Christmas cards featuring metallic paper backgrounds, digital nativity images and silver accents

For this set of cards I used a blue and silver brocade gift wrap for my background and navy card bases.  

For my first card, I added a silver ribbon across my card after adhering the background to the card base.  The nativity image was laser printed, trimmed and then embellished with clear clear gel pen on the star, halo and cradle, a bit of watercolour on the baby and background.  I added silver ribbon between the image and the greeting and a little tiny star confetti to the right of the greeting.  I layered this onto dark blue cardstock and then mounted it to my card front.  

For my second card, I watercoloured the background, the cradle and the baby.  I used a clear glitter gel pen on the star and halo.  I added ribbon between the greeting and image and a small tiny silver confetti star below it.  I layered my image onto crinkled foil and then mounted this focal element to my card using 3D foam tape.          Therese

Christmas card featuring a wax resist background, a sponged nativity digital image and some fiber

I was printing images for a couple of card kits the other day and thought I should get started on another set of Christmas cards so I printed several of this nativity from Cre8tive Hands.  

For this card, I dug through my stash of backgrounds and found this one which is a wax resist I made a while back.  White paper was placed over a snowflake embossing folder and clear wax was rubbed over the surface and then purple/blue watercolour was applied.  Love that technique!!  I adhered it to a purple card base.  I sponged the background of the nativity using purple ink and a torn edge of paper as a mask while masking the inside of the stable to highlight the baby Jesus.  I used a clear glitter gel pen on the star, a bit of watercolour on the baby and cradle and tied on a piece of purple fiber between the image and the font greeting using a double knot.  I added a tiny silver star confetti next to the greeting using a small piece of glue dot.  I layered the image onto a silver rectangle of metallic gift wrap before adhering this focal element to the front of my card with 3D foam tape. 

It is great to get back to Christmas cards and staying on track with my commitment to get my cards made before December.           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, 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 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

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 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

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

Christmas card featuring a card front, metallic border and bling

I am still refurbishing used Christmas cards to create a stash of cards for myself. 
For this one I trimmed this image from the large card and added a coordinating gold metallic border on the right hand side.  I cut it with a wavy cutter from gold metallic packaging from my stash.  I mounted this layer to a dark green card front, added a rhinestone to the middle of the star which I coloured with Sharpies and then used a red Sharpie to add colour to the ornaments on the tree!! 

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

Mother's Day card featuring an embossed frame, a little blue bird and a beribboned greeting

I made this card for my Mom for Mother's Day!  I am again using my stash of large envelopes so I found one that would suit and made a white card to fit.  Blue is her favorite colour so I chose a background paper that featured blue prominently though not boldly and trimmed a piece that would leave a small border all the way around.  I added an embossed frame made from silver cardstock.  I love how well it goes with the paper!!  After adhering it in place I created the little blue bird using the SU bird punch.  I punched the bird and the wing from blue cardstock, added a beak with a black marker and filled it in with yellow gel pen then added a tiny black brad to create its eye.  I embossed the wing and sponged it a bit to highlight the embossing and added to my bird using 3D foam tape.  The branch I found in my stash and watercoloured it green. I used white glue from a fine tip applicator to adhere it into place in the frame and then added my little bird.  I added blue ribbon to my little greeting tag (Desert Diva) which I laser printed, trimmed and sponged with blue.  I adhered it to my card using 3D foam tape.  Pretty happy with how it turned out.  Therese

Harry Potter theme birthday card featuring a digital greeting, a shaker element and a book mark with quotes

My oldest granddaughter will be having a birthday soon so I got a card ready for her.  She is a fan of Harry Potter and has read all the books.  I decided to make her birthday card with a HP theme.  I started with a large black card.  I laser printed a script background, the birthday greeting (Pixabay) and the two sides of the fun HP bookmark on the same sheet of 8.5 x 11 cardstock.  I trimmed out the bookmark pieces, glued them to each other and then punched a hole to which I added a length of black ribbon.  I found some very good HP quotes online which were all designed and ready to go.  I trimmed the greeting, sponged the edges with black and layered it onto a gold paper.  Wanting to add a fun element I decided to add a shaker element to it so I cut a hole in the script background layer using a circle Nestibilities.  I created a shaker sandwich - a square of transparent plastic to which I added a foam tape border large enough to be hidden by the background paper filled with sequins, beads, heart paper punchies and some glitter.  I removed the release paper from the foam tape and placed another sheet of plastic over top.  Much easier to manage once the shaker element is sealed.  I mounted it behind the opening in the background using double sided tape, added a gear cut from gold cardstock and finished off with a gold brad that went through the shaker element.  Afterwards, I wanted to add a ribbon and fortunately there was room between the pieces of double sided tape to get my ribbon through.  I glued one end to the back on the edge of the round opening and the other end went over the top and was adhered to the back as well.  I mounted this large element to the front of my large black card.  I mounted my large collage greeting with 3D foam tape over the ribbon.  Lastly, I tied a short piece of the same ribbon to the one on the front between the greeting and the opening to simulate a bow!!! I am really happy how it turned out!!!           Therese

Birthday card with cool tool background paper and fun chalk board greeting

This card is for DH for his upcoming birthday!!  I chose this really cool background paper which I received in a swap a while ago and mounted it to a large black card front.  I cut a fun shape from silver cardstock and added a strip of red and black washi tape down the middle.  After mounting it to my card front I added a fussy cut chalk board greeting which was laser printed from a digital file.  I adhered it with two red brads which are silver brads coloured with a red Sharpie permanent marker.  I really love how it worked out!!!  He is a wonderful woodworker so I am sure he will appreciate the fun paper.  Therese

March Cardmaking - golden die cut, beautiful background paper and a gold embossed greeting

Another fun evening with the girls making cards!!!!  For our first card I created these simply elegant ones!!  I cut the frame out of white cardstock.  In order to be efficient I laid out the tag for the next card in the center of the frame which made the off cut useful.  I created registration marks on my magnet sheet for the Big Shot and positioned my rectangle Nestibility so it would cut out a frame in the way that I wanted.  I left space on the bottom so that the girls could gold emboss the greeting of their choice from the Sincere Salutations set (SU).  That was a new experience for all of them so we had a few practice runs and everyone managed to get their greeting well embossed.  I ran the tracing wheel around my frame before I added the decorative paper behind the opening and glued this layer to my coordinating card front.  We then added our coordinating gold die cuts using white glue in a fine tip applicator to ensure a neat finish.  The leaf is Tim Holtz and the dragonfly is Spellbinders.  Very happy with these elegant cards!!           Therese

Christmas cards - large joy with watercolour over a variety of backgrounds

I developed this JOY greeting last year for my Christmas card class.  I had a few leftover in colours that were not quite what I needed when I printed them last year.  So this time around I went looking for supplies that would complement these greetings.  I found this very deep eggplant/brown colour of lightweight cardstock that worked very well with the darker ones and I found that I had recently purchased a package of green cardstock that coordinated perfectly with the green ones.  So, next would be to find a layer that would go in between that worked with both of them.
For the dark ones, I used the dark cardstock and cut two layers 4" x 5.25" one for each of them. For the first one I wrapped a single strand of gold metallic embroidery thread around it in both directions and used tape to secure the ends on the back.  I mounted this layer to an ivory card front.  I used gold shimmery watercolour to fill in the JOY to coordinate and used my distress tool on its edges.  Next, I layered the JOY over a gold layer and then distressed its edges as well.  I mounted the JOY to the gold layer and mounted them to the front of my card using 3D foam tape.  I like this one a lot!!
For the other one, I coloured the JOY to coordinate with my card front and added a green ribbon before mounting my JOY using 3D foam tape.  I added a little gold star punchie which I found in my stash using 3D foam tape to finish it off. 
The green one at the top is very similar.  I used metallic gift wrap for the layer, watercoloured the JOY to coordinate with the red berries in the paper, distressed the edges and mounted it with 3D foam tape and finished it off with a silver start punchie. 
For the second green one, I watercoloured the joy in red.  I embossed a white quarter sheet using a poinsettia embossing folder (SU), trimmed it to size and mounted it to a green card front.  I added a length of red ribbon to which I had tied a short piece using a single knot to simulate a bow secure the ends to the inside of the card using double sided tape.  I mounted the JOY using 3D foam tape over the ribbon.  Happy to have found supplies in my stash to complement these two colours so I will be able to use the printed JOYs.  I have quite a few more images so at some point there will be more cards made with them.            Therese

Thank you card - a reused card front layered with silver cardstock

This card is for my neighbour which took care of our house while we were away.  I reused a card front from a card I received a while back trimming it to fit on an A2 sized card.  I layered it onto silver  cardstock and then onto a coordinating pink card.  The dark areas are metallic silver so they coordinate very well.  Always great to make a card make another go around!!

Therese

A floral focal element, a white paper doily and a little laser printed greeting

For this elegant card I die cut the flower from the front of a used card using a circle Nestibility circle die.  The image went off the edge of the card so I only got a partial circle.  I mounted it to a little paper lace doily I had sitting on my desk.  It fit so perfectly!!  I embossed the two right hand corners of my black card with a floral embossing folder (SU) before adding my embellished daisy image.  I positioned the image on the edge of my card and only applied glue to the central part which leaves the nice delicate edge free.  I was tempted to trim the doily to the edge of the card but instead decided to just fold it over and glue it down.  Gives a very nice touch to the back of the card.  I added a little laser printed greeting which I layered onto silver cardstock before adding to my card front.  After another look at it I could maybe have made this one an anniversary or wedding card.    Therese

Little birdie card with the Tim Holtz die

I made a few of these card kits for my March class.   I made this one up and have a few more to go but will do them up later as I have already several of these on hand.  They have fun background with something interesting on the left hand side.  I have given the bird a beak and a brad eye then mounted it to the cage and finally added its wing. I added the blue ribbon through the hole at the top and then mounted the cage to my card front to which I had already mounted my decorative paper background using 3D foam tape in the center and double sided tape on the perimeter.  I slipped my little tag onto the ribbon and glued it to the inside of my card using double side tape.  I tied a short length to the piece on the front using one knot to simulate a bow.  I added a small piece of 3D foam tape to the back of my little stamped tag and adhered it at a bit of an angle.  I coloured clear rhinestones with a green sharpie marker and positioned them in the holes at the bottom of the cage which are backed with double sided tape which secures them nicely!!  Therese