Studio software a little finicky with print-and-cut projects, so I’ll be using the legacy edition of the software for the purposes of this tutorial.

First, you’ll trace your design on the outer edge.  I always increase the high pass filter for this kind of trace.

Tracing your design in Silhouette Studio.

In some cases where I hadn’t closed all of my sketched lines, I had to do some point-editing to connect the traced lines into one single outline.  Then, I cropped my design fairly tightly using the knife tool.

Then, I used the offset tool to create a .070 edge around the design.

Creating an offset in Silhouette Studio.

Afterwards, I grouped the offset and fashionista design, dragged them aside, and deleted the original trace.  That’s no longer needed.

Step 4: Create your text sentiments in Silhouette Studio.  I wanted to create a variety of cards for all occasions, but I wanted them to have one thing in common: use of the classic 80s & 90s slang (ya know, the Valley Girl style reminiscent of the movie Clueless).  Thanks to everyone who brainstormed on Facebook last year, I had a bevy of words and phrases to work with, and here’s what I came up with:

My classic 1980s and 1990s greeting card slang!

I used some fonts I purchased recently to create the text designs: Manhattan Darling & Caferus Slim Regular.

Freebies

I’d love to share the fashionista and text designs with you fer FREE if it means saving you some time and inspiring a little retro card-creating session!  Just remember these are for personal use only and not for commercial purposes.  The original Fashion Plate designs are by TOMY.

You can sign up to download your Fashion Plate Greeting Card Designs using the nifty form below or by clicking HERE. Enjoy!

Step 5: Print & Cut!  Make sure to change your media size from the 12″ x 12″ default to 8.5″ x 11″ size.  Do that under the PAGE tab.  Then, select the REGISTRATION MARKS tab in order to click the text that reads, “show registration marks.”  Registration marks are the magical fairy dust to the entire print-and-cut process.  Essentially, they tell your machine exactly where your images are on the media when it comes time to cut.  So, as long as your design fits inside the registration marks, you’re good to go!

Then, you’re ready to load your paper into your printer and click print!  (I used white cardstock.)  If you have the option, I recommend using your highest quality photo print settings.

Fashion Plate designs all printed out and ready to be cut!

Then, place your cardstock onto the upper left corner of your mat making sure it’s solidly stuck there.  Then, start with your machine’s recommended cut settings for cardstock and do a few test cuts until you end up with a clean, crisp cut.  You’ll see in the screenshot below my adjusted cardstock settings (I was working with a duller blade).

Adjust your cut settings based on the results of your test cut.

Once the blade is all ready to go, let your machine cut away!  Your machine will first scan the registration marks, so it can then cut exactly where it should.  This step in the process never ceases to amaze me.  It’s magical!

Print and cut! The process is always magical to me.

TIP: If your machine is struggling to detect the registration marks or the cut lines are not where they should be, shine a flashlight onto your machine as it scans.

Look at these beauties!  Cut and ready to color.

Print and cut designs, ready to be painted!

Step 6: Color or paint your fashion designs.  So, I really toyed with a lot of different ideas here.  But if you’ve seen my Instagram feed lately, you’ll see that I’m having a blast exploring watercolors.  So, I decided to give it a whirl here.

Now, printing on 140 lb. watercolor paper is not an option (not only is it too thick to go through most printers, the ink does not adhere well to the textured paper).  So, I did a few things to help minimize major warping of the cardstock.

1.  I carefully taped the edges of the fashionista down onto a piece of cardboard using washi tape to help it lie flat while drying.

The fashionista, prepped and ready to watercolor paint!

2.  I used minimal water when applying paint and didn’t over-paint.  (Here’s a link to the Koi watercolor set I’ve been using and LOVE.)

Using minimal water to avoid too much warping of the cardstock.

3.  I also pressed the dried designs in some heavy-weight textbooks overnight to help flatten them out.

Pressing the painted fashionistas in heavy textbooks helped flatten them out.

This three step process worked way better than I expected; I was really pleased with how the finished fashionistas looked all pretty and painted and pressed.

Fashion Plates from my 1980s childhood all pretty and painted and pressed!

Or if you prefer another medium, markers or colored pencils would do!  I did color in this country gal with some colored pencils just for kicks.  It has a more muted, understated look I think.

The colored pencil look works, too!

You could even leave the design black and white to encourage your card recipient to color it in.  (I love it when gift wrap is a gift in and of itself.)

Step 7: Splatter paint your text sentiments.  I wanted to really embrace the retro vibe and what better than splatter paint?  It just screams 1980!

So, I matched up my text sentiments with my 7 different fashionistas and then wrote out a plan for 3 different splatter colors (type A much, Lauren?).  Then, I went color by color and splattered them up in a cardboard box.  I recommend wearing an old t-shirt while doing this since you are pretty much guaranteed to get caught in the line of fire, no matter how hard you try to contain it.

Splatter paint box!

If I were to do it again, I’d probably water down my paints even more than I did…but I’m still very pleased with how they came out.

Splatter painted card sentiments...so 1980s!

Step 8: Adhere your sentiments to your cards.  I went the easy route and picked up some bright and bold A7 cards (pink, turquoise) and envelopes (pink, turquoise) from Hobby Lobby, but you could also use some cardstock that you cut and fold to the size you desire.

Cards and envelopes from Hobby Lobby.

I also grabbed some foam dots since I wanted to add some dimension…I lay my fashionista first using the biggest dots, followed by text sentiment using the smaller dots so it nested underneath.  And I embraced a variety of layouts for this part.

White round foam dots - - to add dimension to card sentiments.

Step 8: Optional addition of embellishments.  I felt like something was missing, so I added some extra embellishments like hearts and triangles cut from a scrap of splatter-painted paper…

Added dimension to the cards using foam dots.

…and colorful strips of washi tape, stretched from front to interior.

Strips of washi tape add color and whimsy to these bright n' sassy Fashion Plate Greeting Cards!

Now, the fashionistas and their valley girl chatter felt complete!

Photo Shoot!

And here are my gaggle of gals, in their retro glory!  Aren’t they like totally rad?  Fer sure!

Fashion Plate Greeting Cards: A Fun Retro-Inspired Craft Project for anyone who grew up in the 1980s or 1990s - - and this step by step tutorial includes a free printable and cut file so you can make your own and relive your youth! These fab cards are guaranteed to bring a smile (and wash of nostalgia) to your recipient. Like totally! Fer sure! {Smile.}

Now, meet them one by one!  Here’s Jane…and yes, she is totally rocking the purple hair like a boss.

Fashion Plate Greeting Cards: A Fun Retro-Inspired Craft Project for anyone who grew up in the 1980s or 1990s - - and this step by step tutorial includes a free printable and cut file so you can make your own and relive your youth! These fab cards are guaranteed to bring a smile (and wash of nostalgia) to your recipient. Like totally! Fer sure! {Smile.}

Meet Chloe in all of her pigeon-toed glory.

Fashion Plate Greeting Cards: A Fun Retro-Inspired Craft Project for anyone who grew up in the 1980s or 1990s - - and this step by step tutorial includes a free printable and cut file so you can make your own and relive your youth! These fab cards are guaranteed to bring a smile (and wash of nostalgia) to your recipient. Like totally! Fer sure! {Smile.}

Here’s gorgeous Gigi, with a heart full of thanks.

Fashion Plate Greeting Cards: A Fun Retro-Inspired Craft Project for anyone who grew up in the 1980s or 1990s - - and this step by step tutorial includes a free printable and cut file so you can make your own and relive your youth! These fab cards are guaranteed to bring a smile (and wash of nostalgia) to your recipient. Like totally! Fer sure! {Smile.}

And Ginnie with some fabulously feathery locks.

Fashion Plate Greeting Cards: A Fun Retro-Inspired Craft Project for anyone who grew up in the 1980s or 1990s - - and this step by step tutorial includes a free printable and cut file so you can make your own and relive your youth! These fab cards are guaranteed to bring a smile (and wash of nostalgia) to your recipient. Like totally! Fer sure! {Smile.}

Allow me to introduce you to always-the-bridesmaid Serena.

Fashion Plate Greeting Cards: A Fun Retro-Inspired Craft Project for anyone who grew up in the 1980s or 1990s - - and this step by step tutorial includes a free printable and cut file so you can make your own and relive your youth! These fab cards are guaranteed to bring a smile (and wash of nostalgia) to your recipient. Like totally! Fer sure! {Smile.}

Veronica is looking very bodacious and very business-like, I must say!

Fashion Plate Greeting Cards: A Fun Retro-Inspired Craft Project for anyone who grew up in the 1980s or 1990s - - and this step by step tutorial includes a free printable and cut file so you can make your own and relive your youth! These fab cards are guaranteed to bring a smile (and wash of nostalgia) to your recipient. Like totally! Fer sure! {Smile.}

And last but not least, say hello to collar-popping Pepper.  I love how it looks like she’s almost leaping off the page.

Fashion Plate Greeting Cards: A Fun Retro-Inspired Craft Project for anyone who grew up in the 1980s or 1990s - - and this step by step tutorial includes a free printable and cut file so you can make your own and relive your youth! These fab cards are guaranteed to bring a smile (and wash of nostalgia) to your recipient. Like totally! Fer sure! {Smile.}

I’m so excited to put these to use right away.  I am visiting my sister today in Pennsylvania as my belated birthday gift to her…and since she is a fellow child of the 80s, she’ll be a perfect first recipient of one of these cards.  Chloe’s card to be specific!

Well, dear reader, I hope you get a chance to make your own greeting cards using your own Fashion Plates or the free files I have shared with you here today.  This is the most fun I’ve had with papercrafting in a long while, and I am certain you’ll find the same to be true.  I mean, can you beat these springy colors?!  I think not.

Fashion Plate Greeting Cards: A Fun Retro-Inspired Craft Project for anyone who grew up in the 1980s or 1990s - - and this step by step tutorial includes a free printable and cut file so you can make your own and relive your youth! These fab cards are guaranteed to bring a smile (and wash of nostalgia) to your recipient. Like totally! Fer sure! {Smile.}

Comment Time!

I hope this has been a fun walk down memory lane.  I actually have some ideas for how to use these gals in future projects…so if you’d like to see more from the 7 fashionistas, lemme know!  Or if you have any suggestions for more 80s slang that must live to see another day, dish ’em in the comments below.

More Retro Crafts!

This ain’t my first retro rodeo!  Actually, I had to grin to remember how many past projects I’ve done that involve some sort of throwback to my childhood.  So, if you want to check out some more 1980s-style inspiration, here ya go:

More 1980s inspired craft projects from The Thinking Closet!

Color-Blocked Bobby Pins | Team Betty Tote | Perler Bead Earrings | Retro Canvas Shoe Makeover

Have a rad rest of your week, rockstars.  Fer sure!

{I sometimes link up at these link parties.}

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase after clicking through, The Thinking Closet may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Thanks for helping to support this site!

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27 Comments

  1. Fabulous, thank you! In the early eighties I was gifted the original 70’s set. I don’t think the 80’s plates ever came out here. Was wondering what happened to the final two fashionistas? (Legwarmers with leotard – classic early 80s!!)

  2. OMG! I had these when I was young also. I loved them! I wonder if I still have the in my attic? Thanks for the memories.

  3. These are absolutely fantastic! I saw this on Pinterest and had to check it out and then you used the fashion plates and I squealed! I loved playing with that as a kid and I looove these cards!!! Definitely going to utilize this in my next birthday card. I only hope my coloring turns out as well as these!! Thanks so much for sharing, I might be looking into finding one of those fashion plate sets soon!

  4. These are amazing! I was obsessed with Fashion Plates as a little girl of the 80’s and it’s so fun to see them used in a new way!

  5. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for these! My mom literally just said the other day, “I should have saved those fashion plates” and I’ve been furious ever since. Love these, having an 80s party just so I can use them!

  6. These are so totally cool and bring back memories of my daughter playing with them. Thanks so much for sharing! I can see that I am going to have a grand time using these!

  7. These are totally gnarly! I’m going to have to dig through my attic to find my fashion plates so I can try to make a few of these cards. These might have to be my Christmas cards this year. 🙂 Thanks so much for the awesome tutorial.

  8. I had not attempted print and cut before today – admittedly – out of fear. These cut out perfectly and I LOVE THEM! I can hardly wait to color them in and make cards out of them! Thanks for sharing!!!

  9. As the “saver” in our family, I am now like.totally.like.justified. for not throwing out these fashion plates. When I found them in the attic last year in their disheveled box your dad wanted to throw them away. But I (brag, brag) saw the treasure that they were and knew you would find something fabulous to do with them.
    What a great tutorial and so many details (the 80s words, the splatter paint, etc.) that you incorporated. I do think the originals by TOMY are much cooler than the newer versions.

    I printed out the pdf and tweeted about this post…and I look forward to doing some coloring on my fashion girls. I had the joy of seeing THE Chloe card at your sister’s place after your visit there. Your presence and the card really blessed her as well as your wonderful wedding planning skillz!

    Wait until you see the fashion designs from the 40s that your Mor Mor made. I hope to scan them soon. You are your grandmother’s granddaughter.

    1. Ha ha. You made me chuckle so much with this awesome blossom comment! You adopted the 80s slang so seamlessly, too! Yes, thank you for rescuing these fashion plates from an untimely death in the trash bin. So glad they got to live anew through this craft project!

      Thanks for the tweet love! And I do hope you get some pockets of free time to do some coloring. Maybe during a train or plane ride? It’s so therapeutic! And I love that Mor Mor and I share an affinity for fashionista art! Like grandmother, like granddaughter. 😉

  10. This is fantastic–I always wanted those fashion plates when I was little. Thanks so much for the cut files. And your cards are gorgeous!

    1. Thank you so much, Leah! I’m delighted to get to share them with you all! And I’m so glad you could use the cut files. Hope you have fun bringing these fashionistas to life in your own crafting!

  11. LOVE my Chloe Birthday card, sis! The poem was so viscerally moving and brought back a torrent of mems. Such a creative use of a beloved “toy.” And I love that I’ve gotten the gift of your Presence and amazing Wedding Planning skillz (computer hacking skillz) these past several days.
    Thankfully, your fellow sister of the 80’s! <3

  12. You are a creative genius! I LOVE this project. My mom saved my fashion plates too! I know it lovingly mounted and displayed in my craftroom/office on the wall right next to my computer. I loved this thing and played with it all the time. I’m totally going to use this idea for my cousin’s upcoming bridal shower – she loved playing with my fashion plates too. She’ll just flip! Thanks for sharing!

  13. You my friend, are my new favorite person. This. Is. AWESOME!! You are so incredible creative! Kudos to your mom for hanging on to this!! I didn’t have one as a kid, but I definitely used my friend’s! Aaaaaand now I kind of want one. Ha! I gotta say, Gigi is my fav, But they’re all hard to beat! Like, totally pinned! 😉

  14. Let me start by saying that you and your mom made my night with this throw back! I love this! I am going to have to switch to the laptop so I can be sure to get this cut file! So excited!!!!

  15. This is so cute! Way to go with the dolls. I love that your Mom saved this and you are still able to use it now. That is so special. I through my husband a surprise 80’s birthday party last year for his 30th birthday and being an 80’s baby. Those splatter paint cards would have been an awesome idea to use for invites. Have a great week!

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