Christmas cards featuring stained glass ornaments, decorative paper and an embossed panel

Having committed to getting my Christmas cards made early this year I have already made more than half of what I need but staying at home has facilitated getting farther ahead so I have made this set of cards.  I cut the ornaments and trees from a sheet of beautiful stained glass glitter paper my sister gave me a while back.  I cut a strip off the large sheet and cut the first three ornaments with one of the dies in the Heirloom Ornament die set from Nestibilities.  From what was left of the strip I cut a round one (Nestibilities) and three little triangle trees.  I wanted to layer my elements on black which worked with the round ornament because I have the double set of the Classic Circles ( Nestiblities) so I was able to cut a black layer for it.  The trees were easy as they are just triangles.  For the teardrop ornaments it required a bit more engineering.  I had created myself a tool for practicing and teaching calligraphy at one point in time by whittling down the sides of two pencils and then tying them together so I could easily demonstrate the proper angle and how the flat nib forms the letters.  I went looking for it and found it!!!!!!!!!  I used it to trace the shape of the ornaments onto black cardstock.  I then fussy cut on the second line which was relatively easy.  Pretty happy with how that worked out and will have to keep that in mind for any other custom layers I might need to make.  I then die cut snowflakes to mount in the centers using a Cuttlebug set which I have not used very often but were the perfect size for these ornaments.  I mounted them to the ornaments using tiny black brads and added little white fabric snowflake in between.  Love how they turned out!!  Next, I created toppers for my ornaments.  I used my scallop decorative scissors to trim the edge of a thin strip of bright silver foil and then trimmed them into segments which would be right for each ornament.  I mounted them to my layered ornaments using white glue applied with a fine tip applicator.  For backgrounds I decided on this funky snowflake paper in my stash which was laser printed a while back from a digital wallpaper file.  I decided to add a layer of embossed silver cardstock between them.  I coloured a length of thick white thread using a permanent marker to create the hangers for my ornaments.  I used different embossing folders for all of them and mounted the silver pieces to the backgrounds and then added the ornaments using 3D foam tape, adhered the thread hangers to the back of the background paper using regular tape and then mounted these large elements to coordinating card fronts.  I punched silver foil stars for my trees and mounted them with the silver strip as a backdrop.  I added a small black snowflake and then a white fabric one to one of the trees to make it stand out.  I decided against greetings as they seemed to be balanced without them.  So another few cards to add to the stash!!         Therese

Christmas card featuring a beautiful angel painted with shimmer watercolour, a border punched layer and an aqua and gold gift wrap background

This is my last card in the bunch which I created with the reused aqua and gold gift wrap which arrived on one of our gift this past holiday season!  For this card I used an image from my stash of this beautiful angel which was stamped in brown.  I coloured it using shimmery watercolours in coordinating colours.  Love how it turned out!!  I mounted it to a piece of aqua cardstock leaving a large border on the right.  I used my MS doily punch to decorate the right hand side and then added two embossed lines using my Score tool.  I mounted my aqua and gold gift wrap background to an ivory card and then adhered my large angel layer to it. Done!  It has been great fun to play with stamps and a lot of my supplies to make these cards.  I am very happy to be so far ahead in getting my Christmas cards ready for next Christmas!!!           Therese

* I have been creating my cards during my self isolation for the Covid 19 crisis.  The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day!!

Christmas card featuring a gold embossed season of light image, ribbon and an aqua and gold gift wrap background

Another fairly quick card!!  I stamped and gold embossed the Season of Light image onto the aqua cardstock, added a layer of gold gift wrap and watercoloured the flame.  I mounted the aqua and gold gift wrap background to an ivory card and added a piece of gold shimmery ribbon to the bottom section securing the ends to the inside of the card.  I trimmed the spine with a slot punch to create the opening in which I inserted the end of my ribbon.  A very nice look for this process.  I adhered my large focal element to my card front and I was done!!             Therese

Christmas card featuring a gold embossed starburst layered with gold on an aqua and gold background

I have been enjoying playing with stamps!!!!  I gold embossed this large starburst image on the aqua cardstock, trimmed it to size and then added yellow marker to colour in the center.  I layered it with gold gift wrap and mounted it to my card front which was layered with my aqua and gold gift wrap background on an ivory card.    This one was fairly quick and easy!!!

Therese

Christmas card featuring Saint Nicolas on an embossed layer, aqua and gold gift wrap background and a layered font greeting

Here is another card created with a colour printed image of a St. Nicolas from an image collection CD.  I die cut the right edge using a TH border die and then paper pierced the edge with a push pin.  I added four vertical embossed lines, three to the left of the image and one to the right, using my Score tool.  Next I added two horizontal embossed lines, one each above and below the image to frame it nicely.   I added a layered font greeting which was created with a scalloped oval (SU) cut from gold metallic paper and a little greeting punched with a large oval punch (SU).  I mounted the greeting using 3D foam tape to my layer.  I mounted this large element to my card front which consists of an ivory card and the aqua and gold gift wrap background. 

Therese

Christmas card featuring Saint Nicolas, ribbon and a small greeting

For this card I am using a colour printed image from my Christmas images stash!  These were printed from images from a CD I acquired years ago at a garage sale.  I mounted the trimmed image to a layer of the aqua cardstock and trimmed it a bit wider on the right side.  I trimmed the edge with scalloped scissors and paper pierced each scallop with a push pin.  I added one embossed line next to them using my Score tool.  I added by background to an ivory card, added a flagged gold ribbon with an echoing piece of aqua cardstock which I adhered in place on the top portion of my card.  I mounted my layered image using 3D foam tape and then added the little layered font greeting with double sided on the left and 3D foam on the right.  I love the soft colours in the image and the way it works well with the background.         Therese

Christmas card featuring aqua and gold gift wrap for the background, a gold embossed nativity layered with gold

Another card using that aqua and gold gift wrap from the past Christmas season! It is a very nice heavy weight paper which I really nice to work with.  I trimmed it to a 4" x 4" and adhered it to an ivory card.  I gold embossed this nativity stamp onto the aqua cardstock, trimmed it to size and then added a layer of gold gift wrap before adhering it to my card front.  I added a bit of colour to the center of the star and I was done!!

Therese

Christmas card featuring a nativity die cut, ribbon, a punchie star and gold embossed Merry christmas on gift wrap aqua and gold background

I am working at getting a few more Christmas cards made with these aqua and gold gift wrap backgrounds.  I cut the nativity wide this time and got a much large scene, gold embossed the greeting on the bottom section,  added a gold ribbon with a tie and then ran my tracing wheel a couple of times across the bottom.  I adhered the background to an ivory card and then mounted the large element I created over it.  Added a little gold star punchie over the stable to finish it off!!

Therese

Christmas cards featuring aqua and gold gift wrap, die cut Nativity and gold embossed greetings

These cards feature the last piece of gift wrap I have to turn into cards!!! Is it a wood grain in gold and light aqua which I have been mulling over exactly how I would use it!!  I started by digging out some aqua cardstock which I have had for a while and worked really well with this paper.  I die cut two nativities (Taylored Expressions) leaving a length of cardstock below.  I trimmed off the star and gold embossed the greetings on the bottom section.  I trimmed the bottom edges using decorative scissors.  I selectively embossed the middle section on the first card using a wood grain embossing folder and then added a length of gold ribbon.  I added a wider ribbon with a tie to the second card without any dry embossing.  I mounted the trimmed gift wrap backgrounds to ivory card fronts and then mounted the large elements I created over it.  I punched little star from gold metallic card (packaging) and adhered them in place over the stable.    Happy with how these turned out! Have a few more to go!!        NOTE:  Creating these during our self isolation during the Covid 19 panemic.     Therese

Anniversary card featuring lots of heart punchies, an embossed greeting and fiber and gold thread

After finding an inspirational card on Splitcoast Stampers I made a brown card and added found a mottled piece of decorative paper for my background.  I needed some hearts - I found some little brown hearts in my stash.  I wanted several colours and some with text so I dug into my scrap stash and punched a few more.  Some from gold gift wrap, a piece of printed text and dark brown decorative paper.  I started gluing them to my background starting from the bottom. It gives them the look of having been poured from above.  Next, I gold embossed my anniversary greeting, added the last three hearts arranged around the greeting and then I tied on a combination of a piece of kraft colour thread and one of gold embroidery thread with a double knot.  I let the ends hang free.  I glued this large element to the front of my brown card.  I like how it turned out but the inspirational one was better coordinated in the colours and had a softer look which I really liked.  This colour scheme is more masculine and appropriate for my guy!!         Therese

Christmas Card Kits - Card #3 features a large snowflake, decorative paper and small snowflake punchies combined with a brad

For Card #3 I used both the diecut and the opening that it leaves for make the cards I needed.  

For the cards made with the snowflake die cut (SU) I added a few more to make it the focal element.  I added a large coloured snowflake, a smaller punched snowflake in white and then a tiny daisy snowflake which I bound together with a silver brad.  Assembly was easy - glue the paper to the card front and then add the snowflake using 3D foam tape secured around the center and hidden by the arms of the snowflakes.  

For the cards made with the opening, I trimmed the edges of the original quarter sheet a bit to leave a margin and then embossed them with a snowflake embossing folder (CB).  Next, I combined a coloured snowflake punchie with a small daisy one using a silver brad to bind them.  The decorative paper was glued to the back of the embossed layer then glue was applied to the card front and this large element was adhered to the card.  The little snowflake embellishment was added using a small glue dot into the center of the snowflake opening.  I really like how they both turned out.             Therese

Christmas cards featuring a JOY ornament die cut, metallic paper, decorative paper and thread hangers

 Another batch of Christmas cards featuring these red ornaments I cut a while back.  I coupled the ornaments with metallic/pearly papers.  Some are very bright metallic foils and others have a more subtle metallic/shimmery finish.  The ornaments were die cut with a Sizzix ornament die from red cardstock scraps.  I added metallic/shimmery accents - an oval behind the JOY (TH-SX) and on the ornament topper cut, trimmed and glued in place.  The oval is cut using an oval Nestibilities which is just the right size to fit behind the word!  Love it!!!!  The cards all have scrapbook paper backgrounds which I discovered in my stash of scraps.  Very happy to have another few Christmas cards made up.  I am keeping my commitment of getting my cards made before I need them in November!!

Therese

Christmas cards featuring a wonky tree (digital), ribbon, decorative paper and small font greetings

Another four Christmas cards to add to my stash!!!!  I downloaded these cute little trees (Craft Starters) and laser printed them while I was getting the images ready for my Father's Day cards.  I chose this wonderful decorative paper (donation from my sister) and then prepare four red cards to go with the paper.  I trimmed the laser printed images, watercoloured them and then layered them with a coordinating blue layer.  The layer is a lighter blue paper which I sponged on the edges to get the colour just right.  I added two short lengths of red ribbon on the upper right edge and then mounted my images to the cards I had layered with my decorative paper.  I added the little laser printed font greetings on the left hand edges in the curve of the tree.  I added sliver glitter star punchies over the ones that printed with the image.  They work quite well.  Very sparkly!!!  Really happy to have a few more cards in my stash!!  I am staying ahead of my commitment to making cards every month!!  I will have what I need come November.   Therese

Christmas cards featuring word ornaments and custom decorative backgrounds

A few more Christmas cards!!  I cut the ornaments (SX) and words (TH_SX) while I was at it last time I made cards and so I have decided to get a few more made.  I dug out my box of Christmas paper to see what I had for backgrounds. I found several and made up a few more.  

For the first card, I taped three pieces of this beautiful metallic gift wrap together with regular tape and trimmed it, adhered to a green card front, used gold/green metallic paper to back the ornament and create the topper and added gold cording for the hanger.  

For the second card, I created a background by taping together strips of decorative paper together and trimmed it to size and adhered to a green card, used white pearly paper to back the ornament and create the topper and added white cording for the hanger. 

For the third card, I layered the green paper over some yellow decorative paper and glued this large element to a red card front, used yellow/orange hand decorated watercoloured paper to back the ornament and create the topper and used twine as the hanger.  It needed a  bit of something so I added a twine across the bottom and tied on a short length to simulate a bow and added the little layered stamped greeting (Nestibilities).  That was better!

For the fourth card, I taped layers of decorative paper together, added green/gold metallic paper strips over the joints and trimmed it to size then adhered it to a green card.  I used green/gold metallic paper to back the ornament and create the topper and added a gold embroidery thread for the hanger.  Thinking it needed a bit of something I added a coordinating oval punchie font greeting which I sponged with a bit of red before adhering with 3D foam tape.  

I am really liking the chance to change up the backgrounds on these cards.  I prefer to create one of a kind cards!!!!!!!!!!   Therese

Christmas cards featuring glittery pinecone backgrounds, die cut ornaments and silver foil accents

Made these Christmas cards using the last of this beautiful glittery pine cone gift wrap which arrived over the holiday season wrapped around one of our gifts.  I mounted the backgrounds to red cards.  I die cut the ornaments (SX) and then die cut the word (TH) out of the middle section.  These are not coordinating dies but they worked out really well.  Next, I dug out my oval Nestibilities to see if I would be fortunate enough to find one of them that would cut an oval appropriate for filling in the opening.  Yes, there is one that does the job perfectly!!!  I cut the ovals from silver foil and also cut the top of the ornament as well.  I trimmed the tops and used white glue to adhere them to the ornaments.  I used regular tape to adhere the ovals to the back of the the ornaments.  I added white thread hangers to them which I secured on the inside of the cards using regular tape as well and then used 3D foam tape to mount the ornaments to the card fronts.   Really happy to have a few more cards for my stash!    Therese

NOTE:  I am staying home as much as I can during the Covid 19 pandemic in hopes of not getting sick.  It has been nice to get ahead on Christmas cards during this time.  

Birthday card featuring a watercoloured coffee cup, some hand stitching and embossed velvet paper

 I made this card for DH birthday later this week.  I found some brown velvet paper in a box of serendipity supplies when I was making this heart in support of front line workers who are out there every day during this health crisis.  I embossed it with a coffee bean border from Pink Cat Studio which belongs to a set I bought a while back.  I simply laid the rubber stamp on the velvet surface of the paper and passed it through my Big Shot with very little pressure. Worked really well!  I adhered this little piece of embossed paper to a piece of mottled watercolour paper which I had stamped with a script stamp (SU) in brown.  I added a strip of red cardstock which I border punched with a ribbon/eyelet punch (SU).  I added stitching by hand using ivory and gold floss using the holes in the border.  I tied another short end to the left hand side before adhering it over where the two paper join.  I adhered this large layer to a dark brown card front.  For my focal image I chose a large coffee cup (Stamp Barn) which I stamped and gold embossed.  I watercoloured the cup and added a bit of colour to the background to make it less stark.  I used my distress tool on the edge and then smudged it with a brown stamp pad to help it stand out from the background.  I mounted this large image to my card front using 3D foam tape and then trimmed and layered a small font greeting with brown which I tucked under its bottom edge and adhered in place with double sided tape.   Therese

Christmas cards featuring a large Merry Christmas greeting, ribbon and glittery gift wrap backgrounds

Another set of Christmas cards for my stash using the same glittery pine cone gift wrap as I used for my last set.  These ones feature a large greeting I downloaded from Mom Junction which I sized, laser printed onto white cardstock and added a black line all the way around to give it some depth.  I watercoloured the  greeting and holly and then added some clear glitter in the stars and dots around the top, on the berries and all the way around the edges.  I added a strip of double sided tape on the right hand side and added short lengths of  coordinating ribbon then flagging their ends.  I mounted the trimmed backgrounds - glittery pine cone gift wrap which came wrapped around one of our gifts this past season - to red card fronts and then mounted the greetings to them using 3D foam tape.  As you can see I made a few angled a bit and two square and even.  I did these cards more assembly line style.  I did each step for all of them one at a time.  Trimmed all the images, added a black line to all of them, watercoloured them and then added ribbon to all of the greetings.  I glued all the backgrounds to the front and then mounted all the greetings to them.  It was easier to make them all the same when using this method of assembly.  Happy with these and they are headed for the bucket when they are finished being pressed.        Therese

All occasion card featuring a dragonfly, some pearly and clear dimensional paint and a little gold cording

 For this all occasion card I started with a dragonfly digital image from CLKER which I laser printed onto white cardstock and trimmed out of the letter sized sheet.  I watercoloured the sky and then the dragonfly using pearly paint so it would shimmer.  I tied the tiny gold to the right of the image and then layered it onto a green/gold metallic paper.  I left a bit of a border on the bottom which I trimmed with wavy scissors.  I paper pierced the wavy edge and then added a line of scoring above it using my Score tool.  I mounted my focal element to the front of a speckled navy card. I added clear dimensional paint to the wings of the dragonfly and left it to dry overnight.  It has turned out wonderfully!!         Therese

All occasion card featuring a butterfly, sanded background and ribbon

Love how this one turned out!  I printed the butterfly digital from CLKER onto white cardstock and trimmed it out of the letter sized sheet.  I created the background by taping four pieces of cardstock with white/coloured cores together, embossing them with a swirly embossing folder (SX) and then sanding to reveal the texture.  I added a rainbow organza ribbon with a tiny white one overlaid and adhered their ends to the inside of the card using double sided tape.  I mounted it to a green card front. I watercoloured the laser printed butterfly in colours that coordinated with the background.  I distressed the edges, layered it with a gold/green metallic paper and then mounted it to my card front using 3D foam tape.           Therese

All occasion card featuring a beautiful butterfly, an embossed background and an embellished border

For this card I started with the butterfly image which I downloaded from Pixabay.  Once trimmed from the letter sized sheet of white cardstock I distressed its edges and then added a line of paper piercing using my pattern tracing wheel.  To highlight the yellow in the wings I layered it onto a light yellow piece of cardstock leaving a bit extra on the bottom for embellishing.  I punched it with the scallop border punch (SU), punched 1/16" holes in each one and then added two lines of embossing using my scoring tool  I really like all the texture on this piece.  I embossed a weathered brown cardstock with a swirly background, added a small strip of aqua over it and mounted this large element to an aqua card.  I mounted the large butterfly element over the strip using 3D foam tape to finish off my card.  Love the colours of this one!!  Appropriate for sympathy, get well, thinking of you or just as a note card to a friend!             Therese