Christmas 2015 - still catching up

July - December 2015

Christmas is my favorite theme for card making. 

I start sometime between July and August 

and work on my cards until early December.  I generally design

at least 5 different cards.  I get bored after I make 25 cards of one

design. I make about a 100 cards each year.  I

know, try obsession.  Once I started sending out handmade 

Christmas cards, I couldn't stop.  It gives me such joy to make

these cards.  I hope you enjoy them and get some ideas for

next year.  Keep coming back and I will be posting as I design and 

make the cards this year.  Here goes.....

Ornament Card

This was the first card I designed in 2015.  I saw a 

similar card on Pinterest and had to CASE this card.

I did make some changes to the card and not many.

I used SU Real Red cardstock for the card base and embossed 

the front about 3/4 down  with SU Lacy Brocade embossing folder.  

SU Whisper White was used for the front layer 

and the inside of the card.  Both were edged 

with SU Early Espresso ink using a sponge. 

SU Early Espresso cardstock was used on the 

front to frame the white square.  The sentiment

on the front of the card was stamped with 

SU Real Red using SU Greetings of the Season stamp set.

The ornament was die cut with the Big Shot using

SU Holiday Ornaments Framelits set
and SU Candlelight Designer Paper.

Cut 3 ornaments and fold in half.  Then put together to 

create a 3-D ornament.  Use a silver wire for the hangar

on the ornament.  Use SU piercing set for the
SU Ornament Keepsakes stamp set

and pierce holes around the ornament.

Front of the card and envelope

Inside of the card.  Used a small ornament from 

the SU Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and 

stamped with SU Real Red ink.  The sentiment

from the SU Joyful Christmas stamp set (retired)
was stamped using  SU Early Espresso ink.

The front of the envelope using a die cut 

ornament and the same sentiment

from the front of the card.

Snowy Trees

I made this card at an Archiver's class before

they closed their Orem store.  I decided to give 

away cards I had made and kept as samples.  There

is no need to hang onto cards, so I sent them out

to special people.

I  added the SU Festival of Trees stamp, fir tree
and SU Snow Swirled stamp, Season's Greetings

to the front of the envelope.

This is the inside of the card.  I added the SU Whisper White

cardstock, the silver tree, and the sentiment from the
SU Ornamental Pine stamp set and embossed in silver.
I think this card is simply beautiful.

Hanging Ornaments Card

This is another card I made at an Archiver's class.  

This card used different techniques.  First, if you look 

close you will see the front layers and the card base

corners are all punched out with a corner punch.

The ornaments are colored in using Copic Markers and

three of them have clear crystal to give them a glazed look.

This is a fun card.

The front of the card and envelope.  I added the 

blue ornaments using SU Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and 

SU Soft Sky ink.  The sentiment is from DeNami.

Again I finished the inside of the card with a blue

ornament from SU Ornament Keepsakes stamp set.  The sentiment is

stamped in SU Real Red ink using  the SU Snow Swirled stamp set (retired).

Merry Christmas Trees Card

This is another card I made at an Archiver's class.

I loved this card so much, I bought the
Hero Arts Merry Christmas Trees stamp set

and have used the embossing technique over and 

over again on a number of different cards and using 

different stamps.

There was a lot of embossing on this card. The sentiment

was embossed and both trees were embossed.  The

smaller tree used a lettuce green embossing powder

with gold embossing powder.  They were put on separately

and then embossed.  Colored rhinestones were added

to the green tree.  The background layer was cut

out using a die and the Big Shot.  The trees were 

fussy cut.  I embossed the envelope using the same

technique on the tree and stamping the sentiment

with gold metallic ink.

This is the inside of the card.  I added the white cardstock

and again embossed the small tree on the inside.  I stamped

the SU Snow Swirled sentiment in versamark and embossed it with gold 

embossing powder.  This a simple and beautiful card.

Do You Believe Card

Yes, another card from an Archiver's class.  This card 

was made using Tim Holtz Stamps and paper.  The stamps 

were huge and fun to use.  The Santa was stamped in

black and then colored in using Copic Markers.  Notice the 

angled cuts on all the papers, it gives interest and texture

to the card.  I really liked adding the black twine in the front.

The BELIEVE and 25 were also stamped and 

added to the collage of the front.  It was hard to

part with this card.

The inside papers were already there from the class.

I added the red flowers from SU Wondrous Wreath stamp set.
The sentiment is Printworks Spirit of Christmas  stamp.
I BELIEVE, do you?

Snowman Card

Another Tim Holtz card.  He is so creative, I 

can never get enough.

This card is made from Kraft cardstock both as the base

and front layer which is backed with a red layer.  The

snowman is stamped with craft white ink.  Isn't he cute?

There is a small square patterned paper on the right.

One corner is folded up and stapled with mini staples.

Then the December calendar was added.  On top

of it all is the metal ornate piece.  I did the inside

of the card and somehow didn't take a photo.

The front of the kraft envelope.  I stamped the DeNami snowflakes 

and  De Nami snowman family in white craft ink.  The simple

sentiment is stamped in black.

The back flap of the kraft envelope.   Again, the

DeNami snowman family and snowflakes.  This card went 

to my niece and her family.  She loves snowmen.

Reindeer Noel Card

Yes, it was a Tim Holtz card class at Archivers.  This

is the third of four card we made in this class.

This is the front of  the card and envelope.  There

were two layers of designer paper added to the Kraft 

cardstock.  The green paper was the full front, with the

white, green and gold paper as a square covering about

3/4 of the green paper. On top of that, a thin kraft paper

was added with a red reindeer stamped on it.  The edges were

slightly torn and one corner folded up and glued in place.

The SU Noel sentiment from the
Greetings of the Season stamp set was stamped in
craft white on the green paper.
 A red flower was added on the left side

between the reindeer and sentiment.
The front of the 

envelope was stamped with
a holly stamp and the Noel sentiment.  

This is the inside of the card.  I used the holly stamp in top

right and bottom left corners.
The DeNami Joys of the Season sentiment is stamped in black.

Peace, Love, & Joy Card

Okay, this card still hasn't been sent out and it was the

fourth card in the Tim Holtz card class.  So, I had to share it with you.  

This is such a beautiful card.  

The photo doesn't do justice to the card.

This is the front of the card and envelope.  Again,

we used designer paper as the front layer.  It was 

backed with a dark brown layer on top of kraft

cardstock as the card base.  The sentiment was

stamped in a brown distress ink, I think Walnut Stain.

The circle on the left was a white layer on which we stamped the 

moon and tree scene using stamped off technique

to give the muted look.  It is layered with copper cardstock.

It is a circular metal branch that highlights the circle.

A green ribbon was added on the bottom of the card.

On the envelope, I stamped the fir tree from the
SU Lovely as a Tree stamp set.

I kept the tree theme on the inside of the card using

the fir tree from SU Lovely as a Tree stamp set.
 The sentiment is stamped in brown using
Wordsworth "Now the Lord" stamp.       

  This card is so serene and beautiful.
I love Tim Holtz.  Did I say that already?

These next two cards were actually made in 2014.  I didn't 

take photos of my Christmas cards in 2014 because I was late in 

getting them sent out.  I learned my lesson, take the photos as 

I make the cards.  I had extras of these two cards and did

send them out to new people on my card list.

Comfort & Joy Card

   

This square card was made using SEI designer paper.  The 

holly leaves on the paper are felt.  It is so fun to rub this

paper. It is stamped with SU Ornaments Keepsake stamp

set and cut out with the SU Holiday Ornaments Framelits.  

The sentiment is SU Comfort & Joy stamp set and stamped in 

SU Real Red.

December 25th Collage Card

This card was mostly made by cutting paper or using 

my Cricut to cut out the Dec 25 and red frame.  The 

holly was cut out with Quickuts.  I really like doing

collage and it was fun creating this card.  Don't 

you love Christmas and all the fun ideas for cards?

I do.

Joyous Wondrous Wreath Card

Okay, back to the cards I actually designed in 2015.

This is the second card I designed.   I fell in love with

SU Wondrous Wreath stamp set and Wonderful Wreath Framelits.
I will probably use them over and over again.  There

are so many ideas and ways to design and create 

beautiful cards with these tools.

I decided to use traditional colors of red and green for 

this card.  The card base is Real Red.  I used a dark 

green cardstock from my stash as the back layer on

the front.  SU Whisper White is the main front

layer whic is embossed with polka dots.  

I used SU Old Olive and Garden Green ink

to stamp the wreath.  I used SU Real Red for the berries.

Then I die cut the wreath.  I stamped the bow for the

wreath in SU Real Red and die cut it out.  

I stamped the Amuse Stamps "joy" in SU Real Red in the middle of

the white front.  I added SU dimensionals to the

back of the wreath and placed it around the word joy.

Then the bow was added to the wreath using a SU dimensional.

This is the inside of the card.  I put the Su Whisper White

cardstock to pop out the sentiment and small  flowers

from the SU Wondrous Wreath stamp set and stamped

in SU Real Red.

This is the front of the envelope using the sentiment

and small  flowers from SU Wondrous Wreath

stamp set with SU Real Red ink.

Poinsettia Tag Card

This card was inspired by my SU Demonstrator,

Rebecca Fellows.  She had made a Poinsettia Tag

the previous year that I really liked.  The tag on this

card is slightly altered from Rebecca's.  The photo doesn't 

give justice to this card.  This is my third design.

This is the front of the card and envelope.  The card base is 

Bazzil Evergreen cardstock and is a 5 by 7 card.  The red layer is

SU Cherry Cobbler and edged in SU Early Espresso.

The green banner tag is made from SU Candlelight 

Designer Paper (retired).  The next tag is made from

SU Crumb Cake cardstock, edged in SU Early Espresso.

The SU Joyful Christmas sentiment is  stamped in
SU Early Espresso.  

The Poinsettia is stamped twice with 

Versamark ink and embossed with clear  

embossing powder on 

SU Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  One full Poinsettia 

is used on the bottom.  The top Poinsettia is only

the center fussy cut out.  Actually, all the Poinsettias are 

fussy cut.  Where is the die?  I've gotten so spoiled.

Then using a sponge, I lightly added SU

Early Espresso ink to the center and some edges

of the Poinsettias.  Using SU dimensionals, add the smaller

Poinsettia to the larger one.  Add gold dots in the middle of the 

small Poinsettia.  Set aside to dry.  

Stamp three Poinsettia leaves with Versamark ink 

on green cardstock(from my stash) 

and emboss with clear embossing powder.  

Fussy cut out and glue to the 

Poinsetta however you like.  Place on the top

of the Crumb Cake tag.  Add red and white twine

to the double tag.  Glue or tape the tag on the SU

Cherry Cobbler Cardstock angling the Crumb

Cake tag to the left.

Sorry for the side perspective on the card.  It

does give you a different viewpoint.

Side views are so weird and it does get the 

creative juices going when something unusual happens.  

The Poinsettia leaves and the DeNami 

Joys of the Season sentiment

 are stamped in SU Old Olive.  The SU Wondrous

Wreath flower is stamped in SU Cherry Cobbler.

The sentiment from SU Joyful Christmas
 on the envelope is stamped

with SU Old Olive ink and the SU Wondrous Wreath 

 flowers are stamped in SU Cherry Cobbler.

Peaceful Tree Card

This card was CASE'd from Connie Stewart.  She

is famous for her flash card designs.  This card was on 

Pinterest and I basically copied it with minor 

changes.  It was such a pretty card in beautiful blues. 

There were also fun techniques used in making

the card.  This is my fourth design.

This is the front of the card and envelope.  This 

card uses SU Whisper White and Soft Sky cardstock.

It uses SU Soft Sky and Smoky Slate inks.

The card base is SU Whisper White.  Then there

is a 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 SU Whisper White and Soft Sky 

cardstock.  On upper right of the Whisper White cardstock

using the Soft Sky ink, stamp the SU Festival of Trees 

Polka Dot Tree.
Using the Smokey Slate ink and the Polka Dot stamp
from  Festival of Trees fill in the polka dots on the tree.
Just below the tree start to tear the
Whisper White cardstock to create 

a snowy hill for the card.  Set both of these pieces to 

the side for now.

On the Soft Sky cardstock, using the Smokey Slate ink, stamp the 

floral tree from the Festival of Trees stamp set in the lower right corner.  

Do this about 1/2 from the bottom and leave a 1/4 inch on the
right side.  Punch this tree out using the SU Tree Punch.
Set the tree and Soft Sky cardstock aside for now.

On the Whisper White card base stamp a variety of snowflakes on the
right side of the front in SU Soft Sky ink.

On the Soft Sky cardstock using the Polka Dot stamp
from Festival of Trees and Soft Sky ink stamp the whole
cardstock to create the image of falling snow.  Then using
Smokey Slate ink, stamp Peace on the top left corner.

Now take the Whisper White cardstock with the tree stamped on it.  Place the
Soft Sky cardstock on top with the tree showing through the
punched out tree shape.  Make sure none of the white shows
on the bottom or side.  Glue or tape together.

Take the white cardstock you tore to create the snowy hill.  Place it how you
would like to best create the hill effect.  I did it going down from
the left.  I am left-handed and that may be why.  Try it both ways to make your own
design.  Glue or tape the snowy hill to the Soft Sky cardstock.

Put SU dimensionals on the back of the Soft Sky tree and add it to
the left side of  the card on the snowy hill.

Stamp snowflakes on the inside of the card and stamp your sentiment.
I plan to use this technique using different tree stamps and
colors for the different seasons of the year.



Winter Woodland Card

This is my fifth and last design.  I loved
making this card.

This is the front of the card and envelope.  The
card base is SU Soft Sky cardstock.  The frame
layer is SU Early Espresso.  The top layer is
SU Whisper White.  It is embossed using the
SU Woodland embossing folder.  I inked the
embossing folder with Soft Sky to create the
sky in the background.  Then I stamped
the trees with SU Garden Green and the
fir from SU Lovely as a Tree stamp set.  Using
SU Real Red and the bird stamp from
SU Festival of Trees stamp set, I stamped
the bird on a branch on the embossing folder.
Then I put the paper in the embossing folder
and ran it through the Big Shot.

And a beautiful scene is created.  I then highlighted
the birch trees with SU Crumb Cake ink and a q-tip.

The Casual Fridays Snowy Sayings sentiment
from the SOA Holiday Box
is stamped in SU Early Espresso on
Whisper White cardstock and framed in Soft Sky.

The envelope carries the theme with the sentiment,
the fir tree, and the red bird.

This is the inside of the card.  Whisper White
cardstock is used.  The fir tree is on the right side
stamped in Garden Green.  The sentiment from
SU Ornamental Pine stamp set (retired)  is also stamped in Garden Green.

This card can be used as a Father's Day card, a birthday card, a thank you card,
a sympathy card, and the list goes on.  You just change up the theme and sentiments.