Make printable care cards for your small business in a few clicks. Pick your product and the right care instructions fill in for you, then add your logo, colors and a QR code, and print them at home or cut them with your Cricut.
Free, no sign-up, no watermark. Everything runs in your browser, and your logo never leaves your device.
Loading the care card maker… If nothing appears, please refresh the page.
How to make care cards with the care card maker
- Product: pick what you sell, from iron-on shirts and tumblers to candles, jewelry and baked goods. The care instructions fill in for you.
- Text: edit any line, change its icon, move it up or down, or add your own. Short lines print bigger and are easier to read.
- Design: choose one of 8 styles, a color theme (or your own brand colors) and a font pairing.
- Brand: add your logo, shop name, website and social handle. Turn on a QR code that links to your shop or your review page.
- Size: business card, square, mini square, hang tag, postcard, A6 or 5 × 7, one-sided or two-sided.
- Download: a print sheet PDF with cut marks, 300 dpi PNGs for a print shop, or a Print Then Cut image for your Cricut.
Your card saves on this device as you go, so you can close the page and come back to it. Use Save design file to keep a separate card for each product.
What to put on a care card
A good care card is short and friendly. Your customer should be able to read it in ten seconds and know exactly how to keep their new favorite thing looking good.
- A thank you. Small businesses live on repeat customers, and a little note goes a long way.
- Five to seven care steps. Start with the one that matters most, like the wait before the first wash or “never microwave”.
- Your brand. Logo or shop name, plus your website or Instagram handle.
- A next step. A QR code to leave a review, follow you or reorder. Test it with your phone camera before you print.
Always follow the care label on the blank itself. The lines in the maker are a safe, conservative starting point, so adjust them to match the materials you use.
Care instructions by product
These are the default lines in the maker. They come from the material makers’ own guides (Cricut, Siser, ArtResin, Libbey and others) and from safety groups like the National Candle Association and FoodSafety.gov.
Iron-on (HTV) shirts
Wait 24 hours before the first wash. Wash inside out in cold water with a mild detergent and no bleach. Tumble dry low or hang to dry, skip the fabric softener, never iron on the design and don’t dry clean.
Sublimation and DTF shirts
Wash inside out in cold water, with no bleach or fabric softener. Tumble dry low or hang to dry. If you need to iron, turn the shirt inside out and use a low setting. DTF prints also need 24 hours before the first wash.
Tumblers, mugs and glass cans
Hand wash is the safest advice for any cup with vinyl, sublimation or epoxy. Stainless steel tumblers and mugs with a metallic rim must never go in the microwave. Vinyl needs about 72 hours to cure before the first wash, and glass cans don’t like sudden hot and cold changes. Epoxy tumblers should stay out of hot cars and the dishwasher, since most resins soften around 120°F (50°C).
Candles and wax melts
Safety comes first on candle cards. Never leave a burning candle unattended, trim the wick to 1/4 in before lighting, burn it on a stable, heat-resistant surface, keep it 12 in from anything that can catch fire, and stop when 1/2 in of wax is left in the jar. For wax melts, use them only in a wax warmer and let the wax cool and harden before you move it.
Jewelry, leather, crochet and more
Jewelry should come off before showering or swimming and go on after lotion and perfume. Leather likes to stay dry and away from heat. Crochet and knits are best hand washed cool and dried flat. Crochet toys need a line about checking that eyes and small parts stay secure. Baked goods need a “refrigerate” line for cream cheese or whipped fillings, and a pointer to your allergen label.
Care card sizes
| Size | Inches | Per Letter page | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business card | 3.5 × 2 | 10 | Shirts, tumblers and most orders |
| Business card (EU) | 85 × 55 mm | 8 (9 one-sided) | Shops in Europe and the UK |
| Square | 3 × 3 | 6 | Candles, mugs and gift boxes |
| Mini square | 2.5 × 2.5 | 12 | Jewelry, stickers and small items |
| Hang tag | 2 × 3.5, with a hole | 8 (10 one-sided) | Tying onto bags, candles and plants |
| Postcard | 4 × 6 | 2 | Thank-you notes with lots of care steps |
| A6 | 4.1 × 5.8 | 2 | Bigger notes, UK and EU orders |
| 5 × 7 | 5 × 7 | 2 | A full thank-you card in a big box |
Business cards are the most popular size: they fit in any mailer, and you can print 10 on one sheet. Pair them with my envelope template maker if you want a little envelope too.
How to print care cards at home
- Download the print sheet (PDF). Two-sided cards give you two pages: the fronts and the backs.
- Print page 1 on cardstock at 100% / Actual size, not “Fit to page”. Measure the 2 in check line at the bottom of the page.
- For two-sided cards, put the sheet back in the printer and print page 2 on the other side, flipping on the long edge. The backs are already lined up for you.
- Cut along the crop marks with a paper trimmer, or with scissors and a ruler. Corner rounders give the cards a polished finish.
Use a smooth, bright white cardstock of 65–110 lb (about 175–300 gsm). Heavier card feels more premium, so check that your printer can take it.
How to cut care cards with Cricut Print Then Cut
- Download the Cricut Print Then Cut PNG. It is one card at its exact size and 300 dpi.
- In Cricut Design Space, upload it as an image and choose Print Then Cut. Keep the background, since the card shape is your cut line.
- Set the width to the size the maker shows (3.5 in for a business card), then duplicate it to fill the page.
- Print, place the sheet on the mat, and let your Cricut cut around each card.
Print Then Cut prints on one side only. For two-sided cards, use the print sheet PDF instead. Want to package your orders too? Try the box template maker for custom gift boxes.
Frequently asked questions
What is a care card?
A care card is a small card you tuck into an order that tells the customer how to look after what they bought. It cuts down on complaints, like a peeling shirt or a faded tumbler, and it’s a lovely place to say thank you.
What size should a care card be?
Most small shops use business card size, 3.5 × 2 in, because it fits any package and prints 10 to a page. Square 3 × 3 in cards and hang tags are popular for candles and jewelry.
Can I print care cards at home?
Yes. Download the print sheet PDF, print it on cardstock at 100% scale and cut along the crop marks. Any inkjet or laser printer that takes cardstock will do.
Can I add my logo and a QR code?
Yes. Upload a PNG, JPG or SVG logo (a transparent background looks best) and turn on the QR code in the Brand tab. Your logo stays on your device and is never uploaded.
Are the care cards free to use for my business?
Yes. The care card maker is free, with no sign-up and no watermark. Print as many cards as you like for your own shop.
Do I need to use these exact care instructions?
No. They are a careful starting point. Always check the care label on your blanks and the instructions from your vinyl, ink or resin maker, and edit the lines to match.