THERE IS STILL TIME TO CREATE AWESOME CARDS FOR CHRISTMAS - A STAMP HAPPY HOLIDAYS POST

 Hi Stampers!

Can you believe Thanksgiving is this week and Christmas is just a month away?  I think I have made enough cards for sending to friends and family. I might need a few more. What’s that? You have yet to make even one Christmas card? Well, no problem! There is still time to create some awesome Holiday cards! I realize time is short, but all you need is a basic card layout and a plan! Here are three cards I made using a very basic layout:

For the cards I used a very basic layout - A-2 cardbase (card front measures 5 1/2” x 4 1/4”), a contrasting layer of cardstock cut at 5 1/4” x 4”, and a piece of Designer Series Paper (DSP) cut at 5” x 3 3/4”. Next I added a greeting / focal image. Each card has an inside panel cut at 4” x 5 1/4”. Of course, this very basic layout can be positioned in either a portrait or landscape orientation.

So, now that we’ve discussed the layout, what was my plan? Here it is…

1. Sketch out the card, select cardstock colors, DSP, stamps, ink colors, dies, embellishments etc. (For me this step takes the longest. Many times I start forming an idea in my head while doing mundane chores like folding laundry or washing dishes.)

2. Decide the number of cards to be made then cut cards card bases, cardstock layers and inside panels, and cut DSP.

3. Stamp greetings and images, and / or color images.

4. Die cut or punch greetings and images.

5. Measure ribbon, twine, etc and gather embellishments.

6. Assemble cards.

The great thing about the plan is it is very close to the plan I use every time I create a card, except multiple cards are being made, so the cards do not have to be made from start to finish in one setting. In one 30-45 minute session part of a step, or one or two steps can be completed. In 3-4 days it is possible to have a nice stash of Christmas cards in plenty of time to send Holiday greeting to family and friends!

I have three samples, but if you need more than 10-12 cards, I suggest sticking to one design, perhaps using different color schemes. For example, I used a snowflake patterned DSP in Pacific Point. I have a snowflake patterned DSP in Polished Pink and another snowflake pattern in Pool Party. I could make some cards in Pacific Point, some in Polished Pink, and some in Pool Party. Even though the cards are identical in design the color change up helps prevent the process from becoming too tedious or boring.

The cards I created are fairly self explanatory. The supply lists for the cards and a few assembly instructions follow:

MERRY LITTLE MITTENS

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD

* Framed & Festive stamp set

* Card base - Pacific Point

* Cardstock for mat and inside panel - Basic White

* DSP - Storybook Gnomes - Pacific Point with snowflakes

* Basic White cardstock for mittens

* Stylish Shapes Dies  - square 2 3/8” x 2 3/8”

* Celebrations Tags Dies - mitten die

* Ink - Pacific Point, Real Red

* Baker’s Twine - about 6”

* Adhesive and dimensionals, glue dot

-  Stamp the greeting in the center of the Basic White layer and die cut. The die cut area will be covered by the DSP. If you like you can also stamp the mittens on this piece of cardstock and die cut them. I chose to use a scrap of cardstock for the mittens. 

- Use dimensionals to attach the greeting. Adhere the mittens together. Place dimensionals toward the bottom of the mittens and adhesive near the top as the top of the mittens will be adhered to the greeting which is already popped up on dimensionals. Tie the twine in a bow and use the glue dot to adhere the bow to the mitten.

GOOD WILL TO ALL TREES

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD

* Hope & Peace stamp set

* Bermuda Bay card base

* Pool Party cardstock for layer and inside panel

* Storybook Gnomes DSP - Tree pattern

* Stylish Shapes Dies - circle 2 1/2” diameter 

* Ink - Bermuda Bay

* Linen thread - about 24”

* Adhesive and dimensionals 

- Stamp and die cut greeting from center of Pool Party layer.

- Place adhesive across center on back side of die cut greeting, and place one end of line thread on adhesive and loop back and forth. Place dimensionals on ends of thread and on a few other places on the back of the greeting. Adhere to center of card.

MERRY FLORETS

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD

* Framed Florets and Brightest Glow stamp sets

* Evening Evergreen card base

* Soft Succulent cardstock for layer and inside panel

* Fitting Florets DSP

* Basic White cardstock scrap to stamp floral image

* Scrap of Evening Evergreen for frame

* Inks - Evening Evergreen; Stampin’ Blends - Poppy Parade (light & dark), Real Red (light), Granny Apple Green (light & dark), Evening Evergreen (light) Soft Sea Foam (light)

* Festive Pearls - gold, 5

* Framed Florets Dies - simple oval frame

* Adhesive (I used liquid adhesive for this card), dimensionals 

- Die cut the oval from the center of the Soft Succulent layer

- For the focal image - Stamp the Merry Christmas in the oval die cut slightly toward the bottom; apply adhesive along the bottom of the floral die cut image and adhere it to the top of the oval sentiment panel.

- With greeting facing down apply glue along the seam where the greeting and floral image meet. With the right side of the frame facing down line up the frame and press into place. Use several (5-6) dimensionals to secure the frame to the greeting and to adhere the greeting to the center of the card.

- Add 3 pearls to the greeting panel and two to the floral centers.

CARDS MADE WITH A SIMPLE LAYOUT AND A PLAN

I hope this post inspires you to begin creating your Christmas cards or to add to the cards you have created. 

Thank you so much for checking in. Until next time…

Stamp Happy!

Kim

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