Are You a Cardmaker Who Wants to Make Their Own Christmas Cards but Can't Find the Time?

We all say we never have enough time to do things, but we are only fooling ourselves. We make the time for the things we really want to do. 

If you think of your cardmaking as a process to organize, and break the steps down like a project manager or mathematician would, you would be amazed at what you can accomplish in a short amount of time. 

Here's how to think about breaking down the task of making Christmas cards into manageable chunks.

Using the card above as my example...

The first thing to think about is how many pieces can be cut out of one sheet of 12" x 12" Painted Christmas Designer Series Paper (DSP). That helps to be efficient with your use of paper.

The strip of the pretty pinecones design is 2" x 5-1/2".

So you can make 12 Christmas cards from one sheet of this Designer Series Paper.

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Next you'll need 6 sheets of Soft Succulent Cardstock, cut crosswise at 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", then score all 12 pieces at 4-1/4". You have 12 card bases. Use a bone folder or your fingernail to crease the fold line when matching the cardbase corners.

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The next piece to prepare is the Evening Evergreen cardstock 2-1/2" x 5-1/2" layer pieces. You will need 2 sheets of cardstock.

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Next step is to cut your Soft Succulent ribbon pieces. You will need 4" pieces. Cut 12.

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Since the Double Oval Punch was used in this card design, 2-3 strips of 1-1/4" x 11" of  Basic White cardstock will be perfect for the stamped greeting done in Evening Evergreen ink. The greeting used was from a retired stamp set called Arrange a Wreath, but you could use a stamp set similar that would fit into the plain edge oval. Stamp 5-6 images per strip horizontally. Remember to turn the punch over in your hand so you can see the alignment of each stamped image in the oval as you slide the stamped strip through the punch and you will have a portion of the cardstock strip to hold on to as you punch.

Next prepare 3 strips of 1-1/2" x 11" of Evening Evergreen cardstock, and punch out 12 scalloped ovals from the three strips.

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3 sheets of Basic White cardstock are needed to make 12  4" x 5-1/4" pieces for the inner card layer for your personal greeting.  

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Using the Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder and your Die Cutting Machine, run just the front of the card in the embossing folder through your machine, while the back of the cardbase is exposed on the back of the embossing folder.

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The No Naked Envelope Suggestion - Two Optional Choices you can do:

1)  Cut Designer Series Paper Envelope Flap pieces 2-3/8" x 6". 10 pieces can be cut from one 12" x 12" piece of matching Designer Series Paper. Adhere with adhesive to envelope flap and trim excess with paper snips.

 

OR 2) Stamp in matching ink on your envelope flap or on the lower left corner on envelope front with coordinating images or greetings.

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NOW you are ready for your Card Assembly Production Line. You'll be just like Santa's elves!

1. Adhere the two narrow strips together - Pinecones and Evening Evergreen, making 12 sets.

2. With scotch tape secure 1 ribbon piece ends to back of double layer done in step 1. Repeat 11 more times.

3. Adhere this unit directly to embossed card front with 1/2" left margin spacing. Total 12 cards.

4. Adhere both oval tag (1 stamped plain oval and 1 scalloped oval) pieces together making 12 sets. 

Use 2 Dimensionals to raise each tag up on each card front similiar to photo.

5. Add 3 Rustic Metallic Adhesive Backed Dots to each card as shown in photo.

6. Adhere Basic White inner card layer to the inside of each card.

7. If you have your own personalized stamp, stamp the back of each card. If you don't, handwrite your name and year on the card back.

8. Decide what (if anything) you will be do with your Basic White envelopes from the previous suggestions. Pair one envelope with one card.

TA-DA You now have 12 cards made. Well Done!

The following products are retired:

You may be able to purchase them from Ebay or Etsy

152587 Arrange a Wreath Stamp Set for greeting

152718 Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder for subtle texture on the Soft Succulent card base

I'd love to read a comment from you. Was the detailed process and pictures helpful for you? Making one card at a time takes a LONG time, but using the assembly line method will result in time well spent. I use this assembly line method every time I prepare card kits for my classes.

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Please contact me anytime if you have any questions 

https://evadietz.stampinup.net/contact_me

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stampinwitheva@gmail.com

Learn This New Hack - You Can Stack and Whack Any Of Stampin' Up!s Designer Series Papers to Create a Faux Quilting Techique for your Christmas Cards This Year

Do you happen to sew? Do you make Quilts? If you have done either of these, then this card design will be a "piece of cake" for you to create multiples of. You can make groups of 4 cards with each attempt.

The Stack and Whack technique is easy. Only 3 cuts will be made.

Cut out 4 matching pieces of Designer Series Paper 3-3/4" x 5".

Stack them on top of each other and place in your Paper Trimmer. 

With firm pressure on the blade, make your first cut. Set aside the first set of pieces still in their stack.

Keeping the remaining stack neatly together, rotate and make your second cut. Set those aside still in their stack.

Continuing to keep the remaining stack neatly together, rotate and make your third cut. Set both of the remaining stacks aside.

Now arrange your stacks back together with the top layer being the same original starting piece of paper.

With your stacks arranged to begin "quilting" start in the upper left corner of the pattern diagram above.

Start with stacked piece #1 and "deal" like you would with a deck of cards, through that stack of four papers, placing each piece in the positions shown in the other three diagrams moving clockwise around. 

Repeat with each numbered stack until the four different card fronts match the above diagram. 

I suggest to use little pieces of scotch tape to assemble each mini quilt layer on the reverse side. 

With the Stitchery stamp set, mount the Zig-Zag stamp and do your best to stamp the "stitching" on top of your pieced seams in an ink color that matches your paper.

After the stitching stamping is finished then adhere to the 4" x 5-1/4" cardstock layer. 

After those two layers are together, then it is time to wrap your choice of ribbon around and secure with scotch tape on the reverse. 

Then secure the double layer to the card front with adhesive.

Select your choice of tag, stamp, ink and either die cut or punch out. Attach to the card front with Dimensionals. Embellish as desired.

Finally decorate your envelope flap with matching paper and cut 2-3/8" x 6". Adhere and trim off excess.

The following products are retired:

You may be able to purchase them from Ebay or Etsy

Seaside Spray cardstock

Seaside Spray Classic Ink

Feels Like Frost 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper

145372 Stitched Shapes Framelits

144213 Metallic Edge Ribbon

156449 Encircled in Warmth Stamp Set

159396 Rhinestone Waves Basic Jewels

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Another color combination I tried out before I settled on the one above. 

This card was not used in my Christmas in July card class, but it is still a fun one to see what different papers might look like.

The following products are retired:

You may be able to purchase them from Ebay or Etsy

153512 Snowflake Splendor Designer Series Paper

159396 Rhinestone Waves Basic Jewels

153548 Snowflake Splendor 1/4" Ribbon

I'd love to hear if you give this Stack and Whack technique a try. It's so fun! Leave me a comment if you plan to make some.

Shop or Join at https://evadietz.stampinup.net/

Please contact me anytime if you have any questions 

https://evadietz.stampinup.net/contact_me

or  write me at

stampinwitheva@gmail.com

Wanna Make Your Own Handmade Christmas Cards? It Isn't that Hard. Let Me Show You How To Do It!

Today's card designs are very easy to reproduce with whatever cardstock, Designer Series Papers, and Dies you have on hand. You might be surprised at the amazing holiday creations you turn out.  

This layout idea is a quick one, so you can make many similar cards for the upcoming holidays and get a jump on eliminating some holiday stress for yourself.

Won't your family and friends be amazed at your creativity and thoughtfulness 

when they receive your cards!

Production Directions for both cards:

Shaded Spruce Cardstock cut 5.5" x 8.5", scored at 4.25"

Designer Series Paper layer cut 3.75" x 5"

Soft Suede Cardstock cut 3.5" x 4.75", then run through embossing folder, and then cut out center with die of your choice.

All three of these layers are adhered directly to the card base.

Stamped Tag is 1.25" x 2.5", then die cut out and raised up with Dimensionals on card front.

Add rhinestones or other embellishments of your choice.

Decorate your envelope flap with matching paper cut 2-3/8" x 6", adhere and trim off excess.

The following products are retired:

You may be able to purchase them from Ebay or Etsy

153456 Celebration Tiding stamp set

 133723 Star Dies

 149596 Wrapped in Plaid 6"x6" Designer Series Paper

 Pinewood Planks 3D Embossing Folder

The following products are retired:

You may be able to purchase them from Ebay or Etsy

 149596 Wrapped in Plaid 6"x6" Designer Series Paper

 Pinewood Planks 3D Embossing Folder

147773 Nothing Sweeter stamp set

139665 Perfect Pines Dies

I'd love to read a comment about my card designs. Do you think they seem easy enough to make? Will you give them a try?

Shop or Join at https://evadietz.stampinup.net/

Please contact me anytime if you have any questions 

https://evadietz.stampinup.net/contact_me

or  write me at

stampinwitheva@gmail.com