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

Front flap birthday card featuring decorative paper, ribbon and a colour printed digital image of a birthday cake

I am still at making front flap cards!!  For this one I started with a large envelope and created a pink panel card to fit inside.  I layered on the polka dot paper (SU digital - colour printed) which I trimmed to leave an even border.  I found a piece of blue cardstock that coordinated and then found a piece of paper that coordinated with both of them.  I scored the cardstock at a half inch from the top edge, folded over the little flap and then hooked it on my panel and trimmed the bottom edge.  I trimmed the piece second piece of decorative paper  to fit on the front of my flap with an even border.  The birthday greeting is one I downloaded from the internet and colour printed.  I used a large black permanent marker to colour all four edges of my image to highlight the greeting and coordinate with my decorative papers.  I mounted the cake image so it overlapped half onto the flap and I adhered it in place.  I added a length of pink ribbon at the top of the flap and tied it with a double knot.  Added a message area behind the flap using a piece of white bond.         Therese

All occasion card featuring decorative paper and serendipity heart with a fiber bow

For my oldest daughter I am sending her this very cute all occasion card!!!!!!!!  I started with a small envelope and made a green card to fit inside.  I added a piece of colour printed decorative paper which I printed off a while back with strips of colour and a leafy pattern.  I punched a coordinating serendipity heart  and added a bright yellow layered heart (SU diecut).  I adhered it to the card front using 3D foam taper and then added the little turquoise bow using a small piece of glue dot.  I love the simplicity of this design!!!         Therese

Birthday card featuring a cute little owl an oval frame and a background from Digital Graphics Cafe

I have been meaning to check and see what was new at Digital Graphics Cafe for a while and I managed to get there this week.  She has some new graphics so I downloaded a few new ones and decided to create cards for my grandsons while I was at it.  I layered the little owl over the middle of the oval frame - the colours coordinate so well!!!  I added a little font greeting before printing them on cardstock.  I also printed the background paper which I have used in the past and had already sized to a quarter sheet from the original which is larger.  The images coordinate very nicely.  I trimmed the background and adhered it to a gray card.  I trimmed the oval from the sheet, sponged its edges with aqua ink and them mounted this large element to my card over my background.  It was fun to really use a different technique and do some fussy cutting.

Therese

Birthday card featuring a rocket ship, framed greeting and background paper from Digital Graphics Cafe

Here is the other card I made using new digital images from Digital Graphics Cafe which I downloaded this past week.    I love the cool background paper.  The one I downloaded was a bit too much towards the aqua range so I made some adjustments to the image using Photoshop and it now coordinates with this rocket image much better.  I trimmed it to size after printing and adhered it to a green card front.   I trimmed out the rocket and the framed greeting as well.  It was interesting to be doing some fussy cutting for this card.  The greeting was added to the frame using a font.
It was a nice change to what I normally do when I am card making.

Therese

Cards from card kits featuring decorative backgrounds, tags with laser printed images, watercolour and ribbon

These are the final card kits from this class!!  They were originally all tags but I took some creative license and adapted the supplies to suit my current vision - happens to me all the time!!  I have hard time making lots of the very same!!

The cards feature decorative paper on coordinating card bases.  I added a strip of embossed cardstock to three of them.  Flagged the ends on two of them.  On the fourth one I added another layer of cardstock, flagged the ends, added a length of ribbon and glued the remainder tied with white thread to the middle of it.  I cut two of them into tag shapes, the other two I trimmed off the top portion and corner rounded the corners on one of them.  All the images (cups - Cre8tive Hands, dress and cake - Michelle Perkett) were watercolours some of them with shimmery paint!!  I just tied the ribbon onto the tag slot on the cups card, I added the ribbon to the corner for the dress one, used a distressing tool on the first cake one and stapled the ribbon to the tag on the last one.  A bit of variety from the same supplies provided in these card kits!!

Therese

Thank you card featuring laser printed digital background, seam binding and a punchie greeting embellished with clear dimensional paint

For this card, I started with the colour printed background which I trimmed to size and adhered to a very deep rose card.  I added a length of deep rose seam binding just leaving one end flagged.  I mounted a laser printed (digital) punchie (SU) greeting which was watercoloured to coordinate with the paper.  I added clear dimensional paint to the center where the Thanks is and let it dry before mounting it to the front of my card using 3D foam tape.            Therese

Sympathy card featuring starry background paper, embossed greeting and strip and glittery butterfly

For this sympathy card, I used scraps from my stash that coordinated with the butterfly and adhered them to a coordinating layer of cardstock.  I embossed a strip of white cardstock, ran my tracing wheel on both edges and adhered it over the gap between the two pieces of colour printed background paper.  I was careful to not put too much glue on the bottom edge so I could easily tuck my little embossed vellum greeting under the edge.  I put a small piece of double sided tape on the top of the greeting to secure it in place.  I added the butterfly with 3D foam tape and added clear glitter to the centers of the elements on the embossed strip.  I glued this large element to the front of a large white card. 

Therese

My last Christmas cards - nativity die cut, embossed greeting and star and a bit of fiber

I am on my last go for getting my Christmas cards made for this year!!!!!!  I hope I can keep the commitment to making them monthly next year because the pressure of getting them all done at the last minute is not much fun!!
I wanted to use this wonderful decorative paper that mimics falling snow so I die cut the nativity (Taylored Expressions) from coordinating cardstock, stamped and silver embossed the greeting on the bottom edge of the 3.5" piece and then tied on a piece of white fiber.  I cut a piece of 3.5" x 4" of the falling snow paper and embossed  a  star so it would appear above the stable.  I mounted the decorative paper first and then added the embellished nativity die cut.  Love how they worked out!!  I will be making as many of these as I need to finish up the cards I need for this year!! 

Therese

Christmas card featuring colour printed background paper, a border punched focal element, a little greeting and ribbon flags

For this card I used supplies from my stash.  These are from a digital SU set which I colour printed a while back.   I trimmed the background paper and mounted it to a red card.  I trimmed the little greeting from a full sheet of images and mounted it onto a layered background of red and aqua cardstock.  I adhered my image, embossed a line and punched the botttom edge with the Eyelet Border punch (SU).  I added double sided tape to the upper right hand corner of my image and added three little pieces of flagged coordinating ribbon.  I adhered this focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape and then added the little font greeting punchie to finish off my card.   Therese

Cards featuring crosses with bright backgrounds, a bit of colour and some ribbon

 I made a few cards with crosses as I often get requests for them for certain occasions where they are most appropriate.  The cross images were downloaded off the internet and printed on white cardstock before being trimmed to size.
For the first card, I chose a colour printed background from my stash and then watercoloured the image to coordinate.  I layered the background paper onto a red card and added a green ribbon using a slot punch to create a little opening on the spine for the it.  I mounted the image onto rust cardstock and then mounted it over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  To finish it off, I simply tied a short piece of the same ribbon to the one on the front using a single knot to simulate a bow.
For the second card, I chose a hand decorated background (white cardstock, watercolour and plastic wrap) and watercoloured the cross image to coordinate.  I die cut the cross using oval Nestibilities and then added a black layer and another white layer with I sponged with red ink until it contrasted nicely.  I layered the background paper onto a yellow card front and mounted the large oval element over it using double sided tape.
For my third card, I chose a navy card and layered on this blue colour printed background paper from my stash.  I trimmed into two pieces which left a gap of navy.  I sponged a bit of colour onto the cross image, ran my tracing wheel over all four edges in a wavy pattern and then mounted it to rust cardstock.  I added double sided tape to the back of the top right corner and added three little strips of ribbon before mounting this large element to my card front with 3D foam tape.    Therese

Birthday cards featuring a large layered background with a digital greeting and a bit of embellisment

Needing some cards for my stash I decided to mine the collection of card kits on my desk.  These kits were featured in my September cardmaking class. They feature a square of decorative paper layered with coordinating cardstock to which a coordinating ribbon was added before adhering it to the front of a coordinating card.  Three of the greetings are from Desert Diva, the third is created with a font. The last two have images from Cre8tive Hands which I watercoloured and added glitter with a gel pen.   They were sized, laser printed on white cardstock and trimmed out to a square.  They were distressed on all sides and layered onto a square that was die cut from the layer applied behind the decorative paper which is efficient and also guarantees that they will coordinate perfectly.  The greetings were applied to the front of the cards using 3D foam tape.  I added balloons to the first card to make it more appropriate for a child's birthday.  I added sequins and rhinestones to the second on along with some clear glitter using a gel pen to the greeting and to add some faux stitching to the top portion of the card front.   For the third card, I used a landscape orientation, added some clear glitter to the greeting and a glittery purple butterfly also with 3D foam tape.  I tied a short length of the same ribbon to the piece on the decorative layer to simulate a bow on all of them.  A very versatile sketch and making cards up from kits goes very quickly and you can customize them as you wish. 

Therese

 

Christmas card featuring a textured tissue paper with a star cut out layered onto decorative paper and a layered greeting

I found this tissue/freezer paper star cut out in my stash of Christmas card making supplies.  It was from a card I made a while back and worked perfectly with this colour printed background paper.  I glued the decorative paper to a green card front and then gently glued the star tissue paper over it.  I added a layered laser printed greeting created from a font greeting oval punchie (SU) over a gold scalloped oval punchie (SU) adhered with 3D foam tape.  A fun blast from the past on this one!!

Therese

Birthday card featuring a cute little bird, a digital greeting and some decorative paper

Making cards for family birthdays!!  I started with a large envelope and made a black card to fit inside.  I printed the coloured cute bird digital (Melonheadz) on white cardstock and trimmed it.  to the image I added two lines using gel pens - peacock and royal blue then a row of black dots using a fine Sharpie marker.  I used watercolour to fill in the "BIRTHDAY" in the digital greeting (Desert Diva) I added before I printed it.   To finish it off and add a bit more texture I used my distress tool on the edges.  I added a piece of coordinating colour printed decorative paper to my black card and then added a strip to which I had added five pewter eyelets on the right hand side.  To finish off my card, I added my large image using 3D foam tape.  Happy with the way it turned out!!         Therese

Sympathy card featuring a colour printed decorative paper, ribbon and a layered butterfly and greeting

For this sympathy card I started with a light aqua card and added this colour printed decorative paper (digital image) to which I had added a gray ribbon with both ends adhered to the back with double sided tape.  I found the two butterflies in my stash and added blue foil to the silver one before adhering them together.  I mounted the butterfly to my card front using 3D foam tape.  Next, I tied a short piece of ribbon to the one I had on my card using a single knot to simulate a bow.  I used three punched oval shapes (SU) to create my greeting.  First, a small oval punched greeting, next a large oval punched from the same blue foil as the butterfly backed with a piece of cardstock to give it some structure and finally a large scalloped oval punchie cut from silver cardstock.  After adhering all of them to each other I added it to my card using 3D foam tape.   Really like this one!!!  Therese

Another sympathy card featuring a 3D butterfly embellishment, decorative paper and a laser printed greeting

For this sympathy card, I started with an ivory card.  I added a dark green layer and then trimmed a piece of laser printed decorative paper to leave a border all the way around.  Next, I punched a 1 3/8" opening on the lower right hand side and adhered this layer to the front of my card over the green cardstock layer.  I sponged a bit of colour to the laser printed punched greeting before mounting it to my card using double sided tape on both ends and a small piece of 3D in the center which gives it a bit of dimension.  The butterfly was discovered in my stash and was the perfect colours for this card.  I did add a bit of clear glitter to the body so it would coordinate with the spots on the net wings.  A nice simple sketch which nicely features this beautiful paper and a butterfly.     Therese

Birthday card featuring hand coloured silk leaves, dimensional sticker letters and stamped decorative paper

My oldest daughter's birthday is coming up and I made this card for her.
I started with a long thin envelope and created a dark brown card to fit inside leaving it a bit short so I could highlight the edge with the insert.  I punched the top edge with a scalloped border punch (SU).   I dug out two coordinating scraps from my decorative paper stash and used regular tape on the back to attach them together.  I trimmed the right side to fit on my card front.  Thinking that the edge of the piece on the left needed a bit of something I decided to stamp it with a solid leaf stamp using a multicolour stamp pad (Kaleidacolour - Creole Spice).  I simply inked my stamp and then stamped the edge using a piece of regular bond paper to mask off the music paper.  I stamped the stamp twice - once right next to the edge and another a little farther over which gives are a really nice layered effect.  I added the dimensional letter stickers to spell out my greeting over where the paper were joined.  I added the "HAPPY" stickers to kraft coloured half inch punchies before adding them to my card using double sided tape.  I used letter punchies which I watercoloured before adding clear dimensional dots to create "BIRTHDAY" and then glued those to my card using double sided tape as well.  I started from the bottom for "birthday" so I would have a space between the words.  I watercoloured a sprig of white silk leaves to coordinate with my stamped leaves and let them dry.  I pierced a hole between the words of my greeting and mounted my silk leaves using a square gold brad.  I love how this element adds so much interest and texture to my card!!  I mounted this large element to my card front.  To finish off my card I used a push pin to pierce each of the scallops on the edge of my card.  I cut an oversized insert and trimmed it to the same length as my card on the top and bottom an added a quarter inch on the right hand side to allow the scalloped border to really be showcased!!            Therese

Birthday card featuring a dimensional sticker, ribbon and decorative paper

Our god daughter's birthday is coming up soon and I made this card for her!!  I started with a large envelope and made a soft peach card to fit inside.  I added two strips of white embossed cardstock on the top and bottom.  For the middle section I trimmed a piece of laser printed decorative paper into three.  I added two strips of aqua to my card front and then glued the three pieces of decorative paper into place overlapping the aqua strips.  For my focal element I started with a small dimensional sticker.  I added layers - peach, embossed aqua - peach and then onto a larger brown rectangle gluing them together as I went. I used my distress tool on the edges of  the brown one and then added flagged ribbons to the backside of it on the top right and lower left.  As I was considering where to place my focal element I decided I needed a bit more texture so I ran my tracing wheel over the two aqua strips on my card and used a brown gel pen to add a line to my two white embossed strips.  That was better!!  I used 3D foam tape to add my focal element to my card.  Pretty happy with how it turned out!!          Therese

Anniversary card featuring piece of a teal doily, laser printed decorative paper and heart die cuts and a tiny greeting

 I have been gifted a little stack of these teal doilies and decided to see what I had that coordinated in my paper stash.  I had this fun flower decorative paper which is a digital image which I laser printed a while back.  I had started with a large white card and it seemed too stark so I sponged the edges with pink to help it coordinate with the paper.  I added two sections of the teal doily in opposite corners and then added two embossed white heart die cuts which I also sponged with pink to make them less stark.  To finish off my card I tucked a tiny laser printed greeting among the hearts which worked very well.  Those teal doilies have a lot of presence!!         Therese

Thank you cards featuring felted wool acorns with hand stitching, embossing and a laser printed greeting

Needing a few more thank you cards I dug through my kits to see if there was any that I could make up.  I found these two which were created for my May cardmaking class.  I changed them up though which often happens with me as I always have more inspiration of how it could be done.  I tore my papers and embossed the center space before adding the decorative papers to my layer.  I adhered these large layers to my coordinating card fronts and then adhered only one little acorn in the gap.  I trimmed and sponged some coordinating laser printed greetings from my stash and adhered them to my card fronts to finish off another two cards!!         Therese